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55) Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Posted Nov 01, 2003 12:00 AM

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In November 1955, RCA Records bought Presley's contract, singles and unreleased master tapes from Sun Records for $35,000. His first full-length album came out six months later, with tracks drawn from both the Sun sessions and from further recording at RCA's studios in New York and Nashville. "There wasn't any pressure," guitarist Scotty Moore said of the first RCA sessions. "They were just bigger studios with different equipment. We basically just went in and did the same thing we always did." On tracks such as "Blue Suede Shoes," that meant revved-up country music with the most irresistibly sexy voice anyone had ever heard.

Total album sales: 500,000

Peak chart position: 1

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