Introduction:
In the electrifying year of 1956, a young firecracker named Elvis Presley burst onto the American music scene. Rock and roll, still a fledgling genre, was brimming with raw energy and youthful rebellion. “Rip It Up”, a frenetic, pulsating number released that same year, became an anthem for this burgeoning movement.
Elvis wasn’t the song’s songwriter, but his interpretation transformed it into a cultural phenomenon. The original composition, penned by John Marascalco and Robert Blackwell, was a fairly standard rhythm and blues tune. However, when it landed in the hands of producer Sam Phillips at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, it became something altogether different.
Phillips, a visionary who recognized the raw talent in the young Elvis, understood the power of his voice and stage presence. He surrounded Elvis with a stellar band – Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Black on bass, and D.J. Fontana on drums – and captured their electrifying performance on tape.
“Rip It Up” is a prime example of this early Sun Studio sound. The song explodes from the very first note, fueled by Moore’s searing guitar licks and Black’s thumping bass line. Fontana’s drumming lays down a relentless backbeat, propelling the song forward with an irresistible momentum.
But it’s Elvis’s voice that truly takes center stage. He attacks the lyrics with a youthful exuberance, his trademark sneer adding a touch of rock and roll swagger. The lyrics themselves are simple – a young man yearning for a night of uninhibited fun and release. But within that simplicity lies a potent message of rebellion against societal norms and a desire to embrace a new sound and a new way of moving.
“Rip It Up” wasn’t just a hit song; it was a cultural touchstone. It helped define the sound of early rock and roll and solidified Elvis’s position as the genre’s leading man. The song’s influence can be heard in countless artists who followed, from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to countless garage bands that took inspiration from its raw energy.
While Elvis would go on to explore different styles and genres throughout his career, “Rip It Up” remains a potent reminder of his electrifying beginnings. It’s a song that captures the raw energy and youthful rebellion that fueled the rock and roll revolution, and continues to ignite audiences with its infectious rhythm and Elvis’s unforgettable voice.