Expert: Mel Priddle - 6/15/2008

Question
 Have an old 78 record on the Prom label with Presley- Heartbreak Hotel and Jones and Edwards Why Baby Why on one side  and So Doggone Lonesome   -Cash and You and Me Wright Anglin  together on the other side. Does this  pre date Sun Records as Elvis and Cash first record??  Thanks

Answer
Hello again Ann,

Following on from your question, I've been doing a little research into the Prom label and I've found out the following......

"Prom Records was a small independent label that recorded their own studio musicians and contracted talent doing cover versions of the hits of the day. The budget concious public got two back-to-back current hits (or four songs on the EP versions) for less than the price of a one-sided hit, but not by the original artists."

So, is it possible that you have one of the four-song Prom releases? If you have, I would guess that to cover themselves legally, it does not say "Elvis Presley" or "Johnny Cash",  but just "Elvis" or "Cash" or something similar. And that the songs are cover versions sung by soundalikes.

Hope that's helpful. Cheers.........Mel.