There were a lot of young bucks who were thinking just like Elvis in 1955. The Elvis look was around long before Elvis for one thing. Slicked-back pompadours with pointy shoes were all over the teenage streets of all the east coast cities, at least, in the early 50’s. Black leather jackets were all the rage in 1953. And musically, the idea of combining blues with country was literally in the air, as people heard plenty of both on the radio, especially in the South. Plus electric guitars and amps were suddenly available. It HAD to happen. So it’s not right to call Carl Perkins and Conway Twitty and Gene Vincent and even Ricky Nelson mere Elvis imitators. And who cares if they were, as long as they made great records. This guy Clint Miller was an Elvis imitator I suppose, but this is a rockin tune just the same, with proto-Shakin All Over guitar:

Conway Twitty started out with a pomp while Elvis had his fresh fish special, and if this is imitation let’s have a little more. Too bad Conway immediately dove headfirst into the schlockiest of schlock Country. He had potential:

Moyer thinks the drums on the next one “pedestrian.” I think he’s nuts. They are pumping like what it’s all about. Add Dee Dee’s incredible voice and one the best sax solos ever:

The last two songs were hits in 1960 and 1962, so again it’s not a wasteland.