Blue Suede Shoes

Carl Perkins, 1956, from Dance Album of Carl Perkins. Solo by Carl Perkins.

Perkins's breaks blend country picking with blues bends, defining the Sun Records guitar sound alongside Scotty Moore.

Blue Suede Shoes is a rockabilly cornerstone, and Carl Perkins' guitar breaks blend country picking with blues bends to define the Sun Records sound alongside Scotty Moore. His playing is lively and rhythmic, with quick, snappy phrases that match the song's playful lyric. Perkins' style influenced many later guitarists, including George Harrison. Listen for the crisp, twangy tone and how the breaks bounce along with the song's rhythm, and for the way Perkins mixes country-style runs with bluesy bends, creating a sound that feels both rooted in tradition and bursting with the new energy of rock and roll.

Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins is featured in our Rock & Roll (#18), Rockabilly (#4) lists. The solo is played by Carl Perkins and the song was released in 1956.

In our lists

• Beyond the Canon — #23
• The 25 Greatest Rock and Roll Guitar Solos — #18
• The 25 Greatest Rockabilly Guitar Solos — #4
• The Best Carl Perkins Guitar Solos — #1

Sources