Matchbox (song)

Original song written and composed by Carl Perkins

For other uses, see Matchbox (disambiguation).

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"Matchbox"

Single by Carl Perkins
from the album  Dance Album of Carl Perkins
A-side| "Your True Love"
Released| 1957 (1957)
Recorded| 1956
Studio| Memphis Recording Service, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre| Rockabilly
Length| 2:10
Label| Sun
Songwriter(s)| Carl Perkins
Producer(s)| Sam Phillips

"Matchbox" is a song written and recorded by Carl Perkins and released in 1957. Blind Lemon Jefferson wrote and recorded a song entitled "Match Box Blues" in 1927,[1] which is musically different but which contains some lyric phrases in common.

"Matchbox" was recorded as a rockabilly song by Carl Perkins in December 1956 and by fellow Sun Records performer, Jerry Lee Lewis - who played piano on the original track - in 1958. Sam Phillips and Sun Records released the Carl Perkins version as the B-side to "Your True Love". Although only the A-side became a record chart hit in 1957, "Matchbox" is one of Perkins' best-known recordings, and various musicians have recorded the tune.

## Background

[edit]

Ma Rainey recorded "Lost Wandering Blues" in Chicago in March 1924. Paramount Records issued it on the standard ten-inch 78 rpm single (no. 12098). Her lyrics include the matchbox as a suitcase reference:

> I'm leaving this morning, with my clothes in my hand
>  I won't stop to wandering, till I find my man
>  I'm sitting here wondering', will a matchbox hold my clothes
>  I've got a sun to beat, I'll be farther down the road

Three years later, Blind Lemon Jefferson used it for the title of his recording "Match Box Blues" on March 14, 1927, for Okeh Records in Atlanta, Georgia.[2][3] Blues author Paul Oliver stated that both Rainey and Jefferson "may have absorbed [the line] from traditional usage".[4]

Jefferson recorded the song twice more in April 1927 for Paramount Records. Although they contain some differences, they include

> I'm sittin' here wonderin', will a matchbox hold my clothes (2×)
>  I ain't got no matches but I still got a long way to go.

Subsequently, the song was recorded by several blues and country swing musicians, such as Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, the Shelton Brothers, and Roy Newman and His Boys.

## Perkins recording

[edit]

1957 U.S. sheet music for "Matchbox"

After recording "Your True Love" at Sun Records studio, Carl Perkins' father, Buck suggested that he write a song based on snatches of lyrics that he remembered. Buck knew only a few lines from the 1927 song from the recordings by Jefferson or the Shelton Brothers. As Perkins sang the few words his father had suggested, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was at that time a session piano player at Sun Studios, started a boogie-woogie riff. Perkins began to improvise on his guitar and with lyrics.[5] The Sun recording on December 4, 1956 was produced by Sam Phillips at Sun Studios in Memphis.

Perkins maintained that he had never heard Jefferson's song when he recorded "Matchbox". The songs are musically, thematically, and lyrically totally different. Jefferson's song is about a mean-spirited woman; Perkins' is about a lovelorn "poor boy" with limited prospects.[5] The song was published and copyrighted in 1957 in the US with words and music by Carl Lee Perkins by Knox Music/Hill and Range Songs of New York.

The "Matchbox" recording session is historically significant as a milestone in rock and roll history because later that day, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Lewis were all in the Sun Studio with Sam Phillips with Carl Perkins and his band. The impromptu group formed at this jam session became known as the Million Dollar Quartet.

Carl Perkins performed the song on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee on February 2, 1957. Perkins and his band also performed the song on the syndicated TV show Ranch Party hosted by Tex Ritter in 1957. There was also a promo ad for the release of the Sun single in Billboard magazine.

##  The Beatles' rendition

[edit]

"Matchbox"

US picture sleeve

Single by the Beatles
from the EP  Long Tall Sally
B-side| "Slow Down"
Released|

* June 19, 1964 (UK EP)
* August 24, 1964 (US single)

Recorded| June 01, 1964 (1964-06-01)
Genre| Rockabilly[6]
Length| 1:57 (misprinted as 1:37 on both singles and albums)
Label|

* Parlophone (UK)
* Capitol (US)

Songwriter(s)| Carl Perkins
Producer(s)| George Martin
The Beatles US singles chronology
| "I'll Cry Instead"
(1964)  | "Matchbox"
(1964)  | "I Feel Fine"
(1964)

|
|

The Beatles were fans of Perkins and performed "Matchbox" during their shows in 1961 and 1962.[7] The song served as the vocal spot for their drummer, Pete Best, until his sacking in August 1962, at which point John Lennon took over as lead singer.[8] A live version from December that year was included on the 1977 album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962. In July 1963, the Beatles performed "Matchbox" with Ringo Starr, Best's replacement, on lead vocals[9] for their BBC radio show Pop Go the Beatles.[10] This version was included on the 1994 compilation Live at the BBC.[11]

Starr also sang lead vocals when the band recorded the song for their Long Tall Sally EP in 1964. Perkins was visiting London and was invited to observe the session on June 1.[12] Starr later recalled feeling "very embarrassed" because he had a bad throat;[11] two days later, he was hospitalized with acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis,[13] resulting in him missing the start of the Beatles' world tour.[14] The band were supplemented on the recording by producer George Martin, who played piano.[15] In his commentary on the track, author Ian MacDonald dismisses the Beatles' performance as "flat-footed", adding that, as a keen student of Perkins' guitar playing, only George Harrison demonstrates "any motivation" in his contribution.[16]

"Matchbox" was released in the UK on June 19 as the final track on Long Tall Sally.[17] In the US, it instead appeared on the Capitol Records album Something New in July,[18] before being issued on a single, backed by "Slow Down", on August 24.[19] "Matchbox" peaked at number 17 on three record charts: in the U.S., on the Billboard Hot 100[20] and Cash Box,[21] and, in Canada, on the national RPM Top 40 chart.[22] The song was subsequently included on the Beatles compilation albums Rock 'n' Roll Music, Past Masters and Mono Masters.[23]

### Personnel

[edit]

* Ringo Starr - drums and lead vocals
* John Lennon - rhythm guitar
* Paul McCartney - bass guitar
* George Harrison - lead guitar

Additional musicians

* George Martin - piano

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Palmer, Robert (1981). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
2. ^ Springer, Robert. ed. Nobody Knows Where the Blues Come From: Lyrics and History. University Press of Mississippi, 2006, p. 173.
3. ^ Tosches, Nick. Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock 'n' Roll. New York: Da Capo Press, 1985, pp. 203-204. "The essence of the song's lyrics did not originate with Blind Lemon Jefferson but with Ma Rainey's 1924 record 'Lost Wandering Blues.' Lord, I stand here wondering, Will a matchbox hold my clothes?"
4. ^ Oliver, Paul (1968). Screening the Blues: Aspects of the Blues Tradition. Cassell, London. ISBN 0-304-93137-3
5. ^ a b Perkins, Carl; McGee, David (1996). Go, Cat, Go!. Hyperion Press. pp. 221–223\. ISBN 0-7868-6073-1.221-223&rft.pub=Hyperion+Press&rft.date=1996&rft.isbn=0-7868-6073-1&rft.aulast=Perkins&rft.aufirst=Carl&rft.au=McGee,+David&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Matchbox+(song)" class="Z3988">
6. ^ Considine, J.D.; Coleman, Mark; Evans, Paul; McGee, David (1992). "The Beatles". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Random House. pp. 23–25.23-25&rft.pub=Random+House&rft.date=1992&rft.aulast=Considine&rft.aufirst=J.D.&rft.au=Coleman,+Mark&rft.au=Evans,+Paul&rft.au=McGee,+David&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Matchbox+(song)" class="Z3988">
7. ^ Womack, Kenneth (2014). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 613\. ISBN 978-0-313-39171-2.
8. ^ MacDonald, Ian (1998). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties. London: Pimlico. p. 104\. ISBN 978-0-7126-6697-8.
9. ^ Everett, Walter (2001). The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 240. ISBN 0-19-514105-9.
10. ^ Miles, Barry (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years. London: Omnibus Press. p. 100\. ISBN 0-7119-8308-9.
11. ^ a b Womack 2014, p. 612.
12. ^ Lewisohn, Mark (2005) [1988]. The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962–1970. London: Bounty Books. p. 44\. ISBN 978-0-7537-2545-0.
13. ^ Miles 2001, p. 145.
14. ^ Everett 2001, p. 238.
15. ^ MacDonald 1998, p. 103.
16. ^ MacDonald 1998, p. 104.
17. ^ Lewisohn 2005, p. 46.
18. ^ Miles 2001, p. 158.
19. ^ Lewisohn 2005, p. 200.
20. ^ Schaffner, Nicholas (1978). The Beatles Forever. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. 56–57. ISBN 0-07-055087-5.
21. ^ Hoffmann, Frank (1983). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950–1981. Metuchen, New Jersey: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 32–34.32-34&rft.pub=The+Scarecrow+Press&rft.date=1983&rft.aulast=Hoffmann&rft.aufirst=Frank&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Matchbox+(song)" class="Z3988">
22. ^ RPM Top 40 chart, October 5, 1964.
23. ^ Womack 2014, p. 613.

* v
* t
* e

Carl Perkins

Discography

Studio albums|

* Born to Rock (1989)

Collaborations|

* The Million Dollar Quartet (1981)
* The Survivors (1982)
* Class of '55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming (1986)
* Go Cat Go! (1996)

Live|

* Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (1986)

Singles|

* "Movie Magg"
* "Let the Jukebox Keep On Playing"
* "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Honey Don't"
* "Boppin' the Blues"
* "Dixie Fried"
* "Your True Love" / "Matchbox"
* "That's Right"
* "Glad All Over"
* "Restless"
* "Birth of Rock and Roll"

Other songs|

* "Sure to Fall (in Love with You)"
* "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby"
* "So Wrong"
* "The Ballad of Boot Hill"
* "Daddy Sang Bass"
* "Let Me Tell You About Love"
* "Silver and Gold"

* v
* t
* e

A Hard Day's Night

* 1964 film

Songs|

| Side one|

* "A Hard Day's Night"
* "I Should Have Known Better"
* "If I Fell"
* "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You"
* "And I Love Her"
* "Tell Me Why"
* "Can't Buy Me Love"

|

Side two|

* "Any Time at All"
* "I'll Cry Instead"
* "Things We Said Today"
* "When I Get Home"
* "You Can't Do That"
* "I'll Be Back"

Long Tall Sally (EP)|

* "Long Tall Sally"
* "I Call Your Name"
* "Slow Down"
* "Matchbox"

German single|

* "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" / "Sie Liebt Dich"

Outtakes|

* "No Reply"
* "You Know What to Do"

Extended plays|

* Extracts from the Album A Hard Day's Night
* Extracts from the Film A Hard Day's Night

Related North
American album|

* Something New

Tours|

* 1964 world tour
* 1964 North American tour

Related articles|

* The Beatles albums discography

* The Beatles albums:
* Please Please Me
* With the Beatles
* A Hard Day's Night
* Beatles for Sale
* Help!
* Rubber Soul
* Revolver
* Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
* Magical Mystery Tour
* The Beatles
* Yellow Submarine
* Abbey Road
* Let It Be

* v
* t
* e

The Beatles singles

UK and US|

| 1963|

* "Please Please Me" / "Ask Me Why"
* "From Me to You" / "Thank You Girl"
* "She Loves You" / "I'll Get You"

|

1964|

* "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That"
* "I Feel Fine" / "She's a Woman"

1965|

* "Ticket to Ride" / "Yes It Is"
* "Help!" / "I'm Down"
* "We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper"

1966|

* "Paperback Writer" / "Rain"
* "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby"

1967|

* "Penny Lane" / "Strawberry Fields Forever"
* "All You Need Is Love" / "Baby, You're a Rich Man"
* "Hello, Goodbye" / "I Am the Walrus"

1968|

* "Lady Madonna" / "The Inner Light"
* "Hey Jude" / "Revolution"

1969|

* "Get Back" / "Don't Let Me Down"
* "The Ballad of John and Yoko" / "Old Brown Shoe"
* "Something" / "Come Together"

1970|

* "Let It Be" / "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"

1978|

* "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help from My Friends" / "A Day in the Life"

1982|

* "The Beatles' Movie Medley" / "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You"

1995|

* "Baby It's You"
* "Free as a Bird" / "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)"

1996|

* "Real Love" / "Baby's in Black"

2023|

* "Now and Then" / "Love Me Do"

UK only|

| 1962|

* "My Bonnie" / "The Saints"
* "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You"

|

1963|

* "I Want to Hold Your Hand" / "This Boy"

1964|

* "Ain't She Sweet" / "If You Love Me, Baby"
* "A Hard Day's Night" / "Things We Said Today"

1976|

* "Yesterday" / "I Should Have Known Better"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R." / "Twist and Shout"

US only|

| 1963|

* "I Want to Hold Your Hand" / "I Saw Her Standing There"

|

1964|

* "Please Please Me" / "From Me to You"
* "My Bonnie" / "The Saints"
* "Twist and Shout" / "There's a Place"
* "Do You Want to Know a Secret" / "Thank You Girl"
* "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You"
* "Sie liebt dich" / "I'll Get You"
* "I'll Cry Instead" / "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You"
* "And I Love Her" / "If I Fell"
* "Ain't She Sweet" / "Nobody's Child"
* "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better"
* "Matchbox" / "Slow Down"

1965|

* "Eight Days a Week" / "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"
* "Yesterday" / "Act Naturally"

1966|

* "Nowhere Man" / "What Goes On"

1970|

* "The Long and Winding Road" / "For You Blue"

1976|

* "Got to Get You into My Life" / "Helter Skelter"
* "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" / "Julia"

Other
countries|

| 1963|

* "All My Loving" / "This Boy" (Canada)

|

1964|

* "Komm, gib mir deine Hand / Sie liebt dich" (Germany, Australia)
* "Roll Over Beethoven" / "Devil in Her Heart" (Philippines)

1965|

* "Rock and Roll Music" / "I'm a Loser" (Europe, Australia)

1966|

* "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" / "Nowhere Man" (Australia)
* "Michelle" / "Girl" (Europe)

1968|

* "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" / "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Europe, Japan, Australia)
* "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" / "I Will" (Philippines)
* "Back in the U.S.S.R." / "Don't Pass Me By" (Sweden)

1969|

* "You're Going to Lose That Girl" / "Tell Me What You See" (Japan)

1970|

* "Oh! Darling" / "Here Comes the Sun" (Japan)

1972|

* "All Together Now" / "Hey Bulldog" (Europe)

1978|

* "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help from My Friends" / "Within You Without You" (Germany)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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