Sun gospel discography (1953-62)
- Sam Phillips’ Sun Records from Memphis, TN is most famous for launching the career of Elvis Presley with five essential records, released in 1954-55. Phillips recorded many other big names, both black and white, between 1952 and 1968: Johnny Cash, Rosco Gordon, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Little Junior Parker, Carl Perkins, Rufus Thomas and many others.
- In 1969, Mercury Records label producer Shelby Singleton purchased the Sun label from Sam Phillips.
- Although Phillips also recorded quite some black gospel, only four discs seem to have been issued (there were a few white gospel issues as well); this indicates that Phillips didn’t expect much commercial success from releasing gospel. In the last decades reissue labels like Ace, Charly (both from the UK) and Bear Family (Germany) put a lot of effort in releasing virtually everything that they could lay their hands on, including various unissued gospel recordings (mainly on Charly).
- Unlisted records by the Prisonaires are secular (Sun 186 and 207).
- This page lists all known Sun gospel issues (78’s and 45’s).
78 & 45rpm releases:
| release | artist | artist as shown | songs | year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 189 | Prisonaires | My God Is Real b/w Softly And Tenderly | 1953 | |
| Sun 191 | Prisonaires | A Prisoner's Prayer b/w I Know | 1953 | |
| Sun 213 | Jones Brothers | Look To Jesus b/w Every Night | 1953 | |
| Sun 406 | James Anderson | Brother James Anderson | I'm Gonna Move In The Room With The Lord b/w My Soul Needs Resting | 1962 |