I agree that it's strange that this is coming out of the Sam Phillips studio.
I think the original Sun Studios was still putting out stuff until the mid sixties. I'm thinking the Bill Black Combo because (a) Bill was the bass player in the original Elvis combo with Scott (b) his combo was the only aspect of that lineup actually having minor hits in the early sixties with instrumental rock (c) Steve Cropper was also putting out instro rock in that period with Booker T.
The Memphis studio culture is such that it's not that weird that Cropper would be doing stuff with Scotty Moore or sitting in at another studio, but...Steve would've been pretty damn busy in 1963.
Fuck! I just remembered that The Bill Black Combo recorded for Hi, too, and probably used the Sam Phillips Studio for that. Lemme check the Gordon book -- I think Cropper engineered for Hi, also.
I think he knows some of these guys and could hook you up, if he hasn't alienated them.
Ha! It's funny 'cause it's true!
Could it be the Killer?
From It Came From Memphis (p. 59):
...concurrent with playing in Brunswick [aka Stax, 1960-1963], Cropper was also doing some session work at the Sam Phillips Recording Service. Roland James remembers, "We worked three or four sessions there with Jerry Lee Lewis where we had Scotty (Moore) playing the rhythm guitar, Steve Cropper playing baritone guitar, and I played lead."
edit - This would have been the right time period, when Cropper was in the Mar-Keys, but the book doesn't give the exact date.
My brother-in-law has my copy of Sweet Soul Music right now, Heather, so that's all the research I'm good for.
Eh. That's ok. I'm not sure I'll ever solve the mystery.
I think they'll sell on the strength of the sigs alone. It's just instead of a story, there's a mystery.
Hayden, I think maybe you got it.
Heather, that would be a hot property if you had Jerry Lee Lewis, backed by Steve Cropper and Scotty Moore, with Sam Phillips recording.
I wonder who is in charge of acquistions at the rock and roll hall of fame.
I don't think SM is playing on the recording whatever it is. I think he's just the engineer.
I have neglected to mention that two weeks ago, JZ and I were in the Berkeley Amoeba and she came running up to me all excited because she found the second Lothars CD used.
I pointed out to her that if we bought it directly from Jon he would derive some economic benefit, but buying it used gained him nothing. She was unpersuaded and felt that the Lothar CD had personally found its way into her hands.
Reader, we bought that CD.
Better it find its way into loving hands than it sit there lonely amongst the anonymous multitudes of amoebadom.
