How do I know my copy isn't a reproduction?

Check label printing quality, vinyl weight, and matrix numbers against documented originals. Modern reproductions have cleaner printing than the slightly rough originals. Consult a specialist for high-value authentication.

Elvis Presley That's All Right Sun Records Value Guide (2026)

Name: Elvis Presley - That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky (Sun Records 209)
Brand: Sun Records

Vinyl Records

Elvis Presley That's All Right Sun Records Value Guide (2026)

Lucas0707, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On a summer evening in 1954, a 19-year-old truck driver was goofing around during a break in a Memphis recording session. He started singing an Arthur Crudup blues song - "That's All Right" - but with a different energy. Looser. Faster. Something new. Sam Phillips hit record. The next day, DJ Dewey Phillips played it on Memphis radio station WHBQ. The phone lines lit up. Within weeks, Elvis Presley's first single was released on Sun Records as catalog number 209. About 6,000 to 7,000 copies were pressed. Rock and roll had a birthday, and this was the birth certificate. Original copies sell for $3,000 to $100,000 or more.

Quick Value Summary


Item	Elvis Presley - That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky
Year	1954
Label	Sun Records (Sun 209)
Category	Vinyl Records
Format	7" single (78 RPM and 45 RPM)
Condition Range
VG (original)	$3,000 – $5,000
VG+ to Ex	$10,000 – $20,000
Near Mint	$50,000 – $100,000+
Complete set of all 5 Sun singles	$20,000+ (45s); $19,750 (78s)
Notable Sale	£3,400 hammer for Ex+ copy (Wessex Auctions, 2022, Bob Solly Collection)
Original Pressing	~6,000–7,000 copies
Rarity	Very Rare in collectible condition

The Story

Sam Phillips had been saying it for years: "If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound, I could make a billion dollars." Whether or not he said it in exactly those words, the sentiment was real. Phillips knew that the blues and R&B he was recording at his Memphis Recording Service (Sun Studio) was extraordinary music. He also knew that racial barriers in 1950s America kept it from reaching the widest possible audience.

Elvis Aaron Presley walked into Sun Studio in 1953 to record a personal acetate - supposedly as a birthday gift for his mother. Phillips' assistant, Marion Keisker, noted his potential. When Phillips was looking for the right voice months later, Keisker suggested the kid.

The "That's All Right" session was almost an accident. Elvis was recording ballads that weren't working. During a break, he picked up his guitar and started playing Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right" - a blues song - but with a rhythm and energy that didn't sound like blues, country, or pop. It sounded like all three at once. Guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black jumped in. Phillips recognized it immediately. "That's what I've been looking for," he reportedly said.

The B-side, "Blue Moon of Kentucky," was a Bill Monroe bluegrass standard rearranged with the same raw energy. Together, the two sides captured something no record had captured before: the collision of Black and white American music traditions into something new. Rock and roll.

DJ Dewey Phillips (no relation to Sam) played "That's All Right" on his WHBQ radio show. Listeners called in requesting it over and over. Sun Records pressed about 6,000 to 7,000 copies. Elvis Presley's career - and a cultural revolution - had begun.

How to Identify It

Key Details

Sun Records yellow label with the rooster logo and sunburst design.
Catalog number: Sun 209
A-side: "That's All Right" (Arthur Crudup)
B-side: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Bill Monroe)

78 RPM vs. 45 RPM

Both formats were original releases. In 1954, the industry was transitioning from 78 RPM to 45 RPM, and Sun Records released singles in both formats.

78 RPM: The larger, heavier format. More common for this title in 1954 - many jukebox operators and radio stations still used 78s.
45 RPM: The smaller format that would become standard. 45 RPM copies of Sun 209 are rarer and generally more valuable.

The Upside-Down Sun Label Misprint

A variant exists with an upside-down Sun label - the label is printed inverted on the record. This misprint is rare and commands a premium over standard copies. It's a genuine pressing error from the Sun Records plant.

Common Fakes

Many reproductions exist. Sun 209 is one of the most reproduced records in history. To verify an original:

Label printing quality should match period specifications - the printing is slightly rough and imperfect compared to modern reproductions.
Vinyl weight and composition should match 1954 materials.
Matrix/runout numbers must match known originals.
The vinyl itself should show appropriate age characteristics (unless miraculously preserved).

Value by Condition

Any genuine original is valuable. But condition separates a $3,000 record from a $100,000 record.

Format	Condition	Value Range
78 or 45 RPM	VG	$3,000 – $5,000
78 or 45 RPM	VG+ to Ex	$10,000 – $20,000
78 or 45 RPM	Ex+	~£3,400 hammer (2022 Wessex)
78 or 45 RPM	Near Mint	$50,000 – $100,000+
Complete set, all 5 Sun 45s	Various	$20,000+ (2016 sale)
Complete set, all 5 Sun 78s	Various	$19,750 (2023 sale)

The Complete Sun Singles Set

Elvis released five singles on Sun Records before moving to RCA: Sun 209, 210, 215, 217, and 223. A complete set of all five is a holy grail for rockabilly collectors. Sets have sold for $20,000 (45 RPM, 2016) and $19,750 (78 RPM, 2023).

Authentication & Fakes

How Common Are Reproductions?

Extremely common. Sun 209 has been reproduced, bootlegged, and counterfeited more than almost any other record. Original copies are rare - only 6,000 to 7,000 were pressed, and many didn't survive 70 years of use.

Verification Steps

✅ Sun Records yellow label with correct rooster/sunburst design
✅ Sun 209 catalog number
✅ Period-correct label printing quality (slightly rough, not crisp modern printing)
✅ Correct matrix/runout numbers matching known originals
✅ Vinyl weight and composition consistent with 1954 pressing
✅ Appropriate age characteristics

Provenance

For a record this rare and valuable, provenance adds enormous value. The 2022 Wessex sale was from the Bob Solly Collection - a known, respected collection with documented history. A copy with a clear chain of ownership is worth more than one that appears from nowhere.

Where to Sell

Specialist music auction houses - Wessex Auctions, Heritage Auctions. They understand the market and attract the right buyers.
Specialist Elvis/rockabilly dealers - Know the pressing details intimately and have collector networks.
Heritage Auctions - Strong music memorabilia department with global reach.

Do not sell this casually. An original Sun 209 is a historically significant artifact. Get it authenticated, research its provenance, and use a venue that can maximize its value.

Not sure what you have? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is Elvis Presley's first Sun single worth?

An original Sun 209 in VG condition: $3,000 to $5,000. In VG+ to Ex condition: $10,000 to $20,000. Near-mint copies can reach $50,000 to $100,000+. Reproductions and reissues are worth very little - the value is in the original 1954 pressing.

Was "That's All Right" really recorded by accident?

Essentially, yes. Elvis was in the studio to record ballads. During a break, he started playing "That's All Right" spontaneously. Sam Phillips recognized something special and had him do it again with the tape rolling. It's one of the most consequential accidents in music history.

Is the 78 RPM or 45 RPM version more valuable?

Both are original formats and both are collectible. The 45 RPM version is generally considered rarer for this particular release. Values are comparable for copies in similar condition - what matters most is authenticity and preservation.

How do I know mine isn't a reproduction?

Check the label printing quality, vinyl weight, and matrix numbers against documented originals. Modern reproductions typically have cleaner, crisper printing than the slightly rough originals. When in doubt, consult a specialist - the stakes are too high for guesswork.

Why is this considered the birth of rock and roll?

"That's All Right" blended blues (Arthur Crudup's song), country (the performance style), and a new, uninhibited energy that didn't fit any existing category. The B-side, "Blue Moon of Kentucky," did the same with bluegrass. Together, they captured the sound that would become rock and roll - and Elvis became its first star.