Elvis Presley – I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine

Many cool people have cool nicknames. I love Elvis’s nicknames. The Big E, King Of Rock ’n‘ Roll, The Memphis Flash, The Jumpsuited One, The Vibrating Valentino, Ol ’Snake Hips, The Tennessee Troubadour, Mr. Sideburns, The Hillbilly Cat, The Cool Cat, or just EP. 

I was listening to Elvis’s Sun songs, and this one stood out. It’s that rhythm that really drew me into this song. Just a simple little rockabilly song that makes me feel good. I would say that Sun Records Elvis is the Elvis I like best. Not that I never liked the songs on RCA and his major hits, but these records had a sound like no other. This song was the B-side to Good Rockin’ Tonight. 

It was written by Mack David and had been recorded earlier by Patti Page in 1950. Mack David wrote it for the animated film Cinderella, but not used in the movie. He also wrote Rain, Rain Go Away, Baby It’s You, and other hit songs. 

Presley’s version was recorded in 1954 during the same period that produced songs like That’s All Right. Backed by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley pushed the tempo and stayed with that rhythm. Moore’s guitar runs are all over the place, and Black’s slap bass keeps the track moving. Elvis sings with a mix of country phrasing and the energy that would be rockabilly.

This song was recorded in September 1954. It all started a few months earlier for Elvis. On June 7, 1954, WHBQ Radio in Memphis became the first station to play That’s All Right when their disc jockey, Dewey Phillips, aired it on his Red, Hot and Blue show the day after Elvis recorded it. Phillips was a pioneering DJ who played a mix of black and white music that attracted a large and diverse following and helped Elvis on his way. 

He would find worldwide success with RCA, but…I’ll just close this by saying I really love rockabilly, Elvis!

The A side…Good Rockin’ Tonight

I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine

Well, I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I get my lovin’ in the evening time
When I’m with my baby

Well, it ain’t no fun with the sun around
I get going when the sun goes down
And I’m with my baby

Well, that’s when we’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss
And we’re gonna kiss some more
Who cares how many times we kiss
‘Cause at a time like this, who keeps score?

Well, I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I get my loving in the evening time
When I meet my baby

Well, that’s when we’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss
And we’re gonna kiss some more
Who cares how many times we kiss
‘Cause at a time like this, who keeps score

Well, I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I get my loving in the evening time
When I meet my baby

And it don’t matter if it’s sleet or snow
The drive-in’s cozy when the lights are low
And I’m with my baby

Makes no difference if the rain comes down
I don’t notice when she’s around
Oh boy, what a baby

Well, that’s when we’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss
And we’re gonna kiss some more
Well, one kiss from my baby doll makes me hot
More more more more

Well, I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I get my loving in the evening time
When I meet my baby

Well, that’s when we’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss and
We’re gonna kiss some more
Well, one kiss from my baby doll makes me hot
More more more more

Well, I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I get my loving in the evening time
When I’m with my baby

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

51 thoughts on “Elvis Presley – I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine”

  3. Pingback: Elvis Presley – I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine – MobsterTiger

    1. Yes there is…a grittier sound like they are playing in front of you… Something about these I really love…especially knowing what came a few years later… like “Clambake” and all the movie sound tracks.

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  6. I really like what he did with this song, completely turned around. I love this phase of Elvis the most for sure. Most everything from Sun Records is amazing. Did you ever see the play Million Dollar Quartet. Mesmerizing!

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  7. 1954? Man that is some raw rockabilly. What a 45 that is. Elvis still does it for me. Like the Beatles, Stones and s few others if I ignore the hype and all the rest of what goes with that I get back to the music. That’s all that really matters to me. Saying that I do have to give Presley a nod for turning me onto fried banana sandwiches. Delicious! Im not kidding.

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    1. Yes…this era of Elvis…I always say he was untouchable…he was THE man in a lot of ways. Yes…I used to get caught up in that…but yea…it’s about the music period. I learned to separate the art from the artist.
      Oh yea…I tried one of those when I was young…not bad!

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      1. Put peanut butter on dirt and Ill eat it.

        When I see bands going through the creative process, Im in. The other stuff I just ignore. Unless of course I hear some good deed that was or is done. Using their popularity in a positive way (CB getting all humane this morning)

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      2. Hey I love peanut butter as well. I don’t like chocolate…unless…there is peanut butter involved.
        Yea at times it’s hard not to get caught up in it…but since I learned about these bands and artists second hand for the older ones…it’s not as hard.
        I saw Springsteen lose fans because of Born in the USA…and all the hype… but the music was great…and like you said…that should be the thing that matters….yea it’s nice seeing them give back when they can.

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      4. Yes! When I was a kid I would split them in half and burn them and put them on a sandwich…man that brings back memories…hmmm…may be time to try it again! I would add mustard…it was wonderful.

        When I got into the Syd era…it was all brand new…so that made me understand them more later on as well.

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    3. I agree. Yes, for being a new kid who’d barely stepped into a studio he tried a lot vocally, obviously being confident enough to not demur to the producer.

      I absolutely disagree about fried banana sandwiches. And no amount of peanut butter slathered on top of it will make me change my mind, sorry CB!

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      1. Amazing the chops he had. No shortage of confidence at the mike.
        obb, food is like music, it’s all a personal choice. I get it. Just means more for me. I’ll save you a bite incase you have a change of heart or should I say taste.

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      2. Years ago on the anniversary of his birthday, TV Guide had a bunch of recipes that his housekeeper used to make for him, and one was for Pound Cake. It called for some ungodly amount of butter, 4 pounds, I think. I would like to make it just once, but I would probably have to hock something to pay for the butter. I know I kept the article, but God knows where it is. I love butter, but I think Elvis was the King in more ways than one.

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      3. That would be interesting. Might have had more to do with his demise than the other reasons that are talked about Wouldn’t be the first time someone killed themselves with a fork. He was a big butter and egg man.Sound like a song. It is a song.

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    5. You’re right CB, all a matter of personal taste. To play devils advocate though, an old favourite of mine is a sweet nutty mix, thick lashings of peanut butter with slatherings of runny honey. Thats da cholesterol bomb!

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  8. Speaking of rockabilly, I finally watched, “Walk the Line” biopic on Johnny Cash. What a great movie! I learned a lot about rockabilly touring, and was pleasantly surprised to see that Johnny and Elvis were on at least one tour together. What freaked me out was the suggestion that one of the touring musicians turned Johnny on to speed and used, “Elvis does it!” to persuade him to try it. I have no idea if that’s true but that’s what the movie said. I LOVED the movie and would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t seen it yet to give it a watch.

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    1. I would not doubt if that were true. Thats the first drug the Beatles got on. That seemed to be the “gateway” drug to many of them.
      I have seen it and I loved it as well…it was really well made…I can’t believe I’ve never covered it.

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      1. It would explain why they were hopping all over the place. lol Joaquin has increasingly taken on what I call “freak roles” probably because he’s so good at them. I was grateful to see him play Johnny, and he NAILED the essence of The Man in Black in this role. Reese as June was exceptional as well. I wish you would cover it (hint hint.)

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      3. I bought the DVD at the place down in the mall for just a few dollars awhile back. Just watched it a few nights ago. Phoenix has been in a lot of good movies. Yes on The Joker. Wasn’t crazy about the sequel. He was excellent in last year’s Eddington.

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      1. Not sure if you’re old enough to remember, but when Elvis was on Ed Sullivan, husbands around the world rose up in rebellion about it. No way was their wife going to watch him swivel his hips.

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  10. I’ve said enough, cutting in on other peoples comments. I’ll just say for a young kid he was at ease doing rock, rockabilly, whatever. A natural.

    My Ma called him the Pelvis as well.

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