Matchbox

The first time Matchbox played at Sun Records studio in Memphis, it wasn’t the version we know today. Its origins trace back to a 1927 blues track, Match Box Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson, but Carl Perkins reinvented it in December 1956 with an unexpected twist. His father, Buck Perkins, only mentioned a couple of lines from the original song, and as Perkins sang those words, Jerry Lee Lewis—the session pianist that day—launched into a boogie riff that would come to define the song’s spirit. Perkins, having never heard Jefferson’s version before, improvised lyrics over a theme he didn’t know: instead of a woman of ill repute, he sang about a "poor boy" with dreams of love. The result was a short, direct piece where the guitar and piano intertwine in a rhythm that seems to slip through your fingers, as if the song itself were made of matchboxes stacked haphazardly.

On January 23, 1957, Matchbox reached the public as a single on Sun Records, and though it didn’t climb to the top of the Billboard charts, its infectious energy made it a staple on local radio stations. Later, in 1964, The Beatles revived it for their repertoire, with Ringo Starr taking the lead vocals. The version, recorded at the BBC studios, captures the band at their peak of synchronicity: George Harrison with his twelve-string guitar, John Lennon shredding riffs and solos, and George Martin on piano. The track appeared on the EP Long Tall Sally in the UK and on Capitol’s album Something New in the US, where it reached number 17 on the charts. What’s curious is that Carl Perkins was present during that session, as if the circle had closed: the musician who created the song witnessed his tune become part of the legacy of those who inspired him.