The accurately titled ‘Beyond the Sun’ is a self-described labour of love for Chris Isaak. Since he fell in love with his parents' 45s as a child in Stockton, California, this passionate writer/artist has been obsessed with the glory days of Memphis' Sun Studio and the visionary artists who got their starts there – including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, all of them discovered and nurtured by Sam Phillips. Isaak's longstanding desire to musically salute his inspirations was fast-tracked when he read a 2000 interview with the great Sun Records producer Sam Phillips that appeared in the Oxford American. Near the end of the Q&A, Phillips was asked if any contemporary recording artists grabbed his attention. His response blew Chris away. “I don't keep up with the business like I used to,” said Phillips, “but I love to listen to Chris Isaak. He's very talented, and his music is so damned honest. It's incredible.” That pretty much sealed the deal for this Sun worshiper.
Now, at long last, Isaak magically recaptures the transformative brilliance of the classic sides cut by these greats at Sun with Phillips during the mid-‘50s, while also getting down to the nitty-gritty of his own deeply rooted musical identity. Many well loved hits are covered with “Great Balls of Fire”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire” and “Pretty Woman”, along with many songs that have that equally familiar feel but are perhaps less well-known like “Miss Pearl”, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” and “Dixie Fried”. Isaak has also recorded an original song, the downright rockin' and jivin' “Live It Up”.
This standard edition features 19 tracks and a 12-page booklet that includes liner notes personally written by Chris Isaak of his experience growing up with this music and his thoughts on Sun Studios and the legendary Sam Phillips.
Bonus Tracks
20. Everybody's In The Mood
21. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry
22. Love Me
23. Doncha' Think It's Time
24. That Lucky Old Sun
25. Great Balls of Fire – Westlake Version
26. My Baby Don't Love Me No More (Chris Original)
27. Bonnie B