Memphis

Welcome to a who's who of rock, soul, and the blues. Included for starters are what many point to as the first rock 'n' roll song ever ("Rocket 88"), one of the all-time rockabilly classics ("Blue Suede Shoes"), and an iconic blues track ("Born Under a Bad Sign"). Wow.

The great vibes seemingly emanate from the soil. The late, great "Wicked" Wilson Pickett lays the soul groove "In the Midnight Hour," Furry Lewis mines the rich acoustic folk-blues scene with "Good Morning Judge," and Charlie Rich's "Stay" evokes yesterday's country scene. And check out bluesman Mem Shannon's excellent "Memphis in the Morning."

The King and Queen of Soul, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, reigned over not just one, but two legendary Stax in-house backing bands (Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Bar-Kays). And Memphis' latest hit factory, Ardent Studios, is represented with indie fave Retrospect's "Forgetting Evelyn," from their eponymous debut.

Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee, even if its music scene is overshadowed by Nashville's. Sun Studios, with its history of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and others looms large in history and legend, as does the Stax Museum of American Soul and Graceland. The Memphis Horns may be the most-recorded brass section in musical history. Oh, and the blues? Memphis had a little hand in them, too. Dig in…