Class of ’55 was a landmark 1986 album recorded in Memphis at Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Cash was still under contract to Columbia Records at the time and producer “Chips” Moman had to pay $100,000 for the rights to keep Cash on the record.

Interviews from the sessions won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for the four performers, producer Moman, Sam Phillips and Rick Nelson. It was Rick’s last recording session and the only Grammy of his career.

I interviewed Carl when he appeared at EXPO 86, three months after the release of Class of ’55. Here, he talks about recording the album and “Chips” Moman’s vision for making a record with what Carl called “four old broken-down rockabillies”. Enjoy!