THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES - Sun Studio Session [EP, 2025]
This is the third project I’ve mixed for NJ’s fabulous Successful Failures. This EP captures the spirit of the band. They recorded it in the literal birthplace of rock and roll, where Jackie Brenston cut “Rocket 88” in 1951, where Johnny Cash cut “I Walk the Line,” and where Elvis cut “That’s All Right” in 1955: Sun Studio in Memphis, TN. The history drips down the walls. The guys crushed it on this 4song set recorded live at Sun. It includes a great rendition of “Long Black Veil.” -TH
Recorded May 1, 2025 in Memphis, TN at Sun Studio.
credits
released November 14, 2025
"Long Black Veil" written by By Marijohn Wilkins and Danny Dill
Copyright Universal - Songs of Polygram International Inc.
"Shooting Craps With Uncle Richie", "William D. Quinn", and "Guts" written by Mick Chorba ©2025 Dinner Time Music ASCAP
Ron Bechamps: bass guitar, vocal
Mick Chorba: vocal, electric guitar
Rob Martin: drums
Pete Smith: electric guitar
Mike Oliver: Sound Engineer
Lydia Fletcher: Assistant Engineer
Mixed by Travis Harrison / Brooklyn, NY
Mastered by David Downham / Gradwell House / Haddon Heights, NJ
Mastered for vinyl by Jeff Powell/ Take Out Vinyl / Sam Phillips Recording / Memphis, TN
Album design by Matt Hanemann, Philadelphia, PA
“On May 1, 2025, The Successful Failures (Mick Chorba, Ron Bechamps, Rob Martin, Pete Smith) spent 7 hours hanging out on hallowed ground: 7 Union St, Memphis, TN - Sun Studio. While on tour the band scheduled a special session at the iconic studio to record new material true to Sam Phillips' original vision of "perfect imperfection", in other words live music that captures a feeling, a mood - warts and all. The EP here is the result of that session. With three songs down, two new originals ("Shooting Craps With Uncle Richie" and "William D. Quinn") and a cover of the country classic "Long Black Veil" (multiple takes for each to get it just right...but not too right), the session approached midnight and time (and focus) was running low. The band decided to knock out one more, "Guts" and did it in 2 takes. Done.
REVIEW: by Jack Rabid published in The Big Takeover music magazine, Nov. 2025 Issue #98.
Mick Chorba and his Chesterfield, NJ quartet have been doing fine recording locally, even drawing Guided By Voices’ guru Travis Harrison to mix. But little Sun Studio is still an ongoing dream—heck, I got chills just gawking around the Memphis Union St. ex-garage taking the tourist tour years ago, feeling its hallowed dent on my record collection. It fits these rockers too, as if a poltergeist Carl Perkins, Billy Lee Riley, or Sam Phillips and Jack Clement themselves were producing. Naturally, in that super-live room (still!; clap your hands, you’ll see), SFs’ three originals plumb their organic backbeat and lunch pail late-Replacements/Wilco riff boppers like they’ve dealt for 19 years in fine style, Chorba’s primo every-Joe slice-of-life storytelling intact. Amazingly, though, it’s the classic country cover, of Lefty Frizzell’s Marijohn Wilkin/Danny Dill 1959 country #6 staple “Long Black Veil” that’s the huge highlight—way more The Band’s (think “It Makes No Difference”) and Mike Ness’s versions than Johnny or Roseanne Cash. Ooby Dooby! It’s great!
