523: “Shake Rattle and Roll” hits #1 on the charts
Jesse Stone wrote a song for Big Joe Turner entitled “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and it was released in April 1954, reaching # 1 on the Billboard R&B chart on June 12, but its success did not cross over to the pop charts at all. Bill Haley & his Comets recorded a more memorable version with modified lyrics and a “more poppy” arrangement in an attempt to be more appealing to white audiences. Even Elvis Presley tried to record it a couple of timkes, but Bill Haley’s version is the most well remembered.
Big Joe Turner’s version:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/20Feq_Nt3nM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Bill Haley & the Comets:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/cXhK9ONx-yM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
My grandfather had a country & western dance band in the late 40’s/early 50’s and once hired Bill Haley as a guitarist, but my grandfather fired him for playing too loud. Bill eventually found his niche.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:13 am