| 1. (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock | |||
| 2. Saints Rock & Roll | |||
| 3. Razzle Dazzle | |||
| 4. Blue Comet Blues | |||
| 5. Skorkiaan | |||
| 6. Shake, Rattle & Roll | |||
| 7. ABC Boogie | |||
| 8. See You Later, Alligator | |||
| 9. Rip It Up | |||
| 10. Caravan | |||
| 11. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On | |||
| 12. How Many | |||
| 13. Land of a Thousand Dances | |||
| 14. Skinny Minnie | |||
| 15. Harlem Nocturne | |||
| 16. Justine | |||
| 17. Seventh Son | |||
| 18. Mohair Sam | |||
| 19. New Orleans | |||
| 20. Hi-Heel Sneakers | |||
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See all 24 tracks on this disc
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Editorial Reviews
Tracks Include: Rock around the Clock, Razzle Dazzle, Shake Rattle and Roll, See You Later Alligator, Rip it Up, Land of a Thousand Dances, Skinny Minnie, the Seventh Son, La Cucaracha and More.
Best of Bill Haley,Bill Haley,Castle,Rock & Roll,Western Swing
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20th Century Masters: The Best Of Bill Haley & His Comets (Millennium Collection)
Bill Haley & His Comets Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000I9CO Release Date: 1999-04-20 |
Tracks:
- (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
- Shake, Rattle And Roll
- Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)
- Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)
- Rudy's Rock
- Razzle Dazzle
- The Saints Rock 'N' Roll
- Skinny Minnie
- R-O-C-K
- Burn That Candle
- Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
- See You Later, Alligator
Amazon.com
Bill Haley died convinced that his role in shaping and popularizing rock & roll was largely undervalued. If he was around today you'd have to agree with him, because his recorded legacy has been relegated on the one hand to bargain-basement hits collections and, on the other, to prohibitively expensive box sets that most folk will never hear. Haley's 20th Century Masters set is yet another too-slight selection of his groundbreaking work, though it does contain all the basics: "Rock Around the Clock," "Shake, Rattle and Roll," "See You Later, Alligator," and nine others. Haley is generally thought of as tame and conservative compared to, say, Elvis, which is probably true. But consider this unbelievably randy double-entendre from "Shake, Rattle and Roll": "I'm like a one-eyed cat / Peepin' in a seafood store." Yikes. If they'd chosen that as the theme to Happy Days, instead of "Rock Around the Clock" America would be a different nation today. --Daniel DurchholzCustomer Reviews:
Seniors also love Bill Haley & His Comets.......2007-05-10
Great Album From The 50's........2003-07-30
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection.......2003-03-25
A primer that leaves you asking for more.......2002-05-22
The Man Who Invented Rock and Roll.......2001-11-18
The songs selected to represent Haley's 1950s musical output is adequate. There could have been more selections but the series is one where only a small representative sample is chosen. FROM THE MASTER TAPES album is also excellent but that CD leaves off a Haley classic, "Skinny Minnie" (1958), Haley's last top 40 hit in the 1950s. So this CD is worth it just for the new remastered sound and the addition of "Skinny Minnie".
As noted in the liner notes, the term "rock and roll" was coined by Bill Haley in his songs "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie", which is included on the CD, and "Two Hound Dogs", not included on this CD. Alan Freed always said that he got the term "rock and roll" from Bill Haley. "Rock Around the Clock" (1954) was the first no.1 rock and roll record. Billboard bases its charts on that event. The Rock and Roll Era began when Haley hit no.1. People forget about all this today. But more than anyone else, Bill Haley is actually the man who invented rock and roll, before Elvis Presley, before Little Richard, before Jerry Lee Lewis, before Chuck Berry, before Buddy Holly. Haley was doing it YEARS before any of them. In fact, Bill Haley had an earlier rock and roll career not even covered on this CD! In April, 1953, Bill Haley had the first rock and roll hit on the national and Billboard charts, "Crazy, man, crazy" which had all the rock and roll elements, the "go go go go" chorus, youth rebellion, going to a party, the appeal to the "younger generation", the lead guitar break, drums, all of it! The song was the first REAL rock and roll record. Haley was the first rock and roll star. He had many rock records on Holiday/Essex records before Decca. The point to remember is this: Bill Haley did not stumble into rock and roll by accident or chance or by "stealing" his stuff from others. Haley planned it all out, he had an artistic vision. In every Haley song, there is a guitar solo, sometimes a drum solo, and sax soloing. This is not by accident. With regard to Elvis Presley, the King was a close friend of Haley and was in fact an opening act for Haley. Elvis respected Haley as an innovator and pioneer, as did his other friends and associates Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. Unfortunately, the rock critics and music fans have not been as appreciative. This is because not everything on this CD stands up well. Haley was a songwriter but he did COVERS that tended to destroy his reputation as an innovator. He didn't have a hit making machine like Little Richard at Specialty who had Bump Blackwell and John Marascalco to write songs for him. So not everything on the CD stands the test of time.
This music should be judged by its own criteria and standards. Bill Haley had a style that was different from the usual combo set up. Haley had a sax and a dance style orientation for his band. Judging his style with Elvis or Little Richard is like judging apples and oranges. Haley had his own style which was unique and remarkable. He had stuff that Elvis did not. This is therefore a unique listening experience.
This is the man who really invented rock and roll. The Rock Era began when "Rock Around the Clock" became the no.1. record for 8 weeks in 1955. Critics falsify these facts and engage in historical revision when it comes to Haley. But Haley got the last laugh. His vision endures. Rock and roll, a music idiom he invented, is still what we listen to, is still what we consider the greatest musical achievement of the 20th century. Buy this CD. You will enjoy the experience. And while only a very tiny selection of Haley's output, it gives the listener enough to appreciate the achievement of Bill Haley. Haley sang: "You gotta jump, you gotta jive, you gotta dance, to stay alive...rock...rock...rock...rock...everybody...go....go...go....go." It ain't Shakespeare, but it is rock and roll, man!
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The Best of Bill Haley and His Comets 1951-1954
Bill Haley & His Comets Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0001MZ7SW Release Date: 2004-03-30 |
Tracks:
- Rocket 88
- Green Tree Boogie
- Sundown Boogie
- Rock The Joint
- Dance With A Dolly
- Rockin' Chair On The Moon
- Stop Beatin' Round The Mulberry Bush
- Real Rock Drive
- Crazy Man, Crazy
- What'cha Gonna Do?
- Pat-A-Cake
- Fractured
- Live It Up
- Farewell, So Long, Goodbye
- I'll Be True
- Ten Little Indians
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Yes Indeed!
Customer Reviews:
The Best of Bill Haley and His Comets 1951-1954.......2005-04-17
rockin, swingin' rhythm and blues........2005-01-21
Before "Rock Around the Clock," Haley went crazy man, crazy.......2004-06-24
Clearly, Haley saw this R&B style music as his fugure, given by his own cover of Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88", which is considered by some to be the first R&R song and not "Rock Around the Clock," and Jimmy Preston's #6 R&B hit, "Rock This Joint," both included here. The latter definitely predicts his later style, with some piercing steel guitar reflecting the country roots, but it was also the song Alan Freed played over and over and yelling "rock and roll, everybody!" on the King of the Moondogs show.
Songs like "Green Tree Boogie" would have rhythms repeated in their later material as well as stuff done by Little Richard but more raucously. The steel guitar and loudly pronounced bass enhances the beat. The brisk "Dance With A Dolly" sounds like early Louis Jordan material, especially with the piano boogie solo in the middle, with a kind of nursery rhyme-like beat.
One day, Bill Haley asked some kids how they liked his music. One responded, "crazy man, crazy," which Haley wrote down on a napkin. This standout song which reached #12 on the charts in 1953, was the first blip he made before he exploded with "Rock Around The Clock." With its "go go go everybody" shouts in the middle, accompanied by the Comets' trademark country guitar, how could this miss? I heard this song via a compilation LP my father bought back in the 50's. Another song that was on that compilation was "Farewell, So Long, Goodbye," with its rude-noise bari-sax note after each time the chorus was sung. Or did the Comets have some really strong chili before the recording session?
Chanting harmony choruses were prevalent in a cover of Faye Adams' R&B hit "I'll Be True" and "Live It Up" with its opening tribal drums and frat choruses.
Another observation is how nursery rhymes were recycled with early rock and roll arrangements and additional lyrics. Again, this seems to echo what Louis Jordan's nursery rhyme medley, "School Days (When We Were Kids)" earlier. Here, Haley gives the R&R treatment to "Pat-A-Cake" as in Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker's man, and "Ten Little Indians," which despite its as stance at being condescending to Native Americans today, does put on a thrilling beat. "Stop Beatin' Round The Mulberry Bush" also borrows from a nursery rhyme, and it was just before this song came out that Haley and company ditched the cowboy outfits, donned the suits and ties, and became the Comets in 1952.
"Fractured" was based on slang kids were using then, as in "this music fractures me," showing the Haley was attentive of the times and his audience, the pop market with its white teenagers. And his R&R cover of the 40's standard "Chattanooga Choo Choo" shows him reaching back to the big band days, with the female backing chorus reminding the era of the original.
There's no denying Haley brought out a new brand of music to white audiences, and helped changed the face of popular music,--and I really dig this stuff-- but what must be understood is that his fame came at the expense of many black artists unable to reach white audiences due to the recording industry.
The headwaters of rock 'n' roll.......2004-04-30
Throughout the 40s Haley had made his way as a western swing artist. But when he signed with Essex Records in the early 50s, he began to cross-pollinate his country influences with beat-oriented R&B. The seeds of 1954's "Rock Around the Clock" can be heard loud and clear across the sixteen tracks anthologized here. What's particularly fine about these sides is their transitional nature - they're not country or R&B, nor are they yet fully transformed into rock 'n' roll. They're a hybrid in the making with slap bass and fine stick/rim work on the drums, but also featuring pedal steel guitar. There are danceable backbeats, but they often swing towards a western two-step rather than the more freestyle rhythms heard on the race chart. The sax and guitar clearly begin to define rock 'n' roll conventions, borrowing pieces from R&B, country and blues and fusing them into something entirely new. Danny Cedrone's iconic 6-string solo from "Rock Around the Clock," for example, was lifted from his own performance on 1952's "Rock the Joint." Imagine what that sounded like on Alan Freed's Cleveland radio show at the time!
Haley was unfairly reduced to a footnote for many years, obscured by the large shadows of Berry, Presley and others. What these tracks show ever so clearly is that he was fusing country and R&B into rock 'n' roll before the other "founders" were on the scene. So too was he writing prototypical rock 'n' roll songs, leaning on teen slang for "Crazy, Man, Crazy" and delving into his own imagination for "Rockin' Chair on the Moon."
This is a most welcome release in celebration of Rock 'n' Roll's 50th anniversary!
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Very Best of Bill Haley
Bill Haley & His Comets Manufacturer: Universal/Spectrum ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000258FG Release Date: 2000-08-22 |
Tracks:
- See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley, Bill Haley
- Shake, Rattle & Roll
- (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
- Kansas City
- Razzle Dazzle
- Rock the Joint
- What'd I Say
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
- Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
- Johnny B. Goode
- Rip It Up
- Saints Rock & Roll
Customer Reviews:
The man who brought rock'n'roll to the world.......2005-07-30
Bill Haley's roots were in country music and he began his career as a country singer - however, he experimented in various ways, taking ideas from R+B music to make his music a little different. By the time he secured a recording contract, his style had evolved into what we now know as rock'n'roll. Bill was hugely popular for a brief period in 1955 and 1956, but as Elvis took over as the leading star of rock'n'roll, record buyers quickly lost interest in Bill's music.
Rock around the clock was the first record that Bill recorded but made little impact when first released. The follow-up, Shake rattle and roll, did much better (a top five UK hit in 1954). Subsequently, Rock around the clock was featured in the soundtrack of Blackboard jungle and was re-issued, this time becoming a number one hit in Britain and America. Bill had further international hits with Rock-a-beating boogie, See you later alligator, The saints rock'n'roll, Rocking through the rye, Rip it up and Don't knock the rock, though these records were generally more popular in Britain (where there was no obvious competitor) than in America (where there were plenty of other rock'n'roll acts emerging).
This compilation includes all of Bill's classic hits and the best of his other recordings.
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25 Oldies Best - Volume 12
Various Artists Manufacturer: Selected Sound Carrier ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000MFBGHY |
Product Description
25 golden oldies from artists such as Bo Diddley, Bee Gees, Marvin Gaye, and Chubby Checkers. Includes class songs such as Love You Now, Boogie Shoes, To Love Somebody, and Rock Around the Clock.
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Best of Bill Haley
Bill Haley Manufacturer: Castle ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0000088ME Release Date: 1998-02-18 |
Tracks:
- (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
- Saints Rock & Roll
- Razzle Dazzle
- Blue Comet Blues
- Skorkiaan
- Shake, Rattle & Roll
- ABC Boogie
- See You Later, Alligator
- Rip It Up
- Caravan
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
- How Many
- Land of a Thousand Dances
- Skinny Minnie
- Harlem Nocturne
- Justine
- Seventh Son
- Mohair Sam
- New Orleans
- Hi-Heel Sneakers
- Hambone
- California Sun
- No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)
- Cucaracha
Album Details
Tracks Include: Rock around the Clock, Razzle Dazzle, Shake Rattle and Roll, See You Later Alligator, Rip it Up, Land of a Thousand Dances, Skinny Minnie, the Seventh Son, La Cucaracha and More.Customer Reviews:
The really bad stuff again........2000-10-16
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Best of Bill Haley & The Comets
Bill Haley and the Comets Manufacturer: Music Club Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00008G48P Release Date: 1999-09-07 |
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The Time-Life History of Rock 'N' Roll: Classics 1954-1956
Elvis Presley , Shirley and Lee , Hank Ballard and the Midnighters , Bill Doggett , Bill Haley and His Comets , Mickey and Sylvia , LaVern Baker , The El Dorados , Joe Turner , and The Chords Manufacturer: Time Life Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000S2YBH8 |
Product Description
The Time-Life History of Rock 'N' Roll - Rock `N' Roll Classics 1954-1956 - Various Artists [1993] 21 songs. Song list: Good Rockin' Tonight - Elvis Presley/Long Tall Sally - Little Richard/Sh-Boom - Chords/Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley/Work With Me Annie - Hank Ballard & Midnighters/Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & Teenagers/Brown Eyed Handsome Man - Chuck Berry/Speedoo - Cadillacs/Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins/Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino/Only You - Platters/Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & Comets/Let The Good Times Roll - Shirley & Lee/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley/Love Is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia/Tweedlee Dee - Lavern Baker/Shake Rattle & Roll - Joe Turner/At My Front Door - El Dorados/Be Bop A Lula - Gene Vincent/Honky Tonk, Part 2 - Bill Doggett/Oh What A Nite - Dells (1956 version)
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Very Best of
Bill Haley , and Comets Manufacturer: Mci ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000DB0H Release Date: 1998-03-05 |
Customer Reviews:
Once Again ... ..........2003-03-24
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The Best of Bill Haley & The Comets
Bill Haley Manufacturer: Marble Arch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0000010C1 Release Date: 2003-06-10 |
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Very Best of Bill Haley
Bill Haley & His Comets Manufacturer: Mastersound (Aus) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004W9PL Release Date: 2000-12-19 |
Tracks:
- See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley, Bill Haley
- Shake, Rattle & Roll
- (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
- Kansas City
- Razzle Dazzle
- Rock the Joint
- What'd I Say
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
- Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
- Johnny B. Goode
- Rip It Up
- Saints Rock & Roll
Rock Music:
