From 1953, please enjoy (unknown to all but the most devoted cogniscenti) greaseballs Sonny Dae and the Knights and the original recorded version of the song that started it all -- "Rock Around the Clock."
You know, I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about this sort of stuff, but I must confess, until today I had no idea this record existed, although I think I knew vaguely that somebody had cut the song earlier than Bill Haley. Actually, at least according to Wiki, the familiar Haley version is not technically a cover; the Tin Pan Alley pros who wrote the song apparently had Haley in mind when they penned it, but for whatever reason he was too busy to fit in into his schedule until 1954. And the rest, as they say, is bunk (i.e., history).
In any case, as always, a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded the first reader who gleans its relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
Pre-rock and roll songs that became rock and roll hits?
ReplyDeleteOr a list of we did it first songs?
Is it about greaseballs? Because I love the term greaseballs. Greaseballs. See?
ReplyDeleteSongs by bands that sound like they were in "Animal House"?
ReplyDeleteHey Ms. Rosa, watch it with the Greaseball remark, eh.
ReplyDeletePardon me, I meant cogniscenti greaseball. :P
ReplyDeleteSongs about partying? Dancing? "Rocking"?
ReplyDeleteSongs referencing time or clocks?
Songs about some activity that going to happen all night long?
Lowball songs that unexpectedly reference Buddhist theology? (Seventh Heaven)
ReplyDeleteNo to almost all, but Mr. Fowler is getting warm.
ReplyDeleteSongs with repeated words? ("rock, rock, rock!")
ReplyDeleteRock songs with a certain timing signature?
ReplyDeleteNo, and no.
ReplyDelete:-)
Bands whose name is punny? Bands with time-type names?
ReplyDeleteSongs about John Cameron Swayze?
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of interesting - this, no matter how you slice it, isn't rock and roll, but Bill Haley's version is. Class, discuss.
ReplyDeleteOkay, a clue.
ReplyDeleteThink "rock around the clock" as a metaphor for something else. Not sexual.
The clock is the important thing....
:-)
Songs about vigorous circular motion?
ReplyDeleteSongs about time?
ReplyDeleteROTP(lumber)
by the way this version sucks!
Last clue:
ReplyDeleteIt's got something to do with the passage of time.
you should check out Jim Dawson's book on the back-story of Rock around the Clock. Excellent stuff
ReplyDelete