Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
Encyclopedia
Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie is a 1952 song composed by Bill Haley
and first recorded by The Esquire Boys in 1952. Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the song in 1955 for Decca. The song was featured in the 1956 movie Rock Around the Clock
.
Danny Cedrone
recorded the first version of the song in 1952 with his group The Esquire Boys. The Esquire Boys recorded two versions of the song. The first version was released as a 78 single as Rainbow 200 backed with "If It's Love You Want To Borrow" with Kay Karol in 1952. The second recording of "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie", released as Guyden 705-A, reached no. 42 on the Cash Box pop singles chart on October 30, 1954.
"Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955 and was releaseed as a single in the U.S. on Decca, 29713, backed with "Burn That Candle", as Brunswick 5509 in the UK, as Festival SP45-807 in Australia, and as Decca 333510A in Argentina as "Boogie En Rock". "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" reached #23 on Billboard
, #24 on Cash Box, and #4 on the RU charts in January, 1956. The single appeared on the 1955 Decca album Rock Around the Clock
. The recording was featured on the 1989 song "Swing the Mood
" by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
.
on Mercury, Johnny Curtis with the Toppers on Tops, Gabe Drake and his Rockets with the Orchestra under Maury Laws on Prom 1135, Willie Restum and His Music on Capitol, Georges Richard on the French 1957 LP Paris Microsill Gem 81, Teddy Raye on a 1961 EP, Fontana 460 788, the Deep River Boys
on HMV in 1956, Ivor and the Basil Kirchin Band in the UK, Artie Malvin
and the Rhythm Rockets on Waldorf Music Hall Records MH 33 149 in 1955 on the Rock and Roll album, Artie Malvin with the Deerhill Dudes on the Waldorf 33 BU 2 Rock 'N Roll Jamboree album in 1958, the Cuban group Los Llopis, The Treniers
on Okeh 7023, Truck Stop in 1973, Bogusław Wyrobek, Orchester Klaus Kovarik as an Austrian 45 Donauland single as part of a medley "Rock 'n' Roll-Party", Omar Lamparter, the Dutch band The Tykes, Boris & The Telstars, The Alleycats, the Japanese band Levi Dexter and Magic on 1993 Meldac album, The Original Band, Phil Haley and His Comments, Jean Rich, Mary Dunne, and Sharron Skelton on the UK TV show Oh Boy in 1980, The Danish Sharks, the German band Hugo Strasser Und Sein Tanzorchester on the 1979 LP Die Tanzplatte Des Jahres '80, Major Schiffer & Majories, Czech band Olympic on their 1982 Supraphon album Rock and Roll, Rock-Rolf & Hans Satelliter in Sweden, Australian band Trevor Gleeson & Chiodo on an EP, The Jodimars
in 1955 for Capitol which was unissued, Boston Rockabilly on the 2005 album It's About Time on REG, J. Lawrence Cook on player piano originally issued as QRS 9224 and reissued as part of a 3-song medley entitled "Bill Haley Hits No. 1" on QRS XP-440, and the Brian Setzer
Orchestra in 2000 as a bonus track on the album Vavoom! released in Japan.
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
and first recorded by The Esquire Boys in 1952. Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the song in 1955 for Decca. The song was featured in the 1956 movie Rock Around the Clock
Rock Around the Clock (film)
Rock Around the Clock is the title of a 1956 Musical film that featured Bill Haley and His Comets along with Alan Freed, The Platters, Tony Martinez and His Band, and Freddie Bell and His Bellboys. It was produced by B-movie king Sam Katzman and directed by Fred F...
.
Danny Cedrone
Danny Cedrone
Danny Cedrone was an American guitarist and bandleader, best known for his work with Bill Haley & His Comets on their epochal "Rock Around the Clock" in 1954.-Biography:...
recorded the first version of the song in 1952 with his group The Esquire Boys. The Esquire Boys recorded two versions of the song. The first version was released as a 78 single as Rainbow 200 backed with "If It's Love You Want To Borrow" with Kay Karol in 1952. The second recording of "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie", released as Guyden 705-A, reached no. 42 on the Cash Box pop singles chart on October 30, 1954.
"Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955 and was releaseed as a single in the U.S. on Decca, 29713, backed with "Burn That Candle", as Brunswick 5509 in the UK, as Festival SP45-807 in Australia, and as Decca 333510A in Argentina as "Boogie En Rock". "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" reached #23 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, #24 on Cash Box, and #4 on the RU charts in January, 1956. The single appeared on the 1955 Decca album Rock Around the Clock
Rock Around the Clock (album)
Rock Around the Clock was the third album of rock and roll music by Bill Haley and His Comets. Released by Decca Records in December 1955 it was, like the two albums that preceded it, a compilation album of previously issued singles. Most of album's contents were in fact previously issued by Decca...
. The recording was featured on the 1989 song "Swing the Mood
Swing the Mood
"Swing the Mood" is a song by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers from their debut album The Album.Produced by the father and son DJ team of Andy and John Pickles, "Swing the Mood" was a cut and paste record which fused a number of early rock and roll records with liberal use of Glenn Miller's "In the...
" by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them...
.
Other Recordings
The song was also recorded by Buddy MorrowBuddy Morrow
Buddy Morrow was an American trombonist and bandleader. He is known for his mastery of the upper range which is evident on records such as "The Golden Trombone," as well as his ballad playing.- His life :Morrow was once a member of The Tonight Show Band...
on Mercury, Johnny Curtis with the Toppers on Tops, Gabe Drake and his Rockets with the Orchestra under Maury Laws on Prom 1135, Willie Restum and His Music on Capitol, Georges Richard on the French 1957 LP Paris Microsill Gem 81, Teddy Raye on a 1961 EP, Fontana 460 788, the Deep River Boys
Deep River Boys
The Deep River Boys were an American gospel music group active from the mid 1930s and into the 1980s. The group performed spirituals, gospel, and R&B.-Members:...
on HMV in 1956, Ivor and the Basil Kirchin Band in the UK, Artie Malvin
Artie Malvin
Artie Malvin was a composer and vocalist who was the baritone member of The Crew Chiefs, and he also sang with Glenn Miller's band....
and the Rhythm Rockets on Waldorf Music Hall Records MH 33 149 in 1955 on the Rock and Roll album, Artie Malvin with the Deerhill Dudes on the Waldorf 33 BU 2 Rock 'N Roll Jamboree album in 1958, the Cuban group Los Llopis, The Treniers
The Treniers
The Treniers were an American R&B and jump blues musical group, led by identical twins Cliff and Claude Trenier. Their Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra included Don Hill on saxophone, Shifty Henry and later James Johnson on bass, Henry Green on drums and Gene Gilbeaux on piano, with the Treniers Twins and...
on Okeh 7023, Truck Stop in 1973, Bogusław Wyrobek, Orchester Klaus Kovarik as an Austrian 45 Donauland single as part of a medley "Rock 'n' Roll-Party", Omar Lamparter, the Dutch band The Tykes, Boris & The Telstars, The Alleycats, the Japanese band Levi Dexter and Magic on 1993 Meldac album, The Original Band, Phil Haley and His Comments, Jean Rich, Mary Dunne, and Sharron Skelton on the UK TV show Oh Boy in 1980, The Danish Sharks, the German band Hugo Strasser Und Sein Tanzorchester on the 1979 LP Die Tanzplatte Des Jahres '80, Major Schiffer & Majories, Czech band Olympic on their 1982 Supraphon album Rock and Roll, Rock-Rolf & Hans Satelliter in Sweden, Australian band Trevor Gleeson & Chiodo on an EP, The Jodimars
The Jodimars
The Jodimars was an American rock and roll band that was formed in the summer of 1955 and remained active until 1958. The band was created by former members of Bill Haley & His Comets who had quit that group in a salary dispute...
in 1955 for Capitol which was unissued, Boston Rockabilly on the 2005 album It's About Time on REG, J. Lawrence Cook on player piano originally issued as QRS 9224 and reissued as part of a 3-song medley entitled "Bill Haley Hits No. 1" on QRS XP-440, and the Brian Setzer
Brian Setzer
Brian Setzer is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He first found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly revival group The Stray Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with a jazz-oriented big band.-Career:Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York...
Orchestra in 2000 as a bonus track on the album Vavoom! released in Japan.
Sources
- Dawson, Jim. Rock Around the Clock: The Record That Started the Rock Revolution. Backbeat Books, 2005.
- Haley, John W., and John von Hoelle. Sound and Glory. Dyne-American, 1990.
- Swenson, John. Bill Haley. Star Books, 1982.