Rockin' the Oldies
Encyclopedia
Rockin' the Oldies was the fifth album of rock and roll
music by Bill Haley and His Comets. Produced by Milt Gabler
, the album was released by Decca Records
in 1957. It was the first of three "themed albums" that Haley recorded for Decca. On this occasion the album consisted of re-recordings of popular standards, some dating back 30 years or more, but rearranged in a rock and roll style. For example, Haley's version of Larry Clinton's "The Dipsy Doodle" included new lyrics referring to Haley's past hits, "Shake, Rattle and Roll
" and "See You Later Alligator
". The album did not produce any hit singles.
The recording sessions that produced this album are notable for not including Haley's usual saxophone
player, Rudy Pompilli
. Sidelined by illness, his place was taken by Frankie Scott.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
music by Bill Haley and His Comets. Produced by Milt Gabler
Milt Gabler
Milton Gabler was an American record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording industry of the 20th century.-Early life:...
, the album was released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1957. It was the first of three "themed albums" that Haley recorded for Decca. On this occasion the album consisted of re-recordings of popular standards, some dating back 30 years or more, but rearranged in a rock and roll style. For example, Haley's version of Larry Clinton's "The Dipsy Doodle" included new lyrics referring to Haley's past hits, "Shake, Rattle and Roll
Shake, Rattle and Roll
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E. Calhoun. It was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, and most successfully by Bill Haley & His Comets...
" and "See You Later Alligator
See You Later Alligator
"See You Later, Alligator" is the title of an iconic rock and roll song of the 1950s.Originally entitled "Later Alligator", the song, based on a 12-bar blues chord structure , was written by Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry and first recorded by him under his professional name "Bobby...
". The album did not produce any hit singles.
The recording sessions that produced this album are notable for not including Haley's usual saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player, Rudy Pompilli
Rudy Pompilli
Rudy Pompilli in Chester, Pennsylvania on April 16, 1924 — died February 5, 1976) was an American musician best known for playing tenor saxophone with Bill Haley and His Comets.-Biography:...
. Sidelined by illness, his place was taken by Frankie Scott.
Track listing
- The Dipsy Doodle (Larry ClintonLarry ClintonLarry Clinton was a trumpeter who became a prominent American bandleader.-Biography:Clinton was born in Brooklyn, New York. He became a versatile musician, capable of playing trumpet, trombone, and clarinet...
) - You Can't Stop Me from Dreaming
- Apple Blossom Time
- Moon Over MiamiMoon Over Miami (song)The popular Jazz song Moon Over Miami was written in 1935 by songwriters Joe Burke and Edgar Leslie.There were several different recordings available on 78 rpm during the early months of 1936, Al Collins Band of London, UK recorded Moon over Miami on January 31, 1936 for Decca Records . The most...
(Joe Burke, Edgar Leslie) - Is it True What They Say About Dixie?
- Carolina in the MorningCarolina in the Morning"Carolina in the Morning" is a popular song with words by Gus Kahn and music by Walter Donaldson, first published in 1922 by Jerome H. Remick & Co....
(Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) - Miss You
- Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm GonePlease Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. Original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer. The song was published in 1930...
(Sam H. Stept, Sidney Clare) - Ain't Misbehavin'Ain't Misbehavin' (song)"Ain't Misbehavin" is a 1929 song written by Thomas "Fats" Waller, Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf . Waller recorded the original version that year for Victor Records and also later performed the song in the 1943 film Stormy Weather. It was used in the off-broadway musical Connie's Hot Chocolates...
(Harry Brooks, Fats Waller, Andy Razaf) - One Sweet Letter from You
- I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a LetterI'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" is a 1935 popular song with music by Fred E. Ahlert and lyrics by Joe Young. It has been recorded many times, and has become a standard of the Great American Songbook....
(Joe Young, Fred E. Ahlert) - Somebody Else is Taking My Place
Personnel
- Bill HaleyBill HaleyBill 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:...
– rhythm guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Franny BeecherFranny BeecherFrancis "Franny" Beecher , also known as Frank Beecher, was lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz...
– lead guitar - Billy Williamson – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Johnny GrandeJohnny GrandeJohn A. Grande , better known as Johnny Grande, was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets.-Life and Career:...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Al Rex – bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Ralph Jones – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Frankie Scott - tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...