![]() ![]() This was Haley’s biggest hit, and one of the most important records in rock and roll history. For their first recording session on April 12, 1954, with session musicians Danny Cedrone on electric guitar and Billy Gussak on drums (standing in for Boccelli), Bill Haley and the Comets recorded “ Rock Around The Clock“. In early 1954, Haley added Joey Ambrose on tenor sax, and soon after this the band joined Decca Records label of New York City. “ Crazy Man, Crazy” was the first rock and roll song to be televised nationally when it was used on the soundtrack for a 1953 television play starring James Dean. Haley later claimed it sold a million copies, but this is considered an exaggeration. In 1953, Haley scored his first national success with an original song (co-written by an uncredited Marshall Lytle) called “ Crazy Man, Crazy“, a phrase Haley said he heard from his teen aged audience During this time (and indeed, as late as the fall of 1955), Haley did not have a permanent lead guitar player, choosing to use session musicians on record and either playing lead guitar himself or having Williamson play steel solos, instead. Soon after renaming the band, Haley hired his first drummer, Charlie Higler, though Higler was soon replaced by Dick Boccelli (a.k.a Dick Richards). Grande usually played piano on record, but switched to accordion for live shows as it was more portable than a piano and easier to deal with during musical numbers that involved a lot of dancing around. At that time, the members were Haley, Grande, Williamson, and Lytle. The new name was adopted in the fall of 1952. A friend of Haley’s, making note of the common alternative pronunciation of the name Halley’s Comet to rhyme with Bailey, suggested that Haley call his band “ The Comets“. It soon became apparent that a new name was needed to fit the music the band was now playing. īoth songs were released under the increasingly incongruous Saddlemen name. Recorded for Holiday Records label in 1951 which sold well and was followed up a cover of a 1940s rhythm and blues song called “ Rock the Joint” in 1952. Haley began his rock and roll career with a cover of “ Rocket 88” Al Thompson was the group’s first bass player, followed by Al Rex and then Marshall Lytle. The original members of this group were Bill Haley, pianist and accordion player Johnny Grande and steel guitarist Billy Williamson. Many “Saddlemen” recordings would not be released until the 1970s and 1980s. The band initially formed as “ Bill Haley and The Saddlemen” c.1949-1950, and performed mostly country and western songs, though occasionally with a bluesy feel. They walked across the street to Atlantic played it for them Atlantic recorded it on their subsidiary East-West, under the name “ The Kingsmen” and it went to # 35 Billboard September 1958. Weekend (You will only get this with Russ & Gary) In 1958 The Comets, minus Bill Haley, presented a song to Decca they turned it down, but gave The Comets permission to record it elsewhere if they could find anyone interested. Rock around the Clock was released again in 1974 by MCA, went to # 39, was popular due to Happy Days Themeġ3. Skinny Minnie /Decca 31/58/ # 22 Billboard ġ2. Rudy’s Rock /Decca 34/56/ # 34 Billboard ġ1. ![]() Rip it Up /Decca 3/56/ # 25 Billboard ġ0. Saints Rock N’ Roll /B side/4/7/56/ # 18 Billboard ĩ. See You later Alligator /Decca 24/56/ # 6 Billboard ĨB. Razzle-Dazzle /Decca 23/55/ # 15 Billboard ĦA. Rock Around The Clock /Decca 24/55 (was recorded in 54)/ # 1 for 8 weeks Billboard ĥ. Mambo Rock /B side /3/5/55/ # 18 Billboard Ĥ. Birth of The Boogie /Decca 29/55/ # 17 Billboard ģB. Dim Dim the Lights /Decca 20/54/ # 11 Billboard ģA. Shake Rattle & Roll /Decca 21/54/ # 7 Billboard Ģ. Now we can deal with The Comets and all of their Billboard Charted Songs. ![]() Crazy Man, Crazy /1953/the breakout song for Bill Haley and the Comets/this would be the first Rock and Roll song used for a TV play, with James Dean Rock This Joint /1952/Bill Haley and The Saddlemen ĥ. Rocket 88 /1951/Bill Haley and The Saddlemen/their first departure from Country Ĥ. My Mom Heard Me Crying /1949/Probably Four Aces of Swing ģ. A Yodeler’s Lullaby /1948/Probably the Four Aces of Swing Ģ. Here are some of the very early Country Songs:ġ. ![]()
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