But five of the six core members of the original comets who played with the band between 1949 and 1962 are still with us. Bill haleys comets, known for 1950s and 60s hits such as rock around the clock, tour today under the leadership of original bass player and musician, al rappa. As only legal successors of the original performers this band keeps bill haleys music alive in its original fifties style with original instrumentation, stage outfits and stage acrobatics. This is an excellent 3 cd compilation of bill haley s 1950 s recordings. This list does not include releases on which the comets worked as session musicians, and primarily focuses on releases during haleys. The band sometimes referred to as bill haley and the comets or bill haley s comets. Bill haley and his hall of fame comets that created the sound that went around the world. Bill haley and his comets first burst onto the music scene in the early 1950 s and were one of the earliest groups of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of white america and the rest of the world.
The legend of bill haley and his comets was created. Bill haleys comets also called bill haley and his comets or bill haley and the comets are known as the first rock and roll band. Version, lange, titel, label nummer, format medium, datum. Bill haleys new comets is a rock and roll band founded in 1987 by singer joe bill clifton. The group earned a place in the guinness book of world records for selling 43 million copies of its greatest hit, rock around the clock. Razzle dazzle calhoun by bill haley and his comets 1954s shake rattle and roll began a nearly twoyear string of consecutive top20 charted singles for haleys comets. Rock around the clock is the third album of rock and roll music by bill haley and his comets. Bill haley and the comets were the first rock and roll act to appear on the iconic. The exhaustive and exhausting guide to black and silver london american label variants for collectors with too much time on their hands it is deduced that decca did not introduce this type of logo until mid 1960. Bill haley rocking chair on the moon 1952 by david henry. A true innovator and a rock n roll legend collected here are some great sides that featured on bill haleys wonderful original ep releases of the 1950s. During the labor day weekend in 1952, the saddlemen were renamed bill haley with haleys comets inspired by the supposedly official pronunciation of halleys comet, a name suggested by wpwa radio station program director, bob johnson, where bill haley had a live radio program from noon to 1 p. Following on from this, less than a year later the band received a call from sam katzman of columbia pictures who wanted to make a movie starring bill and the comets. It was produced by bmovie king sam katzman who would produce several elvis presley films in the 1960s and directed by fred f.
The following list references only their original release and generally does not include compilation albums with a few exceptions or single reissues. Bill haley and his comets infectious rock anthem became the no. Everybody razzle dazzle if its all night long now, heres a dance everyone can do its the. The band is now led by original bass and trumpet player, al rappa, seen on left in 1960s photo. Bill haley and his comets razzle dazzle widescreen hd. Later, alligator, shake, rattle and roll, rocket 88, skinny minnie, and razzle dazzle, and has sold over 60 million records worldwide. The only legal successors of the original band featuring original comets member pete davenport on steel guitar. On april 12 1954 when bill haley and his comets entered the studio to cut their first single for decca their new label under the direction of milt gabler who worked with billie holiday little did they know that the little tune recorded in a hurry at the end of the session would change the face of the popular music. Title is listed as bill haley scrapbook on covers and spine, and bill haleys scrapbook on labels. Marshall is the ultimate and perfect guide for this nostalgic trip back through time, because he was in on the very start of it all.
Although the quality of the recording is not like today s standards, this dvd has been released primarily for historical value as it was the last ever professional performance by bill haley outside of the usa. His crazy, man crazy from 1953 was the first rock and roll record to make the pop charts. The band sometimes referred to as bill haley and the comets or bill haleys comets. The b side of the second cover with the bill haley picture has a box logo for brunswick. Al rappas version of bill haleys comets have recorded tracks with joey welz, including the 2011 album rock and roll survivors released on. Bill haley biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. With some early stuff addedalthough a nice set, it could have been a lot better if each cd had a. During the labor day weekend in 1952, the saddlemen were renamed bill haley with haley s comets inspired by the supposedly official pronunciation of halley s comet, a name suggested by wpwa radio station program director, bob johnson, where bill haley had a live radio program from noon to 1 p. After 1963 there no founding members left in the comets and it simply became bill haleys touring group with a revolving cast of new members. Easier for us to see now with our access to everything. Good set of ten cds of bill haleys first 11 lpsa good range of rocknroll. His act is considered one of the earliest architects of rockabilly and most of all classic rock and roll music. A short introductory info on bill haley and the comets.
This is an excellent 3 cd compilation of bill haleys 1950s recordings. Bill haley in the movies bill haley and his comets. He is the real deal and literally lived the history day by day. Today is the birthday of rock and roll pioneer bill haley 19251981. By the 1970s, bill had fallen victim to alcoholism and increasing paranoia. Louis, thinking about joining a little rhythm and blues combo to make some extra money. Under the forum london the exhaustive and exhausting guide to black and silver london american label variants for collectors with too much time on their hands it is deduced that decca did not introduce this type of logo until mid 1960. As only legal successors of the original performers this band keeps bill haley s music alive in its original fifties style with original instrumentation, stage outfits and stage acrobatics. Bill haley s new comets is a rock and roll band founded in 1987 by singer joe bill clifton.
Haleys musical career began in the 1940s, and he made his first recordings as a country swing artist in 1946. Bill haley biography birthday, trivia american bandleader. The band, also known by the names bill haley and the comets and bill haleys comets and variations thereof, was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of white america and the. This was going to be the fictional rags to riches story of the bands rise to fame. Bill haley and the comets were founded and led by bill haley 1925 1981. Bill haley and his comets discography uk page 2 45cat. Provided to youtube by believe sas razzle dazzle bill haley calhoun calhoun bill haley and his comets. Bill haley shake, rattle and roll lyrics by oswaldo. The frontlaminated picture sleeve shows just light shelfwear with a little age. Bill haley and his hall of fame comets that created the sound that went around the. Bill haleys disciples had yet to catch the bug, but his infectious rhythms and beat would soon be seducing their dormant talents. Bill haley spent the remainder of his life touring and playing rock n roll revival shows, although rock around the clock made a surprise return to the billboard top 40 after it was used as the original theme song for the tv show happy days in 1974. Marshall lytle, bassist for bill haleys original comets, takes us with him on a colorful and fascinating journey through the history of rock and roll. The selection of recording is quite comprehensive, the sound is good and, at the time of writing january 2019 the price is quite reasonable.
Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Bill haley and his comets origins of rock and roll. The john lane version of bill haleys comets recorded a live album in the early 2000s, along with a christmas single. Bill haley was 30 in 1955, a family man with several children and a job as leader of a mildly popular band, the comets. Introduction to bill haley and the comets mental itch. Try disabling any ad blockers and refreshing this page. Bill haley s comets, known for 1950 s and 60s hits such as rock around the clock, tour today under the leadership of original bass player and musician, al rappa. William john clifton haley was a pioneering american rock and roll musician.
Jul 09, 2010 bill haley and his comets infectious rock anthem became the no. In that spring of 1952, when bill haley was recording rock the joint, twentyone year old chuck berry was a hairdresser in st. Bill haley and his comets first burst onto the music scene in the early 1950s and were one of the earliest groups of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of white america and the rest of the world. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. And roll, the saints rock and roll, mambo rock, razzledazzle and rock. April 12, 2004 fifty years ago monday, history was made when bill haley and the comets recorded rock around the clock considered by some critics to be the firstever rock n roll song. Although the quality of the recording is not like todays standards, this dvd has been released primarily for historical value as it was the last ever professional performance by bill haley outside of the usa. After 1963 there no founding members left in the comets and it simply became bill haley s touring group with a revolving cast of new members. Bill haley and his comets were an american rock and roll band, founded in 1952 and continued until haleys death on february 9, 1981. Bill haley and his comets, performing in a small town dance hall, set him. Kids danced in the aisles of theaters when they heard it blaring over the speakers, and the song provoked rioting here and in europe. Structurally most of haleys big tunes are jump blues, of the type that had been popular with black audiences for many years prior to haleys mainstream success. 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.
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