The early fifties marked the end of the austere post-war period, and the young people of the time were on the lookout for fun, excitement and sheer enjoyment. They were alive, full of energy and vigour. And so was the music they sang and danced to. It was called Rock and Roll.The years between 1954-1963 are generally regarded as the Golden Era of Rock and Roll.This 2-CD album features some of the hits of that period, and some of the best Rock and Roll artists…Ever!
The album opens with Elvis and “Jailhouse Rock.”The young white singer from Tupelo, Mississippi, whose style was a mixture of Blues, Country and Gospel, had yet to reach the height of his career.”Jailhouse Rock” is taken from the film of the same name, in which Elvis played the role of convict Vince Everett…
“…Everybody in the whole cell block…was a-dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock…”
Elvis also features on CD2 with “Heartbreak Hotel”…
“…Where I’ll be so lonely, I’ll be so lonely, Baby…I’ll be so lonely, I could die…”
Bill Haley is considered by many to be the true father of Rock and Roll.Born in Michigan in 1925,with his group, The Comets, Bill Haley epitomises the idea of “Shake, Rattle and Roll…”
“…Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans…Well, roll my breakfast ‘cause I’m a hungry man…” Also from Bill and his Comets we have “Rock Around The Clock.” And the wonderful “See You Later Alligator.”
(If you are a Bill Haley fan you must visit www.billhaley.co.uk)
Next up is Eddie Cochran with “Summertime Blues.” Eddie was a dynamic guitar player and this song is one of the best. Also on the album is one of my favourites,”Three Steps To Heaven.”Eddie was tragically killed in April 1960 when the cab he was in crashed in Chippenham, Wiltshire.Also in the cab was Eddie’s girlfriend Sharon Sheeley and singer Gene Vincent, both of whom escaped
with their lives (although Vincent suffered serious leg injuries.)
Jerry Lee Lewis is next with “Great Balls Of Fire.”Lewis was the man every father feared, and his reputation suffered even more when he married his thirteen-year old distant cousin. I don’t know about “great balls of fire”, but his career nearly went up in a “great puff of smoke.” He also features on this album with “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”…Goodness gracious…!!
Richard Wayne Penniman, perhaps better known as Little Richard, is next. Little Richard was the flamboyant face of Rock and Roll, with just a hint of Gospel thrown in. Here we have “Lucille”…”Please come back where you belong…” (not to be confused with “You’ve picked a fine time to leave me….”) Also on the album is the superlative “Tutti Frutti.”…”A-wop-bop-a-loo bop a-lop bam boom!”
Chuck Berry features with “Johnny B Goode.”…”Go, Johnny, go, go!”. Charles Edward Anderson Berry from St Louis was in the forefront of the R&B and Rock and Roll scenes. He was imprisoned at one stage in his career, on a slightly dubious charge, and on his release he recorded “No Particular Place To Go.” also on this album… ”Ridin’ along in my automobile, My baby beside me at the wheel, Cruisin’ and playin’ my radio, With no particular place to go…”
The Everley Brothers feature with “Wake Up Little Susie”, an amusing ditty, and two other hits,”Claudette” (“pretty little thing, Claudette”) and “Bye Bye Love.”The Everley Brothers had a reputation for never smiling, but with hits like these, they had lots to smile about.
Charles Hardin Holly, known to all Rock and Roll fans as the much-loved and sadly-missed Buddy with The Crickets, is next with the classic “Oh Boy”… “…All my love, all my kissin’…you don’t know what you’ve been a-missin…Oh Boy.” Buddy also features with “Peggy Sue”, which I have heard was going to be called “Cindy Lou”…not sure if it would have been the same… “…If you knew…Cindy Lou…then you’d know why I feel blue…”…Nah!
If I said up next is J P Richardson, you might say…who? If I said, The Big Bopper…ah now. Here we have “Chantilly Lace.”… “…Ah Baby.. you know what I like…”
And then Richard Valenzuela…Ritchie Valens, of course, featured here with the superb “La Bamba.”
(Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens were among others tragically killed in February 1959 when their airplane crashed near Iowa, in America’s Midwest.Forever after this date is known as “The Day The Music Died.”)
Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers feature with “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”Frankie was from Harlem and was a promising artist. Sadly, he died aged only 25,from a drug overdose.
Fats Domino, who described Rock and Roll as “only what I been playing for years in New Orleans” is next with “Blueberry Hill”… “…Ah found mah thrill…on Blueberry Hill…” Lucky guy! Fats also gives us “Ain’t That A Shame.”
Liverpool born Billy Fury, the James Dean look-alike, who nearly had the Beatles (when they were Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Stu Sutcliffe) as his backing group, is on this album with “Halfway To Paradise.” which reached No 3 in the charts. Plagued by ill-health since a childhood bout of rheumatic fever, Fury collapsed and died in 1983.
The evergreen Cliff features with his hit “Move It”, when he was pure Rock and Roll. “…The rhythm that’s the answer to your heart and soul…well, let me tell you, Baby, it’s called Rock and Roll…”
Neil Sedaka, the Brooklyn-born singer/songwriter, features with the excellent “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”… “…I beg of you, don’t say goodbye…can’t we give our love another try…Think of all that we’ve been through.’cause breaking up is hard to do…”Also from Neil we have “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.”… “…my little tomboy now wears satins and lace…”
Born in Bronx in 1939,Dion (DiMucci) had a lucky escape when he turned down the offer of a ride on the plane which killed Holly, Valens and the Big Bopper.Here we have his offering, “Runaround Sue.”…”Keep away from that girl…!”
Del Shannon, the original rocker, with songs full of brooding, loss and rejection, features on this album with “Hats Off To Larry.”… “…Hats off to Larry…he’s gone and broke your heart…just like you broke mine, when you said we had to part…” Also “Runaway,” his 1961 hit… “…As I walk along I wonder, what went wrong with our love….” Del Shannon committed suicide in 1990 by overdosing on anti-depressants.
Ricky Valence’s song “Tell Laura I Love Her” was one of a number of so-called “death discs” and is about a man who dies in a stock car race, trying to get enough money to buy his girl a wedding ring… …”Tell Laura not to cry…my love for her will never die.”
Whoa…enough doom and gloom. Let’s get back to Rockin’.
Bobby Vee features with “Rubberball”…”Just like a …rubber ball…. I’ll come bouncin’ back to you…”and Connie Francis catches her erring Romeo out with “Lipstick On Your Collar.”…”Mine is baby pink…”
The Platters feature with “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” which those of you old enough to recall will link with an advert for paraffin.
Gene Vincent, the rockabilly rebel, who also died tragically young (seems to be a bit of a problem with Rock and Roll singers) features with the instantly recognisable “Be Bop A Lula” (she’s my baby.)
I have to mention one of my other favourites,”Diana” by Paul Anka, which was played ad nauseam when the Prince of Wales became engaged to Lady Diana Spencer, although the lyrics seem poignant now… “…Oh please, stay by me, Diana…”
There are fifty tracks on this marvellous album and I’m sure to have missed some, but I think I have included the best-known artists and tracks. Also featured are Danny and The Juniors, B Bumble and the Stingers and The Marcels.
So there you have it. Fifty great Rock ‘N’ Roll hits from the Golden Era.Whether you lived through the era, just missed it, or are far too young to remember it, I think you will enjoy this album.
The cover of The No 1 Rock ‘N’ Roll Album features a Fifties Jukebox.The album is produced by Polygram and is also available as a double cassette. I purchased my copy through Britannia Music Club, but the album should be available in all good record shops.
Enjoy.
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