Haley's Juke Box
Encyclopedia
Haley's Juke Box: Songs of the Bill Haley Generation (often listed in reference books as Bill Haley's Jukebox), was the twelfth album by Bill Haley & His Comets
. Released by Warner Bros. Records
in the summer of 1960, the album was produced by George Avakian
.
With this record, Haley attempted to return to his roots as a country music
singer, by recording an album of classic country and western songs, one of which, "Candy Kisses", Haley had previously recorded in 1948 for his first single with the Four Aces of Western Swing. The album was also marketed as a rock and roll
album, due to the band's reputation. "Candy Kisses" was released as a single (backed by the non-album instrumental, "Tamiami"), but it did not chart. "Tamiami", however, reached no. 79 on the Cashbox pop chart.
According to Haley's biographer, John Swenson, Haley's career was at a low ebb at the time this album was released, and according to Swenson Haley himself ended up promoting the album on radio stations in the Chester, Pennsylvania
area; after some last singles in 1961, Haley's two-year contract with Warner Bros. collapsed. Afterwards, Haley began recording for a series of smaller labels in the United States, although he found some success recording for Orfeon Records
in Mexico
beginning in 1961. His next American album of new recordings, Twisting Knights at the Roundtable on Roulette Records
, would not appear until 1962.
Although Haley would continue to record country-western style tracks on occasion during the 1960s, most notably during his tenure with the Mexican
label, Orfeon Records
, Haley wouldn't record another full country album until the 1971 release, Rock Around the Country for Sonet Records
. That later album would include new versions of two tracks featured on Haley's Juke Box: "No Letter Today" and "There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder". According to the recording session files compiled by music historian Chris Gardner, rehearsal recordings of most of the songs on this album exist, but have as yet not been released commercially.
box set, The Warner Brothers Years and More.
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
. Released by Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in the summer of 1960, the album was produced by George Avakian
George Avakian
George Avakian is an American record producer and executive known particularly for his work with Columbia Records, and his production of albums by Miles Davis and other notable jazz musicians....
.
With this record, Haley attempted to return to his roots as a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, by recording an album of classic country and western songs, one of which, "Candy Kisses", Haley had previously recorded in 1948 for his first single with the Four Aces of Western Swing. The album was also marketed as a rock and roll
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...
album, due to the band's reputation. "Candy Kisses" was released as a single (backed by the non-album instrumental, "Tamiami"), but it did not chart. "Tamiami", however, reached no. 79 on the Cashbox pop chart.
According to Haley's biographer, John Swenson, Haley's career was at a low ebb at the time this album was released, and according to Swenson Haley himself ended up promoting the album on radio stations in the Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
area; after some last singles in 1961, Haley's two-year contract with Warner Bros. collapsed. Afterwards, Haley began recording for a series of smaller labels in the United States, although he found some success recording for Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records was a Turkish producer of phonographs and gramophone records. The first record company in Turkey, it was founded by the Blumenthal Family in 1912. The company was based in Constantinople and was actively producing records up until 1924 when it was purchased by Columbia Records...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
beginning in 1961. His next American album of new recordings, Twisting Knights at the Roundtable on Roulette Records
Roulette Records
Roulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
, would not appear until 1962.
Although Haley would continue to record country-western style tracks on occasion during the 1960s, most notably during his tenure with the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
label, Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records was a Turkish producer of phonographs and gramophone records. The first record company in Turkey, it was founded by the Blumenthal Family in 1912. The company was based in Constantinople and was actively producing records up until 1924 when it was purchased by Columbia Records...
, Haley wouldn't record another full country album until the 1971 release, Rock Around the Country for Sonet Records
Sonet Records
Sonet Records is a jazz record label operating as an imprint of Universal Music Sweden. It was founded in Sweden in 1956.Sonet Records was established by Sven Lindholm and Gunnar Bergström, who managed the label into the 1980s. Dag Haeggqvist, the owner of Gazell Records, became an executive of the...
. That later album would include new versions of two tracks featured on Haley's Juke Box: "No Letter Today" and "There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder". According to the recording session files compiled by music historian Chris Gardner, rehearsal recordings of most of the songs on this album exist, but have as yet not been released commercially.
Track listing
- Singing the BluesSinging the Blues"Singing the Blues" is a popular song written by Melvin Endsley and published in 1956. The best-known recording was released in October 1956 by Guy Mitchell and spent nine weeks at #1 on the U.S...
- Candy Kisses
- No Letter Today
- This is the Thanks I Get
- Bouquet of Roses
- There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder
- Cold, Cold HeartCold, Cold Heart"Cold, Cold Heart" is a country music and popular music song, written by Hank Williams. This blues ballad is both a classic of honky tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook....
(Hank Williams) - The Wild Side of Life
- AnytimeAnytime (1921 song)"Anytime" is a popular song written by Herbert "Happy" Lawson. The song was published in 1939.The song is best known in a 1952 recording by Eddie Fisher...
(Herbert Lawson) - Afraid
- I Don't Hurt Anymore
- DetourDetour (song)"Detour " is a Western swing ballad written by Paul Westmoreland in 1945. The original version was by Jimmy Walker with Paul Westmoreland and His Pecos River Boys, issued around the beginning of November 1945....
(Paul WestmorelandPaul WestmorelandPaul "Okie Paul" Westmoreland was a musician, songwriter, and disc jockey in Sacramento, California.Born in Oklahoma, he moved to California during the Okie migration....
)
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... - 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... - 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 ....
- Rudy PompilliRudy PompilliRudy 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:...
- 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... - Al Rappa - bass guitar
Reissues
Several different LP versions of Haley's Juke Box were released, and the album was also issued to CD. In 1999 its contents were also incorporated into the Bear Family RecordsBear Family Records
Bear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks.-History:...
box set, The Warner Brothers Years and More.