Rockin' the Joint (Bill Haley & His Comets album)
Encyclopedia
Rockin' the Joint is a compilation album
of rock and roll
music by Bill Haley & His Comets
. Released on Decca Records
in August 1958, it was the group's seventh album. The album consisted of recordings that, for the most part, had only been released previously as singles or on EP
s; all of the recordings were produced by Milt Gabler
. The title comes from the album's lead track, a 1957 re-recording of Haley's 1952 hit, "Rock the Joint
", which was labelled "New Rock the Joint" on this release. Also included for the first time on album were the hits "See You Later Alligator
", "Rip it Up
", and "The Saints Rock and Roll
". One track, "The Beak Speaks", was an instrumental featuring guitarist Franny Beecher
. The only track copied from a previous Haley album is "Burn That Candle", which was also included on the Rock Around the Clock
compilation.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of 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...
music by Bill Haley & His Comets
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 on 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 August 1958, it was the group's seventh album. The album consisted of recordings that, for the most part, had only been released previously as singles or on EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s; all of the recordings were 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 title comes from the album's lead track, a 1957 re-recording of Haley's 1952 hit, "Rock the Joint
Rock the Joint
"Rock the Joint", also known as "We're Gonna Rock This Joint Tonight", is a boogie song recorded by various proto-rock and roll singers, notably Jimmy Preston and early rock and roll singers, most notably Bill Haley...
", which was labelled "New Rock the Joint" on this release. Also included for the first time on album were the hits "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...
", "Rip it Up
Rip It Up (song)
"Rip It Up" is a song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Bill Haley and his Comets and Little Richard in 1956. The Little Richard version hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart for two weeks and peaked at number seventeen on the pop chart.-Cover...
", and "The Saints Rock and Roll
When the Saints Go Marching In
"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
". One track, "The Beak Speaks", was an instrumental featuring guitarist Franny Beecher
Franny Beecher
Francis "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...
. The only track copied from a previous Haley album is "Burn That Candle", which was also included on the Rock Around the Clock
Rock Around the Clock (album)
Rock Around the Clock was the third album of rock and roll music by Bill Haley and His Comets. Released by Decca Records in December 1955 it was, like the two albums that preceded it, a compilation album of previously issued singles. Most of album's contents were in fact previously issued by Decca...
compilation.
Track listing
- New Rock the JointRock the Joint"Rock the Joint", also known as "We're Gonna Rock This Joint Tonight", is a boogie song recorded by various proto-rock and roll singers, notably Jimmy Preston and early rock and roll singers, most notably Bill Haley...
(Harry Crafton, Wendell Keene, Harry Bagby) - Move It On Over (Hank Williams)
- How Many? (Hal Barnes, Howard Blair)
- See You Later AlligatorSee 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...
(Robert Guidry) - The Beak Speaks (Franny Beecher, Billy Williamson)
- Forty Cups of Coffee (Dan Overbea)
- The Saints Rock and RollWhen the Saints Go Marching In"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
(Traditional, arranged and adapted by Bill Haley, Milt Gabler) - Sway with Me (Bill Haley, Milt Gabler, Rusty Keefer, Catherine Cafra)
- It's a Sin (Fred RoseFred RoseFred Rose may refer to:*Fred Rose , publisher of country music*Fred Rose , Polish-born communist politician and trade union organiser in Canada*Fred Rose , cyclist...
, Zeb Turner) - Burn That Candle (Winfield ScottWinfield Scott (songwriter)Winfield Scott was a songwriter who wrote or co-wrote the hit songs "Tweedle Dee" for LaVern Baker and "Return to Sender" for Elvis Presley. "Return to Sender", written for the Presley film Girls! Girls! Girls!, was his biggest hit, selling over 14 million copies in the U.S...
) - Rock LomondThe Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond"The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond", or simply "Loch Lomond" for short, is a well-known traditional Scottish song . It was first published in 1841 in Vocal Melodies of Scotland....
(Traditional, arranged by Susan Heather) - Rip it UpRip It Up (song)"Rip It Up" is a song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Bill Haley and his Comets and Little Richard in 1956. The Little Richard version hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart for two weeks and peaked at number seventeen on the pop chart.-Cover...
(John Marascalco, Robert Blackwell)
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 on all but 5 - 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; vocalization on 4 12 - 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...
; bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on 8 - 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 ....
on all but 7 10 - 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...
on all but 5 11 - Cliff LeemanCliff LeemanCliff Leeman was an American jazz drummer.Leeman played percussion with the Portland Symphony at age 13, and toured as a xylophonist on the vaudeville circuit late in the 1920s...
- drums on 7 10 - Frankie Scott - tenor saxophone on 5 11
- Joe Olivier - guitar on 9