Episode 20: “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 20: "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets
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Bill Haley and the Comets

Welcome to episode twenty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

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Episode 16: “Crazy Man Crazy” by Bill Haley and the Comets

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 16: "Crazy Man Crazy" by Bill Haley and the Comets
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Bill Haley and the Saddlemen

Welcome to episode sixteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Crazy Man Crazy” by Bill Haley and the Comets. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 16: “Crazy Man Crazy” by Bill Haley and the Comets”

“Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
"Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats
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A poster showing Jackie Brenston in front with his saxophone, while Ike Turner glowers at him from the piano in the background

Welcome to episode eleven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading ““Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats”

Episode 4: “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” by Louis Jordan

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 4: "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" by Louis Jordan
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Welcome to episode four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at Louis Jordan and “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie”

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Episode 2: “Roll ‘Em Pete” by Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 2: "Roll 'Em Pete" by Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson
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Big Joe Turner

Here’s the second episode, on “Roll ‘Em Pete” by Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson. One erratum before we continue — in the episode, I say that “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” follows a particular formula common in hokum songs. That’s not actually true for the original version — it is true for Bill Haley’s cover version, and Elvis’ and the versions after them, but in Joe Turner’s version the part we now know as the chorus didn’t come in until near the end. Sorry about the mistake.

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