In The Beginning...
"Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets was considered by many to be the "first" rock and roll record, but there are other contenders. For example, some of the contenders are: "The Fat Man" by Fats Domino (1949), "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston (1951) and "Sh-Boom" by The Cords (March, 1954). In July of 1954, Bill Haley and his Comets recorded a song written by a 63 year old Tin Pan Alley composer and his partner. They were Max Freedman and Jimmy DeKnight. The record didn't do much for sales until it was tacked onto the opening credits of the film, "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955. It soon became the national anthem of rock and roll. In 1956, it was the theme song of an Allan Freed film also called, "Rock Around the Clock".In the 1970's, Rock Around the Clock, also became the theme of the film, "American Graffiti," the theme song of the television show, "Happy Days" and was featured in the film, "Superman." Besides, it had a good beat and you could dance to it. Hollywood in 1954 provided teenagers with the look and attitude of the new rebellion. Marlon Brando mumbled and brooded his way through a motorcycle gang's night of terror in "The Wild One." He wore the new teen uniform: motorcycle jacket, t-shirt and blue jeans. His sneering face was framed in sideburns. When a blonde asked him what he was rebelling against, Brando replied, "What do ya got?" July of 1954 also saw a sideburned 19- year-old sing his first sessions for the Sun recording company of Memphis. By August, Elvis Presley had his first local hit, "That's All Right." He was quickly becoming a sensation in the South. Meanwhile, on September 8, 1954, Alan Freed moved his radio rock and roll program to station WINS in New York City. His programs were also broadcast in Europe. Freed again organized legendary rock and roll shows, now in the northeast of the country. September also saw the release of "Work With Me Annie," and its logical sequel, "Annie Had A Baby" by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. In October, Elvis had his second single, "Good Rocking Tonight," released by Sun Records. Some used the term "rock-a-billy" for this type of music (rock sung by a hillbilly), but most listeners recognized the sound as rock and roll. November of that first big year for rock provided several songs for couples in the back seats of parked cars or in dimly lit rooms of houses devoid of parents. The Moonglows came out with "Sincerely" and a California group called The Penguins, provided a rock and roll standard, "Earth Angel". Most importantly, Bill Haley and the Comets made it to the national charts with their record, "Crazy Man Crazy". The year 1954 was a big one for rock and roll. The music (and the movement) went from being almost an underground event to national prominence. In March of that year, the original version of "Sh-Boom," by the Chords was released. A cover version by a white group, the Crew Cuts, made number one in America. In May, Atlantic Records released the rock and roll classic, "Shake, Rattle and Roll," by Joe Turner. Bill Haley released his version of the song in June and in October had a smash hit with "Dim, Dim the Lights." By June, teens were making out to "Gloria" by the Cadillacs.Arguably, then, the true birth of rock and roll - in the sense of its national, even international, popularity and prominence - was in the year 1954. Forty-five years old and going strong, for the babyboomers have not only remained faithful to the form, but still thrill to its unique sound. Indeed, many babyboomers remain among the top rock performers still active at the age of 50 and over. This fact finally dispels the myth that rock and roll is just for the young; rock does not adhere to such superficial boundaries. In fact, subsequent generations have joined us and contributed significantly to the many variations of rock. Although so many names deserve recognition here, space simply does not permit the homage due to all our great rock artists. MOE has chosen four major forces in the world of rock to discuss briefly: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. First, however, a far too brief tribute to the Motown phenomenon.THE MOTOWN MAGICJanuary 1959 When former GM assembly-line worker Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 from his family to start Motown Records, not even this fierce hustler (and must-be mogul) could've known he'd change the face of America. "Motown was the first bridge between white and black music," says Smokey Robinson, who was there from the start. "It was one of the great barrier breakers." Strict, secretive, and something of an assembly line in its own right, Motown drew its talent right off the teeming streets of Detroit, and Gordy proved to have an instinct for star making rivaled only by the classic movie studios. The list of Motown's legendary performers is immense, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and the writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (the hit-making machine within the machine). While rival company Stax, out of Memphis, was considered more deeply soulful, Motown had its fair share of grit while cultivating the concept of the crossover hit. "From the beginning," Smokey says, "Berry told us we were going to make music for everybody. I hear it on the radio now, almost as much as I did then -- and it still holds up."SOME IMPRESSIVE STATSElvis charted 149 songs on Billboard's Hot 100, more than any other artist. He spent more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist.(80) Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive #1 hits. (10) He is second only to the Beatles in total of #1 hits. (17) No wonder they call him "The King". Back in 1953, a truck driver for Crown Electric in Memphis wandered into Sun Records on his lunch hour to record two songs as a birthday present for his mother. Sam Phillips, the owner, wasn't impressed then or when the young Presley tried again in January of 1954. In July, 1954, Elvis was back in the studio singing "That's Alright Mama" and Phillips, finally recognizing potential, knew he had the breakthrough star he had been looking for.Phillips had found a young white man who had the sound and feel of the black R&B artists he had been recording. Elvis joined Sun Records and what would come to be called Sun's "Million Dollar Quartet" - the foursome of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Presley.By 1955 Elvis had recorded five songs for Sun Records and had gained some popularity in the South. He also acquired a new manager, Colonel Tom Parker, a natural marketer and businessman. Parker launched a campaign aimed at garnishing national exposure for Elvis.Elvis first appeared on CBS' "Dorsey Brothers Stage Show". Then he moved on to "The Steve Allen Show", where he sang "Hound Dog" to a real dog. From his performance on Milton Berle's "Texaco Star Theatre", he got the nickname "Elvis the Pelvis" - which worried the family-minded Ed Sullivan. hence, the now famous "from the waist up only" appearances on the Sullivan show. It is estimated that one of these Sullivan performances was viewed by 52 million people - one out of every three Americans. Parker wanted to move Elvis away from Sun Records so he began some fancy negotiations. According to the legend, Parker hawked the contract to Decca, Mercury, Columbia and Atlantic - pitting them against one another to get progressively higher bids. Ultimately, RCA bought Elvis' contract for $40,000, a huge sum for that time. Because he was under 21 and therefore, still a minor, Elvis' father, Vernon, had to sign the contract.In February of 1956, Elvis recorded his first five songs for RCA. Among these was "Heartbreak Hotel", which quickly rose to the top of the charts to become Elvis' first Number 1 hit. The second half of the decade was good to Elvis. In fact, eight of his lifetime top ten songs are from the '50's - this, in spite of the fact that from 1958 through 1959, Elvis was in the U.S. Army.Circumstances would catapult Elvis into a stardom unknown before or since by any single artist. And, the road would wind into a sad and tragic end for The King. Millions flock to Graceland in Memphis every year to pay homage to America's king of rock and roll.
In the 1970's, Rock Around the Clock, also became the theme of the film, "American Graffiti," the theme song of the television show, "Happy Days" and was featured in the film, "Superman." Besides, it had a good beat and you could dance to it. Hollywood in 1954 provided teenagers with the look and attitude of the new rebellion. Marlon Brando mumbled and brooded his way through a motorcycle gang's night of terror in "The Wild One." He wore the new teen uniform: motorcycle jacket, t-shirt and blue jeans. His sneering face was framed in sideburns. When a blonde asked him what he was rebelling against, Brando replied, "What do ya got?"
July of 1954 also saw a sideburned 19- year-old sing his first sessions for the Sun recording company of Memphis. By August, Elvis Presley had his first local hit, "That's All Right." He was quickly becoming a sensation in the South. Meanwhile, on September 8, 1954, Alan Freed moved his radio rock and roll program to station WINS in New York City. His programs were also broadcast in Europe. Freed again organized legendary rock and roll shows, now in the northeast of the country. September also saw the release of "Work With Me Annie," and its logical sequel, "Annie Had A Baby" by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters.
In October, Elvis had his second single, "Good Rocking Tonight," released by Sun Records. Some used the term "rock-a-billy" for this type of music (rock sung by a hillbilly), but most listeners recognized the sound as rock and roll. November of that first big year for rock provided several songs for couples in the back seats of parked cars or in dimly lit rooms of houses devoid of parents. The Moonglows came out with "Sincerely" and a California group called The Penguins, provided a rock and roll standard, "Earth Angel". Most importantly, Bill Haley and the Comets made it to the national charts with their record, "Crazy Man Crazy".
The year 1954 was a big one for rock and roll. The music (and the movement) went from being almost an underground event to national prominence. In March of that year, the original version of "Sh-Boom," by the Chords was released. A cover version by a white group, the Crew Cuts, made number one in America. In May, Atlantic Records released the rock and roll classic, "Shake, Rattle and Roll," by Joe Turner. Bill Haley released his version of the song in June and in October had a smash hit with "Dim, Dim the Lights." By June, teens were making out to "Gloria" by the Cadillacs.
Arguably, then, the true birth of rock and roll - in the sense of its national, even international, popularity and prominence - was in the year 1954. Forty-five years old and going strong, for the babyboomers have not only remained faithful to the form, but still thrill to its unique sound. Indeed, many babyboomers remain among the top rock performers still active at the age of 50 and over. This fact finally dispels the myth that rock and roll is just for the young; rock does not adhere to such superficial boundaries. In fact, subsequent generations have joined us and contributed significantly to the many variations of rock. Although so many names deserve recognition here, space simply does not permit the homage due to all our great rock artists. MOE has chosen four major forces in the world of rock to discuss briefly: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. First, however, a far too brief tribute to the Motown phenomenon.
THE MOTOWN MAGICJanuary 1959
January 1959
When former GM assembly-line worker Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 from his family to start Motown Records, not even this fierce hustler (and must-be mogul) could've known he'd change the face of America. "Motown was the first bridge between white and black music," says Smokey Robinson, who was there from the start. "It was one of the great barrier breakers." Strict, secretive, and something of an assembly line in its own right, Motown drew its talent right off the teeming streets of Detroit, and Gordy proved to have an instinct for star making rivaled only by the classic movie studios.
The list of Motown's legendary performers is immense, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and the writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (the hit-making machine within the machine). While rival company Stax, out of Memphis, was considered more deeply soulful, Motown had its fair share of grit while cultivating the concept of the crossover hit. "From the beginning," Smokey says, "Berry told us we were going to make music for everybody. I hear it on the radio now, almost as much as I did then -- and it still holds up."
Elvis charted 149 songs on Billboard's Hot 100, more than any other artist. He spent more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist.(80) Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive #1 hits. (10) He is second only to the Beatles in total of #1 hits. (17) No wonder they call him "The King".
Back in 1953, a truck driver for Crown Electric in Memphis wandered into Sun Records on his lunch hour to record two songs as a birthday present for his mother. Sam Phillips, the owner, wasn't impressed then or when the young Presley tried again in January of 1954. In July, 1954, Elvis was back in the studio singing "That's Alright Mama" and Phillips, finally recognizing potential, knew he had the breakthrough star he had been looking for.
Phillips had found a young white man who had the sound and feel of the black R&B artists he had been recording. Elvis joined Sun Records and what would come to be called Sun's "Million Dollar Quartet" - the foursome of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Presley.
By 1955 Elvis had recorded five songs for Sun Records and had gained some popularity in the South. He also acquired a new manager, Colonel Tom Parker, a natural marketer and businessman. Parker launched a campaign aimed at garnishing national exposure for Elvis.
Elvis first appeared on CBS' "Dorsey Brothers Stage Show". Then he moved on to "The Steve Allen Show", where he sang "Hound Dog" to a real dog. From his performance on Milton Berle's "Texaco Star Theatre", he got the nickname "Elvis the Pelvis" - which worried the family-minded Ed Sullivan. hence, the now famous "from the waist up only" appearances on the Sullivan show. It is estimated that one of these Sullivan performances was viewed by 52 million people - one out of every three Americans.
Parker wanted to move Elvis away from Sun Records so he began some fancy negotiations. According to the legend, Parker hawked the contract to Decca, Mercury, Columbia and Atlantic - pitting them against one another to get progressively higher bids. Ultimately, RCA bought Elvis' contract for $40,000, a huge sum for that time. Because he was under 21 and therefore, still a minor, Elvis' father, Vernon, had to sign the contract.
In February of 1956, Elvis recorded his first five songs for RCA. Among these was "Heartbreak Hotel", which quickly rose to the top of the charts to become Elvis' first Number 1 hit. The second half of the decade was good to Elvis. In fact, eight of his lifetime top ten songs are from the '50's - this, in spite of the fact that from 1958 through 1959, Elvis was in the U.S. Army.Circumstances would catapult Elvis into a stardom unknown before or since by any single artist. And, the road would wind into a sad and tragic end for The King. Millions flock to Graceland in Memphis every year to pay homage to America's king of rock and roll.
Drummer Pete Best didn´t feel comfortable in the band and so, in 1962, Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) replaced him. Ringo had played drums before this in a group called "Rory Storm and The Hurricanes". The same year, Sutcliffe died in Hamburg and a young man named Paul McCartney said that he could play the bass. In October 1962, their first single, "Love Me Do" was released and it was a hit.
After this success, they were touring the country, and with the new song, "Please Please Me" they achieved first place on the European hitlist. More early songs that went to the top of the charts included "She Loves You" and "From Me To You". What became known as´Beatlemania´ was now sweeping Europe and North America. The same year they visited Sweden for the first time. The USA impatiently awaited them. Brian Epstein and their producer George Martin wanted to take the group there. But The Beatles said: "We´re not goin´ to America until we´ve got a number one there!"
So instead they went to France, and after a show they got a telegram to the hotel: "Capitol Records congratulates you, number one in US charts." After their France tour, they went to the USA and, of course, they made a great success. After the big tour in America they went back to England where they started to make their first movie, "A Hard Day´s Night." The year was 1965 and now The Beatles were touring the whole world. They were awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth 11. "Help" was the name of both their new record and their second movie. It was a million-seller.
At the end of 1965 they played The Shea Stadium in New York, in front of a record public of 55, 000 people. Nobody had played for so many people before. Their music started now to be more varied and experimental; George Harrison was inspired by East Indian music. The "Rubber Soul" album reflected this new influence. They were now touring Asia with new songs, such as "Paperback Writer" and they went to the Philippines, but they were by now feeling physically exhausted and there was disagreement among the group. ´Beatlemania´ was ubiquitous and overwhelming. At the end of 1966 they played Candlestick Park in San Francisco. This was to be their last official gig.
The Beatles had wanted more time to make records and 1967 they made "Sergeant Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band" and the singles, "All You Need Is Love", "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever". "The records are now our performance", said The Beatles. Those post-tour recordings count among The Beatles greatest. Later they produced their own tv/film, "Magical Mystery Tour", also a recording.
In 1968 they made the highly regarded "White Album" and in 1969 they recorded "Let It Be". All members of the group agreed it was time to retire soon, but they thought that "Let It Be" was too sad a recording to end on, so they did "Abbey Road". Their last performance was on the roof of the "Apple" [Records] building in London. In April 1970, The Beatles officially declared their retirement.
Individual members, however, continued to make music on their own. Their records are still selling to this day and the new "Anthology" series has sold very well and testifies once again to the greatness of The Beatles, arguably the most popular musical group of the century.
After this success, they
were touring the country, and with the
new song, "Please Please Me" they
achieved first place on the European
hitlist. More early songs that went to
the top of the charts included "She
Loves You" and "From Me To You". What
became known as´Beatlemania´ was now
sweeping Europe and North America. The
same year they visited Sweden for the
first time. The USA impatiently awaited
them. Brian Epstein and their producer
George Martin wanted to take the group
there. But The Beatles said: "We´re not
goin´ to America until we´ve got a
number one there!"
The
year was 1965 and now The Beatles were
touring the whole world. They were
awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth 11.
"Help" was the name of both their new
record and their second movie. It was a
million-seller.
