S.O.D. "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets

11/13/2015     We are mostly familiar with this one from the 70s TV series, Happy Days.  Haley was not the first artist to record this tune, although his version made the song famous and ranked highest on the charts.  He released two versions, one in May of 1954 and the 2nd in May, 1955.  Aside from being ranked at #158 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, it almost single-handedly made the genre of Rock & Roll an international craze.

     Eight pieces had a part on the original track including 4 guitars, string bass, drums, piano and tenor saxophone, with Haley on rhythm guitar and lead vocals.  The song got its big break in the 1955 film "Blackboard Jungle," which still brings about controversy as to how the song made it to the soundtrack in the first place.

     Written by American songwriter and lyricist Max Freedman along with American songwriter, actor, producer and storyteller, James E. Myers, it earned the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1982.  Guinness Book of World Records recognized it as the best-selling rock and roll single of all time and 2nd best pop song, with 25 million units sold, 2nd only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".  

     Bill Haley and the Comets were like The Beatles of their era.