#585 Bill Haley & His Comets - Shake Rattle and Roll

A fascinating document illustrating the transition between not-rock and rock.

On one hand, its tough to make the case that Shake, Rattle, and Roll and Rock around the Clock aren't rock and roll songs, and they're certainly part of its history. And the album has plenty of rock's funtimes bounce and loose swagger.

But this also has swing and big band roots with its walked upright bass, backing horns, and to-and-fro dancability. In fact, there's a lot less guitar than you might expect: they're basically relegated to solos: later rock songs would use guitar chords to give the song its harmonic body, but here that role is filled by horn sections. At most, a few of these song employ proto-funk rhythmic guitar swipes. One of those things you take for granted in rock, the guitar backbone, but listen to Shake, Rattle and Roll some time: there's about 8 guitar notes on it; even the solo is a sax solo.

On the other hand, Haley had his start as a country singer, and his jaunty beats, occasional guitar licks,and slappy bass approach reflect that side.

It's role as history aside, the album's perfectly fun, full of ebullience and energy, expertly performed. The whole thing's a bit cleaner than I'd like, with scant few rough edges and nary a hint of danger; there's no urgency, but hey, these things take time.

The skulking swing of 13 Women is a surprising gem, enough to push this to the low end of 4/5