Bill Haley and the Comets - For Your Dance Party! (1953-1954)

A collection of four EP's that collects recordings from 1951-1953. Those who haven't heard this material before will be astonished to discover bona fide rock & roll dating from three to four years earlier than 1954-1955 -- The beginning of his Decca era -- more commonly associated with the music's birth. Haley's sound is similar to the country-boogie of the late '40s, retaining the steel guitar prominent in much of the era's country music, but it's clearly more driving and forward-looking. The songs owe a lot to jump R&B but are transformed into the basic model of rock & roll with slapping bass, ricky-tick drums, and extended electric guitar riffing. Listen to his version of Jackie Brenston's 'Rocket 88' (which has itself been pegged as one of the first rock & roll records) and you'll be astounded to note the basics of rockabilly already in place -- in 1951. The low buzzing, distorted guitar on 'Green Tree Boogie' (also from 1951) is also a revelation, as is the guitar solo on 1952's 'Rock the Joint,' which is almost identical to the much more famous one on 'Rock Around the Clock.' The later sides introduce a honking sax, which would become such a prominent feature in 1950s rock & roll. Includes 'Crazy Man Crazy,' the first rock & roll song to make the Top 20.

1953 EP Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets (US Essex EP-102)

Here all the 4EP tracks in alphabetic order:

Bill Haley - Chattanooga Choo Choo
Bill Haley - Crazy Man, Crazy
Bill Haley - Dance With A Dolly (With A Hole In Her Stockin')
Bill Haley - Farewell, So Long, Goobye
Bill Haley - Fractured
Bill Haley - Green Tree Boogie
Bill Haley - I'll Be True
Bill Haley - Jukebox Cannon Ball
Bill Haley - Live It Up
Bill Haley - Pat-A-Cake
Bill Haley - Real Rock Drive
Bill Haley - Rock The Joint
Bill Haley - Rocket '88'
Bill Haley - Rocking Chair On The Moon
Bill Haley - Stop Beatin' Around The Mulberry Bush
Bill Haley - What'cha Gonna Do

1954 EP Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets (US Essex EP-117)

1954 EP Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets (US Essex EP-118)

1954 EP Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets (US Essex EP-119)

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.