First Rock n Roll hit, Jeff Delaney

I’d like to share with you a discussion and debate with some old chums over the years, on the question of what would have been the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll record. There are several strong contenders but it seems to me for people of our vintage, your selection would depend on where you lived in the 1950’s.

In the early 1950’s in America there were hundreds and hundreds of radio licences granted for transmission to the public, and most were music stations specialising in various types of the new and current styles. In Britain there was just one and our BBC took it on to carefully control what the British public should be listening to and keep us safe. In short we were starved of the dangerous new music becoming popular in America. Therefore we’d be forgiven if, in Britain we’d select Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock as the first. But it’s an interesting chain of events.

In America one of the upcoming bands was Bill Haley and the Saddlemen (later re-named the Comets), described as Hillbilly/Country style (we’d now use the term Rockabilly). Their records were selling well and had preformed very successfully and provided exciting concerts. Their next step was to sign a lucrative record contract with a major record company – Decca. It was 1954 and a new hit record was needed to continue their momentum and get a studio booked. The song chosen was a cover of something new called “Thirteen Women, And Only One Man”. Well it was the mid 1950’s and in the middle of the Cold War with the threat of nuclear conflict ever present, this song lyric was a tale of what might be left after “The Bomb”. Very cheerful!

The recording of this “A” side finished, there was only a short time to select and record a “B” side. The chosen song was a cover of a 12 bar blues song called “Rock Around The Clock” but only time for two takes. The recording engineer pulled the best of the takes and spliced into the track we know today.

1955 and the single was released in America but the sales were somewhat underwhelming. Now follows two key events. Someone somewhere thought that the record should be flipped – The B” side should be the “A” side and the listening public agreed and there at last was the monster hit. Meanwhile in Hollywood, MGM studios were shooting a version of a book by Evan Hunter called “Blackboard Jungle”. A story that dealt with some social issues of the day – education, juvenile delinquency, urban violence, and to add to the mix they used “Rock Around The Clock” to be played over the opening credits. This hard hitting film of anger and violence was infectious and reports of rioting from cinema audiences made the headlines.

The film did get a release in Britain and young and eager audiences here flocked to cinemas for a chance to hear this record at last. The record got its release here in 1956 and was then the first “Rock “N” Roll record to reach the No. 1 spot in this country.

I find it quite amusing that the record company still didn’t know what musical genre to put it under and the original pressing had a label that read; “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” Bill Haley and the Comets (Novelty Foxtrot)

For me, even for my tender years at the time, I’ll never forget when I became aware of the electric guitar solo in the first break in the track. What is this! An electric guitar! Can I hear more. That's what had me hooked. The gentleman responsible was a Danny Cedrone, who had played and recorded with Bill Haley before. At the recording there was so little time to arrange a guitar break that Danny just used a guitar like he’d used before and it seemed to fit. Bill decided he didn’t need a lead guitarist so he never became a regular member of the Comets. For his work on the recording he received $21!

In a final twist Danny Cedrone later fell down a staircase and died. It was just a day or two before his 34th birthday, but also before the release of this record. He never saw the success he helped to create.

Oh well, keep on Rockin’ (or novelty foxtrotting if you prefer)

Note from editor Maybe you have views on this, if so, send them to the news editor and we will publish in future newsletters.

John Dick.