Rock and Roll

One of the popular golden oldies from our era is “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” There have been numerous versions, including those by Big Joe Turner, Bill Haley & His Comets, and the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley.

Sometimes the one you love isn’t good for you–or just isn’t good. “Shake, Rattle and Roll” was written in 1954 by Charles Calhoun, which was one of the professional names of Jesse Stone, who was a pianist, arranger, songwriter, and record producer. Big Joe Turner was the first to record it. Turner had a long career as a singer, starting in the 1920s and ‘30s through the 1980s. He was also one of the pioneers of rock and roll. Turner’s version of “Shake, Rattle and Roll” went to #1 on the R&B Chart and #22 on the Pop Chart. Jesse Stone and Atlantic Record executives Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ergeun are in the shouting chorus on the song. Sam “The Man” Taylor is on the saxophone. It is on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Here are the lyrics to the version by Big Joe Turner:

“Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots ‘n pans

Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin’ through
Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin’ through
I can’t believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you

I believe to the soul you’re the devil and now I know
I believe to the soul you’re the devil and now I know
Well, the more I work, the faster my money goes

I said shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won’t do right to save your doggone soul
(Yeah, blow son)

I’m like a one-eyed cat peepin’ in a seafood store
I’m like a one-eyed cat peepin’ in a seafood store
Well, I can look at you telll you ain’t no child no more

Ah, shake, rattle and roll, shake shake, rattle and roll
Shake shake, rattle and roll, shake shake, rattle and roll
You won’t do nothin’ to save your doggone soul

I get over the hill and way down underneath
I get over the hill and way down underneath
You make me roll my eyes, and even make me grit my teeth

I said shake, rattle and roll, shake rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won’t do nothin’ to save your doggone soul

Shake, rattle and roll…”
Of course, there have been numerous covers. Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the song, changing some of the lyrics to be less suggestive and the beat to be a little quicker. They released it in 1954 as well, and their version rose to #7 on the Billboard Pop Chart, spending many, many weeks on the Top 40.

Here is  “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” by Bill Haley & His Comets.

Elvis Presley also recorded the song with his own version of the lyrics, his own temp, and in his own inimitable style. It was released in 1956.

Here is  “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” by Elvis Presley.

Because the song’s a classic, the list of covers goes on and on — The Beatles, Sam Cooke, Johnny Horton, Arthur Conley, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Huey Lewis and the News, Doc Watson, and Buddy Holly to name a few.

If you’re interested in Big Joe Turner and many others from this first decade of rock and roll, please consider this: Shake, Rattle and Roll: Original Hits and Rarities of the 50’s

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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