Bill Haley Connection: 29 Roots & Covers

Bill Haley was the first boss of Rock'n' Roll. Bear Family presents with this compilation the music that has influenced Haley and - in addition - a cross-genre collection of the best cover versions of his classic songs. The CD album covers two decades with recordings from 1938 - 1959! Sound influences of the early yearsWhen Haley along with his Saddlemen turned to Boogie themes and R&B tracks during the late 1940s, Bill - coming from Western Swing - almost automatically mixed the styles and developed an early form of Rock 'n' Roll music. Most of the black Rhythm & Blues originals, which reach as far back as early Jazz, are included here and range from Count Basie (1938) and Jimmy Preston to Danny Overbea (1953).

Bill Haley's cover songsEverybody did it back then. Everybody covered extensively black originals, Pat Boone and Elvis Presley, and Bill Haley. Some of the most beautiful originals can be found here, such as the early original version of Rock Around The Clock by Sonny Dae & His Knights, the danceable Corrine, Corrina by Big Joe Turner, the massive I'll Be True To You by Faye Adams, plus Little Richard, Sally Starr, Dickie Thompson and many more.

Bill's songs in versions of other artists and obscure materialHaley and His Comets developed a completely unique sound that other musicians could no longer ignore. That's how Haley was often covered. The white crooner Alan Dale, for example, and also the artists of the so-called 'budget' labels on both sides of the Atlantic, Tops-Waldorf in the USA and Embassy in England, stood out. These obscure recordings together with a wicked 'Sound Alike' from Switzerland's Hula Hawaiians can be experienced here, are fun and are sought-after and rare material for collectors. The CD comes with an excessive booklet with many rare photos, label images and the fantastic liner notes of Bill Haley expert Chris Gardner!