Over the coming months I'll be adding a selection of interesting recordings encoded in MP3 format.
Be warned however, due to the near CD quality,  the files are large and will take some time to download!
 

MP3 Shake Rattle & Roll '89
Kenny Denton, the producer of Bill's final album, came up with this re-mix in 1989. Apparently it had been Bill's wish to re-record his first album for Sonet with up to date arrangements similar to those employed so successfully by Denton on "Everyone Can Rock & Roll". This was not to be however, as Bill died before the project could be initiated. Not to be discouraged, Denton gained access to Bill's 1968 session tapes, stripped away the original backing and recorded new instrumentation and backing vocals. It has been rumoured that a complete album was re-mixed but Sonet rejected the idea and only three tracks were issued in EP format, the other two being "Rock Around The Clock" and "See You Later Alligator".

Personally I have mixed feelings about these tracks. Whilst the originals were perhaps not the most dynamic Haley and his band ever cut they still feature the remarkable talents of sax player Rudy Pompilli and some good work by Bill's then lead guitar player Nick Masters.
 

MP3 See You Later Alligator (1979 BBC Radio)
MP3 Everyone Can Rock & Roll (1979 BBC Radio)
MP3 Shake Rattle & Roll (1979 BBC Radio)
MP3 Hail Hail Rock & Roll (1979 BBC Radio)
The year 1979 saw a flurry of activity in the Haley camp. He returned to touring after a two year absence and he also went back into the recording studio. It was on his final tour to the UK in November 1979 that Bill was invited to the studios of BBC Radio by DJ and record producer Stuart Colman. At that time Colman presented a late afternoon show called "It's Rock & Roll!". A particular feature of the programme was the "studio session" featuring specially recorded songs by various visiting rock and roll performers. Bill taped four numbers, Alligator, Shake Rattle & Roll, Everyone Can Rock & Roll and Hail Hail Rock & Roll, the latter two being from his latest album. To my knowledge they have been aired only on this one occasion and have now disappeared into the vaults of the BBC.
 

MP3 Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie 1979

"you gotta jump, you gotta jive" to this one. This is perhaps my all-time favourite Haley song. And this particular version performed in concert at the Royalty Theatre London in 1979 captures the spirit of what Bill Haley's vision of Rock & Roll was all about. Relatively simple words about having a good time set to an infectious beat - for best results play VERY LOUD!

MP3 Rock Around The Clock 2000

from the album "Bill Haley & The Comets Golden Classics" Goldenlane CLP0844-2

Using Bill's 1966 Mexican re-cut as the basis for his record, a fellow by the name of Danny Harvey has created a Rock Around The Clock for the new Millennium.

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