ROCK Orgy: "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" -Joe Turner > Bill Haley > The Platters > Louis Prima

ROCK Sex is all about spurring each other to action.

I've given many examples of how one act inspires another. One more variation of this is the Response Song or Answer Song, where a dialogue breaks out in the advent of a hit. Sometimes folks are covering the song, arguing with the song, riding its popularity, or poking fun at it. This one has all of those.

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Big Joe Turner is a king of the late '40s/early '50s Jump Blues that helped set the stage for Rock'n'Roll. Besides being the originator of "Honey Hush" and "Corrina Corrina", he broke out this crucial killer:

BIG JOE TURNER -"Shake, Rattle, And Roll" (1954)



During the same period, a Western Boogie bandleader had integrated more and more Rhythm'n'Blues into his country swing. Bill Haley And The Comets helped set the stage for Rockabilly, and Bill paid tribute to Joe with this cover:

BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS -"Shake, Rattle, And Roll" (1954)


(It should be noted that Joe's original version has a few raunchy sexual entendres that both he and Bill had to smooth over for public performance.)


The song has a decidedly macho tone, which begged for a woman's response. The Platters recorded a flipside where the great Zola Taylor stepped up and said her piece:

"You got nerve to tell me, 'Rattle those pots and pans'/
Get in the kitchen yourself and do the best with your own two hands!"

THE PLATTERS -"Bark, Battle, And Ball" (1955)



That bopping hipster Louis Prima, with help from Keely Smith and Sam Butera, mopped up the dance floor with this response. (This was later covered by Brian Setzer.):

LOUIS PRIMA -"Jump, Jive, And Wail" (1956)



With everybody getting in on it, Joe must've felt he had some more to say about it, hence this cool addition. (This was later covered by The Blues Brothers on their first album):

BIG JOE TURNER -"Flip, Flop, And Fly" (1955)



After all that shaking and wailing, it's time for a break. Here's Rockabilly swingers Sid King And The Five Strings trying to get a breath:

SID KING AND THE FIVE STRINGS -"Sag, Drag, And Fall" (1955)



Phew!


© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• Revolution 1950s: The Big Damn Bang of Rock'n'Roll!

• MUSIC 101: The 1950s, with Music Player!

• JIMMY REED: The Groover of Rock, From Motown To Sesame Street, with 2 Music Players!

• LADIES FIRST: "Hound Dog" - Big Mama Thornton > Elvis > Jimi Hendrix


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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