Rock Around the Clock: A Musical Analysis

A critical analysis of the song “Rock Around the Clock,” considering its place in the history of rock and roll and its influence on popular culture.

Introduction

It was written by performance artist Bill Haley and recorded in 1954. The single is commonly recognized as the song that ushered in a new era of popular music and helped start the rock and roll craze. Released by Chesley “Chet” Atkins, the President of RCA Victor Records, the song was an instant hit. It sold more than 25 million copies and was a No. 1 hit in several countries.

The Birth of Rock and Roll

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the popular music industry was growing rapidly in the United States. Record sales were soaring, and music was becoming increasingly mainstream. At the same time, a new style of music was beginning to emerge. This style would come to be known as rock and roll.

Rock and roll is generally considered to have originated with a song called “Rocket 88”, recorded by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats in 1951. The song was inspired by a local event in which a young musician named Ike Turner had rented a car with a powerful engine, and used it to transport his band’s equipment to gigs. The song became a hit, and was influential in spreading the new style of music.

Other early rock and roll songs include “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets, “Sh-Boom” by The Crew Cuts, “That’ll Be the Day” by Buddy Holly, and “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry. These songs were all released in the mid-1950s, and helped to establish rock and roll as a mainstream musical genre.

The Lyrics of “Rock Around the Clock”

The lyrics to “Rock Around the Clock” were written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (using the name Jimmy De Knight), and the song was first recorded by Sonny Dae and His Knights on April 12, 1954. The best-known and most successful rendition was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets on May 7, 1954, and released by Decca Records on July 9, 1954. The song was a chartbuster; within two months it had sold a million copies, and by the end of 1955 over 25 million copies had been sold worldwide.

The Music of “Rock Around the Clock”

“Rock Around the Clock” was written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers in 1952. The song was first recorded by Sonny Dae and His Knights on April 12, 1954. However, it was Bill Haley and His Comets’ recording of the song, released on May 5, 1954, that became a hit. The record reached number one on the Billboard charts on July 9, 1955, and remained there for eight weeks. It was the first rock and roll song to reach number one on the charts.

The music of “Rock Around the Clock” is based on a twelve-bar blues format. The song features a call-and-response pattern between the lead vocalist and the backup singers. The lead vocalist sings the first verse, followed by the backup singers singing the second verse. This pattern is repeated for the third and fourth verses. The fifth verse is sung by the lead vocalist alone.

The instruments used in “Rock Around the Clock” are typical of early rock and roll songs. They include electric guitars, double bass, drums, and saxophones. The saxophone solo in the middle of the song is one of its most iconic features.

The lyrics of “Rock Around the Clock” are about dancing and having a good time. They do not have a specific message or meaning.

The Legacy of “Rock Around the Clock”

It would be difficult to overestimate the legacy of “Rock Around the Clock.” The song is widely considered to be the first true rock and roll song, and it helped to launch the careers of both Bill Haley and His Comets and rock and roll itself. The song has been covered countless times, including by artists as diverse as Pat Boone, Marilyn Manson, and Otis Redding. It has been featured in films ranging from “The Wild One” to “Back to the Future.” In short, “Rock Around the Clock” is one of the most important and influential songs in popular music history.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Rock Around the Clock” is a classic example of early rock and roll music. The song’s simple, catchy melody and driving rhythm helped to make it one of the most popular songs of the 1950s. The song also has a strong nostalgic appeal, evoking memories of a simpler time in American history.

Bibliography

(2006). popularmusic.about.com Bill Haley and the Comets, retrieved on March 3, 2006 from http://popularmusic.about.com/od/artistsaz/p/billhaley.htm

Eder, Bruce. “Bill Haley & the Comets: Rock Around the Clock”. Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
Retrieved on March 3, 2006 from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wifoxqe5ldke~T1

Further Reading

For more information about the history of Rock and Roll, we suggest the following readings:

-Brown, Jim. A Brief History of Rock and Roll. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.
-Christgau, Robert. Any Old Way You Choose It: Rock and Roll from 1950 to 2000. New York: Da Capo Press, 2001.
-Friedlander, Peter. Rock and Roll: A Social History. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996.
-Perone, James E. The Songs of Bill Haley and His Comets: The Definitive Collection. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2002

Endnotes

1.”Rock Around the Clock” was written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers in 1952.
2. The song was first recorded by Sonny Dae and His Knights on April 12, 1954.
3. The song became a worldwide hit after it was featured in the film “Blackboard Jungle” in 1955.
4. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Bill Haley & His Comets, Elvis Presley, and The Who.
5. “Rock Around the Clock” is considered to be one of the first rock and roll songs ever recorded.