Rock Around The Clock: The Record That Started The Rock Revolution! by Jim Dawson
     Elvis Presley may be the King of Rock n' Roll, Little Richard its' Architect, Chuck Berry The Emperor and/or King but, Bill Haley & His Comets monumental and crucial 1954 record, 'Rock Around The Clock' was really the Big Bang of the whole Rock n' Roll forever changing the face of music and culture forever. Haley could claim to being Rock n' Roll's first King just before Elvis dethroned him in 1956. There were other records before this one which claim to being the very first Rn'R record and that's true but, "RATC" really encompassed the best mix of Rhythm & Blues and Country together at that point in time to create an all new Art Form that we now know. Selling over at least 25 million records to date. It's hard to imagine Rn'R without this great song at its' humble beginning. A cool & rare late 1955 photo of Bill Haley and Elvis is included as well as swell color and b&w shots of Bill Haley records, movie posters, magazine covers. Hopefully, this book will garner Bill Haley a lot more respect that he deserves than he has received in the past. The book traces the song and the record's history quite well and, its' major significance in Popular Music. Smartly, Bill Haley's pre-Rock days are covered also. Crucial movie appearances of the song itself in Blackboard Jungle, and Haley & His Comets in     Rock Around The Clock and Don't Knock The Rock! Ian Whitcomb covers when the band visited England in 1957. Their reception was Comet-mania to say the least. Haley's undeserved fall from favor from 1958-64 on is also covered to revival shows and occasional new records in the 60's and 70's.     The song's inclusion in the opening sequence of the classic, big hit 1973 movie, American Graffiti set the tone for the whole film. For Rock n' Roll fans everywhere.
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Steve Elliott