Bill Haley Trades the Saddlemen for the Comets and Passes the Moon

Bill Haley

Source: Teen Music (Tycobka)

Bill Haley's was among the biggest names in fifties rock n roll. Born William John Clifton Haley in Highland Park, Michigan, on 6 July 1925, Haley's early shift from country western to rock n roll would make for a rockabilly wedding as well. Haley's first professional performances were at auctions at age thirteen, paid $1 a night.

One nice thing about Praguefrank's is its discography of Haley presenting complications. Who doesn't like to start their day with a problem like an ice pick in their brain? Though Praguefrank's employs Chris Gardner's discography (another source that has vanished from the internet), it shows Haley's first tracks gone down on January 27 of 1946 in Detroit (WOWO radio) with a country gang called the Down Homers consisting of Kenny Roberts (vocals), Bob Mason (guitar) and Lloyd Cornell (bass) with Shorty Cook possibly on steel and Guy Campbell possibly at fiddle. Gardner and Rocky52 have 'Who's Gonna Kiss You When I'm Gone?'/'Out Where the West Winds Blow' released in July on Vogue R736. Haley, however, didn't likely participate in those tracks with Roberts, nor the latter's 'Boogie Woogie Yodel'/'Baby I Found Out All About You' (Vogue R786) issued in April of 1947, nor Roberts' 'You'll' Come Walking Back to Me' gone unreleased, as he didn't join the Down Homers until after those were recorded.

Haley did, however, lead the Down Homers, w Roberts out, on an unidentified date in '46 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to tape tracks unissued until 2006 by Bear Family on 'Rock 'n' Roll Arrives...The Real Birth of Rock 'n' Roll 1946-1954': 'Down Home', 'Following the Sun All Day', 'She Taught Me How to Yodel', 'Cool Water', 'Baby I Found Out All About You', 'Open Up Them Pearly Gates for Me' and 'Who's Gonna Kiss You When I'm Gone?' (BCD 16509). Those were included with a long string of titles gone down unissued at radio WPWA in Chester, PA, as the Four Aces of Swing between 1947 and 1950 like 'Rose of My Heart' and 'Within This Heart of Mine'. Among those was 'Wreck On the Highway'(Dorsey Dixon) eventually issued in 1977/78 in Australia on 'Golden Country Origins' (GR 1001). See notes to 'Rock n Roll Arrives'.

Sometime in '47 Haley had recorded 'Who's Gonna Kiss You When I'm Gone?' (unissued) as the Range Drifters w Barney Barnard (bass) and Bob Mason (fiddle) at WLBR in Lebanon, OH. Haley led his first titles to issue circa July of 1948 with his country western band, the Four Aces of Western Swing, to result in 'Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals' w 'Four Leaf Clover Blues' on Cowboy CR 1201 issued in August of 1948. The Four Aces consisted of Haley at guitar and vocals, Merle Fritz (steel), Barney Barnard (vocals/bass) and possibly Al Constantine (accordion). 'Candy Kisses'/'Tennessee Border' (issued March of 1949 on Cowboy CR 1202) had been recorded circa January of '49 with 'The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along'/'Yodel Your Blues Away' (Cowboy CR 1203) and 'Behind the Eight Ball'/'Foolish Questions' (Cowboy CR 1204).

'Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals'   Bill Haley and The Four Aces of Western Swing

Vocal by Tex King

Recorded c July 1848   Issued on Cowboy CR-1201 A on 1 Aug 1948

Composition: Ray Henderson / Billy Rose / Mort Dixon

'Four Leaf Clover Blues'   Bill Haley and The Four Aces of Western Swing

Vocal by Tex King

Recorded c July 1948   Issued on Cowboy CR-1201 B on 1 Aug 1948

Composition: Haley / Shorty Cook

'Tennessee Border'   Bill Haley and The Four Aces of Western Swing

Recorded c Jan 1949   Issued on Cowboy CR-1202 A on 1 March 1949

Composition: Jimmy Work

'Candy Kisses'   Bill Haley and The Four Aces of Western Swing

Recorded c Jan 1949   Issued on Cowboy CR-1202 B on 1 March 1949

Composition: George Morgan

Haley also recorded 'Stand Up and Be Counted'/'Loveless Blues' in 1949 as Johnny Clifton & His String Band [Gardner/1950 Praguefrank's]. Those went down with Merle Fritz (steel), Al Thompson (bass) and Al Constantine (accordion) at WPWA toward issue on Center C102 in 1949 [45worlds/Discogs/1950 Gardner/Rocky52]:

'Loveless Blues'   Bill Haley as Johnny Clifton & His String Band

Recorded sometime 1949 toward issue on Center C-102 in 1949

Composition: Frank Hartman / Jeanne Reed

Haley first recorded with his country western band, the Saddlemen at WPWA circa Jan-Feb of 1950 [See Gardner/Praguefrank's], among those titles, 'Deal Me a Hand'/'Ten Gallon Stetson' (Keystone 5101). Praguefrank's has the Saddlemen consisting of Billy Williamson (steel), Joe Piccirilli (bass) and Johnny Grande (accordion) on those. Three of four in matrix order at Praguefrank's:

'I'm Not to Blame'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded c Jan-Feb 1950 at WPWA Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix 2309  

Issued on Keystone 5102 B

Composition: Bill Borrelli Jr.

'Ten Gallon Stetson'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded c Jan-Feb 1950 at WPWA Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix 2313

Issued on Keystone 5101 B

Composition: Jimmy De Knight / Tom Gindhart

'Deal Me a Hand'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded c Jan-Feb 1950 at WPWA Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix 2315

Composition: Artie Clark

Praguefrank's has 'I'm Gonna Dry Ev'ry Tear With a Kiss'/'Why Do I Cry Over You?' (Atlantic 727) going down in a later session that year ('50), the Saddlemen now consisting of Billy Williamson (steel), Al Rex (bass), Jimmy Myers (drums), Johnny Grande (piano) and Bill Borelli (piano). It was with the Saddlemen, holding sessions to as late as latter 1952, that Haley began recording notable rockabilly. Along the way he issued such as 'Green Tree Boogie'/'Deep Down in My Heart' and 'I'm Crying'/'Pretty Baby' in 1951.

'Rocket 88'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded 14 June 1951 at WVCH Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix H-105A

Issued on Holiday 105   July 1951

Composition: Brenston / Turner

'Green Tree Boogie'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded 14 June 1951 at WVCH Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix H-108A

Issued on Holiday 108   Aug 1951

Composition: Haley

'Pretty Baby'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded Aug 1951 at WVCH Radio in Chester, PA   Matrix H-110BX2

Issued on Holiday 110   Dec 1951

Composition: Hudson Whittaker (Tampa Red)

In 1952 the Saddlemen released plates like 'Juke Box Cannon Ball'/'Sundown Boogie' and 'Icy Heart'/'Rock the Joint'. Gardner traces the Saddlemen to as far as WCVH Radio in Chester, PA, to lay out 'Rocking Chair On the Moon'/'Dance With a Dolly (Essex 305) with a band consisting of Danny Cedrone (lead guitar), Billy Williamson (steel guitar), Johnny Grande (piano) and Marshall Lytle (double bass). Praguefrank's traces the Saddlemen to about the same time with Johnny Gussak (drums) added to the same configuration for 'Stop Beatin' Around the Mulberry Bush' and 'Real Rock Drive'. Gardner has those issued in November of 1952 as the Comets (Essex 310).

'Sundown Boogie'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded Jan 1952 at WVCH Radio in Chester, PA

Issued on Holiday 113   Feb 1952

Composition: Haley / Jesse Rogers

'Rock the Joint'   Bill Haley & His Saddlemen

Recorded as the Saddlemen April 1952 at WVCH Radio in Chester, PA

Issued as the Comets on Essex ESLP 202 in 1955

Composition: Harry Crafton, Wendell Keene, Doc Bagby

Releasing some strong recordings, the Saddlemen yet did little to advance Haley's career, which problem he determined to be their country western image. So he changed their name to the revamped Comets to realign along the rock rail. His debut tracks with the Comets went down circa April-May of 1953 in NYC [Praguefrank's] to bear 'Crazy Man, Crazy'/'Watcha Gonna Do' (Essex 321) and 'Pat-a-Cake'/'Fractured' (Essex 327). The Comets released their first EP, 'Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets' (Essex EP 102), in 1953 [rocky52]. The LP by the same title saw issue in 1954. Haley's strategy to trade cowboy hats for suits and ties worked, with assistance from 'Crazy Man, Crazy' upon charting on Billboard at #12.

'Crazy Man, Crazy'   Bill Haley & the Comets filmed live 1953   Date & location unknown     

Composition: Haley

August of '54 saw 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' reach Billboard's #7 spot. 'Rock Around the Clock' rocketed to #1 in Jan 1955. Also releasing Top Ten titles in the UK, his next in the States was 'Burn That Candle' in Nov of '55.

'Rip It Up'   Bill Haley & the Comets   Film unidentified   1955     

Composition: Robert Blackwell / John Marascalco

'Rock Around the Clock'   Bill Haley & the Comets   Telecast unidentified   1955     

Composition: Jimmy De Knight / Max Freedman

The Comets had appeared on the 'Milton Berle Show' in May of 1955, then the 'Ed Sullivan' Show in August. Among albums released in 1955 was 'Live It Up!' (London Records H-APB 1042) in the UK and internationally excepting the States. Decca released 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' (DL 5560) and 'Rock Around the Clock' (DL 8225) in 1955. Haley's 'See You Later, Alligator' reached Billboard's #6 tier in 1956.

'See You Later Alligator'   Bill Haley & the Comets  

Issued on Decca 9-29791 on 1 Feb 1956

Composition: Bobby Charles   1955

'Goofin' Around'   Bill Haley & the Comets   Film: 'Don't Knock The Rock'   Released 14 Dec 1956  

Composition: Frank Beecher / Johnny Grande

Performances in June of 1968 in Stockholm resulted in a couple more versions of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'. The first recorded which opened the session on 24 June saw release in Sweden on 'Bill Haley & The Comets In Sweden!' Sonet SLP 63. The second which closed the session on the 25th was issued in Sweden on 'Biggest Hits' GP 9945. Both were released in 1968. As the audio below doesn't specify from which it is pulled, it could be either:

'Shake, Rattle and Roll'   Bill Haley & the Comets in Stockholm 24 or 25 June 1968

Issued on either Sonet SLP 63 or GP 9945 but not both

Composition: Jesse Stone

Haley issued well above thirty studio and live albums during his career. His first of five live LPs was 'Twistin' Knights at the Roundtable' (Roulette SR 25174) in 1962, his last 'Live in London '74' (Antic 51501). Gardner and Praguefrank's have Haley last recording w the Comets at London's Theatre Royal on November 26 of 1979 for Queen Elizabeth II, that a television broadcast including a medley of titles like 'See You Later, Alligator' and 'Rock Around the Clock'. Joining him were Jerry Tilley (lead guitar), Pete Thomas (tenor saxophone), Chico Ryan (rhythm guitar), John Gordon (double bass), Steve Murray (drums) and Mal Gray (clapper boy):

Bill Haley & the Comets   Royal Variety Show attended by Queen Elizabeth II   26 Nov 1979

Haley had employed above 100 musicians in the Comets over the years. He gave his last performances in South Africa in May and June of 1980. The official cause of his death in Harlingen, TX, on February 9 of 1981 was given as heart attack, though Haley was enduring a brain tumor as well (which others believe to have been fabricated to disguise a drinking problem).

The Comets were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Haley had composed titles like 'Four Leaf Clover Blues' w Shorty Cook for issue in 1948, 'Rocking Chair on the Moon' w Harry Broomall in '52 and 'Fractured' w Marshall Lytle in 1953. Other of numerous compositions were 'Crazy Man Crazy' ('53), 'Whatcha Gonna Do' ('53) and 'Hot Dog Buddy Buddy' ('56).