Bill Haley in the 1960s

[GoogaMooga]

For the past couple of days I have been working my way through the massive 6CD Bear Family box of Bill Haley - The Warner Brothers Years And More. Bear Family boxes are expensive and hard to find, and I don't know if I'll ever get the Decca box, but there I've got a Decca 2CD set, plus I have got a few odds and sods. So you could say I am covered for Bill Haley, but more wants more, as the saying goes. I was never really a big fan of his signature hit, "Rock Around the Clock". I acknowledge its place in history, but it is kind of rudimentary, isn't it? Did you know it wasn't even a hit the first time around? It was only when the song appeared in the JD exploitation film, "The Blackboard Jungle", that it took off. Anyway, back to the 60s. There is so much good stuff to be found there, it has certainly made me reassess Bill Haley. It is all very accomplished rock and roll. Essential, I'd say. Did you know that he revisited "Rock Around the Clock" two more times in the 60s? He really milked it for all its worth, but let that not put you off, there are plenty of rewards in the Bear Family box set. A very thorough job, as is to be expected from the good people at Bear Family.

[C]

"The Blackboard Jungle"

Sidney Poitier was superb

I didn't realise he only died last year aged 94.

He was a good lad



As you were





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[GoogaMooga]

As you were





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[C]

As you were


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Definition of 'as you were'
A military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position

Us old Brits (particularly the likes of me who was a corporal in the Air Training Corps!) use it a lot!

Examples:

After the goal, it was as you were.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)

But it is as you were after a 1-1 draw.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)

Carry on as you were, but bear in mind that the view may deteriorate.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)



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[GoogaMooga]

I am familiar with that expression, mainly thanks to movies. Never did military service. I would probably have been rejected anyway.

[Walk In My Shadow]

Bill Haley aside for the moment.

What I don't understand about you is that you hoard cd's galore at 50p a pop but throw a lot of money at the Bear Family sets (and yes, they ARE expensive).

[Walk In My Shadow]

Now, about Haley.

His final years were ones of alcoholism and mental health issues. Not a nice picture.

In 1991 Dave Alvin wrote and recorded the song 'Haleys comet' about this. Look it up some time.

[C]

Never did military service.

Nor me Googs - the ATC is for kids. I was a member of 282 Squadron (East Ham)

Further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Training_Corps





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[GoogaMooga]

Bill Haley aside for the moment.

What I don't understand about you is that you hoard cd's galore at 50p a pop but throw a lot of money at the Bear Family sets (and yes, they ARE expensive).

I buy GOLD at 50 p a pop. The days of petrol station CD's are OVER. I have sold some 2,000 CD's in the past few years. Why should I pay 50 quid when I can get a CD for 50 p. A CD is a CD. If it is in good nick, and it is a quality title, what does it matter that it was found in a thrift shop? It's as if thrift shops carry a stigma. Don't fear the thrift shops, fear Celine Dion.

[Matt Wilson]

Got all the Bear Family Haley boxes, we don't give him enough credit. He was rockin' before damn near anybody. He recorded a lot of songs for the Mexican market in the early-mid sixties, and then a lot of music for the Swedish market in the latter part of the decade, none of which is on that last BF box, but otherwise, it's a solid collection.

[GoogaMooga]

Got all the Bear Family Haley boxes, we don't give him enough credit. He was rockin' before damn near anybody. He recorded a lot of songs for the Mexican market in the early-mid sixties, and then a lot of music for the Swedish market in the latter part of the decade, none of which is on that last BF box, but otherwise, it's a solid collection.

I didn't know about the Mexican and Swedish recordings. In English, I presume.

[Matt Wilson]

Don't know, I've never heard them. I'm sure that some of the Mexican recordings are in Spanish though. If you read the booklet in your Warners Years set, it mentions them.