It is said that the first Rock 'n' Roll record was Jackie Brenston's Rocket 88 although the driving force of that record was thought to be Ike Turner. Wikipedia mentions the Brenston version but thinks Bill Haley was the one who turned it into real R 'n' R.
I have uploaded both versions so you can compare them.
In the 1950's NZ radio was awful; being a boring, strictly controlled Government monopoly. No personality was allowed and it was known as the 'Post Office in show business'. It was about 50 years behind the privately owned Australian stations. Any record that was considered too loud was banned. For many years we were not allowed to hear Chubby Checkers Twist, some Bobby Rydell songs or Darin's Mack the Knife.
As the Government started to realise the world was changing, mainly due to the transistor radio allowing better reception from Australia and the pirates in the form of Radio Hauraki, they relaxed a little bit. One program introduced was on 2YD called 'Big Beat Ball' and it was there I first heard Elvis Presley sing 'Mystery Train' - first released on August 20, 1955 as the B-side of 'I forgot to remember to forget'.
Talking early R 'n' R, a blog I go to http://musicyouwont.blogspot.com a blog run by the brilliant Lee Hartsfeld. He had this mix version of 1955's Mystery Train with Junior Parkers 1953 song 'Love my baby' up on his site.
Superb stuff thanks to Lee Hartsfeld. Don't mention plagarism - just spot the difference. And don't forget to visit Lee's site. Thanks Lee.
All filed under Bill, Jackie and Elvis at this link.
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