This song is classic oldies. You can definitely hear the transition from jazz to blues to rock and roll clearly. The walking bass line, shuffle feel, and the sound of the horns are all clear reminders of the music that lead us to the 1950s and the beginning of the rock and pop music we know today. Even further into that analysis, you can pick out other things.

The way that all the different instruments come together to create a shout chorus near the end of the song is straight out of big band music. Haley’s lyrics repeat themselves in the first couple of lines during the verses, just like a blues tune. Music is always showing us how it’s connected one way or another, but it’s so clear during this era of music that almost anyone can hear it.

Written by Jesse Stone (aka Charles E. Calhoun), “Shake, Rattle and Roll” was originally recorded as a blues tune by Big Joe Turner. Haley recorded his version in June of 1954, the same week that Turner’s version was topping the R&B charts. It became a successful follow-up to the band’s first #1 hit single, “Rock Around the Clock.” “Shake Rattle and Roll” didn’t make it to the top of the Hot 100 like its predecessor, but it did take the #7 spot.

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