hello!
I'm wondering--what's your take on this? This weekend I watched the movie "Clue" from 1985 (first time--pretty cute), and this version of Shake, Rattle and Roll played under the credits. It's fantastic. But I can't figure out who it is!
"Clue" credits versionThe film credits simply lists song and writer (Charles Calhoun aka Jesse Stone) but no performer. IMDB claims it's performed by "Bill Hailey & the Comets, uncredited," but I don't think it is.
For that to be so, the well-known Bill Hailey studio version would have to have bee slowed down, drums changed, background singers swapped out, and whole song remastered. In other words: the Clue version can't be Bill Hailey--it sounds nothing like him, totally different genre--the "Clue" credits version being R&B, Bill Hailey being soulful white rock n roll with rock-a-billy antecedents.
For example, in the Bill Hailey version he enunciates every word: "Get. Out. In. That. Kitchen. And. Rattle. Those. Pots. And. Pans." With the word "AND" before "rattle" coming squarely (in every sense) on the 1.
Hailey also does that rock-a-billy thing of adding an extra syllable "---cause I'm a hun-ga-ree-a mayan." In contrast, the "Clue" credits version says "Get out'in that kitchen----rattle those pots 'n' pans."
Bill Hailey versionvideo: [
www.youtube.com]
It's also not the well-known Big Joe Turner version -- his first verse (like NRBQ's) is "Git outta that bed -- washyo face n hands," among other reasons -- plus there's no piano, and simply doesn't sound like him,
Big Joe Turner version
Also, it's interesting that the delicious verse --"Wearin' those dresses--sun come shinin' through"-- isn't in the "Clue" or the Bill Hailey version, and other lyrics are "cleaned up" or simply v. different from one version to another!
Here's a great range of versions - what a wonderful song! Each one make you wanna dance or at least shake your thang...
NRBQ version
Beautiful edgy manic version from Elvis
Buddy Holly's garage band-y sound version with nod to Elvis and brief Tequila interlude:
Living Archives Jerry Lee Lewis doin' it to it (starts out strong (but gets a little too polished with backup singers)
Anyway -- who is this under the "Clue" credits?
-swiss