The Legends of the Rocking Dutchman - episode 14

Rhythm & Blues to Rock 'n Roll

Please forgive me for doing some more blabbering than you're used from me, after all I know you came here for the music and not for the blabla, but I had a little more to tell today. In this episode I'm going to find an answer to the question what made the distinction between Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n Roll. A question that is easy to ask but oh so difficult to answer. I will give it a shot, providing my own, perhaps a bit controversial opinion.

And of course, I will play some of the music that played a key role in the transition to Rock 'n Roll, many of them somewhere, by someone, nominated to be the first real Rock 'n Roll record. I will explain why I think none of them qualify for that, and to show you the difference, I will play one record, that makes you understand immediately: this is Rock 'n Roll.

Transcript

Playlist

  1. Trixie Smith - My Daddy Rocks Me (with one steady roll)
  2. Louis Jordan - Caldonia
  3. Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers - The Honeydripper
  4. Big Jay McNeely - Flying Home
  5. Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup - That's All Right
  6. Joe Turner & His Blues Kings - Shake Rattle and Roll
  7. Jimmy Preston - Rock the Joint
  8. The Will Bradley Orchestra - Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar
  9. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - Work With Me Annie
  10. Fats Domino - The Fat Man
  11. Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88
  12. Roy Brown - Good Rockin' Tonight
  13. Bill Haley - Crazy Man Crazy
Outtro:
  • Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
The following music served as background music during the spoken parts:
  • Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
  • Cozy Eggleston - Big Heavy
  • Duke Ellington - Things Ain't What They Used To Be
  • Eddie Chamblee - Lazy Mood
  • Hal Singer - Midnight
  • Julian Dash - Creamin' Boogie
  • Plas Johnson - Downstairs