THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

855-Big Joe Turner-Shake, Rattle and Roll.

1954-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.16.Make no mistake,’A one eyed cat peepin’ in a seafood store’, is no children’s story.

‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ is considered to be the first major ‘Rock and Roll’ hit.This original version by Big Joe Turner was Number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in June 1954, and reached Number 22 on the Billboard singles chart. Bill Haley & His Comets(see also best songs 628) recorded their version in June 1954, and the song peaked at Number seven on the Billboard singles chart, eventually going on to become a million selling record.

Big Joe Turners (see also best songs 257) version of the song has ‘raunchy’ lyrics, which were modified by Haley so that the song would receive more airplay,but he kept the line,’A one eyed cat peepin’ in a seafood store,’ presumably because he had been blind in one eye since childhood.

Big Joe Turner (1911-1985) was one of the most important figures in the development of Rock and Roll, he was a ‘Blues’ singer who shaped the genre by using more uptempo beats. According to the American songwriter Doc Pomus,’Rock and Roll would never have happened without him.’

‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ was written by Jesse Stone (1901-1999) using the pseudonym Charles E. Calhoun.This was not the first time that the songs title had been used, because in 1910, Vaudeville performer ‘Baby’ Franklin Seals published ‘You Got to Shake Rattle and Roll,’ a Ragtime tune, about gambling with dice.

‘Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin’ through. I can’t believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you.’