Customer Reviews

Still Rockin Around the Clock: Encore Collection

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Once again, these are not Bill's original recordings. This is a live-show recorded 1969 in New York's Bitter End club. The sound is o.k., Bill is very relaxed, the band does a good job. Sad but true: Even a major company like BMG tries to cheat the record buyer. Why do they call it an "Encore Collection"? It's "Bill's Greatest Hits Live", nothing else.

This 1998 BMG release seems to be targeted at the unsuspecting casual Haley consumer, bearing the subtle title of "Still Rockin' Around The Clock". There are no liner notes nor any mention whatsoever that this material is actually a 1969 concert recorded at New York's Bitter End nightclub. A purchaser who is expecting the classic Decca hits at a bargain price will be sorely dissapointed.
That said, if you already own the band's greatest hits and are searching for a live recording, you couldn't have picked a better disc. Many Haley concert LPs/CDs offer Bill fronting the group on only a few selections with various band members singing lead on the bulk of the material. This show, however, contains ten driving titles with the 44-year old leader up front at all times. The band, featuring long-time Comets' tenor saxist Rudy Pompilli, is tight and energetic throughout the set. Haley's presentation is warm and relaxed at all times with the guitarist even taking a request for the often overlooked "Crazy Man Crazy".
Originally issued as "Bill Haley's Scrapbook" on a Kama Sutra LP when it was first recorded, this clear-sounding concert would be a welcome addition to any Haley fan's collection. It is unfortunate that BMG did nothing to augment the 27-minute running time of the original album or inform buyers of the content.

The CD arrived quickly and in excellent condition. My husband and I were teenagers in the 50's, so this music is what we listened to and danced to back then. We still love to dance to it. Great music! What better way to exercize?