Customer Reviews

Still Rockin' Around The Clock: My Life in Rock n' Roll's First Super Group, Bill Haley and The Comets

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I read this book in short of two days. The print is pretty big and the paragraph width is narrow than most paperbacks. There are many black & white photo's throughout the book.

I know quite a bit about Bill Haley & the Comets from other books I've read, plus some of the things in the book are talked about in Marshall's stage act currently in Branson, Missouri. I wish Marshall went into a little more personal detail about himself and the other band members. Still If you don't know the history behind the man and the band it will be a very enjoyable read. [...].

I grew up listening to my parents 45s (those are singles, kids), among the dozens of records were many of Bill Haley's grooves. These really jumped, and I could never hear one without smiling. Imagine my surprise, many years later, meeting Marshall Lytle and the rest of the Comets in person in Branson, Missouri. They can still rock, let me tell ya, and still have a rock'n'roll attitude. Marshall leads one the tightest rhythm sections ever.

The fact is, after all these years, they still love to play, and love their fans, and show it after every set. They know where they have come from, and really enjoy meeting the people that have made their career what it is. It is wonderful that Marshall has given us this book, a little gift back to the fans. His memory is sharp, and so are his comments. If you want a little glimpse into a world that most of us can only imagine, check "Still Rockin'" out.

"Still Rockin' Around the Clock" is a fitting autobiographical tribute to the 'Grandfather of Rock 'N Roll Bass". Funny, informative, and sometimes over the top, Marshall (Tommy) has had an incredible musical journey from the very embryonic beginnings of Rock and Roll. The book is an easy read and highly recommended for everyone. Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down!

As the self-publisher of this book, "Still Rockin' Around The Clock," I am gratified to see the 4 positive and praising views for the book.

I took care to fact check it and verify the happenings in the book. For example, there is no denying that the Comets had famililes to feed and at their height, with the biggest hit on the planet, "Rock Around The Clock" were refused $150 raises to help care for their families with young infants while Bill and a couple of the others went out at that very time they turned them down in Chicago and bought Cadillacs paying cash! That's an indisputable fact. And then to further rub salt in the wounds, they have the nerve to ask the guys in the band they just turned down for $150 raises to drive the Cadillacs back east for them! Chutzpah!!

That's why I feel dismayed to see 1 negative review by Bill Haley's son, Jack, who was a baby when all this happenend. Yet he criticizes the book based on some second-hand hearsay that he chooses to believe over Marshall, who was there side-by-side with Bill Haley through the Comets' biggest hits and ignores the Cadillac and other true stories. It happened Jack with the Cadillacs. And all of it. Jack, the only thing "boring and full of lies" I'm afraid is you.

IF YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS YOU WILL FOR SURE KNOW ABOUT MARSHALL. I'D BUY THE BOOK, AND LOOK UP HIS OFFICAL WEB SITE, EMAIL HIM AND HE WILL BE MORE THAN GLAD TO GIVE YOU IS ADDRESS, I'D THEN SEND THE BOOK TO HIM TO AUTOGRAPH. OK YOU SAY THIS ISN'T A REVIEW. WELL IN A WAY IT IS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY HIS BOOK AND UNDERSTAND HE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF ROCK N' ROLL AND HAD A HAND IN THE FIRST RR RECORD TO HIT THE CHARTS IN 1953. HE WAS DOING STUFF IN 1952, WHEN ALL THE OTHERS LIKE ELVIS AND BERRY HAD OTHER JOBS. MARSHALL TELLS A GOOD STORY, AND HIS HEAD ISN'T ABOVE THE CLOUDS. HE FEELS LUCKY, BUT ALSO KNOWS HE HAS TALENT. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EARLY ROCK, BECAUSE HE MADE UP THE GROUP THAT STARTED IT ALL.

As the son of Bill Haley I had come to know Marshall Lytle and respect him however, after reading this book, I've lost any respect I had for him. The book should be titled "Still Cryin' Around The Clock. I found several untrue statements throughout the book and it was through his own stupidity fifty-five years ago that he persuaded Joey and Dick to leave the Comets to form their own band and it backfired on them big time. They were replaced with far more talented musicians and it was these musicians who rocked the world with my father and enjoyed great success, while it lasted. It was Johnny Grande and Billy Williamson who along with my father that had worked for years putting together the sound my father was searching for and therefore deserved to be equal partners with my father. Marshall had replaced Al Rex, who was there first, and Marshall wants to cry about not being a equal partner. Was my father supposed to make every member of the group a equal partner? My father, after all, was the leader of the band. Marshall claims they rehearsed Rock Around The Clock in the basement of Melody Manor. Melody Manor wasn't completed until two years after Rock Around The Clock was recorded. He tells these lies after my father, Johnny Grande and Billy Williamson are no longer around to deny all of his fallacies. It's been fifty-five years Marshall, get over it. The only good part of the book is the forward by Peter Ford. 194 pages took about two hours to read. Not worth the money and after the first two chapters, it gets very boring. And by the way Marshall, my father didn't drink tequilla, he drank scotch. One more thing Marshall, you claim my father never took care of you, well, you're making it on his name now, isn't that taking care of you?

Jack Haley