Description
1‐CD Digipak with 36‐page booklet, 39 tracks. Total playing time approx. 79 min.
*In celebration of Alan Freed’s 100th birthday, Bear Family Records® presents this
historic compilation in the ‘Memorial Series’!
*This issue tells the story of one of the most legendary disc jockeys in music history
*Included are 39 tracks from 1952 to 1959, a mix of then contemporary music from the Alan Freed shows and original excerpts from his radio broadcasts that made him famous.
*As a bonus you get two ultra‐rare live recordings from 1956 and 1957 with Jimmy Cavallo and The House Rockers and Little Richard.
*The 36‐page full‐colour booklet provides the story of Alan Freed and the contributing artists, meticulously researched and written by Chicago music journalist Bill Dahl, with many rare photos and memorabilia!
*Alan Freed played mostly black rhythm and blues in his broadcasts, referred to by him early on as rock ‘n’ roll, and thus helped dismantle racial segregation in the United States.
*Since Freed is directly involved in almost all of the recordings, this CD album takes on the character of one of his radio shows and can be enjoyed from beginning to end ‐ a genuine rarity!
*Just as well suited for nostalgic indulgence while cruising by car.
Rock and Roll
Alan Freed was THE top radio D.J. in 1950s America. Not because he is ‐ incorrectly – considered to be the inventor of the term ‘rock and roll’ (African‐Americans had been using that moniker since the 1930s), but because he took advantage of the rising popularity of R&B and white rock ‘n’ roll to put on R&B originals, which he then called rock and roll. He came up with all sorts of gimmicks for his radio shows and enthralled a teenage generation from Mexico to Canada. Hollywood took advantage of his immense popularity and gave him roles in music movies, and he got his own TV show. With this album we chronicle the most important years of his life, from his rapid rise to his sad decline in connection with the ‘Payola’ affair.
100 years of Alan Freed
Even if some titles on this CD are well known, like Bo Diddley or Chuck Berry’s Oh Baby Doll ‐ but where else do you get to hear these titles with announcements from the first legendary dee‐jay in music history? One or two songs may be available on YouTube, but the audio quality of our production is unbeatable. What made Alan Freed so popular? What made him the prototype of the radio DJ? Our CD production answers these questions twice. Alan Freed’s story is told both musically and lyrically on 36 pages in the full‐color accompanying booklet with many rare illustrations. No, he did not invent the genre term ‘Rock and Roll’. But Alan Freed did use the phrase in his early ‘Moondog’ radio shows in Cleveland, Ohio. Later in New York, his ‘Rock and Roll Dance Party’ shows became legendary, especially as he took them from the radio to the stage as well, putting on huge live concerts from which the bonus live tracks were taken.
Alan Freed dedicated his life to rock ‘n’ roll, shaking the barriers of segregation by helping African‐American music gain popularity with white audiences as well. Segregation did not exist at his live concerts. Eventually, Alan Freed failed. His involvement in the great radio corruption scandal of the late 1950s was only one of the reasons. As Bill Dahl concludes in his accompanying text, “Alan Freed was rock and roll’s best friend.” With this CD edition we would like to commemorate the great Alan Freed, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on December 15, 2021.
GENRE: Rock’n’roll
BARCODE: 5397102176289
TRACK LISTING
01 Intro / Rock ‘n’ Roll Boogie ‐ Ronnie Aldrich & The Squadronaires
02 Freed’s Apology‐The Moondog House Radio Show‐WJW Cleveland ‐ Alan Freed
03 Moon Dog Boogie ‐ Freddie Mitchell Orchestra
04 Radio Intro‐WJW Cleveland ‐ Alan Freed
05 The Whip ‐ Gil Bernal
06 Beer Commercial‐WJW Cleveland ‐ Alan Freed, Gil Bernal
07 Only You ‐ lan Freed & His Rock ‘N Roll Band featuring The Modernaires
08 Station I.D. & Commercials‐WJW Cleveland ‐ Alan Freed
09 Make Me A Present Of You ‐ Ernie Andrews
10 Moondoggers’ Bones‐WJW Cleveland ‐ Alan Freed
11 The Big Beat ‐ Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor & His Orchestra
12 Alan Freed – Talks about ‘The Blackboard Jungle’‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
13 (We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock ‐ Alan Freed & His Rock ‘N Roll Band, vocal by ‘Hal & Al’
14 Rock Love ‐ Eddie Fontaine
15 Outro‐ Eddie Fontaine & Intro Rusty Bryant ‐ Rock’n’Roll Party Radio Show‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
16 Back Street ‐ Rusty Bryant & The Carolyn Club Band
17 Station I.D. & Talks About A Model Agency‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
18 Teener’s Canteen ‐ Alan Freed & His Rock ‘N Roll Band
19 Commercials & Marie Adams Intro ‐ WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
20 Boom Diddy Wa Wa ‐ Johnny Otis Orchestra, Marie Adams & Junior Ryder vocal
21 Movie Trailer ‘The Man Without A Star’ & Otis Blackwell Intro‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
22 You Move Me, Baby ‐ Otis Blackwell
23 Television Commercial & The Charms Intro‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
24 Two Hearts ‐ The Charms
25 Mercury Commercial & High School Radio Station ‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
26 Easy Rock ‐ Alan Freed & His Rock ‘N Roll Band
27 Furniture Commercial‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
28 Alan Freed – Talks About Rock And Roll Artists‐WINS New York ‐ Alan Freed
29 Bo Diddley (with Alan Freed Intro) ‐ Bo Diddley
30 See You Later Alligator ‐ Alan Freed & His Rock ‘N Roll Band, vocal by ‘Hal & Al’
31 The Space Man ‐ Alan Freed, Steve Allen, Al ‘Jazzbo’ Collins & The Modernaires
32 Alan Freed – Announcement Rock’N’Roll Dance Party No.1 ‐ Alan Freed
33 Lucille (live) ‐ Little Richard
34 Rock, Rock, Rock (live) ‐ Jimmy Cavallo & The House Rockers
35 Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) (with Alan Freed Intro) ‐ The Johnny Burnette Trio
36 Oh, Baby Doll (with Alan Freed Intro) ‐ Chuck Berry
37 Gosah ‐ The King’s Hentchmen
38 Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams) (with Alan Freed Intro) ‐ Jesse Belvin
39 Alan Freed – Farewell To His Fans‐’Big Beat’ Rock’N*Roll Dance Party‐WNEW‐TV Show ‐ Alan Freed
