Stagger Lee Saturdays - Bill Haley and His Comets

I love Bill Haley and His Comets (Wiki AMG fansite) -- they're one of my favorite early rock and roll bands, and certainly the most important early rock band who gets no love from rock historians. In January of 1960, the Comets had just left their longtime home, Decca Records, for a better deal at Warner Brothers, and went into the studio to record their new album. It had rerecordings of "Rock Around The Clock" and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" (boo hiss for rerecordings!) but it also featured covers of Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and ... Lloyd Price's take on Stag. (A few months later, Pat Boone would use this crooning version as the template for his take on Stag. Boo hiss for Pat Boone.)

If you like this early rock, be sure to stop by Monday -- I'm putting up my first Multiple Mondays post to feature Mr. E. Presley.

Bill Haley and His Comets - Stagger Lee
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Stagger Lee Saturdays - Neil Diamond and Pat Boone

Well, it had to happen sometime. There are only so many versions of Stag out there, and some of them are bound to be bad. Today, we're listening to two of the worst.

First, Neil Diamond. I don't have much to say about this one, not even anything bad. This record just lies there, inert, with its "funky" organ licks DOA.

Now, let's discuss Pat Boone. Pat, have you heard Lloyd Price's record? (It's obvious your band has, but how about you?) Did you notice that it's about a cold-blooded killer? Why oh why did you beg Stag "don't be mean!"? I mean, seriously, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!? Asking Stagger Lee not to be mean is like asking the sun not to be hot, or the wind not to blow, or a river not to drown your sweetheart, when she waded in to commit suicide. And we all know how well that last one worked out for you. The reviewer at All Music Guide seems to think this particular recording is Pat Boone "at his rockin' and rollin' best." For shame. (The buy link today goes to used versions of this record. If you buy a new one, Pat Boone gets a little money, and "great googa mooga", I just can't have that. Not on my watch. )

Point your browser this way next Saturday for June's final Stagger Lee double post, with two GOOD versions.

Neil Diamond - Stagger Lee
Pat Boone - Stagger Lee
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