The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement; Spring 2018 Study Group Leaders: B Ruml and Joe Chafets
Week 3, March 5, 2018
1955: Rock Around the Clock, Maybelline, Tutti Fruitti

Tweedle Dee, Lavern Baker, 1955 (Atlantic Records)

Dance With Me Henry, Etta James, 1955

Note that this is the 1958 version (the original 1955 version was too racy for radio play and is not on YouTube).

The lyrics:

(Hey, baby, what do I have to do)
(To make a hit with you)

You gotta dance with me Henry (All right, baby)
Dance with me Henry (Don't mean maybe)
Rock with me Henry (Any old time)
Talk to me Henry (Don't change your mind)
Dance with me Henry (All right)
You better dance while the music goes on
Roll on, roll on, roll on

While the cats are ballin' (Roll on, roll on)
You better stop your stallin' (Roll on, roll on)
Its intermission in a minute (Roll on, roll on)
So you better get with it (Roll on, roll on)
Dance with me Henry (Roll on, roll on)
You better dance while the music goes on
Roll on, roll on, roll on

Oooo-ooo-ooo-wee
Henry, you aint movin' me
You better feel that boogie beat
And get the lead out of your feet

You gotta dance with me Henry
Dance with me Henry
Rock with me Henry
Talk to me Henry
Dance with me Henry
You better dance while the music goes on

Roll, roll, roll
Roll, roll, roll
Rock, rock, rock
Rock, rock, rock
Roll, roll, roll
Roll on, roll on, roll on

Rock with me Henry (All right, baby)
Dance with me Henry (Don't mean maybe)
Rock with me Henry (Any old time)
Dance to me Henry (Don't change your mind)
Jump with me Henry (All right)
You better dance, dance while the music goes on

Rock! 

Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley and the Comets, 1955

From movie:

Ain’t That a Shame, Fats Domino, 1955
From movie:

Maybelline, Chuck Berry, 1955
Inspired/adapted from the Western Swing fiddle tune “Ida Red”, which was recorded in 1938 by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys

Live in 1958 in England:

Tutti Fruitti, Little Richard, 1955

Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley, Feb 1956

First RCA release

And here are some negative reactions to Rock 'n' Roll: