Birth of the Boogie

What makes Birth of the Boogie so interesting to play is its direct energy and the sound that encapsulates a key moment. The song was written by Bill Haley along with Billy Williamson and Johnny Grande. It was recorded on January 5, 1955, and released by Decca Records as a single, with Mambo Rock on the B-side. This track reached number 17 on the Billboard charts and number 18 on the Cash Box charts in April of that same year. The production was handled by Milt Gabler at the Pythian Temple studios in New York.

This piece was included in several important compilation albums by Bill Haley and His Comets, such as Shake, Rattle and Roll and Rock Around the Clock, both from 1955. Over the years, Birth of the Boogie has been part of compilations like Golden Hits (1972) and From the Original Master Tapes (1985). The song has had a long life on stages and recordings, being performed live by various lineups of Bill Haley's Comets since 1989, including performances in Berlin in 2007. It has even crossed borders, with versions in other languages, such as the one by Italian singer Adriano Celentano titled L'ora del rock in 1969.