Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party

Covers on all 5 LPs almost identical

Various Artists - Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party Vol.1
WINS Records 1010

Side A
Pretzel - The Alan Freed Band
Maybelline - Chuck Berry
Out Of The Picture - The Robins
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Your Promise To Be Mine - The Drifters
Tear It Up - The Johnny Burnette Trio
Whistle My Love - The Moonglows

Side B
We Go Together - The Moonglows
Cherry Lips - The Robins
Please Be Mine - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
I Love Paris - The Robins
Oh Baby Babe - The Johnny Burnette Trio
Ruby Baby - The Drifters
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry

Various Artists - Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party Vol.2
WINS Records 1011

Side A
Push It - The Alan Freed Band
A Kiss From Your Lips - The Flamingos
She Loves To Dance - The Flairs
Candy - Big Maybelle
Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter
Lilly Maebelle - The Valentines
Hound Dog - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps

Side B
Be Bop A Lula - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps
The Woo Woo Train - The Valentines
Treasure Of Love - Clyde McPhatter
Cry Baby - The Bonnie Sisters
In Self Defence - The Flairs
Ring Dilly Dilly - Big Maybelle
The Vow - The Flamingos

Various Artists - Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party Vol.3
WINS Records 1012

Side A
Teen Rock - The Alan Freed Band
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & The Comets
Can't We Be Sweethearts - The Cleftones
Soldier Boy - The Four Fellows
Roll With Me Henry - Etta James
Why Did I Fall In Love? - The Jacks
(You've Got) The Magic Touch - The Platters

Side B
My Prayer - The Platters
Teenage Prayer - Gloria Mann
Little Girl Of Mine - The Cleftones
Why Don't You Write Me - The Jacks
I Sit In My Window - The Four Fellows
Crazy Feeling - Etta James
Hot Dog Buddy Buddy - Bill Haley & The Comets

Various Artists - Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party Vol.4
WINS Records 1013

Side A
Flag Waver - The Alan Freed Band
I Promise To Remember - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Ivory Tower - Otis Williams & The Charms
What's Your Name - Chuck Willis
The Verdict - The Five Keys
Love, Love, Love - The Clovers

Side B
Tweedle Dee - Lavern Baker
Foolishly/Runaround - The Three Chuckles
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
It's Too Late - Chuck Willis
She's The Most - The Five Keys
Your Tender Lips - The Clovers
One Night Only - Otis Williams & The Charms

Various Artists - Alan Freed's Rock n' Roll Dance Party Vol.5
WINS Records 1014

Side A
Let's Face It - The Alan Freed Band
Earth Angel - The Penguins
See Saw - The Moonglows
Rip It Up - Bill Haley & The Comets
I Almost Lost My Mind - Ivory Joe Hunter
I'll Be True - Faye Adams
Woe Is Me - The Cadillacs

Side B
Speedo - The Cadillacs
Ice - The Penguins
You Mean Everything To Me - Ivory Joe Hunter
Rock, Rock, Rock - Jimmy Cavello & The House Rockers
When I'm With You - The Moonglows
Shake A Hand - Faye Adams
Saints Rock & Roll - Bill Haley & The Comets

The disc jockey Alan Freed is often credited for coining the phrase "rock & roll", he didn't. The phrase had been around for a long time as a euphemism for sex, particularly in the African-American community. He was, probably, the first to use it to describe a genre of music though, and it was through the popularity of his radio shows, TV Shows and 'in person' concert package tours that made it stick. His shows championed R&B, doo-wop, rockabilly and rock 'n' roll regardless of colour and race, which was ground breaking and controversial. He did a lot to promote the music of black acts to white audiences and was therefore very influential in the development of rock 'n' roll and the breaking down of racial barriers. This should be remembered over the payola scandals that ruined his career, the fact that he made money out of it through back-handers etc. is irrelevant, what he helped achieve is not.

These five records are taken from his 'Rock n' Roll Dance Party' radio shows aired during his time at WINS in New York in the mid to late 1950's. They feature the cream of R&B, doo-wop and rock 'n' roll artists performing live backed by the Alan Freed Band (featuring saxophonists Sam 'The Man' Taylor and Big Al Sears). Each one sounds like it's a complete show (and probably is) with all of Alan Freed's introductions included and a very excited audience. They are a real slice of history and an absolute joy to listen to. If you ever see them I strongly advise you to buy them, you won't regret it.

Here's just a small sample of the greatness of Alan Freed's Rock 'n Roll Dance Party (there's lots more to find on YouTube). Play loud.......