"Rock and Roll" (1934)

We get back on the merry-go-round with 1934’s “Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round,” released by United Artists.

The song in question is titled “Rock and Roll” and although it has nothing to do with the style of music that became prominent 20 years later, it is kind of fun to say that there was a hit “Rock and Roll” song in 1934!

The song was performed by the Boswell Sisters in the movie, but let’s listen to this dance band version by Joe Haymes and his Orchestra on the budget Melotone label:

Joe Haymes had a good band, but it wasn’t going anywhere, so Tommy Dorsey took the nucleus of the group to form his own band after splitting with brother Jimmy. Vocalist/trumpeter Clifford Wetterau changed his name to the much snappier Cliff Weston and was TD’s male singer until Jack Leonard came along.