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Shake, Rattle and Roll

Rating:
4.4 / 5

Words & Music: Charles Calhoun

Well get out of that bed, wash your face and hands
Get out of that bed, wash your face and hands
Well get in that kitchen
Make some noise with the pots and pans
I believe it to my soul you're the devil in nylon hose
I believe it to my soul you're the devil in nylon hose
For the harder I work the faster my money goes

Well I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
Well you won't do right
To save your doggone soul

Shake rattle and roll

I'm like the one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
I'm like the one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
Well I can look at you tell you ain't no child no more
I believe you're doing me wrong and now I know
I believe you're doing me wrong and now I know
'Cause the harder I work the faster my money goes

Well I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
Well you won't do right
To save your doggone soul

Play it again!

I went over the hill, way down underneath
I went over the hill, way down underneath
You make me roll my eyes
And then you make me grit my teeth

Well I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
Well you won't do right
To save your doggone soul

Recordingdate: 1956/02/03, first released on: Elvis Presley (EP)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Shake, Rattle and Roll:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with Shake, Rattle and Roll.

old shep wrote on April 28, 2008
This is a cracking R 'N' B number and Elvis did a really good version, although I prefered the outtakes to the take RCA put out.It's also surprising that Elvis got away with the lyrics of the song which by the standard of the day, were really a bit naughty to say the least!
JimmyCool wrote on May 27, 2009
If you ask me, take 8 should have been the master take ;) But, then again, I'm not Steve Sholes
Steve V wrote on May 27, 2009
Great Rock n Roll. I wore this 45 out when I was a kid. Still sounds great today. I like the take with the 'rolling piano' break and somehwat risque lyrics.
bluesboy wrote on May 27, 2009
This, and not "Promised Land" or "Burnin' love", is why this boy is called the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Elvis turns this r&b classic into a frantic r'n'r masterpiece. Pure youthful, bottomless energy.
derekd wrote on May 27, 2009
Pure Rock Pure Elvis,,,, need i say any more
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 28, 2012
This is such a spectacular, fun, electrifying, catchy and unique song and it's my favorite song that Elvis recorded in the 1950's. I love all of Elvis' renditions of it.
Gorse wrote on December 16, 2012
A fantastic rock performance that was issued as a single in the US, but had to compete with all the singles released in the same week from the first album, and so was never a big hit. I prefer take 8 with the risque words and piano break but both versions showed Elvis at his very best.
Gorse wrote on December 16, 2012
A fantastic rock performance that was issued as a single in the US, but had to compete with all the singles released in the same week from the first album, and so was never a big hit. I prefer take 8 with the risque words and piano break but both versions showed Elvis at his very best.
sugartummy wrote on May 01, 2013
The only time Scotty & Bill sang background vocals on a Elvis track. Scotty's guitar sounds amazing. The one with the piano solo is great too, but Elvis always selected the master take. A winner, this one.
Natha wrote on September 14, 2014
Elvis' rendition of this R'n'R song is fabulous. As all of his R'n'R songs in the fifties defined R'n'R he is indeed the King. Apart from the recorded version his live performances were fabulous. Full of energy and 'unwillingly' naughty, fitting the young Elvis whose impact on the musical field and social life was and still is incomparable. His prowess is clear when one studies his impact up to this moment! Does it matter whether he wrote the song or not? Not at all. It is all in the performance. He lifts this song to the highest level of R'n'R - but that is what he did with so many!
Cruiser621 wrote on September 09, 2017
This was the lead off song on the first 45RPM Extended Play I ever bought on Elvis and it rocks! What a disappointment to have "I Love You Because" as the following song on side 1. I actually prefer the outtake on the FTD CD issue, "Elvis Presley" (his first album) where there are no background voices. There's a bit of noise in the background with the backup vocals in RCA's double tracking; the FTD version is much clearer. This in a nutshell is rock 'n roll.
bajo wrote on May 11, 2020
What a great rocker it was from Elvis. And even better when Take 8 saw the light of day! Elvis '56 could do no wrong!
TheMemphisFan wrote on May 11, 2020
Originally released in the USA June 8,1956 on EPA-830 "Elvis Presley"... a Gold-record seller!
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