Video of the Week #39

Along with all his other activities, DJ Alan Freed fronted a great band in the '50s.  It played at all his live shows and released three LPs. These two clips are from the 1956 film Rock, Rock, Rock. The tenor saxophone soloist on "Rock and Roll Boogie" is Freddie Mitchell. He wrote the song and had previously recorded it under the title "Moondog Boogie." ("Moondog" was a Freed nickname, but he had to abandon it when he was sued by a street performer who used the same name.) Unfortunately, there is a totally distracting voice-over by Freed.

This second tune, "Right Now, Right Now," features Big Al Sears, who was also its composer. It eventually became Freed's theme song.

You may recognize two familiar faces among the dancers. Tuesday Weld was the film's lead actress.  Her boyfriend was played by Teddy Randazzo, lead singer of the pop group, the Three Chuckles (ho, ho, ho), who also had a brief solo career.  Freed's third tenor sax soloist, Sam "the Man" Taylor, doesn't appear to have been present when this was filmed.

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