Record #0352: - For Your Dance Party (EP) – BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS

A1 “Stop Beatin' Round the Mulberry Bush”, A2 “Watcha Gonna Do”, B1 “I'll Be True”, B2 “Juke Box Cannon Ball”

Essex EP-118 (original) USA, 1954
Words & Music by:  A1 – Bickley Reichner, Clay Boland; A2 – Bill Haley; B1 – William McLemore; B2 – Jesse Rogers, Keefer, Barrie
Musicians:  Bill Haley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Marshall Lytle (upright bass), Art Ryerson (lead guitar on A2, B1), Danny Cedrone (lead guitar on A1), Billy Williamson (steel guitar), Johnny Grande (piano), Billy Gussak (drums on A1, A2), Cliff Leeman (Drums on B1), Dave Miller (clapboard on B1), Tony Lance (baritone sax on B1)
Recording sessions: A1 – WVCH Radio Station Studio, Chester, PE, Nov/Dec. 1952; A2 - Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY, Apr/May 1953; B1 - Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY, Dec. 1953; B2 - WVCH Radio Station Studio, Chester, PE, Jan. 1952
Highest chart positions:  Unknown

Bill Haley & His Comets recorded most of these tracks before they got their first hit with "Crazy, Man Crazy" (mid-1953, US #12). In fact, A2 was recorded in the same session and it was the flip side of the hit.

At the time of recording tracks A1 and B2, the group's name was Bill Haley and the Saddlemen.

I hand-picked this record in memory of Marshall Lytle (Sep.1, 1933 - May 25, 2013).

List price:  Both the record and the picture sleeve are quite rare.