"Good research Sir.
That version by Pat Boon is an inexcusable insult to popular music! The sax break almost redeems it."
My early research indicated that Dave Pell played the solo on this one (Boone's discography) so I sent an email to Mr. Pell. He replied that he would get back with me which never happened. (CD notes; "Billy Vaughn (saxophone, hand claps, bells); Jewell L. Grant, Julian C. Matlock,
Dave Pell, Joseph Krechter, Julian "Matty" Matlock, Gene Cipriano, Mahlon Clark, John Johnson , Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Joe Kretcher, John Rotella, Paul Horn Quintet, Babe Russin, Benny Carter , Justin Gordon, Wilbur Schwartz (saxophone)")
Many of the big band and jazz players did session work for the studios. For most of them, the Rock & Roll and R&B of the day was not their thing but the Dot sessions paid and times were changing for the big band players. Less gigs. And some did not want their name associated with the hit records. Justin Gordon was an exception but he was on "Sail Along Silvery Moon" (love it) and some other nice ballads.
For some of us who started playing in the mid 50's and really enjoyed the Little Richard hits (with Lee Allen) along with a lot of R&B hits, the sax break on Boones' cover was a joke. Boone also covered a couple more and they sold very well and were in the Top 40. No disrespect meant but for some of us "teens" Pat Boone's covers of the Little Richard hits just did not happen except for the goodie two shoes kids.
I don't recall us discussing what Rock & Roll was back in the mid 50's. If it had high energy, rattled the bass speaker on the jukebox and got us on the dance floor it was fun. Likewise with the R&B hits. And our garage bands picked up the hits.
Some adults hated the new music. My mother asked me why I liked that music (especially R&B) as I would go to sleep listening to Wolfman Jack late at night on the radio spinning the hit records.
Times were changing for many teens. Many of us did not relate to the 40's swing and early 50's hits. Bill Haley's live concerts caused near riots in England and the US and "Rock Around The Clock" sounded the alarm in the movie
"Blackboard Jungle". The shot heard around the world. That started it for many of us.
In later years I was at a summer high school sock hop and the "Twist" by Checker had not worked it's way from Jersey to Florida. A young girl was visiting from Jersey and had the 45 and she and I started doing the twist dance. I was familiar with it. The teens gathered around us and enjoyed it. The chaperons told us to stop and took the record off of the record player. We later played it again and danced again with others joining in and we were asked to leave the school sock hop
😀
At any rate, as the Stones stated "It's Only Rock And Roll But I Like it"
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