The Girl Can't Help It (1956) showcased many early Rock & Roll bands and singers that help transition in this new youth sound. We discussed the movie in Epsiode 26 of our podcast.
"The Girl Can't Help It" - Little Richard (1932 - 2020) "The Architect of Rock and Roll" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the first group of inductees in 1986.
"Ready Teddy"
"She's Got It"
"Tempo's Tempo" - Nino Tempo is playing as we are introduced to alcoholic talent agent Tom MIller (Tom Ewell) in the beginning of the movie. Nino was a duet partner with his older sister April Stevens (Caroline LoTempio's stage name) as wll as the frontman for 5th Ave. Sax. He is best known for the 1963 duet "Deep Purple" with his sister April Stevens.
"My Idea of Love" and "I Ain't Gonna Cry No More" - Johnny Olenn from the Rockabilly Hall of Fame: "Johnny Olenn started his career in the early fifties, playing steel guitar in the band of Eddie Dugosh and the Ah-Ha Boys in San Antonio, Texas. In 1954 he got his own band together called The Jokers and in 1955 he cut his first two 45 rpm records for the San Antonio based TNT label. In 1956 when he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and was playing at the Hacienda hotel, he got a proposal to perform in the 1956 rock 'n' roll movie "The Girl Can't Help It"
"Cool It Baby" - Eddie Fontaine (1927 - 1992) was a musician and actor.
"Cinnamon Sinner" - Teddy Randazzo & The Three Chuckles. Alessandro Carmelo "Teddy" Randazzo (1935 - 2003) appeared with his group The Three Chuckles on the Ed Sullivan show many times. He was a pop songwriter who composed such hits as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", "Pretty Blue Eyes", and "Hurt So Bad".
"Spread the Word" – Abbey Lincoln (1930 - 2010) was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress.
"Cry Me a River" - Julie London (1926 - 2000) a torch singer and actress. She famously played nurse Dixie McCall in the television series Emergency!
"Be-Bop-A-Lula" – Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. Gene Vincent (1935 - 1971) major influencer on rock and roll and rockabilly sounds. Vincent was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame upon its formation in 1997. "Be-Bop-a-Lula" has been covered by numerous bands from The Everly Brothers, The Beatles, to Queen and David Cassidy.
"Twenty Flight Rock" – Eddie Cochran (1938 - 1960) died at 21 in England as a result of a car accident. "Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the for this movie, and released as a single the following year. Paul McCartney used "Twenty Flight Rock" as his first song when he auditioned for John Lennon on July 6, 1957
"Rockin' Is Our Business" - The Treniers. The band was based around twins Clifton L. "Cliff" Trenier (1919 – 1983) and Claude Oliver Trenier (1919 – 2003). Their music bridged the gap between swing and rock & roll. One of the first times rock and roll appeared on national television was in May 1954 when the Treniers appeared on the Colgate Comedy Hour, hosted by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. During the playing of their songs, Martin and Lewis participated in the antics, and when the drummer got up and stepped aside, Jerry Lewis sat down and played drums for one song.
"Big Band Boogie" – Ray Anthony and his Orchestra. Ray Anthony was a bandleader, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is the last surviving member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
"Blue Monday" – Fats Domino (1928 - 2017) has four records named to the Grammy Hall of Fame for their significance: "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't It A Shame", "Walking to New Orleans" and "The Fat Man". Between 1955 and 1960, he had eleven Top 10 US pop hits and by 1955 five of his records had sold more than a million copies. Elvis Presley declared Domino to be "the real king of rock ‘n’ roll".
"You'll Never, Never Know" – The Platters. The Platters formed in Los Angeles in 1952 and originally consisted of founding members, Herb Reed, Alex Hodge, Cornell Gunter and Joe Jefferson. Lineup has changed over time.
And, of course we have to include Edmond O'Brien singing "Rock Around the Rockpile" with Ray Anthony and his Orchestra.
Comments