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Early in 1955, Boyd Bennett and the Rockets recorded the rock & roller "Seventeen."
The artists were Boyd Bennett, John Young and Carl Gorman. King
Records was unsure of the record's commercial appeal, yet they eventually released it, which proved to be fortunate. "Seventeen" rocketed to number five on the pop charts, eventually becoming one of
the best-selling records in the label's history. Not only was the original successful, but the song spawned several cover versions, making Bennett and his co-author John Young several million dollars.
A veteran Chicago mainstay of the piano, Young likes modal or mainstream textures. He can play the blues. He evokes favorable comparisons to McCoy Tyner or Kenny Drew.
The words of the song Seventeen are: Seventeen, seventeen
Cool and solid seventeen Young enough to dance and sing
Old enough to get that swing Past sixteen, just been kissed
Graduated and got that twist Kind of love I can't resist At seventeen
Now, sloppy shirt, old blue-jeans Dirty shoes by all means
Patch of blonde, peroxide hair Juke-box baby, ain't no square Seventeen, hot
rod queen Cutest girl you've ever seen Tell the world I'm really keen
On my hep-cat doll of seventeen The Rockets' next
single, "My Boy Flat-Top," was sung by the group's Big Moe (James Muzey) and it also made it into the pop Top 40. The song was written by Dorothy Collins.
The words of the song My Boy-Flat Top are: Young and strong, his top is
flat Cool haircut, never wears a hat
I don't mean maybe, he's a real hep cat My boy-flat top
Big broad shoulders, man, they're pips Dreamy eyes really crazy lips
When he shouts, "Hey baby" Well the girls they flip
My boy-flat top I'm tellin you that snazzy guy
Really sends you my oh, my He's the most, the dreamers goal
You ought to see him rock and roll Got no dough, but just a nod
Gets the girls, though it may seem odd He's a real smooth lover in his old hot rod
My boy-flat top. In 1956, the Rockets supported by
Moon Mullican on the classic rockabilly single, Seven Nights To Rock." One more Rockets' single -- a 1956 cover of Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes - was a minor pop success, but the Rockets couldn't
replicate their success with "Seventeen." Throughout 1957 and 1958,
they recorded "Hit That Jive," and "High School Hop." These songs touched on rockabilly. They were significantly tamer than most of their contemporaries. Boyd's music fell somewhere between the emerging
Rockabilly sound in early rock-and-roll. His "cutting edge" sensitivity had correctly interpreted the times and he was able to leave his mark on the 1950s decade.
Bennett left King Records in 1959, singing with Mercury Records. Late in 1959, he had one minor hit on his new label, "Boggie Bear." After a series of unsuccessful singles, the current rock-and-roll star
decided to retire from performing. With the money he earned from "Seventeen," he went into several businesses and co-owned a television station.
A decade after his retirement, he founded "Hard Cast Manufacturing," which
primarily manufactured sealants for the heating and air conditioning industry. At the time, Bennett lived in Dallas TX. With the exception of an occasionally charity event with Ray Price, Boyd Bennett
never reentered the music business. (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide)
Charts Rock & Roll 1996 KING (not rated)
Tennessee Rock 'n' Roll Seventeen (2:04), Mumbles Blues (2:28), Oo-Oo-Oo (2:28),
Most (2:17), Switchie, Witchie, Titchie (2:11), You Upset Me Baby (2:22), Hit That Jive, Jack! (2:36), Groovy Age (2:14), Blue Suede Shoes (2:08), Boogie At Midnight (2:24), Little Ole You All (2:02),
Partners For Life (2:20), Banjo Rock & Roll (2:50), Cool Disc Jockey (2:02), High School Hop (1:54), Poison Ivy (2:14), Right Around The Corner (2:30), Tennessee Rock & Roll (2:18), Little Ole You All
(2:24), Everlovin' (2:15), Groovy Age (2:30), Waterloo (2:38), Dig Like You Never Dug (2:46), My Boy Flat Top (2:28)
Sock Hop (King) 1995 At The Hop, Twist, Rock Around The Clock, Twist And Shout,
Rockin' Robin, Stroll, Do You Want To Dance?, Blue Suede Shoes
The Complete Original Dixieland Jazz Band Livery Stable Blues (3:05), Dixie Jass
Band One-Step (2:35), At The Jazz Band Ball (2:36), Ostrich Walk (3:09), Skeleton Jangle (2:50), Tiger Rag (3:05), Bluin' The Blues (3:11), Fidgety Feet (War Cloud), Sensation Rag (2:51), Mournin'
Blues (2:47), Clarinet Marmalade Blues (2:43), Lazy Daddy (3:12), Margie (3:14), Palesteena (2:43), Bradway Rose (3:10), Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad) (3:15), Home Again Blues (2:46), Crazy Blues
(2:38), Jazz Me Blues (3:00), St. Louis Blues (3:12), Royal Garden Blues (2:58), Dangerous Blues (3:03), Bow Wow Blues (My Mama Treats Me Like A Dog) (3:08), Skeleton Jangle, Clarinet Marmalade (2:25),
Bluin' The Blues (2:38), Tiger Rag (2:36), Barnyard Blues (2:32), Original Dixieland One-Step (2:31), Bluin' The Blues (2:45), Tiger Rag (2:46), Ostrich Walk (2:35), Original Dixieland One-Step (2:33),
Satanic Blues (2:43), Toddlin' Blues (2:45), Who Loves You? (2:32) And Fidgety Feet (2:19) Lost
Treasures II (not rated track listings)
You Can Make It If You Try Teardrops On Your Letter Clap Your Hands Seventeen Buzz Buzz A-Diddle-It Later Alligator Sugar Bee Henrietta Here I Stand Nothin' Shakin' Dark Moon You Can Have Her Darling Lorraine Life's Too Short There Is Something On Your Mind Ballad Of Thunder Road Dance By The Light Of The Moon Poor Boy Alone Talk That Talk Sugaree What's A
Original Rock & Roll, Vol. 2 1987
Hollywood (not rated track listing)
Honky Tonk Finger Poppin' Time Seventeen Ivory Tower Tossin' And Turnin' Talk To Me Only You Dedicated To The One I Love Love Potion No. 9
Greatest Hits 1956-1957
You've Got The Magic Touch Why Do Fools Fall In Love? Honky Tonk, Pt. 1 Ivory Tower, Green Door Ain't Got No Home Let The Good Times Roll Ooby Dooby, Boppin' The Blues What Can I Do? Seventeen In The Still Of The Night Fool Fever Short Fat Fannie Ling-Ting-Tong Gone Young Blood Rip It Up So Rare
Boyd Bennett 1957 (not rated)
Instruments: Drummer, Vocals Date of Birth: December 7, 1924 Place of Birth: Muscle
Shoals, Alabama Williamson on steel guitar, Johnny Grande on piano, Marshall Lytle on bass and Dick Richards on drums.
Original Releases
Date & Source, Titles & References to LP/CD List
1955/Jan. 15, Waterloo , I've Had Enough 1955/Feb. You Upset Me Baby, Poison Ivy, Boogie At Midnight, Everlovin' 1955/May 14, Seventeen , Little Ole You-All 1955/May 28, Tennessee Rock And Roll, Oo-Oo-Oo 1955/Sept. 17, My Boy Flat-Top, Banjo Rock And Roll 1955/Nov. 26, The Most, Desperately 1956/Jan. 28, Right Around The Corner, Partners For Life 1956/Mar. 10, Blue Suede Shoes , Mumbles Blues 1956/Apr. 28, The Groovy Age {b}, Let Me Love You 1956/Aug. 18, Hit That Jive, Jack, Rabbit-Eye Pink And Charcoal Black 1956/Oct. 27, Rockin' Up A Storm, A Lock Of Your Hair 1957/Mar. 16, I'm Moving On, Big Jay Shuffle, [instrumental.] 1957/May 20, Big Boy, Put The Chain On The Door 1957/Dec. 16, Boy Meets Girl, Sentimental Journey 1958/Feb., Her Momma Doesn't Think It's Right, Signed, Sealed, Delivered 1958/Feb. 17, Move {a,d}, Click Clack {c} 1959/Feb., Tear It Up , Tight Tights 1959/July 13, Boogie Bear , A Boy Can Tell 1959/Nov. 2, High School Hop , Cool Disc Jockey 1959/Nov. 16, Naughty Rock And Roll, Lover's Night 1960/Apr. 4, It's Wonderful, Amo, Amas, Amat 1960/June, Seventeen, Sarasota 1960/July 18, Seventeen , My Boy Flat Top 1960/Dec. 5, Big Junior , Hershey Bar 1961/June 26, Coffee Break, The Brain 1963/Apr. 27, Teenage Years, Hear Me Talking
In 1980, Boyd returned to his musical routes recorded four gospel albums,
"It's Gets Sweeter," "Sings My Soul," "Steps Into The Sunshine" and "Boyd Bennett Sings Your Favorite Hymns."
In 1996, Boyd made his last public musical appearance in the old city of Jerusalem, Israel. He sang "Amazing Grace" with the worship leader of the Garden Tomb Center where Jesus was buried. He also sang
"The Our Father" at the Church Of The Nativity where the natural acoustics are some of the best in the world.
In 2002 Boyd Ann-Margaret, his wife of 30 years, moved the national headquarters of their medical supply company., Encore, Inc. to Sarasota, Florida. Boyd's rendition of one of his favorite gospel songs,
"Because He Lives" was played at his funeral. |
