Rockin' Around the World

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Rockin' Around the World

Studio album by Bill Haley and His Comets

Released

March 17, 1958

Recorded

November 8-21, 1957, New York

Bill Haley and His Comets chronology

Rockin' the Oldies
(1957)

Rockin' Around the World
(1958)

Rockin' the Joint
(1958)

Rockin' Around the World was the sixth album of rock and roll music by Bill Haley and His Comets. Released in March 1958 on the Decca Records label, the album was produced by Milt Gabler, who produced all of Haley's recordings for Decca. It was the second of three "themed" albums that Haley produced for the label. This time the theme was rock and roll versions of songs from countries around the world. For example, "London Bridge is Falling Down" was rewritten as "Piccadilly Rock". Most of the tracks were based upon public domain folk songs, which were subsequently updated by Haley and his songwriting partners. Also included was a version of Waltzing Matilda" (renamed "Rockin' Matilda"); another song, "Come Rock With Me", was based upon "O Sole Mio", which would also later form the basis of the Elvis Presley hit, "It's Now or Never". No hit singles eventuated from this album, although Haley later re-recorded one track, "Vive la Rock and Roll", in a duet with Catarina Valente. Haley's steel guitar player, Billy Williamson, performs lead vocals on one track, "Jamaica D.J."