Rock Around the Clock

Rock Around the Clock was an early song of the rock and roll genre published in 1953 by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (under the pseudonym Jimmy DeKnight). The song was written for Bill Haley (1925-81), a Pennsylvania-based musician, but was first recorded by an Italian-American band called Sonny Dae and His Knights in 1954. On 12 April 1954, Bill Haley and his band, The Comets, recorded the song for Decca Records in New York City.

Initially only a minor success in America, the song became an international hit, and the first acknowledged worldwide hit of the rock and roll era, after it was featured as the opening titles music of the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle. Ultimately, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged sales of more than 25 million copies over the next quarter-century.

A recording of "Rock Around the Clock" (but not the Haley version) was played to entertain customers of Nostalgia Tours which included the Doctor and Melanie Bush when they were on a trip to Disneyland in 1959. (DW: Delta and the Bannermen)

Behind the scenes
A new recording of the song was made by Doctor Who house composer Keff McCulloch for its use in Delta and the Bannermen. On screen, members of the cast are shown singing along to the recording, including Bonnie Langford.