See You Later Alligator
Encyclopedia
"See You Later, Alligator" is the title of an iconic rock and roll
song of the 1950s.
Originally entitled "Later Alligator", the song, based on a 12-bar blues chord structure (141541), was written by Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry and first recorded by him under his professional name "Bobby Charles
" in 1955. Guidry, a Cajun
musician, adopted a New Orleans-influenced blues style for the recording. As a result, some reference books incorrectly list him as a black musician. (He also wrote "Walking to New Orleans
", which was recorded by Fats Domino
.)
The most famous recording of the song, however, was that created on December 12, 1955 by Bill Haley & His Comets
at a recording session for Decca Records
. Unlike most of Haley's recordings for Decca, which were created at the Pythian Temple
studio in New York City
, "Alligator" and its flip-side, "The Paper Boy (On Main Street U.S.A.)", was recorded at the Decca Building itself in New York. The song was featured in Rock Around the Clock
, a musical film Haley and the Comets began shooting in January 1956. Decca records released this disk on February 1, 1956 in both 45 and 78 formats.
Haley's arrangement of the song is faster-paced than Guidry's original, and in particular the addition of a two-four beat changed the song from a rhythm and blues "shuffle" to rock and roll. The song also has a more light-hearted beat than the original, starting out with a high-pitched, child-like voice (belonging to Haley's lead guitarist, Franny Beecher
) reciting the title of the song. The ending of the song was virtually identical to the conclusion of Haley's earlier hit, "Shake, Rattle and Roll
".
Bill Haley's recording of "See You Later, Alligator" popularized a catchphrase already in use at the time, and no less than Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom
was quoted as saying it (this is related in a biography of the princess published in the early 1960s). It would become Haley's third and final million-selling single, although it did not hit the top of the American record sales charts.
Haley and the Comets would re-record the song several more times in his career: in 1964 for Guest Star Records, a drastically rearranged version for Mexico
's Orfeon Records
in 1966, and once more in 1968 for Sweden
's Sonet Records
. It was also a staple of the band's live act. Several post-Haley incarnations of The Comets have also recorded versions of the song. Guidry, under his Bobby Charles pseudonym, re-recorded the song himself in the 1990s.
In Spain
this song was covered by a popular group called Parchís
, under the title "Hasta luego cocodrilo".
On Broadway, "See You Later Alligator" was sung by Robert Britton Lyons, portraying Carl Perkins, in the musical "Million Dollar Quartet," which opened in New York in April, 2010. Robert Britton Lyons also covered the song in the "Million Dollar Quartet" original Broadway cast recording (copyright 2010 by MDQ Merchandising, LLC).
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
song of the 1950s.
Originally entitled "Later Alligator", the song, based on a 12-bar blues chord structure (141541), was written by Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry and first recorded by him under his professional name "Bobby Charles
Bobby Charles
Bobby Charles was an American singer-songwriter.An ethnic Cajun, Charles was born as Robert Charles Guidry in Abbeville, Louisiana and grew up listening to Cajun music and the country and western music of Hank Williams...
" in 1955. Guidry, a Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
musician, adopted a New Orleans-influenced blues style for the recording. As a result, some reference books incorrectly list him as a black musician. (He also wrote "Walking to New Orleans
Walking to New Orleans
Walking to New Orleans is a 1960 song by Bobby Charles, written for and recorded by Fats Domino.Domino was a hero of Charles. Domino had previously recorded the Charles tune "Before I Grow Too Old"...
", which was recorded by Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
.)
The most famous recording of the song, however, was that created on December 12, 1955 by Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
at a recording session for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. Unlike most of Haley's recordings for Decca, which were created at the Pythian Temple
Pythian Temple (New York City)
The Pythian Temple is an historic Knights of Pythias building at 135 West 70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was built in 1927 to serve as a meeting place for the 120 Pythian lodges of New York City...
studio in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, "Alligator" and its flip-side, "The Paper Boy (On Main Street U.S.A.)", was recorded at the Decca Building itself in New York. The song was featured in Rock Around the Clock
Rock Around the Clock (film)
Rock Around the Clock is the title of a 1956 Musical film that featured Bill Haley and His Comets along with Alan Freed, The Platters, Tony Martinez and His Band, and Freddie Bell and His Bellboys. It was produced by B-movie king Sam Katzman and directed by Fred F...
, a musical film Haley and the Comets began shooting in January 1956. Decca records released this disk on February 1, 1956 in both 45 and 78 formats.
Haley's arrangement of the song is faster-paced than Guidry's original, and in particular the addition of a two-four beat changed the song from a rhythm and blues "shuffle" to rock and roll. The song also has a more light-hearted beat than the original, starting out with a high-pitched, child-like voice (belonging to Haley's lead guitarist, Franny Beecher
Franny Beecher
Francis "Franny" Beecher , also known as Frank Beecher, was lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz...
) reciting the title of the song. The ending of the song was virtually identical to the conclusion of Haley's earlier hit, "Shake, Rattle and Roll
Shake, Rattle and Roll
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E. Calhoun. It was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, and most successfully by Bill Haley & His Comets...
".
Bill Haley's recording of "See You Later, Alligator" popularized a catchphrase already in use at the time, and no less than Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was quoted as saying it (this is related in a biography of the princess published in the early 1960s). It would become Haley's third and final million-selling single, although it did not hit the top of the American record sales charts.
Haley and the Comets would re-record the song several more times in his career: in 1964 for Guest Star Records, a drastically rearranged version for Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records
Orfeon Records was a Turkish producer of phonographs and gramophone records. The first record company in Turkey, it was founded by the Blumenthal Family in 1912. The company was based in Constantinople and was actively producing records up until 1924 when it was purchased by Columbia Records...
in 1966, and once more in 1968 for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Sonet Records
Sonet Records
Sonet Records is a jazz record label operating as an imprint of Universal Music Sweden. It was founded in Sweden in 1956.Sonet Records was established by Sven Lindholm and Gunnar Bergström, who managed the label into the 1980s. Dag Haeggqvist, the owner of Gazell Records, became an executive of the...
. It was also a staple of the band's live act. Several post-Haley incarnations of The Comets have also recorded versions of the song. Guidry, under his Bobby Charles pseudonym, re-recorded the song himself in the 1990s.
In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
this song was covered by a popular group called Parchís
Parchís (group)
Parchis was a 1980s children's group from Spain which enjoyed moderate success in Latin American countries around the world.The group's name is a reference to the board game, Parcheesi , where each player represents a different colored pawn...
, under the title "Hasta luego cocodrilo".
On Broadway, "See You Later Alligator" was sung by Robert Britton Lyons, portraying Carl Perkins, in the musical "Million Dollar Quartet," which opened in New York in April, 2010. Robert Britton Lyons also covered the song in the "Million Dollar Quartet" original Broadway cast recording (copyright 2010 by MDQ Merchandising, LLC).