Flip, Flop and Fly

"Flip, Flop and Fly" is a song recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1955.[1] Called a "prototypical rocker", the song has been recorded by a variety of artists, including early rock and roll performers such as Elvis Presley.[2]

"Flip, Flop and Fly"
Single by Big Joe Turner
B-side"Ti-Ri-Lee"
ReleasedFebruary 1955 (1955-02)
RecordedNew York City, January 28, 1955
GenreJump blues
Length2:49
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Big Joe Turner singles chronology
"Well All Right"
(1954)		 "Flip, Flop and Fly"
(1955)		 "Hide and Seek"
(1955)

Original song

"Flip, Flop and Fly" has an arrangement similar to Big Joe Turner's 1954 number one R&B chart hit "Shake, Rattle and Roll".[3] Music critic Cub Koda suggests that "leftover verses [from the 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' recording session] were then recycled into Turner's follow-up hit, 'Flip, Flop and Fly.'"[4] Both are up-tempo twelve-bar blues with a strong backbeat. "Flip, Flop and Fly" reached number two on Billboard magazine's R&B chart in 1955, less than one year after "Shake, Rattle and Roll".[5]

Accompanying Turner on vocals are the song's writer Jesse Stone on piano, Al Sears on tenor sax, Connie Kay on drums, and unidentified trumpet, alto sax, baritone sax, guitar, and bass players. Turner subsequently recorded several live versions of the song.

The song appeared on the 1957 album Rock & Roll (Atlantic: 8005).[6]

Elvis Presley version

Elvis Presley performed "Flip, Flop and Fly" during his first television appearance on January 28, 1956. It was included with a medley of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "I Got a Woman" and released on his posthumous compilation album A Golden Celebration. A live version from 1974 was included on Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis.

Other versions

Several artists have recorded their versions of "Flip, Flop and Fly," including Johnnie Ray (1955), Bill Haley & His Comets on the album Rock Around the Clock (1956), Downchild Blues Band (1973), Paolo Noel in French (1974), the New York Dolls during live performances (1976), Doug Kershaw on his album also titled Flip, Flop & Fly (1977), the Blues Brothers on Briefcase Full of Blues (1978), Geraint Watkins Band on It's Rock 'N' Roll Vol. 2 (1978), Jerry Lee Lewis on The Return of Rock (1999), and Ellis Hall on the Chicken Run soundtrack (2000).

References
  1. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 3 - The Tribal Drum: The rise of rhythm and blues. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  2. Dahl, Bill (1996). "Big Joe Turner". In Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All music guide to the blues : The experts' guide to the best blues recordings. All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 254. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  3. "Review Spotlight on ... Flip, Flop and Fly". Billboard. 67 (9): 57. February 26, 1955. ISSN 0006-2510.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. Koda, Cub. "Big Joe Turner: Shake, Rattle and Roll – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2011.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 419. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  6. "Joe Turner* - Rock & Roll". Discogs. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
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