"Fractured" was the title of an early

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

song written by

Bill Haley William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-sel ...

and

Marshall Lytle Marshall Edward Lytle (September 1, 1933 – May 25, 2013) was an American rock and roll Double bass, bassist, best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s. He played upright slap bass on the icon ...

and first recorded by

Bill Haley & His Comets Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band formed in 1947 and continuing until Haley's death in 1981. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. From late 1954 to late 1956, the group record ...

, then going by the name Bill Haley with Haley's Comets, in 1953. The song was released as an

Essex Records Essex Records was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1951 by Dave Miller (producer), David Miller primarily to record contemporary country and western, rhythm and blues as well as jazz and Gospel music, gospel. Jack Howard was the promot ...

78 single in 1953, peaking at #24 on the ''Billboard'' singles chart.

History

The music and the lyrics were written by Bill Haley and Marshall Lytle. The song was recorded at Redo Art Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was released by Essex Records as a B side single in July, 1953. The personnel on the recording included Haley's core Comets members

(bass), Billy Williamson (

steel guitar A steel guitar () is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conventional guitar i ...

), and

Johnny Grande John Andrew Grande (January 14, 1930 – June 3, 2006) was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets. Life and career Born in South Philadelphia, Grande played piano and accordion with Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, later known as Bill H ...

(piano), plus session musicians

Art Ryerson Arthur Ryerson (May 22, 1913 – October 27, 2004) was a jazz guitarist who emerged in the 1930s, playing acoustic and electric guitar, as well as the banjo. He played with jazz orchestras and bands in the 1930s and the 1940s. In the early 19 ...

(lead guitar) and Billy Gussak (drums).Bill Haley Essex and Decca Discography
a
This is Vintage Now
/ref> The recording was released on Essex Records as Essex 327B backed with "Pat-a-Cake". The term "fractured" was a popular slang expression of that time, which like the earlier "crazy, man, crazy", was chosen as the title of the song to appeal to teenage record buyers.

Charts

"Fractured" was a Top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' pop singles chart, reaching #24 in August, 1953.

Sources

* Jim Dawson, ''Rock Around the Clock: The Record That Started the Rock Revolution!'' (Backbeat Books, 2005), pp. 50–55. * John W. Haley and John von Hoelle, ''Sound and Glory'' (Dyne-American, 1990). * John Swenson, ''Bill Haley: The Daddy of Rock and Roll'' (Stein & Day, 1985).

References

{{authority control 1953 singles Bill Haley songs Rockabilly songs Songs written by Bill Haley Essex Records singles 1953 songs