Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer. At the age of 23 he joined Mel Tormé's Mel-Tones, singing on Artie Shaw records such as "What Is This Thing Called Love?".
Baxter then turned to arranging and conducting for Capitol Records in 1950, and was credited with the early Nat King Cole hits, "Mona Lisa" and "Too Young", but both were actually orchestrated by Nelson Riddle.[1] (In later releases of the recordings the credit was corrected to Riddle.[citation needed]) Not a uncommon practice these days: Baxter himself had arranged Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" in 1947 for a recording conducted by Frank De Vol. In 1953 he scored his first film, the sailing travelogue Tanga Tika. With his own orchestra, he released a number of hits including "Ruby" (1953), "Unchained Melody" (1955) and "The Poor People Of Paris" (1956). The latter recording sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2]He also achieved success with concept albums of his own orchestral suites: Le Sacre Du Sauvage, Festival Of The Gnomes, Ports Of Pleasure, and Brazil Now, the first three for Capitol and the fourth on Gene Norman's Crescendo label. The list of musicians on these recordings includes Plas Johnson and Clare Fischer.
Baxter also wrote the "Whistle" theme from the TV show Lassie.
Baxter did not restrict his activities to recording. As he once told Soundtrack! magazine, "I never turn anything down".
In the 1960s, he formed the Balladeers, a besuited and conservative folk group that at one time featured a young David Crosby.[citation needed] He operated in radio as musical director of The Halls of Ivy and the Bob Hope and Abbott and Costello shows.
Like his counterparts Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin and James Horner, Baxter later worked for the film industries from 1960s to 70s. He worked on movie soundtracks for American International Pictures where he composed and conducted scores for Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films and other horror stories and teenage musicals, including The Pit and the Pendulum, Panic in Year Zero!, Beach Party, The Comedy of Terrors,The Dunwich Horror, and Frogs. Howard W. Koch recalled that Baxter composed, orchestrated, and recorded the entire score of The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) in a total of three hours for $5,000.[3]
With less soundtrack work in the 1980s, he scored music for theme parks and SeaWorlds. In the 1990s, Baxter was widely celebrated, alongside Martin Denny and the Arthur Lyman Group, as one of the progenitors of what had become known as the "exotica" movement. In his 1996 appreciation for Wired magazine, writer David Toop remembered Baxter thus:
"Baxter offered package tours in sound, selling tickets to sedentary tourists who wanted to stroll around some taboo emotions before lunch, view a pagan ceremony, go wild in the sun or conjure a demon, all without leaving home hi-fi comforts in the white suburbs".
Baxter has a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6314 Hollywood Blvd.
Shake Rattle and Roll
Les Baxter and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans
Well, roll my breakfast 'cause I'm a hungry man
[Chorus]
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
Well, you never do nothin' to save your doggone soul
Wearin' those dresses, your hair done up so nice
Wearin' those dresses, your hair done up so nice
You look so warm, but your heart is cold as ice
[Chorus]
I'm like a one-eyed cat, peepin' in a sea-food store
I'm like a one-eyed cat, peepin' in a sea-food store
I can look at you, tell you don't love me no more
I believe you're doin' me wrong and now I know
I believe you're doin' me wrong and now I know
The more I work, the faster my money goes
[Chorus]
Shake, rattle and roll
The lyrics of Les Baxter and His Orchestra's "Shake Rattle and Roll" convey a sense of yearning and frustration in a relationship. The opening lines, "Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans," call on the subject to take action and show some energy and effort in the relationship, akin to making breakfast to satiate the singer's hunger. This could be interpreted metaphorically as a plea for the partner to show more care and attention towards the singer's needs and desires.
The repetition of the phrase "Shake, rattle and roll" in the chorus emphasizes a sense of movement, energy, and perhaps even agitation in the relationship. The repeated insistence on shaking and rattling could symbolize a desire to shake things up or bring about a change in the stagnant dynamics between the couple. It also suggests a lack of stability and balance in the relationship, with the singer feeling unsettled and dissatisfied.
The imagery of the subject wearing nice dresses and done-up hair, but having a cold heart, creates a contrast between outward appearances and inner emotions. This could speak to a disconnect between how the subject presents themselves to the world and their true feelings towards the singer. The juxtaposition of warmth in appearance and coldness in demeanor reflects a lack of genuine affection and emotional warmth in the relationship.
The comparison of the singer to a "one-eyed cat peeping in a sea-food store" conveys a sense of longing and yearning for something unattainable or unavailable. The act of peeping suggests a sense of longing and desire while being unable to fully grasp or attain what one desires. This could symbolize the singer feeling like an outsider in the relationship, unable to fully connect with the subject, and sensing that their love is not reciprocated. The realization that the subject is not reciprocating love leads to a sense of betrayal and disappointment, as reflected in the belief that they are being done wrong. The mention of working hard and money going faster could also hint at feelings of being taken advantage of or unappreciated in the relationship, adding to the overall sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction.
Line by Line Meaning
Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans
Leave the kitchen and make some noise by shaking and rattling those pots and pans
Well, roll my breakfast 'cause I'm a hungry man
Prepare my breakfast quickly because I am very hungry
I said shake, rattle and roll
I repeatedly told you to shake, rattle, and roll
Well, you never do nothin' to save your doggone soul
You never take any action to improve or save your soul
Wearin' those dresses, your hair done up so nice
You dress nicely and style your hair beautifully
You look so warm, but your heart is cold as ice
You may appear warm on the outside, but your heart is cold like ice
I'm like a one-eyed cat, peepin' in a sea-food store
I feel lonely and out of place, like a cat peeking inside a store full of seafood
I can look at you, tell you don't love me no more
I can see it in your eyes that you no longer love me
I believe you're doin' me wrong and now I know
I think you are mistreating me, and now I am certain
The more I work, the faster my money goes
No matter how much I work, my money disappears quickly
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Calhoun
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlie1486
Despite being born in the early 2000s my mum used to love playing this, she played it so much it was addictive, that it just came back into my head and despite my mum sadly passing away recently it stills reminds me of funny memories of me and my mum dancing to this 🤣❤️
@user-cf5ed2no8x
Ss cohe cette bonne vielle musique sa swig
@amandaross7849
My parents had this cassette when I was very small. Tonight I had a random clip of it pop into my head. After 2 hours of searching I have found it! Such a masterpiece!!
@bookvee
Same here. weird what your brain will suddenly come up with! "Hey! Hey! pssst! Remember that one cafe you went to in that town you cant remember the name of? Wasnt that food amazing? I bet you could really go for some of that right now!"
@MetYsJa
I had this flashback of the 80s with my parents and now I'm here. I miss those days
@joannaszaapska9976
Yak
@MattyGainz
You were probably made to this song 😉
@vladimirjovancic
me to
@jimbartels1641
Started playing this in my local bar 2 weeks ago and people are going crazy over it. LOVE IT
@charleswarlick6227
You should play I Wanna Be Rich. When I was in my 20s. I used to go to a neighbor bar. And I would by the DJ a drink every time he played that song. Plus I gave him 20.