The version by Jimmy Preston and His Prestonians was recorded in Philadelphia in May 1949 and was released on the Gotham label, reaching #6 on the national R&B chart later that year.

They were persuaded by their producer, Essex Records owner Dave Miller, to cover "Rock The Joint" - a song which, like "Rocket 88", had already been successful with R&B audiences.

Haley made up verses of his own to appeal to his country music audience, naming a succession of hillbilly dances (such as the Sugarfoot Rag and Virginia Reel) in place of Preston's hucklebuck and jitterbug, and also used different instrumentation on the track, and more back echo.

In particular, Haley's version used a prominent percussive slapped bass played by Marshall Lytle in lieu of drums[3] and electric guitar by Danny Cedrone, with a lick he duplicated two years later on "Rock Around The Clock".

The 1952 Bill Haley version with a different arrangement and new lyrics was covered by Ralph Marterie and Lola Ameche on Mercury Records in 1952.