Tag: Cool It Baby

Eddie Fontaine – Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves on the Trees)

I’ve been reading about the Beatle’s early days when they were leather-bound hoodlums on the streets of Hamburg and Liverpool. Liverpool had a lot of bands and they tended to do the same songs. The Beatles broke out of that by picking B sides rather than playing a top 40 hit every time. They had excellent taste. They played this one in Hamburg at the Star Club. If you haven’t heard the low-quality album Beatles Live At the Star Club…it’s worth listening to. It’s The Beatles in rock/punk mode.

Eddie Fontaine, singer and actor, released this song in 1958. It has it all…twangy 1950s guitar and a cool lyric to boot. Eddie Fontaine never became a major name in rock and roll but his song left an impression on a generation of young rockers.

Eddie was from Massachusetts and RCA signed him in 1954 as a vocalist. He first gained attention as a singer with his single Cool It, Baby in 1956, which had moderate success. It was featured in the film The Girl Can’t Help It.  However, Nothin’ Shakin in 1958 brought him more recognition, especially within the rockabilly crowd.

Eddie was an actor as well. He has 27 actor credits in IMDB. He appeared in TV shows like 77 Sunset Strip, The Wild Wild West, Ironside, Kojak, Planet of the Apes, Baretta, and many more.

This song peaked at #64 on the Billboard 100 in 1958. Below is a more refined Beatles version they did on the BBC radio and the original by Eddie himself.

Nothin’ Shakin’

I’m finding out what love is all aboutAnd every day at three when school lets outI see my baby I get weak in the kneesThere’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesWhy must she be such a doggone tease?There’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the trees

We meet the gang and go to Rockin’ Joe’sThe cats are stompin’ on their heels and toesI grab my baby, tried to give her a squeezeNothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesMy daddy told me there’d be times like theseThere’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the trees

She’s got a way that makes me act like a foolOh, she spends my money then she plays me cruelI’m beggin’ her for kisses on bended kneesGimme some lovin’ baby, please, please, please

But I keep trying hard to make her mineSomeday the wind will blow, the sun will shineUntil that time she puts my heart at easeThere’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesShe locked my heart and threw away the keysThere’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesHa ha ha!

Nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesShe’s got a way that makes me act like a foolOh, spends my money then she plays me cruelI’m beggin’ for her kisses on bended kneesWhy don’t ya gimme some lovin’ baby, please, please, please

But I keep trying hard to make her mineSomeday the wind will blow, the sun will shineUntil that time she puts my heart at easeThere’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesWhy must she be such a doggone tease?There’s nothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesNothin’ shakin’ but the leaves on the treesNothin’ shakin’, oh shakin’