It was from another time! That sound was heavily influenced by the popularity of Louis Jordan.
"Caldonioa" is already very much on the way to rock'n'roll for me, that sax sounds like a blueprint to Bill Haley & The Comets. Likewise the Wilbert Harrison Stuff (but that was also already ten years later). The Rufus Thomas track from 1950 has much more demanding jazz melodies and harmonies.
But thanks for this, Dave, I live and learn from you. I always thought Bryan Ferry
had covered a Canned Heat song
and changed the lyrics a little. Now I know that Ferry was closer to the early 60ies original than Canned Heat ever where! Which in hindsight is perhaps of little wonder, because Ferry is a connaisseur of that whole 1920-1950 era of US melting pot Jazz-, Blues- and Big Band-era influenced dance music.
[BTW, the greatest and most enduring cultural gift of the US to the rest of the world, and I write that in admiration. Danke for winning WWII and bringing your wonderful music all across the planet!]He's even recorded Roxy Music chestnuts in that style.
