200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #170-161. Continues tomorrow.

Caffé Latté presents...

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE

1950s

Rhythm and blues, country and folk music were coming together to create the first rock and roll records. Cashed up youths started spending their money on the new genre. Radio exposed audiences to exciting new sounds and artists. Labels such as Sun, Atlantic and Chess began to flourish. The 1950s created a revolution with the arrival of rock music.

This countdown looks back on 200 recordings that had a lasting impact at the time, and- in most cases- beyond that decade. At the start of the 1950s, music was targeted to segregated audiences. Rock ‘n’ Roll was dismissed by many as a passing fad. By the end of the decade, rock was established as the dominant genre in popular music. These 200 sons form part of the soundtrack of rebellion…

170

TEEN BEAT

Sandy Nelson

Drummer Sandy Nelson's "Teen Beat" was an instrumental Top 10 hit in America and the UK in 1959.

169

WITHOUT LOVE (THERE IS NOTHING)

Clyde McPhatter

Clyde McPhatter left The Drifters to launch a solo career. His 1957 single "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" features an impassioned soulful vocal.

168

WILD, WILD YOUNG MEN

Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown was exerting her influence on vocalists from as early as 1948. "Wild, Wild Young Men" was a #3 R&B Chart hit for her in 1953 on Atlantic Records, one of the key labels for the genre during the 1950s.

167

LITTLE DARLIN'

The Diamonds

Although originally recorded by Maurice Williams & The Gladiolas, "Little Darlin'" became a Top 3 smash on both sides of the Atlantic for Canadian doo wop group The Diamonds in 1957.

166

BANANA BOAT SONG (DAY-O)

Harry Belafonte

In 1956, Harry Belafonte ushered in the calypso craze with his US & UK Top 5 smash "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)".

165

SIXTEEN CANDLES

The Crests

The Crests was one of the most successful doo wop groups. On the US Chart, "Sixteen Candles" peaked at #2 Pop and #4 R&B in 1958.

164

(YOU HIT THE WRONG NOTE) BILLY GOAT

Bill Haley & His Comets

Bill Haley wisely sensed that rock 'n roll was emerging in the early 1950s and was soon one of its pioneer acts. "Billy Goat" was another of the singles issued during the mid- Fifties by the rocker and his group The Comets.

163

SEA OF LOVE

Phil Phillips

"Sea Of Love" was written by Phil Phillips and producer George Khoury.  The former began penning the song in the hope of impressing a woman he fancied at the time. In 1959, the disc -  Phillips' sole hit- topped the US R&B Chart and peaked at #2 Pop.

162

YOUNG BLOOD

The Coasters

By 1957, The Coasters had already had 2 R&B hits. "Young Blood" became the group's first entry on the Pop Chart. The disc reached #10 Pop and gave The Coasters its first R&B #1.

161

HEARTBEAT

Buddy Holly

 

"Heartbeat" was one of the last singles issued before the tragic death of Buddy Holly. The single reached #4 R&B and made the British Top 30 in 1958.

Check out the Caffé Latté 1950s playlist on spotify as new songs are added to coincide with each new update on this blog.