200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #150-141. 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…

150

SINCE I MET YOU BABY

Ivory Joe Hunter

Ivory Joe Hunter wrote "Since I Left You Baby", a love song he released in 1956. It topped the R&B Chart in the United States. The recording features Hunter on piano. It proved a key track in the crossover of blues and R&B into the pop mainstream.

149

STUPID CUPID

Connie Francis

Neil Sedaka co-wrote "Stupid Cupid" with Howard Greenfield. Connie Francis recorded the song and reached #1 with it in Britain during 1958. She was to become one of the best selling female pop singers of the 1950s.

148

DROWN IN MY OWN TEARS

Ray Charles

Ray Charles proved his skill as an interpreter time and time again. His 1956 rendition of "Drown In My Own Tears" is soulful and convincing. The disc became Uncle Ray's 3rd R&B Chart #1.

147

BAD GIRL

The Miracles

"Bad Girl" by The Miracles was the first single issued on the Motown label and not its subsidiaries such as Tamla and Gordy. Written by lead singer Smokey Robinson and label chief Berry Gordy Jr., it was the first chart entry for the fledgling group. 

146

DANCE WITH ME

The Drifters

Ben E. King's lush lead vocal skills augmented any song and The Drifters capitalized as a result. "Dance With Me" was released in 1959 and climbed the R&B and Pop charts.

145

UPTOWN

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison would be one of the leading figures in rock music during the 1960s but was already demonstrating his abundant skills as a singer and songwriter on his 1950s output, such as his underrated 1959 single "Uptown".

144

DEVIL OR ANGEL

The Clovers

In 1956, The Clovers reached #3 on the R&B Chart with the doo wop classic "Devil Or Angel". John "Buddy" Bailey shines on lead vocals. The song would fare better as a remake for Bobby Vee in 1960.

143

IT'S SO EASY

The Crickets

The last release by The Crickets while Buddy Holly was still alive was "It's So Easy" in 1958. The track was penned by him with bandmate Norman Petty. It was later covered by Linda Ronstadt in 1977.

142

THE CHICKEN AND THE HAWK

Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner had been climbing the R&B Chart since 1945. "The Chicken And the Hawk", written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, peaked at #7 in 1956.

141

MR. LEE

The Bobbettes

The girl group era had not officially begun when The Bobbettes scored a hit with "Mr. Lee" in 1957. Rock 'n' roll was still dominated by male acts. The Bobbettes made the Pop Top 10 and #1 on the R&B Chart.

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