TRACING POPULAR MUSIC TASTES (UK PERSPECTIVE). 

Today: 1955-64. More: Monday.

Caffè Lattè traces the shifts in popular music through the decades…

-THE LEADERBOARD-

The Rock Era is said to have begun in 1955 when “Rock Around The Clock” became the first rock ‘n’ roll disc to reach #1 on Billboard’s Singles Chart. Later that year, the song climbed to the top in the UK. Rock ‘n’ roll was making its mark on both sides of the Atlantic. We’ve already traced the shifts in musical trends from the US perspective, now our focus is on the British Top 40 Chart.

British acts would soon thrive as rock music evolved, helping to elevate trends such as Merseybeat, Britpop, skiffle, punk, house, disco and many other sub-genres.

Britain would never be the same after 1963. The Merseybeat Sound began to infiltrate beyond the borders of the UK, resulting in the British Invasion. This was spearheaded by the emergence of groups such as Gerry & The Pacemakers and The Beatles. Beatlemania spread across the globe, spawning success for other British acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Searchers and Cilla Black.

PART THREE

November 1955-1964

1.    ELVIS PRESLEY                                        14      60

2.    THE SHADOWS*                                       12      44

3.    CLIFF RICHARD                                        7       28

4.    THE BEATLES                                             6       29

5.    THE EVERLY BROTHERS                        4       19

6.    FRANK IFIELD                                            4       17

7.    LONNIE DONEGAN                                    3       11

     GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS                3       11

8.    ROY ORBISON                                            3       7

9.    CONNIE FRANCIS                                     2       12

10.JOHNNIE RAY                                            2       10

11.FRANKIE VAUGHAN                                2       7

     CILLA BLACK                                            2       7

12.RUSS CONWAY                                          2       6

     BOBBY DARIN                                           2       6

     HELEN SHAPIRO                                      2       6

13.ADAM FAITH                                             2       5

     ANTHONY NEWLEY                                2       5

     BILLY J. KRAMER                                    2       5

     THE SEARCHERS                                      2       5

14.GUY MITCHELL                                        2       4

15.THE ROLLING STONES                           2       2