200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #180-171. 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…

180

I CRIED A TEAR

LaVern Baker

In 1958, LaVern Baker peaked at #2 R&B and #6 Pop in America with the single "I Cried A Tear", making this her biggest hit. She was another of the influential early female vocalists on the Atlantic label.

179

FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE

Jerry Butler & The Impressions

"For Your Precious Love" was the first single by The Impressions to chart. Issued in 1958, it featured Jerry Butler in the line-up. Curtis Mayfield, who is also on the track, would lead the vocal group to greater heights in the 1960s.

178

HARD HEADED WOMAN

Elvis Presley

The first rock single to reach gold status was Elvis Presley's "Hard Headed Woman". In 1958, the disc reached #1 Pop and #2 on the R&B and Country charts. The song was part of the 'King Creole' movie soundtrack.

177

SLEEP WALK

Santo And Johnny

Brothers Santo and Johnny Farina enjoyed a US #1 with "Sleep Walk" in 1959. They composed the instrumental with some contribution from their mother Ann.

176

I'M A FOOL

Etta James

"I'm A Fool" was an early Etta James single, issued on the Modern label in 1956. She is one of the most influential R&B female vocalists, a decade before the emergence of Aretha Franklin.

175

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

The Clovers

 

Released in 1956, "Love, Love, Love" was the first of only 2 Pop chart entries for The Clovers in America. Before this disc, the vocal group's success was solely on the R&B Chart where it had achieved 3 #1s.

174

I DON'T KNOW

Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown peaked at #5 on the R&B Chart with "I Don't Know" in 1959, another hit on that listing for the Atlantic label.

173

WELL... ALL RIGHT

Buddy Holly

"Well... All Right" was the B-side for the single "Heartbeat". Buddy Holly's version was issued in 1958. The song has been covered by acts that include a remake by Santana a decade later.

172

DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK

Bill Haley & His Comets

The title song from the 1956 film "Don't Knock The Rock" recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets and heard during the opening credits. Rock and roll had been prematurely spurned as a passing fad, but mainstream audiences enthusiastically continued embracing the nascent genre. The marriage of rock music and film proved especially lucrative.

171

LITTLE STAR

The Elegants

The Elegants only had one hit: the 1958 R&B and Pop #1 single "Little Star". It remains one of the best doo wop releases.

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