200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #160-151. 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…

160

LONELY AVENUE

Ray Charles

Doc Pomus penned "Lonely Avenue", a #6 R&B hit for Ray Charles in 1956. The Cookies add thrilling backup vocals. The track was also included on his 'Yes Indeed!' album.

159

ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA AND THE BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU

Huey "Piano" Smith

"Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" was co-written by performer Huey "Piano" Smith. Born in New Orleans, he started playing the piano at the age of 15. On the 1957 single, he is backed by his band The Clowns. Smith helped rock 'n' roll evolve from rhythm and blues.

158

MR. SANDMAN

The Chordettes

The Chordettes was an influential American female a cappella group. The 1954 single "Mr. Sandman" topped the US Pop Chart.

157

SINGING THE BLUES

Guy Mitchell

As one of the biggest musical acts of the 1950s, Guy Mitchell's label  pioneered new marketing strategies that endure to this day. "Singing The Blues", a 1957 cover of a chart entry by Marty Robbins, reached #1 in both America and Britain.

156

TEQUILA

The Champs

"Tequila" swiftly raced up to the top of the American Pop and R&B charts in 1958. The mostly instrumental track, created by group member Chuck Rio, also reached #5 in the UK.

155

WHEN

The Kalin Twins

 

"When" was a hit for twin brothers Harold and Herbie Kalin in 1958. The single not only reached #1 in the U.S.A. and Britain, but many other countries.

154

C.C. RIDER

Chuck Willis

The Chuck Willis 1957 single "C. C. Rider" is a remake of a blues song, but the new interpretation transforms it into a disc that ushered in a new dance craze: The Stroll.

153

BIRD DOG

The Everly Brothers

"Bird Dog" topped the Canadian and Australian charts for The Everly Brothers in 1958. The single peaked at #2 in America and the UK.

152

RAZZLE DAZZLE

Bill Haley & His Comets

After crashing through the mainstream with "Rock Around The Clock" in 1955, Bill Haley continued to release more rock-related pop nuggets such as "Razzle Dazzle".

151

HEY SCHOOLGIRL

Tom & Jerry

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel first charted in 1957 with the single "Hey Schoolgirl". At the time, the duo was known as Tom & Jerry. Unfortunately, the follow-up singles flopped. Tom & Jerry eventually evolved into Simon & Garfunkel. More misfires followed until the duo scored success in the mid-1960s.

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