200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #110-101. 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…

110

SPLISH SPLASH

Bobby Darin

The catchy "Splish Splash" was co-written by Bobby Darin and became a Top 3 Pop hit for the American entertainer.

109

POOR LITTLE FOOL

Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson was a good looking teen idol that had started his career on his parents' TV show "Ozzie And Harriet". "Poor Little Fool" was included on a self-titled album unleashed in 1958. The single reached #1 in America and peaked at #4 in the UK.

108

DUST MY BROOM

Elmore James

Slide guitarist Elmore James adapted a Robert Johnson blues song and scored a Top 10 R&B hit with "Dust My Broom" in 1951. The track features one of the most famous blues riffs.

107

RAVE ON

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly reached #8 on the British Top 40 with "Rave On".

106

LAWDY MISS CLAWDY

Lloyd Price

Issued in 1952, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" possesses the elements of a seminal rock 'n' roll record. An uncredited Fats Domino plays on the track which enjoyed 7 weeks atop the US R&B chart.

105

SUSIE-Q

Dale Hawkins

Chess boasted an impressive roster of recording acts. Dale Hawkins was one of its rare white performers. "Susie-Q" was issued in 1957. Its title is also shown on some labels as "Suzy-Q". In 1968, the song was covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

104

OOBY DOOBY

Roy Orbison

While "Ooby Dooby" pales in comparison with the nuggets released by Roy Orbison during the 1960s, the 1956 single became The Big O's debut entry on the US Top 100.

103

LUCKY LIPS

Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown's specialty was R&B, but she demonstrated another side of her vocal versatility on "Lucky Lips", a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. In 1957, the disc reached the R&B Top 10.

102

C'MON EVERYNODY

Eddy Cochran

Eddie Cochran summed up teen issues and themes with his songs and "C'mon Everybody" is a fine example of this skill. The 1958 single reached #6 in the UK.

101

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT

Little Richard

Little Richard knew how to inject thrills in his 1950s recordings. "The Girl Can't Help It' was the title song from a 1956 motion picture. On the US R&B Chart, the single reached #7. It also peaked at #9 in Britain.

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