200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #100-91. 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…

100

HOUND DOG

Big Mama Thornton

Before Elvis Presley covered it and took "Hound Dog" to #1 in 1956 on the Pop, R&B and Country charts, the original version was released 3 years earlier by Big Mama Thornton. Her take is more scathing and it enjoyed 7 weeks at #1 on the R&B list.

99

IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE

Buddy Holly

Paul Anka wrote the song "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" which was issued posthumously and added to Buddy Holly's catalogue. The disc topped the UK and Canadian charts in 1959.

98

LIVING DOLL

Cliff Richard & The Drifters

In 1959, Cliff Richard's backing group was named The Drifters. In order to avoid confusion with Atlantic Records' vocal act, the band changed its name to The Shadows. Cliff Richard was establishing himself as Britain's leading rock 'n' roll star. He scored several more hits after his UK #1 "Living Doll" in the 1960s and remained a chart force for decades. He re-recorded the hit with comedy team The Young Ones in 1986 and this remake also reached the top.

97

THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN'

Johnny Burnette Trio

Johnny Burnette formed a trio that included his brother Dorsey. He was one of the leading pioneers of rockabilly music in rock's seminal years. "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" was issued in 1956.

96

SEARCHIN'

The Coasters

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller created hits for many of rock's new acts, including The Coasters. They mixed comedy with R&B, enjoying a string of key tracks which includes "Searchin'". The song lasted 12 weeks atop the R&B Chart and made it to #3 Pop in the U.S.A.

95

BREATHLESS

Jerry Lee Lewis

"Breathless" was one of the definitive rock 'n' roll records created at Sun Records. The disc took Jerry Lee Lewis into the Top 10 on the Pop, R&B and Country charts. It also peaked at #8 in Britain.

94

WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE

Johnny Otis

Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and many others owe their break in music to Johnny Otis. He scored hits in his own right, including 1958's "Willie And The Hand Jive". The disc made the Pop and R&B Top 10 in America.

93

DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE

The Shirelles

The Shirelles helped launch the girl group era. The female act would be the first such outfit to make  #1 in the 1960s with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?". In 1959, the group issued "Dedicated To The One I Love" which failed to make a splash. The song had to wait until its re-issue in 1961. This time, the single reached the Top 3 on the Pop and R&B charts. In 1967, The Mamas and the Papas covered the song and peaked at #2 in both the US and Britain.

92

CRYING IN THE CHAPEL

The Orioles

The Orioles played an integral role in the development of R&B and doo wop in particular. In the 1940s-50s, the vocal group were pioneers in terms of recording music exclusively for an African- American audience. "Crying In The Chapel" was recorded in 1953 and spent 5 weeks at the top of the US R&B Chart. Elvis Presley covered the song in 1965 and secured its most successful version.

91

ONLY YOU (AND YOU ALONE)

The Platters

By the end of the 1950s, The Platters had enjoyed a string of worldwide hit singles. "Only You" was the first to chart for the American vocal group. In 1955, the single made #1 R&B. On the Pop Chart, it also climbed to #5 in Britain and the United States.

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