200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #90-81. 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…

90

TRY ME

James Brown

James Brown would change R&B forever during the 1960s. Early single "Try Me" displayed a softer side of the funkmeister. With The Famous Flames, together they brought the call and response of gospel into his brand of soul. In 1958, the single became Brown's first #1 on the US R&B Chart.

89

MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME

Nina Simone

Nina Simone injected jazz and R&B into her sublime pop rendition of "My Baby Just Cares For Me". The single was issued in 1958 and featured on her first album 'Little Girl Blue'.

88

THE BIG BEAT

Fats Domino

"The Big Beat" made the US and UK charts, consolidating Fats Domino's impact on R&B and rock 'n' roll. The disc was released in late 1957.

87

(NOW AND THEN THERE'S)

A FOOL SUCH AS I

Elvis Presley

By 1959, Elvis had been crowned the King Of Rock 'n' Roll. He was breaking records everywhere and "A Fool Such As I" topped the charts all over the planet.

86

MAYBE

The Chantels

The Chantels were one of the first girl groups to achieve chart success. "Maybe" reached #15 Pop and #2 R&B in 1957.

85

SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN

Chuck Berry

"Sweet Little Sixteen" features themes that have been copied in a myriad of rock 'n' roll songs. Chuck Berry was one of the key architects of rock 'n' roll. He reached #2 Pop and #1 R&B in America with the single. The disc also peaked at #16 in the UK.

84

DONNA

Ritchie Valens

Donna Ludwig inspired Ritchie Valens to write "Donna". The love song has him lose the girl. In reality, the two never dated. In 1958, the single reached #2. While the ballad was on the chart, Valens was killed in the same plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

83

RUBY BABY

The Drifters

 

The Drifters released "Ruby Baby" in 1956. Johnny Moore performed the lead vocal. The single reached the US R&B Top 10.

82

TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM

The Teddy Bears

Before he became a legendary record producer, Phil Spector was a member of the group The Teddy Bears. He sang background vocals and played guitar as well as penning the US #1 single "To Know Him Is To Love Him". Issued in 1958, the disc climbed to #2 in Britain. The title was the epitath on Spector's grandfather's grave. Elvis Presley's hit "Teddy Bear" inspired the name of the trio. As the 1950s ended, the group ceased to exist. Spector began collaborating with Leiber and Stoller and eventually created his Wall Of Sound.

81

SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

Bill Haley & His Comets

"See You Later, Alligator" remains one of Bill Haley & The Comets' best remembered singles. Released in 1956, the disc made the Top 10 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.