200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: #60-51. 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…

60

YAKETY YAK

The Coasters

The Coasters infused humour into R&B. The best example is "Yakety Yak", a snappy single from the Leiber & Stoller songwriting team that summed up the frustrations of a teenager with strict parents. Its verses deal with instructions to clean and tend to other household chores. Cashed - up youths obviously related to the lyrics and sent the disc to #1 on the Pop and R&B charts in 1958.

59

PERSONALITY

Lloyd Price

Lloyd Price co-wrote "Personality" which topped the R&B Chart in 1959. The single peaked at #2 Pop in the United States and made the UK Top 10.

58

PETER GUNN

Duane Eddy

Duane Eddy was one of the leading influential guitarists of the 1950s. "Peter Gunn" was composed by Henry Mancini as the title theme for a TV series. Eddy's remake was unleashed in 1959 and charted in both America and Britain.

57

JIM DANDY

LaVern Baker

On "Jim Dandy", LaVern Baker showed other women how to do rock 'n' roll. The song was initially a B-side but DJs flipped the disc and discovered a new R&B #1 that also made the Pop Top 20 in 1956.

56

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT

The Five Satins

Thanks to "In The Still Of The Night", The Five Satins are remembered as one of the best exponents of doo wop. The single made the Pop and R&B charts during 1956.

55

MONEY (THAT'S WHAT I WANT)

Barrett Strong

Berry Gordy Jr. built his Motown legend on the proceeds of "Money", a song he co-wrote that was recorded by Barrett Strong. In 1959, the single reached #2 R&B and #23 Pop in America. Gordy's label would flourish in the next decade. Strong's recording career would eventually be eclipsed by his songwriting collaborations with Norman Whitfield which would include Motown staples such as: "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Ball Of Confusion".

54

LOVE ME TENDER

Elvis Presley

Having already achieved #1 singles with rock songs, Elvis Presley issued the gentle ballad "Love Me Tender". The 1956 release was the title song from Presley's first motion picture. Based on a Civil War era tune, Presley turned the adapted song into another #1 smash.

53

WORK WITH ME ANNIE

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters

Hank Ballard's lyrics for "Work With Me Annie" left no doubt what kind of work was being suggested. Arguably the most risqué R&B single of the 1950s, its verses proved what rock 'n' roll and R&B's detractors claimed was the threat posed by the new music. Fears of it corrupting youth were clearly ignored by fans of R&B. The disc topped the R&B Chart in 1954.

52

MOVE IT

Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard launched British rock with his 1958 release "Move It". The single was also his first chart entry, peaking at #2 in Britain.

51

LONG TALL SALLY

Little Richard

"Long Tall Sally" is another rock 'n' roll staple released by Little Richard. The rocker topped the R&B Chart and reached #6 Pop with the 1956 single. The Beatles covered the song in 1964.

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