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…
50
FEVER
Little Willie John
Little Willie John was small in size, but he made up for it with his vocal power. He was the younger brother of Mable John. "Fever" was released in 1956. It not only topped the R&B Chart, but managed to cross over to a mainstream audience and crack the Pop Top 40. Peggy Lee delivered a skilful remake of the same cool song 2 years later.
49
LONELY TEARDROPS
Jackie Wilson
"Lonely Teardrops" was Jackie Wilson's first R&B #1 and marked his first Top 10 Pop hit. The 1958 single was written by his cousin (using the moniker Tyran Carlo) Roquel Davis, Berry Gordy Jr. and his sister Gwen. The latter 2 would play a prominent role in the launch of Motown Records in the next decade. Wilson's vocal on this disc influenced many R&B performers, including Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Michael Jackson.
48
DIANA
Paul Anka
Paul Anka wrote "Diana" about a babysitter he had a crush on. It turned into a global sensation. The Canadian singer / songwriter made #1 in America, Britain, Canada and Australia in 1957.
47
LA BAMBA
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was the first Hispanic rock star. His adaptation of a Mexican folk song performed in Spanish was an unlikely source for a rock 'n' roll hit. Initially, "La Bamba" was the flip side for his ballad "Donna". In 1958, the former became a pioneering rock classic.
46
ONE MINT JULEP
The Clovers
The Clovers played a major role in the development of R&B music. By the release of "One Mint Julep" in 1952, the doo wop group had already secured 2 #1s on that genre's chart. Almost all of the hits were limited to the R&B list. The single peaked at #2. Many of the group's hits helped shape the sound of rock 'n' roll.
45
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis enjoyed a Pop, Country and R&B hit with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". Issued in 1957, it was a cover of Big Maybelle's 1955 original.
44
EARTH ANGEL
The Penguins
The Penguins only managed one hit single: "Earth Angel" Issued in 1954, it became one of the best selling doo wop discs of all time, exceeding 4 million copies. Its success proved an African-American label could thrive. Dootone Records accomplished this years before higher profile record companies such as Motown emerged. This was no small feat in the 1950s when the risks were high and profits rare in the R&B market.
43
PEGGY SUE
Buddy Holly
Buddy
Holly's 1957 #3 Pop hit "Peggy Sue" was followed up by a sequel. Initially entitled "Cindy Lou", co-writer Jerry Allison suggested naming it after his partner Peggy Sue instead. The story continued 2 years later on the single "Peggy Sue Got Married".
42
JAILHOUSE ROCK
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley topped the American and British charts with the title song from his 1957 film 'Jailhouse Rock'. This was one of the recordings which made Presley the world's first rock icon. It was another staple written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
41
POISON IVY
The Coasters
Leiber & Stoller created "Poison Ivy", a 1958 single release for The Coasters. The disc not only made #1 R&B, but went Top 10 Pop in America and peaked at #15 in the UK.
Check out the
Caffé Latté 1950s playlist on spotify as new songs are added to coincide with
each new update on this blog.
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