200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post: Honourable Mentions.

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE

1950s

As we are a quarter of the way through the countdown, we begin a tribute to some discs that deserve

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Although these songs are not directly related to rock music or may not have attracted significant sales, they each had a profound influence on the advent of the shift in popular culture.

O

BABY GET LOST

Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington paved the way for soul music. Combining gospel and jazz into her pop music, her vocal skill influenced legends that include Etta James, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin. “Baby Get Lost” was an R&B #1 in 1949.

O

(WE’RE GONNA)

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Sunny Dae & His Knights

Sunny Dae & His Knights recorded the first version of “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock”. This 1954 original was more R&B than the remake by Bill Haley & His Comets. It was, however, the cover that became a global phenomenon that announced the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll. 

O

THE TWIST

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters

Before “The Twist” became a worldwide craze for Chubby Checker, it was recorded by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters. This original was issued in 1959. Ballard penned the song himself. He would help bridge rhythm and blues with rock ‘n’ roll. He would influence soul giants such as James Brown. Dick Clark (from the US TV show "Bandstand") liked the group's "The Twist" that he made Chubby Checker aware of Ballard's song. The rest is history.