200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1950s. This post concludes the countdown with the Top 10 discs.

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…

10

BYE BYE LOVE

The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers scored a debut hit with "Bye Bye Love", a song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, in 1957. Don and Phil influenced many groups with their two-part harmonies and guitar playing. The duo penned many of its hit songs. Vocally, the brothers blended country and pop with the new rock sound. The single peaked at #2 Pop and made #1 on the Country Chart.

9

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis accumulated 3 hit singles in quick succession. In 1957, he unleashed "Great Balls Of Fire". The disc reached #2 Pop and #1 Country in America. It topped the UK chart. Lewis was tipped to even overtake Elvis Presley at the time. His wild performances excited the public. It all came to a sudden thud for Sun Records' new star when news broke out that he had married his 13 year old cousin. Fans deserted him. Earnings from live performances plummetted. Lewis would never reclaim his immense popularity. Nevertheless, his influence on rock 'n' roll is undeniable, inspiring artists such as The Beatles, Elton John and Bruno Mars.

8

YOU SEND ME

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke sounded like an angel. His gospel roots gave his vocal style a sound foundation. Cooke developed his own approach when he crossed over to secular music. His good looks attracted females. He penned "You Send Me", his 1957 'official' debut solo single after quitting The Soul Stirrers. Cooke was astute as well as talented. He not only influenced soul and pop vocalists, but wrote about topical issues, most notably civil rights. Cooke also set up his own label (before the emergence of Motown) and a publishing company; a rarity for African-American performers. He appealed to both black and white audiences and attracted fans of all ages, not just youths.

7

WHAT’D I SAY (Parts 1 & 2)

Ray Charles

Ray Charles' recording of "What'd I Say" allows a listener to witness the advent of soul music. Its inception was a show where Charles led his musicians and The Raelettes through an improvised segment. The gospel call-and-response dominates. Released as a single in 1959, the disc reached #6 Pop and topped the R&B Chart.

6

HEARTBREAK HOTEL

Elvis Presley

"Heartbreak Hotel" became Elvis Presley's first national success. By now, he had switched labels from Sun Records to RCA. Elvis had arrived. In 1956, the single topped the US Pop and Country charts. Internationally, the release attracted huge sales. The single reached #1 in Canada, #2 in Britain and #3 in Australia. Elvis would continue to dominate charts all over the planet until the arrival of The Beatles.

5

TUTTI FRUTTI

Little Richard

Initially, "Tutti Frutti" dealt with anal sex, but the Little Richard single was made more appropriate for a mainstream audience when it was released in 1955. He was wild, exotic and flamboyant. For an African-American gay rocker to manage to keep the focus on the power of his energetic recordings, was no small feat in the mid-50s. Little Richard succeeded and is revered as one of the crucial architects of the sound of rock 'n' roll. "Tutti Frutti" was his first hit, charting in both the US and Britain. Richard's influence is evident in subsequent acts that include Freddie Mercury, James Brown, The Beatles, Elton John and Bruno Mars.

4

AIN’T THAT A SHAME

Fats Domino

Fats Domino delivered several key recordings for Imperial Records which were the bridge between rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll. He had already accumulated several hits on the R&B Chart by 1955, but "Ain't That A Shame" made Fats a pop star. It was his first Top 40 entry in America and the UK. The single was co-written by him with Dave Bartholomew.

3

THAT’LL BE THE DAY

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

Buddy Holly had previously recorded "That'll Be The Day" for Decca Records in 1956. It was re-recorded a year later. To avoid litigation, the single was credited to The Crickets instead of only Holly so it could be issued this time on the Brunswick label. The disc shot to #1 in America and Britain. No other soloist had a bigger impact on the development of rock 'n' roll than Holly. He personified the look. His hits were mostly co-written by him. Holly influenced the likes of Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Tom Petty, The Hollies and The Byrds. He was aged 22 when he perished in a tragic plane crash. We can only imagine what music Holly would have gone on to make had he lived longer. Despite its brevity, his career continues to have a lasting impact to this day.

2

MAYBELLENE

Chuck Berry

"Maybelline" was Chuck Berry's debut single. He had been persuaded by Muddy Waters to try his luck at Chess Records. With the 1955 release, Berry flicked the switch for rock 'n' roll. The genre had existed prior to this disc, but his firestorm charged into history and gathered hundreds of rockers in its aftermath. Berry reached #5 Pop and #1 R&B. In the process, Berry's single paved the way for followers that include: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty and  AC/DC.

1

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Bill Haley & His Comets

It was a remake. Upon initial release, the single flopped. Bill Haley was far from being a teenager. "Rock Around The Clock" might have vanished. Its inclusion in the film 'The Blackboard Jungle' changed everything. The exposure sparked a demand for the disc. Suddenly, it was on the Top 40. When it reached #1 in America, it marked a line in the sand. Rock 'n' roll had reached #1 for the first time. Its success spread around the world: #1 in Britain, Australia and so on. Rock 'n' roll was now an international phenomenon. The Rock Era had begun.

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