After perusing the following list, you will no doubt be absolutely correct when you will exclaim, “Merv has definitely too much time on his hands.” But as a follow up to the first letter where I talked about keeping score of baseball games, in more recent years I have focused more on the importance of the radical change of music which took place in 1955 and 1956. In a sense, the following list is another way of “keeping score,” only this time in another arena
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What triggered my latest descent into trivia was a screaming headline I saw from the magazine “Rolling Stone.” I normally have no interest in the magazine, it seems to revel in the darkest and worst of popular music, glorifying psychedelic, violent and amoral musicians. But this time the focus of the magazine caused me to grab one from the shelves of Barnes and Noble and pay the exorbitant price: The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.”
I knew before I bought the magazine that I would be upset by their findings. Rolling Stone is a magazine of the 1960’s, it has never really moved in mindset or musical tastes. I completely expected that the top song of the entire list would be a song with Rolling Stone in the title, this one by Bob Dylan. And I knew that the number two song would most likely be by the group with the same name as the magazine, the Rolling Stones. I also was certain that by far the most songs in the list would come from the 1960’s, there were 200 or so, and then the 1970’s, which was 130 songs. And I feared that the 1950’s would be downgraded and mostly ignored, which was also true, with some 65 songs, not all of them on my list.
But when you look more closely it was the music of the 1950’s which changed the beat of America, it was the transformation of music in 1955 that led to the changing of the beat of the whole nation. And to ignore the history just because most of the people in the music industry today grew up in the 1960’s or the 1970’s or even later is not a sufficient reason to be so blind. So I have set out to correct the injustice given to the incredible music of the 1950’s. In doing research, I have come up with some 300 classic songs from the 1950’s, most of them from 1955-1959. (A few morph over into the early 60’s, if the artist began in the 50’s). I may have missed some obvious songs that you can identify, but this list will include most of the best.
I will star those songs which truly changed history, transformational songs.
1. 1 Ames Brothers It Only Hurts For A Little While
2. 2 Anka, Paul Diana
3. 3 Anka, Paul Lonely Boy
4. 4 Anka, Paul Put Your Head On My Shoulder
5. 5 Avalon, Frankie Venus
6. 6 Baker, LaVern Tweedle Dee
7. 7 Baker, LaVern I Cried A Tear
8. 8 Baker, LaVern Jim Dandy
9. 9 Ballard, Hank/Midnighters *The Twist
1010. Ballard, Hank/Midnighters Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go
1111. Bare, Bobby All American Boy
1212. Belafonte, Harry Jamaica Farewell
1313. Belafonte, Harry Banana Boat (Day-O)
1414. Bennett, Tony Rags To Riches
1515. Bennett, Tony In The Middle Of An Island
1616. Bennett, Tony *I Left My Heart In San Francisco
1717. Benton, Brook Its Just A Matter Of Time
1819. Benton, Brook/Dinah Washington Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes
1919. Benton, Brook/Dinah Washington A Rocking Good Way To Fall In Love
2020. Berry, Chuck Maybelline
2121. Berry, Chuck Roll Over Beethoven
2222. Berry, Chuck *School Days
2323. Berry, Chuck Rock and Roll Music
2424. Berry, Chuck Sweet Little Sixteen
2525. Berry, Chuck *Johnny B. Goode
2626. Bobettes Mr. Lee
2727. Bopper, Big (J.P. Richardson) Chantilly Lace
2828. Boone, Pat I Almost Lost My Mind
2929. Boone, Pat Don’t Forbid Me
3030. Boone, Pat Love Letters In The Sand
3131. Boone, Pat April Love
3232. Brothers Four Greenfields
3333. Brown, James *Please, Please, Please
3434. Brown, James Try Me
3535. Brown, James I Got You, I Feel Good
3636. Browns The Three Bells
3737. Burnette, Johnny Dreaming
3838. Burnette, Johnny You’re Sixteen
3939. Butler, Jerry/Impressions He Will Break Your Heart
4040. Butler, Jerry/Impressions For Your Precious Love
4141. Cannon, Freddie Tallahassee Lassie
4242. Cannon, Freddie Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
4343. Cannon, Freddie Palisades Park
4444. Cash, Johnny *I Walk The Line
4545. Cash, Johnny Big River
4646. Cash, Johnny Guess Things Happen That Way
4747. Cash, Johnny *Ring Of Fire
4848. Chantels Maybe
4949. Chantels Look In My Eyes
5050. Charles, Ray *What’d I Say
5151. Charles, Ray *Georgia On My Mind
5252. Charles, Ray Hit The Road Jack
5353. Charles, Ray You Don’t Know Me
5454. Charles, Ray I Can’t Stop Loving You
5555. Chords Sh-Boom
5656. Chordettes Born To Be With You
5757. Chordettes Mr. Sandman
5858. Chordettes Lollipop
5959. Clanton, Jimmy Just A Dream
6060. Clark, Sanford The Fool
6161. Cline, Patsy Walking After Midnight
6262. Cline, Patsy *I Fall To Pieces
6363. Cline, Patsy *Crazy
6464. Clovers Love Potion No. 9
6565. Coasters Searchin’
6666. Coasters *Yakety Yak
6767. Coasters Charlie Brown
6868. Cochran, Eddie Sitting in the Balcony
6969. Cochran, Eddie *Summertime Blues
7070. Cole, Nat King *Mona Lisa
7171. Cole, Nat King Unforgettable
7272. Cole, Nat King Send For Me
7373. Cole, Nat King Looking Back
7474. Cole, Nat King *Ramblin’ Rose
7575. Cole, Nat King Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer
7676. Cooke, Sam I’ll Come Running Back To You
7777. Cooke, Sam *You Send Me
7878. Cooke, Sam Only Sixteen
7979. Cooke, Sam Bring It On Home To Me
8080. Cooke, Sam Having A Party
8181. Cooke, Sam *A Change Is Gonna Come
8282. Crescendos Oh Julie
8383. Crests Sixteen Candles
8484. Danleers One Summer Night
8585. Danny/Juniors At The Hop
8686. Danny/Juniors Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay
8787. Darin, Bobby Dream Lover
8888. Darin, Bobby Mack The Knife
8989. Darin, Bobby *Beyond The Sea
9090. Day, Bobby Rock-in-Robin
9191. Dell-Vikings *Come Go With Me
9292. Diamonds *Little Darlin’
9393. Diamonds The Stroll
9494. Diddley, Bo Say Man
9595. Diddley, Bo *Bo Diddley
9696. Dion/Belmonts No One Knows
9797. Dion/Belmonts *A Teenager In Love
9898. Dion/Belmonts Where Or When
9999. Dion/Belmonts Ruby Baby
10100. Dion The Wanderer
10101. Dion Runaround Sue
10102. Dion Abraham, Martin and John
10103. Domino, Fats *Ain’t That A Shame
10104. Domino, Fats Yes Its Me And I’m In Love Again
10105. Domino, Fats Blueberry Hill
10106. Domino, Fats *Blue Monday
10107. Domino, Fats I’m Walkin’
10108. Domino, Fats Walkin’ To New Orleans
10109. Donegan, Lonnie *Rock Island Line
11110. Draper, Rusty Freight Train
11111. Drifters Under The Boardwalk
11112. Drifters *Money Honey
11113. Drifters There Goes My Baby
11114. Drifters Save The Last Dance For Me
11115. Drifters On Broadway
11116. Edwards, Tommy Its All In The Game
11117. El Dorados At My Front Door, Crazy Little Mama
11118. Elegants Little Star
11119. Everly Brothers Bye Bye Love
12120. Everly Brothers *Wake Up Little Susie
12121. Everly Brothers This Little Girl of Mine
12122. Everly Brothers All I Have to Do Is Dream
12123. Everly Brothers Claudette
12124. Everly Brothers Bird Dog
12125. Everly Brothers Devoted To You
12126. Everly Brothers Let It Be Me
12127. Everly Brothers Till I Kissed You
12128. Everly Brothers When Will I Be Loved
12129. Fabian Turn Me Loose
13130. Falcons You’re So Fine
13131. Five Satins *In The Still Of The Night
13132. Flamingos I Only Have Eyes For You
13133. Fleetwoods Come Softly To Me
13134. Fleetwoods Mr. Blue
13135. Ford, Frankie Sea Cruise
13136. Four Aces Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
13137. Four Freshmen Graduation Day
13138. Four Lads Moments To Remember
13139. Four Lads No, Not Much
14140. Four Lads Standing On The Corner
14141. Four Preps 26 Miles
14142. Four Preps Big Man
14143. Francis, Connie Who’s Sorry Now
14144. Francis, Connie My Happiness
14145. Francis, Connie Everybodys Somebodys Fool
14146. Francis, Connie My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own
14147. Francis, Connie Where The Boys Are
14148. Freeman, Bobby Do You Wanna Dance
14149. Haley, Bill/Comets *Rock Around The Clock
15150. Haley, Bill/Comets See You Later Alligator
15151. Hamilton, Roy Unchained Melody
15152. Hamilton, Roy Don’t Let Go
15153. Harris, Thurston Little Bitty Pretty One
15154. Harrison, Wilbert Kansas City
15155. Helms, Bobby My Special Angel
15156. Helms, Bobby Jingle Bell Rock
15157. Hibbler, Al After The Lights Go Down Low
15158. Hilltoppers Marianne
15159. Holly, Buddy/Crickets *That’ll Be The Day
16160. Holly, Buddy/Crickets Peggy Sue
16161. Holly, Buddy/Crickets Oh Boy
16162. Holly, Buddy/Crickets Maybe Baby
16163. Holly, Buddy/Crickets *Rave On
16164. Holly, Buddy/Crickets Think It Over
16165. Holly, Buddy/Crickets Its So Easy To Fall In Love
16166. Holly, Buddy/Crickets It Really Doesn’t Matter Anymore
16167. Horton, Johnny The Battle Of New Orleans
16168. Hunter, Ivory Joe Since I Met You Baby
16169. Jackson, Wanda *Let’s Have A Party
17170. James, Etta The Wallflower Roll With Me Henry
17171. James, Etta *At Last
17172. James, Etta Something’s Got A Hold On Me
17173. James, Sonny Young Love
17174. Jan and Dean Jennie Lee
17175. Jan and Dean Surf City
17176. Johnnie and Joe Over The Mountain, Across The Sea
17177. Johnson, Marv You’ve Got What It Takes
17178. Jones, Jimmy Handy Man
17179. Jones, Jimmy Timing
18180. Kingston Trio *Tom Dooley
18181. Kingston Trio M.T. A.
18182. Kingston Trio Worried Man
18183. Knox, Buddy Party Doll
18184. Lee, Brenda Sweet Nothin’s
18185. Lee, Brenda *I’m Sorry
18186. Lee, Brenda I Want To Be Wanted
18187. Lee, Brenda Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
18188. Lee, Brenda All Alone Am I
18189. Lee, Peggy Fever
19190. Lewis, Jerry Lee *Whole Lot of Shaking Going On
19191. Lewis, Jerry Lee Great Balls Of Fire
19192. Little Anthony/Imperials *Tears On My Pillow
19193. Little Anthony/Imperials Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop
19194. Little Anthony/Imperials Going Out Of My Head
19195. Little Anthony/Imperials Hurt So Bad
19196. Little Richard *Tutti Frutti
19197. Little Richard Long Tall Sally
19198. Little Richard Lucille
19199. Little Richard Keep A Knockin’
20200. Little Richard Good Golly, Miss Molly
20201. Luke, Robin Susie Darlin’
20202. Lymon, Frankie/Teenagers *Why Do Fools Fall In Love
20203. Mathis, Johnny Its Not For Me To Say
20204. Mathis, Johnny *Chances Are
20205. Mathis, Johnny Twelfth Of Never
20206. Mathis, Johnny Wonderful, Wonderful
20207. McPhatter, Clyde Treasure Of Love
20208. McPhatter, Clyde A Lover’s Question
20209. McPhatter, Clyde Lover Please
21210. Mitchell, Guy Singing the Blues
21211. Mitchell, Guy Heartaches By The Number
21212. Monotones Book Of Love
21213. Moonglows *Sincerely
21214. Moonglows Ten Commandments of Love
21215. Mystics Hushabye
21216. Nelson, Ricky I Believe What You Say
21217. Nelson, Ricky Poor Little Fool
21218. Nelson, Ricky *Lonesome Town
21219. Nelson, Ricky Its Late
22220. Orbison, Roy *Only The Lonely
22221. Orbison, Roy Running Scared
22222. Orbison, Roy Crying
22223. Orbison, Roy Dream Baby
22224. Orbison, Roy *Oh Pretty Woman
22225. Page, Patti Allegheny Moon
22226. Page, Patti Old Cape Cod
22227. Penguins *Earth Angel
22228. Perkins, Carl *Blue Suede Shoes
22229. Phillips, Phil Sea Of Love
23230. Platters Only You
23231. Platters *The Great Pretender
23232. Platters You’ve Got The Magic Touch
23233. Platters My Prayer
23234. Platters Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
23235. Presley, Elvis Heartbreak Hotel
23236. Presley, Elvis I Was The One
23237. Presley, Elvis *That’s Alright Mama
23238. Presley, Elvis I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
23239. Presley, Elvis *Don’t Be Cruel
24240. Presley, Elvis *Hound Dog
24241. Presley, Elvis Love Me Tender
24242. Presley, Elvis Love Me
24243. Presley, Elvis *All Shook Up
24244. Presley, Elvis Loving You
24245. Presley, Elvis Jailhouse Rock
24246. Presley, Elvis I Beg Of You
24247. Presley, Elvis Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
24248. Presley, Elvis One Night
24249. Presley, Elvis Now And Then There’s A Fool Such As I
25250. Presley, Elvis Stuck On You
25251. Presley, Elvis Are You Lonesome Tonight
25252. Presley, Elvis Paralyzed
25253. Presley, Elvis When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold
25254. Presley, Elvis Its Now Or Never
25255. Presley, Elvis Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear
25256. Presley, Elvis Don’t
25257. Price, Lloyd Lawdy Lawdy Miss Claudy
25258. Price, Lloyd Stagger Lee
25259. Price, Lloyd Personality
26250. Rays Silhouettes
26261. Robinson, Smokey/Miracles Shop Around
26262. Rodgers, Jimmie Honeycomb
26263. Rodgers, Jimmie Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
26264. Rodgers, Jimmie Oh-Oh I’m Falling In Love Again
26265. Rydell, Bobby We Got Love
26266. Rydell, Bobby Wild One
26267. Rydell, Bobby Volare
26268. Sands, Tommy *Teen Age Crush
26269. Sedaka, Neil Oh Carol
27270. Sedaka, Neil Calendar Girl
27271. Sedaka, Neil Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen
27272. Sedaka, Neil Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
27273. Shields You Cheated
27274. Shirelles Will You Love Me Tomorrow
27275. Shirelles Dedicated To The One I Love
27276. Silhouettes *Get A Job
27277. Skyliners Since I Don’t Have You
27278. Smith, Huey/Clowns Don’t You Just Know It
27279. Teddy Bears To Know Him Is To Love Him
28280. Townshend, Ed For Your Love
28281. Tune Weavers Happy Happy Birthday Baby
28282. Turner, Ike/Jackie Brenston *Rocket 88
28283. Turner, Joe Shake, Rattle and Roll
28284. Twitty, Conway It’s Only Make Believe
28285. Vale, Jerry You Don’t Know Me
28286. Valens, Ritchie Donna
28287. Valens, Ritchie *LaBamba
28288. Vee, Bobby Devil Or Angel
28289. Vee, Bobby Suzie Baby
29290. Vee, Bobby Take Good Care Of My Baby
29291. Vincent, Gene *Be-Bop-A-Lula
29292. Ward, Billy/Dominos Sixty Minute Man
29293. Washington, Dinah What A Difference A Day Makes
29294. Waters, Muddy Hoochie Coochie Man
29295. Waters, Muddy Got My Mojo Working
29296. Waters, Muddy *Rollin’ Stone
29297. Williams, Maurice/Zodiacs Stay
29298. Willis, Chuck C.C. Rider
29299. Wilson, Jackie Lonely Teardrops
30300. Wooley, Sheb Purple People Eater
One of the great things about modern technology is that you do not have to go out and buy the records, or the tapes, or the CD’s. Just Google the name of the song and the artist, and, presto, you will usually find live performances that you can watch on You tube. Or if you have an I-pod, you can do what I did and download songs for $.99 each. Such a deal. For instance, when Mary Travis died from Peter, Paul and Mary, I Googled the group and songs, which led to other songs, and listened in awe to her magnificent voice from the early 1960’s. It certainly is a new day.
Someday when my ship comes in (and I am at the right port), I will purchase one of the new fangled computerized juke boxes and include all 300 of the above.
Merv
IF the numbers got screwed up, blame me. I had to put them back in by hand. Cutting and pasting went on strike, number-wise.
Mike Swanson
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