I plan to wrap up the sixth of my decade lists tomorrow. It may be the last one I do for at least 7 years. I don't think I could tackle the 40s. It's just too hard to figure out what was actually released when. For instance, I haven't included any Charlie Parker in my 50s list. I'm pretty sure his recordings I like best are from the 40s, but I don't doubt that there were some terrific live versions from the early 50s I could have included if I had a more full appreciation for his whole discography.
Another issue with the 50s, which I expect would be even more challenging in the 40s, are the songs that were recorded by many artists. It's one thing for me to say I like Elvis Presley's "Mystery Train" better than Junior Parker's original because I know both versions well, or that Pat Boone's "Tutti Frutti" could be ignored entirely in favor of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti". I also had no problem in the 70s preferring Elvis Costello's "What's So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding" to the Brinsley Schwartz original. With the standards from the 30s and 40s, I know the songs more than I know the individual performances and it's often hard with re-issues to sort out recording dates from release dates. I've tried to stick with release dates for these countdowns.
If you're looking for any of the 6 countdowns, they're located here:
1950s (top 400)
1960s (top 500)
1970s (top 500)
1980s (top 500)
1990s (top 300)
2000s (top 300)
If you're extra-interested in the process for making these countdowns, there's a four part interview located here:
part 1 - including the question what makes your lists different?
part 2 - including the question what is the ranking process?
part 3 - including the question which decade was the easiest?
part 4 - including the question what sort of feedback have you received?
Special thanks to Jack at SaltInWound for doing the interview two years ago. They haven't been among my more popular posts, but I really enjoyed it myself, and it helped me think through some aspects of the process that ultimately affected the 1960s and 1950s lists.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Top 400 Songs of the 1950s (a countdown)
I have previously counted down the top 300 or top 500 songs of all of the decades in which I've lived, excepting of course the present decade, which is far from over. Rather than wait another 7 years before doing my next decade list, I'm reaching back to the 1950s. Beyond the fact that I wasn't born until well after the end of that decade, the 50s pose quite a few other listmaking challenges. I was undeterred.
It's very hard to accurately track down dates for a lot of worthy 50's era music. I don't doubt that a few songs from the late 40s or early 60s have accidentally slipped onto this list. The very format on which music was released was changing, from 10" 78rpm to 12" longplay (LP) records and also to 7" 45rpm singles. Much of what was released in the early 50s was re-released in different formats later. I tried to do my best to get correct dates, but in addition to some good reliable sources, I also used a fair number of questionable internet sources.
The biggest challenge of all is that there was some hugely popular music in the 1950s that was unfamiliar to me before beginning this list. I tried to fill in the gaps in my musical knowledge, especially pre-1955 pop music, but I know there's a lot of worthy music that I just plain missed. Setting apologies aside, here's the beginning of the list. I'll be updating this post over the course of the next few weeks with more of the countdown.
Here's 400 through 351 (posted Jan 5, 2013)
400. Billy Lamont - I Got A Rock & Roll Gal (1957)
399. Percy Faith & His Orchestra - Delicado (1952)
398. The Moroccos - Bang Goes My Heart (1955)
397. Johnnie Ray - Cry (1951)
396. Stan Freberg - St. George & The Dragonet (1951)
395. Link Wray - Dixie-Doodle (1959)
394. The Ames Brothers - Undecided (1951)
393. Carl Smith - (When You Feel Like You're In Love)Don't Just Stand There (1952)
392. Sonny James - First Date, First Kiss, First Love (1957)
391. Guy Mitchell - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (1952)
390. The Du Droppers - Bam Balam (1953)
389. Buddy Holly - Maybe Baby (1958)
388. Jeani Mack - Super Duper (1959)
387. The Platters - Harbour Lights (1959)
386. Webb Pierce - I Ain't Never (1959)
385. Jo Stafford - Hawaiian War Chant (1951)
384. Lord Kitchener - Trouble In Arima (1955)
383. Yul Brynner - A Puzzlement (1951)
382. Hank Williams - Moanin' The Blues (1950)
381. Porter Wagoner - A Satisfied Mind (1955)
380. The Clovers - Don't You Know I Love You (1951)
379. Della Reese - Don't You Know (1959)
378. Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender (1956)
377. George Shearing - Lulu's Back in Town (1958)
376. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Seventeen (1956)
375. Little Walter - Can't Hold Out Much Longer (1952)
374. Sam Cooke - Touch The Hem Of His Garment (1956)
373. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Banjo Rock 'n Roll (1956)
372. Illinois Jacquet - Flying Home (1951)
371. Marty Robbins - I'll Go On Alone (1952)
370. Perry Como - Zing Zing, Zoom Zoom (1951)
369. Eddy Arnold and the Tennessee Plowboys and his Guitar - I Wanna Play House With You (1951)
368. Rebecca Williams - Please Give Me A Match (1957)
367. Slim Gaillard - Yip Roc Heresy (1951)
366. The Clovers - Lovey Dovey (1954)
365. Ben Bowers - Not Me (1957)
364. The Everly Brothers - Claudette (1959)
363. The Del Vikings - Whispering Bells (1957)
362. Donald Byrd - Sudwest Funk (1958)
361. Lonnie Donegan - Battle Of New Orleans (1959)
360. The Ames Brothers - The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane (1954)
359. Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me (1952)
358. Johnny Cash - Train Of Love (1956)
357. Miller Sisters - Someday You Will Pay (1955)
356. Frank Sinatra - Night And Day (1956)
355. Carl Perkins - Jive After Five (1958)
354. Hank Williams - I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (1952)
353. Slim Gaillard - You Goofed (1952)
352. Eddie Fisher - Anytime (1951)
351. Donald O'Connor - Make 'Em Laugh (1952)
Continuing with 350 through 301 (posted Jan 9, 2013)
350. Chuz Alfred Combo - Rocking Boy (1955)
349. Slim Gaillard - Potato Chips (1952)
348. Percy Mayfield - The River's Invitation (1952)
347. Roy Haynes - Sugar Ray (1958)
346. Eugene Church - Good News (1959)
345. Perry Como - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (1952)
344. Big Daddy - Bacon Fat (1956)
343. Bing Crosby - Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella (1957)
342. Smokey Hogg - Look In Your Eyes Pretty Mama (1950)
341. The Debutantes - Just Leave It To Me (1956)
340. Link Wray - Rumble Mambo (1959)
339. Oliver Nelson - Jams And Jellies (1959)
338. Marty Robbins - Just Married (1958)
337. Ruth Brown - 5-10-15 Hours (1952)
336. Sam Cooke - Just Another Day (1952)
335. Lonnie Donegan - Lonesome Traveller (1958)
334. Sarah Vaughan - Come Rain Or Come Shine (1950)
333. Crew Cuts - Sh Boom (1954)
332. Eddy Arnold - The Cattle Call (1955)
331. Donald Byrd - Down Tempo (1958)
330. Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft (1957)
329. Tony Bennett - Rags To Riches (1953)
328. Hank Williams - Baby We're Really In Love (1951)
327. Lloyd Price - Personality (1959)
326. Ferlin Husky - Gone (1957)
325. Teresa Brewer - The Banjo's Back In Town (1955)
324. The Louvin Brothers - Satan Is Real (1959)
323. Big Red McHouston - I'm Tired (1954)
322. Gene Ammons - King Size (1957)
321. The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (1954)
320. Six Teens - Stop Playing Ping Pong With My Heart (1957)
319. The Four Aces - Three Coins In The Fountain (1954)
318. Glen Reeves - Tarzan (1958)
317. Jo Stafford - Big D (1956)
316. The Chordettes - Lollipop (1958)
315. Percy Mayfield - What A Fool I Was (1950)
314. Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble (1958)
313. Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean A Lot (1954) 312. Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues (1950)
311. Eddy Howard - Sin (It's No) Sin (1951)
310. Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys - Reincarnation (The Bed Bug) (1958)
309. Irvin Russ - Crazy Alligator (1959)
308. Edith Piaf - L'homme A La Moto (Black Denim Trousers & MotorcycleBoots) (1956)
307. Carl Smith - Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way (1951)
306. Elvis Presley - You're A Heartbreaker (1954)
305. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Everlovin' (1956)
304. Kay Starr - I Wanna Love You (1952)
303. Lord Kitchener - Nora (1950)
302. Stars of Faith - When I Lay This Body Down (1958)
301. Andrews Sisters - I Wanna Be Loved (1950)
Continuing with 300 through 251 (posted Jan 11, 2013)
300. Frankie Laine - Jezebel (1951)
299. The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love (1959)
298. Elvis Presley - Baby Let's Play House (1955)
297. Marni Nixon/Rex Thompson - I Whistle A Happy Tune (1951)
296. The Fontane Sisters - Castle Rock (1951)
295. Miss Sharecropper (LaVern Baker) - I Want To Rock (1950)
294. Banjo Kings - Alabamy Bound (1953)
293. Little Willie Littlefield - Kansas City aka KC Lovin' (1952)
292. The Clovers - Down In The Alley (1957)
291. Count Basie & Joe Williams - Every Day I Have the Blues (1956)
290. Jo Stafford - Shrimp Boats (1951)
289. Slim Gaillard - Laughing In Rhythm (1951)
288. Sam Cooke - Jesus, Wash Away My Troubles (1956)
287. Alfred Drake - Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (1955)
286. Thelonious Monk - Blues Five Spot (1958)
285. Jimmy Reed - Ends And Odds (1959)
284. The Larks - Eyesight To The Blind (1951)
283. Eugene Church - Miami (1959)
282. Slim Gaillard - Babalu (Orooney) (1951)
281. Mills Brothers - The Glow Worm (1952)
280. Vic Fontaine - Little Rock Special (1956)
279. The Clovers - Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (1954)
278. The Isley Brothers - Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling (Let The Wedding Bells Ring) (1959)
277. Tony Bennett - Stranger In Paradise (1953)
276. Eddy Arnold - There's Been A Change In Me (1951)
275. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up (1957)
274. Skip Stanley - Satellite Baby (1957)
273. Irma Thomas - Don't Mess With My Man (1959)
272. Frank Sinatra - Young At Heart (1953)
271. Buddy Holly - Everyday (1958)
270. Bill Haley & The Comets - Razzle-Dazzle (1955)
269. Esquivel - Whatchamacallit (1958)
268. Flatt & Scruggs - My Little Girl In Tennessee (1950)
267. Jimmy McCracklin - Get Back (1956)
266. Sam Cooke - Farther Along (1956)
265. Carl Perkins - Gone Gone Gone (1955)
264. Gene Autry with The Cass County Boys - Frosty The Snowman (1950)
263. Buddy Holly - I'm Gonna Love You Too (1958)
262. Link Wray - Raw-Hide (1959)
261. Frank Sinatra - Oh! Look At Me Now (1956)
260. Faron Young - Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young (1955)
259. The Clovers - I Played The Fool (1952)
258. Johnny Cash - So Doggone Lonesome (1955)
257. Jerry Lee Lewis - Crazy Arms (1958)
256. Annie Laurie - Stop, Don't Go (1956)
255. Amos Milburn - Flying Home (1952)
254. Bobby Day - Rockin' Robin (1958)
253. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me (1957)
252. Nappy Brown - Don't Be Angry (1955)
251. Sarah Vaughan - Ooh What Cha Doin' To Me (1953)
Continuing with 250 through 201 (posted Jan 13, 2013)
250. Charles Walton & The Kool Kats - Four Four Time (1958)
249. Benn Joe Zeppa - A Foolish Fool (1959)
248. Dolly Cooper - I Wanna Know (1953)
247. Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel (1956)
246. Buddy Holly - Rave On (1958)
245. The Clovers - Devil Or Angel (1956)
244. Royal Steelband of Kingston - Mambo Mento (1958)
243. Jimmy McCracklin - The Georgia Slop (1958)
242. Bing Crosby - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (1957)
241. Bobby "Blue" Bland - Little Boy Blue (1958)
240. Ruth Brown - This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' (1958)
239. Hank Williams - Ramblin' Man (1953)
238. The Everly Brothers - This Little Girl Of Mine (1959)
237. Bill Haley & The Comets - Dim, Dim the Lights (1954)
236. Smokey Hogg - It's Rainin' Here (1951)
235. Jane Turner - Danger Blues (1954)
234. Sam Cooke - Come And Go To That Land (1954)
233. Little Richard - Long Tall Sally (1957)
232. Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - Friendship (1952)
231. Buddy Holly - Oh Boy! (1958)
230. Martin Denny - Love Dance (1957)
229. The Swallows - Roll Roll Pretty Baby (1950)
228. Miles Davis - Rocker (1957)
227. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie (1951)
226. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Patricia Gone With Millicent (1956)
225. Georgia Lane - Get It! (1953)
224. Little Walter - Roller Coaster (1955)
223. Big Mama Thornton - The Fish (1955)
222. Chuck Berry - Oh Baby Doll (1957)
221. Frank Sinatra - It Happened In Monterey (1956)
220. Johnny Otis Orchestra - All Nite Long (1951)
219. The Clovers - Fool, Fool, Fool (1951)
218. Titans - No Time (1959)
217. The Native Boys - When I Met You (1956)
216. The Clovers - Ting-A- Ling (1952)
215. Cubs - Why Did You Make Me Cry? (1956)
214. Doye O'Dell - Diesel Smoke (Dangerous Curves) (1952)
213. Clayton, Rich & The Rumbles - Wail It (1959)
212. Webb Pierce - In The Jailhouse Now (1955)
211. Lonnie Donegan - Cumberland Gap (1957)
210. Bill Haley & The Comets - Shake, Rattle and Roll (1954)
209. Bobby Louis - Adult Western (1959)
208. Hank Thompson - This Train (1954)
207. Bobo Jenkins - Nothing But Love (1955)
206. The Robins - Ten Days In Jail (1954)
205. Carl Smith - Hey Joe! (1953)
204. Miles Davis - Two Bass Hit (1958)
203. The Champs - Tequila (1958)
202. Sarah Vaughan - Blues Serenade (1953)
201. Skeeter Davis - The One You Slip Around With (1959)
Continuing with 200 through 151 (posted Jan 15, 2013)
200. Sam Cooke - Mean Old World (1957)
199. The Pilgrim Travelers - Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb (1951)
198. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Blues March (1958)
197. Frank Sinatra - I've Got You Under My Skin (1956)
196. Bobby "Blue" Bland - I'll Take Care Of You (1959)
195. Frank Sinatra - They Can't Take That Away From Me (1953)
194. Faron Young - If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin') (1954)
193. Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly (1958)
192. Lefty Frizzell - If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time (1950)
191. Junior Parker - Mystery Train (1953)
190. Elvis Presley - Just Because (1954)
189. Art Blakey - Cranky Spanky (1956)
188. Chuck Berry - Maybellene (1955)
187. Eddy Arnold - A Full Time Job (1952)
186. Frank Sinatra - I've Got The World On A String (1953)
185. Miles Davis - Airegin (1957)
184. Big Mama Thornton - They Call Me Big Mama (1953)
183. Miles Davis - All Blues (1959)
182. Sarah Vaughan - Mean To Me (1950)
181. Elvis Presley - Milkcow Blues Boogie (1954)
180. Lonnie Donegan - Fort Worth Jail (1959)
179. Hank Thompson - Total Stranger (1958)
178. Duke Ellington - Track 360 (1959)
177. The Everly Brothers - Problems (1959)
176. Bertice Reading - Sweet Goody (1953)
175. Ray Charles - Night Time Is the Right Time (1959)
174. Chuck Berry - Back In The U.S.A. (1959)
173. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Women Police In England (1956)
172. Coleman Hawkins - Groovin' (1958)
171. The Monotones - Book of Love (1958)
170. Jerry Lee Lewis - Lewis Boogie (1958)
169. Nappy Brown - Little By Little (1956)
168. The Everly Brothers - Bird Dog (1959)
167. Donald Byrd - Off To The Races (1958)
166. Chuck Berry - Downbound Train (1955)
165. Fireflies - Stella's Got a Fella (1959)
164. Dorothea Fleming - The Devil is Mad (1954)
163. Slim Gaillard - Make It Do (1952)
162. Little Walter - It Ain't Right (1955)
161. The Chuck A Lucks - The Devil's Train (1958)
160. Sarah Vaughan - Perdido (1950)
159. Jiants - Tornado (1959)
158. Johnny Cash - Don't Take Your Guns To Town (1958)
157. Big Mama Thornton - Walking Blues (1954)
156. Patti Page - Tennessee Waltz (1950)
155. Hank Williams - Kaw-Liga (1953)
154. Junior Parker - Feelin Good (1953)
153. Percy Mayfield - Please Send Me Someone To Love (1950)
152. Original Cast of the 1951 NBC Telecast & Thomas Schippers - This Is My Box (1951)
151. Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune (1952)
Continuing with 150 through 126 (posted Jan 18, 2013)
150. Hank Williams - Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (1952)
149. Buddy Holly - It's So Easy (1958)
148. Teresa Brewer - Ricochet (1953)
147. Hank Thompson - Big Beaver (1954)
146. Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88 (1951)
145. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Got A Job (1958)
144. Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone (1958)
143. Robert Alda - Luck Be a Lady (1950)
142. The Clovers - Blue Velvet (1955)
141. Hank Williams - Hey, Good Lookin' (1951)
140. Robert Preston - Seventy Six Trombones (1958)
139. Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk (1959)
138. Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' (1958)
137. Coasters - Poison Ivy (1959)
136. Dion & The Belmonts - I Wonder Why (1958)
135. Hank Thompson - A Six Pack To Go (1959)
134. Nappy Brown - The Right Time (1957)
133. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - The Drum Thunder Suite (1958)
132. Brownie Mc Ghee - Anna Mae (1955)
131. Betty & Dupree - I Hope You're Satisfied (1959)
130. Sarah Vaughan - Nice Work If You Can Get It (1950)
129. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Heading North (1958)
128. Les Paul & Mary Ford - In The Good Old Summertime (1950)
127. Johnny Cash - Big River (1957)
126. The Viscounts - Harlem Nocturne (1959)
Continuing with 125 through 101 (posted Jan 19, 2013)
125. Hank Williams - Cold, Cold Heart (1951)
124. Johnny Mathis - It's Not for Me to Say (1957)
123. Junior Parker - Love My Baby (1953)
122. Thurston Harris - Purple Stew (1958)
121. Bobby Freeman - Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes (1959)
120. The Swallows - It Ain't The Meat (1950)
119. Percy Mayfield - Louisiana (1952)
118. Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula (1956)
117. Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (1952)
116. Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day (1957)
115. Lonnie Donegan - Talking Guitar Blues (1959)
114. Tony Martin - I Get Ideas (1951)
113. Elvis Presley - I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (1954)
112. The Isley Brothers - Yes Indeed (1959)
111. Ray Anthony - Peter Gunn Theme (1958)
110. Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy (1955)
109. Johnny "Guitar" Watson - One More Kiss (1959)
108. Lillian Briggs - Can't Stop (1955)
107. Bing Crosby - Cool Water (1952)
106. Sonny Clark - Blue Minor (1958)
105. Evelyn Freeman - Didn't It Rain (1958)
104. Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame? (1955)
103. Gene Kelly - Singin' in the Rain (1952)
102. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog (1953)
101. Georgia Gibbs - The Kiss Of Fire (1952)
Continuing with 100 through 81 (posted Jan 20, 2013)
100. Carl Perkins - Matchbox (1957)
99. Frank Sinatra - The Lady Is A Tramp (1957)
98. Rosemary Clooney - Come On-A My House (1951)
97. Marty Robbins - The Hanging Tree (1959)
96. Anton Karas - The Third Man Theme (1950)
95. Louis Prima - Jump, Jive, An' Wail (1957)
94. Frank Sinatra - You Make Me Feel So Young (1956)
93. Buddy Holly - Words Of Love (1958)
92. Carl Perkins - Honey Don't (1955)
91. Dean Martin - That's Amore (1953)
90. Jim Hall and His Radio Pals - Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Potassium (1959)
89. The Chordettes - Mr. Sandman (1954)
88. Elvis Presley - Hound Dog (1956)
87. Hank Snow - The Golden Rocket (1950)
86. Nat King Cole - Unforgettable (1951)
85. The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie (1959)
84. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire (1958)
83. Coasters - Down In Mexico (1956)
82. Harry Belafonte - Day-O (Banana Boat) (1956)
81. Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds (1957)
Continuing with 80 through 61 (posted Jan 21, 2013)
80. Sarah Vaughan - Ain't Misbehavin' (1950)
79. Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home (1956)
78. Sonny Rollins - Strode Rode (1956)
77. The Chordettes - Love Never Changes (1956)
76. Sam Cooke - Peace In The Valley (1951)
75. Dorothy Love Coates - He's Right On Time (1956)
74. Big John Greer - You Played on My Piano (1951)
73. Big Mama Thornton - I Smell A Rat (1954)
72. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons (1955)
71. Ray Anthony - Dragnet (1953)
70. Frank Sinatra - My Funny Valentine (1953)
69. Les Paul & Mary Ford - Brazil (1950)
68. Alfred Drake & Chorus - Oklahoma (1955)
67. Elvis Presley - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (1954)
66. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Are You Real? (1958)
65. Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You (1953)
64. Charles Mingus - Jelly Roll (1959)
63. Chuck Berry - School Days (1957)
62. Stars of Faith - Mean Old World (1958)
61. Miles Davis - Freddie Freeloader (1959)
Continuing with 60 through 41 (posted Jan 22, 2013)
60. Jesse & Buzzy - Going Back To Orleans (1958)
59. Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong - Gone Fishin' (1951)
58. James Brown - Try Me (1958)
57. Ornette Coleman - Lonely Woman (1959)
56. Clifton Chenier - Boppin' the Rock (1955)
55. Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock (1957)
54. Billy The Kid Emerson - Red Hot (1955)
53. Little Walter - Off The Wall (1953)
52. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (1955)
51. Thelonious Monk - Bemsha Swing (1956)
50. Johnny Mathis - Chances Are (1957)
49. Sun Ra - India (1956)
48. Lefty Frizzell - I Love You a Thousand Ways (1950)
47. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues (1958)
46. Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa (1950)
45. Sam Cooke - Wonderful (1956)
44. Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music (1957)
43. Five Blind Boys - Count Me In (1954)
42. Peggy Lee - Black Coffee (1956)
41. Martin Denny - Quiet Village (1957)
Continuing with 40 through 31 (posted Jan 23, 2013)
40. Elvis Presley - HeartBreak Hotel (1956)
39. Robins - Riot In Cell Block #9 (1954)
38. Hank Williams - Take These Chains from My Heart (1953)
37. Sax Kari - Chocolate Fizz (1958)
36. Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill (1956)
35. Webb Pierce - There Stands The Glass (1953)
34. The Larks - Coffee Cigarettes And Tears (1951)
33. Jimmy Dale - Tennessee Ghost Train (1953)
32. Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight (1957)
31. Little Richard - Tutti Frutti (1955)
Continuing with 30 through 21 (posted Jan 24, 2013)
30.The Louvin Brothers - I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby (1956)
29. Johnny Cash - Luther Played The Boogie (1959)
28. Sun Ra - Watusa (1959)
27. Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue (1957)
26. Five Blind Boys - Stand By Me (1954)
25. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (1957)
24. Elvis Presley - That's All Right (1954)
23. Miles Davis - Milestones (1958)
22. Charles Mingus - Boogie Stop Shuffle (1959)
21. Little Walter - My Babe (1955)
Continuing with 20 through 11 (posted Jan 25, 2013)
20. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues (1957)
19. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell On You (1956)
18. Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart (1953)
17. The Isley Brothers - Shout (Parts 1 and 2) (1959)
16. Sam Cooke - I'm So Glad (Trouble Don't Last Always) (1955)
15. Bo Diddley - I'm A Man (1955)
14. Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes (1955)
13. Link Wray - Rumble (1958)
12. The Clovers - One Mint Julep (1952)
11. Bill Haley & The Comets - Rock Around the Clock (1954)
Continuing with 10 through 6 (posted Jan 26, 2013)
10. Joe Liggins - Pink Champagne (1950)
9. Elvis Presley - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (1954)
8. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (1958)
7. Carl Perkins - Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby (1957)
6. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (1957)
Wrapping up the countdown with 5 though 1 (posted Jan 27, 2013)
5. Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away (1958)
4. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line (1957)
3. Miles Davis - So What (1959)
2. Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven (1956)
1. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train (1955)
I'll probably update later to provide a few more links to youtube or elsewhere, but that concludes countdown #6. For more thoughts on the various countdowns, see here.
It's very hard to accurately track down dates for a lot of worthy 50's era music. I don't doubt that a few songs from the late 40s or early 60s have accidentally slipped onto this list. The very format on which music was released was changing, from 10" 78rpm to 12" longplay (LP) records and also to 7" 45rpm singles. Much of what was released in the early 50s was re-released in different formats later. I tried to do my best to get correct dates, but in addition to some good reliable sources, I also used a fair number of questionable internet sources.
The biggest challenge of all is that there was some hugely popular music in the 1950s that was unfamiliar to me before beginning this list. I tried to fill in the gaps in my musical knowledge, especially pre-1955 pop music, but I know there's a lot of worthy music that I just plain missed. Setting apologies aside, here's the beginning of the list. I'll be updating this post over the course of the next few weeks with more of the countdown.
Here's 400 through 351 (posted Jan 5, 2013)
400. Billy Lamont - I Got A Rock & Roll Gal (1957)
399. Percy Faith & His Orchestra - Delicado (1952)
398. The Moroccos - Bang Goes My Heart (1955)
397. Johnnie Ray - Cry (1951)
396. Stan Freberg - St. George & The Dragonet (1951)
395. Link Wray - Dixie-Doodle (1959)
394. The Ames Brothers - Undecided (1951)
393. Carl Smith - (When You Feel Like You're In Love)Don't Just Stand There (1952)
392. Sonny James - First Date, First Kiss, First Love (1957)
391. Guy Mitchell - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (1952)
390. The Du Droppers - Bam Balam (1953)
389. Buddy Holly - Maybe Baby (1958)
388. Jeani Mack - Super Duper (1959)
387. The Platters - Harbour Lights (1959)
386. Webb Pierce - I Ain't Never (1959)
385. Jo Stafford - Hawaiian War Chant (1951)
384. Lord Kitchener - Trouble In Arima (1955)
383. Yul Brynner - A Puzzlement (1951)
382. Hank Williams - Moanin' The Blues (1950)
381. Porter Wagoner - A Satisfied Mind (1955)
380. The Clovers - Don't You Know I Love You (1951)
379. Della Reese - Don't You Know (1959)
378. Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender (1956)
377. George Shearing - Lulu's Back in Town (1958)
376. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Seventeen (1956)
375. Little Walter - Can't Hold Out Much Longer (1952)
374. Sam Cooke - Touch The Hem Of His Garment (1956)
373. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Banjo Rock 'n Roll (1956)
372. Illinois Jacquet - Flying Home (1951)
371. Marty Robbins - I'll Go On Alone (1952)
370. Perry Como - Zing Zing, Zoom Zoom (1951)
369. Eddy Arnold and the Tennessee Plowboys and his Guitar - I Wanna Play House With You (1951)
368. Rebecca Williams - Please Give Me A Match (1957)
367. Slim Gaillard - Yip Roc Heresy (1951)
366. The Clovers - Lovey Dovey (1954)
365. Ben Bowers - Not Me (1957)
364. The Everly Brothers - Claudette (1959)
363. The Del Vikings - Whispering Bells (1957)
362. Donald Byrd - Sudwest Funk (1958)
361. Lonnie Donegan - Battle Of New Orleans (1959)
360. The Ames Brothers - The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane (1954)
359. Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me (1952)
358. Johnny Cash - Train Of Love (1956)
357. Miller Sisters - Someday You Will Pay (1955)
356. Frank Sinatra - Night And Day (1956)
355. Carl Perkins - Jive After Five (1958)
354. Hank Williams - I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (1952)
353. Slim Gaillard - You Goofed (1952)
352. Eddie Fisher - Anytime (1951)
351. Donald O'Connor - Make 'Em Laugh (1952)
Continuing with 350 through 301 (posted Jan 9, 2013)
350. Chuz Alfred Combo - Rocking Boy (1955)
349. Slim Gaillard - Potato Chips (1952)
348. Percy Mayfield - The River's Invitation (1952)
347. Roy Haynes - Sugar Ray (1958)
346. Eugene Church - Good News (1959)
345. Perry Como - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (1952)
344. Big Daddy - Bacon Fat (1956)
343. Bing Crosby - Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella (1957)
342. Smokey Hogg - Look In Your Eyes Pretty Mama (1950)
341. The Debutantes - Just Leave It To Me (1956)
340. Link Wray - Rumble Mambo (1959)
339. Oliver Nelson - Jams And Jellies (1959)
338. Marty Robbins - Just Married (1958)
337. Ruth Brown - 5-10-15 Hours (1952)
336. Sam Cooke - Just Another Day (1952)
335. Lonnie Donegan - Lonesome Traveller (1958)
334. Sarah Vaughan - Come Rain Or Come Shine (1950)
333. Crew Cuts - Sh Boom (1954)
332. Eddy Arnold - The Cattle Call (1955)
331. Donald Byrd - Down Tempo (1958)
330. Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft (1957)
329. Tony Bennett - Rags To Riches (1953)
328. Hank Williams - Baby We're Really In Love (1951)
327. Lloyd Price - Personality (1959)
326. Ferlin Husky - Gone (1957)
325. Teresa Brewer - The Banjo's Back In Town (1955)
324. The Louvin Brothers - Satan Is Real (1959)
323. Big Red McHouston - I'm Tired (1954)
322. Gene Ammons - King Size (1957)
321. The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (1954)
320. Six Teens - Stop Playing Ping Pong With My Heart (1957)
319. The Four Aces - Three Coins In The Fountain (1954)
318. Glen Reeves - Tarzan (1958)
317. Jo Stafford - Big D (1956)
316. The Chordettes - Lollipop (1958)
315. Percy Mayfield - What A Fool I Was (1950)
314. Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble (1958)
313. Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean A Lot (1954) 312. Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues (1950)
311. Eddy Howard - Sin (It's No) Sin (1951)
310. Lord Invader & His Calypso Rhythm Boys - Reincarnation (The Bed Bug) (1958)
309. Irvin Russ - Crazy Alligator (1959)
308. Edith Piaf - L'homme A La Moto (Black Denim Trousers & MotorcycleBoots) (1956)
307. Carl Smith - Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way (1951)
306. Elvis Presley - You're A Heartbreaker (1954)
305. Boyd Bennett And His Rockets - Everlovin' (1956)
304. Kay Starr - I Wanna Love You (1952)
303. Lord Kitchener - Nora (1950)
302. Stars of Faith - When I Lay This Body Down (1958)
301. Andrews Sisters - I Wanna Be Loved (1950)
Continuing with 300 through 251 (posted Jan 11, 2013)
300. Frankie Laine - Jezebel (1951)
299. The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love (1959)
298. Elvis Presley - Baby Let's Play House (1955)
297. Marni Nixon/Rex Thompson - I Whistle A Happy Tune (1951)
296. The Fontane Sisters - Castle Rock (1951)
295. Miss Sharecropper (LaVern Baker) - I Want To Rock (1950)
294. Banjo Kings - Alabamy Bound (1953)
293. Little Willie Littlefield - Kansas City aka KC Lovin' (1952)
292. The Clovers - Down In The Alley (1957)
291. Count Basie & Joe Williams - Every Day I Have the Blues (1956)
290. Jo Stafford - Shrimp Boats (1951)
289. Slim Gaillard - Laughing In Rhythm (1951)
288. Sam Cooke - Jesus, Wash Away My Troubles (1956)
287. Alfred Drake - Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (1955)
286. Thelonious Monk - Blues Five Spot (1958)
285. Jimmy Reed - Ends And Odds (1959)
284. The Larks - Eyesight To The Blind (1951)
283. Eugene Church - Miami (1959)
282. Slim Gaillard - Babalu (Orooney) (1951)
281. Mills Brothers - The Glow Worm (1952)
280. Vic Fontaine - Little Rock Special (1956)
279. The Clovers - Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (1954)
278. The Isley Brothers - Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling (Let The Wedding Bells Ring) (1959)
277. Tony Bennett - Stranger In Paradise (1953)
276. Eddy Arnold - There's Been A Change In Me (1951)
275. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up (1957)
274. Skip Stanley - Satellite Baby (1957)
273. Irma Thomas - Don't Mess With My Man (1959)
272. Frank Sinatra - Young At Heart (1953)
271. Buddy Holly - Everyday (1958)
270. Bill Haley & The Comets - Razzle-Dazzle (1955)
269. Esquivel - Whatchamacallit (1958)
268. Flatt & Scruggs - My Little Girl In Tennessee (1950)
267. Jimmy McCracklin - Get Back (1956)
266. Sam Cooke - Farther Along (1956)
265. Carl Perkins - Gone Gone Gone (1955)
264. Gene Autry with The Cass County Boys - Frosty The Snowman (1950)
263. Buddy Holly - I'm Gonna Love You Too (1958)
262. Link Wray - Raw-Hide (1959)
261. Frank Sinatra - Oh! Look At Me Now (1956)
260. Faron Young - Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young (1955)
259. The Clovers - I Played The Fool (1952)
258. Johnny Cash - So Doggone Lonesome (1955)
257. Jerry Lee Lewis - Crazy Arms (1958)
256. Annie Laurie - Stop, Don't Go (1956)
255. Amos Milburn - Flying Home (1952)
254. Bobby Day - Rockin' Robin (1958)
253. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me (1957)
252. Nappy Brown - Don't Be Angry (1955)
251. Sarah Vaughan - Ooh What Cha Doin' To Me (1953)
Continuing with 250 through 201 (posted Jan 13, 2013)
250. Charles Walton & The Kool Kats - Four Four Time (1958)
249. Benn Joe Zeppa - A Foolish Fool (1959)
248. Dolly Cooper - I Wanna Know (1953)
247. Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel (1956)
246. Buddy Holly - Rave On (1958)
245. The Clovers - Devil Or Angel (1956)
244. Royal Steelband of Kingston - Mambo Mento (1958)
243. Jimmy McCracklin - The Georgia Slop (1958)
242. Bing Crosby - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (1957)
241. Bobby "Blue" Bland - Little Boy Blue (1958)
240. Ruth Brown - This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' (1958)
239. Hank Williams - Ramblin' Man (1953)
238. The Everly Brothers - This Little Girl Of Mine (1959)
237. Bill Haley & The Comets - Dim, Dim the Lights (1954)
236. Smokey Hogg - It's Rainin' Here (1951)
235. Jane Turner - Danger Blues (1954)
234. Sam Cooke - Come And Go To That Land (1954)
233. Little Richard - Long Tall Sally (1957)
232. Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - Friendship (1952)
231. Buddy Holly - Oh Boy! (1958)
230. Martin Denny - Love Dance (1957)
229. The Swallows - Roll Roll Pretty Baby (1950)
228. Miles Davis - Rocker (1957)
227. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie (1951)
226. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Patricia Gone With Millicent (1956)
225. Georgia Lane - Get It! (1953)
224. Little Walter - Roller Coaster (1955)
223. Big Mama Thornton - The Fish (1955)
222. Chuck Berry - Oh Baby Doll (1957)
221. Frank Sinatra - It Happened In Monterey (1956)
220. Johnny Otis Orchestra - All Nite Long (1951)
219. The Clovers - Fool, Fool, Fool (1951)
218. Titans - No Time (1959)
217. The Native Boys - When I Met You (1956)
216. The Clovers - Ting-A- Ling (1952)
215. Cubs - Why Did You Make Me Cry? (1956)
214. Doye O'Dell - Diesel Smoke (Dangerous Curves) (1952)
213. Clayton, Rich & The Rumbles - Wail It (1959)
212. Webb Pierce - In The Jailhouse Now (1955)
211. Lonnie Donegan - Cumberland Gap (1957)
210. Bill Haley & The Comets - Shake, Rattle and Roll (1954)
209. Bobby Louis - Adult Western (1959)
208. Hank Thompson - This Train (1954)
207. Bobo Jenkins - Nothing But Love (1955)
206. The Robins - Ten Days In Jail (1954)
205. Carl Smith - Hey Joe! (1953)
204. Miles Davis - Two Bass Hit (1958)
203. The Champs - Tequila (1958)
202. Sarah Vaughan - Blues Serenade (1953)
201. Skeeter Davis - The One You Slip Around With (1959)
Continuing with 200 through 151 (posted Jan 15, 2013)
200. Sam Cooke - Mean Old World (1957)
199. The Pilgrim Travelers - Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb (1951)
198. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Blues March (1958)
197. Frank Sinatra - I've Got You Under My Skin (1956)
196. Bobby "Blue" Bland - I'll Take Care Of You (1959)
195. Frank Sinatra - They Can't Take That Away From Me (1953)
194. Faron Young - If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin') (1954)
193. Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly (1958)
192. Lefty Frizzell - If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time (1950)
191. Junior Parker - Mystery Train (1953)
190. Elvis Presley - Just Because (1954)
189. Art Blakey - Cranky Spanky (1956)
188. Chuck Berry - Maybellene (1955)
187. Eddy Arnold - A Full Time Job (1952)
186. Frank Sinatra - I've Got The World On A String (1953)
185. Miles Davis - Airegin (1957)
184. Big Mama Thornton - They Call Me Big Mama (1953)
183. Miles Davis - All Blues (1959)
182. Sarah Vaughan - Mean To Me (1950)
181. Elvis Presley - Milkcow Blues Boogie (1954)
180. Lonnie Donegan - Fort Worth Jail (1959)
179. Hank Thompson - Total Stranger (1958)
178. Duke Ellington - Track 360 (1959)
177. The Everly Brothers - Problems (1959)
176. Bertice Reading - Sweet Goody (1953)
175. Ray Charles - Night Time Is the Right Time (1959)
174. Chuck Berry - Back In The U.S.A. (1959)
173. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Women Police In England (1956)
172. Coleman Hawkins - Groovin' (1958)
171. The Monotones - Book of Love (1958)
170. Jerry Lee Lewis - Lewis Boogie (1958)
169. Nappy Brown - Little By Little (1956)
168. The Everly Brothers - Bird Dog (1959)
167. Donald Byrd - Off To The Races (1958)
166. Chuck Berry - Downbound Train (1955)
165. Fireflies - Stella's Got a Fella (1959)
164. Dorothea Fleming - The Devil is Mad (1954)
163. Slim Gaillard - Make It Do (1952)
162. Little Walter - It Ain't Right (1955)
161. The Chuck A Lucks - The Devil's Train (1958)
160. Sarah Vaughan - Perdido (1950)
159. Jiants - Tornado (1959)
158. Johnny Cash - Don't Take Your Guns To Town (1958)
157. Big Mama Thornton - Walking Blues (1954)
156. Patti Page - Tennessee Waltz (1950)
155. Hank Williams - Kaw-Liga (1953)
154. Junior Parker - Feelin Good (1953)
153. Percy Mayfield - Please Send Me Someone To Love (1950)
152. Original Cast of the 1951 NBC Telecast & Thomas Schippers - This Is My Box (1951)
151. Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune (1952)
Continuing with 150 through 126 (posted Jan 18, 2013)
150. Hank Williams - Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (1952)
149. Buddy Holly - It's So Easy (1958)
148. Teresa Brewer - Ricochet (1953)
147. Hank Thompson - Big Beaver (1954)
146. Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88 (1951)
145. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Got A Job (1958)
144. Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone (1958)
143. Robert Alda - Luck Be a Lady (1950)
142. The Clovers - Blue Velvet (1955)
141. Hank Williams - Hey, Good Lookin' (1951)
140. Robert Preston - Seventy Six Trombones (1958)
139. Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk (1959)
138. Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' (1958)
137. Coasters - Poison Ivy (1959)
136. Dion & The Belmonts - I Wonder Why (1958)
135. Hank Thompson - A Six Pack To Go (1959)
134. Nappy Brown - The Right Time (1957)
133. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - The Drum Thunder Suite (1958)
132. Brownie Mc Ghee - Anna Mae (1955)
131. Betty & Dupree - I Hope You're Satisfied (1959)
130. Sarah Vaughan - Nice Work If You Can Get It (1950)
129. The Mighty Terror And His Calipsonians - Heading North (1958)
128. Les Paul & Mary Ford - In The Good Old Summertime (1950)
127. Johnny Cash - Big River (1957)
126. The Viscounts - Harlem Nocturne (1959)
Continuing with 125 through 101 (posted Jan 19, 2013)
125. Hank Williams - Cold, Cold Heart (1951)
124. Johnny Mathis - It's Not for Me to Say (1957)
123. Junior Parker - Love My Baby (1953)
122. Thurston Harris - Purple Stew (1958)
121. Bobby Freeman - Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes (1959)
120. The Swallows - It Ain't The Meat (1950)
119. Percy Mayfield - Louisiana (1952)
118. Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula (1956)
117. Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (1952)
116. Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day (1957)
115. Lonnie Donegan - Talking Guitar Blues (1959)
114. Tony Martin - I Get Ideas (1951)
113. Elvis Presley - I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (1954)
112. The Isley Brothers - Yes Indeed (1959)
111. Ray Anthony - Peter Gunn Theme (1958)
110. Bo Diddley - Diddley Daddy (1955)
109. Johnny "Guitar" Watson - One More Kiss (1959)
108. Lillian Briggs - Can't Stop (1955)
107. Bing Crosby - Cool Water (1952)
106. Sonny Clark - Blue Minor (1958)
105. Evelyn Freeman - Didn't It Rain (1958)
104. Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame? (1955)
103. Gene Kelly - Singin' in the Rain (1952)
102. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog (1953)
101. Georgia Gibbs - The Kiss Of Fire (1952)
Continuing with 100 through 81 (posted Jan 20, 2013)
100. Carl Perkins - Matchbox (1957)
99. Frank Sinatra - The Lady Is A Tramp (1957)
98. Rosemary Clooney - Come On-A My House (1951)
97. Marty Robbins - The Hanging Tree (1959)
96. Anton Karas - The Third Man Theme (1950)
95. Louis Prima - Jump, Jive, An' Wail (1957)
94. Frank Sinatra - You Make Me Feel So Young (1956)
93. Buddy Holly - Words Of Love (1958)
92. Carl Perkins - Honey Don't (1955)
91. Dean Martin - That's Amore (1953)
90. Jim Hall and His Radio Pals - Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Potassium (1959)
89. The Chordettes - Mr. Sandman (1954)
88. Elvis Presley - Hound Dog (1956)
87. Hank Snow - The Golden Rocket (1950)
86. Nat King Cole - Unforgettable (1951)
85. The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie (1959)
84. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire (1958)
83. Coasters - Down In Mexico (1956)
82. Harry Belafonte - Day-O (Banana Boat) (1956)
81. Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds (1957)
Continuing with 80 through 61 (posted Jan 21, 2013)
80. Sarah Vaughan - Ain't Misbehavin' (1950)
79. Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home (1956)
78. Sonny Rollins - Strode Rode (1956)
77. The Chordettes - Love Never Changes (1956)
76. Sam Cooke - Peace In The Valley (1951)
75. Dorothy Love Coates - He's Right On Time (1956)
74. Big John Greer - You Played on My Piano (1951)
73. Big Mama Thornton - I Smell A Rat (1954)
72. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons (1955)
71. Ray Anthony - Dragnet (1953)
70. Frank Sinatra - My Funny Valentine (1953)
69. Les Paul & Mary Ford - Brazil (1950)
68. Alfred Drake & Chorus - Oklahoma (1955)
67. Elvis Presley - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (1954)
66. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Are You Real? (1958)
65. Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You (1953)
64. Charles Mingus - Jelly Roll (1959)
63. Chuck Berry - School Days (1957)
62. Stars of Faith - Mean Old World (1958)
61. Miles Davis - Freddie Freeloader (1959)
Continuing with 60 through 41 (posted Jan 22, 2013)
60. Jesse & Buzzy - Going Back To Orleans (1958)
59. Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong - Gone Fishin' (1951)
58. James Brown - Try Me (1958)
57. Ornette Coleman - Lonely Woman (1959)
56. Clifton Chenier - Boppin' the Rock (1955)
55. Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock (1957)
54. Billy The Kid Emerson - Red Hot (1955)
53. Little Walter - Off The Wall (1953)
52. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (1955)
51. Thelonious Monk - Bemsha Swing (1956)
50. Johnny Mathis - Chances Are (1957)
49. Sun Ra - India (1956)
48. Lefty Frizzell - I Love You a Thousand Ways (1950)
47. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues (1958)
46. Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa (1950)
45. Sam Cooke - Wonderful (1956)
44. Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music (1957)
43. Five Blind Boys - Count Me In (1954)
42. Peggy Lee - Black Coffee (1956)
41. Martin Denny - Quiet Village (1957)
Continuing with 40 through 31 (posted Jan 23, 2013)
40. Elvis Presley - HeartBreak Hotel (1956)
39. Robins - Riot In Cell Block #9 (1954)
38. Hank Williams - Take These Chains from My Heart (1953)
37. Sax Kari - Chocolate Fizz (1958)
36. Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill (1956)
35. Webb Pierce - There Stands The Glass (1953)
34. The Larks - Coffee Cigarettes And Tears (1951)
33. Jimmy Dale - Tennessee Ghost Train (1953)
32. Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight (1957)
31. Little Richard - Tutti Frutti (1955)
Continuing with 30 through 21 (posted Jan 24, 2013)
30.The Louvin Brothers - I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby (1956)
29. Johnny Cash - Luther Played The Boogie (1959)
28. Sun Ra - Watusa (1959)
27. Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue (1957)
26. Five Blind Boys - Stand By Me (1954)
25. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (1957)
24. Elvis Presley - That's All Right (1954)
23. Miles Davis - Milestones (1958)
22. Charles Mingus - Boogie Stop Shuffle (1959)
21. Little Walter - My Babe (1955)
Continuing with 20 through 11 (posted Jan 25, 2013)
20. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues (1957)
19. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell On You (1956)
18. Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart (1953)
17. The Isley Brothers - Shout (Parts 1 and 2) (1959)
16. Sam Cooke - I'm So Glad (Trouble Don't Last Always) (1955)
15. Bo Diddley - I'm A Man (1955)
14. Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes (1955)
13. Link Wray - Rumble (1958)
12. The Clovers - One Mint Julep (1952)
11. Bill Haley & The Comets - Rock Around the Clock (1954)
Continuing with 10 through 6 (posted Jan 26, 2013)
10. Joe Liggins - Pink Champagne (1950)
9. Elvis Presley - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (1954)
8. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (1958)
7. Carl Perkins - Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby (1957)
6. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (1957)
Wrapping up the countdown with 5 though 1 (posted Jan 27, 2013)
5. Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away (1958)
4. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line (1957)
3. Miles Davis - So What (1959)
2. Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven (1956)
1. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train (1955)
I'll probably update later to provide a few more links to youtube or elsewhere, but that concludes countdown #6. For more thoughts on the various countdowns, see here.
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