Top 10 Songs of the 1950s

The 1950s literally saw the birth of rock and roll. In fact, the phrase “rock and roll” was coined during this era by Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed. The phrase itself is indicative of the coming generational split, not to mention the controversy surrounding rock’s overtly sensual nature. (The phrase “rock and roll” was taken from jazz and blues traditions, which used the term to refer to sex.)

In addition to the more overt nature of dancing and lyrics, the addition of new rhythms – whether exemplified by Elvis’ hip-shaking style or the more genteel doo-wop – set popular music on fire and began a generational split that has continued to the present day. While crooners ruled the early part of the decade, by the mid-1950s, rhythm was king, and the use of electric guitars grew.

There are numerous web sites that provide top lists, among them www.mbgtop40.com, or the UK-based www.everyhit.com. Of course www.billboard.com will list the chart-toppers, year by year, but that may not be the purpose: After all, in a decade where rock and roll was born, can you really measure influence solely by dollars and cents?

CD collections can sometimes be helpful, such as Casey Kasem Presents America’s Top 10: 1950s, available on americastoptenhits.com. However, other CD compilations can obfuscate the issue, as they are often just as much about how available the rights to a particular song actually are as to whether or not said song was truly the blockbuster hit the CD issuers claim. Kasem’s compilation seems like the genuine article, however, and that isn’t surprising – he has built an empire on Top 40 hits, and isn’t likely to compromise that status.

Perhaps one of the most important criteria for a list of top songs from the 1950s is the influence a song has had on today’s artists. Paul Simon has long credited The Everly Brothers as being a key influence on his music, and his Hearts and Bones album included a song (“Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War”) talking about dancing to ” . . . the Penguins, the Moonglows, the Orioles, and the Firesides.” Any song appearing on the top 10 list of this era must, at a minimum, influence and inform to that degree.

1. Hound Dog, Elvis Presley – Much of the decade belonged to Elvis and his music. This hit exemplified the use of electric guitars, a new rhythm, and more suggestive lyrics.
2. Rock Around The Clock, Bill Haley & The Comets – More upbeat and innocent, this hit nonetheless exemplifies 1950s rhythms and instrumentation. It was later used as the theme song in the 1970s television show Happy Days.
3. Wake Up Little Susie, The Everly Brothers – Even more genteel crooners, such as the Everlys, scored a hit about a young couple out on a date who (inadvertently) fell asleep and risked their good reputations.
4. Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino
5. Mona Lisa, Nat “King” Cole
6. Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins
7. The Great Pretender, The Platters
8. Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin On, Jerry Lee Lewis
9. Earth Angel, The Penguins
10. Yakety Yak, The Coasters