1955 in music

“Rock Around the Clock” appears on the British charts for the first time. The song would not become a hit in the U.S. until the film Blackboard Jungle is released later in the year. The song ignited the First Rock Era (1955-59). The song reaches #1 on the charts. Shortly thereafter, Little Richard records “Tutti Frutti” and Elvis hires Colonel Tom Parker to manage his career.  Additionally, Pat Boone debuts and 45s outsell 78s for the first time in history.

#1 song of 1955:

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-qjc17KEsc

Other hits:

Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUpTJg2EBpw

Only You by the Platters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZs-e_x0PGM

Love is a Many Splendored Thing by the Four Aces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDtxiNwDS8

The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZoq8yjOvxs

The Yellow Rose of Texas by Mitch Miller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLw7Rot-9oY

The Great Pretender by the Platters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gBxeslnd0Y

Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDktBZzQIiU

Tutti Frutti by Little Richard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFq5O2kabQo

 

Elvis Presley: Mystery Train (1955)

Junior Parker and Sam Phillips penned "Mystery Train" in 1953. Little Junior recorded it, but no one remembers this version. Elvis covered it in 1955 and this version is now one of the all-time classics.  Since Elvis, the song has been recorded by acts ranging from Chet Atkins to UFO.

Little Junior:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfQ4N_jYUUg

Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY

974. Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters (1955)

Muddy Waters decided to answer Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man" (which was an answer to "Hoochie Coochie Man") with "Mannish Boy." Younger listeners may remember the song from Goodfellas.

This version is from the Montreux Jazz Festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAe6w_r0Vaw

975. Maybellene- Chuck Berry (1955)

Maybellene, with a little help from payola, made rock n roll popular in America. The genre dominated music, with a little disco diversion, until the 1990s. The song is also a great example of the use of the double entendre. Rock has used the automobile to represent sex from its earliest days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y3-NSalpKI