1957 in music

Elvis Presley had another monster year. He scored three #1 hits, bought Graceland, and made his last Ed Sullivan appearance. At the same time, Jerry Lee Lewis released two songs that made him immortal. At the same time, Ricky Nelson, Bo Diddley, and the Everly Brothers record iconic tracks. Meanwhile, John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time and Simon and Garfunkel unite as Tom and Jerry.


#1 song of 1957:
Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk



Other Elvis #1s:
All Shook Up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQEbQJx5Bo


Teddy Bear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89MihWd6zKk




Other important songs of 1957:
Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMZjAOoX6nw


Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY


Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On by Jerry Lee Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRdDnrB5kM


That’ll Be the Day by Buddy Holly and the Crickets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9FCBatl3A


Wake Up Little Susie by the Everly Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X7b2E_Jq-k


You Send Me by Sam Cooke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX6QlnlMqjE



Other hits:
Young Love by Tab Hunter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQNu4Vc7Yl8


Tammy by Debbie Reynolds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3mtNZFrMY


Diana by Paul Anka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDDgYDQjtEs


At the Hop: Danny and the Juniors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIXMKA7d4to


Chances Are by Johnny Mathis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEH3uqbpsm8


Not Fade Away by Buddy Holly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyTtFNGzFsE


Oh Boy by Buddy Holly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkJT1cgQeGI


Rock and Roll Music by Chuck Berry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XSaKQlBZuE


Stardust by Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VezW1PtDq5E

1954 in music

Frank Sinatra wins an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity. The award ignites an amazing comeback for Sinatra. However, a music revolution is underway that few recognize. Alan Freed used the term “rock n roll” for the first time to promote his “Rock n Roll Jubilee.” Bill Haley records “Rock Around the Clock” which would ignite rock n roll. Elvis Presley records “That’s All Right (Mama)” at Sun Studios. Big Joe Turner recorded “Shake Rattle and Roll”, which became a huge hit for Haley. Muddy Waters released the highly influential blues work “Hoochie Coochie Man”, which influenced the next generation of rock stars. Meanwhile, Les Paul creates the first 8 track recorder. In the end, what we think of as the 1950s music scene began in 1954.

#1 song of 1954:

Mr. Sandman by the Chordettes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNuX7bs2qAM

And other hits:

Sh-Boom by the Crew Cuts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9G0-4TWwew

Secret Love by Doris Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL87sHjXlVU

Hey There by Rosemary Clooney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSASnjrWxmY

Oh! My Pa-Pa by Eddie Fisher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y04seHfYLAA

Other songs of note:

Earth Angel by The Penguins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcGi4-n_Yw

In The Still of the Night by The Satins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRb1-SAAIzs

Someone to Watch Over Me by Frank Sinatra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E07b0SbWWFc

Tenderly by Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaK5tSm-H58

I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV_ZhBcNiQQ

Shake Rattle and Roll by Big Joe Turner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Feq_Nt3nM

 

1951 in Music

Frankie Layne signs a mega-record deal and Dinah Shore begins her show.   Not much else exciting happens….kinda boring…

#1 for the year:

Cry by Johnny Ray:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iob-_shdLQ0

Although the most timeless song of 1951 was:

Unforgettable by Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkVuQGgx7d8

And the other hits:

Too Young  by Nat King Cole:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaFtsqU2V6U

How High the Moon by Les Paul and Mary Ford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOzB7I2y7Ic

Be My Love by Mario Lanza: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8SZng55T0

If by Perry Como: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3brhdDESU

Jezebel by Frankie Laine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvn1VH7q0E

Rose, Rose, I Love You by Frankie Laine:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpEGTSed1lI

Because of You by Tony Bennett: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-4zvArJDGg

And for Christmas:

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmc9gfowJmk

 

1950 in music

Sam Phillips started Sun Records in Memphis in 1950. In a few years, Sun Records would be an industry leader. Meanwhile, Patti Page became the only artist to ever score a #1 on the country, rock, and R&B charts at the same time. Nat King Cole had the year’s biggest hit with “Mona Lisa.”

Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxEmnxiUz8w

The Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ek3eCbfqp0

Music! Music! Music! By Teresa Brewer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCcV2B8mHa0

Goodnight Irene by Gordon Jenkins and the Weavers:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj3s8qq3kU4

Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy by Red Foley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYl31e_0buQ

Peter Cottontail by Gene Autry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOwGBeCcun4

The Thing by Phil Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FdWRsHeV98

Nat King Cole: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/nat-king-cole/bio/

Cole made his first performance at 4 and took lessons at 12. He learned everything from country to classical. He began his career in the 1930s.

First hit:

Straighten Up and Fly Right (1943):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2glDaeHLXM

The Christmas Song made him immortal.

The Christmas Song (1946):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2glDaeHLXM

Nature Boy (1948):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2SddgQkEu4

Mona Lisa (1950):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdBsu7jiYTU

Too Young (1951):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIq-F3M7Cy8

Unforgettable (1954):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1UEzL9poPM

The jazz crowd considered him a sell out.

His last big hit:

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkfVPceai0U

He died in 1965.

Unforgettable w/Natalie Cole (1991):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdBKXdc4dgw

1948 in Music

1948 witnessed several important technical innovations in the recording industry. Columbia Records introduced the 33 1/3 LP, which could hold 25 minutes a side as opposed to four minutes on the standard 78. Patti Page becomes the first person to use multi-track overdubbing. Perry Como televised his first television Christmas special.

Songs of 1948:

Twelfth Street Rag by Pee Wee Hunt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SstMe2Th6Rg

I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover by Art Mooney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-_8XOrvTs

Nature Boy by Nat King Cole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq0XJCJ1Srw

Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9MLDhAOMXo

The Woody Woodpecker Song by Kay Kyser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc0Uytp0R3c

1946 in Music

Big Band music helped Americans through World War II.  The jazz scene dramatically changed the following year. Charlie Parker released “Ko-Ko” ushering in a revolution in jazz. The genre became less viable commercially and more artist driven. As a result, people gravitated toward pop and away from jazz. It was a defining moment that helped lead to rock n roll because pop was boring and Jazz unlistenable. On a side note,  B.B. King, Bill Haley, and Chet Atkins all began their careers in 1946.

Ko-Ko by Charlie Parker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZajJd-1kY

Prisoner of Love by Perry Como:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNPg_Rp0ws

Five Minutes More by Frank Sinatra:

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

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! By Vaughn Monroe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb3skLR0Bo

To Each His Own by the Ink Spots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pRarUQD3L8

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole:

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