50s Music

When a baby boomer thinks about 50s music, the first thought is probably rock n roll. But rock n roll is really pretty distinct from other music of the 50s---in fact, rock evolved in large part because a young audience was bored with the softer stuff from earlier in the decade.

Early 50s music was smooth, sweet, and innocent - clean, wholesome songs that reflected the upbeat mood of an adult audience following World War II. Singers like Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, and Patti Page dominated the charts. But younger listeners - teenagers at the time - didn't relate to the post-war tunes in the same way. They wanted something more exciting - something that ROCKED!

Billboard Top Hits of the 50s

Fifties music is a combination of some softer stuff and true rock, where the former dominated the early years and rock dominated the latter part of the decade. According to Billboard Magazine, the chart-toppers were:

50s Music - 1950:

  1. Goodnight Irene - Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers
  2. Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole
  3. Third Man Theme - Anton Karas
  4. Sam's Song - Gary & Bing Crosby
  5. Simple Melody - Gary & Bing Crosby
  6. Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer
  7. Third Man Theme - Guy Lombardo
  8. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley
  9. Harbor Lights- Sammy Kaye
  10. It Isn't Fair - Sammy Kaye & Don Cornell
  11. If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked A Cake - Eileen Barton
  12. Bonaparte's Retreat - Kay Starr
  13. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena - Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers
  14. There's No Tomorrow - Tony Martin
  15. The Thing - Phil Harris
  16. Sentimental Me - Ames Brothers
  17. I Wanna Be Loved - Andrew Sisters & Gordon Jenkins
  18. Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
  19. I Can Dream Can't I - Andrew Sisters & Gordon Jenkins
  20. I'll Never Be Free - Tennessee Ernie Ford & Kay Starr

50s Music - 1951:

  1. Too Young - Nat King Cole
  2. Because Of You - Tony Bennett
  3. How High The Moon - Les Paul And Mary Ford
  4. Come On-A My House - Rosemary Clooney
  5. Be My Love - Mario Lanza
  6. On Top Of Old Smokey - Weavers
  7. Cold Cold Heart - Tony Bennett
  8. If - Perry Como
  9. Loveliest Night Of The Year - Mario Lanza
  10. Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
  11. Jezebel - Frankie Laine
  12. I Get Ideas - Tony Martin
  13. Mockin' Bird Hill - Les Paul & Mary Ford
  14. Mockingbird Hill - Patti Page
  15. My Heart Cries For You - Guy Mitchell & Mitch Miller
  16. (It's No) Sin - Eddy Howard
  17. Sound Off - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
  18. Sweet Violets - Dinah Shore
  19. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise - Les Paul & Mary Ford
  20. My Truly, Truly Fair - Guy Mitchell & Mitch Miller

50s Music - 1952:

  1. Blue Tango - Leroy Anderson
  2. Wheel Of Fortune - Kay Starr
  3. Cry - Johnnie Ray
  4. You BelongTo Me - Jo Stafford
  5. Auf Weiderseh'n Sweetheart - Vera Lynn
  6. I Went To Your Wedding - Patti Page
  7. Half As Much - Rosemary Clooney
  8. Wish You Were Here - Eddie Fisher
  9. Here In My Heart - Al Martino
  10. Delicado - Percy Faith
  11. Kiss Of Fire - Georgia Gibbs
  12. Any Time - Eddie Fisher
  13. Tell Me Why - Four Aces
  14. Blacksmith Blues - Ella Mae Morse
  15. Jambalaya - Jo Stafford
  16. Botch-a-me - Rosemary Clooney
  17. A Guy Is A Guy - Doris Day
  18. The Little White Cloud That Cried - Johnnie Ray
  19. High Noon - Frankie Laine
  20. I'm Yours - Eddie Fisher

50s Music - 1953:

  1. Song From Moulin Rouge - Percy Faith
  2. You, You, You - Ames Brothers
  3. Doggie In The Window - Patti Page
  4. I'm Walking Behind You - Eddie Fisher
  5. Vaya Con Dios - Les Paul & Mary Ford
  6. Till I Waltz Again With You - Teresa Brewer
  7. Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - Perry Como
  8. No Other Love - Perry Como
  9. April In Portugal - Les Baxter
  10. I Believe - Frankie Laine
  11. Oh - Pee Wee Hunt
  12. Ebb Tide - Frank Chacksfield
  13. Pretend - Nat King Cole
  14. Ruby - Richard Hayman
  15. St. George And The Dragonet - Stan Freberg
  16. Anna - Silvana Mangano
  17. Tell Me You're Mine - Gaylords
  18. Eh Cumpari - Julius La Rosa
  19. Rags To Riches - Tony Bennett
  20. P.S. I Love - Hilltoppers

50s Music - 1954:

  1. Little Things Mean A Lot - Kitty Kallen
  2. Wanted - Perry Como
  3. Hey There - Rosemary Clooney
  4. Sh Boom - Crew Cuts
  5. Make Love To Me - Jo Stafford
  6. Oh! My Pa-pa - Eddie Fisher
  7. I Get So Lonely - Four Knights
  8. Three Coins in the Fountain - Four Aces
  9. Secret Love - Doris Day
  10. Hernando's Hideaway - Archie Bleyer
  11. Young At Heart - Frank Sinatra
  12. This Ole House - Rosemary Clooney
  13. I Need You Now - Eddie Fisher
  14. Cross Over The Bridge - Patti Page
  15. Little Shoemaker - Gaylords Three Friends
  16. That's Amore - Dean Martin
  17. Happy Wanderer - Frank Weir
  18. Answer Me - Nat King Cole
  19. Stranger in Paradise - Tony Bennett
  20. If I Give My Heart - Doris Day

50s Music - 1955:

  1. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado
  2. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
  3. The Yellow Rose Of Texas - Mitch Miller
  4. Autumn Leaves - Roger Williams
  5. Unchained Melody - Les Baxter
  6. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes
  7. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing - Four Aces
  8. Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
  9. Ain't That A Shame - Pat Boone
  10. Dance With Me Henry - Georgia Gibbs
  11. Crazy Otto Medley I & II - Crazy Otto
  12. Melody Of Love - Billy Vaughn
  13. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
  14. Learnin' The Blues - Frank Sinatra
  15. Hearts Of Stone - Fontane Sisters
  16. Tweedle Dee - Georgia Gibbs
  17. Moments To Remember - Four Lads
  18. Mr. Sandman - Chordettes
  19. Let Me Go Lover - Joan Weber
  20. A Blossom Fell - Nat King Cole

50s Music - 1956:

  1. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis
  2. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis
  3. Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
  4. My Prayer - Platters
  5. The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant
  6. Hound Dog - Elvis
  7. The Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
  8. Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera) - Doris Day
  9. Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
  10. Rock and Roll Waltz - Kay Starr
  11. Moonglow and Theme From 'Picnic' - Morris Stoloff
  12. The Great Pretender - Platters
  13. I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone
  14. I Want You I Need You I Love You - Elvis
  15. Love Me Tender - Elvis
  16. Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity) - Perry Como
  17. Canadian Sunset - Hugo Winterhalter-Eddie Heywood
  18. Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
  19. The Green Door - Jim Lowe
  20. No Not Much - Four Lads

50s Music - 1957:

  1. All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
  2. Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone
  3. Little Darlin' - Diamonds
  4. Young Love - Tab Hunter
  5. So Rare - Jimmy Dorsey with Artie Malvin Singers
  6. Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone
  7. Singing the Blues - Guy Mitchell
  8. Young Love - Sonny James
  9. Too Much - Elvis Presley
  10. Round and Round - Perry Como
  11. Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers
  12. Tammy - Debbie Reynolds
  13. Party Doll - Buddy Knox
  14. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley
  15. Banana Boat (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte
  16. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
  17. A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation) - Marty Robbins
  18. Come Go with Me - Dell-Vikings
  19. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
  20. You Send Me - Sam Cooke

50s Music - 1958:

  1. Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugo
  2. All I Have to Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
  3. Don't - Elvis
  4. Witch Doctor - David Seville
  5. Patricia - Perez Prado
  6. Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
  7. Catch a Falling Star - Perry Como
  8. Tequila - Champs
  9. It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards
  10. Return to Me - Dean Martin
  11. It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
  12. The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wolley
  13. Bird Dog - Everly Brothers
  14. Get a Job - Silhouettes
  15. Little Star - Elegants
  16. Twilight Time - Platters
  17. Stood Up - Ricky Nelson
  18. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands - Laurie London
  19. Secretly - Jimmie Rodgers
  20. At the Hop - Danny and the Jrs

50s Music - 1959:

  1. Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton
  2. Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
  3. Personality - Lloyd Price
  4. Venus - Frankie Avalon
  5. Lonely Boy - Paul Anka
  6. Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
  7. Three Bells - Browns
  8. Come Sofly to Me - Fleetwoods
  9. Kansas City - Wilber Harrison
  10. Mr Blue - Fleetwoods
  11. Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny
  12. Put Your Head on my Sholders - Paul Anka
  13. Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
  14. Donna - Ritchie Valens
  15. Pink Shoe Laces - Dodie Stevens
  16. Smoke Gets in your Eyes - Platters
  17. Charlie Brown - Coasters
  18. Quiet Village - Martin Denny
  19. My Heart is an Open Book - Carl Dobkins Jr/li>
  20. 'Til I Kissed You - Everly Brothers

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