Category Archives: 1955

1955

Mixes By Year: 1955 The Year In Music

1955

Chuck Berry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Sinatra_In The Wee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fats Domino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elvis Sun Sessions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LittleRichard-TuttiFrutti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What we now call the “Rock N’ Roll Era” for all intents and purposes begins in 1955. There had certainly been songs done in the rock n’ roll vein prior to ’55, particularly those done by black artists and confined to the R&B charts and radio stations. And 1954 saw the release of “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley & the Comets, which was the first big rock n’ roll hit, the first rock n’ roll song by a white artist and probably the first rockabilly hit as well. But 1955 is when the music really exploded onto the airwaves- when legends like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles & Bo Diddley first surfaced and Elvis Presley too, even if then just on a regional level.

Aside from rockabilly, the components that made up rock n’ roll- Doo Wop, country music and western swing & the blues had been going strong at least since the end of the previous decade. Because the Rock N’ Roll Era is no ‘Big Bang Theory’, plenty of these genres flourished throughout ’55 and many are now considered part of rock n’ roll’s pantheon. Doo Wop morphed from successful thirties and early forties vocal groups like the Ink Spots and the Miller Brothers into something more rhythmic, starting with songs like “Crying In The Chapel” by the Orioles in the late forties. By 1955 there were countless vocal groups having R&B hits and many even crossed over to the pop charts. Some were one hit wonders and others built longer careers. The best-known Doo Wop hit makers of 1955 were the Platters (of “Only You” and “The Great Pretender”), the Clovers (“Blue Velvet”), the Cadillacs (“Speedo”), the El Dorados (“At My Front Door” and “I’ll Be Forever Loving You”) and the Nutmegs (“Story Untold” and “Ship Of Love”). Gospel groups like Chicago’s Soul Stirrers, featuring soon to be soul music star Sam Cooke, were successful outside the reaches of the secular charts. Other black vocal groups like the Drifters, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters were vocal groups who were more similar to straight up rock n’ roll than to Doo-Wop.

Elvis Presley’s big breakthrough would come in 1956 with his first huge hit “Heartbreak Hotel”, but he was doing amazing and important work with Memphis’s Sun Records in 1954 and 1955. 1955 saw the release of tracks like “Mystery Train” and “Baby Let’s Play House” which are now considered rock n’ roll standards even if they were never actual hits. Presley helped invent the rockabilly sound, which was a mix of country music with the rhythmic beat of R&B. Sam Phillips, who ran Sun, had a stable of amazing artists. Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis wouldn’t release music as early as 1955, but others like Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins did. Perkins made rockabilly in the same vein as Presley. His career was cut short by an injury in the late 50’s and he never had Presley’s sex appeal but his recordings at the time were near uniformly great. Johnny Cash needs no introduction. He is one of the most important country artists of all time and is also considered a titan of early rock n’ roll. Though he wouldn’t have his first big hit until 1956, singles from 1955 like “Hey Porter” and “Cry, Cry, Cry” are among his best. Another huge country star, the legendary George Jones, released his first hits in 1955 as well included the great “Why, Baby, Why”. “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford is another enduring country classic from ’55, which also became a #1 pop hit.

Most Blues music didn’t cross over to the pop charts. Some of it hit the R&B charts in the mid 50’s and others remained mostly unknown, at least by the white crossover audience, until groups of 60’s British bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Animals & the Yardbirds made them widely known with their own covers. In 1955 Chess Records in Chicago was the preeminent Blues record label. Muddy Waters, Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter & Sonny Boy Williamson all recorded for Chess and released great music that year. Furthermore, Chess had signed the great Chuck Berry, perhaps rock n’ roll’s first great star. His songs “Maybelline” and “30 Days” were two of rock n’ roll’s early landmarks. Atlantic Records was also a key label for both blues and early soul. Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker were the labels biggest early stars. Charles, perhaps as early as 1955 with the huge hit “I’ve Got A Woman” began to craft what would become soul music.

Pop crooners were also a big deal in 1955. Frank Sinatra, released the first of his string of mid to late 50’s classic albums with the somber “In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning”, called the first concept album by some. Sinatra’s compadre Dean Martin had one of his biggest hits with “Memories Are Made Of This”. Silky, smooth jazz singer Chet Baker released his second album, which includes the wonderful “Let’s Get Lost” among others.

There was plenty of great music made prior to 1955 in Doo-Wop, Blues, Country & R&B, but 1955 is when it all seemed to come together to form something truly new. And from here on out things would get really interesting.

Mixes By Year: Best of 1955 Volume 1

Best of 1955 Volume 1 (9/4/02)

1.  Elvis Presley- Mystery Train

Buy Mystery Train (Remastered) Amazon

 

2.  Bo Diddley- Bo Diddley

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3.  Muddy Waters- Mannish Boy

Buy Mannish Boy (Single Version)Amazon

 

4.  Ray Charles- I’ve Got A Woman

Buy I’ve Got A Woman (Remastered Version) Amazon

 

5.  Chuck Berry- Maybelline

Buy MaybellineAmazon

 

6.  Little Willie John- Need Your Love So Bad

Buy Need Your Love So BadAmazon

 

7.  The Wrens- (Will You) Come Back My Love

Buy (Will You) Come Back My LoveAmazon

 

8.  The Platters- The Great Pretender

Buy The Great PretenderAmazon

 

9.  The El Dorados- At My Front Door

Buy At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)Amazon

 

10.  Fats Domino- Ain’t That A Shame

Buy Ain’t That A Shame? (2002 Digital Remaster) Amazon

 

11.  Johnny Cash- Cry, Cry, Cry

Buy Cry Cry CryAmazon

 

12.  George Jones- Why, Baby, Why

Buy Why Baby WhyAmazon

 

13. The Nutmegs- The Story Untold

Buy Story UntoldAmazon

 

14.  Sonny Boy Williamson- Don’t Start Me Talkin’

Buy Don’t Start Me To Talkin’Amazon

 

15.  Carl Perkins- Movie Magg

Buy Movie MaggAmazon

 

16. Billy “The Kid” Emerson- Red Hot

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17.  Little Richard- Tutti Frutti

Buy Tutti FruttiAmazon

 

18.  Big Joe Turner- Flip, Flop & Fly

Buy Flip, Flop And FlyAmazon

 

19.  The Cadillacs- Speedo

Buy SpeedoAmazon

 

20. Jimmy Reed- You Don’t Have To Go

Buy You Don’t Have To Go Amazon

 

21.  Lavern Baker- Tweedle Dee

Buy Tweedle DeeAmazon

 

22.  Ruth Brown- It’s Love (24 Hours A Day)

Buy It’s Love Baby (24 Hours A Day) Amazon

 

23.  Etta James & the Peaches- The Wallflower (Roll Me Henry)

Buy The Wallflower (Aka Roll With Me Henry) Amazon

 

24. The Robins- Smokey Joe’s Cafe

Buy Smokey Joe’s CafeAmazon

 

25. The Moonglows- Most Of All

Buy Most of All (Remastered)Amazon

 

26.  The Turbans- When You Dance

Buy When You DanceAmazon

 

27. The Drifters- Adorable

Buy Adorable (Single Version)Amazon

 

28.  The Clovers- Blue Velvet

Buy Blue VelvetAmazon

 

29.  Frank Sinatra- In The Wee Small Hours Of the Morning

Buy In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning Amazon

 

30.  Dean Martin- Memories Are Made Of This

Buy Memories Are Made Of This Amazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 1955 Volume 2

Best of 1955 Volume 2 (9/5/02)

1.  Chuck Berry- 30 Days

Buy Thirty DaysAmazon

 

2.  The Hearts- Lonely Nights

Buy Long Lonely NightsAmazon

 

3. Fats Domin0- All By Myself

Buy All By Myself (2002 Digital Remaster) Amazon

 

4.  Little Willie John- All Around The World

Buy All Around The WorldAmazon

 

5.  Ruth Brown- As Long As I’m Moving

Buy As Long As I’m Moving (LP Version)Amazon

 

6.  The Marigolds- Rollin’ Stone

Buy Rollin’ StoneAmazon

 

7.  Lightnin’ Hopkins- They Wonder Who I Am

Buy They Wonder Who I AmAmazon

 

8.  Bo Diddley- I’m a Man

Buy I’m A ManAmazon

 

9. The Drifters- What’cha Gonna Do

Buy What’ Cha Gonna DoAmazon

 

10.  Screamin’ Jay Hawkins- (She Put The) Wamee (On Me)

Buy She Put the Wammee On MeAmazon

 

11.  Lavern Baker- Play It Fair

Buy Play It Fair Amazon

 

12.  Muddy Waters- I Can’t Call Her Sugar (AKA Sugar Sweet)

Buy Sugar Sweet (1955 Single Version)Amazon

 

13.  Carl Perkins- Gone, Gone, Gone

Buy Gone Gone GoneAmazon

 

14.  Frank Sinatra- (Love Is) The Tender Trap

Buy (Love Is) The Tender Trap (2009 Remaster) Amazon

 

15. The Nutmegs- Ship Of Love

Buy Ship Of Love Amazon

 

16.  Johnny Cash- Hey Porter

Buy Hey! Porter – OriginalAmazon

 

17.  Ivory Joe Hunter- It May Sound Silly

Buy It May Sound Silly (Single/LP Version)Amazon

 

18.  The Five Keys- Close Your Eyes

Buy Close Your EyesAmazon

 

19.  Big Joe Turner- Hide And Seek

Buy Hide And Seek (LP Version)Amazon

 

20.  Elvis Presley- Baby Let’s Play House

Buy Baby, Let’s Play House (Remastered)Amazon

 

21.  Ray Charles- This Little Girl Of Mine

Buy This Little Girl Of Mine (Single)Amazon

 

22.  The El Dorados- I’ll Be Forever Loving You

Buy I’ll Be Forever Loving YouAmazon

 

23.  The Cardinals- The Door Is Open

Buy The Door Is Still OpenAmazon

 

24.  Red Prysock- Hand Clappin’

Buy Hand Clappin’Amazon

 

25.  The Danderliers- Chop Chop Boom

Buy Chop Chop BoomAmazon

 

26.  The Jacks- Why Don’t You Write Me

Buy Why Don’t You Write MeAmazon

 

27.  The Platters- Only You (And You Alone)

Buy Only You (And You Alone)Amazon

 

28.  The Colts- Adorable

Buy AdorableAmazon

 

29.  The Harptones- Life Is But A Dream

BuyLife Is But A DreamAmazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 1955 Volume 3

Best of 1955 Volume 3 (2/24/14)

1.  Lonnie Donegan- Rock Island Line

Buy Rock Island LineAmazon

 

2.  Tennessee Ernie Ford- Sixteen Tons

Buy Sixteen TonsAmazon

 

3.  Willie Mabon- Seventh Son

Buy Seventh SonAmazon

 

4.  Boyd Bennett- Seventeen

Buy SeventeenAmazon

 

5.  B.B. King- Ten Long Years

Buy Ten Long Years (Digitally Remastered) Amazon

 

6. Howlin’ Wolf- Forty Four

Buy Forty FourAmazon

 

7.  Little Walter- My Babe

Buy My Babe (Single Version) Amazon

 

8.  Robert Lockwood, Jr.- Sweet Woman (From Maine)

Buy Sweet Woman From MaineAmazon

 

9.  Bo Diddley- Pretty Thing

Buy Pretty ThingAmazon

 

10.  Little Willie John- Home At Last

Buy Home At LastAmazon

 

11.  Smiley Lewis- I Hear You Knockin’

Buy I Hear You Knockin’Amazon

 

12.  The Soul Stirrers- Nearer To Thee

Buy Nearer To TheeAmazon

 

13.  Don Julian & the Meadowlarks- Heaven & Paradise

Buy Heaven and ParadiseAmazon

 

14.  Muddy Waters- Trouble No More

Buy Trouble No More (Single Version)Amazon

 

15.  Ray Charles- A Fool For You

Buy A Fool For You (Single)Amazon

 

16.  The Hawkettes- Mardis Gras Mambo

Buy Mardi Gras Mambo Amazon

 

17.  Hank Ballard & the Midnighters- Henry’s Got Flat Feet (Can’t Dance No More)

Buy Henry’s Got Flat FeetAmazon

 

18.  Fats Domino- Poor Me

Buy Poor Me (2002 Digital Remaster)Amazon

 

19.  Little Milton- Lookin’ For My Baby

Buy Lookin’ For My Baby – OriginalAmazon

 

20.  Chet Baker- Let’s Get Lost

Buy Let’s Get LostAmazon

 

21.  Frank Sinatra- What Is This Thing Called Love

Buy What Is This Thing Called Love? Amazon

 

22.  Elvis Presley- You’re A Heartbreaker

Buy You’re A Heartbreaker (2004 DSD remaster) Amazon

 

23.  Jimmy Reed- I Ain’t Got You

Buy I Ain’t Got You Amazon

 

24.  The Valentines- Lily Maebelle

Buy Lily Maebelle Amazon

 

25. Nappy Brown- Don’t Be Angry

Buy Don’t Be AngryAmazon

 

26.  The Mellows (Feat. Lilian Leach)- Smoke From Your Cigarette

Buy Smoke From Your CigaretteAmazon

 

27.  Tony Allen & the Champs- Nite Owl

Buy Nite Owl Amazon

 

28.  Big Joe Turner- The Chicken & the Hawk

Buy The Chicken And The Hawk (Up, Up and Away (LP Version)Amazon

 

29.  The Robins- Whaddaya Want

*Track not available via Amazon