Hit Songs of the 1950s - James Maguire: Journalist, Author, Raconteur

Mellow Crooners to the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll

The 1950s, presumably quiet, was a time of galvanic transition. Toward the decade’s end, a cohort of gooey old school crooners gave way to a much edgier sound – rock ‘n roll.

Hit Songs of 1950

A mellow year, indeed. The pop music of 1950 had an essentially backward-looking feel, with Big Band stars like Sammy Kaye and Guy Lombardo scoring hugely on the charts. Also faring well was Bing Crosby – and Der Bingle had been America’s star since the early 1930s.

30. Would I Love You, Patti Page
29. The Thing, Phil Harris
28. Undecided, Ames Brothers & Les Brown
27. You’re Just In Love, Perry Como
26. Because Of You, Les Baxter
25. I Apologize, Billy Eckstine
24. (It’s No) Sin, Four Aces & Al Alberta
23. Rose, Rose I Love You, Frankie Laine
22. Aba Daba Honeymoon, Debbie Reynolds & Carlton Carpenter
21. Down Yonder, Del Wood
20. I Get Ideas, Tony Martin
19. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise, Les Paul & Mary Ford
18. Sweet Violets, Dinah Shore
17. Sound Off, Vaughn Monroe
16. (It’s No) Sin, Eddy Howard
15. My Heart Cries For You, Guy Mitchell & Mitch Miller
14. Mockin’ Bird Hill, Patti Page
13. Mockin’ Bird Hill, Les Paul & Mary Ford
12. My Truly, Truly Fair, Guy Mitchell & Mitch Miller
11. Jezebel, Frankie Laine
10. Tennessee Waltz, Patti Page
9. Loveliest Night Of The Year, Mario Lanza
8. Be My Love, Mario Lanza
7. Cold, Cold Heart, Tony Bennett
6. On Top Of Old Smoky, Weavers
5. If, Perry Como
4. How High The Moon, Les Paul & Mary Ford
3. Come On-a My House, Rosemary Clooney
2. Because Of You, Tony Bennett
1. Too Young, Nat King Cole

Hit Songs of 1951

A big year for dulcet-toned crooner Nat King Cole, a rare black presence on the radio who was so butterscotch smooth he offended no one. Also thrilling audiences were the easy-listening jazz-pop sounds of Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney (Rosemary had a son named George, who became an actor).

Hit Songs of 1952

Hit singer Johnnie Ray was so over-the-top histrionic that he’s sometimes called the first rock singer, but his style owed more to tuneful R&B than rock – some call him the “missing link” between Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Ray could (and would) sob onstage to great effect, and his big hits this year were “Cry” and “The Little White Cloud That Cried.”

30. I’ll Walk Alone, Don Cornell
29. Trying, Hilltoppers
28. Tell Me Why, Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter
27. Please, Mr. Sun, Johnnie Ray
26. I’m Yours, Don Cornell
25. Glow Worm, Mills Brothers
24. Walkin’ My Baby Back Home, Johnnie Ray
23. Slow Poke, Pee Wee King
22. It’s In The Book, Johnny Standley
21. Meet Mr. Callaghan, Les Paul
20. A Guy Is A Guy, Doris Day
19. High Noon, Frankie Laine
18. The Little White Cloud That Cried, Johnnie Ray
17. I’m Yours, Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter
16. Botch-a-me, Rosemary Clooney
15. Jambalaya, Jo Stafford
14. Blacksmith Blues, Ella Mae Morse
13. Tell Me Why, Four Aces
12. Any Time, Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter
11. Kiss Of Fire, Georgia Gibbs
10. Delicado, Percy Faith
9. Here In My Heart, Al Martino
8. I Went To Your Wedding, Patti Page
7. Wish You Were Here, Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter
6. You Belong To Me, Jo Stafford
5. Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart, Vera Lynn
4. Half As Much, Rosemary Clooney
3. Wheel Of Fortune, Kay Starr
2. Cry, Johnnie Ray
1. Blue Tango, Leroy Anderson

Hit Songs of 1953

A great year for the sanguine stylings of vocalist Eddie Fisher, whom Coca-Cola offered the unheard of sum of $1 milion to be its corporate spokesman. Beloved by teens and older folks alike, the pleasant-voiced tenor scored thirty-five songs in the Top 40 between 1950 and 1956. Along the way he would have five wives, including Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds. Also doing well this year were the immortal Les Paul, the guitarist and recording studio innovator (one of the first to use multi-track recording), and the demure sex kitten singer Theresa Brewer.

30. Tell Me A Story, Frankie Laine & Jimmy Boyd
29. C’est Si Bon, Eartha Kitt
28. With These Hands, Eddie Fisher
27. Limelight (Terry’s Theme), Frank Chacksfield
26. Say You’re Mine Again, Perry Como
25. Why Don’t You Believe Me, Joni James
24. Crying In The Chapel, June Valli
23. Have You Heard?, Joni James
22. Dragnet, Ray Anthony
21. Your Cheating Heart, Joni James
20. P.S.: I Love You, Hilltoppers
19. Rags To Riches, Tony Bennett
18. Eh Cumpari, Julius La Rosa
17. Tell Me You’re Mine, Gaylords
16. Anna, Silvano Mangano
15. St. George And The Dragonet, Stan Freberg
14. Ruby, Richard Hayman
13. Pretend, Nat King Cole
12. Ebb Tide, Frank Chacksfield
11. Oh, Pee Wee Hunt
10. I Believe, Frankie Laine
9. April In Portugal, Les Baxter
8. No Other Love, Perry Como
7. Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes, Perry Como
6. Till I Waltz Again With You, Teresa Brewer
5. Vaya Con Dios, Les Paul & Mary Ford
4. I’m Walking Behind You, Eddie Fisher
3. Doggie In The Window, Patti Page
2. You, You, You, Ames Brothers
1. Song From Moulin Rouge, Percy Faith

Hit Songs of 1954

Ah, to be an American in 1954. Throw a steak on the grill, stir a chilled Martini, and enjoy endless white-picket-fence prosperity. On the Hi-Fi this year were Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, and – for the youngsters – the Crew Cuts, trilling “Sh-Boom.” Skies were blue and worries were none. (Except, of course, for the rows of A-bombs the Ruskies had aimed at us, the fact that Black Americans couldn’t vote and women were hardly allowed in the workplace – but if you don’t talk about it, it’s not a problem, right?)

30. Here, Tony Martin
29. Stranger In Paradise, Four Aces
28. Rags To Riches, Tony Bennett
27. If You Love Me (Really Love Me), Kay Starr
26. Shake, Rattle And Roll, Bill Haley & His Comets
25. Papa Loves Mambo, Perry Como
24. Changing Partners, Patti Page
23. Hold My Hand, Don Cornell
22. Skokiaan, Ralph Marterie
21. In The Chapel In The Moonlight, Kitty Kallen
20. Stranger In Paradise, Tony Bennett
19. If I Give My Heart To You, Doris Day
18. Answer Me My Love, Nat King Cole
17. The Happy Wanderer, Frank Weir
16. Hernando’s Hideaway, Archie Bleyer
15. The Little Shoemaker, Gaylords
14. Cross Over The Bridge, Patti Page
13. I Need You Now, Eddie Fisher
12. This Ole House, Rosemary Clooney
11. Young At Heart, Frank Sinatra
10. That’s Amore, Dean Martin
9. Secret Love, Doris Day
8. Three Coins In The Fountain, Four Aces
7. I Get So Lonely, Four Knights
6. Oh! My Pa-pa, Eddie Fisher
5. Make Love To Me, Jo Stafford
4. Sh-Boom, Crew Cuts
3. Little Things Mean A Lot, Kitty Kallen
2. Wanted, Perry Como
1. Hey There, Rosemary Clooney

Hit Songs of 1955

Proving that the mid 1950s was a simpler time, scoring a big hit this year was “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (“Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”). Also selling truckloads of singles were the sleep-inducing piano stylings of Roger Williams, and the whole milk vocals of Pat Boone. But wait – what’s that clattering racket? Oh, goodness, the teenagers are buying records! The proof: the phenomenal success of “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets.

30. It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie, Somethin’ Smith & The Redheads
29. That’s All I Want From You, Jaye P. Morgan
28. Only You, Platters
27. The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane, Ames Brothers
26. Unchained Melody, Al Hibbler
25. Ko Ko Mo, Perry Como
24. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett, Tennessee Ernie Ford
23. Honey Babe, Art Mooney
22. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett, Fess Parker
21. Hard To Get, Gisele Mackenzie
20. Mr. Sandman, Chordettes
19. Let Me Go Lover, Joan Weber
18. A Blossom Fell, Nat King Cole
17. Moments To Remember, Four Lads
16. Tweedle Dee, Georgia Gibbs
15. Hearts Of Stone, Fontaine Sisters
14. Learnin’ The Blues, Frank Sinatra
13. Crazy Otto Medley I & 11, Crazy Otto
12. Sincerely, McGuire Sisters
11. Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford
10. Dance With Me Henry, Georgia Gibbs
9. Ain’t That A Shame, Pat Boone
8. Melody Of Love, Billy Vaughn
7. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, Four Aces
6. The Yellow Rose Of Texas, Mitch Miller
5. Unchained Melody, Les Baxter
4. Autumn Leaves, Roger Williams
3. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett, Bill Hayes
2. Rock Around The Clock, Bill Haley & His Comets
1. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White, Perez Prado

Hit Songs of 1956

This would be one of the great transition years in American pop music. Dominating the charts was the untamed hellfire shout-outs of Elvis Presley, not to mention the R&B-flavored pop of Fats Domino and the Platters. But plenty of the old guard chaperoned these young rebels: Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Perry Como, and the always-pleasant Ames Brothers. Still, 1956 was the year that rock ‘n’ roll stood up and demanded to take over the pop charts.

50. Long Tall Sally, Little Richard
49. The Fool, Stanford Clark
48. It Only Hurts For A Little While, Ames Brothers
47. Transfusion, Norvus Nevous
46. Sweet Old Fashioned Girl, Teresa Brewer
45. Rock Island Line, Lonnie Donegan
44. True Love, Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
43. The Happy Whistler, Don Robertson
42. A Tear Fell, Teresa Brewer
41. Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino
40. Singing The Blues, Guy Mitchell
39. More, Perry Como
38. Band Of Gold, Don Cherry
37. Born To Be With You, Chordettes
36. Magic Touch, Platters
35. On The Street Where You Live, Vic Damone
34. I’ll Be Home, Pat Boone
33. See You Later Alligator, Bill Haley & His Comets
32. Ivory Tower, Cathy Carr
31. Moonglow And Theme From Picnic, George Cates
30. The Flying Saucer, Buchanan & Goodman
29. Standing On The Corner, Four Lads
28. Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
27. Be-bop-a-lula, Gene Vincent
26. Tonight You Belong To Me, Patience & Prudence

Hit Songs of 1957

On one side, the mellow-voiced status quo heavyweights: Perry Como, Pat Boone, and Johnny Mathis. On the other, the fresh-voiced gate crashers: Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, and Chuck Berry. Who’s going to win?

Hit Songs of 1958

50. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter, Billy Williams
49. Whispering Bells, Dell-Vikings
48. Rainbow, Russ Hamilton
47. Mr. Lee, Bobbettes
46. Old Cape Cod, Patti Page
45. Blue Monday, Fats Domino
44. The Green Door, Jim Lowe
43. Short Fat Fanny, Larry Williams
42. Be-bop Baby, Ricky Nelson
41. Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino
40. Send For Me, Nat King Cole
39. Chances Are, Johnny Mathis
38. I’m Walkin’, Fats Domino
37. Marianne, Terry Gilkyson
36. Butterfly, Andy Williams
35. Silhouettes, Rays
34. It’s Not For Me To Say, Johnny Mathis
33. Teenage Crush, Tommy Sands
32. Moonlight Gambler, Frankie Laine
31. Butterfly, Charlie Gracie
30. That’ll Be The Day, Crickets
29. Dark Moon, Gale Storm
28. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Jerry Lee Lewis
27. Honeycomb, Jimmie Rodgers
26. The Banana Boat Song, Tarriers
25. A Teenager’s Romance, Ricky Nelson
24. Diana, Paul Anka
23. Gone, Ferlin Husky
22. School Day, Chuck Berry
21. Searchin’, Coasters
20. Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley
19. Wake Up Little Susie, Everly Brothers
18. Come Go With Me, Dell-vikings
17. A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation), Marty Robbins
16. You Send Me, Sam Cooke
15. Banana Boat (Day-O), Harry Belafonte
14. Teddy Bear / Loving You, Elvis Presley
13. Party Doll, Buddy Knox
12. Tammy, Debbie Reynolds
11. Love Letters In The Sand, Pat Boone
10. Young Love, Tab Hunter
9. Too Much, Elvis Presley
8. Young Love, Sonny James
7. Singing The Blues, Guy Mitchell
6. Don’t Forbid Me, Pat Boone
5. So Rare, Jimmy Dorsey
4. Round And Round, Perry Como
3. Little Darlin’, Diamonds
2. Bye Bye Love, Everly Brothers
1. All Shook Up, Elvis Presley

Hit Songs of 1959

With Elvis in the Army, the teen sound grew all mushy, as a well-coifed set of teen idols took over America. The younger set was thrilled and lulled by the saccharine sounds of Bobby Darin, Frankie Avalon, and Paul Anka. That raucous rock noise, it appeared, had been just a passing fad. But artists like Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson revealed that something new was still on the way.

100. Kissin’ Time, Bobby Rydell
99. In The Mood, Ernie Fields Orchestra
98. Bongo Rock, Preston Epps
97. Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
96. Take A Message To Mary, Everly Brothers
95. Baby Talk, Jan & Dean
94. Morgen, Ivo Robic
93. My Wish Came True, Elvis Presley
92. (Seven Little Girls) Sitting In The Back Seat, Paul Evans & The Curls
91. Manhattan Spiritual, Reg Owens Orch
90. That’s Why, Jackie Wilson
89. Sea Cruise, Frankie Ford
88. A Boy Without A Girl, Frankie Avalon
87. Heartaches By The Number, Guy Mitchell
86. Endlessly, Brook Benton
85. You’re So Fine, Falcons
84. Goodbye, Jimmy, Goodbye, Kathy Linden
83. It Was I, Skip & Flip
82. Sweeter Than You, Ricky Nelson
81. So Fine, Fiestas
80. Three Stars, Tommy Dee & Carol Kay
79. Along Came Jones, Coasters
78. Goodbye Baby, Jack Scott
77. Just A Little Too Much, Ricky Nelson
76. The Tijuana Jail, Kingston Trio
75. Tall Paul, Annette
74. Petite Fleur, Chris Barber’s Jazz Band
73. It’s Late, Ricky Nelson
72. I Only Have Eyes For You, Flamingos
71. A Lover’s Question, Clyde Mcphatter
70. Deck Of Cards, Wink Martindale
69. Bobby Sox To Stockings, Frankie Avalon
68. I Want To Walk You Home, Fats Domino
67. The Chipmunk Song, David Seville & The Chipmunks
66. Peter Gunn Theme, Ray Anthony
65. Since I Don’t Have You, Skyliners
64. Enchanted, Platters
63. I Cried A Tear, Lavern Baker
62. I’ve Had It, The Bell Notes
61. Frankie, Connie Francis
60. Tell Him No, Travis & Bob
59. Just Ask Your Heart, Frankie Avalon
58. Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson
57. Forty Miles Of Bad Road, Duane Eddy
56. Hawaiian Wedding Song, Andy Williams
55. Turn Me Loose, Fabian
54. Poison Ivy, Coasters
53. Gotta Travel On, Billy Grammer
52. Only You, Franck Pourcel
51. Broken-hearted Melody, Sarah Vaughan
50. What’d I Say, Ray Charles
49. Lonely Street, Andy Williams
48. Alvin’s Harmonica, David Seville & The Chipmunks
47. The All American Boy, Bill Parsons
46. Primrose Lane, Jerry Wallace
45. What A Diff’rence A Day Makes, Dinah Washington
44. I Need Your Love Tonight, Elvis Presley
43. Don’t You Know, Della Reese
42. Never Be Anyone Else But You, Ricky Nelson
41. Tiger, Fabian
40. Talahassee Lassie, Freddie Cannon
39. My Happiness Connie Francis
38. Tragedy, Thomas Wayne
37. Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb), Edward Burns & Connie Stevens
36. Teen Beat, Sandy Nelson
35. Guitar Boogie Shuffle, The Virtues
34. (Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I, Elvis Presley
33. Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly), Sammy Turner
32. Waterloo, Stonewall Jackson
31. Red River Rock, Johnny & The Hurricanes
30. A Big Hunk O’ Love, Elvis Presley
29. There Goes My Baby, Drifters
28. Lipstick On Your Collar, Connie Francis
27. It’s Just A Matter Of Time, Brook Benton
26. 16 Candles, Crests
25. A Teenager In Love, Dion & The Belmonts
24. Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home), Impalas
23. I’m Gonna Get Married, Lloyd Price
22. The Happy Organ, Dave “Baby” Cortez
21. Sea Of Love, Phil Phillips & The Twilights
20. Pink Shoelaces, Dodie Stevens
19. My Heart Is An Open Book, Carl Dobkins Jr.
18. Quiet Village, Martin Denny
17. Charuk Brown, Coasters
16. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Platters
15. (‘Til) I Kissed You, Everly Brothers
14. Donna, Ritchie Valens
13. Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price
12. Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Paul Anka
11. Sleep Walk, Santo & Johnny
10. Dream Lover, Bobby Darin
9. Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison
8. Come Softly To Me, Fleetwoods
7. The Three Bells, Browns
6. Mr. Blue, Fleetwoods
5. Lonely Boy, Paul Anka
4. Venus, Frankie Avalon
3. Personality, Lloyd Price
2. The Battle Of New Orleans, Johnny Horton
1. Mack The Knife, Bobby Dari