Welcome my friends to the thread about the best 100 songs of the 1950s according to Acclaimed Music Forum.



The rock & roll era? Of course, rock & roll will define forever the music of the 1950s, but there was a lot of great music on other styles too. The best names of cool jazz, vocal, rhythm & blues, country, chanson, blues, hard bop, big band, doo wop, gospel, bluegrass or even avant-garde are going to pass on parade in front of you right now. Hope you enjoy the show.
Only one thing before launching the parade, the artists with more songs nominated are Hank Williams with 8 songs and Elvis Presley with 7 (Chuck Berry is a distant 3 with 4 songs nominated). Do you want to know who is going to win the battle? Stay tuned till the end and you will find out...


So... lest’s begin with positions 100-81


100. Nat "King" Cole - Mona Lisa



Points: 266
Biggest fans: Henrik (#72), Listyguy (#74), Miguel (#75)
Position in AM 3000: #149 of the 1950s and #1657 of all time
Position in 1950 poll: #10
Style: Traditional Pop
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston
Recorded by Nat "King" Cole with Orchestra conducted by Lex Baxter on March 11, 1950 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Released in May of 1950 on Capitol label

Comments: nicolas: "IMO Nat King Cole was much more interesting when he played with his jazz-R&B trio."

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99. Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle and Roll



Points: 284
Biggest fans: Mindrocker (#38 ), Henry (#43), Henrik and nicolas (#65)
Position in AM 3000: #22 of the 1950s and #154 of all time
Position in 1954 poll: #8
Style: Rhythm & Blues
Written by Charles E. Calhoun
Recorded by Big Joe Turner and His Blues Kings on February 15, 1954 in New York
Released in April of 1954 on Atlantic label

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98. Webb Pierce - There Stands the Glass



Points: 295
Biggest fans: nicolas (#41), Honorio (#57), Listyguy and Mindrocker (#64)
Position in AM 3000: #137 of the 1950s and #1516 of all time
Position in 1953 poll: #7
Style: Honky Tonk
Written by Russ Hull, Mary Jean Shurtz and Audrey Greisham
Recorded by Webb Pierce in 1953 in Nashville, Tenessee
Released in September of 1953 on Decca US label

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97. Nat "King" Cole - Unforgettable



Points: 302
Biggest fans: Henrik (#25), Henry (#32), Miguel (#59)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1951 poll: #8
Style: Traditional Pop
Written by Irving Gordon
Recorded by Nat "King" Cole with Orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle on August 17, 1951
Released in October of 1951 on Capitol label

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96. John Cage - 4'33"



Points: 313
Biggest fans: Honorio (#23), Charlie Driggs (#25), sonofsamiam (#54)
Position in AM 3000: #144 of the 1950s and #1580 of all time
Position in 1952 poll: #9
Style: Minimalism
Written by John Cage
Premiered by David Tudor on August 29, 1952 at Woodstock, New York

Comments: nicolas: "Insufficient"

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95. Harry Belafonte - Banana Boat (Day-O)



Points: 314
Biggest fans: Miguel (#32), Brad (#46), Henrik (#58 )
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1956 poll: #10
Style: Calypso
Written by traditional Jamaican folk song, adapted by Irving Burgie
Recorded by Harry Belafonte on October 20, 1955 at Webster Hall, New York
Released in December of 1956 on RCA Victor label

Comments: nicolas: "Sad that the only calypso song here is this watered-down, Hollywood performance. Not that I blame Mr. Belafonte, he was a good man, but the original was so much better, funnier, full of great social commentary. But far less known. That's the bias of this game."

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94. The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)



Points: 315
Biggest fans: Henry (#18 ), Listyguy (#25), Alex D (#41)
Position in AM 3000: #47 of the 1950s and #371 of all time
Position in 1954 poll: #5
Style: Doo Wop
Written by Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge
Recorded by The Penguins in October 1954 in Los Angeles, California
Released in 1954 on Doo Tone label

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93. Hank Williams - Take These Chains from My Heart



Points: 320
Biggest fans: Miguel (#26), nicolas (#32), sonofsamiam (#53)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1953 poll: #6
Style: Honky Tonk
Written by Fred Rose and Hy Heath
Recorded by Hank Williams with his Drifting Cowboys on September 23, 1952 at Castle Studio in Nashville, Tenessee
Released in April 1953 on MGM label

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92. Fats Domino - Going to the River



Points: 321
Biggest fans: Brad (#33), Honorio and Listyguy (#50)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1953 poll: #8
Style: New Orleans R&B
Written by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino
Recorded by Fats Domino in December 1952
Released in April 1953 on Imperial label

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91. Professor Longhair - Tipitina



Points: 324
Biggest fans: Charlie Driggs and Mindrocker (#26), Henry (#41)
Position in AM 3000: #148 of the 1950s and #1654 of all time
Position in 1954 poll: #9
Style: New Orleans R&B
Written by Roy Byrd
Recorded by Professor Longhair and His Blues Scholars in November 1953 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Released in January 1954 on Atlantic label

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90. The Orioles - Crying in the Chapel



Points: 327
Biggest fans: Henry (#21), Miguel (#44), Henrik (#46)
Position in AM 3000: #67 of the 1950s and #669 of all time
Position in 1953 poll: #3
Style: Doo Wop
Written by Artie Glenn
Recorded by The Orioles in June 1953
Released in July 1953 on Jubilee label

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89. Hank Williams - Hey, Good Lookin'



Points: 331
Biggest fans: Miguel (#18 ), Charlie Driggs (#30), nicolas (#38 )
Position in AM 3000: #91 of the 1950s and #959 of all time
Position in 1951 poll: #1
Style: Country
Written by Hank Williams
Recorded by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys on March 16, 1951 at Castle Studio, Nashville, Tenessee
Released in June 1951 on MGM label

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88. Charlie Parker - Bloomdido



Points: 331
Biggest fans: sonofsamiam (#28 ), Henry (#39), Charlie Driggs and Honorio (#41)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1950 poll: #8
Style: Bebop
Written by Charlie Parker
Recorded by Charlie Parker and His Orchestra (Charlie Parker, alto sax; Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Thelonious Monk, piano; Buddy Rich, drums; Curly Russel, bass) on June 6, 1950 in New York
Released in 1950 on Mercury label

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87. Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet)



Points: 340
Biggest fans: Miguel (#1), Listyguy (#41), Henry (#46)
Position in AM 3000: #57 of the 1950s and #543 of all time
Position in 1957 poll: #9
Style: Rhythm & Blues
Written by Berry Gordy and Tyran Carlo
Recorded by Jackie Wilson in 1957
Released in October 1957 on Brunswick label

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86. Édith Piaf - Padam Padam...



Points: 343
Biggest fans: Honorio (#25), sonofsamiam (#36), Brad (#37)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1951 poll: #8
Style: Chanson
Written by Henri Contet and Norbert Glanzberg
Recorded by Édith Piaf with orchestra conducted by Robert Chauvigny in 1951
Released in 1951 on Columbia label

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85. Pérez Prado - Mambo No. 5



Points: 347
Biggest fans: Miguel (#33), Charlie Driggs (#36), Honorio (#44)
Position in AM 3000: bubbling under
Position in 1950 poll: #7
Style: Mambo
Written by Dámaso Pérez Prado
Recorded by the Pérez Prado Orchestra on December 12, 1949 in Mexico City
Released in 1950 on RCA Victor label

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84. Jimmy Forrest - Night Train



Points: 348
Biggest fans: Charlie Driggs (#9), sonofsamiam (#51), Mindrocker (#52)
Position in AM 3000: #108 of the 1950s and #1152 of all time
Position in 1952 poll: #5
Style: Rhythm & Blues
Written by Oscar Washington, Lewis P. Simpkins and Jimmy Forrest
Recorded by Jimmy Forest, tenor and All Star Combo on November 27, 1952
Released in March 1952 on United label

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83. The Chordettes - Mr. Sandman



Points: 349
Biggest fans: Listyguy (#31), Miguel (#38 ), Brad (#44)
Position in AM 3000: #136 of the 1950s and #1513 of all time
Position in 1954 poll: #4
Style: Vocal Group
Written by Pat Ballard
Recorded by The Chordettes with knees played by Archie Bleyer and orchestra conducted by Archie Bleyer in 1954
Released in October 1954 on Cadence label

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82. Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy



Points: 351
Biggest fans: Brad (#19), Listyguy (#44), nicolas (#48 )
Position in AM 3000: #48 of the 1950s and #382 of all time
Position in 1952 poll: #6
Style: Rhythm & Blues
Written by Lloyd Price
Recorded by Lloyd Price and his Orchestra in March 1952 at Specialty Records studio in New Orleans
Released in April 1952 on Specialty label

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81. Boris Vian - Le déserteur



Points: 352
Biggest fans: nicolas (#13), Charlie Driggs (#15), Miguel (#49)
Position in AM 3000: not listed
Position in 1955 poll: #10
Style: Chanson
Written by Boris Vian on February 1954, first published on May 7, 1954 and first recorded by Mouloudji
Recorded by Boris Vian avec Jimmy Walter et son ensemble in 1955
Released in 1955 on Philips label (as part of the EP "Chansons possibles")

Comments: nicolas: "Best anti-war song ? At least a strong contender. My 6-yr old daughter loves it and in the beginning it even made her cry ! Papa, war is so sad !!! Sometimes a child just reminds you of essential things. And the cynical can laugh (f… them).."

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