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Post by jk on Jun 17, 2022 16:30:38 GMT -5
This is a topic title from an earlier defunct forum (where I gave every decade a thread of its own). The 1950s occupy a special place in my affections, as this was the decade of my pre-teen years when I steadily became aware of this thing called pop music. Since then, I've discovered that it consisted of far more than just the rock and roll that made my parents turn the radio off. (I'd love to hear what others here think are great records from that decade.) All the same, it was my recent rediscovery of Sonny Burgess's "Red Headed Woman", described as being one of "the most raucous, energy-filled recordings released during the first flowering of rock and roll", that prompted me to launch this thread:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Burgess |
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Post by jk on Jun 18, 2022 7:50:17 GMT -5
It's inevitable that threads like this retread old ground from other topics. I'm sure I must have linked this one to within an inch of its life over the years -- it's even embedded in my signature, in the letters Musizi -- but if any record represents a peak in '50s pop creativity, surely it's "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos, who in my book would never rise to such heights again (much like The Kingsmen with "Louie Louie"). It's a big favourite of Peter Reum's, so this is for that lovely man: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flamingos |
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Post by jk on Jun 19, 2022 8:03:01 GMT -5
Duane Eddy's 1959 version of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" is about as minimal as an instrumental can be -- just a thundering riff and Steve Douglas blasting over the top. It all stops for the breakdown, leaving just the guitar and then adding bass, piano (you’d miss it if it wasn't there) and drums, culminating in the reappearance of the tenor sax in its upper register. A few more rounds of the riff and it's all over. That's all there is. Like The Flamingos in the previous post, Eddy never reached these spectacular heights again -- nor, I'd say, did any other '50s instrumentalist (with the possible exception of Link Wray). "Peter Gunn" has to be heard on vinyl or not at all. This would seem to be the 1960 rerelease (the original had the wondrous "Yep!" on the flip): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Eddy |
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Post by jk on Jun 20, 2022 9:34:35 GMT -5
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Post by jk on Jun 22, 2022 5:39:37 GMT -5
This is surely Carl Perkins' finest hour, with Jerry Lee helping out on piano. Recorded in 1956, "Matchbox" was the B-side of "Your True Love", which reached #67 in the US the following year:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchbox_(song) |
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Post by jk on Jun 23, 2022 14:07:24 GMT -5
"Was Helter Skelter the first heavy metal song?" seems to have been asked several times over the years at Hoffman. I'd say the first heavy metal song was an instrumental (and the YouTube commenters on this video would seem to agree with me). Link Wray's "Rumble" was a US top twenty hit in 1958:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumble_(instrumental) |
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 23, 2022 16:43:45 GMT -5
I think the 1950's are getting very lost in the ways of music, and it kind of saddens me. It's my favorite decade of music if I'm honest, I think that's where the 'lightning' started. So many great Pop/Rock records that were made are now quickly disappearing from the conscious of the younger crowd. At the moment, the 'kids' are still loving Beatles, Stones, The Who, and everything 60's.... But the previous years are slowly falling away. Here's some I think are 'tops': Perry Como - Magic Moments
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 23, 2022 16:44:49 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 23, 2022 16:47:19 GMT -5
One of my favorite rockers, Eddie Cochran. Died in a car crash when he was 21. He should have gone on to be an early example of a Brian Wilson. Great musician, producer, songwriter..... He just didn't get the chance. His music has so much energy, it's a pity he never got what he deserved. 'Somethin' Else:
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Post by jk on Jun 24, 2022 2:33:25 GMT -5
I think the 1950's are getting very lost in the ways of music, and it kind of saddens me. It's my favorite decade of music if I'm honest, I think that's where the 'lightning' started. So many great Pop/Rock records that were made are now quickly disappearing from the conscious of the younger crowd. At the moment, the 'kids' are still loving Beatles, Stones, The Who, and everything 60's.... But the previous years are slowly falling away. Here's some I think are 'tops': Perry Como - Magic Moments
Yes, it's ironic, since without Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and The Everly Brothers, to name just three, there would be no Beatles, Stones or Who (to name just three).  I'm fascinated by the "non-rock-and-roll" tracks of those days -- a leftover, if you like, of what pop music was like before Bill Haley, Elvis and others rewrote the rules of engagement. Perry Como is a great example. I also liked his "Catch A Fallin' Star". He had this TV show, which my brother and I used to watch at a neighbour's house in the late '50s, very early '60s. I remember Gene Vincent being on it and singing "Wild Cat". That was after his car accident, the one that killed Eddie Cochran. Speaking of Gene V: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be-Bop-a-Lula |
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Post by jk on Jun 24, 2022 2:35:40 GMT -5
Definitely one of the strangest number ones ever! But what an atmosphere!  |
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 24, 2022 3:29:02 GMT -5
In the 50's in Australia, most of the music being made came to us from International artists. It's hard to think of a time where Australian's were not making recorded music, and it's not that long ago. The earliest recordings are mainly Jazz or copycat recordings of US/UK Pop charts. My dad had a tonne of 78 discs, so a lot of them are bedded into my brain. Slim Whitman, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Tommy Sands, Guy Mitchell and Frankie Laine. Some terrific music made, and I'll take this stuff over 'The Stones' any day of the week. Guy Mitchell - Singing The Blues Johnnie Ray - Yes Tonight Josephine
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 24, 2022 3:32:11 GMT -5
Of course, we had more Groups too, The 4 Preps, The High Lo's (one of Brian's favorites), and the Four Lads. The Four Lads - Put A Light In The Window
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Post by jk on Jun 24, 2022 5:46:51 GMT -5
Of course, we had more Groups too, The 4 Preps, The High Lo's (one of Brian's favorites), and the Four Lads. The Four Lads - Put A Light In The Window I remember The Four Preps' great parody record "More Money For You And Me": The UK's Barron Nights built an entire career around this formula but the Preps did it best. Love that Guy Mitchell song. Shamefully, I'm unfamiliar with Johnny Ray's music... |
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 24, 2022 7:36:38 GMT -5
Ha! Jk! I'm very familiar with the Four Preps parody 45, another one of those embedded into my brain
as my dad had that particular 45 too. Wonderful stuff! Johnny Ray made some great recordings, but being an artist in the 50's, he was apparently bi-sexual, and can you image the media in those days and all the 'hush hush' whispers that would have went on. He was also known to be partially deaf, a bit like that Brian fella we know, so he probably got a lot of negative attention, but the female crowd absolutely loved him like a 'Sinatra'. He made some real top records too, and it's truly a pity, he will probably be forgotten to time... His biggest was 'Walking In The Rain'.
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Post by jk on Jun 25, 2022 3:24:45 GMT -5
Johnny Ray made some great recordings, but being an artist in the 50's, he was apparently bi-sexual, and can you image the media in those days and all the 'hush hush' whispers that would have went on. He was also known to be partially deaf, a bit like that Brian fella we know, so he probably got a lot of negative attention, but the female crowd absolutely loved him like a 'Sinatra'. He made some real top records too, and it's truly a pity, he will probably be forgotten to time... His biggest was 'Walking In The Rain'.
I know that one, and "Cry", which I see now was his breakthrough hit. I can imagine P.J. Proby being impressed by JR's theatrical delivery -- you can hear his influence in Proby's outrageous version of "Somewhere", which apparently he sang lying down on the studio floor, being rather the worse for wear, hahaha: Back to the fifties for the next post!  |
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Post by Al S on Jun 26, 2022 0:23:23 GMT -5
Always loved Cliff's ass kickin' kick-off!
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Post by Al S on Jun 26, 2022 0:32:32 GMT -5
Totally predictable on a '50s thread, but, man, what a timeless song, replete with a bitchin' shred:
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 26, 2022 0:41:22 GMT -5
Totally predictable on a '50s thread, but, man, what a timeless song, replete with a bitchin' shred: The guitar solo is epic! It's about as memorable as the licks in 'Johnny B Goode'. Sad story though, Danny Cedrone was the guy who played the guitar solo on 'RATC', was only 34 years of age when 10 days later he fell down and stairs and broke his neck, and died. It would be another 8 months before the song got featured on 'The Blackboard Jungle', so Cedrone never got to enjoy the impact of his tremendous solo.
The real Danny Cedrone, who played the winning 'solo': With his Gibson ES-300 used on the session.
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Post by jk on Jun 26, 2022 4:09:19 GMT -5
The guitar solo is epic! It's about as memorable as the licks in 'Johnny B Goode'. Sad story though, Danny Cedrone was the guy who played the guitar solo on 'RATC', was only 34 years of age when 10 days later he fell down and stairs and broke his neck, and died. It would be another 8 months before the song got featured on 'The Blackboard Jungle', so Cedrone never got to enjoy the impact of his tremendous solo.
Wow, that's tragic. I had no idea. |
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Post by jk on Jun 26, 2022 5:26:48 GMT -5
This song has doo wop written all over it -- it's the mood that does it, more than the arrangement. Ritchie Valens met a tragically early death, aged 17, in the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper (more on Buddy and J.P. later). This is dedicated to my late penpal, whose first name was Donna (she didn't like the name and never used it). R.I.P. all: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritchie_Valens |
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Post by jk on Jun 28, 2022 16:29:55 GMT -5
Now here are two pre-rock-and-roll-style songs that used to get sung en masse in the boys' playground of my second primary school (yes, the playgrounds there were segregated!). They were, in no particular order, the verse/chorus of "Sugartime" (1958) by The McGuire Sisters…
…and the opening vocalizings of "Alone" (1957) by The Shepherd Sisters ("Getcha Back", anyone?):
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 29, 2022 7:22:49 GMT -5
Ahh yes, the great females of the 50's! There's a great handful that had many million sellers and made some incredible records. Where to start? I'll throw in 'Tammy' by Debbie Reynolds.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 29, 2022 7:28:07 GMT -5
The ultimate in 50's Rock n Roll female rockers, the energetic Wanda Jackson with 'Let's Have A Party'. Recorded in 58', but not released til' 1960 I was just reading.... huh. I love the energy in this record, the backing band was from Gene Vincent's band, 'The Blue Caps'. Turn it up, and turn it up loud!
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Post by jk on Jun 29, 2022 8:08:04 GMT -5
Ahh yes, the great females of the 50's! There's a great handful that had many million sellers and made some incredible records. Where to start? I'll throw in 'Tammy' by Debbie Reynolds. I remember "Tammy". At that time I was reading a story in a kid's cartoon magazine about a dog called Tammy, what they call a Rough Collie, and wondered how they could be in love, foolish young person that I was. Did you know that Aussie electronic duo The Avalanches sampled "Tammy" on their stupendous sample-fest Since I Left You? As for Wanda Jackson, dig this! |
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