From here, and for the rest of the 50s, there are plenty of all-time classics each week. This year, we had “I Walk the Line,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Twenty Flight Rock,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Let The Good Times Roll” to name a few, and that’s ignoring the debut of Buddy Holly, a version of “Fever” that predates the big hit version by a couple of years, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins definitive version of “I Put A Spell On You” and early James Brown, plus dozens of lesser known artists.
And that version of “The Train Kept-A-Rollin'” is one of the most energetic and frenetic performances ever committed to acetate. I adore that one.
Notable Notes:
Where do I know that from?: “Ain’t Got No Home” shares a lot more in common with the later hit “Sea Cruise” than any of the recent high-profile copyright lawsuits. Presumably, if it went to trial, Clarence Henry would have testified three different times, one for each voice.
No, not that one. I recognize that voice: A young, poorly recorded Aretha Franklin makes her debut tonight with an early gospel recording.
This Year’s Model 1956
01. A Sleepin’ Bee – Quincy Jones
02. Ain’t Got No Home – Clarence “Frogman” Henry
03. Giddy Up A Ding Dong – Freddy Bell & The Bell Boys
04. I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
05. Fever – Little Willie John
06. Eddie My Love – The Teen Queens
07. In The Still of the Night – The Five Satins
08. Jim Dandy – LaVern Baker
09. Speedoo – The Cadillacs
10. Pretty Thing – Bo Diddley
11. Rock A Bop – Sparkle Moore
12. Honky Tonk, Part 2 – Bill Doggett
13. Bigelow 6-200 – Brenda Lee
14. Twenty Flight Rock – Eddie Cochran
15. Tennessee Rock ‘n’ Roll – Bobby Helms
16. Such A Night – The Four Lovers
17. Singin’ the Blues – Marty Robbins
18. Right String Wrong Yo-Yo – Carl Perkins
19. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
20. Rockhouse – Roy Orbison
21. Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
22. Drown In My Own Tears – Ray Charles
23. Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
24. Invisible Hands – Blackwood Brothers
25. Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
26. Please, Please, Please – James Brown
27. The Magic Touch – The Platters
28. Rock Island Line – Merrill Moore
29. Don’t You Know – Johnny Ace
30. Let The Good Times Roll – Shirley & Lee
31. A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats
32. Treasure of Love – Clyde McPhatter
33. Ruby Baby – The Drifters
34. Wire Brush Stomp – Gene Krupa
35. Crazy Arms – The Andrews Sisters
36. Fools Rush In – Julie London
37. Gee, Baby Ain’t I Good to You – Peggy Lee
38. I’ll Come Running Back to You – Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers
39. While the Blood Runs Warm – Aretha Franklin
40. Woke Up This Morning (My Baby’s Gone) – B.B. King
41. Smokestack Lightin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
42. Boogie Woogie Country Girl – Big Joe Turner & Orchestra
43. Bourbon Street Parade – Chris Barber
44. Rip It Up – Little Richard
45. Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
46. Wasted – Wanda Jackson
47. Blue Days Black Nights – Buddy Holly
48. Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
49. The Train Kept-A-Rollin’ – Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio
Bonus Material
50. Jivin’ Around, Part 1 – The Ernie Freeman Combo
51. The Church Bells May Ring – The Diamonds
52. Stranded In The Jungle – The Cadets
53. Love, Love, Love – The Clovers
54. Dimples – John Lee Hooker
55. I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight – Louvin Brothers
56. Little Girl of Mine – The Cleftones feat. Jimmy Wright
57. Rockin’ Daddy – Eddie Bond
58. Pack Fair and Square – Big Walter & His Thunderbirds
59. I’m In Love Again – Fats Domino
60. Down In Mexico – The Coasters
61. Try Rock And Roll – Bobby Mitchell
62. The Auctioneer – Leroy Van Dyke
63. Rudy’s Rock – Bill Haley & The Comets
64. Crazy With Love – Guy Mitchell
65. Oh! Marie – Louis Prima
66. We Go Together – The Moonglows
67. Since I Met You Baby – Ivory Joe Hunter
68. It’s Too Late – Chuck Willis
69. I Want To Do More – Ruth Brown & Her Rhythm Makers
70. Slow Walk – Sil Austin
71. Sweet Rockin’ Baby – Sonnee West
72. Eddie My Love – The Chordettes
