MUSIC LOG for GROUP 5—Abbreviated
EARLY 1950s (with explanations)
- “Crying in the Chapel,” 1953; Sonny Till and the Orioles.
The Orioles began recording in 1948 and were pioneers in the style known as doo-wop, a vocal-centered style. They were one of the earliest of these groups to target African-American youth as their audience, but still retained strong pop and gospel elements; they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 (website for Collectibles Records: www.oldies.com).
- “Dark and Dreary,” 1953; Elmore James.
Born in rural Mississippi in 1918, Elmore James brought his slide guitar—now electrified—to record in Chicago throughout the 1950s. He also brought much of the spirit and form of rural blues to the emerging urban blues genre.
- “Hillbilly Fever,” 1950; Little Jimmy Dickens.
At 4’11” Dickens lived up to his nickname. He was equally at home with novelty songs (“May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”) and ballads. Here he plays a boogie-based uptempo country number that points toward the rockabilly era to come.
- “There Stands the Glass,” 1953; Webb Pierce.
Honky tonk singer Webb Pierce dominated the 1950s country music charts. He began his career on the stage of the Louisiana Hayride, one year before Elvis Presley gained his first national attention from that same stage.
- “The Tennessee Waltz,” 1950; Patti Page.
During the era, performers of popular song often found repertoire from country and r&b recordings. This was originally a country tune, written by Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart. This recording by Page is the best known version of the song, shorn of its country roots by the orchestral strings and smooth vocal style.
- “Oh! My Pa-Pa,” 1953; Eddie Fisher (w/Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra & Chorus).
Eddie Fisher was a popular singer and a teenage idol during the early 1950s. This song first appeared in a movie starring Fisher called Fireworks. It includes not only an orchestral but a choral accompaniment as well. (Incidentally, Fisher’s first marriage to Debbie Reynolds resulted in the birth of a daughter, Carrie Fisher, best known as “Princess Leia” in Star Wars.)
THE AGE OF ROCKABILLY
- “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock,” 1954; Bill Haley and the Comets.
Bill Haley first formed a band called the Four Aces of Western Swing (including an accordion player). He changed the name (along with much of the personnel) in 1950 to Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, billed on occasion as a “cowboy jive band.” Haley’s band struggled with moderate success recording country material and r&b (notably Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88” in 1951). He finally dropped the country image in 1953, changed the band’s name to the Comets, added a drummer. In 1954, this rock-and-roll tune was recorded and sold well. The following year it was included in the film Blackboard Jungle, ensuring its place in the historical annals of the emerging genre.
- “That’s All Right, Mama,” 1954; Elvis Presley.
9. “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” 1954; Elvis Presley.
10. “Maybelline,” 21 May 1955; Chuck Berry.
Berry rewrote an old country tune called “Ida Red” as Maybelline, which he recorded for Chess Records. He went on to become a respected figure of rockabilly and rock-and-roll.
11. “Tutti Frutti,” 15 September 1955; Little Richard.
If Chuck Berry has clear roots in country music, Little Richard is steeped in r&b and boogie-woogie piano of the era. For that reason, I would call him more rock-and-roll than pure rockabilly, although much of his music draws from rural Georgia where he was raised in a family of twelve.
12. “Blue Suede Shoes,” December 1955; Carl Perkins.
13. “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” 1957; Jerry Lee Lewis
14. “Let’s Have a Party,” 1958; Wanda Jackson.
15. “Please, Please, Please,” 1956; James Brown.
16. “The Battle of New Orleans,” 1959; Johnny Horton.
17. “I’m Walkin’ to New Orleans,” 1960; Fats Domino.
18. “El Paso,” 1959; Marty Robbins.
[#1 is recorded from 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti, MCA Records, Inc., MCAD2-8001, 1973.]
[#2 is from Elmore James: “The Master of Slide Guitar,” Blues Encore CD 52006, 1990.]
[#3, 16, and 18 are from Country: The American Tradition, Sony DIDP 098776, 1999.]
[Note for #18 composed by Brandon W. Laird.]
#4 is from Webb Pierce: Honky Tonk Song, 22 Country Hits, Country Stars CTS 55423, 1993.]
[#5-7 are from Billboard Pop Memories: 1950-54, Rhino R2 71579, 1994.]
[#8-9 are from Sunrise: Elvis Presley, RCA 1999.]
[#10 is from Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode, Pickwick International, Inc. (previously released on Mercury Records) SPC-3327, unknown year.]
[#11 is from The Legends of Specialty Series/Little Richard: The Georgia Peach, Specialty Records, Inc., 1991]
[#12-13 are from This is Sun Rockabilly, Music Collection Int. 50099, 1999.]
[#14 is from Rockabilly Essentials, Universal Music Special Markets, Inc. HIPD-40128, 1998.]
[#15 is from James Brown, Solid Gold: 30 Golden Hits, Polygram Records, Inc. 829 254-4 Y-1, 1977 [1986].]
[#17 is from My Blue Heaven: The Best of Fats Domino, EMI CDP-7-92808-2, 1990.]