Some of the earliest rock n roll styles came into being the late 40s in the United States. However, it was the dawn of the 50s that gave new direction to rock n roll. Rock n roll came into its own deriving from a range of musical styles such as jazz, jump blues, boogie woogie, rhythm & blues and country. In the 1934 movie Transatlantic Merry-Go Round a song Rock n Roll by the Boswell Sisters was included.
The Rock N Roll Story
Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s song Rock Me which came out in 1942 is considered by music purists as beginning of
rock n roll. While shades of rock n roll were evident in few blues records in the 20s and 30s, rock n roll as a genre came into being in 1954. While the early rock n roll styles incorporated heavy use of piano or saxophone as the main instrument, by the middle 50s the guitar took over as the lead instrument in different forms of rock n roll.Typically rock n roll is a blues shuffle rhythm with backbeat accents provided by snare drum. The classic rock n roll format of the late 50s and 60s comprised of rhythm guitar, lead guitar double bass or electric bass (after the mid-50s) and drums. Rock n roll songs became a phenomenon in the 50s and appealed to teens in particular. While rock n roll was an African American movement, white American musicians took a liking to the rock n roll format and joined the musical revolution. Gradually, beyond being a simplistic musical style, the term rock n roll started being associated with fashion, lifestyle, and attitude.
The classic rock n’ roll sound which emerged from rhythm &blues became known for the distinctive shuffle licks. The African musical tradition led to the birth of Rock n Roll, and ever since the genre has become the biggest musical entities worldwide. By the early 60s ‘Rock N Roll’ became a religion of sorts among youth from different parts of the world. Rock n roll songs become symbolic of rebellion in the 60s. While rock n roll got a bad name in secular circles in the 50s calling it the devil’s music, the rock n roll movement that was huge in America, became a rage in different parts of the world.
American Rock n Roll gained became exceedingly popular with the British youth who adopted the rock n roll sound and culture to develop new musical styles and sub cultures.
200 Greatest Rock N Roll Songs of the 50s and 60s
- Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
- Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
- Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
- Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
- Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
- Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
- Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
- Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
- Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
- C'mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran
- Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
- Maybellene - Chuck Berry
- Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On - Jerry Lee Lewis
- Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Leader of the Pack - Shangri-Las
- Blue Jean Bop - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
- What'd I Say - Ray Charles
- I Get Around - The Beach Boys
- Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
- Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers
- That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
- Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
- Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
- My Girl- Temptations
- Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
- Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
- Dizzy Miss Lizzy - Larry Williams
- The Locomotion - Little Eva
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
- Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry
- In The Still Of The Nite - Five Satins
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
- Molina - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- The Letter - The Box Tops
- The Great Pretender - Platters
- Lucille - Little Richard
- Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock
- I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
- Don't You Just Know It - Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns
- Proud Mary- Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Shake, Rattle And Roll - Joe Turner
- Will Love You Tomorrow - The Shirelles
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash- The Rolling Stones
- The Train Kept-A-Rollin - Johnny Burnette Trio
- Fever - Little Willie John
- Earth Angel - Penguins
- Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris & The Sharps
- At The Hop - Danny & The Juniors
- That's All Right - Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
- Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price
- Ain't It A Shame - Fats Domino
- School Day - Chuck Berry
- Bony Moronie - Larry Williams
- Please, Please, Please - James Brown & the Famous Flames
- A Teenager In Love - Dion & The Belmonts
- Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry
- Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns
- Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache - Warren Smith
- Willie And The Hand Jive - The Johnny Otis Show
- Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns
- I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos
- There Goes My Baby - Drifters
- Rip It Up - Little Richard
- Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers
- Sh-Boom - Chords
- Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace
- Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
- Come Go With Me - Del-Vikings
- Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston
- I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
- Susie Q - Dale Hawkins
- Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite - Spaniels
- All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
- Money Honey - Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter
- I’m A Believer - The Monkees
- It's Late - Ricky Nelson
- Sixty Minute Man - Dominoes
- The Fool- Sanford Clark
- Wake Up Little Susie- The Everly Brothers
- Breathless - Jerry Lee Lewis
- Party Doll - Buddy Knox
- C.C. Rider - Chuck Willis
- For Your Precious Love - Jerry Butler & the Impressions
- Jim Dandy - LaVern Baker
- Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor & The Playboys
- I Go Ape - Neil Sedaka
- La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
- Red River Rock - Johnny & The Hurricanes
- You Send Me - Sam Cooke
- Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes - Chuck Willis
- I'm In Love Again - Fats Domino
- White Christmas - Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter
- I'm Walkin' - Fats Domino
- Money - Barrett Strong
- Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners
- Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
- Do You Wanna Dance - Bobby Freeman
- Work With Me Annie - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
- Let The Good Times Roll - Shirley & Lee
- Tears On My Pillow - Little Anthony & The Imperials
- Rumble - Link Wray
- She She Little Sheila - Gene Vincent
- Crying In The Chapel - Sonny Til & the Orioles
- Yakety Yak - Coasters
- Somethin' Else - Eddie Cochran
- Carol - Chuck Berry
- Sea Cruise - Frankie Ford
- Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
- I Only Have Eyes For You (Dames) - The Flamingos
- Only You - Platters
- Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris
- At My Front Door - El Dorados
- Tweedlee Dee - LaVern Baker
- Poison Ivy - Coasters
- Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Hank Williams
- Raunchy - Bill Justis
- Short Fat Fannie - Larry Williams
- Shout - Isley Brothers
- Baby Let's Play House - Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
- Reelin And Rocking - Chuck Berry
- Send Me Some Lovin' - Little Richard
- Matchbox - Carl Perkins
- A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
- Rock-in Robin - Bobby Day
- Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
- Story Untold - Nutmegs
- Sincerely - Moonglows
- What Do You Want - Adam Faith
- Blue Monday - Fats Domino
- Chantilly Lace - Big Bopper
- Please Don't Tease - Cliff Richard
- Race With The Devil - Gene Vincent
- Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson
- Rebel Rouser - Duane Eddy
- Only Sixteen - Craig Douglas
- Around And Around - Chuck Berry
- Sea Of Love - Phil Phillips with the Twilights
- Get A Job - Silhouettes
- Do You Want To Dance - Bobby Freeman
- Little Darlin' - Diamonds
- I'm A Man - Bo Diddley
- Rave On - Buddy Holly
- Three Steps to Heaven - Eddie Cochran
- In The Still Of The Night - The Five Satins
- Honky Tonk - Bill Doggett
- Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee
- Speedoo - Cadillacs
- Don't Treat Me Like A Child - Helen Shapiro
- My Babe - Little Walter
- Just Like Eddie - Heinz
- Poetry In Motion - Johnny Tillotson
- Big Girls Don't Cry - The Four Seasons
- Keep A 'Knockin' - Little Richard
- A Teenager In Love - Dion & the Belmonts
- Oh Boy! - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
- I've Got A Woman - Ray Charles
- It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
- Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
- Please Don't Touch - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
- Move It - Cliff Richard
- What In The World's Come Over You - Jack Scott feat. The Chantones
- Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
- I'm A Moody Guy - Shane Fenton & The Fentones
- Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
- Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay - Danny & the Juniors
- Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
- You're So Fine - The Falcons
- Shake A Hand - Faye Adams
- Rubber Ball - Bobby Vee
- Sherry - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
- Teach You To Rock - Tony Crombie & The Rockets
- Runaway - Del Shannon
- Baby Sittin' - Bobby Angelo & The Tuxedos
- Shakin' All Over - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
- Nut Rocker - B. Bumble & The Stingers
- Have Mercy Baby - Dominoes
- Runaround Sue - Dion
- Book Of Love - Monotones
- Gee - The Crows
- The Cruel Sea - The Dakotas
- It Will Stand - The Showmen
- Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee
- All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
- Love Potion No. 9 - Clovers
- Tear It Up - Johnny Burnette Trio
- Saturday Nite At The Duck-Pond - The Cougars
- Peter Gunn - Duane Eddy
- Ain't Misbehavin' - Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers
- Handy Man - Jimmy Jones
- See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley & His Comets
- Ready Teddy - Little Richard
- Blue Moon - The Marcels
- Hats Off To Larry - Del Shannon
- Tears On My Pillow - Little Anthony & the Imperials
- Let There Be Drums - Sandy Nelson
- Tequila - Champs
- You Got What It Takes - Mary Johnson
- Tower Of Strength - Gene McDaniels
- Little Girl of Mine - Cleftones
