Name the Artist (50s)
(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)
Info: One of the first major rock 'n roll songs of the 50s. Bill Haley & His Comets were originally a Country & Western band from Philadelphia. The song became one of the first American rock `n roll recordings to find major success and hit the top of the music charts, not only in America, but also around the world. "Rock Around The Clock" was one of the first major rock 'n' roll songs of the 1950s and is still ranked among the world's all-time Top Ten best-selling singles.
I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I get nervous, but it sure is fun
Come on, baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire
(Great balls of fire- Jerry Lee Lewis 1957)
Info: "Great Balls of Fire" is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. The song became synonymous with Lewis’s electrifying piano performances and exuberant vocal style. It sold more than one million copies in its first 10 days of release in the United States
Elvis Presley
Possible Answers:
Can't Help Falling in Love, All Shook Up, Jailhouse Rock, Don't Be Cruel, Hound Dog, Suspicious Minds, Burning Love, Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel.
Be My Baby
The Ronnettes (1963)
Veronica Bennett was the only Ronette to sing on the song. It was the first Ronettes song produced by Phil Spector and released on his label, Philles Records.
"Be My Baby" was the Ronettes' biggest hit, reaching number 2 in the U.S. and Canada, and number 4 in the UK
I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash (1963)
Info: "Ring of Fire" is a song written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. June Carter wrote the lyrics about her relationship with Johnny Cash. The song was originally recorded by June's sister Anita Carter as "(Love's) Ring of Fire". Johnny Cash recorded the song on March 25, 1963, and it became the biggest hit of his career, staying at number one on the charts for seven weeks. The song was certified Gold on January 21, 2010 by the R.I.A.A. and has also sold over 1.2 million digital downloads. Johnny Cash had a dream about "Ring of Fire" in which the song was enhanced by "Mexican horns"
Mack the Knife
Bobby Darin (1959)
Info: Recorded in 1958/Released in 1959. The No. 5 song of the 1955-1959 Era. No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. 14th most popular single in Billboards Hot 100 History. Bobby's first and only number one song. Won the Grammy for Best Record of the Year in 1959.
I got a girl named Sue
She knows just what to do
She rocks to the east, she rocks to the west
But she's the girl that I love best
(Tutti Frutti- Little Richie 1955)
Info: Tutti Frutti is a song that has been ranked in various ways. It was featured on Little Richard's first album, which is entitled "Here's Little Richard". In 2007, it was ranked at No. 1 on Mojo's "The Top 100 Records That Changed The World".
Frank Sinatra
Come Fly With Me, Fly Me To The moon, My Way, Summer Wind, Young At Heart, New York New York, I Get A Kick Out of You
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis (1961)
If I had it in my power
I would arrange for every girl to have your charms
Then every minute, every hour
Every boy would find what I found in your arms
Everybody loves somebody sometime
And although my dream was overdue
Your love made it well worth waiting
For someone like you
Everybody Loves Somebody- Dean Martin (1964)
Info: Everybody Loves Somebody was originally written in 1947 by Irving Taylor and pianist Ken Lane. It became famous when Dean Martin recorded it in 1964.
Don't Be Cruel
Elvis Presley (1958)
Info:
"Don't Be Cruel" is a rock and roll song written by Otis Blackwell and recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956. It topped the charts for 11 weeks and sold over six million copies. The song has been listed as the 22nd best song of the 1950s.
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Can't no high toned woman make me walk the line
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
(Sixteen Tons- Tennessee E. Ford 1955)
Info: "Sixteen Tons" was first recorded by Merle Travis in 1947 and released on his album "Folk Songs of the Hills" in July 19471. It became a gold record. Tennessee Ernie Ford's version of the song was released on October 17, 1955.
The Supremes
Possible answers:
Come See About Me, You Can't Hurry Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, You Keep Me Hangin' On, Where Did Our Love Go.
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison (1967)
This song was originally called "Brown Skinned Girl" and was about an interracial relationship. Van Morrison changed it to "Brown Eyed Girl" to make it more palatable for radio stations. Some stations banned it anyway for the line, "Making love in the green grass."
Why can't you see
What you're doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say?
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds (suspicious minds)
Suspicious Minds- Elvis Presley (1969)
Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry (1958)
Info: "Johnny B. Goode" is a rock and roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry. It was a major hit among both black and white audiences, peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is considered one of the most recognizable and influential in the genre and has been covered by various other artists. It is also included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," ranking the highest at No. 73.
Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On blueberry hill
(Blueberry Hill- Fats Domino 1956)
Info: Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino was released in 1956 and became an international hit. It reached #2 on the Billboard Top 40 charts and spent eight non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the R&B Best Sellers chart12. The song sold a million copies the day after Fats appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
Paul Anka
Possible answers:
Diana, Put Your Head on My Shoulder, Puppy Love, Lonely Boy, It's Time to Cry, You Are My Destiny
I Say A Little Prayer
Aretha Franklin (1968)
“I Say a Little Prayer” was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1967. Aretha Franklin’s version was released in 1968 and was the second song from her album “Aretha Now”. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and became a top ten hit for Aretha Franklin. The lyrics express deep love and devotion, with the protagonist saying a prayer for their significant other. Aretha Franklin’s rendition of the song transformed it into a soulful and emotive expression.
If you need me call me, no matter where you are
No matter how far (don't worry, baby)
Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you, babe
Ain't No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1967)
Info: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. The song became Ross' first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award
Tennessee Waltz
Patti Page (1959)
Info: "Tennessee Waltz" is a popular country music song with lyrics by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King written in 1946 and first released in January 1948. The song became a multimillion seller via a 1950 recording – as "The Tennessee Waltz" – by Patti Page. So technically this song is not from the 50s but it became popular in the 50s.
As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line
(I walk the line- Johnny Cash 1956)
Info: "I Walk the Line" was originally recorded at Sun Studio on April 2, 1956, and was released on May 1. It spent six weeks at the top spot on the U.S. country Juke Box charts that summer, one week on the C&W Jockey charts and number two on the C&W Best Seller charts
The Temptations
Possible answers:
My Girl, Treat Her Like A Lady, You're My Everything, Get Ready, I Wish it Would Rain
Blowin' In The Wind
Bob Dylan (1962)
"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962. It was on Dylan’s first album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and he claimed it took him “10 minutes to write”. The song went on to become a landmark piece for the Civil Rights movement and it was even played at the Lincoln Memorial before Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a Dream Speech”. The melody and general inspiration behind “Blowin’ in the Wind” was derived from an old African-American spiritual entitled “No More Auction Block”. The song is one of Dylan's most covered songs.
If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californ-I-A
You'd see 'em wearing their baggies
Huarache sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A.
Surfin' U.S.A.- The Beach Boys (1963) v
Info: The lyrics are basically a guide to good surf locations, but the "Surfin' U.S.A." music was based on Chuck Berry's 1958 hit "Sweet Little Sixteen." The Beach Boys did it as a tribute to Berry, but didn't get his permission first - maybe because Berry was in jail for transporting a minor across state lines. When Berry threatened to sue, The Beach Boys agreed to give him most of the royalties and list him as the song's composer. The song also helped build Berry's legend while he served his time