Top 20 music hits of the 1950s
The 1950s witnessed the birth of rock and roll music, which would later spawn other related genres such as rockabilly (which also originated in the 1950s), garage rock and pop music, among a huge myriad of other derivations. In short, it is one of this decade’s most defining musical styles.
The 1950’s were a time of changes and the music of the decade both reflected the cultural changes that were happening while still holding on to the societal norms of the past. Following the detrimental effects of World War II, the United States was about to embark on a musical journey that would change the face of music for decades to come.
Major musical movements of the 1950s were; Rock and roll, Blues, Traditional pop, Country, Rockabilly, Doo-wop, Bluegrass and Gospel.
Classic pop dominated the charts for the first half of the decade. Vocal-driven classic pop replaced big band/swing at the end of World War II, although it often used orchestras to back the vocalists. Whilst rock and roll dominated popular music in the mid 1950s and late 1950s, and quickly spread to much of the rest of the world. Its immediate origins lay in a mixing together of various black musical genres of the time, including rhythm and blues and gospel music; with country and western and Pop.
This blog is a double Top 20 music hits of the 1950s to ensure we haven’t missed any chart rules. Our Top 20 list are based on the following:
- total number of weeks the single was at number one in the charts
- the single’s All Time Rank
Standout artists and hit singles in the 1950s
Elvis Presley had the highest number of hits at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart between January 1950 until August 1958 (10 songs) in addition, Presley remained the longest at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart between January 1950 until August 1958 (57 weeks).
Patti Page (real name Clara Ann Fowler) was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female artist of the 1950s, selling over 100 million records during a six-decade long career. Patti was also the artist with second-longest most cumulative run at number one (22 weeks) between January 1950 until August 1958. Page’s signature song, Tennessee Waltz, was one of the biggest-selling singles of the 20th century, spending 13 weeks atop the Billboard magazine’s Best-Sellers List in 1950/51.
Perry Como remained at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart for 20 weeks between January 1950 until August 1958.
Top 20 music hit singles in the 1950s
* Based on the total number of weeks the single was at number one in the charts.
1. “Goodnight Irene” – Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
No. of weeks at #1: 13
Date commenced at #1: August 19, 1950
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2. “The Third Man Theme” – Anton Karas
No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: April 29, 1950
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3. “Cry” – Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads
No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: December 29, 1951
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4. “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)” – Les Paul and Mary Ford
No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: August 8, 1953
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5. “Don’t Be Cruel” & “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley
No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: August 18, 1956
Listen to track – Don’t be cruel
6. “The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)” – Percy Faith
No. of weeks at #1: 10
Date commenced at #1: May 16, 1953
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7. “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” – Pérez Prado
No. of weeks at #1: 10
Date commenced at #1: April 30, 1955
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8. “The Tennessee Waltz” – Patti Page
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: December 30, 1950
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9. “How High The Moon” – Les Paul and Mary Ford
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: April 21, 1951
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10. “Wheel Of Fortune” – Kay Starr
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: March 15, 1952
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11. “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” – Vera Lynn
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: July 12, 1952
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12. “Little Things Mean A Lot” – Kitty Kallen
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: June 5, 1954
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13. “Singing The Blues” – Guy Mitchell
No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: December 8, 1956
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14. “Because Of You” – Tony Bennett
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: September 8, 1951
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15. “The Doggie In The Window” – Patti Page
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: March 21, 1953
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16. “Oh! My Pa-pa (O Mein Papa)” – Eddie Fisher
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: January 2, 1954
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17. “Wanted” – Perry Como
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 10, 1954
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18. “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” – Bill Haley & His Comets
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: July 9, 1955
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19. “Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 21, 1956
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20. “All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley
No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 13, 1957
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Top 20 music hits from the 1950s – Based on the songs All Time Rank
1. “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry
All Time Rank: 6
Year: 1958
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2. “Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley
All Time Rank: 15
Year: 1956
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3. “What’d I Say” – Ray Charles
All Time Rank: 27
Year: 1959
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4. “Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard
All Time Rank: 28
Year: 1955
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5. “That’ll Be the Day” – The Crickets
All Time Rank: 43
Year:1957
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6. “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley and His Comets
All Time Rank: 45
Year:1954
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7. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley
All Time Rank: 57
Year: 1956
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8. “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” – Jerry Lee Lewis
All Time Rank: 64
Year: 1957
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9. “That’s All Right (Mama)” – Elvis Presley
All Time Rank: 72
Year: 1954
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10. “Blue Suede Shoes” – Carl Perkins
All Time Rank: 75
Year: 1956
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11. “Maybellene” – Chuck Berry
All Time Rank: 78
Year: 1955
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12. “Summertime Blues” – Eddie Cochran
All Time Rank: 79
Year: 1958
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13. “Mystery Train” – Elvis Presley
All Time Rank: 85
Year: 1955
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14. “Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley
All Time Rank: 92
Year: 1956
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15. “I Walk the Line” – Johnny Cash
All Time Rank: 93
Year: 1956
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16. “Peggy Sue” – Buddy Holly
All Time Rank: 104
Year: 1957
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17. “Great Balls of Fire” – Jerry Lee Lewis
All Time Rank: 124
Year: 1957
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18. “Be Bop a Lula” – Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
All Time Rank: 125
Year: 1956
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19. “Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash
All Time Rank: 135
Year: 1956
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20. “Bye Bye Love” – The Everly Brothers
All Time Rank: 144
Year: 1957
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Check out our other articles on the Top 20 music hits from the 1960s and 1970s, including videos for every song listed:
Do you agree with the Top 20 hit list?
Leave a comment and let us know which single you think belongs in the Top 20 in the 1950s?
Source:
– Wikipedia. List of Billboard number-one singles from 1950 to 1958. Read article
– Wikipedia. 1950s in music. Read article
– Acclaimed Music. The Top 200 Songs from the 1950s. Read article
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