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Top 20 music hits of the 1950s

Photo credit: Depositphotos.com
Posted on May 31, 2019 by 60+Club

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:

  1. total number of weeks the single was at number one in the charts
  2. 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
Listen to track

 

2. “The Third Man Theme” – Anton Karas

No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: April 29, 1950
Listen to track

 

3. “Cry” – Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads

No. of weeks at #1: 11
Date commenced at #1: December 29, 1951
Listen to track

 

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
Listen to track

 

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

Listen to track – Hound Dog

 

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
Listen to track

 

7. “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” – Pérez Prado

No. of weeks at #1: 10
Date commenced at #1: April 30, 1955
Listen to track

 

8. “The Tennessee Waltz” – Patti Page

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: December 30, 1950
Listen to track

 

9. “How High The Moon” – Les Paul and Mary Ford

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: April 21, 1951
Listen to track

 

10. “Wheel Of Fortune” – Kay Starr

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: March 15, 1952
Listen to track

 


 

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11. “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” – Vera Lynn

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: July 12, 1952
Listen to track

 

12. “Little Things Mean A Lot” – Kitty Kallen

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: June 5, 1954
Listen to track

 

13. “Singing The Blues” – Guy Mitchell

No. of weeks at #1: 9
Date commenced at #1: December 8, 1956
Listen to track

 

14. “Because Of You” – Tony Bennett

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: September 8, 1951
Listen to track

 

15. “The Doggie In The Window” – Patti Page

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: March 21, 1953
Listen to track

 

16. “Oh! My Pa-pa (O Mein Papa)” – Eddie Fisher

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: January 2, 1954
Listen to track

 

17. “Wanted” – Perry Como

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 10, 1954
Listen to track

 

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
Listen to track

 

19. “Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 21, 1956
Listen to track

 

20. “All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley

No. of weeks at #1: 8
Date commenced at #1: April 13, 1957
Listen to track

 


 

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
Listen to track

 

2. “Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley

All Time Rank: 15
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

3. “What’d I Say” – Ray Charles

All Time Rank: 27
Year: 1959
Listen to track

 

4. “Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard

All Time Rank: 28
Year: 1955
Listen to track

 

5. “That’ll Be the Day” – The Crickets

All Time Rank: 43
Year:1957
Listen to track

 

6. “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley and His Comets

All Time Rank: 45
Year:1954
Listen to track

 

7. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley

All Time Rank: 57
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

8. “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” – Jerry Lee Lewis

All Time Rank: 64
Year: 1957
Listen to track

 

9. “That’s All Right (Mama)” – Elvis Presley

All Time Rank: 72
Year: 1954
Listen to track

 

10. “Blue Suede Shoes” – Carl Perkins

All Time Rank: 75
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 


 

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11. “Maybellene” – Chuck Berry

All Time Rank: 78
Year: 1955
Listen to track

 

12. “Summertime Blues” – Eddie Cochran

All Time Rank: 79
Year: 1958
Listen to track

 

13. “Mystery Train” – Elvis Presley

All Time Rank: 85
Year: 1955
Listen to track

 

14. “Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley

All Time Rank: 92
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

15. “I Walk the Line” – Johnny Cash

All Time Rank: 93
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

16. “Peggy Sue” – Buddy Holly

All Time Rank: 104
Year: 1957
Listen to track

 

17. “Great Balls of Fire” – Jerry Lee Lewis

All Time Rank: 124
Year: 1957
Listen to track

 

18. “Be Bop a Lula” – Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps

All Time Rank: 125
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

19. “Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash

All Time Rank: 135
Year: 1956
Listen to track

 

20. “Bye Bye Love” – The Everly Brothers

All Time Rank: 144
Year: 1957
Listen to track

Check out our other articles on the Top 20 music hits from the 1960s and 1970s, including videos for every song listed:

  • Top 20 hits of the 1960s
  • Top 20 hits of the 1970s

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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