Elvis' first single crowns rock's 50th anniversary (WHAT'S MORE AMERICAN THAN ROCK 'N ROLL?)

[7thson]

I saw an article in today's USA Today written by Edna Gundersen about the birth of Rock 'N Roll. What a good subject for the 4th because what could be more American than Rock 'N Roll? After I read the article, I thought about the great rock tunes from the 50's you never or hardly hear ont he radio. Below are some of my favorite 50's music.

Just about anything from Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen, Memphis, School Days, Little Queenie, Too Much Monkey Business, Johnny B Good. Great lyrics, fantastic guitar intros and solos, more talented than Elvis but unfortunately does not quite get his due.

Rocket 88

Knockin' At My Front Door

Black Slacks

Red Hot

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Earth Angel

Too Much

Peggy Sue

Be Bop A Lulu

60 Minute Man

Those are a few off the top of my head. Let's hear from you!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Geez, too many to mention...but howzabout:

The Stroll - The Diamonds

Race With The Devil - Gene Vincent

Rumble - Link Wray

I'm So Young - The Students

Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry

ANY Sun era Elvis!!!

Get Your Cat Clothes On - Carl Perkins

13 Women - Bill Haley

The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard

Aything by Eddie Cochran & Buddy Holly

[7thson]

Man, how could I forget Link Wray!!!!! I feel so ashamed!!! Here are some pix of some of the artists -

[SamAdams76]

Jerry Lee Lewis produced the most electrifying rock and roll of the 1950s in my opinion - Elvis included. Marrying his cousin was a bad career move though.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

What great pics! Especially Gene Vincent, greatest rocker ever from my home state of Virginia. How I love that man's music!!!

"Sweet Gene Vincent, young and old and gone"...

[7thson]

I agree! During the sixties when rock took a wrong turn, the songs really turned to crap. Most of them were either about protest - folk crap - or drugs. The real good and cool music from the sixties came from Atlantic and Motown. Back to the 50's, the artists were not worried about protest. 60 Minute Man was a fantastic tune with a double meaning. Smokey Joe's Cafe - meeting the right woman at the wrong place and time. Peanut Butter - who would think singing about peanut butter would be a hit. Red Hot - exclaiming your girl to be the best of all! Black Slacks - bragging about your clothes. School Days - the boring rut of school and then busting lose at the soda shop. Rumble - nothing about teenage angst in this tune. Nothing about dancing, school, cars - it was about fighting!!!! Framed - being set up and sent to jail by the man! Great, great tunes with nonsense lyrics that were fantastic!

[ken5050]

FYI.. I saw a blurb in the NY Post a few days ago..(sorry, can't recall which, and I just kind of skimmed it..) thayt one of the satellite radio services..(Sirius, I think..) is this month launching an ALL-ELVIS channell.they're gonna play nothing but Elvis 24/7..