My Favorite Songs of 1955-62

I wanted to see how far back I could go, to hear songs that are enjoyable to the modern rock ‘n roll fan (i.e. me).

It turns out 1955 is my cutoff. Yes, ’54 had Rock Around the Clock, which is a famous song thanks to Happy Days, but there was nothing else that truly spoke to me that year or in any prior years. So 1955 it is. And because these lists of songs were getting pretty lean by 1963, I figured I’d combine the eight years prior.

These years are 12-19 years prior to my birth. These artists seem ancient. Is this what my daughter thinks when she hears Pearl Jam?

Awesome
Great
Solid
Not Bad
…with some inter-group splitting.

This list doesn’t have any songs that I would consider “Awesome”, but there a few greats. The full list of songs is in chart form at the end, but here were my favorites from that year…

26 Solid Songs Released Between 1955 and 1962

Witch Doctor – David Seville & The Chipmunks, 1958

Some fancy camerawork here!

Roses Are Red (My Love) – Bobby Vinton, 1962

The Twist – Chubby Checker, 1962

Duke of Earl – Gene Chandler, 1962

Let’s Dance – Chris Montez, 1962

Surfin’ Safari – Beach Boys, 1962

Look how young they are!

The Monster Mash – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, 1962

Could the 60’s have been any dorkier?

Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker, 1962

Hey! Baby – Bruce Channel, 1962

Barbara Ann – The Regents, 1961

Chain Gang – Sam Cooke, 1960

When Will I Be Loved – Everly Brothers, 1960

Battle of New Orleans – Johnny Horton, 1959

Lonely Boy – Paul Anka, 1959

Personality – Lloyd Price, 1959

Sea of Love – Phil Phillips, 1959

Shout – The Isley Brothers, 1959

Tequila – The Champs, 1958

Get a Job – The Silhouettes, 1958

Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy, 1958

Rave On – Buddy Holly, 1958

Love this because of John Cougar’s version…

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – David Seville & The Chipmunks, 1958

Who doesn’t love this Christmas classic? Big part of every childhood.

Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers, 1957

That’ll Be the Day – Buddy Holly, 1957

Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957

I Hear You Knocking – Smiley Lewis, 1955

21 Great Songs From 1955 to 1962

Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley, 1957

Of you’ll see Elvis here. These were his peak years! Lots more to come.

Green Onions – Booker T. & the M.G.’s, 1962

Such a simple tune, yet it always gets me moving in some way…

Sherry – Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, 1962

Do You Love Me – The Contours, 1962

Runaround Sue – Dion, 1961

Stand By Me (Original) – Ben E. King, 1961

The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens, 1961

Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong, 1960

Sleep Walk – Santo & Johnny, 1959

All I Have to Do is Dream – The Everly Brothers, 1958

Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran, 1958

All Shook Up – Elvis Presley, 1957

I’m A Man – Bo Diddley, 1955

The Wanderer – Dion, 1962

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley, 1962

Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley, 1956

Donna – Ritchie Valens, 1959

Rumble – Link Wray, 1958

La Bamba – Ritchie Valens, 1958

Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly, 1957

Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley, 1956

Everyday – Buddy Holly, 1957

The above songs, I put on a playlist for you on YouTube here

Follow my playlists on Spotify

Here is the full list of my favorite songs from 1955-62

Awesome – 1EverydayBuddy Holly1957
Great – 1The WandererDion1962
Great – 1Can’t Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley1962
Great – 1Love Me TenderElvis Presley1956
Great – 1DonnaRitchie Valens1959
Great – 1RumbleLink Wray1958
Great – 1La BambaRitchie Valens1958
Great – 1Peggy SueBuddy Holly1957
Great – 1Heartbreak HotelElvis Presley1956
Great – 9Jailhouse RockElvis Presley1957
Great – 9Green OnionsBooker T. & the M.G.’s1962
Great – 9SherryFrankie Valli & the Four Seasons1962
Great – 9Do You Love MeThe Contours1962
Great – 9Runaround SueDion1961
Great – 9Stand By Me (Original)Ben E. King1961
Great – 9The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Tokens1961
Great – 9Money (That’s What I Want)Barrett Strong1960
Great – 9Sleep WalkSanto & Johnny1959
Great – 9All I Have to Do is DreamThe Everly Brothers1958
Great – 9Summertime BluesEddie Cochran1958
Great – 9All Shook UpElvis Presley1957
Great – 9I’m A ManBo Diddley1955
Solid – 22Witch DoctorDavid Seville & The Chipmunks1958
Solid – 22Roses Are Red (My Love)Bobby Vinton1962
Solid – 22The TwistChubby Checker1962
Solid – 22Duke of EarlGene Chandler1962
Solid – 22Let’s DanceChris Montez1962
Solid – 22Surfin’ SafariBeach Boys1962
Solid – 22The Monster MashBobby ‘Boris’ Pickett1962
Solid – 22Boom BoomJohn Lee Hooker1962
Solid – 22Hey! BabyBruce Channel1962
Solid – 22Barbara AnnThe Regents1961
Solid – 22Chain GangSam Cooke1960
Solid – 22When Will I Be LovedEverly Brothers1960
Solid – 22Battle of New OrleansJohnny Horton1959
Solid – 22Lonely BoyPaul Anka1959
Solid – 22PersonalityLloyd Price1959
Solid – 22Sea of LovePhil Phillips1959
Solid – 22ShoutThe Isley Brothers1959
Solid – 22TequilaThe Champs1958
Solid – 22Get a JobThe Silhouettes1958
Solid – 22Rebel RouserDuane Eddy1958
Solid – 22Rave OnBuddy Holly1958
Solid – 22The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)David Seville & The Chipmunks1958
Solid – 22Wake Up Little SusieThe Everly Brothers1957
Solid – 22That’ll Be the DayBuddy Holly1957
Solid – 22Great Balls of FireJerry Lee Lewis1957
Solid – 22I Hear You KnockingSmiley Lewis1955
Not Bad – 48Loco-MotionLittle Eva1962
Not Bad – 48Breaking Up Is Hard to DoNeil Sedaka1962
Not Bad – 48CryingRoy Orbison1961
Not Bad – 48RunawayDion1961
Not Bad – 48Mother-in-LawErnie K. Doe1961
Not Bad – 48Blue MoonThe Marcels1961
Not Bad – 48Let’s Twist AgainChubby Checker1961
Not Bad – 48Please Mr. PostmanThe Marvelettes1961
Not Bad – 48Running ScaredRoy Orbison1961
Not Bad – 48It’s Now Or NeverElvis Presley1960
Not Bad – 48Will You Love Me TomorrowThe Shirelles1960
Not Bad – 48Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot BikiniBrian Hyland1960
Not Bad – 48Dream LoverBobby Darin1959
Not Bad – 48Charlie BrownThe Coasters1959
Not Bad – 48A Teenager in LoveDion1959
Not Bad – 48Sea CruiseFrankie Ford1959
Not Bad – 48Johnny B GoodeChuck Berry1958
Not Bad – 48Yakety YakThe Coasters1958
Not Bad – 48FeverPeggy Lee1958
Not Bad – 48Chantilly LaceBig Bopper1958
Not Bad – 48To Know Him is to Love HimThe Teddy Bears1958
Not Bad – 48Good Golly, Miss MollyLittle Richard1958
Not Bad – 48Bye Bye LoveThe Everly Brothers1957
Not Bad – 48Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)Harry Belafonte1957
Not Bad – 48Come Go With MeThe Del-Vikings1957
Not Bad – 48Oh Boy!Buddy Holly1957
Not Bad – 48Lucille Little Richard1957
Not Bad – 48Rock and Roll MusicChuck Berry1957
Not Bad – 48At the HopDanny & The Juniors1957
Not Bad – 48Don’t Be CruelElvis Presley1956
Not Bad – 48Hound DogElvis Presley1956
Not Bad – 48Long Tall SallyLittle Richard1956
Not Bad – 48Rock Around the ClockBill Haley & His Comets1955
Not Bad – 48Tutti-FruttiLittle Richard1955
Not Bad – 48Ain’t That A ShameFats Domino1955
Not Bad – 83LollipopChordettes1958
Not Bad – 83Rockin’ RobinBobby Day1958
Not Bad – 83Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin OnJerry Lee Lewis1957
Not Bad – 83Little Bitty Pretty OneThurston Harris1957
Not Bad – 83Be Bop A LulaGene Vincent1956
Not Bad – 83Roll Over BeethovenChuck Berry1956
Not Bad – 83Ain’t That A ShamePat Boone1955
Not Bad – 83MaybellineChuck Berry1955
Not Bad – 83Bo DiddleyBo Diddley1955
Not Bad – 83Only YouThe Platters1955

1955-62 1963  1964  1965  1966  1967  1968  1969

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s 2000s

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