Rockissue

The first half of the Fifties barely includes more albums than the previous years' lists, as—from a Rock perspective—popular music is dominated by Rhythm and Blues, Doo Wop, and Country and Western singles released by upstart, "independent" labels. The growing popularity of R. and B., especially among White teens, during the years of Rock's mythical birth (1954-1956) leads to a greater number of albums that are not mere compilations of previously-released singles, though most of the artists actually making effective use of the album format are experimentalists like Les Paul and Chet Atkins; Folk, Blues, and Gospel artists benefitting from the Folk Revival; and "crossover" artists able to appeal to older listeners (for example, Dinah Washington, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis). And, mostly beyond the purview of the Rock Annual, the late Fifties were the heyday of Jazz music in America, enough great music being recorded that, to listeners in the decades since, the resulting treasure trove is practically speaking inexhaustible.

For the Fifties, 394 tracks are listed, 59 albums. The totals through 1959 are 626 tracks, 65 albums.

← 1950 →

Acclaimed Music Top Albums, Top Songs

Playlist Research Top Pop Hits

Wikipedia 1950 in Music

one album

Les Paul - The New Sound [10-L. P.; L. P., 1955]

twenty-six singles and deep cuts

Archibald and His Orchestra - 'Stack-a'Lee Part I'/ 'Stack-a'Lee Part II'

Gene Autrey and the Cass County Boys - 'Frosty the Snow Man'

Tiny Bradshaw - 'Well Oh Well'

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, His Guitar and His Orchestra - 'Boogie Rambler'

Ruth Brown with Budd Johnson's Orchestra - 'Teardrops from My Eyes', Ruth Brown [Rock & Roll] [1957]

Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys - 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown', Country Music [1958]

The Four Buddies - 'I Will Wait'

Lowell Fulson Featuring Lloyd Glenn - 'Everyday I Have the Blues'

Hardrock Gunter and the Pebbles - 'Birmingham Bounce'

Wynonie Harris - 'Sittin' on It All the Time'

Annie Laurie/ Paul Gayten and His Orchestra - 'I'll Never Be Free'

Percy Mayfield - 'Please Send Me Someone to Love'

Amos Milburn and His Aladdin Chickenshackers - 'Bad, Bad Whiskey'

Eddie Miller and His Oklahomans - 'Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)'

Roy Milton and His Solid Senders - 'Information Blues'

Guy Mitchell - 'My Heart Cries for You'

The Johnny Otis Quintette, the Robins, and Little Esther - 'Double Crossing Blues'

Patti Page - 'Tennessee Waltz', Tennessee Waltz and Other Famous Hits by Patti Page [1952]

The Ravens - 'Count Every Star'

Arkie Shibley and His Mountain Dew Boys - 'Hot Rod Race'

Hank Snow (The Singing Ranger) and His Rainbow Ranch Boys - 'I'm Moving On', [Hank Snow, the Singing Ranger and His Rainbow Ranch Boys] Country Classics [10-L. P., 1952; L. P., 1956]

Kay Starr/ Tennessee Ernie - 'I'll Never Be Free'

Tennessee Ernie - 'The Shot Gun Boogie'

Muddy Waters - 'Rollin' and Tumblin' Part 1'/ 'Rollin' and Tumblin' Part 2' [Aristocrat version], The Real Folk Blues [1965, 'Part 1' only]

Muddy Waters - 'Rollin' Stone', The Best of Muddy Waters [1958]

Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys - 'Faded Love'

no archival and compilation albums