Best Songs of the 1950s

I found several lists of the best songs of the 1950s and combined them into a single meta-list, which is organized by rank (that is, with the songs on the most lists at the top).  The listing for each song includes the title, the performer, the year of the performance, the songwriter(s), the year the song was written, and whether the song was featured in any plays or films.  In the case of multiple versions of the song by different artists (such as Hound Dog, which was sung first by Big Mama Thornton and later by Elvis Presley), I have chosen the version that was the biggest hit.

On 6 lists

  • (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and His Comets (1954), featured in the movie Blackboard Jungle (1955). Wr: Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers/Jimmy De Knight (1952).

On 5 lists

  • The Great Pretender – The Platters (1955). Wr: Buck Ram (1955).
  • Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino (1956). Wr: Vincent Rose, Larry Stock & Al Lewis, for the movie The Singing Hill (1940).
  • Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley (1956).
  • Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden & Elvis Presley (1956).
  • You Send Me – Sam Cooke (1957). Wr: Sam Cooke (1955).
  • Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley, featured in the movie Jailhouse Rock (1957). Wr: Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller (1957).

On 4 lists

  • Ain’t That A Shame – Fats Domino (1955). Wr: Antoine Domino & Dave Bartholemew (1955).
  • Only You (And You Alone) – The Platters (1955). Wr. Buck Ram (1955).
  • Maybellene – Chuck Berry (1955). Wr: Chuck Berry (1955).
  • Tutti Frutti – Little Richard (1955). Wr: Little Richard & Dorothy LaBostrie (1955).
  • I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra (1956). Wr: Cole Porter, for the movie Born to Dance (1936).
  • Hound Dog – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (1952).
  • Why Do Fools Fall in Love – Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (1956). Wr: Morris Levy & Frankie Lymon (1955).
  • In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins (1956). Wr: Fred Parris (1956).
  • I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash (1956). Wr: Johnny Cash (1956).
  • Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957). Wr: Dave “Curley” Williams (1955).
  • That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly (1957). Wr: Buddy Holly & Jerry Allison (1956).
  • Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly (1957). Wr: Buddy Holly & Jerry Allison (1957).
  • Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957). Wr: Otis Blackwell (1957).
  • Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers (1957). Wr: Felice & Boudleaux Bryant (1957).
  • La Bamba – Richie Valens (1958). Traditional; arr. by Richie Valens (1958).
  • Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard (1958). Wr: John Marascalco & Robert Blackwell (1957).
  • At the Hop – Danny and the Juniors (1957). Wr. Artie Singer, John Medora & David White (1957).
  • Tequila – The Champs (1958). Wr: Daniel Flores (1958).
  • All I Have To Do Is Dream – The Everly Brothers (1958). Wr: Boudleaux Bryant (1958).
  • Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry (1958). Wr: Chuck Berry (1958).
  • Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin (1959). Wr: Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht, for The Threepenny Opera (1928). English lyrics by Marc Blitzstein (1954).
  • What’d I Say – Ray Charles (1959). Wr: Ray Charles (1958).

On 3 lists

  • The Tennessee Waltz – Patti Page (1950). Wr: Redd Stewart & Pee Wee King (1946).
  • Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams (1953). Wr: Hank Williams (1952).
  • Earth Angel – The Penguins (1954). Wr: Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin & Gaynel Hodge (1954).
  • Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters (1954). Wr: Willie Dixon (1954).
  • Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash (1955). Wr: Johnny Cash (1955).
  • Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (1955). Wr: Elias McDaniel (1955).
  • Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins (1956). Wr: Carl Perkins (1955).
  • Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley, featured in the film Love Me Tender (1956). Wr: George R. Poulton & Ken Darby (1956).
  • Long Tall Sally – Little Richard (1956). Wr: Little Richard, Enotris Johnson & Robert Blackwell (1956).
  • Come Go With Me – The Del-Vikings (1956). Wr: Clarence Quick (1956).
  • Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline (1957). Wr: Alan Block & Donn Hecht (1954).
  • All Shook Up – Elvis Presley (1957). Wr: Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley (1957).
  • Chances Are – Johnny Mathis (1957). Wr: Robert Allen & Al Stillman (1957).
  • Little Darlin’ – The Diamonds (1957). Wr: Maurice Williams (1957).
  • Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry (1957). Wr. Chuck Berry (1957).
  • Tom Dooley – The Kingston Trio (1958). Wr: Thomas Land (before 1929).
  • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters (1958). Wr: Jerome Kern & Otto Harbach, for the musical Roberta (1933).
  • Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (1958). Wr: Eddie Cochran & Jerry Capehart (1958).
  • Chantilly Lace – The Big Bopper (1958). Wr: Jiles Perry Richardson (1958).
  • Yakety Yak – The Coasters (1958). Wr: Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller (1958).
    It’s Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty (1958). Wr: Jack Nance & Conway Twitty (1958).
  • I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos (1959). Wr: Harry Warren & Al Dubin, for the film Dames (1934).
  • Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin (1959). Wr: Jack Lawrence & Charles Trenet (1946).
  • The Battle of New Orleans – Johnny Horton (1959). Wr: Jimmy Driftwood (1958).
  • A Teenager In Love – Dion & the Belmonts (1959). Wr: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman (1959).
  • Take Five – The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959). Wr: Paul Desmond (1959).
  • Shout – The Isley Brothers (1959). Wr: Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley & O’Kelly Isley, Jr. (1959).