Some people say that rock and roll began with the Chords singing Sh-Boom, but I can’t buy the idea that it was rock and roll. I believe it all began in 1955 when Little Richard Penniman screamed “a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-bam.” Incidentally, Tutti Frutti’s lyrics are, to this day, misinterpreted (there is no “oh Rudy” or “bam-boom” in the song.

Also, I  don’t count doo-wop music as classic rock and roll (with its totally different chord pattern and rhythm). With very few exceptions, if the music doesn’t have the classic rock and roll, driving beat and blues chord pattern, it won’t make my list. After the Beatles started selling their music in the U.S. in 1963, rock and roll was never the same (even though the Beatles early hits were great stuff, the chord patterns and rhythm were totally different). The only real rock and roll man after 1963 was John Fogerty, in my opinion.

So here’s my list of Dave Hammer’s top 50 rock and roll songs of all time (strictly based on my memory and knowledge of music, without checking any historic billboards) encompassing 1955 to 1963, by artist (but in no particular order). Many of these songs are covers from earlier artists and some were covered by later artists, but I picked my favorite versions:

Little Richard (5)- Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, Heebie Jeebies, Good Golly Miss Molly, Rip It Up

Bill Haley (2)- Rock Around the Clock, Shake Rattle and Roll

Carl Perkins (2)- Blue Suede Shoes, Matchbox

Elvis (5)- Mystery Train, That’s All Right, Heartbreak Hotel, Good Rockin’, Jailhouse Rock

Gene Vincent (1)- Be-bop-a-lula

Buddy Knox (1)- Party Doll

Buddy Holly (2)- Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day

J.P. (Big Bopper) Richardson (1)- Chantilly Lace

Wanda Jackson (1)- Hard-headed Woman

Duane Eddy (1)- Rebel Rouser

Ventures (1)- Walk Don’t Run

Santo and Johnny (1)- Sleepwalk

Rick Nelson (2)- Mighty Good, It’s Late

Fats Domino (3)- Blueberry Hill, I’m Walkin’, Blue Monday

Jerry Lee Lewis (3)- Whole Lotta Shakin’, Great Balls of Fire, I’m On Fire

Ray Charles (1)- What’d I Say

Bobby Bare (a.k.a. Bill Parsons) (1)- All American Boy

Ritchie Valens (1)- La Bamba

Chuck Berry (5)- Johnny B. Goode, School Day, Roll Over Beethoven, Reelin’ and Rocking, Sweet Little Sixteen

Everly Brothers (3)- Bye Bye Love, Bird Dog, All I Have To Do Is Dream

Coasters (1)- Yakety Yak

Bobby Darin (1)- Splish Splash

Isley Brothers (1)- Shout

Frankie Ford (1)- Sea Cruise

Danny and the Juniors (1)- At the Hop

Lloyd Price (1)- Lawdy Miss Clawdy

Dale Hawkins (1)- Susie Q

Bobby Day (1)- Rockin’ Robin

Originally posted April 8, 2009.