we always had a lot of fun with this one the birth of cool and the birth of rock
the birth of cool and the birth of rock
the birth of cool and the birth of rock and roll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top 10 Billboard chart topping rock songs of
10 Billboard chart topping rock songs of
10 Billboard chart topping rock songs of the 1950s
for this list we focused on rock songs
for this list we focused on rock songs that reached number one on the Billboard
that reached number one on the Billboard
that reached number one on the Billboard charts while making a definitive mark on
charts while making a definitive mark on
charts while making a definitive mark on 50s pop culture
what is now known as the Billboard Hot
what is now known as the Billboard Hot 100 did not exist for the majority of
100 did not exist for the majority of
100 did not exist for the majority of the 50s so for the purposes of this list
the 50s so for the purposes of this list
the 50s so for the purposes of this list we’re only considering those rock songs
we’re only considering those rock songs
we’re only considering those rock songs that topped either the top 100 the
that topped either the top 100 the
that topped either the top 100 the bestsellers in stores or after August
bestsellers in stores or after August
bestsellers in stores or after August 1958 the Hot 100 that was song like
1958 the Hot 100 that was song like
1958 the Hot 100 that was song like great balls of fire is one of the
great balls of fire is one of the
great balls of fire is one of the best-selling singles of all time it only
best-selling singles of all time it only
best-selling singles of all time it only topped the country chart in the US and
topped the country chart in the US and
topped the country chart in the US and therefore it will not be making our list
number ten at the hop Danny and the
number ten at the hop Danny and the junior managing to stop and a mist
junior managing to stop and a mist
junior managing to stop and a mist rolling at the hop it’s a rock and roll
rolling at the hop it’s a rock and roll
rolling at the hop it’s a rock and roll doo-wop classic and our number 10 pick
doo-wop classic and our number 10 pick
doo-wop classic and our number 10 pick the song describes the dance scene
the song describes the dance scene
the song describes the dance scene popular with the teenagers of the 1950’s
popular with the teenagers of the 1950’s
popular with the teenagers of the 1950’s and thanks to its fast tempo and bouncy
and thanks to its fast tempo and bouncy
and thanks to its fast tempo and bouncy melody the single no doubt took the
melody the single no doubt took the
melody the single no doubt took the music industry by storm
hitting number 1 on the top 100 as well
hitting number 1 on the top 100 as well as the R&B bestsellers list at the hop
as the R&B bestsellers list at the hop
as the R&B bestsellers list at the hop prove that Danny and the juniors had an
prove that Danny and the juniors had an
prove that Danny and the juniors had an enormous crossover hit on their hands
rare instrumental hit on the Billboard
rare instrumental hit on the Billboard Hot 100 this 1959 track was written by
Hot 100 this 1959 track was written by
Hot 100 this 1959 track was written by brother Santo & Johnny’s Farina after
brother Santo & Johnny’s Farina after
brother Santo & Johnny’s Farina after waking up one night at 2:00 in the
waking up one night at 2:00 in the
waking up one night at 2:00 in the morning featuring some killer slide
morning featuring some killer slide
morning featuring some killer slide guitar and a bass line that is as dreamy
guitar and a bass line that is as dreamy
guitar and a bass line that is as dreamy as dreams themselves sleepwalk is an
as dreams themselves sleepwalk is an
as dreams themselves sleepwalk is an early precursor to the surf rock genre
early precursor to the surf rock genre
early precursor to the surf rock genre as well as a timeless classic that just
as well as a timeless classic that just
as well as a timeless classic that just never gets old
covered by artists old and new there’s
covered by artists old and new there’s no denying the influence that sleepwalk
no denying the influence that sleepwalk
no denying the influence that sleepwalk has had on the rock genre as well as the
has had on the rock genre as well as the
has had on the rock genre as well as the influence that Santo and Johnny has had
influence that Santo and Johnny has had
influence that Santo and Johnny has had on the music industry and your luck will
on the music industry and your luck will
on the music industry and your luck will hold around on ground in your hearts to
hold around on ground in your hearts to
hold around on ground in your hearts to song number eight round and round Perry
song number eight round and round Perry
song number eight round and round Perry Como
a song that you just can’t help but tap
a song that you just can’t help but tap your feet to Perry Como created a pop
your feet to Perry Como created a pop
your feet to Perry Como created a pop inspired phenomenon when he released
inspired phenomenon when he released
inspired phenomenon when he released this classic track in 1957
written by songwriters Joe Shapiro and
written by songwriters Joe Shapiro and loose Stallman round and round proved to
loose Stallman round and round proved to
loose Stallman round and round proved to be comas last billboard number one song
be comas last billboard number one song
be comas last billboard number one song but it was certainly one of his best
but it was certainly one of his best
but it was certainly one of his best while it only lasted a week at number
while it only lasted a week at number
while it only lasted a week at number one on the bestsellers in stores list it
one on the bestsellers in stores list it
one on the bestsellers in stores list it is certainly a highlight and a decade
is certainly a highlight and a decade
is certainly a highlight and a decade full of hit songs and multi talented
full of hit songs and multi talented
full of hit songs and multi talented artists listen my baby here number seven
artists listen my baby here number seven
artists listen my baby here number seven Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
very cool only very bad voice the look
very cool only very bad voice the look the moves Elvis Presley had it all back
the moves Elvis Presley had it all back
the moves Elvis Presley had it all back in the mid 50s and it was this song that
in the mid 50s and it was this song that
in the mid 50s and it was this song that caused parents and their children to
caused parents and their children to
caused parents and their children to shake their head for completely
shake their head for completely
shake their head for completely different reasons
inspired by a news report of a suicide
inspired by a news report of a suicide note reading I walk a lonely Street
note reading I walk a lonely Street
note reading I walk a lonely Street Heartbreak Hotel eventually inspired a
Heartbreak Hotel eventually inspired a
Heartbreak Hotel eventually inspired a young George Harrison to audition for
young George Harrison to audition for
young George Harrison to audition for The Beatles and left a lasting imprint
The Beatles and left a lasting imprint
The Beatles and left a lasting imprint on another young boy that would
on another young boy that would
on another young boy that would eventually front Led Zeppelin
beautiful only you could die
beautiful only you could die Elvis’s first major hit spent seven
Elvis’s first major hit spent seven
Elvis’s first major hit spent seven weeks at number one on the top 100 and
weeks at number one on the top 100 and
weeks at number one on the top 100 and less than a year later all shook up held
less than a year later all shook up held
less than a year later all shook up held the top spot for eight
Green
Green number six all I have to do is dream the
number six all I have to do is dream the
number six all I have to do is dream the Everly Brothers game changer
who doesn’t love this song well
who doesn’t love this song well according to the Billboard charts of
according to the Billboard charts of
according to the Billboard charts of 1958 nobody as all I have to do is dream
1958 nobody as all I have to do is dream
1958 nobody as all I have to do is dream reach number one across the board even
reach number one across the board even
reach number one across the board even on the country charts for crying out
on the country charts for crying out
on the country charts for crying out loud
anytime night or day with golden boy
anytime night or day with golden boy looks and angelic voices the Everly
looks and angelic voices the Everly
looks and angelic voices the Everly Brothers produced one of the most
Brothers produced one of the most
Brothers produced one of the most acclaimed pop singles of all time which
acclaimed pop singles of all time which
acclaimed pop singles of all time which Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello once
Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello once
Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello once performed live on a 2010 episode of The
performed live on a 2010 episode of The
performed live on a 2010 episode of The Colbert Report written by Felice and
Colbert Report written by Felice and
Colbert Report written by Felice and boot lo Bryant all I have to do his
boot lo Bryant all I have to do his
boot lo Bryant all I have to do his dream came one year after another
dream came one year after another
dream came one year after another chart-topping collaboration in wake up
chart-topping collaboration in wake up
chart-topping collaboration in wake up little Suzy
number five that’ll be the day the
number five that’ll be the day the crickets Oh that’ll be the day inspired
crickets Oh that’ll be the day inspired
crickets Oh that’ll be the day inspired by the John Wayne film The Searchers
by the John Wayne film The Searchers
by the John Wayne film The Searchers Buddy Holly and his band collectively
Buddy Holly and his band collectively
Buddy Holly and his band collectively wrote a love song about a man cynical
wrote a love song about a man cynical
wrote a love song about a man cynical take on his girls threats
however due to the lead singers existing
however due to the lead singers existing record contract the crickets were
record contract the crickets were
record contract the crickets were ultimately given the performing credit
ultimately given the performing credit
ultimately given the performing credit for the next year and a half
for the next year and a half
for the next year and a half Buddy Holly emerged as a transformative
Buddy Holly emerged as a transformative
Buddy Holly emerged as a transformative rock star until the 1959 plane crash
rock star until the 1959 plane crash
rock star until the 1959 plane crash that took his life
that took his life
that took his life but his legacy indoors as that’ll be the
but his legacy indoors as that’ll be the
but his legacy indoors as that’ll be the day became the first recording of four
day became the first recording of four
day became the first recording of four lovable lads from Liverpool known as the
lovable lads from Liverpool known as the
lovable lads from Liverpool known as the quarry man otherwise known as the
quarry man otherwise known as the
quarry man otherwise known as the Beatles the day I see such a number for
Beatles the day I see such a number for
Beatles the day I see such a number for Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley gone
Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley gone
Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley gone through a party in the county jail the
through a party in the county jail the
through a party in the county jail the prison band was there they began to wait
prison band was there they began to wait
prison band was there they began to wait for the king of rocks third feature film
for the king of rocks third feature film
for the king of rocks third feature film the songwriting duo of Leiber and
the songwriting duo of Leiber and
the songwriting duo of Leiber and Stoller penned a comedic two-and-a-half
Stoller penned a comedic two-and-a-half
Stoller penned a comedic two-and-a-half minute number that became a definitive
minute number that became a definitive
minute number that became a definitive Elvis hit all rim shot you want purple
Elvis hit all rim shot you want purple
Elvis hit all rim shot you want purple okay everybody
okay everybody
okay everybody in fact America was so overwhelmed by
in fact America was so overwhelmed by
in fact America was so overwhelmed by presidents dynamic performance that most
presidents dynamic performance that most
presidents dynamic performance that most didn’t recognize the overt homoerotic
didn’t recognize the overt homoerotic
didn’t recognize the overt homoerotic lyrics of Jailhouse Rock shift and Henry
lyrics of Jailhouse Rock shift and Henry
lyrics of Jailhouse Rock shift and Henry Santa bugs for heaven’s sake the ones
Santa bugs for heaven’s sake the ones
Santa bugs for heaven’s sake the ones milking mountains has to make a break
milking mountains has to make a break
milking mountains has to make a break Bobby tarnish in 10 he said next Nick
Bobby tarnish in 10 he said next Nick
Bobby tarnish in 10 he said next Nick I’m gonna stick around a while again my
I’m gonna stick around a while again my
I’m gonna stick around a while again my kid
kid
kid whatever the case it became an iconic
whatever the case it became an iconic
whatever the case it became an iconic production in the history of rock and
production in the history of rock and
production in the history of rock and roll and was quite the feather in the
roll and was quite the feather in the
roll and was quite the feather in the cap of Elvis to discuss with his fellow
cap of Elvis to discuss with his fellow
cap of Elvis to discuss with his fellow soldiers over the next two years in the
soldiers over the next two years in the
soldiers over the next two years in the US Army Band number 3 tequila the champs
it’s been proven that Americans will
it’s been proven that Americans will completely lose their minds anytime a
completely lose their minds anytime a
completely lose their minds anytime a rock song references alcohol and in 1958
rock song references alcohol and in 1958
rock song references alcohol and in 1958 this track made a nation of rebels
this track made a nation of rebels
this track made a nation of rebels without a cause to get down to a sexy
without a cause to get down to a sexy
without a cause to get down to a sexy mambo beat
you don’t hear many people talking about
you don’t hear many people talking about the musical history of the Champs today
the musical history of the Champs today
the musical history of the Champs today but their song has long been a staple of
but their song has long been a staple of
but their song has long been a staple of American pop culture and dive-bar
American pop culture and dive-bar
American pop culture and dive-bar jukeboxes tequila is essential for any
jukeboxes tequila is essential for any
jukeboxes tequila is essential for any party playlist and way back when it was
party playlist and way back when it was
party playlist and way back when it was not only topping the pop chart but the
not only topping the pop chart but the
not only topping the pop chart but the R&B charts as well this one’s called
R&B charts as well this one’s called
R&B charts as well this one’s called rock around the clock bill hayley23
rock around the clock bill hayley23
rock around the clock bill hayley23 macaca
macaca
macaca number 2 rock around the clock Bill
number 2 rock around the clock Bill
number 2 rock around the clock Bill Haley & his comets in a time when
Haley & his comets in a time when
Haley & his comets in a time when America was on the verge of a cultural
America was on the verge of a cultural
America was on the verge of a cultural revolution this song infused an unknown
revolution this song infused an unknown
revolution this song infused an unknown groove into the bodies of millions
Hey it was 1954 and when rock around the
Hey it was 1954 and when rock around the clock hit the radio teenagers weren’t
clock hit the radio teenagers weren’t
clock hit the radio teenagers weren’t exactly hip to shakin their hips and you
exactly hip to shakin their hips and you
exactly hip to shakin their hips and you damn well know their parents weren’t
damn well know their parents weren’t
damn well know their parents weren’t either
as one of the most well known rock and
as one of the most well known rock and roll songs ever recorded rock around the
roll songs ever recorded rock around the
roll songs ever recorded rock around the clock paved the way for a crazy new
clock paved the way for a crazy new
clock paved the way for a crazy new brand of music while it was the
brand of music while it was the
brand of music while it was the italian-american sunny day that first
italian-american sunny day that first
italian-american sunny day that first recorded the song Bill Haley & his
recorded the song Bill Haley & his
recorded the song Bill Haley & his comets introduced it to a larger
comets introduced it to a larger
comets introduced it to a larger audience that was undoubtedly ready to
audience that was undoubtedly ready to
audience that was undoubtedly ready to rock
this is where we normally have honorable
this is where we normally have honorable mentions but there aren’t any this time
mentions but there aren’t any this time
mentions but there aren’t any this time around so on to our top pick number one
around so on to our top pick number one
around so on to our top pick number one hound dog Elvis Presley in the early 50s
hound dog Elvis Presley in the early 50s
hound dog Elvis Presley in the early 50s a couple of teenage songwriters made a
a couple of teenage songwriters made a
a couple of teenage songwriters made a blues singer by the name of Willie Mae
blues singer by the name of Willie Mae
blues singer by the name of Willie Mae Big Mama Thornton and while the latter
Big Mama Thornton and while the latter
Big Mama Thornton and while the latter would never quite reach the same success
would never quite reach the same success
would never quite reach the same success again the combo known as Leiber and
again the combo known as Leiber and
again the combo known as Leiber and Stoller went on to write numerous chart
Stoller went on to write numerous chart
Stoller went on to write numerous chart toppers for the king himself
hound dog is widely recognized as the
hound dog is widely recognized as the song that sparked a rock and roll
song that sparked a rock and roll
song that sparked a rock and roll revolution as Elvis’s wailing vocals and
revolution as Elvis’s wailing vocals and
revolution as Elvis’s wailing vocals and classic performances embodied what a
classic performances embodied what a
classic performances embodied what a young generation of Americans were
young generation of Americans were
young generation of Americans were experiencing individual freedom you
experiencing individual freedom you
experiencing individual freedom you ain’t no just as the original recording
ain’t no just as the original recording
ain’t no just as the original recording was slightly altered for a new audience
was slightly altered for a new audience
was slightly altered for a new audience generations upon generations would later
generations upon generations would later
generations upon generations would later alter rock music to reflect their own
alter rock music to reflect their own
alter rock music to reflect their own reality and it all began with this Elvis
reality and it all began with this Elvis
reality and it all began with this Elvis classic
so do you agree with our selections what
so do you agree with our selections what is your favorite chart-topping rock song
is your favorite chart-topping rock song
is your favorite chart-topping rock song of the 50s for more mind-blowing top 10s
of the 50s for more mind-blowing top 10s
of the 50s for more mind-blowing top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com well I feel now man
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