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[50s–60s] A Collection of Rock ’n’ Roll Classics

Suddenly, but when you hear the word “rock ’n’ roll,” what kind of image comes to mind?

Some of you might be wondering, “How is it different from rock?” But as listeners, we don’t really need to know the fine distinctions, do we?

As for its origins, rock ’n’ roll is said to have emerged in the 1950s in the United States as popular music influenced by genres like rhythm and blues, country, jazz, and swing.

In this article, we’ll introduce classic rock ’n’ roll tracks from around the 1950s to the early 1960s.

If you want to learn about the history of rock—or if you’re just itching to dance to some upbeat rock ’n’ roll—this is a must-read!

Playlist

[50s–60s] A Collection of Rock ’n’ Roll Classics
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastJailhouse RockElvis Presley
Jailhouse RockElvis Presleyplay_arrow
A signature song by Elvis Presley and a worldwide smash hit
2eastJohnny B. GoodeChuck Berry
Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berryplay_arrow
A classic from the golden age of rock and roll, a representative work by Chuck Berry
3eastRock Around The ClockBill Haley & His Comets
Rock Around The ClockBill Haley & His Cometsplay_arrow
A landmark hit of rock and roll
4eastWhy Do Fools Fall In LoveFrankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In LoveFrankie Lymon & The Teenagersplay_arrow
Representative songs of 1950s rock and roll
5eastGood Golly Miss MollyLittle Richard
Good Golly Miss MollyLittle Richardplay_arrow
Richard's Enthusiastic Rock Anthem
6eastLeader Of The PackThe Shangri- Las
Leader Of The PackThe Shangri- Lasplay_arrow
The evolution of rock and roll and the tragic story of a girl
7eastSummertime BluesEddie Cochran
Summertime BluesEddie Cochranplay_arrow
Eddie Cochran’s youthful rock classic from 1958
8eastBlue Suede ShoesCarl Perkins
Blue Suede ShoesCarl Perkinsplay_arrow
A fusion of blues and country becomes a hit
9eastPeggy SueBuddy Holly & The Crickets
Peggy SueBuddy Holly & The Cricketsplay_arrow
Representative love songs by Buddy Holly
10eastGreat Balls of FireJERRY LEE LEWIS
Great Balls of FireJERRY LEE LEWISplay_arrow
Jerry Lee Lewis's classic rock love song
11eastSusie-QDale Hawkins
Susie-QDale Hawkinsplay_arrow
Dale Hawkins's iconic rock classic
12eastTrain Kept A Rollin’Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio
Train Kept A Rollin'Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trioplay_arrow
A rock and roll classic: the fusion of trains and romance
13eastA Teenager’s RomanceRicky Nelson
A Teenager's RomanceRicky Nelsonplay_arrow
Ricky Nelson’s love song becomes a big hit
14eastBye Bye LoveThe Everly Brothers
Bye Bye LoveThe Everly Brothersplay_arrow
The Everly Brothers’ classic breakup rock song
15eastLawdy Miss ClawdyLloyd Price
Lawdy Miss ClawdyLloyd Priceplay_arrow
Lloyd Price’s heartbreak song, a classic from the dawn of rock ’n’ roll
16eastBe-Bop-a-LulaGene Vincent & The Blue Caps
Be-Bop-a-LulaGene Vincent & The Blue Capsplay_arrow
Gene Vincent, a representative song of the rockabilly era
17eastAin’t That a ShameFats Domino
Ain't That a ShameFats Dominoplay_arrow
A classic song about resolving to move forward after overcoming heartbreak
18eastDon’t You Just Know ItHuey “Piano” Smith & The Clowns
Don't You Just Know ItHuey "Piano" Smith & The Clownsplay_arrow
Rock and roll classics of the 1950s
19eastWho Do You Love?Bo Diddley
Who Do You Love?Bo Diddleyplay_arrow
Bo Diddley’s signature work, with its distinctive beat
20eastI Put a Spell on YouScreamin’ Jay Hawkins
I Put a Spell on YouScreamin' Jay Hawkinsplay_arrow
Hawkins' cursed song is his signature work
21eastLouisiana MamaGene Pitney
Louisiana MamaGene Pitneyplay_arrow
A 1961 classic that sings of Louisiana’s charms
22eastYou Really Got MeThe Kinks
You Really Got MeThe Kinksplay_arrow
The Kinks’ Innovative Music and Honors
23eastRoll Over BeethovenChuck Berry
Roll Over BeethovenChuck Berryplay_arrow
A signature Chuck Berry song covered by the Beatles
24eastLA BAMBARitchie Valens
LA BAMBARitchie Valensplay_arrow
Fusion of Mexican folk songs and rock 'n' roll
25eastEverydayBuddy Holly
EverydayBuddy Hollyplay_arrow
Buddy Holly’s classic love song
26eastWake Up Little SusieThe Everly Brothers
Wake Up Little SusieThe Everly Brothersplay_arrow
A classic by the Everly Brothers
27eastLong Tall SallyLittle Richard
Long Tall SallyLittle Richardplay_arrow
Little Richard's rock and roll smash hit
28eastJim DandyLaVern Baker
Jim DandyLaVern Bakerplay_arrow
A classic that lifts your spirits with its rhythmic music
29eastDirty WaterThe Standells
Dirty WaterThe Standellsplay_arrow
The Standells’ rebellious, spirit-filled garage rock
30eastBlue Jean BopGene Vincent
Blue Jean BopGene Vincentplay_arrow
Gene Vincent’s dynamic rock classic
31eastHey, Bo DiddleyBo Diddley
Hey, Bo DiddleyBo Diddleyplay_arrow
Classic song with a Bo Diddley beat
32eastTake Good Care Of My BabyBobby Vee
Take Good Care Of My BabyBobby Veeplay_arrow
Bobby Vee’s heartbreak love song
33eastAT THE HOPDANNY & THE JUNIORS
AT THE HOPDANNY & THE JUNIORSplay_arrow
Captivating songs of 1950s rock and roll
34eastThat’s My DesireDion & The Belmonts
That's My DesireDion & The Belmontsplay_arrow
The romantic allure of Dion and The Belmonts’ classic
35eastActionFreddy Cannon
ActionFreddy Cannonplay_arrow
Rock 'n' roll classic by Freddy Cannon
36eastLet’s Live For TodayThe Grass Roots
Let's Live For TodayThe Grass Rootsplay_arrow
The Psychedelic Allure of Grass Roots Classics
37eastNights In White SatinThe Moody Blues
Nights In White SatinThe Moody Bluesplay_arrow
The Moody Blues' classic, a timeless love song
38eastWild ThingThe Troggs
Wild ThingThe Troggsplay_arrow
The Troggs’ signature work: a 1960s rock revolution song
39eastThis AfternoonNickelback
This AfternoonNickelbackplay_arrow
Nickelback: a band active across multiple genres
40eastOoby DoobyRoy Orbison
Ooby DoobyRoy Orbisonplay_arrow
The passionate music of Roy Orbison
41eastYou Got ItRoy Orbison
You Got ItRoy Orbisonplay_arrow
Orbison’s signature song, an emotional rock piece singing of love and devotion
42eastWalk, Don’t RunThe Ventures
Walk, Don't RunThe Venturesplay_arrow
A classic by an American guitar band
43eastDon’t Be CruelOtis Blackwell
Don't Be CruelOtis Blackwellplay_arrow
Elvis’s biggest hit, a classic song covered by many artists
44eastFind My Baby For MeSonny Burgess & Roy Orbison
Find My Baby For MeSonny Burgess & Roy Orbisonplay_arrow
1950s rock and roll classic collaboration
45eastDiamond HeadThe Ventures
Diamond HeadThe Venturesplay_arrow
A classic of surf music, 1.85 million copies sold