A Discography of Rhythm and Blues
and Early Rock and Roll

discography.jpg

THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL (unpublished)
KURT VON MEIER

The most powerful musical influence upon the early history of rock and roll comes from the tradition of rhythm and blues. In turn, r&b's roots go back through the electric and city blues to the old country blues. But only in the early 1940s did there begin to emerge a more or less distinct field of music, with its own stylistic identity, that could be called rhythm and blues. However it wasn't known as r&b; instead, the category of tunes including hit recordings by the top black artists of the 1940s such as Louis Jordan, the Ink Spots, Lionel Hampton or Nat (King) Cole and his King Cole Trio was generally referred to as "race music." As the term "race" came to have increasingly ugly connotations--a process no doubt accentuated by the civil disturbances popularly known as "race riots" toward the end of the 1940s--the music trade switched over to the term "rhythm and blues," or just "r&b."

On of the leading trade papers within the music and entertaiment industry, The Billboard, first published a separate listing for r&b music in its Music Popularity Charts in October, 1942. A tabulation of the top ten "r&b" tunes according to juke box plays made at the end of that year contains a few surprises: Paul Whiteman's "Travelin' Light" was tied for top honors, and the number seven spot was held by the Southern Sons with "Praise the Lord." But the mind-blower was the number five most widely-played "rhythm and blues" record: Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." What charts like this do provide is an index of the historical develop­ment of musical tastes for black markets, principally the large urban Negro ghettos. Many of the musical sources for both rhythm and blues and for rock and roll are reflected by these tastes: jazz, gospel, a variety of blues styles, be-bop, swing, pop ballads and even a little country influence. This discography, however, concentrates on those tunes most directly in the r&b and rock tradition.

Toward the end of the 1940s a genuine rhythm and blues style begins to coalesce. Up until the advent of rock and roll in 1954, this field is basically black--black music performed by black artists for small independent black re­cord companies, played over black radio stations for an al­most exclusively black audience. Tunes by white artists gradually disappear from the rhythm and blues charts as published in the several trade papers. The early 1950s were the sweet heavy years of pure r&b.

Like most vital traditions, particularly in media associa­ted with the popular arts, changes came swiftly for r&b. The music was so strong and alive that its appeal spread well beyond the confines of class, age and color.  Through the early 1950s an increasingly large number of white teenagers began to pick up on r&b and to make this music their own. In order to capitalize upon the burgeoning popularity of r&b among the kids, several of the record companies formed groups to produce "cover" versions of originally black r&b tunes. The first of these such tunes to become the number one best-selling record in the country was "Sh-Boom," first issued by the black group that wrote it, the Chords, and then covered by the Crewcuts, a white group who built a successful career re-recording originally black or r&b material. Before this tune influences had gone the other way--only very rarely would a white artist or group attempt to record r&b material, although black groups did their own versions of many pop tunes. An excellent example from 1953 is the fire version of "Crying in the Chapel" by Sonny Til and the Orioles, released as a cover of June Valli's pop hit; and like many covers, the Orioles' rendition is valid in its own right as a work of art.

With the triumphant rise of r&b and the spread of its popularity around the beginning of 1954 the direction of influence seems to shift. The creative sources of inspiration were still black; however both black and white artists and groups drew on the pop tradition almost as much as they were influenced by rhythm and blues. A new hybrid or inte­grated kind of music came into being: rock and roll. For several years rock and r&b were but vaguely distinct fields. The practical basis for distinguishing them is that r&b was performed by black artists for that whole black cultural context. Also, the music itself is closer to black tradi­tions, such as in the use of saxes more than guitars for instrumental backing, or in the guitar work being more closely related to blues sources. In the later 1950s though, these distinctions are increasingly academic as rock and roll's domination of the r&b field came to be almost total.

The following discography contains primarily rhythm and blues tunes from the dozen-year period preceding rock and roll, and the r&b/rock tunes from the three-year period of the beginnings of rock and roll. These listings are grouped by year. Although the popularity of many given disks spanned two or more years, the year it first appear­ed on the top ten lists is usually the only under which such a tune has been entered. Most of the titles made it at least into the lists of top ten, best-selling records according to The Billboard's "R&B" Music Popularity Charts. Some of them were on "Pop" music charts as well, but there was no separate listing for "rock and roll" tunes in any of the major trade publications during this early period. Frequently a tune issued on a small, independent label would be acquired and re-released by a larger company--hence there are still many blanks in documenting original labels and issue numbers. Some cross-referencing is necessary for groups with featured singers who themselves become the major stars, such as with Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, although multiple entries have been generally avoided here for reasons of conciseness. Pop and country versions of rock originals have been largely omitted even though they, too, are an important phase in the history of rock and roll.

1942

  • Earl Hines, "Stormy Monday Blues" (V-20-2694)

  • Louis Jordan, "What's the Use of Getting Sober?" (Deccca 23629)

  • Andy Kirk, "Take It and Git" (Decca 4366)

  • Freddie Slack, "Mr. Five By Five" (Capitol 115) - "Cow Cow Boogie" (Capitol 415188)

1943

  • Bea Booze, "See See Rider Blues" (Decca 448055)

  • Buddy Johnson, "Let's Beat Out Some Love" (Decca 8647)

  • Lucky Millinder,"Apollo Jump" (Decca 18529)

1944

  • Lionel Hampton, "Camp's Boogie Woogie" (Decca 23836)

  • Louis Jordan, "G.I.Jive" (Decca B659) - "Ration Blues" (Decca 8654)

  • King Cole Trio, "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (Capitol 4154 and Capitol 15284)

  • Cootie Williams, "Cherry Red Blues" (Hit 7084)

1945

  • Erskine Hawkins, "Tippin' In" (V-20-1639 and 20-2284)

  • Buddy Johnson, "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" (Decca 48019)

  • Louis Jordan, "Caledonia" (Decca 23932) - "Mop Mop" (Decca 8668) - "You Can't Get That No More" (Decca 8668)

  • Joe Liggins, "The Honeydripper" (Exclusive 207 and 124X)

  • Lucky Millinder, "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well?" (Decca 18674)

  • Cootie Williams, "Somebody's Got To Go" (Hit 7119)

1946

  • Lionel Hampton, "Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" (Decca 23837)

  • Louis Jordan, "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" (Decca 23669) - "Buzz Me" (Decca 8734) - "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (Decca 23610) - "Salt Pork, W. Va." (Decca 18762) - "Stone Cold Dead In the Market" (Decca 23546) With Ella Fitzgerald.

  • Roy Milton, "R. M. Blues" (Specialty 504)

  • Johnny Moore and his Three Blazers, "Drifting Blues" (Aladdin 112 and 183)

1947

  • Bull Moose Jackson, "I Love You, Yes I Do" (King 4181)

  • Louis Jordan, "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" (Decca 2374r) - "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" (Decca 24104) - "Jack, You're Dead" (Decca 23901) - "Let the Good Times Roll" (Decca 23741) - "Texas and Pacific" (Decca 23810)

  • Julia Lee and her Boyfriends, "Snatch and Grab It" (Capitol Americana 40028)

  • Nellie Lutcher, "He' A Real Gone Guy" (Capitol Americana 40017) - "Hurry On Down" (Capitol Americana 40002) The Ravens, "Write Me A Letter" (National 9038)

  • The Eddie Vinson Orchestra, "Old Maid Boogie" (Mercury 8028)

1948

  • Wynonie Harris, "Good Rockin' Tonight" (King 4210)

  • Ivory Joe Hunter, "Pretty Mama Blues" (Four Star 1254) - "All My Love Belongs To You" (King 4189)

  • Bull Moose Jackson, "I Can't Go On Without You" (King 4230)

  • Lonnie Johnson, "Tomorrow Night" (Savoy, King 4201?)

  • Louis Jordan, "Run Joe" (Decca 24448)

  • Julia Lee and her Boyfriends, "King Size Papa" (Capitol 40082)

  • Nellie Lutcher, "Fine Brown Frame" (Capitol 15032)

  • The Ravens, "Send For Me If You Need Me" (National 9045)

  • Memphis Slim, "Messin' Around" (Miracle M-125)

  • Sonny Thompson, "Late Freight" (Miracle M-128) - "Long Gone" (Miracle M-126)

1949

  • The Charles Brown Trio, "Trouble Blues" (Aladdin 3024)

  • Roy Brown and his Mighty Men, "Rockin' At Midnight" (De Luxe 3213)

  • Do, Re and Me, "Wrapped In A Dream" (Commodore C-25)

  • Wynonie Harris, "All She Wants To Do Is Rock" (King 495) - "I Want My Fanny Brown" (King)

  • John Lee Hooker, "Boogie Chillen'" (Modern 626/7)

  • Bull Moose Jackson, "Little Girl, Don't Cry" (King 4288)

  • Louis Jordan, "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (Decca 24725)

  • Stick McGhee and his Buddies, "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee" (Atlantic 873)

  • Amos Milburn, "Bewildered" (Aladdin 3018) - "Chicken Shack Boogie" (Aladdin 3014) - "Hold Me, Baby" (Aladdin 3023)

  • The Red Miller Trio, "Bewildered" (Bullet 295)

  • The Orioles, "Tell Me So" (Jubilee 5005)

  • The Ray-O-Vacs, "I'll Always Be In Love With You" (Savoy 681)

  • Paul Williams; "The Hucklebuck" (Savoy 683)

  • Jimmy Witherspoon, "Ain't Nobody's Business" (Supreme 1506)

  • The X-Rays, "I'll Always Be In Love With You' ' (Savoy 681)

1950

  • Tiny Bradshaw, "Well, Oh Well / I Hate You" (King 4357)

  • Roy Brown, "Hard Luck Blues" (King 5218 and De Luxe 3304)

  • Larry Darnell, "For You My Love" (Regal 3240)

  • Fats Domino, "The Fat Man" (Imperial 5058)

  • Little Esther, Johnny Otis and Mel Walker, ".Cupid's Boogie" (Savoy - "Mistrustin' Blues" (Savoy 730) (with the Robins & not Walker)

  • Lowell Fulson, "Every Day I Have the Blues" (Swingtime-196)

  • Ivory Joe Hunter, "Guess Who" (King 4306) - "I Almost Lost My Mind" .(MGM 10578) - "I Need You So" (MGM 10663)

  • Louis Jordan, Blue Light Boogie" (Decca

  • Joe Liggins, "The Honeydripper" (Specialty 338) With the Honey‑drippers; the original was released in 1945. - "Pink Champagne" (Specialty 355)

  • Amos Milburn, "Bad, Bad Whiskey" (Aladdin 3068)

  • Johnny Otis, Little Esther and the Robins, "Double Crossing Blues" (Savoy 731) Some records also credit Mel Walker.

  • The Ravens, "I Don't Have To Ride No More" (National 9101)

1951                                              

  • Jackie Brenston, "Rocket 88" (Chess 1458)

  • Charles Brown, "Black Night" (Aladdin 3076)

  • Ruth Brown,"Teardrops From My Eyes" (Atlantic 919)

  • The Cardinals, "Wheel Of Fortune" (Atlantic 958)

  • The Clovers, "Don't You Know I Love You?" (Atlantic 934) - "Fool, Fool, Fool" (Atlantic 944)

  • Peppermint Harris, "I Got Loaded" (Aladdin 3097)

  • The Five Keys, "Glory Of Love"' (Aladdin 806)

  • Percy Mayfield; "Please Send Me Someone To Love" (Specialty 375)

  • Lucky Millinder,"I'm Just Waiting For You" (King 4453)

  • J. Nelson,"'T'99 Blues" (RPM 325)

  • Johnny Otis, "All Night Long" (Savoy 788) - "Rockin' Blues" (Savoy) With Mel Walker.

  • Joe Turner, "Chains Of Love" (Atlantic 939)

  • Billy Ward and the Dominoes, "Sixty-Minute Man" (Federal 12022)

1952

  • Johnny Ace, "Cross My Heart" (Duke 107). - "My Song" (Duke 102)

  • Earl Bostic, "Flamingo" (King 4475)

  • Eddie Boyd, "Five Long Years" (Job 1007)

  • Ruth Brown, "Five, Ten, Fifteen Hours" (Atlantic 962)

  • The Clovers, "One Mint Julep" (Atlantic 963) - "Ting A Ling" (Atlantic 969)

  • Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup,"I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole" (Victor 50-0141;

  • Fats Domino, "Goin' Home" (Imperial 5180)

  • H-Bomb Ferguson, "Big City Blues" (Savoy 836) Released February 9, 1952

  • Jimmy Forrest, "Night Train" (United 110 and Savoy 1157)

  • The Griffen Brothers, "Weeping and Crying" (Dot 1071)

  • John Lee Hooker, "In The Mood" (Modern 835)

  • B.B. King, "Three O'Clock Blues" (RPM 399)

  • Lloyd Price, "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" (Specialty 661)

  • Shirley and Lee, "I'm Gone" (Aladdin 3153)

  • Joe Turner, "Sweet Sixteen" (Atlantic 960)

  • Little Walter, "Juke" (Checker 758) - "Sad Hours" (Checker 754)

  • Billy Ward and the Dominoes, "Have Mercy, Baby" (Federal 12068)

1953                                         

  • Johnny Ace, "The Clock" (Duke 112)

  • Faye Adams, "I'll Be True/ Shake A Hand" (Herald 419)

  • Tiny Bradshaw, "Soft" (King 4577)

  • Ruth Brown, "Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)" (Atlantic 986)

  • The Clovers, "Crawlin'" (Atlantic 989) - "Good Lovin'" (Atlantic 1000)

  • The Coronets, "Nadine" (Chess 1549) With Chuck Berry?

  • The Crows, "Gee" (Rama 5)

  • Bill Doggett, "Soft" (King 5080)

  • Fats Domino, "Going To the River" (Imperial 5231) - "Nobody Loves Me" (Imperial 5220) - "Please Don't Leave Me" (Imperial 5240)

  • The Du Droppers, "I Wanna Know" (Victor 20-5229) - "I Found Out" (Victor 20-5321)

  • The Five Royales, "Baby, Don't Do It" (Apollo 443)- "Crazy, Crazy, Crazy / Help Me, Somebody" (Apollo 446) - "Too Much Lovin'" (Apollo 448)

  • B. B. King, "Please Love Me" (RPM 386)

  • Willie Mabon, "I Don't Know" (Chess 1531)

  • Big Maybelle, "Grabbin' Blues" (Okeh 6931)

  • Amos Milburn, "Let Me Go Home, Whiskey" (Aladdin 3164) - "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" (Aladdin 3197)

  • Lloyd Price, "Ain't It A Shame" (Specialty 452)

  • The Royals, "Get It" (Federal 12133) - "The Shrine Of Saint Cecelia" (Federal 12121)

  • The Spaniels, "Baby, It's You" (Chance 1141)

  • Sonny Til and the Orioles, "Crying In the Chapel" (Jubilee 5122)

  • Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton, "Hound Dog" (Peacock 1612)

  • Joe Turner, "Honey Hush" (Atlantic 1001)

  • Billy Ward and the Dominoes, "Rags To Riches" (King 1280)

1954

  • Johnny Ace, "Please Forgive Me" (Duke 128) - "Saving My Love For You" (Duke 118)

  • Faye Adams, "Hurts Me To My Heart" (Herald 434)

  • Ruth Brown, "Mambo Baby" (Atlantic 1044) - "What A Dream" (Atlantic 1036)

  • The Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band, "Skokiaan" (London 1491)

  • Ray Charles, "Don't You Know?" (Atlantic 1037) - "It Should Have Been Me" (Atlantic 1021)

  • The Charms, "Hearts of Stone" (De Luxe 6062) With Otis Williams.

  • The Chords, "Sh-Boom" (Cat 104)

  • The Clovers/ "I've Got My Eyes On You" (Atlantic 1035) - "Little Mama / Lovey Dovey" (Atlantic 1022)- "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" (Atlantic 1035)

  • The Counts, "Darling Dear" (Dot 1188)

  • The Crew Cuts, "Crazy 'Bout You Baby" (Mercury 70341) - "Sh-Boom" (Mercury 70404)

  • Sonny Dae, "Rock Around the Clock" (Arcade 123)

  • Fats Domino, "Something's Wrong" (Imperial 5262) - "You've Done Me Wrong" (Imperial 5272)

  • The Drifters, "Bip Bam" (Atlantic 1043)

  • "Money Honey" (Atlantic 1006) See also Clyde McPhatter.

  • The Four Tunes, "I Understand Just How You Feel" (Jubilee 5132) - "Marie" (Jubilee 5128)

  • Lowell Fulson, "Reconsider, Baby" (Checker 804) Also spelled Fulsom.

  • Shirley Gunter, "Oop Shoop" (Flair 1050)

  • H-Bomb Ferguson, "Hole In the Wall" (Decca 29167)

  • Bill Haley and his Comets, "Crazy, Man, Crazy" (Essex - "Rock Around the Clock" - (Decca 29124) "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (Decca 29204) - "Skokiaan" (Decca 31030) - "Straight Jacket" (Essex 348)

  • Roy Hamilton, "Ebb Tide" (Epic 9068) - "Hurt" (Epic 9086) - "If I Loved You" (Epic 9047) - "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Epic 9015)

  • The Harptones, "A Sunday Kind Of Love" (Bruce 101)

  • Wilbert Harrison, "Don't Drop It' (Savoy 1138)

  • Lil' Son Jackson, "Get High Everybody" (Imperial 5300)

  • B. Johnson, "I'm Just Your Fool" (Mercury 70251)

  • B. B. King, "You Upset Me Baby / Whole Lotta Love" (RPM 416)

  • Joe Liggins, "Drunk" (Specialty 470) - "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" (Mercury 70440) Pre-Beatle.

  • Willie Mabon, "Poison Ivy" (Chess 1580)

  • Marvin and Johnny, "Cherry Pie / Tick Tock" (Modern 923)

  • Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, "Honey Love" (Atlantic 1029) - "Lucille / Such A Night" (Atlantic 1019)

  • The Midnighters, "Annie Had a Baby" (Federal 12195) - "Annie's Aunt Fanny" (Federal 12200) - "Sexy Ways" (Federal 12185) - "Work With Me Annie" (Federal 12169)

  • The Moonglows, "Sincerely" (Chess 1581)

  • J. Morris,"I Had A Notion" (Herald 417)

  • The Penguins, "Earth Angel" (Dootone 348)

  • The Platters, "I Need You All the Time" (Mercury Victor 447-0601)

  • Elvis Presley, "Blue Moon Of Kentucky / That's All Right" (Sun) - "Good Rockin' Tonight/I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" (Sun)

  • The Robins, "Riot In Cell lock Number Nine" (Spark 103) Victor 447-0602 - "Whadaya Want / If Teardrops Were Kisses" (Spark 110)

  • Guitar Slim, "Things That Used To Do" (Specialty 482)

  • The Spaniels, "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" (Vee Jay 107)

  • The Spiders, "I Didn't Want To Do It/You're the One" (Imperial 5265)

  • Zola Taylor, "Make Love To Me" (RPM 405) .

  • Ike Turner, "Loosely / Cubano Jump" (Flair 1040)

  • Joe Turner, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (Atlantic 1026) - "T.V. Mama" (Atlantic 1016)

  • Little Walter, "You Better Watch Yourself" (Checker 799) - "You're So Fine" (Checker 786)

  • Muddy Waters, "I'm Ready" (Chess 1579) - "I'm Your Hootchy Kootchy Man" (Chess 1560) - "Just Make Love To Me" (Chess 1571)

  • Dinah Washington, "Dream / I Don't Hurt Anymore" (Mercury 70439) - "Teach Me Tonight" (Mercury 70497)

  • The Noble Watts Quintet, "Mashing Potatoes" (De Luxe

  • Joan Weber, "Let Me Go, Lover" (Columbia 40366)

  • Chuck Willis, "I Feel So Bad" (Okeh 7029) - "You're Still My Baby" (Okeh 7015)

1955

  • Johnny Ace, "Anymore" (Duke 144) - "Pledging My Love" (Duke 136)

  • La Vern Baker, "Bop Ting a Ling" (Atlantic 1057) - "Get Up, Get-Up" (Atlantic 1087) - "Play It Fair" (Atlantic 1075) - "That's All I Need" (Atlantic 1057) - "Tweedle Dee" (Atlantic 1047)

  • Gene Barlow and the Crickets, "Forever" (Jay Dee)

  • Count Basie, Everyday" (Clef 89149)

  • Boyd Bennett, "Seventeen" (King 1470)

  • Chuck Berry, "Maybellene" Chess 1604) - "Thirty Days" (Chess 1610)

  • Pat Boone, "At My Front Door" (Dot 15422)

  • L. Brooks, "It's Love, Baby" (Excello 2056)

  • Nappy Brown, "Don't Be Angry" (Savoy 1155) - "Piddly Patter Patter" (Savoy 1162)

  • Ruth Brown, "As Long As I'm Moving" (Atlantic 1059) - "I Can See. Everybody's Baby" (Atlantic 1059) - "It's Love, Baby" (Atlantic 1072) - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (Atlantic 1077) (With Clyde McPhatter) - "What'd I Say" (Atlantic 1072)

  • The Cardinals, "The Door Is Still Open" (Atlantic 1054)

  • Ray Charles, "Blackjack" (Atlantic 1076) - "Comeback" (Atlantic 1050) - "Fool For You" (Atlantic 1063) - "Greenbacks" (Atlantic 1075) - "I've Got A Woman" (Atlantic 1050) - "This Little Girl Of Mine" (Atlantic 1063)

  • Charlie and Ray, "I Love You. Madly" (Herald 438)

  • The Charms: see Otis Williams and the Charms.

  • The Cheers, "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots"

  • Cindy and Lindy "Let's Go Steady" (Pilgrim 702)

  • The Clovers, "Blue Velvet" (Atlantic 1052) - "Nip Sip" (Atlantic 1073)

  • The Colts, "Adorable" (Vita 112)

  • Danderliers, "Chop Chop Boom" (States 147)

  • Bo Diddley, "Bo Diddley" (Checker 814) - "Diddley Daddy" (Checker 819) - "I'm A Man" (Checker 814)

  • Varetta Dillard, "Johnny Has Gone" (Savoy 1153)

  • Fats Domino, "Ain't It A Shame" (Imperial 5348) - "All By Myself" (Imperial 5357) - "Don't You Know" (Imperial 5340) - "I Can't Go On" (Imperial 5369) - "Poor Me" (Imperial 5369)

  • The Drifters: See Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters.

  • Champion Jack Dupree, "Walking the Blues" (King 4812)

  • The El Dorados, "At My Front Door" (Vee Jay 147)

  • The Five Keys, "Close Your Eyes" (Capitol 3032)

  • "Ling Ting Tong" (Capitol 2945)

  • "The Verdict" (Capitol 3127)

  • The Four Fellows, "Angels Say" (Glory 236) - "Soldier Boy" (Glory 234)

  • Gene and Eunice, "Ko Ko Mo" (Combo 64) - "This Is My Story" (Aladdin 3282)

  • Vernon Green and the Medallions, "The Letter" (Dooto 347)'

  • Bill Haley and his Comets, "Dim, Dim the Lights" (Decca 29317) - "Rock Around the Clock" (Decca 29124)(Returns from 1954).

  • Roy Hamilton, "Forgive This Fool" (Epic 9111) - "Unchained Melody" (Epic 9102)

  • The Harptones, "Life Is But a Dream" (Paradise 101) - "My Memories of You" (Bruce 102)

  • The Heartbeats, "Crazy for You" (Hull 711) - "People Are Talking" (Hull 716)

  • The Hearts, "Lonely Nights" (Baton 208)

  • Al Hibbler, "He" (Decca 29660)

  • "Unchained Melody" (Decca 29441)

  • Ivory Joe Hunter, "A Tear Fell" (Atlantic 1086)

  • The Jacks, "Why Don't You Write Me" (RPM 428)

  • The Jaguars, "The Way You Look Tonight" (R-Dell 11)

  • Etta James, "Good Rockin' Daddy" (Modern 962) - "The Wallflower" (Modern 947) This was also issued as "Dance With Me Henry."

  • Little Willie John, "All Around the World" (King 4818)

  • B. Johnson, "Upside Your Head" (Mercury 70523)

  • Don Julian and the Meadowlarks, "Heaven and Paradise" (Dooto 359)

  • B.B. King, "Every Day I Have the Blues" (RPM 421) - "Sneakin' Around" (RPM 421) - "Ten Long Years" (RPM 437)

  • E. King, "It's Love, Baby" (Excello 2056)

  • Lillian Leach and the Mellows, "Smoke From Your Cigarette" (Davis 797, Jay-Dee 797) - "Yesterday's Memories" (Jay Dee 807)

  • Smiley Lewis, "I Hear You Knocking" (Imperial 5356)

  • Oscar McLollie, "Convicted" (Class 243)

  • Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, "Adorable" (Atlantic 1078) - "Steamboat" (Atlantic 1078) - "What'cha Gonna Do" (Atlantic 1055) - "White Christams" (Atlantic 1048) Return from 1954.

  • Jay McShann and Priscilla Bowman, "Hands Off" (Vee Jay 155)

  • The Marigolds, "Rollin' Stone" (Excello 2057) - "Henry's Got Flat Feet" (Federal 12224)

  • The Midnighters, "Rock and Roll Wedding" (Federal) - "Switchie Witchie Titchie (Federal 12227)
    The Moonglows, "In My Diary" (Chess 1611) - "Most Of All" (Chess 1589)

  • The Nuggets, "Shtiggy Boom" (Capitol 13540)

  • The Nutmegs, "Ship Of Love" (Herald 459) - "Story Untold" (Herald 452)

  • The Platters, "The Great Pretender" (Mercury 70753) - "Only You" (Mercury 70633) (Flip: "Bark, Battle and Ball").

  • Elvis Presley, "Baby, Let's Play House" (Sun 217) (Victor 447-06c4) - "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" (Sun 223) Victor 447-0600 - "Milkcow Blues Boogie" (Sun -Victor 447-0603) - "Mystery Train" (Sun 223 Victor 447-0600) - "You're A Heartbreaker" (Sun) - "You're Right, I'm Left, She's Gone" (Sun 217) Victor 447-0604

  • Jimmy Reed, "You Don't Have To Go" (Vee Jay 119)

  • Little Richard, "Tutti Frutti" (Specialty 561)

  • Rivileers, "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" (Baton 207)

  • Robert and Johnny, "I Believe In You" (Old Town 1021)

  • The Robins, "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (Atco 6059)

  • The Royal Tones, "Crazy Love" (Old Town 1018)

  • Shirley and Lee, "Feels So Good" (Aladdin 3289)

  • The Solitaires, "The Wedding" (Old Town 1014)

  • The Spaniels, "Painted Pic ure" (Vee Jay 154)

  • The Spiders, "Witchcraft" Imperial 5366)

  • The Three Chuckles, "Run Around" (X 0066) - "Times Two I Love You" (X 0162)

  • The Turbans, "When You Dance" (Herald 458)

  • Joe Turner, "Flip, Flop and Fly" (Atlantic 1053) - "Hide and Seek" (Atlantic 1069)

  • The Valentines, "Lily Maybelle" (Rama 171) - "Woo Woo Train" (Rama 196)

  • Little Walter, "My Babe" (Checker 811)

  • Dinah Washington, "I Concentrate On You" (Mercury 70694) - "I Diddie" (Mercury 70600)- "If It's the Last Thing I Do" (Mercury 70600) - "I'm Lost Without You Tonight" (Mercury 70728) - "That's All I Want From You" (Mercury 70551) - "You Might Have Told Me" (Mercury 70728)

  • Muddy Waters, "Manish Boy" (Chess 1602) - "Sugar Sweet" (Chess 1612)

  • Otis Williams and the Charms, "Gum Drops" (De Luxe 6090) - "Ko Ko Mo" (De Luxe 6080) - "Ling Ting Tong" (De Luxe 6976) - "Two Hearts" (De Luxe 6065)

  • Sonny Boy Williamson, "Don't Start Me. Talking" (Checker 824)

1956

  • S. Austin, "Slow Walk" (Mercury 70963)

  • LaVern Baker, "I Can't Love You Enough" (Atlantic 1104) - "Jim Dandy" (Atlantic 1116) - "Still" (Atlantic 1104) - "Tra La La" (Atlantic 1116)

  • Jesse Belvin, "Goodnight My Love" (Modern 1005)

  • Chuck Berry, "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" (Chess 1635) - "No Money Down" (Che1615) - "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chess 7071) - "Too Much Monkey Business" (Chess 1635)

  • Larry Birdsong, "Pleadin' for Love" (Excello

  • The Bop Chords, "Castles In the Sky" (Holiday 2601)

  • Johnny Brandon (The King of Zing), "Oo You Love, Love, Love Me/ Mr. Songbird" (London)

  • James Brown and the Famous Flames, "Please, Please, Please" (Federal 12258)

  • Buchanan and Goodman, "Flying Saucer (Parts I & II)" (Luniverse 101)

  • The Cadets, "Stranded In the Jungle" (Modern 994)

  • The Cadillacs, "Speedo" (Josie 785) - "Zoom" (Josie 792)

  • The Channels, "The Closer You Are" (Whirlin' Disc 100)

  • Ray Charles, "Drown In MN/ Own Tears" (Atlantic 1085) - "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" (Atlantic 1096) - "Lonely Avenue" (Atlantic 1108) - "What Would I Do Without You" (Atlantic 1096)

  • The Chordettes, "Born To Be With You" (Cadence.

  • The Cleftones, "Can't We Be Sweethearts" (Gee 1016) - "Little Girl Of Mine" (Gee 1011) - "String Around My Heart" (Gee 1025) - "You, Baby, You" (Gee 100)

  • The Clovers, "Devil Or Angel" (Atlantic 1083) - "Hey, Doll Baby (Atlnatic 10831)

  • The Coasters, "Down In Mexico" (Atco 6064)

  • The Cookies, "In Paradise" (Atlantic 1084)

  • The Dels, "Oh, What A Night" (Vee Jay 204)

  • Bill Doggett, "Honky-Tonk" (King 4950) - "Slow Walk" (King 5000)

  • Fats Domino, "Blueberry Hill" (Imperial 5407) - "Bo Weevil" (Imperial 5375) - "Don't Blame It On Me" (Imperial 5375) - "(It's Me and) I'm In Love Again" (Imperial 5386) - "My Blue Heaven" (Imperial 5386) - "So Long" (Imperial 596) - "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Imperial 5396)

  • Lonnie Donegan, "Rock Island Line" (London

  • The Drifters: See Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters.

  • The El Dorados, "I'll Be Forever Loving You" (Vee Jay 165)

  • The Five Keys, "Out Of Sight, out Of Mind" (Capitol 3502)

  • The Flamingos, "I'll Be Home" (Checker 830) - "A Kiss From Your Lips" (Checker 837)

  • Alan Freed, "Rock and Roll Boogie" (Coral

  • The G-Clefs, "Ka Ding Dong" (Pilgram 715)

  • Roy (Mr. Guitar) Gaines, "All My Life" (Groove)

  • Gogi Grant, "The Wayward Wind" (Era)

  • Bill Haley and his Comets, "Blow That Candle" (Decca) - "Razzle Dazzle" (Decca) - "Rock A Beatin' Boogie" (Decca) - "Rockin' Through the Rye" (Decca) - "See You Later, Alligator" (Decca 29791)

  • The Harptones, "Three Wishes" (Rama 203)

  • Ernie Freeman, "Jivin' Around" (Cash 1017)

  • The Heartbeats, "A Thousand Miles Away" (Hull 720)

  • Clarence (Frogman) Henry, "Ain't Got No Home" (Argo 5259)

  • Eddie Heywood and Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra, "Canadian Sunset" (Vic 20-6537)

  • Ivory Joe Hunter, "Since I Met You Baby" (Atlantic 1111)

  • The Jay Hawks, "Stranded In the Jungle" (Flash 109)

  • Little Willie John, "Fever" (King 4935) - "Need Your Love So Bad" (King 4841)

  • Johnnie and Joe, "I'll Be Spinning" (J & S 1762)

  • B. Johnson, "Come Home" (King 4822)

  • E. and B. Johnson, "I Don't Want Nobody" (Mercury 70775)

  • B. B. King, "Bad Luck" (RPM 468) - "Crying Won't Help You" (RPM 451) - "On My Word Of Honor" (RPM 479) - "Sweet Little Angel" (RPM 468)

  • Jerry Lee Lewis, "Crazy Arms" (Sun

  • Jim Lowe, "The Green Door" (Dot 15486)

  • Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, "The ABCs Of Love" (Gee 1022) - "Baby-Baby" (Gee 1026) - "I Want You To Be My Girl" (Gee 1012) - "I Promise To Remember" (Gee 1018) - "I'm Not A Know It All" (Gee 1012) - "Who Can Explain" (Gee 1018) - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (Gee 1002)

  • Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, "Ruby Baby" (Atlantic 1089) - "I Gotta Get Myself a Woman" (Atlantic 1101) - "Seven Days" (Atlantic 1081) - "Soldier of Fortune" (Atlantic 1101) - "Thirty Days" (Atlantic 1610?)

  • The Magnificents, "Up On the Mountain" (Vee Jay 183)

  • Big Maybelle, "Candy" (Savoy 1195)

  • B. Mitchell, "Try Rock and Roll" (Imperial 5378)

  • Guy Mitchell, "Singing the Blues" (Columbia 40769)

  • The Moonglows, "See Saw" (Chess 1629) - "We Go Together" (Chess 1619) - "When I'm With You (Chess 1629)

  • The Neons, "Angel Face" (Tetraq 4444) - "Nervous Norvus, Transfusion" (Dot)

  • Patience and Prudence, "Tonight You Belong to Me" (Liberty)

  • Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes" (Sun 234)

  • The Platters, "It Isn't Right" (Mercury - "The Magic Touch" (Mercury 70819) - "My Prayer" (Mercury 70893) - "You'll Never Never Know" (Mercury "Blue Moon" (Victor 447-0613)

  • Elvis Presley, "Blue Suede Shoes" (Victor EPA 747 447-0609) - "Don't Be Cruel" (Victor 20-6604,, 447-0608) - "Heartbreak Hotel" (Victor 20-6420, 447-0605) - "Hound Dog" (Victor 20-6604, 447-0608) - "I Got A Woman" (Victor EPA 747) - "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" (Victor 20-6540) 447-0607) - "Just Because" (Victor EPA 747 447-0613) - "My Baby Left Me" (Victor 20-6540) - "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (Victor.447-0615) "Tutti Frutti" (Victor EPA 747, 44/-0609)

  • The Prophets, "Stormy" (Atco 6078)

  • Red Prysock, "Hand Clappin'" (Mercury C-30117 Celebrity Series reissue).

  • Jimmy Reed, "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" (Vee Jay 168)

  • Little Richard, "Heebie-Jeebies" (Specialty 584)" - "Long Tall Sally" (Specialty 572) - "Ready Teddy" (Specialty 579) - "Rip It Up" (Specialty 579) - "She's Got It" (Specialty 584) - "Slippin' and Slidin'" (Specialty 572)

  • The Rivileers, "A Thousand Stars" (Baton 241)

  • Robert and Johnny, "You're Mine" (Old Town 1029)

  • The Robins, "Cherry Lips" (Whippet 200) (Different from the group on Spark, then Atco, which became the Coasters)

  • The Rocket Tones, "Mexico" (Melba 113)Otis Rush, "I Can't Quit You Now" (Cobra 5000)

  • The Satins, "In the Still Of the Night" (Ember 10005) Also known as the Five Satins.

  • The Sensations, "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" (Atco 6056)

  • Shirley and Lee, "I Feel Good" (Aladdin 3338) - "Let the Good Times Roll" (Aladdin 3325) - The Six Teens, "A Casual Look" (Flip 315)

  • The Supremes, "Tonight / She Don't Want Me No More" (Old Town 1024) A male group, not to be confounded with the later female group on Motown.

  • The Teen Queens, "Eddie My Love" (RPM 453)

  • The Three Friends, "Blanche" (Lido 500)

  • Joe Turner, "The Chicken and the Hawk" (Atlantic 1080) - "Corrine Corrina" (Atlantic 1088) - "Lipstick, Powder and Paint" (Atlantic 1102) - "Morning, Noon and Night" (Atlantic 1080) - "Rock-a-While" (Atlantic 1102)

  • The Valentines, "Nature's Creation" (Rama 208)

  • Gene Vincent, "Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Capitol 6042)--Star Line number; also known as Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps.

  • Little Walter, "Who?" (Checker 833)

  • Muddy Waters, "Forty Days and Forty Nights" (Chess 1620) - "Don't Go No Further" (Chess 1630)

  • Otis Willliams and the Charms, "Ivory-Tower" `Deluxe 6093)

  • Sonny Boy Williamson, "Keep It To Yourself" (Checker 847)

  • Chuck Willis, "It's Too Late" (Atlantic 1098) - "Juanita" (Atlantic 1112) - "What'cha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You?" (Atlantic 1112)

  • The Willows, "Church Bells May Ring"i (Melba 102)

  • Howlin' Wolf, "Smokestack Lightning" (Chess 1618)