![]() “Ran Kan Kan,” from his 50s smash hit album, Mamborama, features little aside from staggeringly innovative arrangements. Tito Puente didn’t need vocals to create a hit. His unique style of playing would make its way to just about every corner of sub-Saharan Africa. Jean Bosco Mwenda’s “Masanga” showcases the renowned guitarist in full flight. “Diana” is one of the biggest songs of the 50s, but songwriter Paul Anka’s visionary style spanned multiple eras of popular music, including multiple comebacks in later decades with songs like “(You’re) Having My Baby” and “Hold Me ‘Til the Morning Comes.” 90: Jean Bosco Mwenda – Masanga But set alongside the film Ben Hur, the composition took on a new life, accompanying one of the best films of the classic Hollywood era. The melodic refrain of Miklos Rozsa’s “Overture” likely could have been a powerful music moment of the 50s on its own. There’s just something about the playful yet tension-filled ambiguity in the track that appeals to confused lovers across the world. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Shall We Dance?” is the rare show tune that appeals to both Broadway diehards and the casual music consumer. 93: Rodgers and Hammerstein – Shall We Dance? A performance of the song by London in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It helped to make it a bestseller, though it likely was destined for 50s notoriety regardless. ![]() Long before Justin Timberlake was around, Julie London popularized the phrase “cry me a river” thanks to her hit of the same name. It’s widely cited as a rock and roll staple, plus Burnette’s innovative guitar work introduced distortion as a thrilling, intentional artistic choice. Tiny Bradshaw created “Train Kept A-Rollin,” but Johnny Burnette and his group turned it into one of the best songs of the 50s. 95: Johnny Burnette & The Rock’n’Roll Trio – Train Kept A-Rollin From humble beginnings, “Because of You” helped launch one of the biggest careers in music. ![]() “Because of You” was his first major hit song, reaching No.1 on the Billboard charts and staying there for ten weeks. Long before Tony Bennett was celebrated as one of the defining voices of the 50s, he was a struggling singer. The first verse of the song is sung in Henry’s natural voice, the second in a falsetto, and the third in a frog’s voice.Ĭlick to load video 96: Tony Bennett – Because of You “Ain’t Got No Home” by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry manages to simultaneously be one of the definitive songs of the blues era, and a kitschy, playful ballad of a bygone era. 97: Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry – Ain’t Got No Home The song is the centerpiece of a Dust-to-Digital reissue in conjunction with the International Library of African Music. “Mamwana Kufika Munda” was a powerful piece of rumba music, a tune that Ilunga Patrice, Misomba Victor, and friends recorded and were eventually remastered by Hugh Tracey. 98: Ilunga Patrice, Misomba Victor and Friends – Mamwana Kufika Munda (My Love Is Upset) The group never again reached the same heights, but this song’s outstanding impact is more than enough to solidify their legacy. Long before the term “one-hit wonder” had been coined, The Chords were known for their breakthrough smash “Sh-Boom” and…little else. It was released on the Dot label in 1957, with a swaggering, grooving drum beat and an infectious piano line that sounds pulled straight from a different era. “Wanted For Questioning” was the only single Bob Lee ever recorded with the Mike Moore Orchestra.
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