Music distills, packages, and holds emotion. — Roger W. Smith
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My choice of the greatest 1950’s (and some early 1960’s) hit songs — they give me an adrenaline rush — consists of the following:
The Platters
Only You (And You Alone) (1955)
The Diamonds
Little Darlin’ (1957)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaHPgTdF1g
The Platters
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1958)
The Penguins
Earth Angel (1955)
Fred Paris and the Satins (aka The Five Satins)
In the Still of the Night (1956)
The Chantels
Maybe (1957)
The Teddy Bears
To Know Him Is To Love Him (1958)
Dion and the Belmonts
A Teenager in Love (1959)
Phil Phillips
Sea of Love (1959)
The Shirelles
Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1960)
Del Shannon
Runaway (1961)
Dion
Runaround Sue (1961)
The Ronettes
Be My Baby (1963)
Skeeter Davis
The End of the World (1963)
The Crystals
Da Doo Ron (1963)
The Crystals
Then He Kissed Me (1963)
Lesley Gore
You Don’t Own Me (1963)
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What experience or qualifications do I have as a rock or pop music critic? Zero. I heard these tunes over and over again growing up. They kind of get drilled into you and never leave you. The experience is a pleasant one.
Music has a place in practically everyone’s lives. I know, it’s a cliché. But popular music proves this is true.
Your armchair critic feels that the following was true of musical developments of my youth. That the first popular music I recall hearing, on the radio, consisted of Hit Parade tunes such as “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” and “Love and Marriage” that were INSIPID, if catchy. Things changed — undeniably for the better — when rock and roll and doo wop came along. Rock music got worse in the Sixties, I feel — it’s probably a minority opinion. The singers were worse and the music was less emotionally engaging.
Enjoy the tunes. And my thoughts, if you care, for whatever they’re worth.
— posted by Roger W. Smith
January 2019; updated April 2022
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Addendum: Black singers and groups and the musical styles they seemed to have learned early on — or imbibed, so to speak — had a particular importance. It’s no accident, I feel, that they wrote and performed so many of the best songs. Lead tenor Tony Williams of the Platters is in a class by himself. His voice is spellbinding.
Mr. Smith:
Great songs. The resonate with many people because the lyrics come from the heart and they speak about love, loss, loyalty, etc. Another great song from that era is “Baby I’m Yours” by Barbara Lewis.
Thanks a lot, Mr. Carron. Your comments: “resonate with many people,” “come from the heart,” “speak about love, loss, loyalty” are right on (or should I say, right on target?). Thanks again.
Nice songs! I especially liked “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Thanks for contacting me via e-mail and for your kind words!
Thank you. Diana. I have to spend more time with your blog. I am positive it will be worth my while.