If ever there was a time that saw a seismic shift in musical output and fan reaction on both sides of the Atlantic, it was the fifties. From the early years of the decade, when virtually nothing rivalled the Tin Pan Alley-based records from established stars, through to the later years with the arrival of rock & roll and skiffle, there was never such a radical upheaval in the music business. Our selection of 100 hits is drawn from both the American and British charts, though many of them were top sellers in both countries. Those were indeed the days.
Disc 1
1. Jailhouse Rock ~ Elvis Presley
2. Great Balls Of Fire ~ Jerry Lee Lewis
3. Memories Are Made Of This ~ Dean Martin
4. You Send Me ~ Sam Cooke
5. Tequila ~ The Champs
6. Stupid Cupid ~ Connie Francis
7. Wake Up Little Susie ~ The Everly Brothers
8. Three Coins In The Fountain ~ Frank Sinatra
9. Diana ~ Paul Anka
10. Sixteen Tons ~ Tennessee Ernie Ford
11. Love Me Tender ~ Elvis Presley
12. Sincerely ~ The McGuire Sisters
13. Round And Round ~ Perry Como
14. I Believe ~ Frankie Laine
15. Rock-A-Billy ~ Guy Mitchell
16. The Day The Rains Came ~ Jane Morgan
17. Sleep Walk ~ Santo & Johnny
18. Love Letters In The Sand ~ Pat Boone
19. Such A Night ~ Johnnie Ra
20. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? ~ Emile Ford
21. Whole Lotta Woman ~ Marvin Rainwater
22. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes ~ The Platters
23. Hoots Mon ~ Lord Rockingham’s XI
24. That’ll Be The Day ~ Buddy Holly & The Crickets
25. Why Do Fools Fall In Love? ~ Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Disc 2
1. Rock Around The Clock ~ Bill Haley
2. Bony Moronie ~ Larry Williams
3. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear ~ Elvis Presley
4. All I Have To Do Is Dream ~ The Everly Brothers
5. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands ~ Laurie London
6. Stranger In Paradise ~ Tony Bennett
7. Roulette ~ Russ Conway
8. The Garden Of Eden ~ Frankie Vaughan
9. Magic Moments ~ Perry Como
10. Heartaches By The Number ~ Guy Mitchell
11. Venus ~ Frankie Avalon
12. Gamblin’ Man ~ Lonnie Donegan
13. As I Love You ~ Shirley Bassey
14. Just Walking In The Rain ~ Johnnie Ray
15. The Purple People Eater ~ Sheb Wooley
16. Mambo Italiano ~ Rosemary Clooney
17. To Know Him Is To Love Him ~ The Teddy Bears
18. Don’t ~ Elvis Presley
19. Butterfly ~ Andy Williams
20. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White ~ Perez ‘Prez’ Prado & His Orchestra
21. Mack The Knife ~ Bobby Darin
22. Living Doll ~ Cliff Richard
23. Rock And Roll Waltz ~ Kay Starr
24. Honeycomb ~ Jimmy Rodgers
25. Whatever Will Be, Will Be ~ Doris Day
Disc 3
1. Claudette ~ The Everly Brothers
2. Don’t Be Cruel ~ Elvis Presley
3. Twilight Time ~ The Platters
4. Carolina Moon ~ Connie Francis
5. A Woman In Love ~ Frankie Laine
6. Come Softly To Me ~ The Fleetwoods
7. Here Comes Summer ~ Jerry Keller
8. At The Hop ~ Danny & The Juniors
9. Yes, Tonight Josephine ~ Johnnie Ray
10. The Finger Of Suspicion ~ Dickie Valentine with The Stargazers
11. Heartbreak Hotel ~ Elvis Presley
12. Puttin’ On The Style ~ Lonnie Donegan
13. I’ll Be Home ~ Pat Boone
14. Only Sixteen ~ Craig Douglas
15. Side Saddle ~ Russ Conway
16. No Other Love ~ Ronnie Hilton
17. Give Me Your Word ~ Tennessee Ernie Ford
18. Mr. Sandman ~ The Chordettes
19. It’s All In The Game ~ Tommy Edwards
20. The Poor People Of Paris ~ Winifred Atwell
21. What Do You Want? ~ Adam Faith
22. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore ~ Buddy Holly
23. Young Love ~ Tab Hunter
24. You Belong To Me ~ Jo Stafford
25. Yakety Yak ~ The Coasters
Disc 4
1. Party Doll ~ Buddy Knox
2. Dream Lover ~ Bobby Darin
3. Witch Doctor ~ David Seville
4. My Prayer ~ The Platters
5. Secret Love ~ Doris Day
6. When ~ The Kalin Twins
7. All Shook Up ~ Elvis Presley
8. The Moulin Rouge Theme ~ Mantovani & His Orchestra
9. The Story Of My Life ~ Michael Holliday
10. It’s Almost Tomorrow ~ The Dream Weavers
11. Singing The Blues ~ Guy Mitchell
12. Answer Me ~ Frankie Laine
13. Dreamboat ~ Alma Cogan
14. On The Street Where You Live ~ Vic Damone with Percy Faith
15. Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes ~ Perry Como
16. This Ole House ~ Rosemary Clooney
17. Tom Dooley ~ The Kingston Trio
18. Cumberland Gap ~ Lonnie Donegan
19. Hard Headed Woman ~ Elvis Presley
20. The Man From Laramie ~ Jimmy Young
21. Tammy ~ Debbie Reynolds
22. Kansas City ~ Wilbert Harrison
23. Hold My Hand ~ Don Cornell
24. Who’s Sorry Now ~ Connie Francis
25. It’s Only Make Believe ~ Conway Twitty