Favorite Oldies of the 1950's and 1960's

[Max]

Like the vast majority of people on this board, I was not even alive during the 1950's and 1960's. However, because much of the music from these decades is timeless, you certainly did not need to be alive then in order to appreciate the great songs that were made.

The purpose of this thread, of course, is to list your favorite oldies of the 50's and 60's. Please note that your list of favorite songs and be as small or large as you want.

Below are my 100 favorite oldies from the 50's and 60's, listed in alphabetical order. As you'll see, the vast majority of these songs were hits sometime between the mid-50's and early-60's. The reason for this is as follows: First, rock 'n' roll did not exist prior to the mid-50's. And second, beginning with the Beatles in 1964, rock'n'roll experienced huge changes, and I am not a fan of most of those changes.

All I Have to Do Is Dream--The Everly Brothers (1958)

Angel Baby--Rosie & the Originals (1961)

The Angels Listened In--The Crests (1959)

At the Hop--Danny & the Juniors (1958)

Be My Baby--The Ronettes (1963)

Big Girls Don't Cry--The Four Seasons (1962)

Blue Moon--The Marcels (1961)

Book of Love--The Monotones (1958)

Born Too Late--The Poni-Tails (1958)

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do--Neil Sedaka (1962)

Bristol Stomp--The Dovells (1961)

Bye Bye Love--The Everly Brothers (1957)

Calendar Girl--Neil Sedaka (1961)

Chain Gang--Sam Cooke (1960)

Chapel of Love--The Dixie Cups (1964)

Come Go with Me--The Dell-Vikings (1957)

Coney Island Baby--The Excellents (1962)

Denise--Randy & the Rainbows (1963)

Diamonds and Pearls--The Paradons (1960)

Diana--Paul Anka (1957)

Donna--Ritchie Valens (1959)

Donna the Prima Donna--Dion (1963)

Don't Be Cruel--Elvis Presley (1956)

Don't Hang Up--The Orlons (1962)

Do You Love Me--The Contours (1962)

Dream Lover--Bobby Darin (1959)

Duke of Earl--Gene Chandler (1962)

Earth Angel--The Penguins (1955)

Good Timin'--Jimmy Jones (1960)

Handy Man--Jimmy Jones (1960)

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen--Neil Sedaka (1962)

Have You Heard--The Duprees (1963)

Heart and Soul--The Cleftones (1961)

Heat Wave--Martha & the Vandellas (1963)

He's a Rebel--The Crystals (1962)

He's So Fine--The Chiffons (1963)

Hushabye--The Mystics (1959)

I Fall to Pieces--Patsy Cline (1961)

Imagination--The Quotations (1962)

In My Heart--The Timetones (1961)

In the Still of the Night--The Five Satins (1956)

I Only Want to Be with You--Dusty Springfield (1964)

I've Told Every Little Star--Linda Scott (1961)

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You--Elvis Presley (1956)

I Will Follow Him--Little Peggy March (1963)

I Wonder Why--Dion & the Belmonts (1958)

Johnny Angel--Shelly Fabares (1962)

Little Darlin'--The Diamonds (1957)

Little Town Flirt--Del Shannon (1963)

The Loco-Motion--Little Eva (1962)

Lonely Nights--The Hearts (1954)

Love You So--Ron Holden (1960)

Maybe Baby--The Crickets (1958)

Mr. Blue--The Fleetwoods (1959)

My Boyfriend's Back--The Angels (1963)

My Special Angel--Bobby Helms (1957)

My True Story--The Jive Five (1961)

My True Love--Jack Scott (1958)

Never--The Earls (1963)

Oh, Pretty Woman--Roy Orbison (1964)

One Fine Day--The Chiffons (1963)

Only You--The Platters (1955)

Over the Mountain, Across the Sea--Johnnie & Joe (1957)

Palisades Park--Freddy Cannon (1962)

Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes (1961)

Poetry in Motion--Johnny Tillitson (1960)

Poor Little Fool--Ricky Nelson (1958)

Pretty Little Angel Eyes--Curtis Lee (1961)

Put Your Head on My Shoulder--Paul Anka (1959)

Quarter to Three--Gary "U.S." Bonds (1961)

Rama Lama Ding Dong--The Edsels (1961)

Remember Then--The Earls (1963)

Runaround Sue--Dion (1961)

Runaway--Del Shannon (1961)

Sea of Love--The Twilights (1959)

Sh-Boom--The Chords (1954)

Sherry--The Four Seasons (1962)

Silhouttes--The Rays (1957)

Since I Don't Have You--The Skyliners (1959)

Sleep Walk--Santo & Johnny (1959)

So Much in Love--The Tymes (1963)

Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price (1959)

Stay--Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs (1960)

Surf City--Jan & Dean (1963)

Take Good Care of My Baby--Bobby Vee (1961)

Tears on My Pillow--Little Anothny & the Imperials (1958)

A Teenager in Love--Dion & the Belmonts (1959)

That'll Be the Day--The Crickets (1957)

A Thousand Stars--Kathy Young & the Innocents (1960)

Till Then--The Classics (1963)

To Know Him Is to Love Him--The Teddy Bears (1958)

Tonight (Could Be the Night)--The Velvets (1961)

Twilight Time--The Platters (1958)

Up on the Roof--The Drifters (1963)

Walk-Don't Run--The Ventures (1960)

Walk Like a Man--The Four Seasons (1963)

We Belong Together--Robert & Johnny (1958)

Whispering Bells--The Dell-Vikings (1957)

Why Do Fools Fall in Love--Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (1956)

Will You Love Me Tomorrow--The Shirelles (1961)

[Im-n-a-whirl]

First of all, you've compiled a great list of songs!

But I should point out that your statement that rock'n roll didn't exist before the mid-50's in a little inaccurate. The mid 50's marked the beginning of the rock 'n roll era as we now know it. But many groundbreaking artists had rock 'n roll hits prior to 1955, including Bill Haley ("Rock Around the Clock"). This of course, can kick in the famous debate of what was the first rock 'n roll record, but that's another topic, LOL. There is a ton of rock music that predates the mid 50's and even goes back into the 1940's; it's just not as "well-known" as the music you have on your list.

Visit this website

History of Rock

It's a goldmine of information and you may find it quite interesting!

[R!ck]

Here's some off the top of my head....

Nightmare - The Whyte Boots (If you have never heard this masterpiece, you must get it)

Watch Out, Sally! - Diane Renay

I Wish I Knew What Dress To Wear - Ginny Arnell

My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small

My Best Friend Barbara - Connie Francis

Navy Blue - Diane Renay

I Can Never Go Home Again Anymore - The Shangri-Las

Downtown - Petula Clark

I Cried a Tear - Lavern Baker

Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp

Leader Of The Pack - The Shangri-Las

My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels

Young Love - Tab Hunter

The Loco-Motion - Little Eva

Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes

Heat Wave - Martha & The Vandellas

Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las

It’s My Party - Lesley Gore

Tears on My Pillow - Little Anthony & the Imperials

A Teenager in Love - Dion & the Belmonts

Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes

Chapel Of Love - The Dixie Cups

Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown

One Fine Day - The Chiffons

Dream Lover - Bobby Darin

Earth Angel - The Penguins

He's A Rebel - The Crystals

Back With My Baby - Kenni Woods

Johnny Angel - Shelly Fabares

Last Kiss - J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers

Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee

Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

Donna - Ritchie Valens

Runaway - Del Shannon

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

[Max]

Im-n-a-whirl, I must concede that you are indeed correct that rock 'n' roll debuted before the mid-50's. I am sorry for my mistake. Actually, what I should have said was that rock 'n' roll did not become a part of mainstream popular music until the mid-50's.

Also, thank your for providing the link to history-of-rock.com. After visiting the site, I can tell you that it provides an excellent--and very detailed--account of early rock 'n' roll.

[Im-n-a-whirl]

Glad you enjoyed looking at the history of rock site! It would take me days to read all the great bios and information that it provides.