Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” is not the first rock-‘n’-roll song, but it was the first to hit #1 on the charts, which helped popularize the genre and make it the juggernaut it remains today. The Comets (I always like how the official name of the band is Bill Haley and HIS Comets, not “the” Comets) recorded the song in April 1954, so today’s Question is easy: What’s your favorite popular song from before that date?
Now, this might seem like a Question that’s for people too old even for this blog, but I have faith in you nerds and your love of pop culture history, so have at it! I also don’t want to hear that you nerds like “Für Elise” or something for, you know, squares. I’m talking about music that’s a trip, that’s got a funky beat, and you can bug out to it! Come on, you know what’s up!
I’m not as knowledgeable about early popular music as many others, and not as much as I should be, but I do have some favorites. A few years ago, I first heard “How High the Moon” by Mary Ford with Les Paul on guitar, and, well, damn:
This version is from 1951, but the song was written in 1940. There are a lot of versions, but dang, Ford’s voice with Paul’s guitar playing is a vicious combination.
My favorite pre-1954 song, though, is the almost unbelievably filthy “Sixty Minute Man” by Billy Ward and the Dominoes. I heard it when I was young and enjoyed it, but of course I didn’t appreciate the lyrics. Now, the song is still great, and the lyrics … I mean, really:
Just … *chef’s kiss.* So much fun! I remember when Cardi B was causing so much trouble of few years ago and everyone was clutching their pearls, I pointed out on Facebook that this song came out in 1951 (and, to be fair to the pearl-clutchers, got banned a lot) and your grandparents listened to it and didn’t become crazy sex fiends, so maybe everyone should just chill about Cardi B singing about her vagina. This is generally considered a bit of a novelty song, but it did cross over from R&B to pop and it was probably the first time a lot of white suburban kids heard black men singing about having an orgasm for 15 minutes, so there is that. Good stuff!
Hit me with yours, people. Reach back into the depths of time and find a groovy ancient pop song you love!
In general, I’d recommend Atlantic Rhythm and Blues, 1947-1974. Some great cuts such as Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee – Stick McGhee; Mardi Gras In New Orleans – Professor Longhair; One Mint Julep – Clovers; Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean – Ruth Brown
But if I had to pick ONE song from that collection, it’d be Mess Around by Ray Charles, which just cooks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNQG1yVYDg
Yeah, that’s a good song. Ray Charles knew how to sing, didn’t he?
And Ray could PLAY that piano!
Burgas: Not exactly pop …
Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington.
You know what I mean, sir!!!! That’s a fine choice!
“Up Above My Head” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
I don’t think I’ve heard that, but I dig me some Sister Rosetta.
Hooray For Captain Spaulding (and, of course, Lydia The Tattooed Lady. Also, Who’s That Man.)
Only if it’s Kermit the Frog singing Lydia the Tattooed Lady! (Which, of course, he did on The Muppet Show once.)
I don’t think I knew that! I’ll have to look it up.
“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by The Andrews Sisters. Especially in Buck Privates… great song in a great movie!
Excellent choice!
I like that song, but my favorite Andrews Sisters song is Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen – they do such a good job with it!
if Blues qualifies maybe Muddy Waters – Turn the Lamp Down Low (Baby Please don’t go)
if not, then I do have a fondness for Java Jive performed by the Ink Spots
“Turn the Lamp Down Low (Baby Please don’t go)”
Huh. I didn’t know that was Muddy Waters – I only have the The Tea Party version.
Muddy did a version in 1953 and he changed the title to “Turn the Lamp Down Low”
there were many versions before (Big Joe Williams, John Lee Hooker, the Orioles) and afterwards (including Them and AC/DC)
(I might have picked Mannish Boy or Hoochie Coochie Man but they were too recent for the question)
I remember that my parents would sing “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” to get me to sleep when I was an infant (well, more precisely I remember being TOLD they would sing that song). So that’s probably my favorite pre-54 pop song. Even without the sentimental aspect, there are so many Gershwin classics I love. And Hoagy Carmichael tunes… and Kern/Hammerstein… and Rodgers/Hart… lots of good songwriters or teams who could compose very sophisticated melodies and also turn out very clever lyrics.
In a less schmaltzy vein… Louis Jordan’s “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby” is a blues-tinged classic, Howlin’ Wolf’s voice on “How Many More Times” will shake you, and “Jesus is Comin’ Soon” by Blind Willie Johnson is scary as hell almost 100 years later.
“Cocktails for Two,” with Spike Jones & his City Slickers.