Pollin' Tracks Spo-Dee-O-Dee! ILM does the 1950s—THE TOP 101 RESULTS THREAD

http://i.imgur.com/VwUWx.jpg

With 40 ballots cast and 533 individual tracks having received a vote, here are the top 100 101 results! Heaps of thanks to seandalai for once again twisting the knobs and pulling the levers of his magic tabulation machine and thanks to all of you (well, forty of you) for voting!

101. LOUIS & BEBE BARRON "Battle With the Invisible Monster" (1956) [296 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkcS7-Heqzo

Really looking forward to this. Literally have no idea what to expect which isn't something I can say very often about these polls.

Oh goodness! I really didn't think they'd make it. Although I chose this one as I figured it stood up as a lone track most well out of their stuff I was expecting the majority of people to have dismissed them as more of an album thing. So... yay!

100. THE MONOTONES "Book of Love" (1958) [300 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YvQdsfzVa4

(Too low (!) imo)

If I were to do the prediction thing I'd expect all of the following to make the top 10: Miles Davis, Elvis Presley, James Brown, The Flamingos, Isley Brothers, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard. Though quite happy to be wide of the mark on all counts.

man if I had known that louis + bebe barron recording I totally would have voted for it, that rules

Monotone's "Book of Love" was in my top 60, had to let it go for other more personal favorites, figured other people would vote for it. Such is the way of ILX

Does everybody know that the melody was based on a old toothpaste ad?
"You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent"

Well, the words and the melody

I do think the Monotones track is a pretty good example of its type, but, I dunno, most of those things are too saccharine for me. It's not even that I dislike the vocal technique - I actually think it's great, it just tends to be used for songs that don't resonate with me at all.

Whoa! we're starting at the 6 vote range? I predict only mmmm 12/50 of my ballot votes will make it... probably less. Either way happy to see we're starting the poll with a considerable consensus.

I do think the Monotones track is a pretty good example of its type, but, I dunno, most of those things are too saccharine for me

99. THE CHIPS "Rubber Biscuit" (1956) [303 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MZ8eiwcNE

oh man this is gonna be fun!

(didn't vote / haven't been posting much lately / didn't even know this was going on. but I plan to lurk the hell outta this thread!)

'Rubber Biscuit' was on my long list for ages but didn't make the cut. I think mainly because its been way overused in terrible adverts and films over the years and I can't really appreciate it in the way it should be appreciated.

I thought 'Rubber Biscuit' would be high. I love how it was used in Man Streets. Until I heard it for this poll I thought it was by Frank Zappa for some reason.

Cool! Plz do.

I take it that a lot of Rubber Biscuit's exposure is due to Mean Streets? That's what I gleaned by looking on youtube anyway. I've only seen that film half of one time, so I definitely didn't know the song prior to today. (I tried to get all the way through the nominations list, but didn't quite make it to the end.)

I don't think I've ever seen Mean Streets! But that may be where marketing execs etc picked up on it...

Indeed.

Thought its big exposure was The Blues Brothers

The song obviously, not the original version. I had never heard it until that movie came out and then, boy, did I hear it.

98. EDDIE COCHRAN "Somethin' Else" (1959) [305 points, 5 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibk5BWng1gA

(I didn't have room on my ballot for this one, so I'm really glad it made it anyway.)

You've got to be kidding me, only #98!

It just occurred to me how youtube-heavy this thread will end up being, so PLEASE make use of bookmarks.

97. BILL EVANS "Peace Piece" (1958) [306 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4R9l2AJ3og

Can't witness the countdown due to work sadly, but very excited about it!

Wasn't sure if I knew that Cochran, but yeah, I have heard it before. It's pretty good.

'Peace Piece' was another one that stayed on the long list right up until the end. Just not quite enough room for it.

So, as it turns out (due to busyness/lazyness on my part more than anyone else's), our #94 entry is actually from 1964. Fuck it, I'm posting it anyway.

*smh*

I get the impression that Cochran's reputation is higher in the UK than the US, would be interesting to see the demographics of that vote.

So, as it turns out (due to busyness/lazyness on my part more than anyone else's), our #94 entry is actually from 1964. Fuck it, I'm posting it anyway.

*smh*

Oops, hope it's not one of mine. I found a couple of '60s numbers sprinkled in the nominations list but too late to really do anything about them aside from to excise them from my own ballot. We can always skip and bump the other tracks (which would make Louis & Bebe actually in the top 100, hurrah).

I get the impression that Cochran's reputation is higher in the UK than the US

I think that's probably true, for whatever reason.

re rubber biscuit, I first heard it via the Blues Brothers, & yes it was over-exposed. But haven't heard it so much lately, & Ace's Great Googa Mooga nonsense compilation brought it back to life for me a few years ago.

96. WANDA JACKSON "Fujiyama Mama" (1957) [309 points, 5 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCKCj3QAyG0

TOO LOW

Know the Pearl Harbor and the Explosions version better and so couldn't vote for it.

and so

"Peace Piece" is absolutely beautiful btw. I'd heard it a few times before today, but sometimes a right place/right time thing happens and a song just hits the spot. That's what happened to me today. Dang!

Ah, that is a great song. Should have voted for it, really (though I'm sure I'll say the same about a fair few other songs).

(That was about 'Fujiyama Mama', in case it was confusing.)

95. THE CHAMPS "Tequila" (1958) [310 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxyEgb8jQxY

Excited about the results already. The Monotones made my ballot. Listening to "Peace Piece" right now, so beautiful.

Ismael, I think the Zappa title you're thinking of is "Rubber Shirt."

It's too early to drink tequila along with the song right now, isn't it?

It's always after 5pm somewhere!

(xp)
Not if you're a crocfarmer.

There is a rumor that Glen Campbell played on that record but he did not join The Champs until much later.

Our 94th favorite song of the '50s actually comes from 1964, der.

94. HOWLIN' WOLF "Killing Floor" (1964) [311 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T27V376AF4

Haha. I'm guessing there will be a bunch more Howlin' Wolf to come - hopefully the others will be suitably '50s-created.

exciting! following on my phone at the moment which isn't ideal. Aw man, Wanda - TOO LOW

man, I have not heard any of these songs before except "Tequila" which I did not vote for.

"Killing Floor" was in my top 10. I didn't even think of it being a later song of his.

hoo boy, fujiyama mama placing that low makes me worried about a lot of my favorites

I had three Howlin' Wolf tracks under consideration, including that one, but I think I actually ended up not voting for any of them.

I'm just worried that JF only started from #101 because that's the *only* electronic track that came close and he doesn't want me to go all HULK SMASH on you all.

First time hearing: Fujiyama Mama, the original Rubber Biscuit (I know the Blues Bros version), Somethin' Else.

Really? You never even heard The Tenpole Tudor version of "Somethin' Else."

I had three Howlin' Wolf tracks under consideration, including that one, but I think I actually ended up not voting for any of them.

One of the first tapes I ever bought was a bargain series Eddie Cochran "best of" because I'd heard "Somethin' Else" on the radio. I go back with that song a long way, yet for some reason I gave my vote to "Summertime Blues" instead. I'm giving myself the stink eye.

Tenpole Tudor falls off a lot of US radar screens for some reason.

Or maybe it was Sid Vicious, it's been awhile.

93. THE TEDDY BEARS "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958) [319 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW2Bi9J2hQE

Aha, another one of my votes. Somewhat sappy, I know, but wonderfully done.

xxpost
Voted for 'Somethin' Else' but not 'Summertime Blues'. I'd say that 'Summertime Blues' is the better song but at the time preferred 'Somethin' Else's aggression.

fab song---the bridge is celestial.

(xpost) Sid--I've got a 45. It's also on Rock 'n Roll Swindle, which Tenpole Tudor turns up in, so maybe that's the confusion.

Yup. Thanks, for the clarification, clemenza. Tenpole Tudor does sing "Who Killed Bambi?" I think.

Can't even remember which Eddie Cochran I voted for, don't have access to my ballot right now. But I used to have this LP on Liberty called 20 Golden Greats in college that my roommate and his buddy took a liking to so I listened to it all the time and could easily have voted for, say, "Drive-In Show" if it had been nominated.

Think I ended up voting for "Somethin' Else" because it did the stop-start thing especially well. Two random facts about Eddie Cochran: He was one of the first rockers into multi-tracking. In Earl Palmer's autobiography Earl says that he played a lot of sessions and the artists didn't pay any attention to him so he really appreciated when Eddie Cochran came over and shook his hand.

The title of that Teddy Bears song came from Phil Spector's dad's tombstone, no?

92. THE SHIRELLES "I Met Him on a Sunday" (1958) [323 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0D_qkha5wU

And another of mine, yesss. Proto-girl groups nestling into their own little section here.

91. LITTLE RICHARD "Long Tall Sally" (1956) [326 points, 5 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWRaF3_wgIg

I keep reading the title as if it were the Shed Seven song - was relieved to find they are entirely dissimilar.

Little Richard is totally underappreciated in the present day. Hell, he was underappreciated when this song was brand new. Dude is lightning in a bottle.

And he would tell you so himself. Haven't checked: is there a youtube video of the time he was presenting a Grammmy with David Johansen. First he looked disapprovingly at Buster Poindexter's copycat hairdo, then he opened the envelope and said "And the winner for the Best New Artist is: me! I've been singing for years and you ain't given me nothin'!" At which point the camera pulled back to a bird's eye view from the ceiling so we could properly follow the goings on.

Yeah, he had a brief surge of new popularity after that--but wasn't really able to capitalize on it, other than being invited to lots of VH1 tapings.

90. ELVIS PRESLEY "Hound Dog" (1956) [328 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR3i3H2nR-A

Jerry Leiber went down to the pier to pick up Mike Stoller and his new bride from a lifeboat leaving the wreck of the Andrea Doria, which they had been on during their honeymoon. Jerry told the wet, freezing, blanket-wrapped Mike "We've got a number one hit on 'Hound Dog'!" "Big Mama Thornton?" "No, this new kid, Elvis Presley."

Yeah, he had a brief surge of new popularity after that--but wasn't really able to capitalize on it, other than being invited to lots of VH1 tapings.

Nominated 'Hound Dog', didn't vote for it. Frankly Big Mama Thornton's version blows it out the water.

"Long Tall Sally" was my #2---an atomic bomb of pop still.

89. MOONDOG "All Is Loneliness" (1956) [328 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3JVpVqiIBQ

Woah. What is that?

Little Richard on The Grammys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ-qRSsmg10

Awesome (xpost). I have the feeling this might be one of the weirder polls we get if Moondog beats Elvis and Little Richard.

^__^

Think those guys might have some other strings in their bow, some other songs coming up.

Nah. It's all Stockhausen from here on in.

That was one I hadn't heard before - definitely a highlight. Feels almost like it could have come from any decade in the 20thC.

Cut moondog at the last minute after a confused debate with myself. So great.

emil.y otm, feel like the unpredictables might go way higher than usual.

roffle at Stockhausen joke.

88. FATS DOMINO "Blueberry Hill" (1956) [331 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgIIaPbVw-Q

Song always makes me think of Happy Days and young Ron Howard singing it in the most awful way possible. When I hear it out of context, I realize how really wonderful it is.

From my votes so far Louis & Bebe, Shirelles, Teddy Bears and the magnificent Moondog have showed up. And I'm equally glad and pleasantly surprised that they did!

Haha yes, Richie Cunningham ruined it for me too (even if 'I'm in big trouble' still makes me laugh for such a lame joke)

Yeah, hated that Ron Howard Blueberry Hill thing.

Ike Turner will tell you this is the very first rock & roll song. I haven't heard anything made earlier that would contradict his claim (though the margin of difference between this and jump blues is very thin).

87. JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS "Rocket 88" (1951) [332 points, 5 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzYRKJvQqpU

From my votes so far Louis & Bebe, Shirelles, Teddy Bears and the magnificent Moondog have showed up. And I'm equally glad and pleasantly surprised that they did!

― Asamoah Nyan (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, July 11, 2011 4:59 PM (8 minutes ago)

OMG MINDMELD

<3

87. JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS "Rocket 88" (1951) [332 points, 5 votes]

omg, WAY too low

86. MIGHTY SPARROW "Jean and Dinah" (1956) [332 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7YlFJEZYPo

Yuh, too low.

I hope you'll be doin' the "Too High" when the time comes, then.

85. THE CRICKETS "Not Fade Away" (1957) [339 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe8QuhQtZV4

aka Buddy Holly & The Crickets aka Buddy Holly

I've never really gotten the love bestowed on this one. I like some other Holly trax, but this one's a dud imo.

Mighty Sparrow is the only one I voted for but there isn't a single dud here. looking great (especially with such obvious picks like Long Tall Sally, Hound Dog and Blueberry Hill out so early)

Too high tbh.

Our first track with a #1 vote is coming up...

Ohhh let it not be mine! :-)

(yet!)

"Not Fade Away" is best Bo Diddley beat track not by Bo himself and has an intriguing weird syntax lyric and great haunting, spare arrangement- would be classic for the sound of Jerry Allison's drums alone.

84. JOHN CAGE "4'33"" (1952) [342 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HypmW4Yd7SY

If it had just been the last movement, I might have voted for it.

If it had been Tenpole Tudor performing would have voted for it.

Oh yes. Voted for this and 'Jean and Dinah'. Going quite well for me at the moment, but I am concerned my absolute favourites are probably doomed.

I seriously considered putting this at the top of my list; glad to see someone else took up the mantle.

If I'd had 604 votes I'd've voted for it

forgot to vote for this one. glad it's here

I like how Cage turns the page of his notation in case he gets lost.

I admire the concept and the performance aspect of 4'33", but as for listening entertainment it totally blows.

Roffle.

Also no good for tinnitus sufferers

Thing is, it might get better the next time.

83. GEORGE JONES "White Lightning" (1959) [344 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E5WWX_40gs

this list can do no wrong

John Cage waaaayyyyyy too low ;_;

damn, I love George Jones.

Taking it down to #76 today, btw. Going to spread it out over four days, ending on Thursday with the top 25.

this list can do no wrong

― gospodin simmel, Monday, July 11, 2011 12:47 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

so great.

wondering how much Fall-covered stuff likely to show.

People who like "White Lightning" should check out his novelty dry version, "Root Beer"

82. THE COASTERS "Yakety Yak" (1958) [345 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgzQQ5XsHc

A+ pop song right there!

greatest group of the 50's. hope Poison Ivy makes it (or Searchin' or Charlie Brown maybe)

Victims of vote-spreading, this band. So many good tracks.

81. THE FIVE BLOBS "The Blob" (1958) [346 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1G8hI7aSSc

*does the Blob dance*

Oh well, I'll join you. How does it go?

Raise your hand if this song makes you think of Corey Haim singing in the bathtub in The Lost Boys.

80. CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY "Ain't Got No Home" (1956) [348 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTCHG8cMQo

Oh well, I'll join you. How does it go?

― Johnny Fever, Monday, July 11, 2011 6:16 PM (7 minutes ago)

Curiously enough it involves lots of leaping and creeping.

Hrm, I guess everyone's gone to lunch (or dinner depending on geography).

80. CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY "Ain't Got No Home" (1956) [348 points, 6 votes]

84. JOHN CAGE "4'33"" (1952) [342 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote]

Most confident #1 vote I've ever placed.

Getting worried about my top ten making it, was pretty sure they would sneak in in the bottom 20 if they showed up at all

TIE—78. THE FIVE SATINS "In the Still of the Night" (1956) [348 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSOCZl8xrew

too fucking low

I'm tempted to agree, and I never play the "too low" card seriously.

xp on the Frogman: what's the 80s song that nicks the falsetto woo-hoo-oo-woo-oo hook from his song? It's been driving me batty. Wanna say it's Wang Chung or something like that. What an earworm.

Like the story of "In The Still of The Night" being written while on guard duty on the midnight/graveyard shift. Seem to remember hearing it wasn't a big hit when it came out but slowly, through being played on WCBS-FM and other such stations, it rose through the ranks to became the number one oldie.

Never expect anything I vote for to do well in these polls and I'm not even trying to contrary. But I don't care that much: even if I'm the only one who voted for it my vote is out there in the ether and maybe Brian Wilson or Loutalica would have voted for it too, if they posted to ilx.

what Wilson and Reed favorite(s?) are you talking about?

Weird version of In the Still of the Night in the video? Not the one I was playing on repeat last night in any case.

TIE—78. NAT KING COLE "Unforgettable" (1951) [348 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jyDfsLUShk

xp yeah, it's not the classic version

voted Unforgettable. top tune

(xp)Boyz II Men?

what Wilson and Reed favorite(s?) are you talking about?

Sorry about the Five Satins youtube. Just grabbed one of the two or three that were there.

Ok, this is looking great so far, nicely varied. Moondog, Bill Evans and Buddy Holly all got votes from me. Lots of other things I didn't vote for but can't quibble with them placing in the 100. GamalielRatsey so OTM about that Moondog song, absolutely incredible, need to check out some other stuff of his.

77. CHET BAKER "My Funny Valentine" (1952) [350 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug2LQxOe53Q

beautimous!

Great performance.

Happy "Unforgettable" made it (not that I didn't expect it to).

(xp) Let's just say I voted for a song that the Beach Boys covered that probably ain't gonna make it. I don't know Lou's actual favorites, just know he was a big doo wop fan so I was kidding about that, really I just wanted to say "Loutallica"

fair enough

Last one for today...

My Funny Valentine was one of those painful last round cuts. Man alive, even if your ballot nailed the top 50 in order, look how much amazing material fell off the chopping block.

76. MICKEY & SYLVIA "Love Is Strange" (1957) [351 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpEA5QGYJFQ

I say too low for this too. just listen to it!

Yes!

(Though I suppose I should say "too low!")

A certain porn movie ruined "Love Is Strange" for me forever.

;_;

?

To recap...

101. LOUIS & BEBE BARRON "Battle With the Invisible Monster" (1956) [296 points, 6 votes]
100. THE MONOTONES "Book of Love" (1958) [300 points, 6 votes]
99. THE CHIPS "Rubber Biscuit" (1956) [303 points, 7 votes]
98. EDDIE COCHRAN "Somethin' Else" (1959) [305 points, 5 votes]
97. BILL EVANS "Peace Piece" (1958) [306 points, 6 votes]
96. WANDA JACKSON "Fujiyama Mama" (1957) [309 points, 5 votes]
95. THE CHAMPS "Tequila" (1958) [310 points, 7 votes]
94. HOWLIN' WOLF "Killing Floor" (1964) [311 points, 6 votes] ← INFIDEL!!!
93. THE TEDDY BEARS "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958) [319 points, 7 votes]
92. THE SHIRELLES "I Met Him on a Sunday" (1958) [323 points, 7 votes]
91. LITTLE RICHARD "Long Tall Sally" (1956) [326 points, 5 votes]
90. ELVIS PRESLEY "Hound Dog" (1956) [328 points, 6 votes]
89. MOONDOG "All Is Loneliness" (1956) [328 points, 8 votes]
88. FATS DOMINO "Blueberry Hill" (1956) [331 points, 7 votes]
87. JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS "Rocket 88" (1951) [332 points, 5 votes]
86. MIGHTY SPARROW "Jean and Dinah" (1956) [332 points, 9 votes]
85. THE CRICKETS "Not Fade Away" (1957) [339 points, 6 votes]
84. JOHN CAGE "4'33"" (1952) [342 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote]
83. GEORGE JONES "White Lightning" (1959) [344 points, 8 votes]
82. THE COASTERS "Yakety Yak" (1958) [345 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote]
81. THE FIVE BLOBS "The Blob" (1958) [346 points, 6 votes]
80. CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY "Ain't Got No Home" (1956) [348 points, 6 votes]
TIE—78. THE FIVE SATINS "In the Still of the Night" (1956) [348 points, 7 votes]
TIE—78. NAT KING COLE "Unforgettable" (1951) [348 points, 7 votes]
77. CHET BAKER "My Funny Valentine" (1952) [350 points, 6 votes]
76. MICKEY & SYLVIA "Love Is Strange" (1957) [351 points, 8 votes]

5/25, pretty sure that my number one and three won't make it now.

voted Jean and Dinah, In the Still of the Night, Unforgettable and Love Is Strange but this list is 100% awesome.

I voted for 8 of these. Which means I'll probably have less and less as we go up.

Yay Chet baker!

four of mine showing so far:

19. Rocket 88
22. My Funny Valentine
28. Long Tall Sally
__. Rubber Band Man

JF - it's used in "Deep Throat"

Ahh!

i look forward to a tournament of truly epic proportions. we are unique, gentlemen, in that we create ourselves. through long years of rigorous training, sacrifice, denial and pain, we forge our ballots in the fire of our will. but tonight, let us celebrate. dr fever, you have our gratitude.

so psyched to see bill evans' "peace piece" and eddy cochrane's "something else" in the top 100. put both in my ranked top 20 cuz i was worried they wouldn't show up otherwise ― looks like i was right! also voted for the moondog and nat king cole tracks, though further down the ladder of love.

wanda jackson's "fujiyama mama" and george jones' "white lightning" were tear-stained last minute cuts, so i'm glad that others took up the slack. i think i gave short shrift to novelty tunes in general. like, mickey & sylvia's "love is strange" did make my long list, but i cut it early, fool that i was. it's great, and if i were to redo my ballot now, i'd fight harder to include it.

that's it, more or less. voted for different little richard, howlin' wolf and elvis songs.

Eight of mine have shown up. I thought I had cut "Love Is Strange" until I just now went back to recheck my ballot.

"Yakety Yak" was my #1---that's what pop is all about. "In The Still Of The Night" was my #4. So three of my top five have already placed, but TOO LOW as they say.

It's a great list so far.

Three of mine placed:

100. THE MONOTONES "Book of Love"
94. HOWLIN' WOLF "Killing Floor"
83. GEORGE JONES "White Lightning"

But I'm happiest to see my last cut track, "Jean and Dinah", show up. Well done ILX!

lol shoulda kept it and dropped "Killing Floor".

Would have if I had known about the release date.

cant believe i forgot to vote for that little richard song, but even angrier at myself for forgetting to vote for moondog - unless i remembered at the last moment. is my ballot emailable? because i think i made some crazed decisions in my last run of cuts and chops :(

Coasters truly one of the weirdest great bands ever and vice versa. The cafe is playing Talking Heads, causing a "Yakety Yak"/"Once in a Lifetime" mashup in my head.

Haha I can totally hear that mashup in my head from here

That Moondog track is supercool. Can anyone recommend any other songs/albums from this guy? His discography looks pretty big and I wouldn't know where to start.

the viking of sixth avenue comp that honest jon's put out a few years back is an excellent intro and easy to find

7/25

Little Richard is totally underappreciated in the present day. Hell, he was underappreciated when this song was brand new. Dude is lightning in a bottle.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, July 11, 2011 3:21 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yes...

there's a story i could tell about a bootleg from 1968. lawdy lawdy. supermarket trolleys, students and too much w33d. suffice to say, some of the hardest rock and roll you could ever hear. i believe my compadre from those times has tracked down a copy. it's incendiary stuff.

as a stan for elvis i'm surprised 'hound dog' came out so low. machine gun drumming, rasping vocals. plus the fact that he listened to all 32 takes after finishing recording, to pick number 28 (i think), and rca managed to lose all the outtakes.......... it has a mythical quality to me.

/head /sand

I intended to vote for it, but like I said on the other thread, when I listened to the playlist through it just didn't stand out for me. Nothing wrong with Elvis, he does great; it's the playing that is timid. When it's in a line with Little Richard or Great Balls of Fire, they're where the energy is.

thanks, contenderizer xxxxxp

Hound Dog is huge, but probably too obvious to really bother voting for.

Yup. Although one man's "too obvious to vote for" is another man's "too low!"

Aside from missed opportunity for comedy gold by posting of Thunderpants.jpg instead of youtube video for Clarence "Frogman" Henry, poll is going pretty well.

xp on the Frogman: what's the 80s song that nicks the falsetto woo-hoo-oo-woo-oo hook from his song? It's been driving me batty. Wanna say it's Wang Chung or something like that. What an earworm.

― Stanley Tunechi (Spectrist), Monday, July 11, 2011 5:35 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

It's "Some Guys Have All the Luck."

A great list so far. A few reactions...

Happy rediscoveries: Something Else, Tequila, To Know Him, My Funny Valentine

How could I have missed this: Peace Piece, All is Loneliness

Not so sure: Rubber Biscuit, Invisible Monster

Voted for (I think): I Met Him on Sunday, Killing Floor, Rocket 88, White Lightning, Yackety Yak

xp Snrub, you're a champ! Now, off to Youtube for me to expunge this heinous germ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBZm5fOrHuU

Tapped out the "Somethin' Else" rhythm on my cereal box this morning.

Some of my fellow 'mericans might complain about it, but I'm up early and I'm starting today's rollout in a couple minutes...so, yay!

Make it so, John Paul Fever!

Woo!

75. BUDDY HOLLY "Everyday" (1957) [352 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT9N0X6uSzw

Used my Buddy Holly votes for other songs, but very happy to see that one here.

Tapped out the "Somethin' Else" rhythm on my cereal box this morning.

I voted for Moondog and the Five Blobs and that's it so far. I am not sure why I didn't vote for "Rocket 88"!

Heavy use in commercials have ruined 'Everyday' for me, I deeply regret this but it's true.

I just hope all my votes were counted. I am worried that I accidentally typed some of them in and inadvertently replaced an en dash with a hyphen or something.

From what I understand, seandalai can deal with those discrepancies.

"Everyday" I associate with the Stand By Me soundtrack, which is excellent front to back.

I didn't get around to voting or Something Else would've been placed a lot higher :(

Holly is doing very well in this poll. I mean, there are still at least three songs of his more popular than Everyday, right?

74. THE COASTERS "Poison Ivy" (1959) [355 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yscUJ7DyCLY

I did the one track per artist thing, and my Holly pick hasn't shown yet. I hope there's at least one more.

Sorry about the lame youtube, but a quality copy of "Poison Ivy" isn't easy to find on there. xp

Yay Poison Ivy! My pick for The Coasters best.

didn't vote Cochran. love Summertime Blues (but figured it would get votes from others) and Something Else (but possibly prefer C'mon Everybody, which wasn't nominated).

xxxp hell yeah! my Coasters pick too. sadly, that's probably it for them

Poison Ivy is perfect in every way. maybe Searchin still has a chance?

Not sure I knew 'Poison Ivy' before but it's pretty great.

"Poison Ivy" was my Coasters pick, but it was tough. "Searchin'" was almost ruined for me by that Oak Ridge Boys soundalike "Elvira" but Bulldog Drummond managed to find it and bring it back to me

73. GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS "Cat Man" (1957) [356 points, 8 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6phcGeZzIyI

yesss. best decade ever.

wish i was not at work, would dearly love to enjoy some cat man right now.

voted Cat man but never figured it would place. Congratulations ilm!!

CAT MAN!

(I voted for it also)

72. JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON "Space Guitar" (1954) [362 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVsNlchp0GE

yaaaaay

I think that was another of my very last cuts. It is great, but... there's too much guitar.

^__^

Didn't vote for it in the end, but Cat Man is great and properly evil-sounding.

Glad to see 'Everyday' place, Buddy Holly was my top artist overall with 4 picks. Of all the 'they died too young' musicians, apart from Hendrix, he's the one who I think would have had the most interesting career.

71. JOÃO GILBERTO "A Felicidade" (1959) [364 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdgpPlT2-Vo

Great poll so far JF, shoulda gone done voted

Seeing Gene Vincent in here reminded me of this recent clip that Adam Curtis put up on his BBC blog (third one down). Excellent and moving short film about Gene touring in the UK about 18 months before he died.

And yeay at Joao and Johnny GW turning up today, both in my choices.

Love Gilberto and all but he can get a little snoozy; the carnival sections on this really elevate it above the rest. (Also, Johnny "Guitar" Watson is my new hero.)

I put in for A Felicidade, mostly for those sections.

70. THE COASTERS "Charlie Brown" (1959) [365 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fcY78ab4yo

More Coasters! Lovin' this whole thing.

YES!! The Coasters triumph over vote splitting

69. LLOYD PRICE "Stagger Lee" (1959) [366 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3kEr_RKU94

I like the Coasters plenty, but I think I was casting an anti-novelty-song vote by leaving them off my ballot. In retrospect I wish I'd given "Poison Ivy" the spot I gave to "Love Is Strange".

Hooray JGW -- major guitar influence for one of my musical heroes, FZappa.

Also, I'd never heard "Cat Man" before -- holy smokes!

Holy shit, Cat Man! That's insane...I would have loved to hear Bonham and Page do this one!

Team wow @ Cat Man

68. THE ORIOLES "Crying in the Chapel" (1953) [367 points, 5 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfyInSDbZSA

Turns out "Crying in the Chapel" was released twice in the 50s by The Orioles. The original is from 1953 and definitely sounds more like a pre-rock'n'roll era song. The later version is from 1959, and sounds more like a "50s" track, but I went with the earlier version for demo purposes here.

OMFG Sonny Til on this song. JF, wiki says this song was written in the 50s..?

Yes, I assume it was, but there is a six year difference between versions I found (53 vs. 59).

in my mind, Crying in the Chapel is overshadowed by It's Too Soon To Know which came out in 1948 leaving my ballot Oriolesless

Hmm, wiki further information...like a lot of vocal groups, lineup changes were frequent. The original Orioles recorded the song in 1953 and had a hit with it. By 1959, Sonny Til was the only remaining original Oriole and recorded it again.

67. FRANKIE LYMON & THE TEENAGERS "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (1956) [367 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvUW0n2TdWs

Oh my god. Clicked to go through to youtube, and the slightly-delayed doubling of the two videos is AMAZING on this Orioles track. As in, seriously beautiful. I kind of don't want to listen to it on its own.

Hell yeah. Lot of my votes showing up today.

"Stagger Lee" is awesome, but I would've voted "Just Because" top ten if it'd been nominated.

Ooh, I could probably replicate that to mp3...how much of a delay are we talking?

xxxp
Oh my, didn't vote for it as I thought it was a bit overexposed. How wrong I was.

xxxxp one of my last cuts. figured it would get plenty of support elsewhere.

That's the earlier "Crying in the Chapel", right? I know the later one from American Graffiti. Marcus writes at length about "It's Too Soon to Know" somewhere...Mystery Train, maybe.

I voted for The ABCs of Love, but I knew that wouldn't be the Frankie Lymon song to place.

I don't think I even really considered 'Stagger Lee' but now I'm thinking I should have voted for it. It's pretty killer. Not so keen on 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' - would totally have gone for 'I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent' had I voted for any Frankie Lymon.

xposts - about one-and-a-half to two seconds, I think, JF, but it's one of those things that may not really be replicable.

That's the earlier "Crying in the Chapel", right?

Yes.

about one-and-a-half to two seconds, I think, JF, but it's one of those things that may not really be replicable.

I'll try it later regardless.

66. ELVIS PRESLEY "Blue Moon" (1956) [370 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiY5auB3OWg

Fuck, I don't think I've ever paid attention to Elvis's version of Blue Moon. Fantastic!

That weird falsetto OMG

It's all over that one Jim Jarmusch movie.

about one-and-a-half to two seconds, I think, JF, but it's one of those things that may not really be replicable.

I'll try it later regardless.

Actually, it was probably less than this, as I just realised I wasn't accounting for the time it took to click over to the more advanced one when I was looking.

Utterly mental celestial music. Didn't get Elvis at all until I heard this.

along with Mystery Train, this is all the proof you need for Elvis as the artist of the century

65. PATSY CLINE "Walkin' After Midnight" (1957) [370 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g6nfU8_Mm8

Cat Man is terrifying, not sure it made it to my poll tho (two other GVs place higher for me). Poison Ivy is just great. Love Crying in the Chapel and good to see Johnny 'Guitar' Watson but Lonely, Lonely Nights is such a killer track for me that I can't quite summon up the love for a lot of his other, admittedly very very good, tracks, so he missed out.

Didn't vote for George Jones, and surprised myself in not doing so, partly because White Lightning is neither my favourite cut of that song, nor one of my favourite George Jones tracks.

Loving the results so far - just a shame I'm not really able to follow it properly right now.

64. JERRY LEE LEWIS "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On" (1957) [372 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cgKIGu1QqY

Coulda happily voted for all the JLL - ended up going for Breathless but the more the merrier imo.

voted for a different Jerry track and I regret it now. this is top 5 material.

Actually, it was probably less than this, as I just realised I wasn't accounting for the time it took to click over to the more advanced one when I was looking.

Got it mixed right now where the 1 repeats on the 3 and it sounds pretty great. Dunno if that's close to the mix you had going, though.

yup, went for Breathless too, but the more Killer the better. Started rereading Hellfire the other evening because of the poll (and because I couldn't find my copy of Unsung Heroes of Rock‘n‘Roll). Think my love for a lot of this stuff was kicked up a notch by Tosches' overdriven historical-religious-mythic imagining of 50s-world. (Chapter on Jerry Lee in Country still better than Hellfire imo)

Think I might enter a phase of staying up late listening to Patsy Cline a lot. I haven't done that in years.

I love how Steve Allen throws the chair back across the stage in the "Whole Lotta Shakin'" clip. Too bad the throwing isn't in the shot.

63. BUDDY HOLLY "Peggy Sue" (1957) [378 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQiIMuOKIzY

There goes one of my Buddy Holly votes. Obvious but still essential

It's def one of my favorite Holly trax, but I didn't have room for him on my own ballot.

Will take this opportunity to recommend the Paul McCartney-produced documentary The Real Buddy Holly Story, the title of which comes from a song written by ex-Cricket Sonny Curtis.

Who also wrote "A Beatle I wanna be" (whoo)

I almost voted for "Whole Lotta Shakin'" too--like it way, way more than "Great Balls of Fire"--but instead regretted not nominating "Lewis Boogie," which I would have voted for for sure.

Who also wrote "A Beatle I wanna be" (whoo)

yeah, was just closing the circle.

It's a "not bad" Beatles novelty number. I got it at a jumble sale back in the day, along with Dora Bryan's "All I want for christmas is a Beatle"

Anyway, ...

62. LITTLE RICHARD "Keep a-Knockin'" (1957) [388 points, 6 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-nGNcsE8E4

Not my Little Richard vote but awesome nonetheless. Remember the name Charles Connor, who also played drums with James Brown and Sam Cooke.

YES!! The Coasters triumph over vote splitting

61. THE CHORDETTES "Mr. Sandman" (1954) [389 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7doePHUsMU4

<3

Cool, but I voted for The Chords instead.

omg "Beware of the Blob" is a Bacharach tune

No offense intended to anyone who voted for it--Carpenters fans should not be casting stones from glass houses--but I always think of rock and roll as having been put on the Earth to kill stuff like "Mr. Sandman."

Haha! Can't we like both 60+ years later, though?

was afraid for Little Richard with Long Tall Sally finishing so low, but my faith is restored now.

btw, Peggy Sue is the greatest vocal performance ever.

Didn't one of the guys have to sit under Buddy and turn the tone knob on his guitar before the solo?

60. CHUCK BERRY "Memphis, Tennessee" (1959) [390 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe_iVtkveLQ

Haha! Can't we like both 60+ years later, though?

Permission granted! Actually, "Mr. Sandman" does capture a side of the '50s I find fascinating (and kind of creepy) really well...and you can draw a straight line from it to Roy Orbison to Dean Stockwell.

Silicon Teens version is better.

Chuck Berry entered the room, shit got serious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p7Ub1NDTVg

"Memphis, Tennessee" was one of my two Chuck Berry votes that made the final cut. Love that signature guitar lick, the slow, loping beat, the twist in the story line. Pretty much like any cover version- The Faces, Lonnie Mack, etc.

Memphis, Tenessee is a great song - so many of his songs are sweet without being melodramatic or saccharine. I wish I'd voted for more - this one missed the cut and shdn't have done.

Can't see the Silicon Teens vsn here in the US. :(

59. THE STOREY SISTERS "Bad Motorcycle" (1958) [391 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjJ4eDojELI

Apparently this was released regionally in late 1957 under the name The Twinkles, but again nationally in 1958 as The Storey Sisters (same exact recording). Also, campaigning works!

BUD'N BUD'N BUD'N!

feel like I should have had more Chuck in there too. Memphis one of my favourites, but I think this might have fallen off my ballot because seeing Brotherhood of Man a lot on Top of the Pops recently made me dimly angry at songs with this kind of twist. So yes, this lost a vote because of Save All Your Kisses for Me, which does not seem fair or just.

Also, campaigning works!

I swear! You made the Outloud room a mizzrble hellhole, playing that goddamn song five times a day. I suspect payola.

Did Chuck write any "cutest little puppy dog you ever did see" songs?

Haha! Not true, but funny nonetheless. xp

frowns.

BUD'N BUD'N BUD'N!

*revs*

I'm just kidding, btw. I like the song. (Didn't make my ballot though.)

58. BARRETT STRONG "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959) [395 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6xkT7FMyTc

um, TOO LOW!

yeah, way too low. number 7 on my ballot (first of my top 10 to place).

was singing bad motorcycle to myself on my bicycle the other day and a right prannock I looked too.

Oh, I voted for this. Caught me slightly by surprise how strong it was compared to the multitude of other versions and The Sonics generally being my go-to choice.

I wish I'd voted for "Money." Unforced error.

Voted for it even though I don't know the original that well.

So yes, this lost a vote because of Save All Your Kisses for Me, which does not seem fair or just.

― you don't exist in the database (woof), Tuesday, July 12, 2011 3:54 PM

Nice, thanks for the irl lols, great way to start the day.

You know what else is a great way to start the day? SPACE GUITAR -- oh yeah!

This is my favorite version of "Money" btw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_iQZiVD_zA&NR=1

That's a pretty good one.

Yeah, someone in the youtube comments called that the worst version, but...youtube commenters amirite!

Thumbs up if you agree in 2011

you are correct, sir!

*fab maccas*

And now we finally move into the 400 point range...

57. THE PENGUINS "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (1954) [402 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcecvROowc

Not one of *my* oldies, but I like it fine.

not one of mine either.

It made my ballot, but in the unranked part of the split. I think it's a really mushy cuddly song, but the vocal is a teensy bit discomforting.

Can't stomach this one any more, years ago an uncle of a friend made me a tape of 50s music when I expressed an interest in it, and to fill out the blank space on side 2, he filled it with Earth Angel x6.

Hmmm. I don't expect to see anything else I nominated place at this point, though I would expect to see some more things I voted for.

Earth Angel is the only vocal doo-wop-ish song I voted for I think. don't get why ppl are being so lukewarm about it after big upping all these other doowop songs I've never heard of.

56. CHUCK BERRY "Johnny B. Goode" (1958) [404 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3haYAbqKjA

That footage is O_O

I could watch Chuck Berry duckwalk and jerk and move around from here to the moon and back.

to the moon and back

"Send more Chuck Berry"

On a related note, TCM is playing Rock Around the Clock right now--Bill Haley, the Platters, and I'm a guessing a final scene where the camera catches somebody old tapping his foot and saying, "You know, this is really good!" (I just check the credits on IMDB, and, I swear, one of the listed Platters in named David Lynch.)

synergy!

55. KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN "Étude" (1952) [416 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7UVbmMq73o

Oh now we're in the money

This was next up in Marty McFly's set list iirc

Oh, phew, I was worried for a while. I voted for 'Gesang der Jünglinge' in the end, but love this too.

hey jf, is there a way for me to look up my ballot/get it emailed to me?

Sure. I'll send it momentarily.

also i am batting zero on todays results iirc.

xpost thx dude!

Used ilxor mail. Let me know if you get it.

Voted for both Stockhausen's, hope the other one is going to come up as well!

went for Gesang der Jünglinge as well.

can't remember which Chuck Berry I voted for but would v possibly have included Johnny B Goode, despite a slight feeling for me of impenetrability born of it being so canonical. It both symbolises and evokes the let-loose set-free feeling of rock n roll for me. And yes he plays the guitar like a ringing the bell but it's a similarly casual off-hand quality to the voice that really gets me - w'out it losing any energy.

I broke my "one track per artist" rule with Stockhausen. Glad I did it. Oh, and I'm not the only one, yesss!

54. FRANK SINATRA "I Got You Under My Skin" (1956) [417 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwKXUzx3Yfg

got the email, thx JF

and doing so confirmed that either i am going to be a late starter or that this poll is going to be a rough one for my picks

Hehe, Cage was my only breaker, as I really wanted to rep for 'Williams Mix' but didn't feel like I could leave out '4:33'.

xposts

And now I seem to not have saved my own ballot? Sheesh... this one was top 15 though, such a stone cold classic.

Didn't vote for Sinatra - just can't warm to the guy. I simply do not see what's supposed to be so otm about his singing.

Haha emil.y, I just realised I doubled on Cage too for the same reason. Forgot cos I ranked one and not the other!
xpost

gave a lot of points to Night And Day. kind of sucks this isn't top 50

Sinatra, I get him as a force of nature but not as specific tracks.

What is it though?! What am I missing?!

lbi, ballot sent.

This is my favorite Sinatra song, I had it in my top ten. Keep A Knockin', Memphis Tennessee and Rocket 88 were also there.

53. HANK WILLIAMS "Hey, Good Lookin'" (1951) [418 points, 11 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4kG-c3pYcw

Until this spring I was pretty happy with just a few Sinatra singles collections (one Capitol, one Reprise), but for some strange reason I got an itch and dove in head first. Being able to get all 14 of the Capitol albums in a handy box for $40 definitely helped. Those records that people hold up as classics (Fly With Me, Wee Small Hours, Swingin' Lovers, and especially Only The Lonely) really blew me away. Total re-evaluation. I voted for this Frank track to represent him.

I still like Bing more, but that's for a whole different thread.

xposts

I chalk it up to the charisma that he conveys in his delivery. It's something personal I suppose, but I feel invigorated by his timbre. xxposts

I saw an exhibition of Sinatra's paintings in Las Vegas. That same lunchtime I had the greatest burger I have ever et, which was a more memorable experience.

Yeah, I've been more invigorated by burgers myself. I didn't vote for the guy either. Voice is something swell though.

People, are you ignoring the comedic genius of June Carter in the Hank Williams clip up there?

It *was* great though - Kobe beef, anchovy topping, mmm

It *was* great though - Kobe beef, anchovy topping, mmm

Fffffffffffffffuck want want want!!

Awww man, stop, I've picked this year to be vegetarian!

Aw shucks, Paul, thanks for emailing! (havent received it yet tho, did you use the addy from under the ballot or webmail through this place?)

I like how Mario Puzo treats the Sinatra character in The Godfather, hearing a track he's going to sing and knowing exactly how to phrase it, where to put the pauses - and utter assurance that no-one but no-one can do it better than him.

I voted for both "Gesange Der Junglinge" and "Etude." and two Hank Williams songs including "Hey Good Lookin"! I really didn't care that much about choosing 1 track per artist.

voted Cold Cold Heart. really surprised Hey Good Lookin' made it.

I'd describe the greatest veggie burger I've ever had for you, but y'know

Hey Good Lookin is a fuckin classic and I'd be more surprised if it didn't make the list

did you use the addy from under the ballot or webmail through this place?

ilxor mail. twas easier.

It *was* great though - Kobe beef, anchovy topping, mmm

― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:36 PM (3 minutes ago)

Burger Bar?

I've got a Hank in my list. I'd be surprised if it didn't make it in still..

Don't remember the name xp, it was in the mall between the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor

I'd describe the greatest veggie burger I've ever had for you, but y'know

Yeah, I know

52. THE CHORDS "Sh-Boom" (1954) [419 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU3O7GnV5js

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAFr4n7UAy0

Hey Good Lookin is a fuckin classic and I'd be more surprised if it didn't make the list

Absolutely, I don't have much time for country but this is A+.

Life would be a dream, ah yes

I don't have much time for country

sadface

I can understand not liking Toby Keith, but make time for teh old great music.

I have a lot of love for Hey Good Looking, just didn't see it coming. Sh-Boom is my jam

Lefty Frizzel will have three songs in top 10, right?

One left for today. The very last piece of the puzzle that makes up the bottom half of the countdown. Any ideas?

Don't remember the name xp, it was in the mall between the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor

― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:43 PM (2 minutes ago)

Yeah, that's Burger Bar. I really really wanted to eat there -- went all the way down there just for that purpose -- but I had had the breakfast buffet and Paris and had dinner reservations for Lotus of Siam that evening, and I just couldn't jam any more food into my gullet that day. I need a month in Vegas and a lottery win just for eating my way around town.

I'll guess "Rumble."

Muddy Waters?

La Bamba

Sonny Boy Williamson (now or never)

Phil and Don?

Bo Diddley!

51. MILES DAVIS "So What" (1959) [433 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEC8nqT6Rrk

/I don't have much time for country/

sadface

I can understand not liking Toby Keith, but make time for teh old great music.
--Johnny Fever

figured that would come later. what other jazz has a chance? Lonely Woman?

Really expected this to place much, much higher.

so much classic stuff has placed already I kind of have no idea what the top 10 is going to be

I didn't vote cuz I don't feel like I have a really good handle on this decade.

what other jazz has a chance? Lonely Woman?

Lonely Woman, I pray to god. Also Cecil Taylor would be nice but I'm not holding out hope like I am for Ornette.

Lonely Woman, I pray to god.

+1
If the ranked part of my ballot is any help, it'll show.

'Take Five', will be in there surely. Though having that higher than 'So What' just seems odd.

There's actually more jazz in the top 50 than in the lower 51...but it's not dominant by any means (not that anyone was expecting such).

Blue Train, Tenor Madness, Brilliant Corners all have a fighting chance. But Take Five is the shoo in.

To recap...

101. LOUIS & BEBE BARRON "Battle With the Invisible Monster" (1956) [296 points, 6 votes]
100. THE MONOTONES "Book of Love" (1958) [300 points, 6 votes]
99. THE CHIPS "Rubber Biscuit" (1956) [303 points, 7 votes]
98. EDDIE COCHRAN "Somethin' Else" (1959) [305 points, 5 votes]
97. BILL EVANS "Peace Piece" (1958) [306 points, 6 votes]
96. WANDA JACKSON "Fujiyama Mama" (1957) [309 points, 5 votes]
95. THE CHAMPS "Tequila" (1958) [310 points, 7 votes]
94. HOWLIN' WOLF "Killing Floor" (1964) [311 points, 6 votes] ← INFIDEL!!!
93. THE TEDDY BEARS "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958) [319 points, 7 votes]
92. THE SHIRELLES "I Met Him on a Sunday" (1958) [323 points, 7 votes]
91. LITTLE RICHARD "Long Tall Sally" (1956) [326 points, 5 votes]
90. ELVIS PRESLEY "Hound Dog" (1956) [328 points, 6 votes]
89. MOONDOG "All Is Loneliness" (1956) [328 points, 8 votes]
88. FATS DOMINO "Blueberry Hill" (1956) [331 points, 7 votes]
87. JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS "Rocket 88" (1951) [332 points, 5 votes]
86. MIGHTY SPARROW "Jean and Dinah" (1956) [332 points, 9 votes]
85. THE CRICKETS "Not Fade Away" (1957) [339 points, 6 votes]
84. JOHN CAGE "4'33"" (1952) [342 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote]
83. GEORGE JONES "White Lightning" (1959) [344 points, 8 votes]
82. THE COASTERS "Yakety Yak" (1958) [345 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote]
81. THE FIVE BLOBS "The Blob" (1958) [346 points, 6 votes]
80. CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY "Ain't Got No Home" (1956) [348 points, 6 votes]
TIE—78. THE FIVE SATINS "In the Still of the Night" (1956) [348 points, 7 votes]
TIE—78. NAT KING COLE "Unforgettable" (1951) [348 points, 7 votes]
77. CHET BAKER "My Funny Valentine" (1952) [350 points, 6 votes]
76. MICKEY & SYLVIA "Love Is Strange" (1957) [351 points, 8 votes]

75. BUDDY HOLLY "Everyday" (1957) [352 points, 6 votes]
74. THE COASTERS "Poison Ivy" (1959) [355 points, 6 votes]
73. GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS "Cat Man" (1957) [356 points, 8 votes, 1 first-place vote]
72. JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON "Space Guitar" (1954) [362 points, 8 votes]
71. JOÃO GILBERTO "A Felicidade" (1959) [364 points, 6 votes]
70. THE COASTERS "Charlie Brown" (1959) [365 points, 7 votes]
69. LLOYD PRICE "Stagger Lee" (1959) [366 points, 6 votes]
68. THE ORIOLES "Crying in the Chapel" (1953) [367 points, 5 votes]
67. FRANKIE LYMON & THE TEENAGERS "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (1956) [367 points, 10 votes]
66. ELVIS PRESLEY "Blue Moon" (1956) [370 points, 6 votes]
65. PATSY CLINE "Walkin' After Midnight" (1957) [370 points, 9 votes]
64. JERRY LEE LEWIS "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On" (1957) [372 points, 7 votes]
63. BUDDY HOLLY "Peggy Sue" (1957) [378 points, 7 votes]
62. LITTLE RICHARD "Keep a-Knockin'" (1957) [388 points, 6 votes]
61. THE CHORDETTES "Mr. Sandman" (1954) [389 points, 7 votes]
60. CHUCK BERRY "Memphis, Tennessee" (1959) [390 points, 7 votes]
59. THE STOREY SISTERS "Bad Motorcycle" (1958) [391 points, 7 votes]
58. BARRETT STRONG "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959) [395 points, 7 votes]
57. THE PENGUINS "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (1954) [402 points, 7 votes]
56. CHUCK BERRY "Johnny B. Goode" (1958) [404 points, 9 votes]
55. KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN "Étude" (1952) [416 points, 8 votes]
54. FRANK SINATRA "I've Got You Under My Skin" (1956) [417 points, 9 votes]
53. HANK WILLIAMS "Hey, Good Lookin'" (1951) [418 points, 11 votes]
52. THE CHORDS "Sh-Boom" (1954) [419 points, 9 votes]
51. MILES DAVIS "So What" (1959) [433 points, 9 votes]

Blue Train, Tenor Madness, Brilliant Corners all have a fighting chance.

and "St. Thomas"!

Hello, haven't been ILXing much due to other stuff...think I'm on 6/50 so far, very happy to see The Blob, Space Guitar and Cat Man (among others).

Three for me today - "Poison Ivy", "Whole Lotta Shakin'" and "I've Got You Under My Skin"

Glad to hear more jazz made the top 50. I only had a few tracks on my ballot but several were highly ranked. And if none of the Mingus makes it I'll be hunting people down.

three of mine placing today:

9. Mr Sandman
15. A Felicidade
33. Sh-Boom

leaves 42 unplaced for the top 50. I wonder what the other eight will be?

Thought process:

Step 1: A vote for "So What" is a vote for Kind of Blue is a vote for Miles Davis is a vote for Jazz!
Step 2: Save teh jazz for the Jazz D-bag thread and you'll have one more spot for the rock and roll/rockabilly/R&B/doowop nugget if you dug it

5/25 yesterday, 6/25 today. Everyday, Peggy Sue, Blue Moon, Memphis Tenessee, Hey Good Lookin', So What all on my ballot.

Looking at the list so far, you'd think music production was halted for 1955.

placed so far for me

7. Fujiyama Mama - Wanda Jackson
10. My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
40. Killing Floor - Howlin' Wolf (uh whoops)

got a couple (i hope) sure things coming up but resigning myself on some of my outside picks at this point tbh

Ha! It is a weirdly dead year (at least where this poll is concerned). I haven't converted the top 50 into poll rollout format yet—#, artist, title, year, points, votes—but I wonder how many will come from 1955. xp

Yeah... the midpoint being empty nicely reflects the lines drawn with respect to old and new guards. Up to this point the latter half of the decade outweighs the earlier by four to one in this poll. Clemenza made the point about Rock's mission being to sweep away the creepy orchestrated powdered sugar of The Chordettes and their ilk, seems like it worked a charm.

placed only four yesterday, but seven today, woop:

THE COASTERS - "Poison Ivy"
ELVIS PRESLEY - "Blue Moon"
PATSY CLINE - "Walkin' After Midnight"
LITTLE RICHARD - "Keep a-Knockin'"
BARRETT STRONG - "Money (That's What I Want)"
HANK WILLIAMS - "Hey, Good Lookin'"
MILES DAVIS - "So What"

especially glad to see "keep a-knockin" in the list, as it was my only little richard vote, and i was worried i'd wasted it (relative to a shoo-in like "tutti frutti"). still hoping my chuck berry pick shows...

So far for me (including yesterday's results as I didn't do this then):

101. LOUIS & BEBE BARRON "Battle With the Invisible Monster" (1956)
93. THE TEDDY BEARS "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958)
92. THE SHIRELLES "I Met Him on a Sunday" (1958)
89. MOONDOG "All Is Loneliness" (1956)
86. MIGHTY SPARROW "Jean and Dinah" (1956)
84. JOHN CAGE "4'33"" (1952)
81. THE FIVE BLOBS "The Blob" (1958)
80. CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY "Ain't Got No Home" (1956)
73. GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS "Cat Man" (1957)
71. JOÃO GILBERTO "A Felicidade" (1959)
59. THE STOREY SISTERS "Bad Motorcycle" (1958)

11/50 is not at all bad. Might be the most hivemindy I've ever been on an ilx poll.

xpost I'm also glad Keep a Knockin' made it. That is a classic.

I've got 13 total:

90. ELVIS PRESLEY "Hound Dog" (1956) [328 points, 6 votes]
88. FATS DOMINO "Blueberry Hill" (1956) [331 points, 7 votes]
87. JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS "Rocket 88" (1951) [332 points, 5 votes]
82. THE COASTERS "Yakety Yak" (1958) [345 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote]
75. BUDDY HOLLY "Everyday" (1957) [352 points, 6 votes]
70. THE COASTERS "Charlie Brown" (1959) [365 points, 7 votes]
63. BUDDY HOLLY "Peggy Sue" (1957) [378 points, 7 votes]
62. LITTLE RICHARD "Keep a-Knockin'" (1957) [388 points, 6 votes]
60. CHUCK BERRY "Memphis, Tennessee" (1959) [390 points, 7 votes]
57. THE PENGUINS "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (1954) [402 points, 7 votes]
56. CHUCK BERRY "Johnny B. Goode" (1958) [404 points, 9 votes]
54. FRANK SINATRA "I've Got You Under My Skin" (1956) [417 points, 9 votes]
53. HANK WILLIAMS "Hey, Good Lookin'" (1951) [418 points, 11 votes]

Keep a Knockin is my favorite Little Richard song, would have voted for it

Looking at the list so far, you'd think music production was halted for 1955.

Now that I have tomorrow's results all ready to go, I can tell you 1955 finally gets some action.

I'm 15/51 so far. I'm canon, I guess.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTI4NzI2NDM1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMDIxNDI2._V1._SX450_SY306_.jpg

Sorry, that's cannon

1955 was a great year for music!! "Sixteen Tons," "Mystery Train," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Bo Diddly," "Speedo," "Blue Velvet," "Memories Are Made of This," "Cry Me a River," "Ain't That a Shame," "I Hear You Knockin," "The Great Pretender," "Story Untold," "Mannish Boy," "Tutti Frutti"... ?

i think 4 of my 50 are in so far (miles, sparrow, jerry lee, chuck b.). guess i shouldn't be surprised "the greatest rock'n'roll single of all time" ranked #64.
gave "mannish boy" and "tutti frutti" unweighted votes, fwiw

I don't have much time for country

sadface

I can understand not liking Toby Keith, but make time for teh old great music.

I can't understand making no time for the great TK but whateva fools!

Jeez, kind of wish I'd kept my mouth shut. Very rarely listen to country. Being a Brit it just doesn't come on my radar in the way other stuff does. I guess I'm missing out on some good stuff, but I could say that about several genres I have a dilletantish relationship with. FWIW never knowingly heard any Toby Keith.

Apologies for the short thread derail. To show I'm not a total country philistine I offer you this little gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm_tUXWN4WU

No, I'm with you on country - the whole genre just seems like a long series of clichés to me; in theme, arrangement and delivery. And then the playing's always so controlled, it irons out any personality for me. It's the whole thing together that I can't stomach, lord knows there's enough lovelorn music elsewhere in my collection, a professional job is usually to be admired, and a steel pedal sounds great in any other context.

I guess one or two country tunes probably made it to my ballot, but they tended to be rougher things or instrumentals. The slick stuff sounds intolerable to me.

Wake up, Johnny Fever!

Okay.

50. LEFTY FRIZZELL "Long Black Veil" (1959) [443 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHEinf8QttM

cool beans.

number 6 on my ballot, though it's quite obviously the greatest song ever.

I love Lefty's delivery. Heard plenty of other versions, but none are as haunting.

ohhhh it's THAT song

Long Black Veil haunts my mind every drunken night. how is it not top 5?

Oh god, this is great. "Haunting" is spot on.

49. BIG MAMA THORNTON "Hound Dog" (1953) [449 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vUsvwMdBpU

So much better than Elvis.

Elvis's version was "the lyrics he cound remember at the time"

Of course, L&S 'didn't mind' that he did the song and made them tha moneys, but they got their revenge with the "gay subtext" of "Jailhouse rock".. the "You're the cutest jailbird" bit.

I'm pretty sure they didn't mind at all

THey did mind a bit.

elvis's version was based on this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJQ-fDb4M4s

Elvis's version was "the lyrics he cound remember at the time"

Of course, L&S 'didn't mind' that he did the song and made them tha moneys, but they got their revenge with the "gay subtext" pooloooooooof "Jailhouse rock".. the "You're the cutest jailbird" bit.
--Mark G

I'm saying it wasn't "the lyrics he could remember at the time," he was inspired to do the song after hearing that version, so those were the lyrics he knew not the lyrics he "could remember"

Sorry, my last post was iPhone accident. Will say that Leiber and Stoller did prefer the Big Mama Thornton version but grew to like Elvis. They liked him so much that started hanging out with him and then giving him career advice. The former annoyed the Colonel, the latter caused him to cut them off from giving him any more songs. I refer you to the recent very good book by Jerry and Mike themselves entitled, um, Hound Dog.

...and now for something completely different.

48. IANNIS XENAKIS "Metastatis" (1955) [452 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZazYFchLRI

YES

thx ILM

This Hound Dog was my #3. The singing is just fantastic. I mean, Elvis' is good too, especially on some live stuff I've seen, but this... The playing's much meatier too, so this was a clean win for Big Mama.

Alright!

*nakhchivan victory dance*

Though actually nakh would just complain it wasn't #1, so maybe not...

oh shit, just noticed a typo. "Metastasis" rather.

47. THE DRIFTERS "There Goes My Baby" (1959) [459 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote]

er...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZilIuQUYxcQ

One of the first rock and roll records with strings, no? Jerry Wexler and the other Atlantic executives hated it when it was recorded and sat on it for months before releasing it.

I love how stories of record exec incompetence or boneheaded decisions stretch back for as long as music's been being recorded.

Also, fuckyeahbeneking.tumblr.com

(^someone make that)

46. CHUCK BERRY "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (1956) [461 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uyw5_z4ElA

being unsure about a song's commercial viability is hardly incompetence or boneheaded!

Unsure is one thing, erfusing to release a track because of being convinced you're right is another.

I am so good at typing today!

Eh, lots of songs that would obviously end up being popular have been squashed or delayed due to that kind of skittish uncertainty, though. Of course hindsight being 20/20 and all, we have a clearer picture of it all now than Wexler did in 1959, but "There Goes My Baby" seems like a total obvious hit to me.

ha, yes, there's my Chuck. so funny, so fluid, & love all the choppy brilliant guitar breaks. The bit where he sees a woman walking across the desert from a plane makes me a bit dizzy.

There Goes My Baby is brilliant but it's also quite weird. I can see where all the uncertainty comes from.

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" awesome on so many levels--the play with racial codes, the wit of the Venus de Milo bit, the perfect guitar break. Also pretty much the best baseball song.

Also, some times, it needs to get its right time. (re: There goes my baby)

The bit I remember from the MillDollQuartet album is the bit where they all remember bits of the song, sing them and go "whoa!"

45. GYÖRGI LIGETI "Artikulation" (1958) [465 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hNl_skTZQ

And another 'woo!' from me.

Yeah me too! I'm quite surprised Ligeti, Xenakis etc are placing so high. Faith restored! :-)

Can totally appreciate how forward-thinking this piece is, but hearing it once every six years or so is probably enough for me.

hearing it once every six minutes is not enough for me

44. JOHN FAHEY "Sligo River Blues" (1959) [473 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21HwdNkzYq0

No way, the Ligeti is amaaaaaaazing (xposts)

Fahey track is a stunner. I think I've only heard later stuff which is totally on account of my own mastery of procrastination.

Get in! That one was a joy to discover.

Fills me with great hope for the rest, that one placing.

I'm wondering if the more pop electronics are going to make it - I'm thinking no now we've got this high, but not sure if it's because people were being all high-minded about avant-garde music or if its just that Stockhausen, Xenakis and Ligeti are more well-known than funtime party boy Scott. Still, from discussion on this thread I'm expecting the other Stockhausen to show too so I'll be happy.

Raymond Scott and Tom Dissevelt were both near the top of my list.

43. JOHN CAGE "Williams Mix" (1952) [474 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6pgklMAgIA

OMG WOW

I LOVE YOU ILM

Love that Fahey track so much, would have got a zillion points from me.

Today really paints a completely different picture of the decade...like a completely alternate 50s.

that first place vote was mine!

<3

The bit I remember from the MillDollQuartet album is the bit where they all remember bits of the song, sing them and go "whoa!"

I'd never heard of him before this, he sounds like a character. Calling himself Blind Joe Death, denying being a folk artist because he's from the suburbs: 'so what do I know about folk?'

heard of Fahey

Seven of my top ten have already placed, which...well, I'm glad they placed! I voted mostly pop & r&b / doo-wop with a bit of country & rock. It's cool to see such pluralistic results so far.

I do like Fahey but I can't get worked up about it - it's just... nice, to me. Sort of backgroundy. The mister likes him a lot more.

that first place vote was mine!

― Hopeulikit (absolutely clean glasses), Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:24 AM (6 minutes ago)

<3

Really loving the results today so far. Also, otm:

Today really paints a completely different picture of the decade...like a completely alternate 50s.

― Johnny Fever,

I nerded out when I worked in Hyattsville, MD by going over to the park around Sligo Creek and listened to Blind Joe Death.

But sadly forgot to vote for him here.

As to my earlier point about a "different" 50s

50. LEFTY FRIZZELL "Long Black Veil" (1959) — Way deeper, creepier and haunting than most country music at the time.
49. BIG MAMA THORNTON "Hound Dog" (1953) [449 points, 8 votes] — This is the dirt that Elvis built his shiny house on.
48. IANNIS XENAKIS "Metastasis" (1955) [452 points, 9 votes] — DISSONANCE!
47. THE DRIFTERS "There Goes My Baby" (1959) [459 points, 9 votes, 1 first-place vote] — This is basically one of the first pop songs of the 60s.
46. CHUCK BERRY "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (1956) [461 points, 7 votes] — Typically Chuck Berry, but not one that the layman can easily recall.
45. GYÖRGI LIGETI "Artikulation" (1958) [465 points, 7 votes] — Bleeps and bloops and scrapes.
44. JOHN FAHEY "Sligo River Blues" (1959) [473 points, 10 votes] — Radically different manipulation of a trad blues pattern.
43. JOHN CAGE "Williams Mix" (1952) [474 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote] — STATIC! SAMPLES!

42. ELIZABETH COTTEN "Freight Train" (1958) [481 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKvEiW7cWc

Brown Eyed Handsome man just great - bits in there that produce jolts of swinging exhilaration that I also get in Nadine and and Promised Land.

Anyone done a Spotify list for this yet?

Oh and Freight Train is one of those songs that is ALWAYS in my head, and will emerge in little subconscious vocalisations every now and then causing people say What?

Love the audience reaction at the end of "Williams Mix"!

Anyone done a Spotify list for this yet?

That'd be nice.

will give it a go this evening if no one else has started. Onimo and others are normally on to this like a flash.

Ahh, I left out 'Freight Train' and have been regretting it, so nice to see it place top 50 anyway.

Gavin in Leeds did a Spotify list for the noms, but I don't think anyone's been compiling the top 100 into one. I don't have enough listening time left, and to be honest I'm not even sure if I can make my own playlists any more now they've fucked over the free users.

41. HOWLIN' WOLF "Smokestack Lightning" (1956) [482 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMg7Q0JiUK4

Woah! Thought this'd be top five.

Didn't expect it to be that high, but higher than this yes.

Spoonful took some of it's votes (mine, for example) as did Killing Floor (could it be removed from the list? to make it top 100 and error-free)

This is currently being played to death in some tv ad in the US right now, but I still can't hate on that riff.

Killing Floor (could it be removed from the list? to make it top 100 and error-free)

Yeah, I'll do it for the final list.

40. THE BIG BOPPER "Chantilly Lace" (1958) [484 points, 11 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-by5e4saI

39. RITCHIE VALENS "La Bamba" (1958) [485 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp6j5HJ-Cok

Figured it would make sense to post these simultaneously, seeing as how they both died way too young in the same plane crash.

I was disappointed with The Big Bopper, but La Bamba's obviously great (didn't vote for it though)

Disappointed? HELLLOOOO BABY! (but yeah, it's kind of a case of a great intro towering over the remainder of the song.)

I felt kind of guilty saying so because he died, but half the list must be getting mc'ed by him in heaven by now

38. THE ISLEY BROTHERS "Shout" (1959) [495 points, 10 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36-onUrkSp8

Voted for Chantilly Lace - fan of the bopper, but forgot about it till right at the end, then listened and was immediately delighted: it's not just the intro, I think – I enjoy his lascivious, tickled delivery throughout.

oh yeh and

HELLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO BABY!

There's another top ten lock. I'm getting excited already!

Shout! Another of my top ten.

lol'ed @ one of the youtube comments I saw that called this the original punk rock song. It's pretty much a secularized version of uptempo gospel. But maybe God created punk rock after all!

37. THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET "Take Five" (1959) [495 points, 10 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWSIxKGzzOk

I'm glad this made it, but I think it's a bit too high.

As these results roll out I realize how much I overvalued doo-wop on my ballot.

I like "Kingdom of Not" more.

Long Black Veil yesssss such an awesome song

36. TOM DISSEVELT & KID BALTAN "Song of the Second Moon" (1959) [499 points, 7 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsk6AcjQF24

Where's emil.y?

what the what

Heard "Chantilly Lace" one too many times as a general part of the 50s revival in the 70s= (cf. Ron Howard and "Blueberry Hill") both the original and the Sha-Na-Na version- "Hello, this is Jocko speaking" so don't like it that much. As far as Ritchie Valens goes "La Bamba" is fine but I prefer "Donna."

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

My dad was at the Moorhead, MI Winter Dance Party that the Big Bopper, Valens and Holly were supposed to be at the day their plane crashed. I think he said they were stuck with an entire night of Dion.

"Song of the Second Moon"

what the what seconded -- never heard of this before!

it's the best

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

― Hopeulikit (absolutely clean glasses), Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:48 PM (57 seconds ago)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Thought that said Motorhead, MI for a second and did a double take. Seem to remember that Dion had not gotten on the plane but didn't think about him actually playing the gig without the other guys.

My earliest memory of hearing "Chantilly Lace" was on an Amway motivational tape. (I was a bit lost after I graduated from college.) More recently I heard a Sunflower Supermarket reciting word-for-word with it. Neither association is positive.

I first heard "Song of the Second Moon" during the noms process. Think it's great, but might not have voted for it. Can't remember.

(xp)
One more 70s fad tie-in: my neighbor's CB radio handle was "Big Bopper."

This day of results has made me very happy, guys.

Guess you were right about the Stockhausen, more or less.

I'll bet Dion would do a great version of "That'll Be the Day"

Also, re: 'Take Five' - I'm glad this made it, but I think it's a bit too high, I pretty much agree with this. Not 'glad' per se, just, it would be a bit strange and wrong for it *not* to have made it, but I think its ubiquity maybe bumps it up to a level it doesn't quite deserve.

I love some Henry Flynt, but this '50s avant-garde just isn't for me.

35. JERRY LEE LEWIS "Great Balls of Fire" (1957) [501 points, 15 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lidFipyLG8k

Didn't vote for it but thought it would be higher!

This poll is very intriguing in the extent of votes for avant garde/electronic pieces. I'm sure that the other decadal polls we had didn't feature one single track, any thoughts why this one is different. Was the quality/impact so much higher than in later years?

in terms of sonic innovation, the 50s were the decade imo

seems like 7 people filled their ballots with avant garde/electronic pieces. nothing wrong with that, of course.

fuck, this means no more Jerry Lee Lewis

Found this on Dion's website

One can detect autobiographical elements in most of the album's 12 cuts. (In all but three instances, Dion takes full songwriting credits or shares it with long-time colleagues.) Songs refer to Dion's one-time tour partners Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens (Hug My Radiator, Every Day (That I'm With You)

Not sure about no more Jerry Lee - has Breathless shown yet? Given the ahem independently minded nature of these results, would not be surprised to see it place ahead of the two ultracanon tracks.

These low placings are seismic

I voted High School Confidential. it's not gonna happen now, though I have no idea what this list will look like in the end

I voted for Breathless but it was below Whole Lotta Shakin' on my list.

34. NINA SIMONE "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (1958) [507 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SuiirHvDU

can't get used to that voice. she doesn't do it for me, sorry

wau I love her voice, but okay.

33. NERVOUS NORVUS "Transfusion" (1956) [508 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPwG19E5cI

YES YES YES YES YES

there's my "what the what" moment -- I definitely don't "get" that song (norvus)

This makes me think that 'Hoots Mon' still has a shout.

yeah I've never really been able to get into Nina Simone

YES YES YES YES YES

― emil.y, Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:35 PM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

After several years of Nina Simone not clicking with me, I'm finally coming around.

ok i voted for transfusion and really love it but am a little o_O seeing it in the top 40 of the decade

getting worried that my number one isnt going to place at all at which point my head is going to explode

I am a little XD seeing it in the top 40 of the decade.

After combining votes for both of these versions (different singers, same backing track), here's "Sea Cruise". Frankie Ford got 6 votes—including the #1—and Huey Smith received one.

32. HUEY "PIANO" SMITH/FRANKIE FORD "Sea Cruise" (1958/59) [510 points, 7 votes, 1 first-place vote]

Frankie Ford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwhB4XZx-dg

Huey "Piano" Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u38F2D945cY

Oh yes, this was my #2. Just a blast, Ford sounds wired to the mains through this.

I'm v happy with that [xpost transfusion] - it's just so messy. I think it's perhaps a good example of how a new musical scene can have so much fun just playing around with stuff. There is appropriately a great sense of hurtling speed about this song.

Chantilly Lace not my favourite Big Bopper and always found it quite sinister - predatory fetishism by a smiling man. Still, I don't have the same problem with Pink Petticoat, Ballerina Shoes, so I shd stfu.

Oh man Sea Cruis really f'ing MOVES.

e

Now that I've heard the Huey Smith vocal on "Sea Cruise" I'm totally on the side of the label owner ditching it and giving it to Frankie Ford. Huey should stick to the piano.

Sea Cruise!

My #1!

Love both versions, but went for Frankie's holiday offer, though he makes the cruise sound completely unrelaxing and a little scary.

Yeah, Frankie Ford version for me too.

Spotify list for Yurpeens here: http://open.spotify.com/user/nstewart/playlist/4IKcWqGQQ5cN1QTT0ya7xo

I've done the first 25 and every track was there, hoping for similar coverage for the rest, will add those in as we go along.

31. KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN "Gesang der Jünglinge" (1956) [512 points, 8 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XfeWp2y1Lk

Get outta here.

I've almost run out of YAY juice. Such a brilliant run for me.

Best exploration of the stereo field in this whole countdown. And agree w emil.y, so much YAY I'm worn out.

voted this even though i only ever toe-dip with this stuff & am frankly ignorant & poss a poseur, but just got into listening to the gesang a couple of years ago. Can't really say why it hypnotises me, would have to think and write more seriously than I can while in an office.

xp
Yes, awesome day.

Really do like this. Was listening to it the other day. not really that different from Transfusion in some ways, the same sense of a different audio landscape at work, interrupted communications above the hum of mechanical and electronic interference. Still busting moves to Sea Cruise tho, so more up for someone sounding slightly desperate and going WOO-EE in vocal imitation of a steam-funnel like some sort of cargo-cult vox right now.

30. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (1950) [519 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZ5QowYgYM

too low! (Confession: I had it too low on my ballot so I'm majorly at fault)

Yes! So stoked that this and Sligo River Blues both made it.

Hate bluegrass, hate virtuoso showpieces, but totally love this.

today's results are insane and brilliant

List now up to date, with every track! I will continue to update.
http://open.spotify.com/user/nstewart/playlist/4IKcWqGQQ5cN1QTT0ya7xo
Enjoy!

Nice, good work Neil.

29. JACQUES BREL "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (1959) [534 points, 8 votes, 1 first-place vote]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qforhzt8VPU

yaaaaaay for Flatt & Scruggs! and Stockhausen!

this is probably the only time I've been legit excited about an ILM poll tbh

my last cut. don't speak a word of French so I felt silly voting for it.

Woo! Thought this had no chance!

but it's an all time classic of course. glad ilm agrees

28. ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG "Summertime" (1959) [539 points, 8 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDOEsQL7lA

Well well. So what *is* going to be top five?

What'd I Say? Desafinado? Rumble? lots of good picks left. Great poll!

What'd I Say? and Tutti Frutti for sure. can't believe I didn't vote Summertime.

27. THE JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO "The Train Kept a-Rollin'" (1956) [543 points, 11 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufzRV3xspYA

Yes.

THE rockabilly track. proud voter of this one

I'm loving this run. Johnny Burnette was a find - this is so much better than the other versions I've heard.

I actually like a bunch of the other versions, especially The Yardbirds one.

Voted 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' in my top 10. He's a very sweaty little man, isn't he?

has Johnny Otis placed yet...?

No sir.

:(

26. MUDDY WATERS "Manish Boy" (1955) [556 points, 12 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwUOIlqhGA

Solid.

YES

oh yeah

Version of this in The Last Waltz blows everything else away

Very glad to see Brel this high, was in my top ten!

I'm not really familiar with Brel, so my initial impression is: well, that's Bryan Ferry explained.

haha

:-D

I decided I'm tacking on an extra five today and taking it down to the Top 20 for tomorrow. Cool?

25. EDGARD VARÈSE "Poème Électronique" (1958) [560 points, 9 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7AIiTeKBUc

YEAHHHHHHHHH

<3

:)

To assist in context, imagine hearing Varese piece in THIS

http://greg.org/archive/expo58_corbu_philips.jpg