The Best Rock Songs of the 50s

What are the best rock songs from the 50s?

Rock music has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly, which evolved from blues, country music and other influences. According to the All Music Guide, "In its purest form, Rock & Roll has three chords, a strong, insistent back beat, and a catchy melody. Early rock & roll drew from a variety of sources, primarily blues, R&b, and country, but also gospel, traditional pop, jazz, and folk. All of these influences combined in a simple, blues-based song structure that was fast, danceable, and catchy."

There is much debate as to what should be considered the first rock & roll record. One leading contender is "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston, Ike Turner and his band The Kings of Rhythm; which was recorded by Sam Phillips for Sun Records in 1951. Three years later, Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock and roll song to top Billboard magazine's main sales and airplay charts, and opened the door worldwide for this new wave of popular culture.

Rolling Stone magazine argued in 2004 that "That's All Right (Mama)", Elvis Presley's first single for Sun Records in Memphis, was the first rock and roll record. But, at the same time, Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle & Roll", later covered by Haley, was already at the top of the Billboard R&B charts.

Located below you will find a list of some of the best rock songs of the 1950s. For your convenience, we have included links to the sheet music on Sheetmusicplus.com as well as the CD on Amazon.com whenever available. If you are looking to purchase the mp3 or would like to listen to a sample, then click on either the Amazon, Rhapsody, or iTunes links.

Rhapsody provides both music subscriptions as well as individual mp3s for sale in WMA format and iTunes only provides MPEG-4 audio files for sale. However, Amazon does offer mp3s that are compatible with both Windows Media Player and iTunes. For more information about where to purchase music online, we provide it on our Music Downloads page or our Music Subscriptions page.


These singles are considered among the best rock songs to hit the charts in the 1950s.

  1. "Ain't That A Shame" performed by Pat Boone or Fats Domino
     Find it on:  Fats Domino - The Fats Domino Jukebox: 20 Greatest Hits - Ain't That a Shame   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  2. "All I Have To Do Is Dream" performed by Everly Brothers
     Find it on:  The Everly Brothers - Everly Brothers: The Very Best of the - All I Have to Do Is Dream   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  3. "All Shook Up" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records (Remastered) - All Shook Up   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  4. "At The Hop" performed by Danny & The Juniors
     Find it on:  Danny & The Juniors - 20th Century Rocks: 50's Rock 'n Roll - At the Hop - At the Hop   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  5. "Blueberry Hill" performed by Fats Domino
     Find it on:  Fats Domino - Rock Masters: Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  6. "Bye Bye Love" performed by Everly Brothers
     Find it on:  The Everly Brothers - Everly Brothers: The Very Best of the - Bye Bye Love   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  7. "Don't Be Cruel" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis 30 #1 Hits - Don't Be Cruel   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  8. "Earth Angel" performed by Penguins or the Crew Cuts
     Find it on:  Penquins - Doo Wop Battle - Earth Angel   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  9. "Good Golly Miss Molly" performed by Little Richard
     Find it on:  Little Richard - 20 Best Hits of the 50's - Good Golly Miss Molly   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  10. "Great Balls of Fire" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
     Find it on:  Jerry Lee Lewis - Jerry Lee's Greatest - Great Balls of Fire   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  11. "Heartbreak Hotel" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis 30 #1 Hits   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  12. "Hound Dog" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley: The Top Ten Hits - Hound Dog   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  13. "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley: The Top Ten Hits - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  14. "Jailhouse Rock" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis 30 #1 Hits - Jailhouse Rock   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  15. "Johnny B. Goode" performed by Chuck Berry
     Find it on:  Chuck Berry - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Blues Rock Songbook - Johnny B. Goode   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  16. "Kansas City" performed by Wilbert Harrison
     Find it on:  Wilbert Harrison - 20 Best of 50's Rock 'n' Roll - Kansas City   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  17. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis 30 #1 Hits   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  18. "Lonely Teardrops" performed by Jackie Wilson
     Find it on:  Jackie Wilson - Jackie Wilson: 20 Greatest Hits - Lonely Teardrops   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  19. "Long Tall Sally" performed by Little Richard
     Find it on:  Little Richard - Little Richard: All-Time Greatest Hits - Long Tall Sally   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  20. "Love Me Tender" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - Elvis 30 #1 Hits   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  21. "Love Potion No. 9" performed by Clovers
     Find it on:  The Clovers - Great Balls of Fire: The 50's - A Decade to Remember - Love Potion No. 9   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  22. "Peggy Sue" performed by Buddy Holly
     Find it on:  Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  23. "Rock Around The Clock" performed by Bill Haley & His Comets
     Find it on:  Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around the Clock - Rock Around the Clock   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  24. "Rocket 88" performed by Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats
     Find it on:  Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Sun Records: The Blues Years 1950-1958 (Disk 1) - Rocket 88   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  25. "Shake, Rattle and Roll" performed by Bill Haley & His Comets
     Find it on:  Bill Haley & His Comets - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of Bill Haley & His Comets - Shake, Rattle and Roll   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  26. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" performed by Platters
     Find it on:  The Platters - The Platters: The Magic Touch Anthology - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  27. "Summertime Blues" performed by Eddie Cochran or The Hound Dogs
     Find it on:  The Hound Dogs - 50's Rock Classics - Summertime Blues   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  28. "Teen Angel" performed by Mark Dinning or Donovan
     Find it on:  Mark Dinning - 50's Rock 'n Roll - Whole Lot of Shakin' - Teen Angel   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  29. "That'll Be The Day" performed by Buddy Holly & the Crickets
     Find it on:  Buddy Holly & The Crickets - The "Chirping" Crickets - That'll Be the Day   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  30. "That's All Right" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:  Elvis Presley - The Essential Elvis Presley (Remastered) - That's All Right   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  31. "The Great Pretender" performed by Platters
     Find it on:  The Platters - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Series: The Best of The Platters (Remastered) - The Great Pretender   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  32. "Tutti Frutti" performed by Little Richard
     Find it on:  Little Richard - Little Richard: All-Time Greatest Hits - Tutti-Frutti   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  33. "Venus" performed by Frankie Avalon
     Find it on:  Frankie Avalon - The Best of Frankie Avalon - Venus   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  34. "Wake Up Little Susie" performed by the Everly Brothers
     Find it on:  The Everly Brothers - 20 Best of 50's Rock 'n' Roll - Wake Up Little Susie   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  35. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
     Find it on:  Jerry Lee Lewis - The Hits: Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  36. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" performed by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
     Find it on:  Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers - Doo Wop Classics, Vol. 4 - Why Do Fools Fall In Love   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  37. "Yakety Yak" performed by The Coasters
     Find it on:  The Coasters - The Very Best of the Coasters - Yakety Yak   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus


The Best Songs Music Line

Find some of the best songs of the 1950s by selecting one of the links below:





Click on any of the links below to find the:


The Best Songs Music Line