SONG: Johnny B. Goode ARTIST: Chuck Berry YEAR: 1958 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Johnny B. Goode was written by Chuck Berry in 1958 and was released as a single. Now, it’s considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music, and is the first rock and roll hit aboutContinue reading “Song 91 – Johnny B. Goode”
Author Archives: Holly De Caigny
Song 89 – You Send Me
SONG: You Send Me ARTIST: Sam Cooke YEAR: 1957 Listen to it here: THE SONG: “You Send Me” was Sam Cooke’s first hit, and was released as the B-side to his song “Summertime”. It spent 6 weeks as number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, as well as having mainstream success. On the success ofContinue reading “Song 89 – You Send Me”
Song 87 – Great Balls of Fire
SONG: Great Balls of Fire ARTIST: Jerry Lee Lewis YEAR: 1957 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Jerry Lee Lewis recorded Great Balls of Fire in 1957, and the song was featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer (maybe not his real name). The song was anContinue reading “Song 87 – Great Balls of Fire”
Song 83 – Rock Island Line
SONG: Rock Island Line ARTIST: Lonnie Donegan YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: The earliest known version of this song was written in 1929 by Clarence Wilson, a member of the Rock Island Colored Booster Quartet. The lyrics in this early version are quite different from the lyrics of the more popular versionsContinue reading “Song 83 – Rock Island Line”
Song 81 – I Put a Spell on You
SONG: I Put a Spell On You ARTIST: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: I Put a Spell on You was written by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956, and according to Hawkins, the original vision was for the song to be a refined ballad. However, the producer, Arnold Maxin, broughtContinue reading “Song 81 – I Put a Spell on You”
Song 79 – Take My Hand, Precious Lord
SONG: Take My Hand, Precious Lord ARTIST: Mahalia Jackson YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Take My Hand, Precious Lord is a gospel song written by the Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey, who is not the same person as Tommy Dorsey. Reverend Dorsey composed the melody by leaning heavily on the 1844 hymn tune,Continue reading “Song 79 – Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
Album 9 – The Atomic Mr Basie
ALBUM TITLE: The Atomic Mr Basie ARTIST NAME: Count Basie and His Orchestra YEAR OF RELEASE: 1958 Favourite Song: Holly: The Flight of the Foo Birds Kelly: The Flight of the Foo Birds ALBUM HISTORY: This album was originally called Basie, and was also known as E=MC2. It’s one of Basie’s most famous and criticallyContinue reading “Album 9 – The Atomic Mr Basie”
Song 77 – Knoxville Girl
SONG: Knoxville Girl ARTIST: The Louvin Brothers YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Ah, good. It’s been months since we’ve talked about a good ol’ murder ballad. And that is exactly the genre under which Knoxville Girl falls. This song was derived from a 19th Century Irish ballad “The Wexford Girl”, which wasContinue reading “Song 77 – Knoxville Girl”
Song 75 – Honey Hush
SONG: Honey Hush ARTIST: The Johnny Burnette Trio YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Honey Hush is another Big Joe Turner original, which he recorded and released in 1953. His recording was a bit of a slapdash affair as his record company was worried that they were getting low on Big Joe TurnerContinue reading “Song 75 – Honey Hush”
Song 73 – Blueberry Hill
SONG: Blueberry Hill ARTIST: Fats Domino YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Blueberry Hill was actually published way back in 1940, but didn’t become famous until this version we’re listening to today. The music was written by Vincent Rose, and the lyrics by Larry Stock and Al Lewis. It’s super weird, but theContinue reading “Song 73 – Blueberry Hill”
Holly & Kelly Music Review 