Holly and Kelly review all 1,001 songs, and 1,001 albums we must hear before we die. Join us!
Song 84 – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
SONG: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On ARTIST: Jerry Lee Lewis YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On has unconfirmed origins, but it usually attributed to songwriter Dave “Curlee” Williams. Big Maybelle was the first to record it on March 21, 1955, with the session being arranged and conducted byContinue reading “Song 84 – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
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 82 – Just a Gigolo
SONG: Just a Gigolo ARTIST: Louis Prima YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: The original lyrics were written in German (“Schoner gigolo, armer gigolo”) by Julius Brammer in 1924 with melody to follow in 1928 from Leonello Casucci. It was adapted into English in 1929 by Irving Caesar and featured in various filmsContinue reading “Song 82 – Just a Gigolo”
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 80 – Folsom Prison Blues
SONG: Folsom Prison Blues ARTIST: Johnny Cash YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Folsom Prison Blues was written by Johnny Cash in 1953 and not released until 1955. It was originally released on his debut studio album Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar and a live recording from Folsom Prison itselfContinue reading “Song 80 – Folsom Prison Blues”
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 78 – Ella
SONG: Ella ARTIST: José Alfredo Jiménez YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Ella was written by Jose Alfredo Jiminez in 1942 in the style of vals meijcano. He was 18 years old at the time and sang of a broken heart. It has been covered many times by prominent Latinx musicians. THE ARTIST:Continue reading “Song 78 – Ella”
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 76 – I Walk the Line
SONG: I Walk the Line ARTIST: Johnny Cash YEAR: 1956 Listen to it here: THE SONG: Walk the Line was written by Johnny Cash, recorded by him in April of 1956 and released in May of the same year. It sold over 2 million copies and was on the charts for over 43 weeks. CashContinue reading “Song 76 – I Walk the Line”
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