Tunes Du Jour Presents 1957

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The year 1957 stands as a pivotal moment in the evolution of popular music, where rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues, and even a touch of jazz converged to create a soundtrack that would resonate for decades. The hits of the year showcase not only the diverse range of genres but also the rise of some of the most influential voices in music history. A prime example is The Crickets’ “That’ll Be the Day,” a track that embodies the early rock ‘n’ roll spirit, blending Buddy Holly’s unmistakable vocal delivery with a catchy, driving beat. It’s a song that helped shape the sound of the era.

Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” is another cornerstone of 1957, with its infectious energy and rebellious attitude. Presley was at the height of his powers, blending rock, blues, and a hint of swagger that would influence generations of performers. Meanwhile, Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill” offered a smoother, more melodic contrast. Domino’s effortless combination of rhythm and blues with pop sensibility helped bridge the gap between different audiences, securing his place as one of the genre’s pioneers.

But 1957 wasn’t just about rock ‘n’ roll—it was a year that embraced the full spectrum of American music. Take Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (Banana Boat Song),” a calypso tune that brought Caribbean sounds to mainstream audiences. Similarly, the soulful ballad “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke introduced a voice that would soon come to define soul music. Cooke’s ability to combine gospel roots with pop elegance opened the doors for future R&B artists.

The variety of sounds continued with tracks like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis and “Lucille” by Little Richard, both of which pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be with their raw energy and wild performances. On the other end of the spectrum, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “Summertime” added a jazzy sophistication to the year’s musical offerings, reminding listeners that timeless standards still had a place in the changing musical landscape.

Ninety fifty-seven was a year when rock ‘n’ roll solidified its place in popular culture, while artists from various genres continued to innovate and inspire. Whether through the heartfelt croon of Johnny Mathis on “Chances Are” or the rough-edged blues of Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Working,” the music of this year still echoes today as a testament to a time when creativity flourished across musical boundaries.

Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 10-2-22

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Today’s playlist celebrates the October 2 birthdays of The Human League’s Phil Oakey, The Police’s Sting, Genesis’s Mike Rutherford, Richard Hell, Badly Drawn Boy, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Don McLean, The Diamonds’ Dave Somerville, Hoodoo Gurus’s Dave Faulkner, Tiffany, Mousse T, Redbone’s Lolly Vegas, Aqua’s Lene Nystrom, Foxy/OXO’s Ish Ledesma, and Abbott & Costello’s Bud Abbott.

Throwback Thursday – 1957

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Nineteen fifty-seven was a banner year in the nascent days of rock and roll.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets had their first chart hit with “That’ll be the Day,” which hit #1 in September. “Peggy Sue” became their second top ten single before the year was out.

Sun Records, the label that brought us Elvis Presley (among others), released “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” performed by Jerry Lee Lewis. It became Lewis’ first hit single, peaking at #3.

Gospel singer Sam Cooke released his first secular recording on Keen Records. The song was “You Send Me,” and it spent three weeks at #1 in December. Cooke would go on to score 28 more top 40 pop hits.

The Everly Brothers cracked the pop chart for the first time with “Bye Bye Love,” which peaked at #2. Their follow-up single, “Wake Up Little Susie,” went to #1 and stayed there for four weeks.

Chuck Berry, who cracked the pop top ten in 1955 with “Maybellene,” had two more top ten hits in 1957 – “School Day” and “Rock & Roll Music.” He wouldn’t have a #1 single until 1972.

Elvis Presley was at #1 on the pop singles chart for exactly half the year with “All Shook Up,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” and “Too Much.” So his increasing amount of fans wouldn’t be bothersome to his neighbors and to have more security, in 1957 Presley purchased the Graceland mansion in Memphis for $102,500.

Jackie Wilson, formerly a member of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, released his first solo single, “Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet),” co-written by an up-and-coming songwriter named Berry Gordy, Jr. Though the song only reached #62 on the US pop chart, it went top ten in the UK, earning Gordy enough money to fund the launch of Motown Records. Ultimately, Wilson would have 24 top 40 hits on the US pop chart.

Little Richard, who first cracked the pop chart in 1956 with “Tutti-Frutti,” had three more top 40 hits in 1957 – “Keep a Knockin’,” “Jenny, Jenny” and “Lucille.” The latter hit #1 on the r&b chart, while the other two titles peaked at #2 r&b.

The Coasters teamed up with the production/songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and in doing so, scored with the double-sided hit single “Searchin’” (#3 pop / #1 r&b) and “Young Blood” (#8 pop / #1 r&b). With Lieber and Stoller The Coasters would score several more top ten hits over the next few years.

Also, in 1957, the television program American Bandstand was syndicated nationally. It would air for the next 32 years.

Tunes du Jour’s Throwback Thursday playlist this week focuses on the great music of 1957.


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Ten Facts About Little Richard

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1) Mojo magazine’s list of “The 100 Records that Changed the World” placed Little Richard’s “Tutti-Frutti” at #1.
2) Pat Boone, who made a career of recording new tracks by African-American acts and sanitizing them for white audiences, covered Little Richard’s “Tutti-Frutti” in 1956 and had a bigger hit with it than Richard did. To avoid a repeat of this, Richard and his producer, Bumps Blackwell, rehearsed the follow-up single, “Long Tall Sally,” until Richard could sing it as fast as possible, with the thinking that Boone wouldn’t be able to sing it as fast. Little Richard’s version became his first top ten pop hit and the biggest-selling single in the history of Specialty Records. Unfortunately, Pat Boone also enjoyed a top ten hit with his version.
3) Richard wrote a song about a female impersonator from his hometown who was called Queen Sonya. He changed Sonya to Lucille, which became the song’s title. It became Richard’s longest-charting hit in 1957.
4) While on tour in 1957 Richard decided to give up rock & roll and enter the ministry. He left the tour ten days early. The original flight on which he had been scheduled to return home crashed into the Pacific Ocean.
5) In 1962 Richard returned to performing secular music while touring Europe. Sam Cooke was his opening act.
6) Later in 1962 Little Richard’s opening act was The Beatles. Richard taught Paul McCartney how to sing like he does.
7) In 1963 The Rolling Stones opened for Richard. Said Mick Jagger: “I couldn’t believe the power of Little Richard onstage. He was amazing.”
8) Members of Little Richard’s band at times include Jimi Hendrix and Billy Preston. This line-up can be heard on the track “I Don’t Know What You’ve Got (But It’s Got Me),” the last single released by Vee-Jay Records.
9) Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The Greatest Artists of All Time has Little Richard at #8.
10) Today is his 81st birthday.

Enjoy this playlist inspired by one of rock and roll’s originators, Little Richard.