27 Best Songs From 1954

“Misty” by Erroll Garner

Earlier, we mentioned jazz played a prominent role in determining what constituted good music in 1954. “Misty” is an excellent example. It was a prominent jazz standard at the time, first sung by Erroll Garner.

Garner wrote and performed the song as an instrumental composition. Later, Johnny Burke added lyrics.

“Misty’s” success wasn’t limited to 1954. It became a signature melody for jazz artists like:

• Johnny Mathis
• Sarah Vaughan

Versions were also done by:

• Ella Fitzgerald
• Aretha Franklin
• Frank Sinatra

“Sincerely” by The Moonglows

Moonglow band members Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed collaborated on “Sincerely.”

The song was part of The Moonglow’s first recording, and shortly after its release, it became one of the best songs of 1954.

“Sh-Boom” by The Chords

Another important song when discussing good music from 1954 is “Sh-Boom.”

Several members of The Chords collaborated to produce it. But they couldn’t have foreseen its success. As one of the first doo-wop albums to reach the top ten of America’s Billboard Charts, “Sh-Boon” became one of the best songs of 1954 almost overnight.

The group’s producer was initially reluctant, feeling the song lacked commercial success. Ironically, it was the only hit The Chords ever recorded.

“This Ole House” by Rosemary Clooney

Sometimes called “This Old House,” this is another example of the best songs of 1954.

Stuart Hamblen took inspiration for “This Ole House” while on a hunting holiday in the Sierra. He and his party stumbled across an isolated hut where a dog sat guarding the body of his deceased master.

Moved by the scene, Hamblen wrote what became “This Ole House.” The song details the dying words of a man who lives in an increasingly decrepit house.

Clooney sang the song with great feeling. That, combined with its message, ensured it moved audiences in North America and Britain.

“Answer Me, My Love” by Nat King Cole

 Another singer instrumental in shaping what was good music in 1954 is Nat King Cole. Cole’s reputation is primarily for his jazz, which is excellent. But before that, his rich, warm vocals made him the ideal radio crooner.

“Answer Me” is the perfect example. It’s gently melodic, with swooping, romantic phrasing.

“Stranger In Paradise” by Tony Bennet

Tony Benet’s serenade “Stranger In Paradise” is another example of good music from 1954.

Written for the musical Kismet, “Strangers In Paradise” reworks a melody from the opera Prince Igor.

The opera isn’t memorable. As sung by Tony Bennet, it became an intimate, swooning melody. The combination of the song’s nostalgia, sentimentality, and a hint of exoticism was an effective one.

Prince Igor might remain underperformed, but “Strangers In Paradise” was undeniably one of the best songs of 1954.

“In The Jailhouse Now” by Webb Pierce

One of the more unlikely candidates for the best songs of 1954 is “In The Jailhouse Now.” Sung by Webb Pierce, the song shares a melody with “Midnight Special.”

But whereas “Midnight Special” is instrumental, “In the Jailhouse Now” has lyrics. It also has a storied history that goes back to the 1920s.

Lyrics vary depending on the singer, but the most notorious tells the story of Ramblin’ Bob. However, the lyrics are flexible and over time, have expanded to encompass all manner of wrongdoing, from election fraud to cheating at cards.

In addition to Pierce’s memorable country recording, it’s also sung as a blues, jazz, and bluegrass song. It famously features in the film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

“Fly Me To The Moon” by Kaye Ballard

“Fly Me To The Moon” is known to many as one of Frank Sinatra’s most popular songs. But before that, it was one of the best songs of 1954.

Written by Bart Howard, the first recording of “Fly Me To The Moon” came from Kay Ballard.

It was a breakthrough for Howard, who spent years as an aspiring composer. Not everyone was immediately convinced and tried to change some of the song’s most memorable lyrics. Howard refused, and rightly so, when “Fly Me To The Moon” became one of his most successful compositions.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Roy Hamilton

Rogers and Hammerstein are the musical duo behind this example of good music from 1954.

The pair have an interesting preoccupation with lark symbolism, using it repeatedly in their work. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is no exception.

However, the lark imagery dovetails with the song’s soaring melody and encapsulates themes of longing and freedom beautifully. No wonder when Roy Hamilton sang it, it became one of the best songs of 1954.

Today, it’s better known as the sports anthem for Manchester United. But originally, it was a sentimental song full of a father’s dreams for his daughter, and that’s how Hamilton sings it.

“In The Chapel In The Moonlight” by Kitty Kallen

“In The Chapel In The Moonlight” was a popular song from 1936. Billy Hill wrote it, and initially, Shep Fields performed it. It would have been promptly forgotten if Kitty Kallen hadn’t revived it in 1954.

Kallen was so successful with the song that several artists decided to do renditions themselves, including Dean Martin and The Bachelors.