27 Best Songs From 1957
Contents
21. “Young Love” by Tab Hunter
“Young Love” was first recorded by rockabilly songwriter Ric Cartey the year before, in 1956. It was covered by three artists in 1957: Sonny James, the Crew-Cuts, and Tab Hunter. But it was the Tab Hunter version that would become the chart-topping Billboard hit. With its echoing, melodic harmony and background vocals, Tab Hunter’s “Young Love” is the type of song that comes to mind when anyone thinks of 1950s teenage love.
22. “Banana Boat (Day-O)” by Harry Belafonte
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. That’s all anyone thinks of when this classic calypso hit plays. Harry Belafonte made this traditional Jamaican folk song one of the legendary artist’s biggest hits. The call-and-response style of “Banana Boat” makes singing along with it so much fun. And here’s a fun pop culture fact: Bob Dylan makes his musical debut playing harmonica on Harry Belafonte’s 1961 song “Midnight Special.”
23. “Send For Me” by Nat King Cole
“Send For Me” was a number-one Billboard R&B hit for songwriter Ollie Jones and famous American crooner Nat King Cole. The song also ranked on Billboard’s Year-End Top 50 Singles of 1957. With sweet saxophone playing, slick guitar licks, and outstanding piano playing, “Send For Me” is a fun, slow-swinging song for all ages. It has also been covered every decade since and well into the 21st century. Nat King Cole is an American icon.
24. “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers
The opening guitar playing of “Bye Bye Love” could trick any music fan into thinking it was the mid-60s hit in the style of The Beach Boys or The Beatles. Needless to say, “Bye Bye Love” was years ahead of its time. Not only was it a pop chart hit, the single even topped the Billboard country charts in 1957.
The song is famously covered by Simon and Garfunkel as well as George Harrison, who would change the lyrics to reflect his wife’s affair with Eric Clapton.
25. “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins recorded this rockabilly hit for Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Based on the 1927 blues classic Blind Lemon Jefferson, “Matchbox” would become the biggest hit of the career of Carl Perkins. While Jerry Lee Lewis played piano for the track, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley stopped into the studio that day for various reasons. The twist of fate created one of the most iconic moments in music history: the impromptu formation of the legendary Million Dollar Quartet.
26. “Got My Mojo Working” by Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters has long been considered the father of Chicago blues, and one of the greatest blues musicians of all time. In 1957, he covered the Red Foster blues song “Got My Mojo Working”. The single includes several references to magic hoodoo talismans of African American folklore. The Muddy Waters version is included in the RIAA “Songs of the Century”. And the track would become inspirational to the blues style made famous in the coming decade.
27. “Rock and Roll Music” by Chuck Berry
No singer is better suited to conclude this list than the father of rock and roll. The legendary “Rock and Roll Music” was recorded in Chicago for Chess Records and released in September 1957. Considered one of Chuck Berry's most memorable tunes, it is included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The tune – like other songs on this list – would be covered by both The Beach Boys and The Beatles.
Top Songs From 1957, Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, 1957 is one of the most important years in American music history. Pioneers of rock and roll like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis monopolized the Billboard charts as teenagers flocked to stores to buy their 45s.
The top songs of 1957 resonated from malt shop diner jukeboxes and high school sock hops around the nation. To this day, these classics are still played all over the world.
