by Sam Juliano
The 1956 Greatest Song Poll winner is The Five Satins’ timeless doo-wop classic, “In the Still of the Night!”
The Five Satins’s immortal doo-wop classic “In the Still of the Night” edged by Chuck Berry’s “Roll over Beethoven” 281-278, to finish first in our 1956 Best Song Poll. The song – a modest hit in the year of its release – gained a reputation over the years and was repeatedly named the greatest of all-time in several CBS-FM polls considering the rock era. According to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., the Five Satins hit – previously known as “In the Still of the Nite,” placed on the lion’s share of the 37 ballots cast and was named Number 1 by several voters.
1 In the Still Of The Night – The Five Satins 281
2 Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry 278
3 Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino 258
4 Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley 256
5 I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash 256
6 Long Tall Sally – Little Richard 243
7 Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins 238
8 Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley 232
9 I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra 219
10 Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf 212
11 Hound Dog – Elvis Presley 185
12 Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley 185
13 Let The Good Times Roll – Shirley and Lee 152
14 My Prayer – The Platters 146
15 Who Do You Love – Bo Diddley 142
16 Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent 138
17 I Put a Spell on You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 136
18 Come Go With Me – Del-Vikings 122
19 Que Sera, Sera – Doris Day 116
20 Why Do Fools Fall in Love – Frankie Lymon/Teenagers 114
21 Oh What a Night – Dells 92
22 The Great Pretender – The Platters 91
23 Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) – Harry Belafonte 90
24 Fever – Little Willie John 90
25 Love Is Strange, Mickey and Sylvia 80
26 The Train Kept-A-Rollin – Johnny Burnette Trio 78
27 Blue Monday – Fats Domino 72
28 Drown In My Own Tears – Ray Charles 72
29 Singin the Blues (Guy Mitchell) 70
30 Please Please Please – James Brown 69
31 Hallelujah, I Love Her So – Ray Charles 59
32 My Blue Heaven – Fats Domino 56
33 Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody – Louis Prima 54
34 The Wayward Wind – Gogi Grant 52
35 The Girl Can’t Help It – Little Richard 51
36 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – Elvis Presley 48
37 Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley 43
38 Since I Met You Baby (Ivory Joe Huntelr) 43
39 Lady Sings the Blues – Billie Holiday 42
40 Jump Jive and Wail – Louis Prima 41
41 Moonglow & Theme from Picnic – Morris Stoloff 41
42 Rip It Up – Little Richard 39
43 Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye : Ella Fitzgerald. 38
44 Jamaica Farewell – Harry Belafonte 38
45 Corrine, Corrina – Joe Turner 36
46 Earth Angel – The Penguins 36
47 Blue Moon – Elvis Presley 35
48 Honey Don’t – Carl Perkins 35
49 Theme from Picnic/Moonglow (McGuire Sisters) 32
50 A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats 31
Best Popular Songs of 1957 Polling!
As always, as many as twenty (20) choices are allowed to be listed chronologically, alphabetically, or in ranked order. Mine own are listed alphabetically:
At the Hop (Danny and the Juniors)
Book of Love (Monotones)
Bye Bye Love (Everly Brothers)
Chances Are (Johnny Mathis)
Diana (Paul Anka)
Everyday (Buddy Holly)
Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley)
Little Darlin (Diamonds)
Love Letters in the Sand (Pat Boone)
Lucille (Little Richard)
Peggy Sue (Peggy Sue)
Rock n Roll Music (Chuck Berry)
School Days (Chuck Berry)
That’ll Be the Day (Buddy Holly)
Tonite Tonite (The Mello Kings)
Walkin After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
Wake Up Little Suzie (Everly Brothers)
A White Sport Coat (Marty Robbins)
You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
————————-TOP 100 OF 1957————————
1 Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
2 Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On Jerry Lee Lewis
3 That’ll Be The Day Crickets
4 Bye Bye Love Everly Brothers
5 Great Balls Of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis
6 School Day Chuck Berry
7 Rock And Roll Music Chuck Berry
8 Peggy Sue Buddy Holly
9 Lucille Little Richard
10 Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns
11 All Shook Up Elvis Presley
12 Searchin’ Coasters
13 You Send Me Sam Cooke
14 Wake Up Little Susie Everly Brothers
15 Susie Q Dale Hawkins
16 I’m Walkin’ Fats Domino
17 Keep A ‘Knockin’ Little Richard
18 Matchbox Carl Perkins
19 C.C. Rider Chuck Willis
20 Send Me Some Lovin’ Little Richard
21 At The Hop Danny & the Juniors
22 Little Darlin’ Diamonds
23 Oh Boy! Crickets
24 Get A Job Silhouettes
25 Book Of Love Monotones
26 Maybe Baby Crickets
27 Young Blood Coasters
28 Chances Are Johnny Mathis
29 Little Bitty Pretty One Thurston Harris
30 Not Fade Away Crickets
31 Walking After Midnight Patsy Cline
32 I’m A King Bee Slim Harpo
33 Got My Mojo Working Muddy Waters
34 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
35 Too Much Elvis Presley
36 Diana Paul Anka
37 Silhouettes Rays
38 Reet Petite Jackie Wilson
39 Don’t Let Go Roy Hamilton
40 Short Fat Fannie Larry Williams
41 Hey Bo Diddley Bo Diddley
42 Red Hot Billy Riley
43 Twenty Flight Rock Eddie Cochran
44 It’s Not For Me To Say Johnny Mathis
45 Could This Be Magic Dubs
46 Teddy Bear Elvis Presley
47 Just Because Lloyd Price
48 Farther Up The Road Bobby “Blue” Bland
49 It Hurts Me Too Elmore James
50 Treat Me Nice Elvis Presley
51 Long Lonely Nights Lee Andrews & the Hearts
52 Maybe Chantels
53 Honeycomb Jimmie Rodgers
54 Whispering Bells Del-Vikings
55 Teardrops Lee Andrews & the Hearts
56 Tonite, Tonite Mello-Kings
57 Lotta Lovin’ Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
58 Mr. Lee Bobbettes
59 Over The Mountain; Across The Sea Johnnie & Joe
60 We Belong Together Robert & Johnny
61 Happy Happy Birthday Baby Tuneweavers
62 Black Slacks Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones
63 Bony Moronie Larry Williams
64 Don’t Elvis Presley
65 To The Aisle Five Satins
66 A White Sport Coat Marty Robbins
67 Stardust Billy Ward & the Dominoes
68 Baby I Don’t Care Elvis Presley
69 Mona Bo Diddley
70 Everyday Buddy Holly
71 Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Hollywood Flames
72 Got A Lot O’Livin’ To Do Elvis Presley
73 Be-Bop Baby Ricky Nelson
74 Deserie Charts
75 Florence Paragons
76 Flying Saucer Rock And Roll Billy Riley
77 Stood Up Ricky Nelson
78 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley
79 Swanee River Rock Ray Charles
80 Been So Long Pastels
81 Don’t Ask Me (To Be Lonely) Dubs
82 Goody Goody Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
83 Jenny, Jenny Little Richard
84 Honest I Do Jimmy Reed
85 Before You Accuse Me Bo Diddley
86 Walkin’ With Mr. Lee Lee Allen
87 Raunchy Bill Justis / Ernie Freeman
88 Miss Ann Little Richard
89 Peanuts Little Joe & the Thrillers
90 Words Of Love Buddy Holly
91 Baby Oh Baby Shells
92 Send For Me Nat “King” Cole
93 Think “5” Royales
94 The Stroll Diamonds
95 Can I Come Over Tonight Velours
96 Who’s Sorry Now Connie Francis
97 My Special Angel Bobby Helms
98 Louie Louie Richard Berry & the Pharaohs
99 Jail Bait Andre Williams
100 Fools Fall In Love Drifters
20 more worth mentioning.
101 Fujiama Mama Wanda Jackson
102 Bi-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
103 I Got Love If You Want It Slim Harpo
104 Dedicated To The One I Love “5” Royales
105 Why Do You Have To Go Dells
106 He’s Gone Chantels
107 Boom, Boom Out Goes The Light Little Walter
108 True Fine Mama Little Richard
109 I Beg Of You Elvis Presley
110 Twelfth Of Never Johnny Mathis
111 Loving You Elvis Presley
112 Waitin’ In School Ricky Nelson
113 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine Jimmie Rodgers
114 La Dee Dah Billy & Lillie
115 Mean Woman Blues Elvis Presley / Jerry Lee Lewis
116 Dede Dinah Frankie Avalon
117 Down In The Alley Clovers
118 The Plea Chantels
119 Out In The Cold Again Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
120 Walking Along Solitaires
Lucille, the family and me saw The Bikeriders (Austin Butler, Jodi Comer, Tom Hardy) on Saturday night. Rating: 3.5 of 5.0
Keith from nostalgicitalian.com:
1 Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On Jerry Lee Lewis
2 School Day Chuck Berry
3 I’m Walkin’ Fats Domino
4 Keep A ‘Knockin’ Little Richard
5 Get A Job Silhouettes
6 Reet Petite Jackie Wilson
7 Don’t Let Go Roy Hamilton
8 Everyday Buddy Holly
9 Stood Up Ricky Nelson
10 The Stroll Diamonds
11 My Special Angel Bobby Helms
12 Walkin’ With Mr. Lee Lee Allen
13 All Shook Up Elvis Presley
14 Little Darlin’ Diamonds
15 Little Bitty Pretty One Thurston Harris
16 Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Hollywood Flames
17 Great Balls Of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis
18 Maybe Baby Crickets
19 You Send Me Sam Cooke
20 Silhouettes Rays
Keith—–
Thank you for once again submitting a ballot, and a fabulous one at that!
The WITD-1956 Spotify playlist is up.
My 1957 ballot:
1 Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
2 All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
2 Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On – Jerry Lee Lewis
3 That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4 Bye Bye Love – The Everly Brothers
5 Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
6 School Days – Chuck Berry
7 Rock And Roll Music – Chuck Berry
8 Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
9 Lucille – Little Richard
10 Treat Me Nice – Elvis Presley
11 You Send Me – Sam Cooke
12 Susie Q – Dale Hawkins
13 Matchbox – Carl Perkins
14 C.C. Rider – Chuck Willis
15 You’re So Square (Baby I Don’t Care) – Elvis Presley
16 Jenny, Jenny – Little Richard
17 Not Fade Away – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
18 Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters
19 Red Hot – Billy Riley
20 Think It Over – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Tony—–
Many thanks for again posting the results at Spotify and for an ace 1957 ballot!!!!!!!!!
My Twenty For 1957 (Alphabetical Order)
All The Way : Frank Sinatra.
Autumn In New York : Sarah Vaughan.
Bony Moronie : Larry Williams.
Got My Mojo Working : Muddy Waters.
It’s Not For Me To Say : Johnny Mathis.
Jailhouse Rock : Elvis Presley.
Jim Dandy Got Married : La Vern Baker.
Lucille : Little Richard.
Maybe : The Chantels.
Not Fade Away : The Crickets.
Quand On N’a Que A’more : Jaques Brel.
Rockin Pnemonia And Boogie Woogie Flu : Huey ” Piano” Smith.
Round Midnight : Miles Davis Ft Coltrane , Garland and Jones.
Stardust : Nat king Cole.
Summertime : Ella Fitzgerald With Louis Armstrong.
Suzie Q : Dale Hawkins.
Wake Up Little Susie : The Everly Brothers.
Walkin After Midnight : Patsy Cline.
Whole Lotta Shakin Going On : Jerry lee Lewis.
Young Blood : The Coasters.
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley)
Train Kept A-Rollin’ (Johnny Burnette)
Searchin’ (The Coasters)
Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly and the Crickets)
Fujiyama Mama (Wanda Jackson)
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (Jerry Lee Lewis)
You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
Lucille (Little Richard)
I’m Walkin’ (Fats Domino)
Walkin’ After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
Bad Luck (B.B. King)
Wake Up Little Susie (The Everly Brothers)