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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top R&B Songs of the 1950s

1940s <-

1950

-> 1960s

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

08/1956

Hound Dog by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

468

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #19]
US: B-side to Don't Be Cruel; hit for Big Mama Thornton in 1953; charted as Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog in US Hot 100 charts
[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

10/1956

Singing the Blues by Guy Mitchell

451

✫1
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

[Columbia 40769]
written by Melvin Endsley

03/1956

Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley

from Heartbreak Hotel EP

436

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #45]
[RCA Victor 47-6420]
written by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden (as Thomas Durden) & Elvis Presley

04/1957

All Shook Up by Elvis Presley

435

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #352]
[RCA 47-6870]
written by Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley

08/1959

Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin

from That's All

419

✫1
US

6
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #251]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1960]
[Atco 6147]
written by Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht

10/1957

Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

from Jailhouse Rock EP

406

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #67]
[RCA Epa-4114+]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

04/1958

All I Have to Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

385

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #141]
charted as All I Have to Do Is Dream / Claudette in UK charts
[Cadence 1348]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

07/1957

Diana by Paul Anka

377

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[ABC-Paramount 9831]
written by Paul Anka

10/1959

Running Bear by Johnny Preston

375

✫1
US

3
R&B

✫1
UK

[Mercury 71474]
written by The Big Bopper (as J. P. Richardson)

10.

01/1957

Young Love by Tab Hunter

370

✫1
US

8
R&B

✫1
UK

[Dot 15533]
written by Ric Cartey & Carole Joyner

11.

12/1956

Don't Forbid Me by Pat Boone

from Pat's Great Hits

367

✫1
US

10
R&B

2
UK

[Dot 15521]
written by Charles Singleton

12.

08/1956

Don't Be Cruel by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

365

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #197]
charted as Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog in US Hot 100 charts
[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley

13.

06/1957

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear by Elvis Presley

from Loving You

365

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[RCA 47-7000]
written by Kal Mann & Bernie Lowe

14.

01/1955

(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets

359

✫1
US

3
R&B

17
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #158]
[Decca 29124]
written by Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers (as Jimmy DeKnight)

15.

10/1956

Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley

from Love Me Tender EP

348

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

11
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #437]
adapted from "Aura Lee", 1861
[RCA Victor 47-6643]
written by Vera Matson, Elvis Presley, George R. Poulton (uncredited) & Ken Darby (uncredited)

16.

07/1956

My Prayer by The Platters

347

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

4
UK

hit for Glenn Miller in 1939
[Mercury 70893]
written by Georges Boulanger & Jimmy Kennedy

17.

05/1957

Love Letters in the Sand by Pat Boone

from Pat's Great Hits

346

✫1
US

12
R&B

2
UK

[Dot 15570]
written by John Frederick Coots, Nick Kenny & Charles Kenny

18.

04/1955

Unchained Melody by Al Hibbler

342

3
US

✫1
R&B

2
UK

with Jack Pleis Orchestra
[Decca 29441]
written by Hy Zaret & Alex North

19.

09/1957

Wake Up Little Susie by The Everly Brothers

from The Everly Brothers

341

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #311]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

20.

01/1958

Don't by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

341

✫1
US

2
country

4
R&B

2
UK

[RCA 47-7150]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

21.

08/1957

That'll Be the Day by Buddy Holly

from The "Chirping" Crickets

338

✫1
US

2
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #39]
[Decca 30434]
written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison & Norman Petty

22.

07/1955

Ain't That a Shame by Pat Boone

from Pat Boone

338

✫1
US

14
R&B

7
UK

[Dot 15377]
written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) & Dave Bartholomew

23.

02/1957

Butterfly by Andy Williams

337

✫1
US

14
R&B

✫1
UK

[Cadence 1308]
written by Bernie Lowe & Kal Mann

24.

04/1959

The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton

from The Spectacular Johnny Horton

337

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

16
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1960]
[Columbia 41339]
written by Jimmie Driftwood

25.

09/1958

It's Only Make Believe by Conway Twitty

from Conway Twitty Sings

334

✫1
US

12
R&B

✫1
UK

[MGM 12677]
written by Jack Nance & Conway Twitty

26.

08/1958

Bird Dog by The Everly Brothers

331

✫1
US

✫1
country

2
R&B

2
UK

[Cadence 1350]
written by Boudleaux Bryant

27.

12/1956

Young Love by Sonny James

331

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

11
UK

[Capitol 3602]
written by Ric Cartey & Carole Joyner

28.

12/1957

At the Hop by Danny & the Juniors

330

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[ABC-Paramount 9871]
written by Arthur Singer, John Medora & David White

29.

11/1958

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by The Platters

328

✫1
US

3
R&B

✫1
UK

#1 hit for Paul Whiteman in 1934
[Mercury 71383]
written by Otto Harbach & Jerome Kern

30.

03/1959

(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

328

2
US

16
R&B

✫1
UK

hit for Hank Snow in 1953 ; charted as A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight in UK charts
[RCA Victor 47-7506]
written by Bill Trader

31.

04/1959

Dream Lover by Bobby Darin

327

2
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

[Atco 6140]
written by Bobby Darin

32.

11/1957

Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis

326

2
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #96]
[Sun 281]
written by Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer

33.

07/1959

The Three Bells by The Browns

from Sweet Sounds by The Browns

324

✫1
US

✫1
country

10
R&B

6
UK

[RCA 47-7555]
written by Jean Villard, Marc Herrand & Bert Reisfeld

34.

06/1959

Lonely Boy by Paul Anka

324

✫1
US

6
R&B

3
UK

[ABC-Paramount 10022]
written by Paul Anka

35.

09/1956

The Green Door by Jim Lowe

323

✫1
US

5
R&B

8
UK

[Dot 15486]
written by Hutch Davie (as Bob Davie) & Marvin Moore

36.

06/1958

Hard Headed Woman by Elvis Presley

from King Creole

319

✫1
US

2
country

2
R&B

2
UK

[RCA 47-7280]
written by Claude Demetrius

37.

02/1956

Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

from The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon

316

6
US

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

as The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #307]
[Gee 1002]
written by Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago & George Goldner

38.

05/1956

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

312

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

14
UK

[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Maurice Mysels & Ira Kosloff

39.

10/1956

Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino

from This Is Fats Domino!

308

2
US

✫1
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #81]
#1 hit for Glenn Miller in 1940
[Imperial 5407]
written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis & Larry Stock

40.

09/1958

To Know Him, Is to Love Him by The Teddy Bears

307

✫1
US

10
R&B

2
UK

produced by Phil Spector
written by Phil Spector

41.

03/1959

Come Softly to Me by The Fleetwoods

from Mr. Blue

304

✫1
US

5
R&B

6
UK

[Dolton 1]
written by Gretchen Christopher

42.

02/1958

Tequila by The Champs

303

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

5
UK

[instrumental]
[Challenge 1016]
written by Chuck Rio (as Daniel Flores)

43.

01/1957

Too Much by Elvis Presley

303

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

6
UK

[RCA 47-6800]
written by Lee Rosenberg & Bernard Weinman

44.

07/1959

A Big Hunk o' Love by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

302

✫1
US

10
R&B

4
UK

[RCA 47-7600]
written by Aaron Schroeder & Sid Wyche (as Sidney Wyche)

45.

02/1959

Venus by Frankie Avalon

from The Hit Makers

301

✫1
US

✫1
AC

10
R&B

16
UK

[Chancellor 1031]
written by Ed Marshall

46.

11/1951

Cry by Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads

301

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

written by Churchill Kohlman

47.

07/1958

Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson

from Ricky Nelson

297

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

4
UK

B side to My Bucket's Got a Hole in It
[Imperial 5528]
written by Sharon Sheeley

48.

10/1959

Heartaches by the Number by Guy Mitchell

296

✫1
US

19
R&B

5
UK

[Columbia 41476]
written by Harlan Howard

49.

03/1951

How High the Moon by Les Paul & Mary Ford

296

✫1
US

2
R&B

[Capitol 1675]
written by Morgan Lewis & Nancy Hamilton

50.

04/1951

Too Young by Nat King Cole

296

✫1
US

3
R&B

[Capitol F1449]
written by Sidney Lippman & Sylvia Dee

51.

03/1956

Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins

from Dance Album of...Carl Perkins

295

2
US

✫1
country

2
R&B

10
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #95]
[Sun 234]
written by Carl Perkins

52.

08/1957

Honeycomb by Jimmie Rodgers [pop singer]

from Jimmie Rodgers

293

✫1
US

7
country

✫1
R&B

30
UK

[Roulette 4015]
written by Bob Merrill

53.

02/1958

Who's Sorry Now? by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

291

4
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

written by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby

54.

04/1958

Twilight Time by The Platters

289

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Mercury 71289]
written by Morty Nevins, Al Nevins, Artie Dunn & Buck Ram

55.

02/1953

Pretend by Nat King Cole

288

2
US

10
R&B

2
UK

[Capitol F2346]
written by Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman & Frank LaVere

56.

06/1958

When by The Kalin Twins

287

5
US

13
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Decca 30642]
written by Jack Reardon & Paul Evans

57.

12/1959

Handy Man by Jimmy Jones

286

2
US

3
R&B

3
UK

[Cub 9049]
written by Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones & Charles Merenstein

58.

12/1958

Stagger Lee by Lloyd Price

286

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

7
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #456]
[ABC 9972]
written by traditional, Harold Logan & Lloyd Price

59.

12/1955

The Great Pretender by The Platters

286

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #351]
[Mercury 70753]
written by Buck Ram

60.

06/1958

Patricia by Perez Prado

284

✫1
US

18
country

✫1
R&B

8
UK

as Perez Prado & His Orchestra
[RCA 47-7245]
written by Perez Prado & Bob Marcus

61.

03/1957

Little Darlin' by The Diamonds

283

2
US

2
R&B

3
UK

[Mercury 71060]
written by Maurice Williams

62.

05/1957

Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers

from The Everly Brothers

282

2
US

✫1
country

5
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #207]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

63.

04/1958

Wear My Ring Around Your Neck by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

278

2
US

3
country

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[RCA 47-7240]
written by Bert Carroll & Russell Moody

64.

09/1958

Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio

from The Kingston Trio

275

✫1
US

9
R&B

5
UK

traditional american folk song, 1866
[Capitol 4049]
written by Dave Guard

65.

12/1959

He'll Have to Go by Jim Reeves

from He'll Have to Go

272

2
US

✫1
country

13
R&B

12
UK

[RCA Victor 47-7643]
written by Joe Allison & Audrey Allison

66.

11/1957

He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands) by Laurie London

270

✫1
US

3
R&B

12
UK

[Capitol 3891]
written by Obie Phillis

67.

08/1959

('Til) I Kissed You by The Everly Brothers

from The Fabulous Style of the Everly Brothers

269

4
US

8
country

22
R&B

2
UK

written by Don Everly

68.

06/1958

Yakety Yak by The Coasters

263

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

12
UK

[Atco 6116]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

69.

06/1958

The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

263

✫1
US

18
R&B

12
UK

[novelty]
[MGM 12651]
written by Sheb Wooley

70.

07/1959

Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny

from Santo & Johnny

261

✫1
US

4
R&B

22
UK

[instrumental]
[Canadian-american 103]
written by Santo Farina & Johnny Farina

71.

02/1957

Butterfly by Charlie Gracie

261

✫1
US

10
R&B

12
UK

[Cameo 105]
written by Bernie Lowe & Kal Mann

72.

02/1959

Charlie Brown by The Coasters

261

2
US

2
R&B

6
UK

[novelty]
[Atco 6132]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

73.

04/1958

Witch Doctor by David Seville

260

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

11
UK

[Liberty 55132]
written by David Seville (as Ross Bagdasarian Sr.)

74.

04/1956

I'm in Love Again by Fats Domino

from Fats Domino - Rock and Rollin'

256

3
US

✫1
R&B

12
UK

[Imperial 5386]
written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) & Dave Bartholomew

75.

11/1957

Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly

from Buddy Holly

256

2
US

2
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #194]
[Coral 61885]
written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison & Norman Petty

76.

04/1959

Personality by Lloyd Price

256

2
US

✫1
R&B

9
UK

[ABC-Par 10018]
written by Harold Logan & Lloyd Price

77.

06/1957

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On by Jerry Lee Lewis

253

3
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

8
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #61]
[Sun 267]
written by Dave "Curlee" Williams & James Faye "Roy" Hall

78.

10/1957

You Send Me by Sam Cooke

from Sam Cooke

253

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

29
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #115]
[Keen 3-4013]
written by Sam Cooke

79.

11/1957

Raunchy by Bill Justis

251

2
US

6
country

✫1
R&B

11
UK

[instrumental]
[Phillips Int'l 3519]
written by Bill Justis & Sid Manker

80.

06/1950

Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole

250

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1950]
[R]
[Capitol F1010]
written by Ray Evans & Jay Livingston

81.

08/1959

Put Your Head on My Shoulder by Paul Anka

249

2
US

12
R&B

7
UK

[ABC-Paramount 10040]
written by Paul Anka

82.

11/1959

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans by Freddy Cannon

249

3
US

14
R&B

3
UK

[Swan 4043]
written by Joe Turner Layton & Henry Creamer

83.

12/1959

Sweet Nothin's by Brenda Lee

from Miss Dynamite

248

4
US

12
R&B

4
UK

[Decca 30967]
written by Ronnie Self

84.

01/1957

Banana Boat (Day-O) by Harry Belafonte

from Calypso

248

5
US

7
R&B

2
UK

[RCA Victor 6771]
written by traditional

85.

08/1959

Red River Rock by Johnny & the Hurricanes

247

5
US

5
R&B

3
UK

[instrumental]
rock version of "Red River Valley"
written by traditional

86.

05/1958

Big Man by The Four Preps

246

3
US

9
R&B

2
UK

[Capitol 3960]
written by Bruce Belland & Glen A. Larson (as Glen Larson)

87.

12/1958

My Happiness by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

246

2
US

11
R&B

4
UK

[MGM 12738]
written by Betty Peterson Blasco & Borney Bergantine

88.

08/1958

Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) by Domenico Modugno

246

✫1
US

2
R&B

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1959]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1959]
[Decca 30677]
written by Domenico Modugno & Franco Migliacci

89.

11/1959

Why by Frankie Avalon

from The Hit Makers

245

✫1
US

6
R&B

20
UK

[Chancellor 1045]
written by Bob Marcucci (as Robert Marcucci) & Peter De Angelis

90.

08/1956

Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2) by Bill Doggett

from Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk

245

2
US

✫1
R&B

[instrumental]
[King 4950]
written by Bill Doggett, Billy Butler, Clifford Scott & Shep Shepherd

91.

12/1959

Teen Angel by Mark Dinning

244

✫1
US

5
R&B

37
UK

[MGM 12845]
written by Jean Dinning & Red Surrey

92.

04/1959

Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison

243

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Fury 1023]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

93.

05/1959

Lipstick on Your Collar by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

242

5
US

10
R&B

3
UK

[MGM 12793]
written by George Goehring & Edna Lewis

94.

02/1957

Party Doll by Buddy Knox

238

✫1
US

3
R&B

29
UK

[Roulette 4002]
written by Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen

95.

07/1958

Little Star by The Elegants

237

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

25
UK

[Apt 25005]
written by Vito Picone & Arthur Venosa

96.

11/1951

The Little White Cloud That Cried by Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads

236

2
US

6
R&B

B side to Cry
written by Johnnie Ray

97.

03/1958

Lollipop by The Chordettes

235

2
US

3
R&B

6
UK

[Cadence 1345]
written by Beverly Ross & Julius Dixson

98.

09/1959

Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods

from Mr. Blue

232

✫1
US

3
R&B

written by Dewayne Blackwell

99.

09/1957

Chances Are by Johnny Mathis

from Johnny's Greatest Hits

232

✫1
US

12
R&B

[Columbia 40993]
written by Robert Allen & Al Stillman

100.

11/1957

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine by Jimmie Rodgers [pop singer]

from Jimmie Rodgers

232

3
US

6
country

8
R&B

7
UK

[Roulette 4031]
written by The Weavers

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