The Legends of the Rocking Dutchman - episode 58
The Rhythm & Blues Chart
number ones 1955
For today, the number ones of 1955 are on the menu. This is the year when the Rock 'n Roll craze really started off, but 1955 also brought us some classic doowop ballads and the pop standard Unchained Melody. Ray Charles brought us his I got a woman, often regarded as the invention of soul and the first song to mix gospel and Rhythm & Blues - but the latter had been done long before and I'll show you why first is far more obvious in his next number one hit.
Today also the story of Fats Domino's 20 gold discs being washed away in the Katrina floods, and how the pop and R&B charts slowly were growing closer to each other from the mid-fifties.
Playlist
- Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)
- Moonglows - Sincerely
- Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love
- Etta James & The Peaches - The Wallflower
- Little Walter - My Babe
- Ray Charles - I got a woman
- Roy Hamilton - Unchained Melody
- Fats Domino - Ain't It A Shame
- Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
- Ray Charles - A Fool For You
- Chuck Berry - Maybelline
- The Platters - Only You
- Fats Domino - All by myself
- Jay McShann feat. Priscilla Bowman - Hands Off
- Fats Domino - Poor Me
- Drifters - Adorable
Outtro:
- Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
- Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
- Bill Doggett - Hot Fudge
- Bo Diddley - Corn bread
- Cozy Eggleston - Big Heavy
- Eddie Chamblee - 6 String Boogie
- Hen Gates & his Gaters - Moondog Rock
- McGuire Sisters - Sincerely