100 Greatest Songs From 1955

Criteria: These songs from 1955 were chosen and ranked based on their initial and lasting popularity, and on their impact on the overall scope of musical history.

Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Tutti-Frutti
Little Richard
2. Maybellene
Chuck Berry
3. Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
4. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Teenagers
5. The Great Pretender
Platters
6. Ain't It A Shame
Fats Domino
7. Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
8. Speedoo
Cadillacs
9. Story Untold
Nutmegs
10. My Babe
Little Walter
11. At My Front Door
El Dorados
12. Only You
Platters
13. Baby Let's Play House
Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
14. Mystery Train
Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
15. I'm A Man
Bo Diddley
16. Unchained Melody
Al Hibbler / Roy Hamilton
17. See You Later, Alligator
Bill Haley & His Comets
18. When You Dance
Turbans
19. The Wallflower
Etta James
20. Flip, Flop And Fly
Joe Turner
21. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
22. Manish Boy
Muddy Waters
23. Life Is But A Dream
Harptones
24. I Hear You Knocking
Smiley Lewis
25. Feel So Good
Shirley & Lee
26. What'cha Gonna Do
Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter
27. Smokey Joe's Cafe
Robins
28. Need Your Love So Bad
Little Willie John
29. A Fool For You
Ray Charles
30. All By Myself
Fats Domino
31. Close Your Eyes
Five Keys
32. Heaven And Paradise
Don Julian & the Meadowlarks
33. Blue Velvet
Clovers
34. Don't Start Me Talkin'
Sonny Boy Williamson
35. Nite Owl
Tony Allen & the Champs
36. Diddley Daddy
Bo Diddley
37. Why Don't You Write Me
Jacks / Feathers
38. All Around The World
Little Willie John
39. This Little Girl Of Mine
Ray Charles
40. Seventeen
Boyd Bennett &His Rockets
41. Who Will Be Next
Howlin' Wolf
42. Witchcraft
Spiders
43. Greenbacks
Ray Charles
44. Eddie My Love
Teen Queens
45. Lily Maebelle
Valentines
46. You Baby You
Cleftones
47. Sixteen Tons
Tennessee Ernie Ford
48. Thirty Days
Chuck Berry
49. Don't Be Angry
Nappy Brown
50. Steamboat
Drifters

51. The Door Is Still Open
Cardinals
52. Mary Lou
Young Jessie
53. Bring It To Jerome
Bo Diddley
54. Crazy For You
Heartbeats
55. Most Of All
Moonglows
56. Adorable
Drifters / Colts
57. Come Back My Love
Wrens / Cardinals
58. Morning, Noon And Night
Joe Turner
59. WPLJ
Four Deuces
60. Lonely Nights
Hearts
61. This Is My Story
Gene & Eunice
62. Memories Are Made Of This
Dean Martin
63. I Wish You Would
Billy Boy
64. April In Paris
Count Basie
65. Pretty Thing
Bo Diddley
66. Hand Clappin'
Red Prysock
67. I'll Be Forever Loving You
El Dorados
68. Later Alligator
Bobby Charles
69. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
Earl King / Johnny "Guitar" Watson
70. Chop Chop Boom
Danderliers
71. Wee Wee Hours
Chuck Berry
72. Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
Bill Haley & His Comets
73. Hide And Seek
Joe Turner
74. Seventh Son
Willie Mabon
75. The Verdict
Five Keys
76. Soldier Boy
Four Fellows
77. The Way You Dog Me Around
Diablos
78. Good Rockin' Daddy
Etta James
79. As Long As I'm Moving
Ruth Brown
80. Nip Sip
Clovers
81. So Doggone Lonesome
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
82. Rollin' Stone
Marigolds
83. Johnny Has Gone
Varetta Dillard
84. Poor Me
Fats Domino
85. Anymore
Johnny Ace
86. In My Diary
Moonglows
87. You Painted Pictures
Spaniels
88. That's Your Mistake
Charms
89. Mardi Gras Mambo
Hawkettes
90. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
91. Whadaya Want
Robins
92. Hands Off
Jay McShann (Priscilla Bowman)
93. Green Eyes
Ravens
94. Hey Bartender
Floyd Dixon
95. Cry, Cry, Cry
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
96. The Chicken And The Hawk
Joe Turner
97. Bop-Ting-A-Ling
LaVern Baker
98. It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)
Louis Brooks & Hi-Toppers / Midnighters / Ruth Brown
99. The House Of Blue Lights
Chuck Miller
100. Everyday
Count Basie (Joe Williams)
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Ain't That Lovin' You Baby
Jimmy Reed
102. Ten Long Years
B.B. King
103. Burn That Candle
Bill Haley & His Comets / Cues
104. Henry's Got Flat Feet
Midnighters
105. Razzle Dazzle
Bill Haley & His Comets
106. I Can't Go On
Fats Domino
107. Mambo Rock
Bill Haley & His Comets
108. Play It Fair
LaVern Baker
109. I Can See Everybody's Baby
Ruth Brown
110. My Boy Flat Top
Boyd Bennett & His Rockets
111. Bells In My Heart
Spiders
112. Real Gone Lover
Smiley Lewis
113. Walking The Blues
Champion Jack Dupree / Willie Dixon
114. Death Of An Angel
Donald Woods & the Vel-Aires
115. When It Rains It Pours
Billy "The Kid" Emerson
116. Convicted
Oscar McLollie
117. Travelin' Mood
Wee Willie Wayne
118. Hot Rod
Hal Singer
119. Seven Days
Clyde McPhatter
120. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Big Maybelle / Roy Hall
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1955
An unheralded great record from 1955
Bruce's choice:
* Don't Think I Will
Young Jessie
Adam's choice:
* There Goes That Train
Rollee McGill
Lew's choice:
* How Can You Be So Mean
Johnny Ace
    1954   |   1956














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Last Updated: 2009-07-20