100 Greatest Songs From 1959
Criteria: These songs from 1959 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.
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. What'd I Say
Ray Charles
2. I Only Have Eyes For You
Flamingos
3. Mack The Knife
Bobby Darin
4. There Goes My Baby
Drifters
5. Shout
Isley Brothers
6. Kansas City
Wilbert Harrison
7. Poison Ivy
Coasters
8. Money
Barrett Strong
9. Love Potion No. 9
Clovers
10. You're So Fine
Falcons
11. Handy Man
Jimmy Jones
12. Sea Of Love
Phil Phillips with the Twilights
13. Baby What You Want Me To Do
Jimmy Reed
14. A Teenager In Love
Dion & the Belmonts
15. I'm Ready
Fats Domino
16. Charlie Brown
Coasters
17. Back In The U.S.A.
Chuck Berry
18. Come Softly To Me
Fleetwoods
19. Beyond The Sea
Bobby Darin
20. Dedicated To The One I Love
Shirelles
21. Dream Lover
Bobby Darin
22. It's Late
Ricky Nelson
23. Sleep Walk
Santo & Johnny
24. Sweet Nothin's
Brenda Lee
25. Fannie Mae
Buster Brown
Ray Charles
2. I Only Have Eyes For You
Flamingos
3. Mack The Knife
Bobby Darin
4. There Goes My Baby
Drifters
5. Shout
Isley Brothers
6. Kansas City
Wilbert Harrison
7. Poison Ivy
Coasters
8. Money
Barrett Strong
9. Love Potion No. 9
Clovers
10. You're So Fine
Falcons
11. Handy Man
Jimmy Jones
12. Sea Of Love
Phil Phillips with the Twilights
13. Baby What You Want Me To Do
Jimmy Reed
14. A Teenager In Love
Dion & the Belmonts
15. I'm Ready
Fats Domino
16. Charlie Brown
Coasters
17. Back In The U.S.A.
Chuck Berry
18. Come Softly To Me
Fleetwoods
19. Beyond The Sea
Bobby Darin
20. Dedicated To The One I Love
Shirelles
21. Dream Lover
Bobby Darin
22. It's Late
Ricky Nelson
23. Sleep Walk
Santo & Johnny
24. Sweet Nothin's
Brenda Lee
25. Fannie Mae
Buster Brown
26. Hey Little Girl
Dee Clark
27. Harlem Nocturne
Viscounts
28. A Big Hunk O' Love
Elvis Presley
29. Somethin' Else
Eddie Cochran
30. Little Queenie
Chuck Berry
31. You Got What It Takes
Marv Johnson
32. That's Why (I Love You So)
Jackie Wilson
33. Forty Miles Of Bad Road
Duane Eddy
34. ('Til) I Kissed You
Everly Brothers
35. Along Came Jones
Coasters
36. Memphis, Tennessee
Chuck Berry
37. Mr. Blue
Fleetwoods
38. Road Runner
Bo Diddley
39. A Fool Such As I
Elvis Presley
40. I Want To Walk You Home
Fats Domino
41. Mary Lou
Ronnie Hawkins
42. What A Difference A Day Makes
Dinah Washington
43. Kansas City
Little Richard
44. Let The Good Times Roll
Ray Charles
45. Rooster Blues
Lightnin' Slim
46. Only Sixteen
Sam Cooke
47. The Battle Of New Orleans
Johnny Horton
48. Linda Lu
Ray Sharpe
49. Tallahassee Lassie
Freddy Cannon
50. (Sorry) I Ran All The Way Home
Impalas
51. It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Buddy Holly
52. Let It Be Me
Everly Brothers
53. Love You So
Ron Holden
54. Running Bear
Johnny Preston
55. This I Swear
Skyliners
56. Personality
Lloyd Price
57. I'll Be Satisfied
Jackie Wilson
58. That Is Rock And Roll
Coasters
59. Red River Rock
Johnny & the Hurricanes
60. Be My Guest
Fats Domino
61. El Paso
Marty Robbins
62. Guitar Boogie Shuffle
Virtues
63. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
Fats Domino
64. Say Man
Bo Diddley
65. What In The World's Come Over You
Jack Scott
66. Woo-Hoo
Rock-A-Teens
67. Almost Grown
Chuck Berry
68. Dance With Me
Drifters
69. Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop
Little Anthony & Imperials
70. Teen Beat
Sandy Nelson
71. Hushabye
Mystics
72. Baby Talk
Jan & Dean
73. Broken-Hearted Melody
Sarah Vaughan
74. Where Or When
Dion & the Belmonts
75. Bad Girl
Miracles
Dee Clark
27. Harlem Nocturne
Viscounts
28. A Big Hunk O' Love
Elvis Presley
29. Somethin' Else
Eddie Cochran
30. Little Queenie
Chuck Berry
31. You Got What It Takes
Marv Johnson
32. That's Why (I Love You So)
Jackie Wilson
33. Forty Miles Of Bad Road
Duane Eddy
34. ('Til) I Kissed You
Everly Brothers
35. Along Came Jones
Coasters
36. Memphis, Tennessee
Chuck Berry
37. Mr. Blue
Fleetwoods
38. Road Runner
Bo Diddley
39. A Fool Such As I
Elvis Presley
40. I Want To Walk You Home
Fats Domino
41. Mary Lou
Ronnie Hawkins
42. What A Difference A Day Makes
Dinah Washington
43. Kansas City
Little Richard
44. Let The Good Times Roll
Ray Charles
45. Rooster Blues
Lightnin' Slim
46. Only Sixteen
Sam Cooke
47. The Battle Of New Orleans
Johnny Horton
48. Linda Lu
Ray Sharpe
49. Tallahassee Lassie
Freddy Cannon
50. (Sorry) I Ran All The Way Home
Impalas
51. It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Buddy Holly
52. Let It Be Me
Everly Brothers
53. Love You So
Ron Holden
54. Running Bear
Johnny Preston
55. This I Swear
Skyliners
56. Personality
Lloyd Price
57. I'll Be Satisfied
Jackie Wilson
58. That Is Rock And Roll
Coasters
59. Red River Rock
Johnny & the Hurricanes
60. Be My Guest
Fats Domino
61. El Paso
Marty Robbins
62. Guitar Boogie Shuffle
Virtues
63. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
Fats Domino
64. Say Man
Bo Diddley
65. What In The World's Come Over You
Jack Scott
66. Woo-Hoo
Rock-A-Teens
67. Almost Grown
Chuck Berry
68. Dance With Me
Drifters
69. Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop
Little Anthony & Imperials
70. Teen Beat
Sandy Nelson
71. Hushabye
Mystics
72. Baby Talk
Jan & Dean
73. Broken-Hearted Melody
Sarah Vaughan
74. Where Or When
Dion & the Belmonts
75. Bad Girl
Miracles
76. Hully Gully
Olympics
77. Forty Days
Ronnie Hawkins
78. Mountain Of Love
Harold Dorman
79. The Angels Listened In
Crests
80. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Freddy Cannon
81. Lavender Blue
Sammy Turner
82. Babalu's Wedding Day
Eternals
83. Don't Mess With My Man
Irma Thomas
84. (Do The) Mashed Potatoes
Nat Kendrick & the Swans
85. Take Out Some Insurance
Jimmy Reed
86. We Got Love
Bobby Rydell
87. Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Paul Anka
88. The Happy Organ
Dave "Baby" Cortez
89. Peggy Sue Got Married
Buddy Holly
90. Lipstick On Your Collar
Connie Francis
91. Never Be Anyone Else But You
Ricky Nelson
92. Lonely Boy
Paul Anka
93. Lonely Blue Boy
Conway Twitty
94. I Need Your Love Tonight
Elvis Presley
95. I'm Gonna Get Married
Lloyd Price
96. Teen Angel
Mark Dinning
97. Bad Boy
Larry Williams
98. Venus
Frankie Avalon
99. Kissin' Time
Bobby Rydell
100. Rockin' Little Angel
Ray Smith
Olympics
77. Forty Days
Ronnie Hawkins
78. Mountain Of Love
Harold Dorman
79. The Angels Listened In
Crests
80. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Freddy Cannon
81. Lavender Blue
Sammy Turner
82. Babalu's Wedding Day
Eternals
83. Don't Mess With My Man
Irma Thomas
84. (Do The) Mashed Potatoes
Nat Kendrick & the Swans
85. Take Out Some Insurance
Jimmy Reed
86. We Got Love
Bobby Rydell
87. Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Paul Anka
88. The Happy Organ
Dave "Baby" Cortez
89. Peggy Sue Got Married
Buddy Holly
90. Lipstick On Your Collar
Connie Francis
91. Never Be Anyone Else But You
Ricky Nelson
92. Lonely Boy
Paul Anka
93. Lonely Blue Boy
Conway Twitty
94. I Need Your Love Tonight
Elvis Presley
95. I'm Gonna Get Married
Lloyd Price
96. Teen Angel
Mark Dinning
97. Bad Boy
Larry Williams
98. Venus
Frankie Avalon
99. Kissin' Time
Bobby Rydell
100. Rockin' Little Angel
Ray Smith
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Who's That Knocking
Genies
102. Go To The Mardi Gras
Professor Longhair
103. It Was I
Skip & Flip
104. Dead Man Stroll
Revels
105. Good Good Lovin'
James Brown
106. Crackin' Up
Bo Diddley
107. Hot Rod Lincoln
Charlie Ryan
108. Brand New Cadillac
Vince Taylor
109. There Is Something On Your Mind
Big Jay McNeely & Little Sonny
110. White Lightning
George Jones
111. Leave My Kitten Alone
Little Willie John
112. Talk That Talk
Jackie Wilson
113. Just To Be With You
Passions
114. Six Nights A Week
Crests
115. Here Comes Summer
Jerry Keller
116. Bongo Rock
Preston Epps
117. Just Keep It Up
Dee Clark
118. Rockin' In The Jungle
Eternals
119. Darling Lorraine
Knockouts
120. Living Doll
Cliff Richard
Genies
102. Go To The Mardi Gras
Professor Longhair
103. It Was I
Skip & Flip
104. Dead Man Stroll
Revels
105. Good Good Lovin'
James Brown
106. Crackin' Up
Bo Diddley
107. Hot Rod Lincoln
Charlie Ryan
108. Brand New Cadillac
Vince Taylor
109. There Is Something On Your Mind
Big Jay McNeely & Little Sonny
110. White Lightning
George Jones
111. Leave My Kitten Alone
Little Willie John
112. Talk That Talk
Jackie Wilson
113. Just To Be With You
Passions
114. Six Nights A Week
Crests
115. Here Comes Summer
Jerry Keller
116. Bongo Rock
Preston Epps
117. Just Keep It Up
Dee Clark
118. Rockin' In The Jungle
Eternals
119. Darling Lorraine
Knockouts
120. Living Doll
Cliff Richard
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1959
An unheralded great record from 1959
Bruce's choice:
* I Need Your Love
Gay Poppers
Adam's choice:
* Dry Bread
Hank Thompson
Brett's choice:
* Three Cool Cats
Coasters
Bruce's choice:
* I Need Your Love
Gay Poppers
Adam's choice:
* Dry Bread
Hank Thompson
Brett's choice:
* Three Cool Cats
Coasters
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Edited By: Bruce
Last Updated: 2009-08-11
Last Updated: 2009-08-11