In the 1950s, music was morphing and changing. Earlier in the century, jazz and ragtime roused crowds from coast to coast. But those styles started to change. Enter: R&B music, which later helped to create rock as we know it now.
But below, we wanted to dig into some R&B tunes that got fans clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and loving life. Indeed, these are three songs from the 1950s that will instantly turn you into a fan of early R&B.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Shake, Rattle And Roll” by Big Joe Turner (Single, 1954)
If you ever feel low energy, just put this tune on. The 1954 single by Big Joe Turner is like a quadruple espresso. Once it hits you, your day is completely different. There is pep in your step. There is a liveliness to your light. You embody the chorus. You are shaking, rattling, and rolling your way toward a climactic evening. That’s when you put the song on again and remember that life can—if you want it enough—be a party.
“You Send Me” by Sam Cooke from ‘Sam Cooke’ (1957)
Sam Cooke was a one-of-one. When he died in 1964 at the age of just 33 years old, the world lost something it never got back. Thankfully, though, the singer was able to record his voice and his songwriting before tragedy struck in his early thirties. Enter: the 1957 offering, “You Send Me”, from Cooke’s self-titled LP. The song makes you feel like you just put on angel wings and you’re ascending to the pink-purple skies of eternity. That’s how good Cooke was at what he did best.
“Yakety Yak” by The Coasters (Single, 1958)
One thing about R&B music in the 1950s—it often boasted a sense of humor. For an example of this, just check out “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters. The 1958 single puts a smile on your face as you dance, dip, and dive around your home doing your chores. Sometimes dusting, vacuuming, and doing the dishes require a soundtrack. The Coasters knew it, and they gave it to their fans on this timeless R&B tune.
Photo by Jess Rand/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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LONDON – MAY 19: (L-R) English musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist George Harrison (1943-2001), English musician, singer and drummer Ringo Starr, English singer, songwriter and guitarist John Lennon (1940-1980), and English singer, songwriter and bassist Paul McCartney of the Beatles attend a press party at the home of manager Brian Epstein supporting the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, May 19, 1967 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)
