3 Songs From the 1940s That Blazed the Trail for Future Rock ‘n’ Roll Music

Rock ‘n’ roll is a true melting pot. The creation of it was a culmination of blues, jazz, boogie woogie, country, folk, and really any genre that would simply make the flavor of the noise sound better. That being so, it is difficult to define one genre as the keystone of rock ‘n’ roll. Though the one that often gets the most credit is the blues. We don’t disagree with that perspective in the slightest, as the musical foundations of that genre are also the foundations of rock ‘n’ roll.

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Once the key structures of the blues were mastered and popularized, musicians around the country created new music from them. Consequently, they started rock ‘n’ roll, and here are three songs from the 1940s that blazed the trail for the future of the genre.

“Caledonia” by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five

“Caledonia” by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five is often referred to as jump blues. Which, in essence, is an adjacent term to roots rock. Nevertheless, the single by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five is a sped-up fusion of blues and jazz. The product resulting from this internal genre collaboration is one of the founding staple forms of rock ‘n’ roll.

Released in 1945, “Caledonia” popularized the jump blues and or roots rock thanks to the single’s danceability. You might not have heard this song specifically, but you heard its echoes in the decades of rock ‘n’ roll that followed it.

“Move It On Over” Hank Williams

Rarely does Hank Williams get credited with helping form the sound of rock ‘n’ roll. That is no surprise, as the majority of his catalog follows a strict country through line. However, his 1947 single “Move It On Over” is a key track in the early development of rock ‘n’ roll.

Everything from the lyrics to the guitar fills led to the rock ‘n’ roll and country rock sounds of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Holistically, Williams’ single showed musicians that boundaries could be pushed and that musical structures could be altered for the benefit of something new and innovative.

“Chicken Shack Boogie” by Amos Milburn

Released in 1948, “Chicken Shack Boogie” by Amos Milburn was a jump blues and R&B hit. Given rock ‘n’ roll’s reliance on these two genres, it also serves as a cornerstone in the creation of rock ‘n’ roll. The song marks a major transition away from traditional blues. That transition also marks the early days of, you guessed it, rock ‘n’ roll.

Like “Caledonia,” Milburn’s single focuses more on a swing rhythm than an orthodox blues rhythm. In light of this newfound focus is a sound and tempo that laid the groundwork for the bands of the 50s who emphasized boogie woogie and do-wop music.

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