even though i have put the songs in order one through ten no one song is better than the other. they are all great and are just listed as one through ten. as an example, elvis is listed with “baby let’s play house” as the first song on the list. that does not mean elvis song is number one. it just means, he was the first song listed of the ten. if i was stranded on an island in the pacific i would want these ten songs with me.

1. “baby let’s play house” elvis presley, sun records, 1955. this is a great rock-a-billy song, good beat, good to dance to, good listening song. the song has a lot of meaning to it. studio artists elvis presley, scotty moore, bill black.

2. “memories are made of this”. capitol records, recorded 1955 at capitol studios in hollywood. dean martin vocal. great rock-a-billy song even though, it was considered pop music at the time. the song had just a guitar and standup bass with great background singing. it was a big hit for dean martin. it had a good beat, easy to dance to, good listening song with great meaning. not considered rock-a-billy, but what else could it be?

3. “blue suede shoes” carl perkins, sun records, 1956. written by carl perkins. carl perkins on lead guitar. his two brothers backing him up with standup bass and rhythm guitar. fluke holland on drums. the most played of rock-a-billy songs. most rock historians consider “blue suede shoes” as the ultimate of rock-a-billy. good beat, great to dance to, good listening song. the only top forty hit carl perkins every had.

4. “suzie q” dale hawkins, checker records 1957. written by dale hawkins and james burton. recorded at kwkh in shreveport, la., in 1957. dale hawkins vocal, james burton lead guitar, joe osborne bass, ronnie lewis on drums. probably the best blues rock-a-billy song every recorded. the opening rift on the song performed by james burton it probably the most famous of any rock-n-roll song of the 50′s. good beat, great to dance to, good listening song. “suzie q” will go down in history as one of the best rock-a-billy songs every recorded. it stands the test of time.

5. “sittin in the balcony” eddie cochran, liberty records,1956. cochran recorded the song when he was eighteen. the song is as professional as any recording every made. eddie cochran wrote the song, played lead guitar, sang lead, and produced the recording session. it also stands the test of time as one of he best rock-a-billy songs of the fifties.

6. “the fool” sanford clark, dot records, written by lee hazelwood even though on the record the writing credit it given to naomi ford, hazelwood’s wife. al casey played the echoing lead guitar that gave the song it’s distinctive sound. sanford clark sings the song as no one else could have. great rock-a-billy song, good beat, great to dance to, good listening song. the song has one of the best true life stories of the fifties, and one of the best every recorded.

7. “singin the blues” guy mitchell, columbia records. 1956. stayed on the pop charts for months, great rock-billy-song, good beat, great to dance to, good listening song. marty robbins covered the song and did quiet well with it, however, guy mitchell had it all together on this one, another gem of the fifties.

8. “whole lotta of shakin going on” jerry lee lewis, sun records, 1957. jerry lee lewis on piano, jimmy van eaton on drums, roland janes on lead guitar. without a doubt the greatest rock-n-roll song ever recorded. when you hear the recording you think you are listening to a seven piece band. jack clement put a microphone under the keyboard and when jerry lee lewis started pounding on the ivories the song gives the effect of a class five hurricane, which in fact is exactly what it is. there was complete magic when this song was recorded and it’s electrifying beat has never been equaled and never will. it goes down as the greatest rock-a-billy song ever recorded. jerry lee lewis has many faults to be sure, but “whole lotta of shakin going on” has no faults and is a perfect recording.

9. “be bop-a-lula” gene vincent, capitol records, 1956. gene vincent lead vocal, cliff gallop lead guitar, jack neal stand up bass, willie williams rhythm guitar, and dickie harrell on drums. one of the greatest rock-a-billy recordings ever. the song had it all. it is a perfect recording. the recording lacks for nothing. it was perfectly produced and recorded by ken nelson in nashville. the song stands the test of time as one of the best rock-a-billy songs ever recorded. it is a historical fact that gene vincent had the best voice of anyone in rock-a-billy music and that includes elvis presley.

10. “a white sports coat and a pink carnation” marty robbins, columbia records, 1956. the song was a smash hit for marty and it show cased a talent that was to become a legend. marty robbins took a great song and sent it to the top. “a white sports coat and a pink carnation” is a perfect ballad that has tremendous meaning to it. great to dance to, good to listen to, stands the test of time as one of rock-a-billy’s greatest songs of the fifties. one of the best efforts marty robbins ever had.

i would love to hear what you consider the ten greatest rock-a-billy songs. let me hear from you. which of these ten rock-a-billy artists rode to his first gig on a bicycle? the answer will be in my next column.

~ Widmarc Clark