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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top R&B Songs of the 1950s

1940s <-

1950

-> 1960s

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

10/1959

Running Bear by Johnny Preston

457

✫1
US

3
R&B

✫1
UK

[Mercury 71474]
written by The Big Bopper (as J. P. Richardson)

08/1959

Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin

from That's All

454

✫1
US

6
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #251]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1960]
[Atco 6147]
written by Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht

08/1956

Hound Dog by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

449

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #19]
US: B-side to Don't Be Cruel; hit for Big Mama Thornton in 1953; charted as Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog in US Hot 100 charts
[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

10/1956

Singing the Blues by Guy Mitchell

445

✫1
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

[Columbia 40769]
written by Melvin Endsley

03/1956

Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley

from Heartbreak Hotel EP

440

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #45]
[RCA Victor 47-6420]
written by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden (as Thomas Durden) & Elvis Presley

04/1958

All I Have to Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

438

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #141]
charted as All I Have to Do Is Dream / Claudette in UK charts
[Cadence 1348]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

04/1957

All Shook Up by Elvis Presley

432

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #352]
[RCA 47-6870]
written by Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley

10/1957

Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

from Jailhouse Rock EP

431

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #67]
[RCA Epa-4114+]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

04/1959

Dream Lover by Bobby Darin

424

2
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

[Atco 6140]
written by Bobby Darin

10.

03/1959

(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

413

2
US

16
R&B

✫1
UK

hit for Hank Snow in 1953 ; charted as A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight in UK charts
[RCA Victor 47-7506]
written by Bill Trader

11.

07/1957

Diana by Paul Anka

from Paul Anka

410

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[ABC-Paramount 9831]
written by Paul Anka

12.

11/1958

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by The Platters

408

✫1
US

3
R&B

✫1
UK

#1 hit for Paul Whiteman in 1934
[Mercury 71383]
written by Otto Harbach & Jerome Kern

13.

08/1958

Bird Dog by The Everly Brothers

406

✫1
US

✫1
country

2
R&B

2
UK

[Cadence 1350]
written by Boudleaux Bryant

14.

12/1956

Don't Forbid Me by Pat Boone

from Pat's Great Hits

406

✫1
US

10
R&B

2
UK

[Dot 15521]
written by Charles Singleton

15.

08/1957

That'll Be the Day by Buddy Holly

from The "Chirping" Crickets

404

✫1
US

2
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #39]
[Decca 30434]
written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison & Norman Petty

16.

02/1953

Pretend by Nat King Cole

404

2
US

10
R&B

2
UK

[Capitol F2346]
written by Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman & Frank LaVere

17.

06/1958

Hard Headed Woman by Elvis Presley

from King Creole

403

✫1
US

2
country

2
R&B

2
UK

[RCA 47-7280]
written by Claude Demetrius

18.

09/1957

Wake Up Little Susie by The Everly Brothers

from The Everly Brothers

403

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #311]
[Cadence 1337]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

19.

01/1958

Don't by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

400

✫1
US

2
country

4
R&B

2
UK

[RCA 47-7150]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

20.

09/1958

It's Only Make Believe by Conway Twitty

from Conway Twitty Sings

399

✫1
US

12
R&B

✫1
UK

[MGM 12677]
written by Jack Nance & Conway Twitty

21.

01/1957

Young Love by Tab Hunter

396

✫1
US

8
R&B

✫1
UK

[Dot 15533]
written by Ric Cartey & Carole Joyner

22.

11/1951

Cry by Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads

395

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

written by Churchill Kohlman

23.

11/1957

Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis

395

2
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #96]
[Sun 281]
written by Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer

24.

06/1959

Lonely Boy by Paul Anka

393

✫1
US

6
R&B

3
UK

[ABC-Paramount 10022]
written by Paul Anka

25.

02/1957

Butterfly by Andy Williams

from Andy Williams

390

✫1
US

14
R&B

✫1
UK

[Cadence 1308]
written by Bernie Lowe & Kal Mann

26.

03/1951

How High the Moon by Les Paul & Mary Ford

388

✫1
US

2
R&B

[Capitol 1675]
written by Morgan Lewis & Nancy Hamilton

27.

07/1956

My Prayer by The Platters

386

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

4
UK

hit for Glenn Miller in 1939
[Mercury 70893]
written by Georges Boulanger & Jimmy Kennedy

28.

04/1951

Too Young by Nat King Cole

382

✫1
US

3
R&B

[Capitol F1449]
written by Sidney Lippman & Sylvia Dee

29.

06/1950

Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole

382

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1950]
[R]
[Capitol F1010]
written by Ray Evans & Jay Livingston

30.

06/1957

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear by Elvis Presley

from Loving You

379

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[RCA 47-7000]
written by Kal Mann & Bernie Lowe

31.

07/1959

A Big Hunk o' Love by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

378

✫1
US

10
R&B

4
UK

[RCA Victor 47-7600]
written by Aaron Schroeder & Sid Wyche (as Sidney Wyche)

32.

07/1959

The Three Bells by The Browns

from Sweet Sounds by The Browns

377

✫1
US

✫1
country

10
R&B

6
UK

[RCA Victor 7555]
written by Jean Villard, Marc Herrand & Bert Reisfeld

33.

04/1955

Unchained Melody by Al Hibbler

376

3
US

✫1
R&B

2
UK

with Jack Pleis Orchestra
[Decca 29441]
written by Hy Zaret & Alex North

34.

09/1958

To Know Him, Is to Love Him by The Teddy Bears

373

✫1
US

10
R&B

2
UK

produced by Phil Spector
[Dore 503]
written by Phil Spector

35.

12/1959

Handy Man by Jimmy Jones

367

2
US

3
R&B

3
UK

[Cub 9049]
written by Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones & Charles Merenstein

36.

05/1957

Love Letters in the Sand by Pat Boone

from Pat's Great Hits

367

✫1
US

12
R&B

2
UK

[Dot 15570]
written by John Frederick Coots, Nick Kenny & Charles Kenny

37.

04/1958

Twilight Time by The Platters

363

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Mercury 71289]
written by Morty Nevins, Al Nevins, Artie Dunn & Buck Ram

38.

07/1958

Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson

from Ricky Nelson

363

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

4
UK

B side to My Bucket's Got a Hole in It
[Imperial 5528]
written by Sharon Sheeley

39.

10/1959

Heartaches by the Number by Guy Mitchell

360

✫1
US

19
R&B

5
UK

[Columbia 41476]
written by Harlan Howard

40.

03/1959

Come Softly to Me by The Fleetwoods

from Mr. Blue

360

✫1
US

5
R&B

6
UK

[Dolton 1]
written by Gretchen Christopher

41.

02/1956

Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

from The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon

359

6
US

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

as The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #307]
[Gee 1002]
written by Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago & George Goldner

42.

12/1957

At the Hop by Danny & the Juniors

358

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[ABC-Paramount 9871]
written by Artie Singer (as Arthur Singer), John Medora & David White

43.

08/1959

('Til) I Kissed You by The Everly Brothers

from The Fabulous Style of the Everly Brothers

351

4
US

8
country

22
R&B

2
UK

[Cadence 1369]
written by Don Everly

44.

04/1958

Wear My Ring Around Your Neck by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

351

2
US

3
country

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[RCA 47-7240]
written by Bert Carroll & Russell Moody

45.

06/1958

When by The Kalin Twins

348

5
US

13
country

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Decca 9-30642]
written by Jack Reardon & Paul Evans

46.

02/1958

Who's Sorry Now? by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

346

4
US

4
R&B

✫1
UK

written by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby

47.

02/1958

Tequila by The Champs

from Go, Champs, Go!

343

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

5
UK

[instrumental]
[Challenge 1016]
written by Chuck Rio (as Daniel Flores)

48.

11/1958

One Night by Elvis Presley

from 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (Elvis' Golden Records 2)

341

4
US

24
country

10
R&B

✫1
UK

hit for Smiley Lewis in 1956 ; charted as One Night / I Got Stung in UK charts
[RCA Victor 47-7410]
written by Dave Bartholomew, Earl King [Earl Johnson] (as Pearl King) & Anita Steiman

49.

07/1955

Ain't That a Shame by Pat Boone

from Pat Boone

340

✫1
US

14
R&B

7
UK

[Dot 15377]
written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) & Dave Bartholomew

50.

12/1956

Young Love by Sonny James

337

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

11
UK

[Capitol 3602]
written by Ric Cartey & Carole Joyner

51.

02/1959

Charlie Brown by The Coasters

336

2
US

2
R&B

6
UK

[novelty]
[Atco 6132]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

52.

01/1957

Too Much by Elvis Presley

334

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

6
UK

[RCA 47-6800]
written by Lee Rosenberg & Bernard Weinman

53.

10/1956

Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino

from This Is Fats Domino!

333

2
US

✫1
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #81]
#1 hit for Glenn Miller in 1940
[Imperial 5407]
written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis & Larry Stock

54.

10/1956

Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley

from Love Me Tender EP

333

✫1
US

3
country

3
R&B

11
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #437]
adapted from "Aura Lee", 1861
[RCA Victor 47-6643]
written by Vera Matson, Elvis Presley, George R. Poulton (uncredited) & Ken Darby (uncredited)

55.

04/1959

The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton

from The Spectacular Johnny Horton

331

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

16
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1960]
[Columbia 4-41339]
written by Jimmie Driftwood

56.

09/1956

The Green Door by Jim Lowe

330

✫1
US

5
R&B

8
UK

[Dot 15486]
written by Hutch Davie (as Bob Davie) & Marvin Moore

57.

03/1957

Little Darlin' by The Diamonds

327

2
US

2
R&B

3
UK

[Mercury 71060]
written by Maurice Williams

58.

09/1958

Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio

from The Kingston Trio

327

✫1
US

9
R&B

5
UK

traditional american folk song, 1866
[Capitol 4049]
written by Dave Guard

59.

11/1951

The Little White Cloud That Cried by Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads

326

2
US

6
R&B

B side to Cry
written by Johnnie Ray

60.

05/1956

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

326

✫1
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

14
UK

[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Maurice Mysels & Ira Kosloff

61.

11/1959

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans by Freddy Cannon

from The Explosive Freddy Cannon

325

3
US

14
R&B

3
UK

[Swan 4043]
written by Joe Turner Layton & Henry Creamer

62.

12/1958

Stagger Lee by Lloyd Price

from The Exciting Lloyd Price

322

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

7
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #456]
[ABC-Paramount 9972]
written by traditional, Harold Logan & Lloyd Price

63.

05/1958

Big Man by The Four Preps

320

3
US

9
R&B

2
UK

[Capitol 3960]
written by Bruce Belland & Glen A. Larson (as Glen Larson)

64.

06/1958

Patricia by Perez Prado

320

✫1
US

18
country

✫1
R&B

8
UK

as Perez Prado & His Orchestra
[RCA Victor 47-7245]
written by Perez Prado & Bob Marcucci (as Bob Marcus)

65.

02/1956

Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins

from Dance Album of...Carl Perkins

316

2
US

✫1
country

2
R&B

10
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #95]
[Sun 234]
written by Carl Perkins

66.

04/1959

Personality by Lloyd Price

from Mr. "Personality"

312

2
US

✫1
R&B

9
UK

[ABC-Paramount 10018]
written by Harold Logan & Lloyd Price

67.

05/1957

Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers

from The Everly Brothers

311

2
US

✫1
country

5
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #207]
[Cadence 1315]
written by Felice Bryant & Boudleaux Bryant

68.

12/1958

My Happiness by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

311

2
US

11
R&B

4
UK

[MGM 12738]
written by Betty Peterson Blasco & Borney Bergantine

69.

08/1959

Red River Rock by Johnny & The Hurricanes

311

5
US

5
R&B

3
UK

[instrumental]
rock version of "Red River Valley"
[Warwick 509]
written by traditional

70.

08/1959

Put Your Head on My Shoulder by Paul Anka

310

2
US

12
R&B

7
UK

[ABC-Paramount 10040]
written by Paul Anka

71.

12/1959

Sweet Nothin's by Brenda Lee

from Miss Dynamite

307

4
US

12
R&B

4
UK

[Decca 30967]
written by Ronnie Self

72.

01/1955

(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets

305

✫1
US

3
R&B

17
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #158]
[Decca 29124]
written by Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers (as Jimmy DeKnight)

73.

05/1959

Lipstick on Your Collar by Connie Francis

from Connies's Greatest Hits

304

5
US

10
R&B

3
UK

[MGM 12793]
written by George Goehring & Edna Lewis

74.

12/1959

He'll Have to Go by Jim Reeves

from He'll Have to Go

301

2
US

✫1
country

13
R&B

12
UK

[RCA Victor 7643]
written by Joe Allison & Audrey Allison

75.

04/1956

Long Tall Sally by Little Richard

from Here's Little Richard

299

6
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #56]
[Specialty 572 A]
written by Enotris Johnson, Robert Blackwell & Little Richard (as Richard Penniman)

76.

03/1958

Lollipop by The Chordettes

297

2
US

3
R&B

6
UK

[Cadence 1345]
written by Beverly Ross & Julius Dixon (as Julius Dixson)

77.

04/1958

Witch Doctor by David Seville

297

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

11
UK

[Liberty 55132]
written by David Seville (as Ross Bagdasarian Sr.)

78.

11/1957

Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly

from Buddy Holly

296

2
US

2
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #194]
[Coral 61885]
written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison & Norman Petty

79.

01/1959

Petite Fleur (Little Flower) by Chris Barber

296

5
US

28
R&B

3
UK

as Chris Barber's Jazz Band
[instrumental]
[Laurie 3022]
written by Sidney Bechet

80.

02/1959

Venus by Frankie Avalon

from The Hit Makers

296

✫1
US

10
R&B

16
UK

[Chancellor 1031]
written by Ed Marshall

81.

01/1957

Banana Boat (Day-O) by Harry Belafonte

from Calypso

296

5
US

7
R&B

2
UK

[RCA Victor 6771]
written by traditional

82.

06/1958

Yakety Yak by The Coasters

293

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

12
UK

[Atco 6116]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

83.

07/1959

Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny

from Santo & Johnny

289

✫1
US

4
R&B

22
UK

[instrumental]
[Canadian American 103]
written by Santo Farina & Johnny Farina

84.

11/1959

Why by Frankie Avalon

from The Hit Makers

288

✫1
US

6
R&B

20
UK

[Chancellor 1045]
written by Bob Marcucci (as Robert Marcucci) & Peter De Angelis

85.

11/1957

He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands) by Laurie London

281

✫1
US

3
R&B

12
UK

[Capitol 3891]
written by Obie Phillis

86.

11/1957

Raunchy by Bill Justis

276

2
US

6
country

✫1
R&B

11
UK

[instrumental]
[Phillips Int'l 3519]
written by Bill Justis & Sid Manker

87.

06/1957

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On by Jerry Lee Lewis

276

3
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

8
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #61]
[Sun 267]
written by Dave "Curlee" Williams & James Faye "Roy" Hall

88.

06/1958

The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

274

✫1
US

18
R&B

12
UK

[novelty]
[MGM 12651]
written by Sheb Wooley

89.

08/1956

Don't Be Cruel by Elvis Presley

from The Real Elvis EP

273

✫1
US

✫1
country

✫1
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #197]
charted as Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog in US Hot 100 charts
[RCA Epa-940+]
written by Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley