It’s a big year in music: From the westward expansion of teen culture to a West Side Story that sets a new tone for Broadway, so much is changing in 1957. Our 12 nominees for the Hall of Songs from this year reflect that.
Elvis Presley is still making big tunes, like “All Shook Up” and third movie theme “Jailhouse Rock.” And what exactly do Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller slip into the lyrics of the latter song?
Presley is joined by other big stars of the mid 1950s like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Big songs like “Rock and Roll Music” and “Lucille,” respectively, find these stars at the top of their game. And then there are newcomers like Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly, each adding something dynamic and fresh to the already established rock ‘n’ roll soud.
1957 is a year when everything expands just a little. Hear more of this expansion in our latest episode, then VOTE for the greatest songs of all-time! Below, choose up to 10 songs to join the Hall of Songs and current inductees “Rock Around the Clock” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”
Our 1957 nominees:
- “Lucille” as performed by Little Richard
- Written by Richard Penniman and Albert Collins; recorded July 1956; released February 1957
- “All Shook Up” as performed by Elvis Presley
- Written by Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley; recorded January 1957; released March 1957
- “Bye Bye Love” as performed by The Everly Brothers
- Written by Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant; recorded March 1957; released March 1957
- “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” as performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
- Written by Dave Williams and James Faye Hall; recorded February 1957; released April 1957
- “That’ll Be the Day” as performed by The Crickets
- Written by Charles Hardin, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty; recorded February 1957; released May 1957
- “Wake Up Little Suzie” as performed by The Everly Brothers
- Written by Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant; recorded August 1957; released September 1957
- “You Send Me” as performed by Sam Cooke
- Written by Sam Cooke; recorded June 1957; released September 1957
- “Rock and Roll Music” as performed by Chuck Berry
- Written by Chuck Berry; recorded May 1957; released September 1957
- “Jailhouse Rock” as performed by Elvis Presley
- Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; recorded April 1957; released September 1957
- “Peggy Sue” as performed by Buddy Holly
- Written by Jerry Allison and Norman Petty; recorded July 1957; released September 1957
- “Not Fade Away” as performed by The Crickets
- Written by Charles Hardin and Norman Petty; recorded May 1957; released October 1957
- “Great Balls of Fire” as performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
- Written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer; recorded October 1957; released November 1957
Listen to the full episode to learn more, then vote for the songs you think are the greatest of them all. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on May 16, 2021, for our discussion on 1958.