The hardest rock 'n' roll song

What do you think is the hardest, heaviest, wildest rock'n'roll song of the 1950s? Such a thing is impossible to quantify objectively, as what some contenders lack in speed, they make up for in attitude and intensity or vice-versa. That said, judge by whichever measures you see fit.

 

Johnny B. Goode

 

Ruby Baby
Poison Ivy
Rip It Up


Speed detracts from hard and heavy.

 

Probably something by Little Richard. Take your pick - many of his big hits qualify. I think he consistently rocked the hardest in the 50's. His screaming upper register vocal style was a template for many hard rock singers that came after him.

 

Yeah, I'd say Little Richard wins out in terms of vocals.

 

She Said - Hasil Adkins

 

Rip It Up.
Probably not one of Little Richards better known songs now, but a lot of bands have done this song and it always kicks ass. I think if Lawrence Welk had done it with bubbles and the whole nine yards it still would have kicked ass.

 

Rock around the clock. Just for the killer guitar solo.

 

You make a very convincing case.

 

There are much, much crazier solos out there. For instance, just past the 40-second mark...

 

I think I heard one in amongst the reverb there somewhere . I prefer the rock around the clock one.

 

Billy Lee Riley, Red Hot

 

Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Space Guitar (1954)

 

I thought of Howling Wolf, though I think his best stuff is early 60s

 

Johnny Burnette Train Kept A Rollin'

 

Prolly throw this in the ring too:

The Collins Kids “Hoy Hoy”

 

Link Wray's infamous tune, banned from radio airplay because it was too menacing

 

I was just about to post that same clip! Great choice

 

Last one for the road:

Wanda Jackson “Riot In Cell Block #9”

 

Elvis - Trouble, King Creole - not the hardest or heaviest but plenty of attitude.

 

Elvis had so much attitude they wouldn't show him on the old Philco black and white from the waist down.

 

Bo Diddley was about as heavy as you can get imo.
This is a great album, for me maybe his best.

Bo Diddley (1958 album)

Side One
No.TitleLength
1."Bo Diddley" 2:30
2."I'm a Man" 2:41
3."Bring It to Jerome" (Jerome Green)2:37
4."Before You Accuse Me" 2:40
5."Hey! Bo Diddley" 2:17
6."Dearest Darling" 2:32
Side Two
No.TitleLength
1."Hush Your Mouth" 2:36
2."Say, Boss Man" 2:18
3."Diddley Daddy" (McDaniel, Harvey Fuqua)2:11
4."Diddy Wah Diddy" (Willie Dixon)2:51
5."Who Do You Love?" 2:18
6."Pretty Thing" (Dixon)

 

Elvis´Hound dog. The guitar is almost selfdistorted.

 

I'm going with Billy Lee Riley's "Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll." This YouTube video was made from clips of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and Gumby, so that makes it even cooler.