What's a good 50s pop collection?

Looking through my Billboard Top Ten Charts 1955-2000 book, I realized I don't own any 50s pop! It would be nice to find something that combines vocal pop and rock and roll chart hits as well. Thanks!

 

Time Life has numerous 50's CD collections.

 

With the Time-life disks, you can concentrate on just the 50s, year by year.

There are some other series that mingle songs from different years. The Ace Golden Age of American Popular Music series is outstanding, but you will find a few early 60s tracks on each disk.

 

Take a look at the Ace catalog. Great sound, too!

 

The American Graffiti or That'll Be The Day [the one with David Essex , Ringo Starr , Keith Moon etc] soundtracks have always been favorites of mine , very similar in the tracks they feature but the TBTD album is very hard to find nowadays . http://www.amazon.com/Original-Hits-Soundtrack-American-Graffiti/dp/B000002O81 / http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-instruments/Vinyl/LPs-33-RPM/Rock/auction-200657670.htm

 

Can any comment on the sound quality of the "Rock and Roll Era" CD's by Time Life?

 

I have a few of them...they're OK...check out the ACE catalog!

 

RCA has a "Nipper's Greatest Hits" pop compilation series that covers their many artists of the 40s, 50s and 60s.

 

If you want a nice 3 CD box set truly dedicated to 50s Pop, you can't go wrong with this title from Shout Factory:

Magic Moments: Best of 50's Pop

They also have other titles that focus on the 50s, 60s, Doo Wop, early R&R, etc. at their web page.

 

I second this one. EVERYTHING I have frome ACE is really good.

 

Some nice looking compilations here:

http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=53&searchtype=2&searchterm=Radio+Gold

 

I think we're getting a bit confused here.

50s pop isn't rock N roll. 50s pop is mostly pre-rock. Can also be called MOR (or middle of the road) until the mid-60s.

 

Rhino Doo Wop boxes I & II and great 50's and 60's music

 

The Rock and Roll Era was an incredible set, all 30 CD's. The series ran until 1964, but even with that, the 50's years was strong and impressive.

 

Malt Shop Memories isn't bad either.

But the soundtrack to American Graffiti...that's a keeper

 

Thanks everyone! This helps!
I'd say I am more interested in the "pop" aspect. In my OP, I mentioned some Rock N Roll could be included in the collections, but I'm now thinking not. I have been looking at the Billboard book of top 10 lists from the mid-fifties, and I guess I can put together my own 50s comps based on that. I just don't have much as far as the pop stuff goes.

 

I don't know what the OP had in mind. To me 50s Pop is Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Perry Como, Pattie Page ect. The Doo Wop featured in American Grafitti is Rock and Roll. Ballads were a big part of Rock and Roll. Elvis recorded many.

 

I think the path of picking a record label compilation might be a better way to go. 50's collections overlap so much that it negates the goal. For instance until I got my hands on "Fats Domino The legendary Imperial Recordings Box Set" I had a pitiful conception of what this man really meant to music. Narrowing the samples to record labels might facilitate much more meaningful depth to the 50's experience. For me the 50's mean magic.

 

Fats may have outsold everybody but Elvis!

 

There's another series underway called HARD TO FIND on the Hit Parade label, I have most of the disks. Definitely 'pop' more than rock. I think they tend to be more obscure than what is found on the Time-life sets

Following are track lists of some of them :

Hard to find Jukebox Classics 1956

1. The Green Door - Jim Lowe (#1 - 9/56) 2. Black Denim Trousers - The Cheers (Rare on CD) (#6 - 9/55) 3. The House of Blue Lights - Chuck Miller (Rare on CD) (#9 - 6/55) 4. Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine (#3 - 12/56) 5. In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town (Single Version) - Somethin' Smith & Redheads (CD Debut) (#27 - 6/56) 6. It's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Somethin' Smith & Redheads (Rare on CD) (#7 - 4/55) 7. City of Angels - The Highlights (CD Debut in USA) (#19 - 10/56) 8. It's Almost Tomorrow - The Dream Weavers (Rare on CD) (#7 - 11/55) 9. True Love (STEREO) - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (Rare on CD) (#3 - 9/56) 10. On the Street Where You Live - Vic Damone (#4 - 4/56) 11. Two Different Worlds - Don Rondo (Rare on CD) (#11 - 10/56) 12. From the Candy Store On the Corner to the Chapel On the Hill - Tony Bennett (CD Debut) (#11 - 8/56) 13. Can You Find It in Your Heart - Tony Bennett (Rare on CD) (#16 - 4/56) 14. Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis (Rare on CD) (#10 - 11/56) 15. Moonglow & Theme from 'Picnic' (Stereo Single Version) - Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra (CD Debut) (#1 - 4/56) 16. Tonight You Belong to Me - Patience & Prudence (#4 - 8/56) 17. I Dreamed - Betty Johnson (Rare on CD) (#9 - 11/56) 18. White Silver Sands - The Owen Bradley Quintet (CD Debut) (#18 - 7/57) 19. Cinco Robles (Five Oaks) - Russell Arms (CD Debut) (#22 - 12/56) 20. Cindy, Oh Cindy - Vince Martin featuring The Tarriers (Rare on CD) (#9 - 10/56) 21. Wringle Wrangle - Fess Parker (CD Debut) (#12 - 12/56) 22. Rock Island Line - Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group (#8 - 3/56) 23. My Boy - Flat Top - Dorothy Collins (CD Debut) (#16 - 11/55) 24. Rock and Roll Waltz - Kay Starr (#1 - 1/56)

1957
1. Diana - Paul Anka 2. You're My One and Only Love - Ricky Nelson (Rare on CD) 3. Teen-Age Crush - Tommy Sands 4. A Teenager's Romance - Ricky Nelson (Rare on CD) 5. A Rose and A Baby Ruth - George Hamilton IV 6. Dark Moon - Gale Storm (Rare on CD) 7. Four Walls - Jim Lowe (CD Debut) 8. Rainbow - Russ Hamilton (Rare on CD) 9. I'm Available - Margie Rayburn (Rare on CD) 10. The Banana Boat Song - The Fontane Sisters (CD Debut in USA) 11. Freight Train - Rusty Draper (Rare on CD) 12. The Girl With The Golden Braids - Perry Como (CD Debut in USA) 13. Liechtensteiner Polka - Will Glahe & His Orch. (CD Debut) 14. Little White Lies - Betty Johnson (CD Debut in USA) 15. Love Me To Pieces - Jill Corey 16. In the Middle of an Island - Tony Bennett (Rare on CD) 17. Yes, Tonight Josephine - Johnnie Ray (CD Debut in USA) 18. Love Me Forever - Eydie Gorme (CD Debut) 19. When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano - Pat Boone (STEREO) (CD Debut in USA) 20. Fascination - Jane Morgan (Stereo Version) 21. True Love - Jane Powell (CD Debut in USA) 22. Lovely One - The Four Voices (CD Debut) 23. Look Homeward Angel - The Four Esquires (CD Debut) 24. Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In) - Cowboy Church Sunday School (Rare on CD) 25. He's Got the Whole World In His Hands - Laurie London (Rare on CD)


1958 1.Honeycomb - Jimmie Rodgers 2. You Are My Destiny - Paul Anka 3 (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings (S) - Paul Anka 4. The End - Earl Grant 5. Hawaaian Wedding Song (S) - Andy Williams 6. The Wedding - June Valli 7. The Secret - Gordon MacCrae 8. Miracle of Love (S) - Eileen Rodgers 9. Treasure of Your Love - Eileen Rodgers 10. Put a Light in the Window (S) - Four Lads 11. Everybody Loves a Lover (S) - Doris Day 12. A Wonderful Time Up There (rerecording) - Pat Boone 13. Sugar Moon (S) - Pat Boone 14. Belonging to Someone - Patty Page 15. As Time Goes By (S) - Johnny Nash 16. The Voice of Love (S) - Johnny Nash 17. The Pledge of Love - Ken Copeland 18. A Fallen Star - Nick Noble 19. Dance Everyone Dance - Madiagan 20. That Old Black Magic - Prima & Smith 21. You Need Hands - Eydie Gorme 22. Dream (S) - Betty Johnson 23. Billy - Kathy Linden 24. Goodbye Jimmy Goodbye - Kathie Linden 25. The Little Blue Man - Betty Johnson 26. Beep Beep (S) - Playmates


Hard to Find Instrumentals

1. Manhattan Spiritual - Reg Owen & Orchestra (stereo) 2. March from the River Kwai & Colonel Bogey - Mitch Miller & Orchestra (stereo) 3. The Yellow Rose of Texas - Mitch Miller & Orchestra & Chorus 4. The Theme from 'Giant' - Les Baxter & Orchestra & Chorus (CD debut) 5. Honey-Babe - Art Mooney & Chorus (rare on CD) 6. The Children's Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Whack) - Cyril Stapleton & Orchestra & Chorus (stereo) 7. Joey's Song - Bill Haley & His Comets (CD Debut in U.S.) (stereo) 8. Smiles - Crazy Otto (CD debut in U.S.) 9. Glad Rag Doll - Crazy Otto (CD debut in U.S.) 10. Yellow Dog Blues - Joe Darensbourg & his Dixie Flyers (CD debut) 11. Little Dipper - The Mickey Mozart Quintet (CD debut) 12. Main Title from 'Man with the Golden Arm' and 'Molly-O' - Dick Jacobs & Orchestra & Chorus (CD debut) 13. The Petticoats of Portugal - Dick Jacobs & Orchestra & Chorus (CD debut) 14. Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera' (Moritat) - Richard Hayman & Jan August (CD debut) 15. Ciao, Ciao Bambina - Jacky Noguez & Orchestra (rare on CD)(stereo) 16. The Italian Theme - Cyril Stapleton & His Orchestra (CD debut in U.S.) 17. When the White Lilacs Bloom Again - Helmut Zacharias (rare on CD) 18. The Poor People of Paris - Lawrence Welk & His Champagne Music (CD debut) 19. Moritat (Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera') - Lawrence Welk & & His Sparkling Sextet (CD debut) 20. The Bandit (O'Cangaceiro) - Eddie Barclay & Orchestra (CD debut) 21. 11th Hour Melody - Lou Busch & Orchestra & Chorus (CD debut) 22. Almost Paradise - Lou Stein (CD debut) 23. Autumn Leaves - Steve Allen with George Cates & Orchestra (CD debut) 24. Around the World - Mantovani & Orchestra (CD debut Single Version) 25. My Beloved - Otto Cesana & Orchestra (CD debut) 26. Devotion - Otto Cesana & Orchestra (CD debut)(stereo) 27. Fascination - David Carroll & Orchestra (CD debut)(stereo) 28. It's Almost Tomorrow - David Carroll & Orchestra & Chorus (CD debut) 29. Melody of Love - David Carroll & Orchestra (CD debut)

The comments in brackets (tracks said to be rare, or cd debut, or debut in stereo) were in the lists I copied from the internet...

 

I think 50s Pop was prevalent from 1950 through '55 but stayed on the charts through the 50s, along side rock and roll. You can really divide the two by the ages of the performers as well as the orchestration. Sinatra, Martin, Day, Page, Bennett were adults. Pat Boone, no matter how lightweight he may have been was rock and roll as was Paul Anka. If you listen to the rhythm section on "Love Letters In The Sand" or "All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings" you hear definite R+B bass, guitar, piano and drums.

 

Rhino's Sentimental Journey series (Vol. 3 & 4) is also good:

http://www.amazon.com/Sentimental-Journey-Vol-Various-Artists/dp/B00000330T/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257820729&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Sentimental-Journey-Vocal-Classics-1954-1959/dp/B00000330V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257820758&sr=1-1

 

Another good one is "Instrumental Gems of the 50's" on Collectors Choice.

Disc: 1
1. Third Man Theme - Anton Karas Listen
2. Sam's Song Listen
3. Nola - Les Paul Listen
4. Laura - Stan Kenton & His Orchestra Listen
5. Down Yonder Listen
6. Delicado - Percy Faith & His Orchestra
7. Meet Mister Callaghan - Les Paul
8. Caravan - Ralph Marterie
9. Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart?) - Percy Faith
10. Oh! - Pee Wee Hunt & His Orchestra
11. Melancholy Serenade - Jackie Gleason
12. April in Portugal - Les Baxter & His Orchestra
13. Ruby - Les Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
14. Dragnet - Ray Anthony Orchestra
15. Ebb Tide - Frank Chacksfield
16. Skokiaan - Ralph Marterie
17. High and the Mighty - Les Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
18. Crazy Otto - Johnny Maddox & the Rhythmasters
19. Melody of Love - Billy Vaughn
20. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado Orchestra
Disc: 2
1. Unchained Melody - Les Baxter & His Orchestra
2. Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
3. Autumn Leaves - Roger Williams
4. Moritat (A.K.A. Mack the Knife) - Dick Hyman
5. Poor People of Paris (Jean's Song) - Les Baxter & His Orchestra
6. Moonglow/Theme from "Picnic" - Morris Stoloff
7. Canadian Sunset - Hugo Winterhalter
8. Song for a Summer Night - Mitch Miller & the Sing Along Gang
9. Shifting Whispering Sands - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra
10. So Rare - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
11. Portugese Washerwoman
12. Swingin' Shepherd Blues - Moe Koffman
13. Patricia - Perez Prado Orchestra
14. Raunchy - Ernie Freeman
15. Tea for Two Cha Cha - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
16. Peter Gunn Theme - Ray Anthony Orchestra
17. Only You (And You Alone) - Franck Pourcel
18. Quiet Village - Martin Denny
19. Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny
20. Enchanted Sea - Martin Denny
21. [Untitled Track]