Who remembers the days that we shared publicly our playlists for the first time in history? The time we were at the pub and people selected songs, shared with everyone in the room. To celebrate those days my friends, I am serving ninety minutes of jukebox gems that will pamper your ears!
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Around the Clock | Bill Haley And The Comets | Written by Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers, this song captured the excitement of dance halls and became a rock and roll anthem. Initially a B-side, it gained massive popularity after being featured in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, becoming the first rock song to top the Billboard charts. It remains a symbol of early rock and roll culture. |
| Tutti frutti | Little Richard | Written by Little Richard and Dorothy LaBostrie, this song was originally much racier before being rewritten for radio. Its nonsense lyrics and explosive energy made it one of the most influential rock songs of all time. The famous intro, “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!”, was inspired by drum sounds and became a signature of Little Richard’s style. |
| Be-Bop-A-Lula | The Everly Brothers | Originally by Gene Vincent and Donald Graves, this rockabilly love song is filled with swagger and bluesy energy. It was one of the earliest rock hits, influencing Elvis Presley and many early rockers. The Everly Brothers’ version brought a smoother, harmony-driven take on the song. |
| Don’t Be Cruel | Elvis Presley | Written by Otis Blackwell, this song became one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits. The upbeat melody contrasts with its lyrics about pleading for love and devotion. It was originally the A-side of “Hound Dog” and became one of the best-selling singles of the 1950s. |
| I Walk The Line | Johnny Cash | Written by Johnny Cash, this song was a pledge of loyalty to his first wife while he was on the road. The steady rhythm and Cash’s distinctive humming before each verse were designed to help him stay in key. It became one of his signature songs and a defining track of country music. |
| At the Hop | Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids | Originally written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White for Danny & The Juniors, this song was a tribute to “The Hop,” a popular 1950s dance event. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1958 and was later covered by Flash Cadillac for American Graffiti (1973). The song remains a staple of 1950s nostalgia. |
| Chantilly Lace | The Big Bopper | Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), this playful rockabilly hit is framed as a phone conversation with a flirtatious girl. The Big Bopper’s humorous and exaggerated vocal style made it a novelty hit. Sadly, he died in the same 1959 plane crash that took Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. |
| Summertime Blues | Eddie Cochran | Co-written by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart, this song humorously expresses teenage frustration with work, authority, and responsibilities. Its raw rockabilly energy and innovative bass vocal lines made it an early rock classic, later covered by artists like The Who and Blue Cheer. |
| Well…All Right | Buddy Holly | Written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, and Norman Petty, this song showcased a more subdued, introspective side of Holly’s songwriting. It reflects youthful defiance and romantic commitment. Though not a major hit at the time, it later influenced folk-rock artists like The Beatles and Blind Faith. |
| Memphis Tennesee | Chuck Berry | Written by Chuck Berry, this song initially seems like a plea to reconnect with a lost love but delivers a twist ending—Marie is actually the singer’s daughter. The song’s storytelling quality made it one of Berry’s most compelling compositions, and it was later covered by artists like Johnny Rivers and The Beatles. |
| Love Potion No. 9 | The Clovers | Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, this song tells a playful story about a man seeking help from a gypsy to find love, only to end up kissing everything in sight after drinking the “love potion.” Originally recorded by The Clovers, it later gained popularity with The Searchers’ 1964 version. The song remains a classic of doo-wop and R&B. |
| Shakin’ All Over | Johnny Kidd & The Pirates | Written by Johnny Kidd, this British rock classic was one of the first songs to capture the raw energy of rock and roll in the UK. Its suggestive lyrics and guitar riffs made it a hit, later covered by The Guess Who and The Who. |
| Only The Lonely | Roy Orbison | Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, this song was originally intended for Elvis Presley or The Everly Brothers but became Orbison’s breakthrough hit. Its operatic vocals and dramatic lyrics about heartbreak set the stage for his signature style. |
| Crazy (ft. The Jordanaires) | Patsy Cline | Written by Willie Nelson, this song became one of Patsy Cline’s most iconic tracks. The melancholic lyrics and jazz-influenced arrangement made it a country-pop crossover hit. It remains one of the most-covered songs in country music history. Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline were good friends. They had much in common. They toured together. They launched Willie Nelson’s career (“Pretty Paper” by Roy and “Crazy” by Patsy). |
| The Wanderer | Dion | Written by Ernie Maresca, this song tells the story of a carefree, womanizing drifter. Dion’s swaggering vocal style made it one of the biggest rock hits of the early ’60s. Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known mononymously as Dion, is an American singer and songwriter. The song was recorded with an uncredited background vocal group, the Del-Satins, ed by Stan Ziska (later known as Stan Sommers). |
| Boom Boom (ft. Jimmie Vaughn) | John Lee Hooker | Written by John Lee Hooker, this blues standard is based on a riff-driven groove and playful, boastful lyrics. Covered by The Animals and later reinterpreted with Jimmie Vaughan, it remains one of Hooker’s most recognizable songs. |
| Sherry | The Four Seasons | Written by Bob Gaudio, this song was inspired by a girl he knew and was originally titled “Jackie Baby.” Featuring Frankie Valli’s signature falsetto, it became The Four Seasons’ first No. 1 hit, defining their doo-wop sound. |
| Runaway | Del Shannon | Written by Del Shannon (born Charles Weedon Westover) and keyboardist Max Crook, Crook, who had invented his own clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron. This is about a guy whose girl leaves him, and he is left to wonder what went wrong. A lot of Shannon’s songs were about broken relationships. He once said he wrote the words to this about himself because he was forever running away from relationships. |
| Surf City | Jan & Dean | “Surf City” by American music duo Jan and Dean is about a fictitious surf spot where there are “two girls for every boy”, written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry. It was the first surf song to become a national number-one hit. The recording included Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell, Earl Palmer, Bill Pitman, Ray Pohlman, Billy Strange, as well as Brian Wilson. In 1991, after moving to Huntington Beach, California, In 2006, the official trademark of “Surf City USA” was registered to Huntington Beach with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Jan & Dean were ambassadors of the California culture in the mid-60s, scoring 11 Top-40 hits from 1963-1965, mostly dealing with surfing, girls and cars. |
| How Do You Do It | Gerry & The Pacemakers | Written by Mitch Murray, this song was originally intended for The Beatles, who rejected it. Gerry & The Pacemakers turned it into their first UK No. 1 hit. The song’s cheerful melody and Merseybeat style captured the upbeat spirit of early British Invasion music. |
| Louie Louie | The Kingsmen | Written by Richard Berry in 1955, this song became legendary for its unintelligible lyrics and garage rock energy. The Kingsmen’s version was investigated by the FBI for alleged obscenity, but no clear lyrics were found. It remains one of the most covered songs in rock history. |
| Do Wah Diddy Diddy | Manfred Mann | Originally recorded by The Exciters, this song was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Manfred Mann’s version turned it into a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in both the US and UK. The upbeat lyrics describe a joyful love-at-first-sight moment and have made the song a favorite for singalongs and sporting events. |
| Wooly Bully | Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs | Written by Domingo Samudio (Sam the Sham), this novelty rock song mixes Tex-Mex rhythms with playful lyrics about a cat named Wooly Bully. Its danceable beat made it a massive hit, even without a clear storyline. |
| Chica Ye Ye | Conchita Velasco | A Spanish pop hit, this song became an anthem of the “Ye-Yé” movement, which embraced youthful, carefree pop music inspired by The Beatles and French pop. Conchita Velasco’s performance helped make it an iconic Spanish pop song. In the 1965 Spanish comedy film Television Stories (1965) Conchita Velasco performed the song “Chica ye ye” composed by Augusto Algueró with lyrics by Antonio Guijarro. Television Stories (Spanish:Historias de la televisión) is a |
| Satisfaction | The Rolling Stones | Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this song captures frustration with commercialism and sexual tension. Featuring one of the most famous guitar riffs in rock history, it became The Rolling Stones’ first US No. 1 hit and a defining song of the 1960s. |
| Cara Mia | Jay & The Americans | Originally written by Mantovani and Tulio Trapani, this operatic pop ballad became a huge hit for Jay & The Americans. Its dramatic vocal delivery and sweeping orchestration made it one of their signature songs. The title means “my beloved” in Italian. |
| Friday On My Mind | The Easy Beats | “Friday on My Mind” is a 1966 song by Australian rock group the Easybeats. written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda. It captures the excitement of looking forward to the weekend after a long workweek. The track became one of the first international rock hits from an Australian band, reaching the UK and US charts. Its infectious melody and rebellious energy made it a garage rock anthem. Though the song has long been termed a “working class anthem”, George Young maintained it had “more to do with their outlook on the world than any class statement” |
| Wouldn’t It Be Nice | The Beach Boys | Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love, this song expresses youthful longing for a future where young love can flourish without restrictions. Its lush harmonies and orchestration made it one of Pet Sounds’ standout tracks. It remains one of The Beach Boys’ most beloved songs. Mike Love sang the bridge; Brian Wilson did the verses. Brian Wilson’s autobiography is titled Wouldn’t It Be Nice. |
| With A Girl Like You | The Troggs | Written by Reg Presley, this song is a simple yet catchy love song featuring The Troggs’ signature garage rock sound. It became a hit in the UK and the US, cementing their place in the British Invasion movement. Presley stated: “I liked the way The Beach Boys were going ‘Ba-ba-ba-Barbara Ann’ and it was lovely to do something like that in With A Girl Like You.” |
| Here Comes My Baby | The Tremeloes | Written by Cat Stevens, this song tells the bittersweet story of watching an ex-lover move on. While Stevens initially recorded his own version, The Tremeloes made it a hit with their lively and jangly sound. The song blends heartache with an infectious melody, making it a classic of the 1960s pop era. The song’s success helped establish Cat Stevens as a songwriter and he included it on his first album Matthew And Son. The Tremeloes’ version leaves out the final verse from Cat Stevens’ original. |
| Jackson | Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood | Written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber, this song is a playful duet about a couple reigniting their relationship by heading to “Jackson”. Before this became a famous duet between Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, it was recorded in 1963 by the Kingston Trio, Wheeler, and Flatt and Scruggs. Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood’s version became the most famous, capturing a mix of country and pop sassiness. |
| Light My Fire | The Doors | Written primarily by Robby Krieger, with contributions from Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, this song became The Doors’ breakthrough hit. Featuring poetic lyrics and an extended instrumental solo, it helped define psychedelic rock. José Feliciano’s acoustic cover later won a Grammy. The Doors didn’t have a bass player, but there is some bass on this song by session musician Carol Kaye, who was not formally credited at the time. Carol Kaye was born in Everett, Washington to musician parents, Clyde and Dot Smith, both professionals. She was the sole regular female member of the Wrecking Crew, a collective of studio musicians who played on a large number of hit records from Los Angeles in the 1960s. Beginning in 1969, Kaye wrote her first of many bass tutoring books, “How To Play The Electric Bass” effectively changing the name of Fender Bass to Electric Bass and began teaching 100s of Electric Bass students, many of them now famous themselves. This was the last song Jim Morrison performed live at the Doors concert at The Warehouse in New Orleans on December 12, 1970. |
| Happy Together | The Turtles | Written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, this song was originally passed over by multiple bands before The Turtles made it a hit. Its upbeat melody contrasts with its simple but effective lyrics about the joy of being in love. It remains a staple of 1960s sunshine pop. The Turtles were formed by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. They were saxophone players who did whatever was trendy in order to make a living as musicians. |
| All You Need Is Love | The Beatles | Written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon-McCartney), this song was composed for the first-ever live global television broadcast. The song was released in the middle of the Summer of Love (1967) and conveys a universal message of peace and love, making it one of the defining songs of the counterculture movement. “All You Need Is Love” was a popular saying in the ’60s anti-war movement. The song begins with a clip from the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg on April 25, 1792. Its original name was “Chant de guerre de l’Armee du Rhin” (“Marching Song of the Rhine Army”) and it was dedicated to Marshal Nicolas Luckner, a Bavarian-born French officer from Cham. It became the rallying call of the French Revolution and got its name because it was first sung on the streets by troops from Marseille upon their arrival in Paris. In the orchestral ending, you can hear pieces of both “Greensleeves,” a Bach two-part invention (by George Martin) and Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood.” |
| Mony Mony | Tommy James & The Shondells | Co-written by Tommy James, Ritchie Cordell, Bobby Bloom, and Bo Gentry, the song was named after the Mutual of New York (MONY) insurance building. It became a high-energy party anthem, later made even more famous by Billy Idol’s 1981 cover. Known for its catchy chorus, it remains a favorite for crowd singalongs. |
| Lazy Sunday | Small Faces | Written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, this whimsical song was inspired by Marriott’s real-life disputes with his neighbours Combining cockney humour with a psychedelic pop sound, it became a surprise hit despite the band intending it as a joke. The song is a fun, theatrical take on British working-class life. Much of the song is in a greatly exaggerated cockney accent and features various sound effects including crowd shouts, chirping birds, surf, and church bells. If you listen closely, you can hear a loo being flushed just after Marriott sings, “while you flush out the moon.” |
| Pictures Of Matchstick Men | Status Quo | Written by Francis Rossi, this psychedelic rock song features a distinctive guitar riff and surreal lyrics. It became Status Quo’s only major US hit before they shifted toward a boogie rock style. “‘Matchstick Men’ was basically about Rossi’s ex-wife. He got just married and thought, it was a mistake. He wrote three-quarters of this song on the toilet, where he’d fled to escape his wife and mother-in-law. The remainder he finished off in the lounge. The song was inspired by the matchstick men paintings of English painter L.S. Lowry (1887-1976). |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
