tof

Call Edd Byrnes a no-hit-wonder. But the ladies loved him on 77 Sunset Strip, even though Efrem Zimpalist Jr. might have been cooler in a pinch. (And yet I don't remember what I had for breakfast.)

UnkieTrunkie

1966. . . or, "Wait, I thought he just interviewed people:"

UnkieTrunkie

Can't believe there was a promo video:

ralper

Another candidate for the worst recording ever made, this was recorded by Les Crane in 1972. Many thought that it was written in 1692 and found among the writings in a church. In fact it was written by Max Ehrmann a relatively unknown poet in 1927. It was extremely popular in the early 1970s and sold many records as well as posters. It was recorded by a few people the most popular was this one.

I give you this one hit wonder by Les Crane.

ralper

Another one hit wonder, this one from 1956. Jim Lowe recorded it and it reached number one on the Billboard charts. Years ago many people thought it to be the first Rock & Roll record. It was not, but it was a one hit wonder.

windhund116

First R&R hit is a difficult find. Many consider this the first R&R hit (circa 1951). More like a 12-bar Blues, boogie-woogie tune. Guitarist like it, as it is one of the first hits with super-fuzzy lead work. Done by Ike Turner, through a woodie era Fender Deluxe (model 26) --- with holes placed into the speaker cone.

Louis Jordan had some pretty rockin' 12-bars R&B stuff in the 1940s...

ralper

Many people, together with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame feel that "Rocket 88" was one of 5 or 6 possible first rock & roll records. I, on the other hand, think that there is no such thing. Rock & roll evolved from many, many different music types and going back to the 1940s and even the 1930s you can find the roots of rock & roll in much of the music. There was no single first rock & roll record, just a lot of records that helped r & r develop.

There is a really interesting and excellent book that deals with the derivation of rock & roll titled "The Sound of the City" by Charlie Gillette. It was written about 25 years ago as a Ph. D thesis. Charlie Gillette recently updated it. It is well worth reading. The only drawback that I found with the book is that it is focused on Rhythm & Blues as the foundation of rock & roll, and for the most part ignores Country & Western, Folk and Popular music. While (I think) R & B had a very import part in the birth of Rock & Roll, all of the other types of music were involved as well. Still, the book is a wealth of knowledge and well worth reading.

tof

If there is any doubt that rock and roll evolved as a merger of other musical styles, compare this tune in terms of rhythm and melodic line to "Rocket 88"

windhund116

Early C&W guitarists made soloes. I love Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, and Eddie Cochrane riffs.

dlq04

Eddie “Summertime Blues” Cochran and Gene “Be Bop a Lula” Vincent. Two of my all time favorites, were in the car crash in London that took Cochran’s life and broke Vincent’s leg.