> 3. RAMA LAMA DING DONG, The Edsels (1958 / 1961)
First released as "Lama Rama Ding Dong" on Dub International in 1958 then reissued in 1961 on Twin label when it soared to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100
> 6. WOMAN LOVE, Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps (1956)
Here's the original version from earlier in 1956
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwL4WvTQxn4
> 8. THAT IS ROCK & ROLL, The Coasters (1959)
Much the better side of the "Along Came Jones" single and one of L&S's best ever songs IMO
> 10. MAYBELLENE, Chuck Berry (1955)
Winner of the Dynamic Debuts Battle a while back as voted by the group members on here
Here's how it panned out :-
ROUND ONE
>17 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
> 1 Gene McDaniels -- In Times Like These -- Liberty 55231 -- 1959
ROUND TWO
> 2 Martha & The Vandellas -- I'll Have To Let Him Go -- Gordy 7011 -- 1962
>19 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
ROUND THREE
>14 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
> 5 The Crystals -- There's No Other (Like My Baby) -- Philles 100 -- 1961
ROUND FOUR
> 3 Howlin' Wolf -- How Many More Years -- Chess 1479 -- 1951
>18 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
ROUND FIVE
>16 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
> 5 Professor Longhair -- Mardi Gras In New Orleans -- Star Talent 808 -- 1949
ROUND SIX
> 2 James Brown & The Famous Flames -- Please,Please,Please -- Federal 12258 -- 1956
>21 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
QUARTER FINAL
> 3 Jerry Butler & The Impressions -- For Your Precious Love -- Vee Jay 280 -- 1958
>18 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
SEMI FINAL
>16 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
> 5 The Drifters -- Money Honey -- Atlantic 1006 -- 1953
GRAND FINAL
>21 Chuck Berry -- Maybellene -- Chess 1604 -- 1955
> 2 Bo Diddley -- Bo Diddley -- Checker 814 -- 1955
> 11. RAINING IN MY HEART, Slim Harpo (1961)
We gpt this one released on Pye International in 1961 and then re-released in 1963 with "Don't Start Cryin' Now" as the "A" side since that one was getting a lot of play in the London r&b clubs
> 13. SINCE I DON’T HAVE YOU, The Skyliners (1959)
Not everyone's cuppa tea I know but this one has long been one of my absolute top fave white vocal group records. Such a shame about poor Janet Vogel. I've still never seen the movie
> 15. LOVERS WHO WANDER, Dion (1962)
I always preferred the flip on this "(I Was) Born To Cry" with that immortal "I thought I had a friend once but he kicked out my teeth" line
> 18. MARY LOU, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (1959)
Plagiarism was raised to an art form in the hands of Ronnie Hawkins who claimed authorship of several notable 1950's classic songs including Young Jessie's "Mary Lou" here with authorship of Obie's song now re-credited to "Hawkins/Magill"
How was Hawkins able to get away with this shit? Well remember this is Roulette Records we are talking about here and the "Magill" in question was one Jacqueline of that ilk---girlfriend of Morris Levy.
Need I say more?
> 21. BOPPIN’ HIGH SCHOOL BABY, Don Willis (1958)
On the Satellite label in Memphis (later to be rechristened as the famed Stax label. On my first trip to Memphis there were still copies of this (and other Satellite releases) in the Select-O-Hits warehouse
> 33. PEPPERMINT TWIST (Part 1), Joey Dee & The Starliters (1961-62)
Reminded me of an amusing TV interview I recall over here circa 1963 or so with a group of American teenagers. With Beatlemania in full swing over here the interviewer asked the teens if they thought The Beatles would ever catch on in the USA.
One girl replied "Nah they'll never replace our guys like Joey Dee & The Starliters"
> 38. RAUNCHY, Bill Justis (1957)
My pick as #1 instrumental of 1957
1..Raunchy Bill Justis - 1957
2. Hard Times (The Slop) Noble “Thin Man” Watts & Rhythm Sparks - 1957
3. Leap Frog Chuck Alaimo Quartet - 1957
4. Walkin’ With Mr Lee Lee Allen - 1957
5. Raunchy Ernie Freeman - 1957
> 42. NUMBER 9 TRAIN, Tarheel Slim (1959)
Tho Tarheel (aka Allen Bunn) has the classic original Dale
Hawkins cut an interesting version of this song for Checker in 1959
that lay unissued for decades. I believe he even performed it one time
on Bandstand as his next release---but Checker cancelled the issue at
the last moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1-_nzHTtFE
> 46. GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART GOODNIGHT, The Spaniels (1954)
The classic closer! (I guess the closest competition must be "Goodnight My Love")