This fills in another of the gaps on our strand of R&B and country collections associated with Acrobat’s highly popular “America’s Greatest Hits” series, this one focusing on the top R&B records in the US Billboard charts during 1955.
This great value 104-track 4-CD anthology includes, with the exception of certain records which are unavailable for inclusion due to copyright restrictions, just about every record which peaked during the year in the published Top 10 “Best Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records” and “Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues” charts.
It was a fascinating time in R&B, with different strands of the genre creating the musical landscape from which rock ‘n’ roll was already emerging – Bill Haley’s “Rock Around The Clock”, Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti”and Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline” were hits during this year along with hits by the likes of Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, Bo Diddley and Ruth Brown that were rock ‘n’ roll in all but name.
There are numerous doowop groups like The Platters, The Penguins, the and The Clovers, sophisticated vocalists like Dinah Washington and Roy Hamilton, the electric Chicago guitar blues of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Little Walter and even a pop interloper in Pat Boone, doing one of his covers of R&B hits.
As with all these collections, it provides a window onto a dynamic and exciting musical environment, and includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings of which even enthusiasts of the genre may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections.
It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information.
CD1
1. HEARTS OF STONE The Charms (De Luxe 6062)
2. EARTH ANGEL The Penguins (Dootone 348)
3. WHITE CHRISTMAS The Drifters feat. Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinkney (Atlantic 1048)
4. SINCERELY The Moonglows (Chess 1581)
5. TEACH ME TONIGHT Dinah Washington (Mercury 70497)
6. YOU UPSET ME BABY B. B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra (RPM 416)
7. RECONSIDER BABY Lowell Fulson (Checker 804)
8. LING, TING, TONG The Five Keys (Capitol 2945)
9. SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL Joe Turner & His Blues Kings (Atlantic 1026)
10. HURT Roy Hamilton (Epic 9086)
11. MAMBO BABY Ruth Brown (Atlantic 1044)
12. LAST NIGHT Little Walter and the Jukes (Checker 805)
13. POISON IVY Willie Mabon (Chess 1580)
14. TWENTY ONE (21) Spiders (Imperial 5318)
15. TWEEDLE DEE LaVern Baker & The Gliders with Orchestra (Atlantic 1047)
16. HURTS ME TO MY HEART Faye Adams (|Herald 434)
17. LING, TING, TONG The Charms (De Luxe 6076)
18. PLEDGING MY LOVE Johnny Ace (Duke 136)
19. I'VE GOT A WOMAN Ray Charles and his Band (Atlantic 1050)
20. EVERY DAY I HAVE THE BLUES B. B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra (RPM 421)
21. KO KO MO Gene & Eunice (Combo 64)
22. DIM DIM THE LIGHTS Bill Haley & The Comets (Decca 9-29317)
23. SNEAKIN' AROUND B. B. "Blues Boy" King and "The Kingsmen" (RPM 421)
24. COME BACK Ray Charles and his Band (Atlantic 1050)
25. THE WALLFLOWER Etta James and the Peaches (Modern 947)
CD 2
1. THAT'S ALL I WANT FROM YOU Dinah Washington (Mercury 70537)
2. JOHNNY HAS GONE Varetta Dillard (Savoy 1153)
3. GOTTA GO (UPSIDE YOUR HEAD) Buddy Johnson (Modern 70523)
4. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO Jimmy Reed (Veejay 119)
5. TWO HEARTS Charms (De Luxe 6065)
6. MY BABE Little Walter and the Jukes (Checker 811)
7. CLOSE YOUR EYES The Five Keys (Capitol 3032)
8. DON'T YOU KNOW Fats Domino (Imperial 5340)
9. FLIP, FLOP AND FLY Joe Turner & His Blues Kings (Atlantic 1053)
10. LONELY NIGHTS Hearts (Baton 208)
11. WHAT 'CHA GONNA DO Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters (Atlantic 1055)
12. BLUE VELVET The Clovers (Atlantic 1062)
13. MOST OF ALL The Moonglows (Chess 1589)
14. DON'T BE ANGRY Nappy Brown (Savoy 1598)
15. UNCHAINED MELODY Al Hibbler (Decca 29441)
16. CHOP CHOP BOOM Danderliers (B & F 1344)
17. DOOR IS STILL OPEN Cardinals (Atlantic 1054)
18. UNCHAINED MELODY Roy Hamilton (Epic 9102)
19. BOP TING-A-LING LaVern Baker and the Gliders (Atlantic 1057)
20. THAT'S ALL I NEED LaVern Baker and the Gliders (Atlantic 1057)
21. BO DIDDLEY Bo Diddley (Checker 814)
22. I'M A MAN Bo Diddley (Checker 814)
23. AIN'T IT A SHAME Fats Domino (Imperial 5348)
24. THIS IS MY STORY Gene & Eunice (Aladdin 3282)
25. IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO Dinah Washington (Mercury 70600)
26. I DIDDIE Dinah Washington (Mercury 70600)
CD 3
1. STORY UNTOLD The Nutmegs (Herald H-452)
2. ROLLIN' STONE Marigolds (Excello 2057)
3. I CAN SEE EVERYBODY'S BABY Ruth Brown and her Rhythmakers (Atlantic 1059)
4. AS LONG AS I'M MOVING Ruth Brown and her Rhythmakers (Atlantic 1059)
5. ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Bill Haley & His Comets (Decca 9-29124)
6. FOOL FOR YOU Ray Charles (Atlantic 1063)
7. SOLDIER BOY Four Fellows (Glory 234)
8. EVERY DAY Count Basie (Clef 89149)
9. THIS LITTLE GIRL OF MINE Ray Charles (Atlantic 1063)
10. IT'S LOVE BABY (24 HOURS A DAY) Louis Brooks & The Hi-Toppers (Excello 2056)
11. DIDDLEY DADDY Bo Diddley (Checker 819)
12. PIDDLEY PATTER PATTER Nappy Brown (Savoy 1162)
13. MAMA TALK TO YOUR DAUGHTER J.B. Lenoir (Parrot 809)
14. MANISH BOY Muddy Waters (Chess 1602)
15. ONLY YOU The Platters (Federal 12244)
16. FORGIVE THIS FOOL Roy Hamilton (Epic 9111)
17. MAYBELLINE Chuck Berry (Chess 1604)
18. ANYMORE Johnny Ace (Duke 136)
19. WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ME The Jacks (RPM 428)
20. FEEL SO GOOD Shirley & Lee (Aladdin 3289)
21. THERE GOES THAT TRAIN Rollee McGill (Mercury 70582)
22. I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN' Smiley Lewis (Imperial 5356)
23. HIDE AND SEEK Joe Turner & His Blues Kings (Atlantic 1069)
24. WEE WEE HOURS Chuck Berry (Chess 1604)
25. ALL BY MYSELF Fats Domino (Imperial 5357)
26. IT'S LOVE BABY (24 HOURS A DAY) Ruth Brown (Atlantic 1072)
CD 4
1. NIP SIP The Clovers (Atlantic 1073)
2. THOSE LONELY, LONELY NIGHTS Earl King (Ace 509)
3. AT MY FRONT DOOR The El Dorados (Vee-Jay VJ-147)
4. TEN LONG YEARS B. B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra (RPM 437)
5. YOUR PAINTED PICTURES Spaniels (Vee Jay 154)
6. DON'T START ME TALKIN' Sonny Boy Williamson (Checker 824)
7. HE Al Hibbler (Decca 29660)
8. BLACKJACK Ray Charles (Atlantic 1076)
9. GREENBACKS Ray Charles (Atlantic 1076)
10. PLAY IT FAIR LaVern Baker & The Gliders (Atlantic 1075)
11. ADORABLE Colts (Vita 112)
12. I CONCENTRATE ON YOU Dinah Washington (Mercury 70694)
13. THIRTY DAYS (TO COME BACK HOME) Chuck Berry (Chess 1610)
14. HANDS OFF Jay McShann (Vee Jay 155)
15. GOOD ROCKIN' DADDY Etta James (Modern 962)
16. ADORABLE Drifters (Atlantic 1078)
17. BURN THAT CANDLE Bill Haley & His Comets (Decca 9-29713)
18. POOR ME Fats Domino (Imperial 5369)
19. AT MY FRONT DOOR Pat Boone (DOT 15422)
20. TUTTI FRUTTI Little Richard (Specialty 561)
21. YOU MIGHT HAVE TOLD ME Dinah Washington (Mercury 70728)
22. I'M LOST WITHOUT YOU TONIGHT Dinah Washington (Mercury 70728)
23. WITCHCRAFT The Spiders (Imperial 5366)
24. SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ Robins (Atco 6059)
25. WHEN YOU DANCE The Turbans (Herald 458)
26. THE GREAT PRETENDER The Platters (Mercury 70753)
27. SUGAR SWEET Muddy Waters (Chess 1612)
