Dan the List Guy: Best Albums of the 50’s
The List Guy is Dan Reed, Music Director for WXPN. Three times a week, Dan gives his spin on Top 10 musical moments in pop culture.
Here’s a list of 10 essential albums from the decade when the 45 still ruled. Each and very one are essential, and I’m curious to know if I left out any of your favorites. Listed in order of my personal preference:
1. Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue (59)
2. Jerry Lee Lewis – Jerry Lee Lewis (57)
3. John Coltrane – Giant Steps (59)
4. Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley (56)
5. Chuck Berry – Chuck Berry Is On Top (59)
6. Muddy Waters – The Best Of Muddy Waters (58)
7. Buddy Holly – Buddy Holly (58)
8. Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours (55)
9. Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um (59)
10. Little Richard – Here’s Little Richard (57)

Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet
August 27th, 2007 at 8:05 amMusic from Peter Gunn
Original Release Date: 1959
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00000JC79001001/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_001/104-6612877-3837569
August 27th, 2007 at 11:21 am1952 - Anthology Of American Folk Music - Smithsonian / Folkways
August 27th, 2007 at 2:12 pm1953 - Jazz At Massey Hall - Gillespie/Parker/Mingus/Roach/owell
1957 - Johnny Cash (with his hot and blue guitar)
1959 - The Genius Of Ray Charles, The Shape Of Jazz To Come - Ornette Coleman
I strongly agree that “Time Out” and Johnny Cash should have made the list.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:19 pmP.S.: Since the bulletin boards are down, Dan, I thought this would be the best way to send you a list suggestion. I realized that three of my favorite “new” bands - John Butler Trio, The Cat Empire, and Augie March - are all from Australia, so I thought a Top 10 list of Best Australian Bands would be interesting. Whaddya think? (See my blog for my list.)
August 28th, 2007 at 2:24 pmDamn, Scott. I forgot to include “Peter Gunn” in the secret agent post, or was that show more of a generic crime drama? Either way, Sarah Vaughan singing it, produced by Quincy Jones, is aces. I like the lyrics made up for her version. It was somewhat recently remixed for one of those jazz remixed by today’s hipster DJ comps.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:14 am