The fifty-third song: Riot in Cell Block No. 9 - The Robins
For the dark subject matter, this sounds pretty swingy and upbeat. It is about an actual riot (tommy guns and tear gas getting mentions), which adds an edge to the song. It seems like the prisoners don't seem to care. I'm not quite sure what to make of it, but it's good.
The fifty-fourth song: Love For Sale - Billie Holiday
Another song written for a musical, it's Billie Holiday stealing the show by making it sound so much more real and raw. Talking about prostitution, the song slowly goes through, trying to draw the fictional customer in, but sounding sad enough that you feel sorry about the whole situation.
The fifty-fifth song: The Wind - Nolan Strong & The Diablos
A lullaby sang by almost-Michael Jackson sound-a-like Nolan Strong (but going higher), the other bandmates providing backup. It sounds lovely, slightly haunting, but puts you at ease from the song, the backup vocals feeling reassuring with an ethereal sound when Nolan Strong sings.
The fifty-sixth song: My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
Sweet, slow, this song first made me think of Chet Baker as almost a male Billie Holiday (but not quite as good) - haunting, slow, deserting.
The fifty-seventh song: Shake, Rattle and Roll - Big Joe Turner & His Blue Kings
Time for something more upbeat again after all of this. Highly suggestive lyrics (later, more known versions tone these down) provide as much innuendo as they can, and you can see how it would draw people in. It swings enough to stay good and stick in your head.
The fifty-eighth song: (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Not the first rock and roll song, or the first hit, this is the big one - the well known single that put the genre out there and made it a permanent fixture. It's hard to say why, but the vocal and music is that bit more polished and integrated that it really feels like rock. Even so, it sounds good, a simple song at its best but it feels like it's a step beyond what we've heard so far.
The fifty-ninth song: I Get Along Without You Very Well - Chet Baker
Well rehearsed and polished, with not a slight misstep, this song slowly moves you on through the sad story of love. Simple but effective.
The sixtieth song: In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning - Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra has an amazing voice, one that draws you in no matter what he sings, and this song, with its strings and slow rhythm, draws you in. The pain is clear in his voice, but never quite so, going between this and some optimism, mostly sounding melancholic. A sweet and sad song sung expertly.
The sixty-first song: Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
Diving further into rock and roll (and showing how it was a more universal sound), the first few bars are enough to make you smile, bringing in an upbeat song that swings along and has me tapping along all the way. The lyrics barely even matter, you just go along with it.
The sixty-second song: Only You (and You Alone) - The Platters
This starts off quite misleading - a swingier start that gives way to the slower lyrics and song after. The slow 'only you' sounds familiar, but is also somewhat over the top. Outdated, making the song sound off, but there's some good craftmanship in this.
The sixty-third song: Cry Me A River - Julie London
A slow jazz song, the surly sound from Julie London sounds expertly done, simple backing music enforcing her slow, defiant lyrics. There's no anger, just a clear delineation of where she stands. The song and performance is slightly sentimental, without pushing that too far.
The sixty-fourth song: Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
Somewhat subversive, a jazzy, slightly upbeat tune is combined with lyrics about unfairness and being bound to the 'company store'. It sounds good, well performed and slighlty making you think, making a decent impression.
The sixty-fifth song: I'm a Man - Bo Diddley
A slower blues song, boosting of one's sexual prowess doesn't necessarily make for the most interesting song.Sounding well for its genre, the halting lyrics don't suit me that well and the lyrics somehow manage to annoy me. A fine enough song, but not something that managed to woo me.