100 Greatest Songs From 1951
Criteria: These songs from 1951 were chosen and ranked based on their initial and lasting popularity, and on their impact on the overall scope of musical history.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
1. Sixty Minute Man
Dominoes
2. Rocket 88
Jackie Brenston
3. Dust My Broom
Elmore James
4. Cry
Johnnie Ray
5. Too Young
Nat "King" Cole
6. Cold Cold Heart
Hank Williams / Tony Bennett / Dinah Washington
7. Glory Of Love
Five Keys
8. Three O'Clock Blues
B.B. King
9. Hey Good Lookin'
Hank Williams
10. How High The Moon
Les Paul & Mary Ford
11. It Ain't The Meat
Swallows
12. Chains Of Love
Joe Turner
13. Black Night
Charles Brown
14. I'm In The Mood
John Lee Hooker
15. I Can't Help It
Hank Williams
16. Booted
Rosco Gordon
17. Fool, Fool, Fool
Clovers
18. Don't You Know I Love You
Clovers
19. How Many More Years
Howlin' Wolf
20. Lovin' Machine
Wynonie Harris
21. The Train Kept A'Rollin'
Tiny Bradshaw
22. I Got Loaded
Peppermint Harris
23. My Baby Left Me
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
24. Still A Fool
Muddy Waters
25. Unforgettable
Nat "King" Cole
Dominoes
2. Rocket 88
Jackie Brenston
3. Dust My Broom
Elmore James
4. Cry
Johnnie Ray
5. Too Young
Nat "King" Cole
6. Cold Cold Heart
Hank Williams / Tony Bennett / Dinah Washington
7. Glory Of Love
Five Keys
8. Three O'Clock Blues
B.B. King
9. Hey Good Lookin'
Hank Williams
10. How High The Moon
Les Paul & Mary Ford
11. It Ain't The Meat
Swallows
12. Chains Of Love
Joe Turner
13. Black Night
Charles Brown
14. I'm In The Mood
John Lee Hooker
15. I Can't Help It
Hank Williams
16. Booted
Rosco Gordon
17. Fool, Fool, Fool
Clovers
18. Don't You Know I Love You
Clovers
19. How Many More Years
Howlin' Wolf
20. Lovin' Machine
Wynonie Harris
21. The Train Kept A'Rollin'
Tiny Bradshaw
22. I Got Loaded
Peppermint Harris
23. My Baby Left Me
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
24. Still A Fool
Muddy Waters
25. Unforgettable
Nat "King" Cole
26. Baby Please Don't Go
Orioles
27. Bloodshot Eyes
Wynonie Harris
28. Eyesight To The Blind
Sonny Boy Williamson
29. Long Distance Call
Muddy Waters
30. I Apologize
Billy Eckstine
31. The Little White Cloud That Cried
Johnnie Ray
32. Best Wishes
Roy Milton
33. Flamingo
Earl Bostic
34. Harbor Lights
Dominoes
35. T-99 Blues
Jimmy Nelson
36. Moanin' At Midnight
Howlin' Wolf
37. Tend To Your Business
James Wayne
38. Shouldn't I Know
Cardinals
39. Dear John
Hank Williams
40. Eternally
Swallows
41. My Reverie
Larks
42. Bar Room Blues
Roy Brown
43. Eyesight To The Blind
Larks
44. Where Are You (Now That I Need You)
Mello-Moods
45. Will You Be Mine
Swallows
46. I Am With You
Dominoes
47. Pretty Baby Blues
Tampa Red / Margie Day & the Griffin Brothers
48. Walking The Chalk Line
Tiny Bradshaw
49. The Deacon Moves In
Little Esther & the Dominoes
50. Smooth Sailing
Ella Fitzgerald
51. The Blacksmith Blues
Ella Mae Morse
52. On Top Of Old Smoky
Weavers
53. Let's Rock A While
Amos Milburn
54. I'll Wait For You
Ruth Brown
55. Hey Little Girl
John Godfrey Trio / Billy Wright
56. I'm Waiting Just For You
Lucky Millinder (Annisteen Allen / John Carol)
57. Rockin' Chair
Fats Domino
58. Big Town
Roy Brown
59. Little Side Car
Larks
60. I Didn't Sleep A Wink Last Night
Arthur Prysock
61. Honey Bee
Muddy Waters
62. Do It If You Wanna
Sonny Boy Williamson
63. Rocket 88
Bill Haley & the Saddlemen
64. I Know
Ruth Brown
65. Castle Rock
Johnny Hodges & Big Al Sears
66. The World Is In A Tangle
Jimmy Rogers
67. Don't Take Your Love Away From Me
Joe Morris (Laurie Tate)
68. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
69. I'm A Night Owl
Lowell Fulson
70. Cherokee Boogie
Moon Mullican
71. Junco Partner
James Wayne
72. Dearest
Swallows
73. Got You On My Mind
John Greer
74. Don't You Lie To Me
Fats Domino
75. Good Rockin' Man
Roy Brown
Orioles
27. Bloodshot Eyes
Wynonie Harris
28. Eyesight To The Blind
Sonny Boy Williamson
29. Long Distance Call
Muddy Waters
30. I Apologize
Billy Eckstine
31. The Little White Cloud That Cried
Johnnie Ray
32. Best Wishes
Roy Milton
33. Flamingo
Earl Bostic
34. Harbor Lights
Dominoes
35. T-99 Blues
Jimmy Nelson
36. Moanin' At Midnight
Howlin' Wolf
37. Tend To Your Business
James Wayne
38. Shouldn't I Know
Cardinals
39. Dear John
Hank Williams
40. Eternally
Swallows
41. My Reverie
Larks
42. Bar Room Blues
Roy Brown
43. Eyesight To The Blind
Larks
44. Where Are You (Now That I Need You)
Mello-Moods
45. Will You Be Mine
Swallows
46. I Am With You
Dominoes
47. Pretty Baby Blues
Tampa Red / Margie Day & the Griffin Brothers
48. Walking The Chalk Line
Tiny Bradshaw
49. The Deacon Moves In
Little Esther & the Dominoes
50. Smooth Sailing
Ella Fitzgerald
51. The Blacksmith Blues
Ella Mae Morse
52. On Top Of Old Smoky
Weavers
53. Let's Rock A While
Amos Milburn
54. I'll Wait For You
Ruth Brown
55. Hey Little Girl
John Godfrey Trio / Billy Wright
56. I'm Waiting Just For You
Lucky Millinder (Annisteen Allen / John Carol)
57. Rockin' Chair
Fats Domino
58. Big Town
Roy Brown
59. Little Side Car
Larks
60. I Didn't Sleep A Wink Last Night
Arthur Prysock
61. Honey Bee
Muddy Waters
62. Do It If You Wanna
Sonny Boy Williamson
63. Rocket 88
Bill Haley & the Saddlemen
64. I Know
Ruth Brown
65. Castle Rock
Johnny Hodges & Big Al Sears
66. The World Is In A Tangle
Jimmy Rogers
67. Don't Take Your Love Away From Me
Joe Morris (Laurie Tate)
68. I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
69. I'm A Night Owl
Lowell Fulson
70. Cherokee Boogie
Moon Mullican
71. Junco Partner
James Wayne
72. Dearest
Swallows
73. Got You On My Mind
John Greer
74. Don't You Lie To Me
Fats Domino
75. Good Rockin' Man
Roy Brown
76. Slow Poke
Pee Wee King
77. Out In The Cold Again
Dinah Washington & the Ravens
78. The Chill Is On
Joe Turner
79. Seven Long Days
Charles Brown
80. All That Wine Is Gone
Big Jay McNeely (Three Dots & a Dash)
81. Baby, We're Really In Love
Hank Williams
82. The Wrong Yo-Yo
Piano Red
83. Weepin' And Cryin'
Griffin Brothers (Tommy Brown)
84. Money Blues
Camille Howard
85. My Real Gone Rocket
Jackie Brenston
86. Stacked Deck
Billy Wright
87. It's Later Than You Think
Roy Milton
88. Jesus Gave Me Water
Soul Stirrers
89. Heart And Soul
Four Buddies
90. All Nite Long
Johnny Otis
91. Hold Me, Squeeze Me
Orioles
92. What A Fool I Was
Percy Mayfield
93. Walk That Mess
Tiny Bradshaw
94. Rockin' And Rollin'
Lil' Son Jackson
95. I Miss You So
Orioles
96. Beautician Blues
Roy Brown
97. Bee's Boogie
Smiley Lewis
98. Good Lovin'
H-Bomb Ferguson
99. Every Hour
Little Richard
100. My Summer's Gone
Four Buddies
Pee Wee King
77. Out In The Cold Again
Dinah Washington & the Ravens
78. The Chill Is On
Joe Turner
79. Seven Long Days
Charles Brown
80. All That Wine Is Gone
Big Jay McNeely (Three Dots & a Dash)
81. Baby, We're Really In Love
Hank Williams
82. The Wrong Yo-Yo
Piano Red
83. Weepin' And Cryin'
Griffin Brothers (Tommy Brown)
84. Money Blues
Camille Howard
85. My Real Gone Rocket
Jackie Brenston
86. Stacked Deck
Billy Wright
87. It's Later Than You Think
Roy Milton
88. Jesus Gave Me Water
Soul Stirrers
89. Heart And Soul
Four Buddies
90. All Nite Long
Johnny Otis
91. Hold Me, Squeeze Me
Orioles
92. What A Fool I Was
Percy Mayfield
93. Walk That Mess
Tiny Bradshaw
94. Rockin' And Rollin'
Lil' Son Jackson
95. I Miss You So
Orioles
96. Beautician Blues
Roy Brown
97. Bee's Boogie
Smiley Lewis
98. Good Lovin'
H-Bomb Ferguson
99. Every Hour
Little Richard
100. My Summer's Gone
Four Buddies
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Bump Miss Susie
Joe Turner
102. Shine On
Ruth Brown
103. Tired Of Crying
Fats Domino
104. Lonesome Whistle
Hank Williams
105. I'm Gonna Move Across The River
Brownie McGhee
106. One Monkey Don't Stop The Show
Sticks McGhee
107. J.L. House Rent Boogie
John Lee Hooker
108. Juiced
Jackie Brenston
109. The Thrill Is Gone
Roy Hawkins
110. Taxi Blues
Little Richard
111. Mellow Blues
Sonny Thompson
112. Ring-A-Ding Doo
Little Esther & Mel Walker
113. Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse)
Rosco Gordon
114. I Won't Cry Anymore
Dinah Washington
115. Hucklebuck With Jimmy
Five Keys
116. Go! Go! Go!
Treniers
117. I've Been Lost
Little Willie Littlefield (Lora Wiggins)
118. Let Your Tears Fall, Baby
Big Mama Thornton
119. Hot-Rod Shotgun Boogie No. 2
Tillman Franks (Faron Young)
120. Sweet Slumber
Four Buddies
Joe Turner
102. Shine On
Ruth Brown
103. Tired Of Crying
Fats Domino
104. Lonesome Whistle
Hank Williams
105. I'm Gonna Move Across The River
Brownie McGhee
106. One Monkey Don't Stop The Show
Sticks McGhee
107. J.L. House Rent Boogie
John Lee Hooker
108. Juiced
Jackie Brenston
109. The Thrill Is Gone
Roy Hawkins
110. Taxi Blues
Little Richard
111. Mellow Blues
Sonny Thompson
112. Ring-A-Ding Doo
Little Esther & Mel Walker
113. Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse)
Rosco Gordon
114. I Won't Cry Anymore
Dinah Washington
115. Hucklebuck With Jimmy
Five Keys
116. Go! Go! Go!
Treniers
117. I've Been Lost
Little Willie Littlefield (Lora Wiggins)
118. Let Your Tears Fall, Baby
Big Mama Thornton
119. Hot-Rod Shotgun Boogie No. 2
Tillman Franks (Faron Young)
120. Sweet Slumber
Four Buddies
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1951
An unheralded great record from 1951
Bruce's choice:
* She's Dynamite
Tampa Red
Adam's choice:
* No! Says My Heart
Dominoes
Bruce's choice:
* She's Dynamite
Tampa Red
Adam's choice:
* No! Says My Heart
Dominoes
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Edited By: Bruce
Last Updated: 2009-06-12