Essential Rock ’n’ Roll

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Blue Suede Shoes
recording of:
Blue Suede Shoes
lyricist and composer:
Carl Perkins (American pioneer of rockabilly music) (in 1955)
publisher:
Aberbach (London) (publisher), Carl Perkins Music Inc., Carlin Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), Hi Lo Music, Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher), Unichappell Music, Unichappell Music, Inc. and Wren Music Co.
part of:
Million Dollar Quartet (jukebox musical, book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott)
Carl Perkins2:16
2Johnny B. Goode
producer:
Leonard & Phil Chess (legendary US production duo)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (on 1958-01-06)
drums (drum set):
Jasper Thomas (on 1958-01-06)
guitar and lead vocals:
Chuck Berry (on 1958-01-06)
piano:
Johnnie Johnson (US jazz/blues/rock’n’roll pianist) (on 1958-01-06)
recorded at:
Sheldon Recording Studios, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1958-01-06)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1958 (recordings) (number: 1), NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 3), Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 6), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 7), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 33), Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 53) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock
recording of:
Johnny B. Goode (on 1958-01-06)
lyricist and composer:
Chuck Berry (in 1955)
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Isalee Music, Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and ロックンロール ミュージック (Rock ’n’ Roll Music)
part of:
Back to the Future: the Musical
Chuck Berry4.252:37
3Great Balls of Fire
lead vocals:
Jerry Lee Lewis (rock & roll pianist, nicknamed “The Killer”) (from 1963-09-22 until 1963-09-24)
recording of:
Great Balls of Fire (from 1963-09-22 until 1963-09-24)
writer:
Otis Blackwell (American pianist, singer and songwriter) and Jack Hammer (Earl Burroughs, co-wrote Great Balls of Fire)
publisher:
B.R.S. Music Corp., Carlin Music Corporation, Hill & Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
Jerry Lee Lewis1:44
4(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
double bass:
Marshall Lytle (on 1954-04-12)
drums (drum set):
Billy Gussak (on 1954-04-12)
electric guitar:
Danny Cedrone (on 1954-04-12)
guitar:
Bill Haley (on 1954-04-12)
piano:
Johnny Grande (on 1954-04-12)
steel guitar:
William F. ‘Billy’ Williamson (on 1954-04-12)
tenor saxophone:
Joey D'Ambrosio (on 1954-04-12)
vocals:
Bill Haley (on 1954-04-12)
recording of:
Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley’s version) (on 1954-04-12)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy De Knight (in 1952) and Max C. Freedman (American songwriter and lyricist) (in 1952)
arranger:
Harry Filler
publisher:
Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd. and Myers Music, Inc.
version of:
We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock (Original Freedman / De Knight version)
Bill Haley & His Comets42:16
5C’mon Everybody
drums (drum set):
Earl Palmer (on 1958-10-10)
electric bass guitar:
Connie “Guybo” Smith (bass player) (on 1958-10-10)
guitar:
Eddie Cochran (US rock and roll musician active in 1950s) (on 1958-10-10)
piano:
Ray Johnson (Rhythm 'n' blues - jazz pianist - songwriter - band leader) (on 1958-10-10)
tambourine:
Jerry Capehart (on 1958-10-10)
vocals:
Eddie Cochran (US rock and roll musician active in 1950s) (on 1958-10-10)
recorded at:
Goldstar Studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1958-10-10)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1958 (recordings) (number: 22) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 403)
recording of:
C’mon Everybody (on 1958-10-09)
writer:
Jerry Capehart and Eddie Cochran (US rock and roll musician active in 1950s)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Unart Catalog Inc., Metric Music Co (publisher) and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Eddie Cochran41:56
6Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula
double bass [upright bass]:
Jack Neal (on 1956-05-04)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Dickie Harrell (on 1956-05-04)
guitar [lead guitar]:
Cliff Gallup (lead guitarist for The Blue Caps) (on 1956-05-04)
guitar [rhythm guitar]:
Willie Williams (50s rock guitarist) (on 1956-05-04)
vocals:
Gene Vincent (on 1956-05-04)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (from 1956 to present)
recorded at:
Owen Bradley Studio (aka the "Quonset Hut") in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (on 1956-05-04)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1956 (number: 9) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 102)
recording of:
Be‐Bop‐a‐Lula (on 1956-05-04)
writer:
Bill “Tex” Davis and Gene Vincent
publisher:
Lowery Music Co. Inc.
Gene Vincent4.352:35
7That’ll Be the Day
recording of:
That’ll Be the Day
writer:
Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly (1950s rock & roll singer‐songwriter) and Norman Petty
publisher:
MPL Communications Inc. (Paul McCartney‐related, NYC‐based company), Nor-Va-Jak Music, Inc, Peermusic (UK) Limited, Southern Music (publisher), Wren Music Co. and MPL Communications (not for release label use! Paul McCartney-related, London-based company) (in 1976)
Buddy Holly2:16
8La bamba
recording engineer:
Larry Levine and Stan Ross (recording engineer, mixer & producer)
producer:
Bob Keane
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Del-Fi Records Inc. (in 1958)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1958 (recordings) (number: 19), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 142) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 346)
recording of:
La bamba (additional lyrics by Ritchie Valens) (on 1958-11-17)
additional lyricist:
Ritchie Valens
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Ritchie Valens
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, EMI Longitude Music and M.P.A. (M.P.A.)
version of:
La bamba
Ritchie Valens4.752:07
9What’d I Say
recording of:
What’d I Say
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Mijac Music, MUAC Music, Progressive Music (publisher), Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Ray Charles6:27
10Blueberry Hill
producer:
Dave Bartholomew
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Everest Records (classical), Liberty (a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1957) and EMI Records USA (formerly EMI USA, renamed since early 1990s) (in 1991)
recorded at:
Master Recorders in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
edit of:
Blueberry Hill (Imperial) by Fats Domino
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1956 (number: 17), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 81) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 147)
cover recording of:
Blueberry Hill (on 1956-06-27)
lyricist:
Al Lewis (Tin Pan Alley era lyricist) and Larry Stock
writer:
Al Lewis (Tin Pan Alley era lyricist), Vincent Rose (early-20th century violinist, pianist, composer & bandleader) and Larry Stock
composer:
Vincent Rose (early-20th century violinist, pianist, composer & bandleader)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), Chappell Music Ltd., Larry Stock Music Co., Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Sovereign Music Company and Victoria Music Publishing Co. Ltd.
part of:
12 Monkeys Soundtrack
Fats Domino4.652:20
11Move It
producer:
Norrie Paramor
vocals:
Cliff Richard
performer:
The Drifters (London group, pre-Shadows)
recording of:
Move It
composer:
Ian Samwell
publisher:
Multimood Music Ltd.
Cliff Richard3.52:22
12Suzie Q
Dale Hawkins2:16
13Rumble
producer:
Ray Vernon
bass:
Shorty Horton
drums (drum set):
Doug Wray
guitar:
Link Wray
guitar [rhythm guitar]:
Vernon Wray
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1958 (recordings) (number: 8) and Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 56)
recording of:
Rumble
composer:
Milton Grant and Link Wray
publisher:
Andval Music and Link Wray Music
Link Wray4.352:26
14Loco‐Motion
recording of:
The Loco‐Motion (aka Locomotion)
lyricist:
Gerry Goffin
composer:
Carole King
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), Screen Gems/EMI Music, EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division (until 2021-06-30), Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI) (from 1962 to present) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Little Eva2:23
15Good Vibrations
producer:
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys co‐founder)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1966) and Capitol Records, LLC (not for release label use! fka Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) (in 2012)
recording of:
Good Vibrations (Love/Wilson lyrics, common version)
lyricist:
Mike Love (Beach Boys) and Brian Wilson (Beach Boys co‐founder)
composer:
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys co‐founder)
publisher:
Irving Music, Inc., J. Albert & Son P/L, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Rondor Music Publishing, Sea of Tunes Publishing Co. (work publisher, NOT the bootleg label) and Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country‐specific information is available)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM)) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
version of:
Good Vibrations (Tony Asher lyrics)
The Beach Boys4.63:36
16Shakin’ All Over
recording of:
Shakin’ All Over
lyricist and composer:
Frederick Heath and Johnny Kidd
publisher:
Belwin Mills Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!) and EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!)
Johnny Kidd2:20
17Let’s Have a Party
recording of:
Let’s Have a Party
lyricist and composer:
Jessie Mae Robinson
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Gladys Music Inc., IQ Music Ltd., MPL Communications Inc. (Paul McCartney‐related, NYC‐based company), Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!) and Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Wanda Jackson2:05
18Runaway
solo clavioline [musitron]:
Max Crook
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1962)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1961 (number: 5), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 100) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 466)
recording of:
Runaway (on 1961-01-24)
writer:
Max Crook and Del Shannon
publisher:
Belinda Music, Bug Music (music publishing), Festival Music, Mole Hole Music, Noma Music Inc. and Vicki Music
Del Shannon4.42:18
19Little Green Bag
recording of:
Little Green Bag
writer:
Hans Bouwens and Jan Visser (Dutch Gospel singer)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated)
George Baker Selection3:06
20Apache
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1960)
recorded at:
Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Apache
composer:
Jerry Lordan
publisher:
Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd.
The Shadows4.652:53
21Peggy Sue
recording of:
Peggy Sue
writer:
Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly (1950s rock & roll singer‐songwriter) and Norman Petty
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), McCartney Music, Melody Lane Publications Inc., MPL Communications Inc. (Paul McCartney‐related, NYC‐based company), MPL Musik Verlags GmbH (do not use as a release label! this is a music publisher), Peermusic (UK) Limited, Southern Music (publisher) and Wren Music Co.
Bobby Vee & The Crickets2:17
22Kili‐Watch
The Cousins2:36