Best Music Of The 50s
On The Acoustic

Come On Let's Go hails from 1958 and was written by Ritchie Valens himself.

It peaked at #42 on Billboard and was one of four singles from his debut album "Ritchie Valens".

You can play this song in standard tuning with a down up down up up down up and repeat rhythm pattern playing the four chords A, D, G and E. A little picking in this number.

Donna was recorded in Dec of 1958 as the A-side for a single which was to include La Bamba as the B-Side. The song peaked at #2 and his highest charting single of the 3 he managed to release before his death. The other was Come On let's Go.

This song appears on an album entitled "Ritchie Valens".

Capo this on on the 3rd fret in standard tuning using three chords, D, G and A. No picking here while playing a down down up down down down down rhythm pattern.

Hallelujah I Love Her So is a song originally written and recorded by Ray Charles, in 1959. Cochran's rendition features his signature rockabilly style, with a prominent guitar riff and driving rhythm section but was never released as a single.

The song showcases Cochran's smooth vocals and impressive guitar skills, with a solo that incorporates bluesy bends and fast runs up and down the fretboard. The track was released as a single and performed moderately well on the charts, cementing Cochran's reputation as a skilled interpreter of other artists' songs.

Today, Eddie Cochran's recording of "Hallelujah I Love Her So" remains a beloved classic of the rock 'n' roll genre. You can find this song on the "Eddie Cochran Memorial Album". 

You will have a bit of lead in this one in standard tuning playing the chords G, G6, C, C#7, D7, Gdim, E7, Em and A7. I use a root up down root up down up rhythm pattern.

I Remember is a touching ballad that Eddie Cochran recorded in 1959, just a year before his untimely death.

The song is notable for its tender lyrics, which reflect on past memories of love and loss. Cochran's emotive vocals are backed by a simple arrangement featuring acoustic guitar, bass, and drums, which allows the poignant lyrics to take center stage.

Although "I Remember" was not a major commercial success at the time of its release, it has since become a fan favorite and is widely regarded as one of Cochran's most heartfelt recordings. The song showcases a more sensitive side of the rock 'n' roll icon, and stands as a testament to his enduring talent as a songwriter and performer.

I Remember was the B-side to the single Teenage Heaven which was released in 1959 but the track never appeared on any albums.

Use a down up down down down down down and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning with some lead work required. I play the following chords C, Am, F, G, C7, Em, Dm, G7 and A7.

Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie is a high-energy rock 'n' roll song that Eddie Cochran recorded in 1958. The track features a driving rhythm section and a catchy guitar riff that is instantly recognizable. Cochran's vocals are infused with a sense of playful energy, and his lyrics tell the story of a girl who has caught his eye.

The song was actually called Johnny Johnny Johnny and was written for the female group The Georgettes, but they never recorded the song. So Eddie Cochran changed the words and recorded as a single.

The song's infectious melody and lively instrumentation helped make it one of Cochran's most popular recordings, and it remains a beloved classic of the rock 'n' roll genre. "Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie" showcases Cochran's talent for crafting memorable hooks and his ability to infuse his music with a sense of fun and excitement, making it a perfect example of his unique brand of rock 'n' roll.

Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie peaked at #98 in the US and  after his death it was released again in the UK in 1961 and reached #33. It can be found on an album called "Legendary Masters Series". The Stray Cats also covered this number.

I play this one with a capo 2nd fret playing a down up down up down up rhythm pattern. A little picking in this one with the E, A and B7 chords.

Hey Joe was copyrighted by Billy Roberts in 1962. Later the song was covered by many artists and groups including The Leaves in 1965 and Jimi Hendrix in 1966.

To my knowledge this song was a single release and never appeared on a Billy Roberts album.

There is one main riff in this one with a down down up down down up and repeat rhythm pattern. The chords here are E, C, D, G and A.

Honeycomb is a song recorded by Jimmie Rodgers, but it was released in 1957.  The song was written by Bob Merrill.  The song was a major hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1957. The success of "Honeycomb" contributed to Jimmie Rodgers' prominence in the music scene during that time.

In the song "Honeycomb," the term "honeycomb" is used metaphorically to describe the sweetness of love. The lyrics use various images to convey the joy and delight that love brings, and the term "honeycomb" is part of that imagery. The song's lyrics talk about the positive aspects of being in love and finding happiness, much like the sweetness of honey in a honeycomb.

The song was never released on an album.

I play this one in standard tuning  with a rhythm pattern of root down up bass up down up . There is a bit of picking in this one while playing the chords G, C, D, G7 and D7.

Let's Twist Again was released in 1961 and probably his best know song, reaching #8 on Billboard and #3 on the Cash Box charts. The song won a Grammy in 1962. He also recorded the song in German and Italian.

The song was #1 in the UK, Holland and Belgium. The song is found on the album of the same name.

Play this with a capo 3rd fret for the original key using a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm payyern. A bit of lead in here also with the chords G, C, Am, F and C7.

Party Doll is a rock 'n' roll song from 1957, written by Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen. Buddy Knox, a teenager from Happy, Texas, wrote it behind a haystack on his family farm in 1948. He recorded it in Clovis, New Mexico, with his friends Jimmy Bowen and Don Lanier.

Knox's sister and some friends sang backup vocals, and a girl from Clovis High School played the cymbal. The song became popular in Amarillo and later spread across the U.S. after Roulette Records picked it up. It reached number one on the Top 100 chart in March 1957.

Three chords in this one are A, D and E playing a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning. A little picking in this one.

Twenty Flight Rock was a single release by Eddie Cochran back in 1957 but the song never charted. Eddie also appeared in the film "The Girl Can't Help It" with Jane Mansfield, where he performed the song in that movie.

The number is a classic rock 'n' roll song that Eddie Cochran recorded and features Cochran's distinctive vocals, telling the story of a young man who lives on the twentieth floor of an apartment building. The song's lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and wry humor, and its catchy melody and memorable chorus helped make it one of Cochran's most enduring recordings.

Twenty Flight Rock also gained notoriety for its role in the history of rock 'n' roll, as it was famously performed by a young Paul McCartney during his audition for John Lennon and the Quarrymen, which led to his eventual inclusion in the Beatles.

The song was written by a lady named Nelda Fairchild and can be found on the album "Never To Be Forgotten", which was released after Eddie's death in 1960.

I play this one with a capo on the 2nd in standard tuning with the three chords C, C7 and D7. A little picking riff in here with a down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.