For more information about the following story, contact Richard Aquila by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at his office (765) 285-8728 or home at (765) 286-8231.
ROCK HISTORIAN SAYS HOUND DOG TOPS HIS TOP 20 LIST
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Roll over Beethoven. Tell Tchaikovsky the news. Elvis Presley sang the most historically significant rock song during the genre's first 20 years, says a Ball State University pop culture expert.
"Presley's first real rocker was 'Hound Dog' and it completely shook up America," said Richard Aquila, who teaches the history of popular culture. "Elvis became rock and roll's first real superstar and 'Hound Dog' was the shout heard around the world."
"Hound Dog" tops a list of the 20 songs from 1954 to 1974 compiled for "A Chronicle of Rock: A Millennium Countdown of the Twenty Songs that Shaped a Generation," a 2-hour radio show broadcast by National Public Radio stations and hosted by Aquila.
"The songs were selected based on their social and cultural significance," he said. "This is all about how music changed our lives. Rock songs reflect what is going on in our culture."
Aquila compiled the list by surveying American study scholars and factoring in record sales, the number of times a song was played on a jukebox and rankings.
The list includes songs by the Beatles, The Who, Joan Baez, the Beach Boys and even Pat Boone.
"Other significant songs include the Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' which ushered in the British Invasion," he said. "Aretha Franklin sang 'RESPECT' in 1967, which became an anthem for the civil rights movement. The Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit' helped establish acid rock."
The issue of race relations and segregation came up when Pat Boone covered several songs originally recorded by African-American artists. Boone's No. 1 hit in 1955, "Ain't That a Shame," made Aquila's list at No. 17. It was first recorded by Fats Domino.
The song represents how white artists successfully covered black rhythm and blues songs in an era of segregation.
"Even Pat Boone admits his version isn't as good as the original," Aquila said. "But, it made those songs safe for 'white' radio stations and expanded the base of rock and roll. It pushed the genre into whole new markets that eventually came to accept 'black' performers on radio."
While the list includes many of rock's top early performers, it leaves off many other artists who sold millions of records or had numerous hit singles. Popular singers or groups not making the list include the Rolling Stones, the Doors, and Buddy Holly.
Leaving off personal favorite like Buddy Holly was very difficult, Aquila admits.
"It is like the top athlete of the century and arguing if it was Babe Ruth or Michael Jordan," he said. "Buddy Holly had some great songs and did things that did change music, but none were important enough historically to make the top 20 songs."
Top 20 Most Historically Significant Rock Songs from 1954-74:
Song - Artist
1. Hound Dog (1956) - Elvis Presley
2. I Want to Hold Your Hand (1964) - Beatles
3. Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) - Byrds
4. American Pie (1972) - Don McLean
5. Blowin' In the Wind (1963) - Peter, Paul and Mary
6. RESPECT (1967) - Aretha Franklin
7. Dancing in the Streets (1964) - Martha and the Vandellas
8. Like a Rolling Stone (1965) - Bob Dylan
9. School Days (1957) - Chuck Berry
10. We Shall Overcome (1963) - Joan Baez
11. Louie Louie (1963) - Kingsmen
12. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1961) - Shirelles
13. Rock Around the Clock (1955) - Bill Haley and His Comets
14. The Twist (1960 and 1962) - Chubby Checker
15. Abraham, Martin and John (1968) Dion
16. White Rabbit (1967) Jefferson Airplane
17. Ain't That a Shame (1955) Pat Boone
18. Surfin' U.S.A. (1963) - Beach Boys
19. For What It's Worth (1963) - Buffalo Springfield
20. My Generation (1966) - The Who
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Aquila by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at his office (765) 285-8728 or home at (765) 286-8231.)
Marc Ransford
1/17/00
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