Rock and Roll was the dominant genre of The Elvis Era, but rock and roll's roots were in country and rhythm and blues. During the era, country music hits would cross over to the pop charts. My top 25 are country songs that made the top twenty on the pop chart. There were some country songs that would have made the list, but they did not get into the top twenty: Marty Robbins' "The Hanging Tree" and "Big Iron," Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams," Wanda Jackson's "Right or Wrong," and Don Gibson's "Sea of Heartbreak." (These are included as "extras" at the end of the playlist.)
Especially early on in the era there were many rock and roll songs that actually crossed over to the country charts. Most of Elvis Presley's early hits found their way to the top of the country chart and other performers, notably Ricky Nelson and The Everly Brothers frequently had their records recognized on the country charts. The Kingston Trio might have been considered "Country" but they seemed more suited to a "Folk" label. Jimmie Rodgers was left out because he seemed too close to "pop" or early rock and roll. Below is a list of 54 country songs that made Billboard's top twenty during the Elvis Era. |
