The Chantels broke the mould of doo-wop when they became the first million-selling all-girl group, inspiring a wave of imitators.

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Bill Black’s upright bass is the heartbeat of rock’n’roll, driving the first few hits of Elvis Presley.  This is my favourite.

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The Royal Teens had a big novelty hit back in 1958 with this tune, Short Shorts, while still at school in New Jersey.

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Richard Anthony’s effortlessly cool song caught my ear over the closing titles of Nouvelle Vague in the cinema – a familiar tune with a new twist.

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Wanda Jackson’s take on the Carl Perkins tune is the eponymous song that closes the credits of Ethan Coen’s new film Honey Don’t.

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Chet Atkins never became a household name outside his genre of country music – but was recognised as a legend within it.

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Five years before The Wailers put reggae on the map, another band called The Wailers made their mark 3,300 miles away in America.

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Marty Robbins topped the US charts and had a UK Top 20 hit with this classic country and western tune, El Paso, back in 1959.

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Miles Davis’s quartet of albums recorded with his quintet in 1956 is regarded among the highlights of his stellar career. This comes from the final one, Steamin’.

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Listening to this doo wop oldie by The Plants, it’s easy to be transported to a street corner in The Bronx in the early 1950s.

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