WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll & R&B Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
streaming worldwide over our free mobile app and WRFG.ORG.
Become a WRFG Route 66 Supporter
Follow us on Facebook @ WRFG Route 66 Jumps
Subscribe to our weekly podcast @ MixCloud.Com
It’s different from our live show.
Contact: john.askins@wrfg.org
This week, we count down the Top R&B songs in the United States for
Fourth of July weekend in 1950. Enjoy!
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Honky Tonk Part 1 Bill Doggett King Records 1956
Greenbacks Ray Charles Atlantic Records 1957
5-10-15 Hours Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All-Stars The Great Women… 2025
Do Unto Others Pee Wee Crayton Imperial Records 1956
It’s Good To See You Baby Percy Mayfield Specialty Records 1954
I’ll Never Be Free Annie Laurie & Paul Gayten Regal Records 1950
Bouncing Ball Boogie Frankie “Sugar Chile” Robinson Capitol Records 1950
Corn Bread Hal Singer Sextet Savoy Records 1948
Fine Brown Frame Buddy Johnson Decca Records 1947
COUNTDOWN: TOP R&B SONGS IN THE U.S. FOR FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND 1950
As reported to Billboard Magazine
10-My Baby’s Gone
Charles Brown
Aladdin Records 1950
10-Cry, Cry Baby
Ed Wiley
Sittin’ In With Records 1950
10-I Wanna Be Loved
Dinah Washington
Mercury Records 1950
8-Mona Lisa
Nat King Cole
Capitol Records 1950
8-I Only Know
Dinah Washington
Mercury Records 1950
7-Mistrusting Blues
Johnny Otis Orchestra w/ Little Esther & Mel Walker
Savoy Records 1950
6-It Isn’t Fair
Dinah Washington w/ Teddy Stewart’s Orchestra
Mercury Records 1950
5-Everyday I Have the Blues
Lowell Fulson
Swingtime Records 1950
4-I Need You So
Ivory Joe Hunter
Atlantic Records 1950
3-Well Oh Well
Tiny Bradshaw
King Records 1950
2-Pink Champagne
Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers
Specialty Records 1950
1-Cupid’s Boogie
Little Esther & Mel Walker w/ The Johnny Otis Orchestra
Savoy Records 1950
Every Tub Count Basie Decca Records 1938
Six Foot Two Blues Jimmy Witherspoon Supreme Records 1949
The Song Is Ended… Nellie Lutcher Capitol Americana Records 1948
Caldonia Hollywood Fats Band (self-titled) 1979
Don’t Deceive Me Chuck Willis Okah Records 1953
I’ve Got A Feelin’ Big Maybelle Okeh Records 1952
Good Rockin’ Tonight Wynonie Harris King Records 1948
Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down Los Angeles Side Hustle (self-titled) 2025
Didn’t It Rain Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight Decca Records 1948
Jump With You Baby B.B. King R.P.M. Records 1955
Adam Bit The Apple Joe Turner Aladdin Records 1950
Ain’t Nobody’s Business Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan Decca Records 1950
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
PLAYLIST FOR THE PODCAST
Honky Tonk Part 1 – Bill Doggett
Greenbacks – Ray Charles
5-10-15 Hours – Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All-Stars
Do Unto Others – Pee Wee Crayton
My Baby’s Gone – Charles Brown
Cry, Cry Baby – Ed Wiley
I Wanna Be Loved – Dinah Washington
Mona Lisa – Nat King Cole
I Only Know – Dinah Washington
Mistrusting Blues – Johnny Otis Orchestra w/ Little Esther & Mel Walker
It Isn’t Fair – Dinah Washington w/ Teddy Stewart’s Orchestra
Everyday I Have the Blues – Lowell Fulson
I Need You So – Ivory Joe Hunter
Well Oh Well – Tiny Bradshaw
Pink Champagne – Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers
Cupid’s Boogie – Little Esther & Mel Walker w/ The Johnny Otis Orchestra
Ain’t Nobody’s Business – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan
Tag (You’re It) – Little Charlie & The Nightcats
WRFG Route 66 