As the 1950’s neared, it became more and more obvious that music was yet again changing irrevocably, mostly because of the radio.

With the sudden decline of big bands, white pop singers stood front and center with the mainstream, but the most interesting material was happening at a variety of regional outposts, nowhere near the mainstream. Fringe artists like B.B. King, Hank Williams and Fats Domino were on the cusp of changing the world, and 1949-1950 was when it all started to coalesce.

Featured tracks include:

The Gypsy – The Ink Spots

Buttons and Bows – Dinah Shore

Heartaches – Ted Weems Orchestra

Mañana – Peggy Lee

I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Les Brown

The Fat Man – Fats Domino 

Mardi Gras in New Orleans – Professor Longhair

Take a Swing with Me – B.B. King

Ain’t Get No Grindin’ – Moon Mullican

Lovesick Blues – Hank Williams

Riders in the Sky – Vaughn Monroe

That Lucky Old Sun – Frankie Laine

You’re Breaking My Heart -Vic Damone