Space Race Rock

Space Race Rock

What a time it was. The surprise of Sputnik in the early fifties led to a space race, a technological competition that had a profound impact on popular music (not to mention popular culture), providing musicians (and would-be musicians) a rich source of inspiration and contributed to some of the most iconic, as well as comic and out of this world, songs of the era. Themes of space travel, the moon and Mars, and even flying saucers were rampant on the airwaves. And one can only ascribe the fear of aliens to the number attempted novelty bits that reflected that trepidation.  Laughter is, after all, a natural way for fear to be released in humankind. This week we’ll be sharing some of the classics, as well as the unknowns, including Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders, The Drivers, Merv Griffin, The Big Bopper, Dave & The Detomics and quite a few more that even if we were to share their names, you’d probably scratch your head anyway.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Mello-Tones Flying Saucer Vocal Groups Amazon
3Jerry Engler Sputnik (Satellite Girl) That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 6 (Us Decca, Vol. 2) Amazon
4Harmonica George Sputnik Music This Is The Blues Harmonica Amazon
5Roosevelt Sykes Sputnik Baby Voodoo Lou Amazon
6Astronaut Neil Armstrong The Moon Landing Great Speeches of The 20th Century – Volume 3 – the Dreams, Inspirations & Accomplishments Amazon
7Gil Scott-Heron Whitey On The Moon The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Amazon
8Hightower, Dean (George Barnes) Moon Rocket Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
9Chris Kenner Rocket To The Moon The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
10The Drivers My Astronaut The King Records Story – Part 1 Amazon
11Johnny Greco Rocket Ride Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
12Vernon Green & The Medallions Rocket Ship Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
13Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders My Satellite Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
14The Larks Rockin' In The Rocket Room Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
15Educational Duck and Cover Educational Amazon
16The Tornados Telstar Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol. 2 Amazon
17Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra Rockin' In The Orbit (Space Satellite) Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
18Don Lang & His Frantic Five Red Planet Rock Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
19Speedy West Space Man In Orbit Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
20Joe Montgomery Planetary Run Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
21Galen Denny Gonna Build A Rocket Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
22Merv Griffin The Screamin' Meemies From Planet 'X' Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
23The Royal Guardsmen Smallest Astronaut The Best of the Royal Guardsmen Amazon
24Sheb Wooley The Purple People Eater Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection: The Greatest Novelty Records Of All Time [Disc 1] Amazon
25The Big Bopper The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor The Greatest Novelty Songs, Disc 2 Amazon
26John Mauceri: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Herrmann: Outer Space [From "The Day the Earth Stood Still"] Journey To The Stars: A Sci-fi Fantasy Adventure [John Mauceri  The Sound of Hollywood Vol. 10] Amazon
27Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra Men Into Space Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
28Billy Riley, The Little Green Men Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
29The Marketts Out of Limits Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1964 Amazon
30Nervous Norvus Kibble Kibble (The Flying Saucer Song) Stone Age Woo Amazon
31Freddy Sunder Flying Saucers Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
32Dave & The Detomics Detomic Orbit Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
33The Equadors Sputnik Dance Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space Amazon
34Leonard Nimoy A Visit To A Sad Planet Spaced Out – The Best of Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner Amazon
35Lightnin' Hopkins Happy Blues For John Glenn The Complete Prestige-Bluesville Recordings [Disc 3] Amazon
36David Rose & His Orchestra Forbidden Planet Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
37David Bowie Space Oddity Singles: 1969-1993 Disc 1 Amazon