Top 100 Best Selling R&B Soul Songs of 1956

Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1956, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Click "year" to sort by year. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click checkbox to add song to playlist. Click checkbox at top of column to add all songs below it to playlist. Click label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1956.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)

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1 record label: Mercury 70893
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #4
written by: Georges Boulanger and Jimmy Kennedy
album: The Platters
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters My Prayer
1956 Mercury
2 record label: Gee 1002
chart position: RandB #1, US #6, UK #1
weeksinr&bchart: 17
written by: Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago and George Goldner
album: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #307]
 		Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Why Do Fools Fall In Love
1956 Gee
3 record label: Mercury 70753
chart position: RandB #1, US #1
written by: Buck Ram
album: The Platters – Vol. IV
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters The Great Pretender
1956 Mercury
4 record label: Imperial 107
chart position: RandB #1, US #2, UK #6
written by: Vincent Rose, Al Lewis and Larry Stock
album: This Is Fats Domino!
 		Fats Domino Blueberry Hill
1956 Imperial
5 record label: King 4950
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
weeksinr&bchart: 28
written by: Bill Doggett, Billy Butler, Clifford Scott and Shep Shepherd
album: Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk
comments: [instrumental]
Bill Doggett Honky Tonk (Parts 1 and 2)
1956 King
6 record label: Imperial 5386
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #12
weeksinr&bchart: 20
written by: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino), Dave Bartholomew
album: Fats Domino Rock and Rollin'
 		Fats Domino I'm in Love Again
1956 Imperial
7 record label: Mercury 70633
chart position: RandB #1, US #5
written by: Buck Ram (as Ande Rand)
 		The Platters Only You (And You Alone)
1956 Mercury
8 record label: King 4935
chart position: RandB #1, US #24
written by: Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport)
album: Fever
 		Little Willie John Fever
1956 King
9 record label: Specialty 5015
chart position: RandB #1, US #6, UK #3
weeksinr&bchart: 16
written by: Enotris Johnson, Robert Blackwell and Little Richard (as Richard Penniman)
album: Here's Little Richard
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #56]
 		Little Richard Long Tall Sally
1956 Specialty
10 record label: Atlantic 1111
chart position: RandB #1, US #12
written by: Ivory Joe Hunter
album: Ivory Joe Hunter
comments: [ballad]
 		Ivory Joe Hunter Since I Met You Baby
1956 Atlantic
11 record label: Specialty 579
chart position: RandB #1, US #17, UK #30
weeksinr&bchart: 17
written by: Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco
album: Here's Little Richard
 		Little Richard Rip It Up
1956 Specialty
12 record label: Specialty 561
chart position: RandB #2, US #17, UK #29
weeksinr&bchart: 21
written by: Little Richard (as Richard Penniman), Dorothy LaBostrie
album: Here's Little Richard
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #43]
 		Little Richard Tutti Frutti
1956 Specialty
13 record label: Aladdin 3325
chart position: RandB #1, US #20
weeksinr&bchart: 19
written by: Leonard Lee
album: Let the Good Times Roll
 		Shirley & Lee Let the Good Times Roll
1956 Aladdin
14 record label: RPM 453
chart position: RandB #2, US #14
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Aaron Collins
album: Eddie My Love
comments: [ballad]
 		The Teen Queens Eddie My Love
1956 RPM
15 record label: Chess 1581
chart position: RandB #1, US #20
weeksinr&bchart: 20
written by: Harvey Fuqua, Alan Freed
 		The Moonglows Sincerely
1956 Chess
16 record label: Ember 1005
chart position: RandB #3, US #24
weeksinr&bchart: 17
written by: Fred Parris
album: The Five Satins
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #90]
 		The Five Satins (I Remember) In the Still of the Nite
1956 Ember
17 record label: Atlantic 1092
chart position: RandB #1, US #16, UK #27
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Joe Shapiro, Lou Stallman
album: Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters
 		Clyde McPhatter Treasure of Love
1956 Atlantic
18 record label: Gee 1012
chart position: RandB #3, US #13
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Morris Levy
album: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
 		Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers I Want You to Be My Girl
1956 Gee
19 record label: Mercury 70819
chart position: RandB #4, US #4
written by: Buck Ram
album: The Platters – Vol. IV
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters (You've Got) The Magic Touch
1956 Mercury
20 record label: Atlantic 1116
chart position: RandB #1, US #17
written by: Lincoln Chase
album: LaVern Baker
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #343]
 		LaVern Baker & The Gliders Jim Dandy
1956 Atlantic
21 record label: Atlantic 1085
chart position: RandB #1
written by: Henry Glover
album: Ray Charles
comments: [ballad]
 		Ray Charles Drown in My Own Tears
1956 Atlantic
22 record label: Mercury 70963
chart position: RandB #3, US #17
written by: Sil Austin
album: Golden Saxophone Hits
comments: [Jazz RnB Instrumental]
Sil Austin Slow Walk
1956 Mercury
23 record label: Atlantic 1088
chart position: RandB #2, US #41
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: J. Mayo Williams, Bo Chatman and Mitchell Parish
album: Rock and Roll
comments: first recorded by Turner in 1941 with the Art Tatum band Decca 8563
 		Joe Turner Corrina, Corrina
1956 Atlantic
24 record label: Atlantic 1081
chart position: RandB #2, US #44
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Willis Carroll, Carmen Taylor
album: Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters
 		Clyde McPhatter Seven Days
1956 Atlantic
25 record label: King 5000
chart position: RandB #4, US #26
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Sil Austin
album: Wow!
comments: instrumental
 		Bill Doggett Slow Walk
1956 King
26 record label: Rama 216
chart position: RandB #5, US #53
weeksinr&bchart: 15
written by: James Sheppard and William H. Miller
album: A Thousand Miles Away
comments: [ballad]
 		The Heartbeats A Thousand Miles Away
1956 Rama
27 record label: Imperial 5396
chart position: RandB #2, US #14
written by: Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin
album: Fats Domino Rock and Rollin'
 		Fats Domino When My Dreamboat Comes Home
1956 Imperial
28 record label: Atlantic 1104
chart position: RandB #4, US #97
written by: Dorian Burton and Howard Plummer
album: LaVern Baker
 		LaVern Baker Still
1956 Atlantic
29 record label: Vee Jay 226
chart position: RandB #3
weeksinr&bchart: 9
written by: Jimmy Reed
album: I'm Jimmy Reed
comments: [blues]
 		Jimmy Reed You've Got Me Dizzy
1956 Vee Jay
30 record label: Flash 115
chart position: RandB #2, US #79
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: Gus Jenkins
comments: [instrumental]
 		Gus Jenkins Tricky
1956 Flash
31 record label: Atlantic 1085
chart position: RandB #2
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Charles
album: Ray Charles
comments: b side of Drown In My Own Tears
 		Ray Charles Mary Ann
1956 Atlantic
32 record label: Parrot 10822
chart position: RandB #3, US #20
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: Clarence Henry
 		Clarence Frogman Henry Ain't Got No Home
1956 Parrot
33 record label: Modern 994
chart position: RandB #4, US #15
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: James Johnson [James E. Johnson], Ernestine Smith and Al Curry
album: Rockin' N' Reelin'
 		The Cadets Stranded In The Jungle
1956 Modern
34 record label: Savoy 1155
chart position: RandB #2, US #25
written by: Nappy Brown, Rose Marie McCoy and Fred Mendelsohn
 		Nappy Brown Don't Be Angry
1956 Savoy
35 record label: Chess 1626
chart position: RandB #2, US #29
weeksinr&bchart: 7
written by: Chuck Berry
album: Rock, Rock, Rock OST
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #97]
 		Chuck Berry Roll Over Beethoven
1956 Chess
36 record label: Specialty 572
chart position: RandB #2, US #33
weeksinr&bchart: 16
written by: Little Richard (as Richard Penniman), Eddie Bo (as Eddie Bocage), Albert Collins and James Smith
album: Here's Little Richard
 		Little Richard Slippin' and Slidin' (Peepin' and Hidin')
1956 Specialty
37 record label: Imperial 5386
chart position: RandB #5, US #19
weeksinr&bchart: 14
written by: Walter Donaldson and George Whiting (as George A. Whiting)
album: Fats Domino Rock and Rollin'
 		Fats Domino My Blue Heaven
1956 Imperial
38 record label: Deluxe 6093
chart position: RandB #5, US #11
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: Jack Fulton and Lois Steele
album: Otis Williams And His Charms Sing Their All Time Hits
comments: [ballad]
 		Otis Williams & His Charms Ivory Tower
1956 Deluxe
39 record label: Aladdin 3338
chart position: RandB #3, US #38
weeksinr&bchart: 10
written by: Leonard Lee
 		Shirley & Lee I Feel Good
1956 Aladdin
40 record label: Atlantic 1094
chart position: RandB #4, US #30
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: Mack David, Teddy McRae and Sid Wyche
album: The Clovers
 		The Clovers Love, Love, Love
1956 Atlantic
41 record label: Flip 315
chart position: RandB #7, US #25
weeksinr&bchart: 10
written by: Ed Wells
comments: [ballad]
 		The Six Teens A Casual Look
1956 Flip
42 record label: Imperial 5375
chart position: RandB #5, US #35
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew
album: Fats Domino Swings
 		Fats Domino Bo Weevil
1956 Imperial
43 record label: Atlantic 1104
chart position: RandB #7, US #22
written by: Dorian Burton, Howard Plummer and LaVern Baker
album: LaVern Baker
 		LaVern Baker I Can't Love You Enough
1956 Atlantic
44 record label: Mercury 70948
chart position: RandB #9, US #11
written by: Buck Ram (as Jeanette Miles), Paul Robi and Tony Williams
album: The Platters – Vol. IV
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters You'll Never Never Know
1956 Mercury
45 record label: Chess 1629
chart position: RandB #6 US #25
weeksinr&bchart: 7
written by: Billy Davis [Roquel Davis], Harry Pratt and Charles Sutton
 		The Moonglows See Saw
1956 Chess
46 record label: London 8309
chart position: RandB #5, US #44
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) and Dave Bartholomew
album: This Is Fats Domino!
 		Fats Domino So-Long
1956 London
47 record label: Flash 109
chart position: RandB #9, US #18
written by: E. Smith, J. Johnson
 		The Jayhawks Stranded in the Jungle
1956 Flash
48 record label: Dot 15507
chart position: RandB #8, US #17
weeksinr&bchart: 5
written by: Dorinda Morgan
album: If You Want This Love
comments: [ballad]
 		Sonny Knight Confidential
1956 Dot
49 record label: Clef 89162
chart position: RandB #8, US #28
written by: Vernon Duke and E. Y. Harburg
comments: [jazz RnB]
 		Count Basie April in Paris
1956 Clef
50 record label: Cheapo 1002
chart position: RandB #9, US #24
written by: Ronnie Jordan and John McDermott
 		The G-Clefs Ka-Ding Dong
1956 Cheapo
51 record label: Gee 1011
chart position: RandB #8, US #57
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Goldner, Cox
album: Heart And Soul
 		The Cleftones Little Girl Of Mine
1956 Gee
52 record label: Specialty 579
chart position: RandB #8, US #44
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco
album: Here's Little Richard
 		Little Richard Ready Teddy
1956 Specialty
53 record label: Vee Jay 168
chart position: RandB #3
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Jimmy Reed
album: I'm Jimmy Reed
comments: [blues]
 		Jimmy Reed Ain't That Lovin' You Baby
1956 Vee Jay
54 record label: Atlantic 1098
chart position: RandB #3
written by: Chuck Willis
album: King Of The Stroll
comments: [ballad]
 		Chuck Willis It's Too Late
1956 Atlantic
55 record label: Atlantic 1083
chart position: RandB #3
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Blanche Carter
album: The Clovers
comments: [ballad]
 		The Clovers Devil or Angel
1956 Atlantic
56 record label: RPM 468
chart position: RandB #3
written by: Ivory Joe Hunter
album: Singin' the Blues
comments: [blues]
 		B.B. King Bad Luck
1956 RPM
57 record label: RPM 479
chart position: RandB #3
written by: Buck Ram (as Jean Miles) and Katherine Harrison
album: Mr. Blues
comments: [ballad]
 		B.B. King On My Word of Honor
1956 RPM
58 record label: Decca 29982
chart position: US #10
written by: Phil Belmonte, Alan White and Leroy Lovett
album: After The Lights Go Down Low
comments: [ballad]
 		Al Hibbler After the Lights Go Down Low
1956 Decca
59 record label: Gee 1018
chart position: RandB #10, US #57
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Jimmy Castor and Jimmy Smith
album: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
 		Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers I Promise to Remember
1956 Gee
60 record label: Gee 1022
chart position: RandB #8, US #77
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Morris Levy
album: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
 		Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers The ABC's of Love
1956 Gee
61 record label: Checker 827
chart position: RandB #4
weeksinr&bchart: 1
written by: Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
album: Bo Diddley
 		Bo Diddley Pretty Thing
1956 Checker
62 record label: Vee Jay 204
chart position: RandB #4
written by: Marvin Junior and Johnny Funches
album: Oh, What A Nite
comments: [ballad]
 		The Dells Oh, What A Nite
1956 Vee Jay
63 record label: Chess 1635
chart position: RandB #4
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Chuck Berry
album: After School Session
 		Chuck Berry Too Much Monkey Business
1956 Chess
64 record label: Decca 929933
chart position: US #13
written by: Remus Harris and Arthur Strauss
album: Billy Ward And The Dominoes
comments: [ballad]
 		Billy Ward & The Dominoes ft. Jackie Wilson St. Therese of the Roses
1956 Decca
65 record label: Cash 1017
chart position: RandB #5
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: John Gray, Mike Akapoff and Ernie Freeman
album: Comin' Home Baby Stone Rocker
comments: [instrumental]
 		Ernie Freeman Combo Jivin' Around
1956 Cash
66 record label: King 4841
chart position: RandB #5
written by: Mertis John (as Mertis John Jr.)
album: Fever
comments: [blues soul]
 		Little Willie John Need Your Love So Bad
1956 King
67 record label: Federal 12258
chart position: RandB #5
written by: James Brown and Johnny Terry
album: Please, Please, Please
comments: [ballad]
James Brown with the Famous Flames Please, Please, Please
1956 Federal
68 record label: Atlantic 1078
chart position: RandB #5
written by: Buddy Lucas
album: Rockin' & Driftin'
 		The Drifters Steamboat
1956 Atlantic
69 record label: Atco 6073
chart position: RandB #11, US #73
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
album: The Coasters
 		The Coasters One Kiss Led to Another
1956 Atco
70 record label: Atlantic 1096
chart position: RandB #5
written by: Ray Charles
album: Ray Charles
 		Ray Charles Hallelujah, I Love Her So
1956 Atlantic
71 record label: Chess 1635
chart position: RandB #5
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Chuck Berry
album: After School Session
comments: B side to "Too Much Monkey Business" in the US
 		Chuck Berry Brown Eyed Handsome Man
1956 Chess
72 record label: Capitol 3456
chart position: RandB #15, US #16
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Clyde Otis and Kelly Owens
comments: [ballad]
 		Nat King Cole & the Four Knights That's All There Is to That
1956 Capitol
73 record label: Imperial 5366
chart position: RandB #5
written by: Pearl King and Dave Bartholomew
album: I Didn't Wanna Do It
 		The Spiders Witchcraft
1956 Imperial
74 record label: Melba 102
chart position: RandB #11, US #62
written by: The Willows and Morty Craft
 		Willows Church Bells May Ring
1956 Melba
75 record label: King 4822
chart position: RandB #9, US #92
written by: Bubber Johnson
album: Come Home
comments: [ballad]
 		Bubber Johnson Come Home
1956 King
76 record label: Checker 830
chart position: RandB #5
weeksinr&bchart: 1
written by: Fats Washington and Stan Lewis
album: The Flamingos
comments: [ballad]
 		The Flamingos I'll Be Home
1956 Checker
77 record label: Mercury 70893
chart position: RandB #13, US #39
written by: Buck Ram
album: The Platters
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters Heaven on Earth
1956 Mercury
78 record label: King 4841
chart position: RandB #6
written by: Rudy Toombs
comments: [blues soul] [b side to Need Your Love So Bad]
 		Little Willie John Home at Last
1956 King
79 record label: Jewel 861
chart position: RandB #6
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Willie Dixon
comments: [blues]
 		Otis Rush I Can't Quit You Baby
1956 Jewel
80 record label: Atlantic 1108
chart position: RandB #6
written by: Doc Pomus
album: Yes Indeed!
 		Ray Charles Lonely Avenue
1956 Atlantic
81 record label: RPM 468
chart position: RandB #6
written by: B.B. King and Jules Taub
album: Singin' the Blues
comments: [blues]
 		B.B. King Sweet Little Angel
1956 RPM
82 record label: Royal Roost 621
chart position: US #20
written by: Cooley
 		Eddie Cooley & the Dimples Priscilla
1956 Royal Roost
83 record label: Checker 817
chart position: RandB #6
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
comments: [instrumental]
 		Little Walter & His Jukes Roller Coaster
1956 Checker
84 record label: Gee 1018
chart position: RandB #7
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: Abner Silver, Roy Alfred
album: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
 		Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers Who Can Explain
1956 Gee
85 record label: Imperial 5621
chart position: RandB #7
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Irving Ashby and Ernie Freeman
comments: instrumental
 		Ernie Freeman Lost Dreams
1956 Imperial
86 record label: Atlantic 1112
chart position: RandB #7
written by: Jesse Stone and Chuck Willis
album: King Of The Stroll
comments: [ballad]
 		Chuck Willis Juanita
1956 Atlantic
87 record label: Jamie 1145
chart position: RandB #7
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: George Motola and John Marascalco
album: The Casual
comments: [ballad]
 		Jesse Belvin Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams)
1956 Jamie
88 record label: Specialty 584
chart position: RandB #7
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: John Marascalco and Maybelle Jackson
album: Little Richard
 		Little Richard Heeby-Jeebies
1956 Specialty
89 record label: Capitol 3502
chart position: RandB #12, US #23
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Ivory Joe Hunter and Clyde Otis
album: The Fantastic Five Keys
comments: [ballad]
 		The Five Keys Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
1956 Capitol
90 record label: Checker 833
chart position: RandB #7
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Bernie Roth (as Bernard Roth)
 		Little Walter & His Jukes Who
1956 Checker
91 record label: Chess 1620
chart position: RandB #7
written by: Bernie Roth (as Bernard Roth)
comments: [blues]
 		Muddy Waters Forty Days and Forty Nights
1956 Chess
92 record label: Chess 1612
chart position: RandB #7
written by: Muddy Waters (as McKinley Morganfield)
album: Trouble No More (Singles 1955 1959)
comments: [blues]
 		Muddy Waters Trouble, No More
1956 Chess
93 record label: Atlantic 1080
chart position: RandB #7
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
 		Joe Turner & His Blues Kings The Chicken and the Hawk (Up, Up and Away)
1956 Atlantic
94 record label: Deluxe 6091
chart position: RandB #14, US #48
written by: Rudy Toombs
 		Otis Williams & His New Group That's Your Mistake
1956 Deluxe
95 record label: Atlantic 2079
chart position: RandB #9
written by: Carmen Taylor and Willis Carroll
 		The Cookies In Paradise
1956 Atlantic
96 record label: Chess 1618
chart position: RandB #8
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Burnett
album: Moanin' In The Moonlight
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #285]
 		Howlin Wolf Smoke Stack Lightning
1956 Chess
97 record label: Atlantic 1083
chart position: RandB #8
weeksinr&bchart: 10
written by: Turner
 		The Clovers Hey, Doll Baby
1956 Atlantic
98 record label: Atco 6064
chart position: RandB #8
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
album: The Coasters
 		The Coasters Down in Mexico
1956 Atco
99 record label: Chess 1615
chart position: RandB #8
weeksinr&bchart: 5
written by: Chuck Berry
album: After School Session
 		Chuck Berry No Money Down
1956 Chess
100 record label: Atlantic 1100
chart position: RandB #8
written by: Jesse Stone
album: Rockin' The Blues
 		Joe Turner Lipstick, Powder and Paint
1956 Atlantic


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