The Everly Brothers were one of the most influential acts in rock and roll history. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, with their music having influenced everyone from The Beatles, who covered several of their songs, to Bob Dylan.
Here are ten of our favorite Everly Brothers songs that showcase their harmony and talent:
Who are the Everly Brothers?
The Everly Brothers were an American country-influenced rock and roll duo, consisting of brothers Don Everly (born February 1, 1937) and Phil Everly (born January 19, 1939). They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. The duo was also nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “Greatest Songs” in 2007 for “Bye Bye Love”.
The duo was ranked No. 33 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. They are also recognized as being among the first country rock bands.
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The brothers grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa, United States, where they were encouraged by their father to sing together. The Everlys signed with Cadence Records in 1956 after Don heard a songwriter playing it on a guitar backstage during a hootenanny at the Ash Grove folk club in Los Angeles.
The 10 Best Everly Brothers Songs of All-Time
The Everly Brothers were one of the most influential and successful pop music duos of all time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and their songs continue to be covered by artists today. Here are 10 of their best.
10. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) is a song written by Jerry Allison and recorded by the Everly Brothers. It was released as a single on Cadence Records in early 1957 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in May 1957. It is also included on their album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us.
The song was written by Allison’s brother-in-law, John D. Loudermilk. The Everly Brothers had success with this song and another Loudermilk composition “Walk Right Back,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
9. Temptation
“Temptation” from the Everly Brothers’ Close Up album is a song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The song was written by Bob Dylan and released on his 1962 Freewheelin’ album. It was also released as a single and reached #84 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1963.
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8. Take a Message to Mary
Take a Message to Mary” is a song released in 1959 by The Everly Brothers. The song spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No.16 while reaching.
7. Walk Right Back
The Everly Brothers Walk Right Back is a song that was released back in 1961. It was written by Fred Neil and was the duo’s first single to hit the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song reached number nine on the chart and it also peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over one million copies in the United States alone.
6. (Till) I Kissed You
It is a song written by Don Everly of The Everly Brothers. It was released as a single in 1959 and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. Let It Be Me
It is a popular song released in French in 1955 as “Je t’appartiens”, interpreted by Gilbert Bécaud. It helped further popularize the song with the Everly Brothers’ rendition of 1959’s “Let It Be Me”, which reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 with its English version.
4. Wake Up Little Susie
The Everly Brothers’ first charting hit was “That’ll Be The Day” in 1957, but it was “Wake Up Little Susie,” written by <a href="https://blog.jambox.io/what-happened-to-the-crickets-after-buddy-holly-died/”>Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, that put them on the map in 1958 with its catchy melody, harmonies that have become legendary for their purity and beauty, and a storyline about a couple sneaking out to a movie together despite parental disapproval that was so compelling it became part of popular culture as well as country music lore.
3. Cathy’s Clown
This song, which was released in 1960, is one of their most popular. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold 1 million copies within two weeks. The song tells the story of a clown who falls in love with a girl who doesn’t notice him until he can no longer perform as a clown anymore because he has lost his smile after he was fired from his job at a circus for being too nice to children.
2. Bye Bye Love
Although it wasn’t their first hit single, this song marked a turning point for the duo as it became a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The song’s lyrics about leaving home resonated with many listeners at the time, who were leaving World War II behind and looking ahead to new adventures in life. It also helped establish The Everly Brothers as an important part of early rock ‘n’ roll music history.
1. All I Have To Do Is Dream
The Everly Brothers’ biggest hit came from this song written by Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in 1958 and was later covered by artists like Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, and The Beach Boys. It’s also been sampled by hip-hop artists such as Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z over the years.
