The Everly Brothers

Though The Everly Brothers had already spent 1957 scoring hit singles, their 1958 debut album was the world's first extended exposure to Don and Phil Everly's innovative sounds. They took the first-wave rock 'n' roll of trailblazers like Little Richard and Gene Vincent (both of whom are covered here) and combined it with the kind of close, two-part vocal harmonies favored by bluegrass and country duos like The Louvin Brothers and The Stanley Brothers. Don and Phil bring a fresh, youthful (Phil was still in his teens) vitality to the cover tunes here, but the original material made the most impact, both artistically and commercially. The chugging rhythm guitars, heavy-duty hooks, and teen drama of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" (the aforementioned 1957 hit singles) put the Everlys on the map while making rock 'n' roll history. Don's own melancholy waltz "I Wonder If I Care as Much" showed the country influence that would remain a key component of the duo's sound throughout their career.