Inspect this attempt at a 'pre-British Invasion canon'. Determine what is missing. Comment.

Also, Charles Brown is missing.

The Treniers. Stick McGhee. All sorts of blues. Sam Cooke. Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, George Jones, Moon Mullican...early James Brown, all kinds of King r&b and country music. All kinds of Savoy r&b. Bossa nova ought to be in there. Elmore James, for sure. There's no way to condense it down, there's a lot of pre-Beatles music that should be included. But it's a good enough list, sure.

an arthur alexander colletion.

a drifters collection (or two).

an irma thomas collection.

a new orleans collection (ernie k-doe, benny spellman, irma thomas if you're not have a record of her own, etc).

a bill monroe box wouldn't hurt, though that may open a whole new can(on) of worms.

The Drifters are missing.

xpost!

Wynonie Harris had a couple of important ones, Bloodshot Eyes and his version of Wine Spodie Odie

Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D
Bach: Brandenburger Contertos
Bach: Christmas Oratorio
Bach: Various Orchestral Suites (incl. "Air")
Handel: Water Music
Handel: Royal Fireworks
Handel: Messiah
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Haydn: "Surprise" Symphony
Haydn: Trumpet Concerto
Mozart: Symphonies No. 40 and 41
Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 21 and 23
Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Mozart: The Magic Flute
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
Mozart: Requiem
Beethoven: Most of his Symphonies (3, 5, 6 and 9 in particular), plus a couple of solo piano pieces
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony + a bunch of "Lieder"
Felix Mendelsohn Bartholdy: A Midsummernight's Dream
Brahms: Symphony #4
Smetana: My Fatherland
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker
Elgar: Pomp And Circumstance
Wagner: Lohegrin, Tristan & Isolde and various other operas

And lots, lots, lots more.....

Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & The Comets
Mystery Train – Elvis Presley
Ain’t That a Shame – Fats Domino
Maybellene – Chuck Berry
Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
See You Later Alligator – Bill Haley & The Comets
Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino
Be Bop a Lula – Gene Vincent
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley
Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On – Jerry Lee Lewis
Lucille – Little Richard
That’s Be The Day – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Bye Bye Love – Everly Brothers
School Day – Chuck Berry
Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard
Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
Wake Up Little Susie – Everly Brothers
Oh Boy! – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
Move It – Cliff Richard
Shantilly Lace – The Big Bopper
Red River Rock – Johnny & The Hurricanes
C’mon Everybody – Eddie Cochran
Stuck On You – Elvis Presley
Shakin’ All Over – Brian Kidd & The Pirates
Nutrocker – B.Bumble & The Stingers
You Send Me – Sam Cooke
Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson
There Goes My Baby – The Drifters
What’d I Say – Ray Charles
Only Sixteen – Sam Cooke
Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters
Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles
Spanish Harlem – Ben E. King
Wonderful World – Sam Cooke
Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Diana – Paul Anka
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly
Venus – Frankie Avalon
Oh Carol – Neil Sedaka
It’s Now Or Never – Elvis Presley
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini – Brian Hyland
Only The Lonely – Roy Orbison
Runaway – Del Shannon
Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool – Connie Francis
Cathy’s Clown – Everly Brothers
Runaround Sue – Dion
Roses Are Red (My Love) – Bobby Vinton
Hats Of To Larry – Del Shannon
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – Neil Sedaka
The Wanderer – Dion
To Know Him Is To Love Him – The Teddy Bears
Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
He’s a Rebel – The Crystals
Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals

Add quite a bit of blues and early R&B, plus the occasional Leadbelly and Woddy Guthrie, and I would say the most crucial tracks would be in here.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/comp/motown/complete-motown-singles-1.shtml

with a freq lower than 44.1

in mono

and then stuffed in a zipfile

and the CDRs are 10 feet across.

also the r&b screamers who were veerin off outta mid-period bebop (startin w.illinois jacquet, via big jay mcneely etc)

also les paul

also the vocal quartets (orioles etc) (but proably better some of the later, less "legendary" ones)

STAN FREBERG: hated rNr but parodied it in a way which caught on

The *American Graffiti* soundtrack must be on CD by now, right?

here are the '60s reissues i listed in the back of my second book:

chuck berry - the chess box
coasters - young blood
bo diddley - his greatest sides, vol. one
dion and the belmonts - 24 original classics
drifters - 1959-1965 all-time greatest hits and more
louis jordan - the best of
jerry lee lewis - milestones
little richard - the original little richard
elvis presley - the top 10 hits
elvis presley - the sun sessions
louis prima - collectors series
hanks williams - 40 greatest hits
american graffiti
appalachian stomp: bluegrass classics
aunt carmela's italian favorites
the best of doo-wop ballads, vols. one and two
the best of doo-womp uptempo, vols. one and two
stardust: captiol sings hoagy carmichael
the history of new orleans rhythm and blues, vols. one-three
the history of rock instrumentals, vols. and three

other stuff on the '60s (for instance girl group compilations) not to mention pre-'50s lists in there would qualify as pre-brit-invasion, too, though. (and all these are vinyl, not CD reissues, who cares). and I also included these non-reissues from 1950-1959 and 1960-1963

perry como - como's golden records
kingston trio - from the hungry i
kingston trio - the kingston trio
new lost city ramblers - old timey songs for children
louis prima - digs keely smith
victor zembruski and his orchestra - dance polkas
dance the mambo
kiss me kate
my fair lady
west side story

--
sam cooke - the best of
joey dee and the starlighters - the peppermint twisters
bob dylan - the freewheelin' bob dylan
kinston trio - college concert
limeliters - the slightly fabulous limeliters
limeliters - tonight: in person
the matys bros - who stole the keeshka?
dee dee sharp - all the hits
shirelles - greatest hits
a christmas gift for you from phil spector

oops, i meant '50s reissues, obviously (meaning reissues of '50s stuff, by which i mean '50s stuff reissued after the '50s were over)

Yeah, but out of the whole prior history of American popular music, WHAT WASN'T seminal to the development of rock & roll/rock?

which is another way of saying you could also use some:

emmett miller
jimmie rodgers
anthology of american folk music
louis armstrong
bing crosby

...and so on and so forth.

I agree that "out of print stuff is everywhere," but say you're looking for a specific item X, you really think you're going to find it by going to N number of record stores? That's a fool's quest. For stuff that wasn't heavily printed in the first place (how many copies did they really sell of this Rhino New Orleans set?) you could wait years before it turns up.

Maybe because their first hit wasn't until 1966?

(Of course, not only albums deserve to be in the canon. And if "Walk Like a Man" doesn't deserve to be canonized, nothing much does.)

(1962) Big Girls Don't Cry
(1962) Sherry
(1963) Walk Like a Man
(1964) Stay
(1964) Dawn
(1965) Let's Hang On!

(haha, x-post)

a.) sounds like the 50's to me

(1954) Bill Haley & The Comets - (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
(1954) Elvis Presley - That's All Right
(1954) Ray Charles - I Got a Woman
(1954) The Chords - Sh-boom
(1954) The Penguins - Earth Angel
(1954) The Spaniels - Goodnight Sweeheart, Goodnight
(1955) Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
(1955) Chuck Berry - Maybellene
(1955) Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
(1955) Fats Domino - Ain't that a Shame
(1955) Little Richard - Tutti-Frutti
(1955) The Platters - Only You
(1955) The Platters - The Great Pretender
(1956) Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love
(1956) Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven
(1956) Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes
(1956) Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel
(1956) Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
(1956) Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
(1956) Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender
(1956) Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill
(1956) Frankie Lymon - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
(1956) Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps - Be-Bop-A-Lula
(1956) Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
(1956) Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
(1956) The Five Satins - In The Still of the Night
(1956) The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away
(1957) Buddy Holly - Everyday
(1957) Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue
(1957) Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Maybe Baby
(1957) Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Oh Boy!
(1957) Buddy Holly & The Crickets - That'll Be the Day
(1957) Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music
(1957) Chuck Berry - School Days
(1957) Danny & the Juniors - At the Hop
(1957) Del-Vikings - Come Go With Me
(1957) Elvis Presley - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
(1957) Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
(1957) Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
(1957) Fats Domino - I'm Walkin'
(1957) Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
(1957) Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
(1957) Johnny Mathis - Chances Are
(1957) Mickey & Sylvia - Love is Strange
(1957) Ricky Nelson - I'm Walkin'
(1957) Sam Cooke - You Send Me
(1957) The Chantels - Maybe
(1957) The Coasters - Searchin'
(1957) The Diamonds - Little Darlin'
(1957) The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
(1957) The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie
(1957) The Silhouettes - Get a Job
(1957) Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
(1958) Bobby Darin - Splish Splash
(1958) Bobby Day - Rockin' Robin
(1958) Bobby Freeman - Do You Wanna Dance
(1958) Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
(1958) Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen
(1958) Danny & The Juniors - Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay
(1958) David Seville & The Chipmunks - The Witch Doctor
(1958) Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager in Love
(1958) Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
(1958) Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
(1958) Elvis Presley - One Night
(1958) Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
(1958) Johnny Otis - Willie and the Hand Jive
(1958) Poni-Tails - Born Too Late
(1958) Regents - Barbara Ann
(1958) Ricky Nelson - It's Late
(1958) Ritchie Valens - Come On Let's Go
(1958) Ritchie Valens - Donna
(1958) Ritchie Valens - La Bamba
(1958) Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater
(1958) The Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace
(1958) The Champs - Tequila
(1958) The Chordettes - Lollipop
(1958) The Coasters - Yakety Yak
(1958) The Diamonds - The Stroll
(1958) The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
(1958) The Jamies - Summertime, Summertime
(1958) The Monotones - Book of Love
(1958) The Royal Teens - Short Shorts
(1958) The Teddy Bears - To Know Him is to Love Him
(1958) Tommy Edwards - It's All in the Game
(1959) Annette & The Afterbeats - Tall Paul
(1959) Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
(1959) Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
(1959) Buster Brown - Fannie Mae
(1959) Chuck Berry - Almost Grown
(1959) Frankie Avalon - Venus
(1959) Frankie Ford - Sea Cruise
(1959) Lloyd Price - Personality
(1959) Paul Anka - Puppy Love
(1959) Phil Phillips & The Twilights - Sea of Love
(1959) Ray Charles - Night Time Is the Right Time
(1959) Santo and Johnny - Sleepwalk
(1959) The Clovers - Love Potion No. 9
(1959) The Coasters - Charlie Brown
(1959) The Coasters - Poison Ivy
(1959) The Crests - Sixteen Candles
(1959) The Drifters - There Goes My Baby
(1959) The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes for You
(1959) The Isley Brothers - Shout!
(1959) The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You
(1959) The Tempos - See You In September
(1959) Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City
(1960) Billy Bland - Let The Little Girl Dance
(1960) Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry
(1960) Brian Hyland - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
(1960) Chubby Checker - The Twist
(1960) Connie Francis - Where the Boys Are
(1960) Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight
(1960) Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never
(1960) Elvis Presley - It's Now or Never
(1960) Mark Dinning - Teen Angel
(1960) Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs - Stay
(1960) Neil Sedaka - Calendar Girl
(1960) Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel)
(1960) The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
(1960) The Everly Brothers - When Will I Be Loved
(1960) The Hollywood Argyles - Alley-Oop
(1961) Barry Mann - Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)
(1961) Bobby Lewis - Tossin' and Turnin'
(1961) Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby
(1961) Curtis Lee & The Halos - Pretty Little Angle Eyes
(1961) Dee Clark - Raindrops
(1961) Del Shannon - Runaway
(1961) Dion - Runaround Sue
(1961) Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love
(1961) Elvis Presley - Little Sister
(1961) Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl
(1961) Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John
(1961) Joey Dee & The Starliters - Peppermint Twist
(1961) Lee Dorsey - Ya Ya
(1961) Mike Berry & The Outlaws - My Baby Doll
(1961) Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou
(1961) Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man
(1961) Roy Orbison - Crying
(1961) The Cleftones - Heart and Soul
(1961) The Fleetwoods - The Great Impostor
(1961) The Marcels - Blue Moon
(1961) The Mar-Keys - Last Night
(1961) The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)
(1962) Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Cryptkickers - Monster Mash
(1962) Brian Hyland - Sealed with a Kiss
(1962) Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again
(1962) Chubby Checker - Limbo Rock
(1962) Dionn Warwick - Don't Make Me Over
(1962) Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm
(1962) Elvis Presley - Return to Sender
(1962) Gene Chandler - Duke Of Earl
(1962) Paul & Paula - Hey Paula
(1962) Roy Orbison - Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
(1962) Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel
(1962) The Alley Cats - Puddin N' Tain
(1963) Alan Sherman - Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!
(1963) Elvis Presley - (You're The) Devil In Disguise
(1963) Margie Singleton - Magic Star (Telstar)
(1963) Randy & the Rainbows - Denise
(1963) Ricky Nelson - Fools Rush In
(1963) The Tymes - So Much in Love

b.) sounds like the 60's to me (mostly Soul)

(1959) Ray Charles - What'd I Say, Parts 1 & 2
(1960) Joe Jones - You Talk too Much
(1960) Ray Charles - Georgia on My Mind
(1960) Sam Cooke - Chain Gang
(1960) Sam Cooke - Wonderful World
(1960) The Drifters - Save the Last Dance for Me
(1960) The Drifters - This Magic Moment
(1960) The Miracles - Shop Around
(1960) The Shirelles - Will You Love Me Tomorrow
(1961) Ben E. King - Stand by Me
(1961) Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law
(1961) Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack
(1961) Sam Cooke - Cupid
(1961) The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman
(1962) Booker T. & The MG's - Green Onions
(1962) Bruce Channel - Hey Baby
(1962) Chris Montez - Let's Dance
(1962) Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Big Girls Don't Cry
(1962) Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Sherry
(1962) Freddy Cannon - Palisades Park
(1962) Little Eva - The Loco-motion
(1962) Marcie Blane - Bobby's Girl
(1962) Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind of Fellow
(1962) Sam Cooke - Twistin' the Night Away
(1962) The Beach Boys - 409
(1962) The Beach Boys - Surfin'
(1962) The Beach Boys - Surfin' Safari
(1962) The Contours - Do You Love Me
(1962) The Drifters - Up On the Roof
(1962) The Exciters - Tell Him
(1962) The Isley Brothers - Twist and Shout
(1962) The Marvelettes - Beechwood 4-5789
(1962) The Miracles - You've Really Got a Hold On Me
(1962) The Shirelles - Soldier Boy
(1963) Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger
(1963) Bobby Vinton - Blue on Blue
(1963) Bobby Vinton - Blue Velvet
(1963) Doris Troy - Just One Look
(1963) Dusty Springfield - I Only Want To Be With You
(1963) Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Walk Like a Man
(1963) Jan & Dean - Surf City
(1963) Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - Sugar Shack
(1963) Jimmy Soul - If You Wanna Be Happy
(1963) Kingsmen - Louie Louie
(1963) Lesley Gore - It's My Party
(1963) Lesley Gore - Judy's Turn To Cry
(1963) Leslie Gore - It's My Party
(1963) Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him
(1963) Little Stevie Wonder - Fingertips (part 2)
(1963) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - (Love is Like a) Heat Wave
(1963) Marvin Gaye - Pride and Joy
(1963) Ruby & the Romantics - Our Day Will Come
(1963) Rufus Thomas - Walking the Dog
(1963) Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night
(1963) Sam Cooke - Nothing Can Change this Love
(1963) The Angels - My Boyfriend's Back
(1963) The Beach Boys - Catch a Wave
(1963) The Beach Boys - I Get Around
(1963) The Beach Boys - In My Room
(1963) The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe
(1963) The Beach Boys - Shut Down
(1963) The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl
(1963) The Beach Boys - Surfin' U.S.A.
(1963) The Chantays - Pipeline
(1963) The Chiffons - He's So Fine
(1963) The Chiffons - One Fine Day
(1963) The Cookies - Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)
(1963) The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron
(1963) The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me
(1963) The Drifters - On Broadway
(1963) The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk
(1963) The Miracles - Mickey's Monkey
(1963) The Ronettes - Be My Baby
(1963) The Safaris - Wipeout
(1963) Tommy James & The Shondells - Hanky Panky

I can only imagine this will be an x-post...

(i was right, x-post)