Elvis Died Today
Elvis Presley died on this day, Aug 16, 1977. That’s 39 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving to work on that morning in 1977 and they announced on the radio that Elvis had been … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Fifties
19-“My Prayer” – The Platters
The Platters were the first black super group of the Fifties. They had already had a number one with “The Great Pretender” and now, in the late summer of 1956, they got their second. “My Prayer” is another song that … Continue reading →
18-“I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” – Elvis Presley
“I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” was Elvis’ fourth single to hit the pop charts and the second to hit number one, following “Heartbreak Hotel.” As we all know, he would have many more in his career. … Continue reading →
17-“I Almost Lost My Mind” – Pat Boone
Another R&B crossover song. “I Almost Lost My Mind” was written by and originally recorded by Ivory Joe Hunter in 1950. The song hit number one on the R&B chart for Hunter. After the success of “Ain’t That a Shame” … Continue reading →
16 – “The Wayward Wind” – Gogi Grant
As you might guess, Gogi Grant was not her real name. She was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A singer from a young age, she won several talent shows until one day she got the attention … Continue reading →
15-“Moonglow and Theme from ‘Picnic'” – Morris Stoloff
Morris Stoloff was a musical producer for Columbia Pictures. He worked on the music for many of the pictures that came out of Hollywood during the Forties and Fifties and even into the Sixties. No other work he did got … Continue reading →
14-“Hot Diggity (Dog Diggity Boom)” – Perry Como
“Hot Diggity” is what I call a cross-over song. But not from, say, country to pop, but instead from pre-rock and roll to full blown rock and roll. Perry Como was certainly one of the establishment. He had been around … Continue reading →
13-“Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley
The first record released by Elvis for RCA was, of course, “Heartbreak Hotel”, but that was not the first recording he made. That honor goes to “I Got a Woman” which was a cover of a record by Ray Charles … Continue reading →
12-“Poor People of Paris” – Les Baxter
I now present another instrumental. In fact, this is the only time in the entire rock era that an instrumental followed another instrumental in the number one spot. Previously, we had “Lisbon Antigua” and now there is “Poor People of … Continue reading →
11-“Lisbon Antigua” – Nelson Riddle
We know that instrumentals were very popular in the Fifties and extended into the Sixties as well. Today, we seldom see an instrumental on the charts. This song by the famous orchestra leader, Nelson Riddle, was written by three Portuguese … Continue reading →