81-“Why” – Frankie Avalon
“Why” is the last song of the Fifties decade. It would be nice if the Fifties ended with a bang, but, instead, we go out on a slow note. It’s the second number this year for Frankie Avalon, the first … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Fifties
80-“Heartaches By the Number” – Guy Mitchell
This is the second country song that Guy Mitchell has made into a pop hit. His first was “Singing the Blues” which was number one in 1956. “Singing the Blues” was done originally by Marty Robbins and was a big … Continue reading →
79-“Mr Blue” – The Fleetwoods
This is the second number one this year by the Fleetwoods and it would be their last. The Fleetwoods were composed of Gary Troxel, Gretchen Christopher, and Barbara Ellis. The best they would do after “Mr Blue” would be number … Continue reading →
78-“Mack the Knife” – Bobby Darin
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062OLVHY Bobby Darin bragged that he would be as “big as Sinatra.” He didn’t quite make it that far, but he did pretty well. If he hadn’t died so young, maybe he would be ranked up there with Sinatra, Dean … Continue reading →
77-“Sleepwalk” – Santo and Johnny
Instrumentals were popular in the Fifties and remained so well into the Sixties. “Sleepwalk” was the sixth number one instrumental of the rock era and the second in 1959. Instrumentals continued to be popular throughout much of the Sixties, but … Continue reading →
76-“The Three Bells” – The Browns
The song that celebrates the three great events in each of our lives, our birth, our marriage and our death, “The Three Bells” goes back to France in 1945. The song was originally called “Les Trois Cloches” (which means “The … Continue reading →
75-“A Big Hunk of Love” – Elvis Presley
Now we have Elvis’ twelfth number one of his career. “A Big Hunk of Love” was written by Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche who also went by the name of Sid Jaxon. It was recorded by Elvis during the one … Continue reading →
74-“Lonely Boy” – Paul Anka
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00772I9V6 Paul Anka started acting in films in 1958 with the teen movie, Let’s Rock. The description of this movie says it is about a singer’s girlfriend who helps him adjust to the new rock ‘n’ roll music. It seems … Continue reading →
73-“The Battle of New Orleans” – Johnny Horton
The last battle of the War of 1812 was fought in 1815 when General Andrew Jackson defeated the British in a battle at New Orleans, Louisiana. A folk song was written about the battle called “The Eighth of January.” Many … Continue reading →
72-“Kansas City” – Wilbert Harrison
For a couple of white guys, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote great music for black artists and, in the case of Elvis Presley, a white artist that sounded like a black artist. (They wrote Hound Dog not particularly for … Continue reading →