WONDERFUL WORLD of the WONDERFUL ONES Page 19
The pop charts of Billboard which has always been regarded as the bible of the music world when it comes to the ratings of songs based on such categories as popularity and record sales, are the sources of what we have here. Unfortunately, the rankings are not based on number of R&D's (requests and dedications). In the Philippines, such songs as "The Voice Of Love", "You, You, You Are The One", "Waltzing Matilda", "Soldier Will You Marry Me?" "There's Always Me", "The Wedding", "Summer Love", "One More Chance", "Teen-Age Senorita", "The Man Who Plays The Mandolino, "Banjo Boy", "High Noon by Connie Francis", "One Last Kiss", "Fraulein"
and a bunch of other songs were highly popular and yet,
here in the U.S. they were flops and they never made it in the Charts' Top 10. On the other hand, so many "unknowns" to the people there made it to the number one slot. And since the charting did not start until 1955, we'll have to start on that year in our roll of honor. The following facts are based on the book Top Forty Hits by Joel Whitburn:
The very first record to garner the number one position in the hit parade was Let Me Go Lover by Joan Weber. That was in January 1, 1955, and it held that spot for 4 weeks in a row. On Feb. 5, Hearts Of Stone by the Fontane Sisters got into the number one spot and was replaced by Sincerely (by the Mcguire Sisters) the following month. That record enjoyed sitting on the throne for 10 weeks. Meanwhile, The Ballad of Davy Crockett (by Bill Hayes) climbed up to grab the spot until pushed over by Perez Prado's Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White five weeks later. The cha cha instrumental lorded it over for 10 weeks. Then, Dance With Me Henry (by Georgia Gibbs)came from behind to grab the spot, and which was put aside shortly thereafter by Unchained Melody by Les Baxter. Unchained Melody which, I
think is the most recorded song I know (sung by so many
artists including The Righteous Brothers whose record was used as a theme for the movie "Ghost") stood on the pedestal
for just a couple of weeks. Rock Around The Clock by Bill
Haley and the Comets, which was the theme of the film The
Blackboard Jungle released the previous year, captured the
throne and had it for 8 weeks, yielding only to Frank Sinatra's now obsure song Learning The Blues. Surging to number one after that was The Yellow Rose Of Texas by Mitch
Miller and his Gang which held it for 6 weeks. Then along came the all-American boy, Pat Boone with his song Ain't That A Shame which romped away with the much coveted position. But it stood its ground for just two weeks. It got knocked down by Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, the theme song of the movie of the same title and starring William Holden. That record hit was sung by The Four Aces who just the year before that had recorded the wonderful ditty, Three Coins In The Fountain. Then the next to make a "hit" for the "bone of contention", the number one spot, was the instrumental Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams and his Orch. But it was toppled a month later by Tennessee Ernie Ford's Sixteen Tons. While the songs mentioned here were not necessarily the best in the west, they all made it to number one in the hit parade of 1955.
Stick around, we'll tell you more! - from Itsy Bitsy....
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Copyright © 2002 ERNIE C. TURLA, President, Aguman Capampangan Northwest USA. All Rights Reserved