The Tornados - "Telstar" (1962, video)

Youtube ^ | 6/20/2016 | Staff

[simpson96]

Hope you enjoy. ”Telstar”

[smalltownslick]

Common misperception. Many people think the Ventures “owned” all the instrumental hits of the time. This is the original.

[CovenBuster]

I honestly didn't know Bobby Rydell did a version of this song. I would have liked it soooo much better if his had become the top 40 version. He was quite talented and cuter than anyone had a right to be. Loved Bobby's songs, especially "Kissing Time." Pucker up, Bobby!

Doo-wop forever!

[Fiji Hill]

In the fall of 1962, "Bustin' Surfboards" by the Tornadoes charted in Southern California at the same time as "Telstar." One of our local stations--I believe it was KFWB--listed "Telstar" as being by the English Tornadoes because the group that did "Bustin' Surfboards" was local.

[Fiji Hill]

According to Joel Whitburn, Love Is the Sweetest Thing by Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Orchestra was the first British single to reach Number One in this country. However, Whitburn's chart, on which it spent five weeks in the late summer of 1933, was concocted by using computers to crunch data decades after the fact.

Vera Lynn was the first Britisher to top the actual charts in this country with Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye) in 1952. But much as I love Vera Lynn, this is a knockoff, and I like the original better.

Auf Wiedersehen--Rudi Schuricke (1950)

[Buttons12]

I’m a child of boomers and I grew up listening to tunes of the fifties and sixties. Also, my mom knew many of these performers.

Rydell’s favorite among his own songs, I am told, was “I’ll Never Dance Again.”

He did have a marvelous voice, sweet and gentle one moment, deep and thunderous the next.

[CovenBuster]

Very interesting. I have never heard that song! As a boomer teen, I was practically attached at the hip to the nearest radio, so I can't imagine why I wouldn't have heard it -- unless it was a regional hit in some places and not others.

Who did your mom know? Jimmy Clanton was my "teen idol." He's still as cute as ever. Did she know him?

"Just a Dream" by Jimmy Clanton

"Venus in Blue Jeans" by Jimmy Clanton

[Buttons12]

Mom knew a great many people in the business on the East Coast and Philly from the mid-50’s to the mid-70’s, because my grandmother was in the record business and mingled in those circles. This is way before I was born, LOL, I am an afterthought baby! If Clanton was the guy who sang “Go Jimmy Go,” she knew him.
I heard most of the “oldies” growing up, plus a lot of Broadway show music, but most people my age have not — their parents were of the era mine call a wasteland: the 70’s.
I’m told the British Invasion ruined everything although my folks do rock to the Beatles on occasion.

[x]

There was a recent movie that told the story behind the record.

I think it was pretty good, though I don't really remember anything about it.

[simpson96]

I had no idea about the movie. Thanks. Might check it out.

[CovenBuster]

Yes, that's "my" Jimmy. ;)

He's still musically active, writing and recording songs that we boomers can relate to. Some examples:

"Ole Rock n Roller" by Jimmy Clanton.

"Red Hat Woman" by Jimmy Clanton

"Lovin' Louisiana" by Jimmy Clanton

If your mother is still living, you might want to share those with her. I love that he's still making music at his advanced age!

It's interest that so many of the comments under the doo-wop era songs are from younger people who wished they had been a part of those days and that musical era.

[Buttons12]

Thanks for the links, I’ll pass them along. Both my parents are hooked on youtube.