(vanity) TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS ('50S) ROUND 1

me | 4/25/20 | me

[the OlLine Rebel]

OK, FREEPERS, LET'S START THIS CONTEST FOR THE GREATEST SONG OF THE '50S!

The baseline for the contest is the top 7 hits of each year of the '50s, as compiled by BILLBOARD. This is NOT based on personal preferences, biases, prejudices, or counter-culture fringe-element reactionaries.

Round 1 involves listing all 10 #7 candidate songs in order of preference.

(The remaining rounds are handled as play-off brackets, starting with 32 pairs of songs to compare.)

ROUND 1 We begin by using the #7 songs of each year, which we'll pare from 10 songs to 4 (to set up play-off brackets for the rest of the contest). NO equivocating, ties, or omissions.

year song act 1950 "Third Man Theme" Guy Lombardo 1951 "Cold, Cold Heart" Tony Bennett 1952 "Wish You Were Here" Eddie Fisher 1953 "April in Portugal" Les Baxter 1954 "(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely" The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”] 1955 "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" The Four Aces 1956 "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" Doris Day 1957 "Singing the Blues" Guy Mitchell 1958 "Catch a Falling Star" / "Magic Moments" Perry Como 1959 "The Three Bells" The Browns

For the 1st time ever, I’m going to make it a little easier on you all – please see my playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Lnx_IGaigbPsHOh_ZtV2d1GBCwuYYGf

ROUND 1 DUE DATE: Sunday May 3 @6:00pm EST

[rocksblues]

1. 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
2. 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
3. 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
4. 1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
5. 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”Doris Day
6. 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”
7. 1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
8. 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
9. 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
10. 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett

[airdalechief]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJCvPhqcY9A

Try this one later on in life.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Bewitched—Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra (1950) - #24 for the year
Born to Be With You—The Chordettes (1956) - #37 on the year

Stalin Kicked the Bucket—Ray Anderson (1953) - you got me there completely! My mom would like this I’m sure.

Good Golly, Miss Molly—The Playboys (1955) - wow, completely different from Little Richard! And not mentioned at all through Wiki (including the Playboys).

Follow the Rock—The Baybops (1958) - wow you got me totally. I like it - and it’s a tribute to the current scene which was so popular then.

[upchuck]

1 1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo

8 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett

2 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher

6 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter

9 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]

3 1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces

7 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day

10 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell

4 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como

5 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns

[be-baw]

I know. Sorry, I don’t mean to spoil the party. Carry on, and I hope y’all have fun.

[Nifster]

The Third Man Theme
Three Bells
Love is a many splendored thing
Que Sera Seta
Catch a falling star
Singing the blues
Wish you were here
April in Portugal
Cold cold heart
I get so lonely

(1-10)

[Fast Moving Angel]

1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]

[Bonemaker]

No order except 1, 2 and 3. But all 50’s...I think. Hastily put together. So many good ones.

1. Volare- Dino

2. Theme From Summer Place - Percy Faith

3. La Bomba - Richie Valens

4. Come go with me - Del Vikings

5. Sherry - 4 Seasons

6. 40 Miles of bad Road - Duane Eddy

7, Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson

8. Magnificent Seven - Elmer Bernstein (oops...1960)

9. El Paso - Marty Robbins

10. Big Iron - Marty Robbins

[ml/nj]

Where are At the Hop and Get a Job?

ML/NJ

[stylin19a]

hey thanks for doing this...again...

1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces

1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como

1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell

1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett

1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day

1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns

1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo

1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher

1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter

1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]

[the OlLine Rebel]

#20 and #14 in 1958. Doesn’t quite make the cut!

[Phil DiBasquette]

1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]
1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher

[CaptainPhilFan]

Tough one! Thanks for the youtube link, I’ll need it :)

1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell

1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett

1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter

1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces

1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como

1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns

1954 (Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]

1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher

1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo

1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day

[nomorelurker]

1. 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day easy winner
2. 1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
3. 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
4. 955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
5. 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
6. 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
7. 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
8. 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]
9. 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett Nobody but Hank Williams should sing this song Bennett is good but not for this.
10. 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns Bottom of the list, would leave it out if rules allowed. Lousy song and gets in the way by showing up in the playlist every time I look for some music.

[T. P. Pole]

1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights
1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher

[workerbee]

Greatly appreciate the playlist! Made this much easier!

My list (favorite is 1, least favorite is 10)

1. 1955 Love Is A Many Splendored Thing – Four Aces
2. 1954 I Get So Lonely – Four Knights
3. 1951 Cold Cold Heart – Tony Bennett
4. 1953 April in Portugal – Les Baxter
5. 1959 The Three Bells – The Browns
6. 1958 Catch A Falling Star – Perry Como
7. 1950 Third Man Theme – Guy Lombardo
8. 1956 Que Sera Sera – Doris Day
9. 1957 Singing the Blues – Guy Mitchell
10. 1952 Wish You Were Here – Eddie Fisher

[Phil DiBasquette]

These are just the 7th most popular for each year
Like it or not that’s what people bought or played

As lugubrious as some of these seem they’re
a pep-charged upgrade over stuff from just a few years before
like “You Can’t Be True, Dear” (BTW a song I dont hate)

[mschalock]

1. 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
2. 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights
3. 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
4. 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
5. 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
6. 1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
7. 1950 ”Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
8. 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
9. 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
10. 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett

[knarf]

I was born in '48 and it was around that time that transistor radios were flooding the American market from Japan ....

and "Summertime" started being played on the radio .... I was 10

[heylady]

1. Singing the Blues

2. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing

3. Catch a Falling Star

4. The Three Bells

5. Third Man Theme

6. Wish You Were Here

7. O Baby Mine I Get So Lonely

8. April In Portugal

9. Cold Cold Heart

10.Que Sera Sera