Posted on 04/25/2020 1:15:11 PM PDT by 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
In the lyrics of "Follow the Rock" by the Bay Bops, I have found references to 25 song titles--and there may even be a couple more. They are as follows:
B side and Japanese hit by one of Lennon’s great loves : https://youtu.be/HuhlOlLHs58
This was a Texas Instruments joint venture-
“I did not know that!”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regency_TR-1
1)1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
2)1955 “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing”
3)1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
4) 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
5)1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
6) 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
7)1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
8) 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
9)1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
10)1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]
No Elvis...no Dion ...no old blue eyes?
Strange list.
In 1958, we had a portable Zenith tube radio. We usually had it tuned to KFI. Thirty-one years before it first carried Rush Limbaugh’s voice across the Southland, KFI featured variety programming and music that consisted mainly of pop standards, but on occasion, a rocker would sneak onto the playlist.
Over the coming weeks, as we rise higher in the charts, you'll definitely see Elvis. Not sure we'll see Dion--if we do, it will probably be in 1959--but there's a good chance we'll meet Blue Eyes.
I don't hate it either. I like Vera's version (she never sang a song I didn't like).
You Can't Be True, Dear--Vera Lynn (1948)
Ranked in order 1 through 10:
1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]
1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
Your list, wherever you got it is BS.
ML/NJ
"At the Hop" is a rock and roll/doo-wop song written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors.[1] The song was released in the fall of 1957 and reached number one on the US charts on January 6, 1958, becoming one of the top-selling singles of 1958.[2] "At the Hop" also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers list.[3] Somewhat more surprisingly, the record reached #3 on the Music Vendor country charts. It was also a big hit elsewhere, which included a number 3 placing on the UK charts.ML/NJ
1. 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
2. 1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
3. 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
4. 1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
5. 1956 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” Doris Day
6. 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
7. 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
8. 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
9. 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights [also titled as “I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)”]
10. 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
Agree! R&B was my music. The listed songs were usually on my parents’ radio, so I heard most of them. (I turned 17 in 1959)
Look, anyone who reads the background and rules knows this is all Billboard. And knows there are only so many songs to handle. It takes 7 weeks as it is with 70 songs.
Billboard year-end stats rank them. Those were the rankings for those 2 songs in that year. It’s not BS.
Yes it was a big deal.
But on BB for the year it came in at 20.
Sorry to say, Sinatra only hit the yearly chart 2x - too low for my survey.
I think he did better in the ‘60s.
Dion won’t make it on here either.
Besides the original adaptation from a
German song by Ken Griffin for
the indie Rondo (run by future mogul Mo
Oberstein’s dad Eli) which sold millions in
a vocal and instrumental version,
it spun millions more via hit covers by
UK artists Dame Vera Lynn (still alive!) and
Dick James (yes that Beatles music publisher)as
well as Dick Haymes, The Sportsmen, etc.
1. 1957 “Singing the Blues” Guy Mitchell
2. 1956 “Que Sera, Sera
3. 1950 “Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
4. 1959 “The Three Bells” The Browns
5. 1955 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
6. 1958 “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” Perry Como
7. 1951 “Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
8. 1953 “April in Portugal” Les Baxter
9. 1952 “Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
10. 1954 “(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.