(vanity) TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS II - '50s

author | 1/9/22 | the OlLine Rebel

[the OlLine Rebel]

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

ROUND 1A – ‘50s

The baseline for the survey is the top 10 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 reactionism. Nor based on weekly charts.

Round 1 involves ranking candidate songs in order of preference for each year. Part A (as well as B next week) will be 5 years’ worth of rankings, so hunker down because that’s 50 songs to handle!

(The remaining rounds are handled as play-offs, starting with 32 pairs of songs to compare. More on that later.)

For the first time ever, WE WILL USE A SURVEY WEBSITE for the polling! NO MORE TYPING YOUR CHOICES IN THE THREAD!

Following posts list the pieces for instant review. Again, however, links to SurveyHero will be used for the surveys, and links to YouTube for the hits.

ROUND 1A DUE DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 16 @12:00PM EST

[the OlLine Rebel]

ROUND 1A

1950
ranking survey: 1950 survey
top 10 playlist: 1950 top 10

1951
ranking survey: 1951 survey
top 10 playlist: 1951 top 10

1952
ranking survey: 1952 survey
top 10 playlist: 1952 top 10

1953
ranking survey: 1953 survey
top 10 playlist: 1953 top 10

1954
ranking survey: 1954 survey
top 10 playlist: 1954 top 10

Rules for Round 1:

Click on each year’s survey you wish to rank. You do not have to do every year, but must rank every song in any year you poll. Rank ALL 10 songs in order of your preference, from best to worst/1-10.

This survey does not allow ties, or omissions (purposefully). You must rank all 10 for the survey to complete and count. When you complete a survey, you will not be able to vote again – and I cannot do it for you! No Dem voting options! So please review the candidates carefully.

Each song will be prioritized by weighted point total garnered by SurveyHero - greatest # points is #1, etc. Polling ties will be broken by Billboard ranking, then survey highest ranking, then # highest rankings in survey.

I will give a week for this round to garner more interest and votes, and test how much time may usually be needed. I plan on a week span for every round, but may change as needed.

(NOTE: one does not have to play every single round to participate, although that would be preferred!)

[the OlLine Rebel]

TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS 1950S PING LIST

(This is a temporary ping list….so don’t worry!)

Welcome to all members who signed up already!

For those who have not signed up, please consider tuning into the Tournament of Chart-Toppers for the 1950s and casting your votes!

(Please PM me if you would like to be ON or OFF the ping list!)

FEATURED PIECES OF 1950 – 1954 (SEE SURVEY LINKS FOR EACH YEAR)

1950
“Goodnight Irene” Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers
“Mona Lisa” Nat King Cole
“Third Man Theme” Anton Karas
“Sam’s Song” Gary & Bing Crosby
“Simple Melody” Gary & Bing Crosby
“Music, Music, Music” Teresa Brewer
“Third Man Theme” Guy Lombardo
“Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” Red Foley
“Harbor Lights” Sammy Kaye
10 “It Isn’t Fair” Sammy Kaye & Don Cornell

1951
“Too Young” Nat King Cole
“Because of You” Tony Bennett
“How High the Moon” Les Paul & Mary Ford
“Come on-a My House” Rosemary Clooney
“Be My Love” Mario Lanza
“On Top of Old Smoky” The Weavers
“Cold, Cold Heart” Tony Bennett
“If” Perry Como
“The Loveliest Night of the Year” Mario Lanza
“Tennessee Waltz” Patti Page

1952
“Blue Tango” Leroy Anderson
“Wheel of Fortune” Kay Starr
“Cry” Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads
“You Belong to Me” Jo Stafford
“Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” Vera Lynn
“Half as Much” Rosemary Clooney
“Wish You Were Here” Eddie Fisher
“I Went to Your Wedding” Patti Page
“Here in My Heart” Al Martino
“Delicado” Percy Faith

1953
“The Song from Moulin Rouge” Percy Faith
“Vaya con Dios” Les Paul & Mary Ford
“(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?” Patti Page
“I’m Walking Behind You” Eddie Fisher
“You, You, You” Ames Brothers
“Till I Waltz Again with You” Teresa Brewer
“April in Portugal” Les Baxter
“No Other Love” Perry Como
“Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” Perry Como
“I Believe” Frankie Laine

1954
“Little Things Mean a Lot” Kitty Kallen
“Wanted” Perry Como
“Hey There” Rosemary Clooney
“Sh-Boom” The Crew-Cuts
“Make Love to Me” Jo Stafford
“Oh! My Pa-Pa” Eddie Fisher
“(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely” The Four Knights
“Three Coins in the Fountain” The Four Aces
“Secret Love” Doris Day
“Hernando’s Hideaway” Archie Bleyer

[WXRGina]

Thanks, Rebel!

[Pendergast]

Thanks Rebel! Done!

[plain talk]

[buckalfa]

Thank you OLR! Easy peasey diversion from the doom and gloom!

[the OlLine Rebel]

You’re telling me. Had to tell my mom, who for the first time sort of disdained my doing this rather than getting more involved in politics/saving the country, that I need to do it to get AWAY from that and for my health. I think these last 2 years have really done me in. Endless riots and hysteria, while commies get their way - yes, I need diversion!

[miele man]

Thank you for your work herein for these wonderful pieces of real music. Please do add me to your ping list.

miele man

[Wuli]

Thanks.

I did the 1950 survey and will try get the all done within a few days.

[lee martell]

I’m still reviewing your Rule Book. Very detailed and intricate. It’s like dancing a Jitterbug in a Hockey Stadium.
You feel like a Jerk and you look like a Monkey while you Twist, Bop, Swing and Shuffle.

[the OlLine Rebel]

It’s actually very simple.

But I’m wordy, and many will recall how it was done in the past. So I tend to describe it relative to that past, to head off them doing it the same old way.

[John Milner]

Sorry if I missed it, but I don’t see the link to the Survey Hero site where we do the actual ranking.

Forgive me if I’m just too dense to see it.

[Fiji Hill]

I did all four years. This is a quick and efficient way to do the survey.

[the OlLine Rebel]

They are immediately in my officially first “reply” (not) on the thread. Each year is separated with 2 links, including the survey as one.

It’s always possible your browser doesn’t work well with it?

[the OlLine Rebel]

I should’ve specified, “Reply” #1…..

[CAluvdubya]

Thank you Rebel! I was hoping you’d do this again! Love the new system!

[P.O.E.]

Thanks Done!

[rlmorel]

Done!

[John Milner]

Okay, I see what I did. I saw the list of songs below but assumed the “Survey” link was the same list, not the actual place to rank our choices.

So, yes, I overthought it.

But now it’s done.

(Never listened/knew much music before ‘55. But have been listening to 50’s Gold (Formerly 50’s on 5) on Sirius radio. So I have begun to assimilate some of those earlier tunes.

Still a few were unfamiliar. Either they weren’t unique enough to register in my brain or they don’t play them as much. They probably do play them since some of those are very very familiar because of how many times I’ve heard/noticed them.)

[gnarledmaw]

Done. Those who sit through all of 1950 deserve some kind of little combat medal for trauma to their ears. Theres some real stinkers there.