In our weird accelerated trip through time we’ve made it to the middle of 1951, while we’ve barely stepped into January back in 2020. Let’s see what July, 1951 sounds like!
The songs of July, 1951
We’re sticking to the core pop charts this month and highlighting the new versions of songs that have popped on the past couple of weeks.
July, 1951 Top 20 Hits
“Be My Love” – Mario Lanza
“Because Of You” – Tony Bennett
“Because” – Mario Lanza
“Come On-A My House” – Rosemary Clooney
“Detour” – Patti Page
“How High The Moon” – Les Paul & Mary Ford
“I Get Ideas” – Tony Martin
“I Won’t Cry Anymore” – Tony Bennett
“I’m In Love Again” – Henri Rene / April Stevens
“Jezebel” – Frankie Laine
“Josephine” – Les Paul
“Longing For You” – Vic Damone
“Mister And Mississippi” – Dennis Day
“Mister And Mississippi” – Patti Page
“Mockin’ Bird Hill” – Patti Page
“My Truly Truly Fair” – Guy Mitchell
“My Truly Truly Fair” – Vic Damone
“On Top Of Old Smokey” – Vaughn Monroe
“On Top Of Old Smokey” – Weavers / Terry Gilkyson
“Rose Rose I Love You” – Frankie Laine
“Shanghai” – Doris Day
“Sound Off” – Vaughn Monroe
“Sweet Violets” – Dinah Shore
“The Loveliest Night Of The Year” – Mario Lanza
“Too Young” – Nat King Cole
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link or embedded below:
This month in history
Mario Lanza’s “The Loveliest Night Of The Year” has been on the charts for a few weeks. The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed its credited in the playlist to the soundtrack of “The Great Caruso” a 1951 film about Italian tenor Enrico Caruso.
Caruso was one of the first major singing talents to be commercially recorded, making 247 commercially released recordings from 1902 to 1920, and turning himself a global star in the process.
Verdict was at the time that there were very few voices at the time that could come close to Caruso’s to play him on screen but that Lanzo did a pretty decent job. You can make up your own mind in the clips below.
What’d Sadie think?
Nat King Cole’s “Too Young” for 3 weeks of the month before “Come on-a my house” grates it way to the top spot. Fingers crossed its a V shaped ascent and descent because I’ve already had enough of that one!
We already knew 1951 has a diversity problem but when you’ve got Tony (Martin) vs Tony (Bennett) battling it out on the charts… you have to pick a side. Bennett’s “I Won’t Cry Anymore” is the winner for me.
Then you’ve got Vic Damone (“Longing For You”) vs Vic Damone (“My Truly Truly Fair”) where the former would be our pick.
And finally there’s greedy Patti Page with “Detour”, “Mockin’ Bird Hill” and “Mister And Mississippi” all charting. The latter is a bonafide ear-worm and a great sing-a-long so it gets the points.
What’s missing is a decent duet – 1950 got us addicted to them so here’s hoping that August brings us one.
It’s probably because we dove deep into “The Great Caruso” but Mario Lanza’s two songs are our chart jams of the month. So let’s end it on another with his version of “Ave Maria” from the film. Then enjoy this month’s playlist till next week!