Our months match this week as we find ourselves transported back from October, 2021 to October, 1954. Let’s see what 67 years ago sounds like…
The songs of October, 1954
“Cara Mia” – David Whitfield
“Hey There” – Rosemary Clooney
“Hold My Hand” – Don Cornell
“I Need You Now” – Eddie Fisher
“I’m A Fool To Care” – Les Paul & Mary Ford
“If I Give My Heart To You” – Connie Boswell
“If I Give My Heart To You” – Denise Lor
“If I Give My Heart To You” – Doris Day
“In The Chapel In The Moonlight” – Kitty Kallen
“Little Things Mean A Lot” – Kitty Kallen
“Muskrat Ramble” – Mcguire Sisters
“Oop-Shoop” – Crew Cuts
“Papa Loves Mambo” – Perry Como
“Sh-Boom” – Crew Cuts
“Shake Rattle And Roll” – Bill Haley And His Comets
“Skokiaan” – Four Lads
“Skokiaan” – Ralph Marterie
“Smile” – Nat King Cole
“Teach Me Tonight” – Decastro Sisters
“That’s What I Like” – “Don Dick And Jimmy”
“The High And The Mighty” – Leroy Holmes / Fred Lowery
“The High And The Mighty” – Les Baxter
“The High And The Mighty” – Victor Young
“The Little Shoemaker” – Gaylords
“They Were Doin’ The Mambo” – Vaughn Monroe
“This Ole House” – Rosemary Clooney
“Whither Thou Goest” – Les Paul & Mary Ford
We’ll supplement the mainstream pop charts with a country chart from this month:
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link or embedded below:
This month in history
“He’s only 19 years old, he has a new distinctive style…” – yes, this month is all about Elvis Presley making his first radio broadcast, on a show in Shreveport, Louisiana, called Louisiana Hayride. You can hear it here:
What’d Sadie think?
“Hey There” by Rosemary Clooney hit the number one spot for the last week of September and continues on its winning ways for all of October.
“If I Give My Heart To You” by Connie Boswell is the third charting version of the song and sorry Connie but you’ve not endeared it to us anymore.
Whereas “Muskrat Ramble” by Mcguire Sisters is a fun wee number with a great sax part. It’s more 40’s dixieland than 50’s in sound but there you go.
“Oop-Shoop” by the Crew Cuts proves why their version of “Sh-boom” was the inferior version, they’re just very twee! Moving on… (actually before we do, shame on you 1950’s America, the much better version of “Sh-boom” by The Chords has already dropped off the charts.)
“Smile” by Nat King Cole is a based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 film “Modern Times.”. Chaplin, who composed the song, was apparently inspired by Puccini’s “Tosca”. Nat King Cole recorded the first version with lyrics in 1954. It’s a classic for a reason folks, sing along! You can see a scene from Modern Times, a clever commentary on industrialization, below:
“Teach Me Tonight” by the Decastro Sisters is a bit wishy washy to be honest. But in looking up the song I found this amusing story about the group:
“The DeCastro Sisters originally consisted of Peggy DeCastro (1921–2004), Cherie DeCastro (1922–2010) and Babette DeCastro (1925–1992). When Babette retired in 1958, a cousin, Olgita DeCastro Marino (1931–2000), replaced her and when Peggy later left the group to go solo, Babette re-joined Cherie and Olgita. Peggy eventually returned and Babette once more retired.”
Peggy and Babette didn’t get on then…?
“That’s What I Like” – by Don, Dick And Jimmy is a schmaltzy number which redeems itself with a great sax solo – by the end we were swaying along.
“Whither Thou Goest” by Les Paul & Mary Ford closes the mainstream charts and is one of their better songs, perhaps because it has less of his noodley guitar? Sorry Les!
“I don’t hurt anymore” by Hank Snow is classic country in theme and delivery and is the antidote for a broken heart.
“One by One” is a duet by Kitty and Red – we’ve not had enough duets of late and this is a good ‘un.
“This is the thanks I get” by Eddy Arnold is a sweet showcase of his lovely tenor and you’ll be singing along on the second listen. “Hep cat baby” by Arnold later in the playlist is equally catchy.
“More and More” and “Even Though” by Webb Pierce are the opposite – the man’s voice grates. Skip both! Give “You’re not mine anymore” a go though – just because we have to pick one of his three songs on the charts! Clearly 1954 loved him more than we do.
Stuart Hamblen’s, “This Ole’ House” is a fun pacey number that will get you tapping your foot along. As will Jimmy and Johnny’s “If you don’t somebody else will”.
“Watcha gonna do now?” by Tommy Collins is a bit racey if you listen to the lyrics, and like the previous song has a nice fiddle part.
Tubb and Hill’s, “Looking back to see” is another fun duet which has a Saloon Bar vibe. “Two glasses, Joe” by the other Tubb (Ernest) is the best of the Tubb’s tunes this week though.
Johnnie and Jack’s, “Goodnight, Sweetheart” is alright. But it’s Hank Thompson’s “The New Green Light” that shines at the end of the playlist. We end on a similarly themed song, “Go boy Go” by Carl Smith which is alright.
Now, go go go…listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.