Another year comes to an end in our journey through musical history. It’s Christmas time in 1958, so let’s hear what’s in the charts…
Songs of the month
“16 Candles” – Crests*
“A Letter To An Angel” – Jimmy Clanton
“A Lover’s Question” – Clyde Mcphatter
“Beep Beep” – Playmates
“Bimbombey” – Jimmie Rodgers*
“Call Me” – Johnny Mathis
“Cannonball” – Duane Eddy
“Chantilly Lace” – Big Bopper
“Donna” – Ritchie Valens*
“Forget Me Not” – Kalin Twins
“Goodbye Baby” – Jack Scott*
“Gotta Travel On” – Billy Grammer*
“Hideaway” – Four Esquires
“I Got A Feeling” – Ricky Nelson
“I Got Stung” – Elvis Presley
“I Need You” – Donnie Owens*
“I’ll Wait For You” – Frankie Avalon
“It’s All In The Game” – Tommy Edwards
“It’s Only Make Believe” – Conway Twitty
“Lonely Teardrops” – Jackie Wilson*
“Lonesome Town” – Ricky Nelson
“Love Is All We Need” – Tommy Edwards
“Love You Most Of All” – Sam Cooke*
“Manhattan Spiritual” – Reg Owen Orchestra*
“My Happiness” – Connie Francis*
“Need You” – Donnie Owens
“One Night” – Elvis Presley
“Philadelphia Usa” – Nu Tornados*
“Poor Boy” – Royaltones
“Problems” – Everly Brothers
“Queen Of The Hop” – Bobby Darin
“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” – Platters*
“Tea For Two Cha Cha” – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
“That Old Black Magic” – Louis Prima And Keely Smith*
“The Chipmunk Song” – Chipmunks*
“The Day The Rains Came” – Jane Morgan
“The End” – Earl Grant
“The Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale*
“The World Outside” – Four Coins*
“To Know Him Is To Love Him” – Teddy Bears
“Tom Dooley” – Kingston Trio
“Topsy Ii” – Cozy Cole
“Walking Along” – Diamonds
“Whole Lotta Loving” – Fats Domino*
* = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On December the 5th Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD – allowing direct dialing of numbers outside an area code) is inaugurated in the UK by Queen Elizabeth II when she speaks to the Lord Provost in a call from Bristol to Edinburgh. A film of that below.
And in more telecommunications first, on December 19 we had the 1st radio broadcast from space, when US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Christmas message, “to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere”, was beamed off a satellite.
And in politics, on December 21st Charles de Gaulle wins 7 year term as 1st President of the 5th Republic of France. Another great film from British Pathé below.
What’d Sadie think?
“To Know Him Is To Love Him” by Teddy Bears is number 1 for 3 weeks before “The Chipmunk Song” by the Chipmunks takes the spot for the last 2 weeks of the month.
Loved ’em
It’s about the 3rd time (1942, then 1955 has prominent versions) out for “That Old Black Magic”, this time as a great duet by Louis Prima And Keely Smith.
And a new Xmas tune for 1958. The classic “The Little Drummer Boy” by the Harry Simeone Chorale. Or was it new? As the story goes, after being introduced to an obscure song by producer and credited song co-author Henry Onorati, titled “Carol of the Drum” (originally composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941), Simeone changed the title to “The Little Drummer Boy” and recorded it under that title for his album “Sing We Now of Christmas”. He received joint authorship-and-composition credit for the album, although he did not actually write or compose the song.
Actually two new tunes. With “The Chipmunk Song” by errr the Chipmunks. Sadie’s favourite cartoon currently is the most recent “Alvin and the Chipmunks” series. Despite being over 60 years old and the first official outing for the Chipmunks this has all the signatures, such as Dave yelling, “AAAAAAllllllviiin!!”.
Then a bunch of great croons…
- “Donna” – Ritchie Valens
- “Goodbye Baby” – Jack Scott
- “Lonely Teardrops” – Jackie Wilson
- “Love You Most Of All” – Sam Cooke
Liked ’em
And the best of the rest:
- “16 Candles” – Crests
- “Bimbombey” – Jimmie Rodgers
- “I Need You” – Donnie Owens
- “Manhattan Spiritual” – Reg Owen Orchestra
- “My Happiness” – Connie Francis
- “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” – Platters
- “The World Outside” – Four Coins
- “Whole Lotta Loving” – Fats Domino
Leave ’em
- “Gotta Travel On” – Billy Grammer
- “Philadelphia Usa” – Nu Tornados
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.