And here we are, the very last month of the 1950s, the end of our first decade in our journey through musical history. Sadie is nearly 2.5 years old as we listen to December, 1959…
Songs of the month
“Always” – Sammy Turner
“Among My Souvenirs” – Connie Francis*
“Be My Guest” – Fats Domino
“Come Into My Heart” – Lloyd Price
“Dance With Me” – Drifters
“Danny Boy” – Conway Twitty
“Deck Of Cards” – Wink Martindale
“Don’r You Know” – Della Reese
“El Paso” – Marty Robbins
“First Name Initial” – Annette & Afterbeats*
“Go Jimmy Go” – Jimmy Clanton*
“Heartaches By The Number” – Guy Mitchell
“Hound Dog Man” – Fabian*
“I Wanna Be Loved” – Ricky Nelson*
“In The Mood” – Eugene Fields
“It’s Time To Cry” – Paul Anka*
“Lonely Street” – Andy Williams
“Lonely Street” – Browns*
“Mack The Knife” – Bobby Darin
“Misty” – Johnny Mathis
“Mr. Blue” – Fleetwoods
“Oh Carol” – Neil Sedaka
“Pretty Blue Eyes” – Steve Lawrence*
“Primrose Lane” – Jerry Wallace & Jewels
“Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka
“Reveille Rock” – Johnny And The Hurricanes
“Running Bear” – Johnny Preston*
“Sandy” – Larry Hall*
“Scarlet Ribbons” – Browns
“Sitting In The Back Seat” – Paul Evans & Curls
“Smokie” – Bill Black’S Combo*
“So Many Ways” – Brook Benton
“Tear Drop” – Santo And Johnny*
“The Big Hurt” – Miss Toni Fisher
“The Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale*
“The Village Of St. Bernadette” – Andy Williams*
“This Friendly World” – Fabian*
“Uh Oh” – Nutty Squirrels
“Unforgettable” – Dinah Washington
“Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” – Freddie Cannon*
“We Got Love” – Bobby Rydell
“Why” – Frankie Avalon*
“Woo-Hoo” – Rock-A-Teens
“You Got What It Takes” – Marv Johnson*
* = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On the first of the month ” – “The Antarctic Treaty” was signed by all 12 nations that had stations in Antarctica. It came into force on June 23, 1961. Article I provides that “Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.”
Meanwhile on the fifteenth Major Joseph W. Rogers became the first person to travel faster than 1,500 miles per hour, and almost reached 2,500 kilometers per hour, breaking the world speed record at 1,525.96 mph (2,455.79 km/h), in an F-106 Delta Dart jet fighter. (For some reason I can’t embed this video.)
Then on December 17th, “On the Beach”, the Stanley Kramer film adaptation of Nevil Shute’s novel about World War III, premiered in 18 cities around the world, including New York, London and Moscow.
What’d Sadie think?
One last week at number 1 for “Mack The Knife” before Guy Mitchell’s “Heartaches By The Number” takes the top for two. Then its a week for our only “leave ’em” song of the month – “Why” by Frankie Avalon. Sorry Frankie,
Loved ’em
- “Among My Souvenirs” – Connie Francis
- “First Name Initial” – Annette & Afterbeats
- “Go Jimmy Go” – Jimmy Clanton
- “Lonely Street” – Browns
- “Smokie” – Bill Black’S Combo
- “You Got What It Takes” – Marv Johnson
Liked ’em
- “Hound Dog Man” – Fabian
- “It’s Time To Cry” – Paul Anka
- “I Wanna Be Loved” – Ricky Nelson
- “Pretty Blue Eyes” – Steve Lawrence
- “Running Bear” – Johnny Preston
- “Sandy” – Larry Hall
- “Tear Drop” – Santo And Johnny
- “The Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale
- “The Village Of St. Bernadette” – Andy Williams
- “This Friendly World” – Fabian
- “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” – Freddie Cannon
Leave ’em
- “Why” – Frankie Avalon
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.