Still feels like summer down under in March 2022, which it probably did in the northern hemisphere of August 1956 where we find ourselves listening to the hits of the day…
The songs of August, 1956
“A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl” – Teresa Brewer
“After The Lights Go Down Low” – Al Hibbler*
“Allegheny Moon” – Patti Page
“Ape Call” – Nervous Norvous*
“Be-Bop-A-Lula” – Gene Vincent
“Born To Be With You” – Chordettes
“Canadian Sunset” – Andy Williams*
“Canadian Sunset” – Hugo Winterhalter*
“Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley*
“Fabulous Character” – Sarah Vaughan*
“Fever” – Little Willie John
“Ghost Town” – Don Cherry*
“Give Us This Day” – Joni James*
“Glendora” – Perry Como
“Honky Tonk” – Bill Doggett*
“Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley*
“I Almost Lost My Mind” – Pat Boone
“I Want You I Need You I Love You” – Elvis Presley
“I’m In Love Again” – Fats Domino
“In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town” – Somethin’ Smith And The Redheads*
“It Only Hurts For A Little While” – Ames Brothers
“Ivory Tower” – Cathy Carr
“Ivory Tower” – Gale Storm
“Moonglow And Theme From Picnic” – George Cates Orchestra
“Moonglow And Theme From Picnic” – Morris Stoloff
“More” – Perry Como
“My Prayer” – Platters*
“On The Street Where You Live” – Vic Damone
“Picnic” – Mcguire Sisters
“Portuguese Washerwoman” – Joe Fingers Carr
“Soft Summer Breeze” – Eddie Heywood*
“Somebody Up There Likes Me” – Perry Como*
“Standing On The Corner” – Four Lads
“Stranded In The Jungle” – Cadets*
“Stranded In The Jungle” – Jayhawks*
“That’s All There Is To That” – Nat King Cole*
“The Flying Saucer” – Buchannan And Goodman*
“The Fool” – Sanford Clark*
“The Wayward Wind” – Gogi Grant
“Theme From Song For A Summer Night” – Mitch Miller*
“Tonight You Belong To Me” – Patience And Prudence*
“Transfusion” – Nervous Norvus
“Treasure Of Love” – Clyde Mcphatter
“Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” – Doris Day
“When My Dreamboat Comes Home” – Fats Domino*
“You Don’t Know Me” – Jerry Vale*
* = New to the chart this week.
Plenty of new songs in the main charts this month but let’s throw in some tunes from the R&B charts too. Though as they cross-over more frequently there’s more double up.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link or embedded below:
This month in history
A couple of notable deaths this month (apologies to anyone who died this month who I don’t mention as notable… ain’t life weird.) On August 2 – Albert Woolson died age 106. A very decent innings but particularly interesting as he was the last surviving Union veteran of the American Civil War. Show’s just how long ago 1956 was I guess.
And then on August 11, Jackson Pollock, 44, US artist, was killed in a car crash, along with a passenger, while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, after his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in the United States, musician Duke Ellington appears on the cover of Time magazine:
What’d Sadie think?
Pat Boone’s “I Almost Lost My Mind” is at number 1 for two weeks before chart newcomer, “Mr Prayer” by the Platters tops them for 3 weeks.
Two bangers from Mr Presley this week – he sure came out of the gates at pace! Just a few months into his charting career and delivering some of his classics.
Oddity of note this month is “The Flying Saucer” by Buchannan And Goodman – which would be in “leave it” except you really do need to listen to it, even if you may not like it either.
The song is considered to be an early (perhaps the earliest) example of a mashup, featuring segments of popular songs intertwined with spoken “news” commentary to tell the story of a visit from a flying saucer.
Très très post modern.
Loved it
“Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley
“Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley
“My Prayer” – Platters
“Rip it Up” – Little Richard
Liked it
“After The Lights Go Down Low” – Al Hibbler
“Canadian Sunset” – Andy Williams
“Fabulous Character” – Sarah Vaughan
“Ghost Town” – Don Cherry
“Honky Tonk” – Bill Doggett
“Soft Summer Breeze” – Eddie Heywood
“Somebody Up There Likes Me” – Perry Como
“That’s All There Is To That” – Nat King Cole
“The Fool” – Sanford Clark
“Theme From Song For A Summer Night” – Mitch Miller
“When My Dreamboat Comes Home” – Fats Domino
It’s too Late – Chuck Willis
Let the Good Times Roll – Shirley and Lee
So Long – Fats Domino
Casual Look -Six Teens
“Stranded In The Jungle” – Jayhawks
“The Flying Saucer” – Buchannan And Goodman
Leave it
“Ape Call” – Nervous Norvous
“Give Us This Day” – Joni James
“In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town” – Somethin’ Smith And The Redheads
“Tonight You Belong To Me” – Patience And Prudence
“You Don’t Know Me” – Jerry Vale
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.