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 Julian rates every 20th century Top 40 hit, Now in 1970 |
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 3rd January 2023, 09:27 AM
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#21
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
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Bit of a history lesson in this batch with the President and the Queen mentioned! Mantovani also had a Coronation song (Elizabethan Serenade) which is fab. I have always loved that one since being a little lad. Can't go wrong with Louis A, and Nat is back, Doris too, and I didn't know two to tango was a song reference!
I know The Eddie Fisher song, he's more famous for his wives than his singing career these days, Connie Stevens, Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds to name just 3, not to mention Carrie Fisher daughter. Never been a fan of the record. Very much a fan of his wives and daughter. Jambalaya is one of those songs that's always got on my nerves too, in any version, not even the previously flawless Carpenters managed to make a pearl out of it, though they got a hit record. Then there's Bing and Mrs Ronald Reagan zinging a zong. What a bizarre bunch of tracks! |
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3rd January 2023, 05:24 PM
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#22
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 BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
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You know sometimes a record just grabs you unexpectedly, and that happened with "The Glow Worm" when I first heard it a few weeks ago. Previously I'd have expected Perry Como to win today hands down.
9 The Mills Brothers The Glow Worm Just love this upbeat jazz quartet style and think it's a catchy and unique song that really stands out here 8 Perry Como With The Ramblers Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes 5th #1; such a catchy song and it has a great relentless quality to it (does he ever take a breath)? 8 Dickie Valentine All The Time And Everywhere Great tune with a dreamy muted trumpet accompaniment; evokes being in love very well 7 Tony Brent Got You On My Mind Another catchy number from Tony with a cool jazzy arrangement 7 Al Martino Now By far my favourite of his so far; a warm uplifting ballad 7 Eddie Fisher Everything I Have Is Yours Another dreamy number with lovely smooth vocals 6 Joni James Why Don't You Believe Me? Her only Top 20 hit; quite a slow ballad but find her delivery very convincing 6 Art And Dotty Todd Broken Wings Don't love this song in any form but this is my favourite version with lovely harmonies 5 Dickie Valentine Broken Wings Quite different from the other two versions; like the eerie instrumentation 5 Ted Heath And His Music Vanessa A very nice instrumental but not particularly memorable - couldn’t hum it now 4 Jimmy Young Faith Can Move Mountains Prefer the 2 versions of this in the previous batch; this one's a bit slow and croony 4 The Stargazers Broken Wings Far from their worst but still the most stilted sounding of the 3 renditions 3 Lita Roza (How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window? 7th #1; a classic of sorts I guess but doesn't really bear repeated listens 2 Danny Kaye Wonderful Copenhagen Good old "Copenhargen" - a raucous number and all the repetitions of "wonderful" almost make me feel seasick; maybe that's the intention 2 Guy Mitchell She Wears Red Feathers 6th #1 and the worst so far for me; just very irritating and what's a "cokeynut"? Next up: #46 21/03/1953 Frankie Laine The Girl In The Wood 11 {11}->1 #47 21/03/1953 Buddy Morrow Night Train 12 {12}->1 #48 28/03/1953 Patti Page (How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window? 9 {9}-12-12-9-12->5 #49 04/04/1953 Johnston Brothers Oh Happy Day 4 7-9-6-5-{4}-4-6-8->8 #50 04/04/1953 Frank Chacksfield's Tunesmiths With Jack Jordan Little Red Monkey 10 {10}-11-12->3 #51 04/04/1953 Frankie Laine I Believe 1 11-8-4-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-2-2-3-2-2-4-6-5-7-4-6-10->36 #52 04/04/1953 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray Ma Says Pa Says 12 {12}->1 #53 11/04/1953 Johnnie Ray Somebody Stole My Gal 6 {6}-7R(2)-6-8-10-12R(2)-11R(10)->7 #54 18/04/1953 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray A Full Time Job 11 {11}->1 #55 25/04/1953 Guy Mitchell Pretty Little Black-Eyed Susie 2 4-{2}-3-3-4-5-9-12-11-10-10->11 #56 25/04/1953 Kay Starr Side By Side 7 9-{7}-11-8->4 #57 25/04/1953 Nat 'King' Cole Pretend 2 10-5-{2}-2-2-2-4-3-2-5-6-6-9-8-7-7-8-8->18 #58 02/05/1953 Eddie Fisher Downhearted 3 9-7-4-{3}-4-3-8-6-9-8-9-7-9-9-12->15 #59 02/05/1953 Billy Cotton And His Band With Doreen Stephens And Chorus In A Golden Coach (There's A Heart Of Gold) 3 11-10-9-7-8-{3}-7-9-12-12->10 #60 09/05/1953 Jimmy Boyd And Frankie Laine Tell Me A Story 5 9-{5}-5-9-11-10-10-8-7-8-8-7-10-12-11-12R(4)->16 |
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3rd January 2023, 07:24 PM
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#23
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
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Nice pick there, I dont know it but its got that Big Band jive sound which always sounds good. Agree about Lita Roza and Guy Mitchell
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4th January 2023, 12:51 AM
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#24
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
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Poor brave Vera
 Will try and make sure to check out some of your highlights here to leave the occasional comment, naturally I don't know many of these songs bar vaguely recalling some of the #1s! |
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4th January 2023, 08:19 AM
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#25
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 my mind is ready for fun
Joined: 28 August 2017
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Don't know any of the Johnnie Ray songs so far or in the next section, but I started listening through the #1s playlist on New Year's Eve (having got through the #5s playlist just in time for the rate), and since a certain song came up yesterday I've had "Yip Yip!" lodged in my head, so looking forward to that here eventually, plus a few others of his I know in the meantime.
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4th January 2023, 10:44 PM
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#26
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
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Of course the selection to be reviewed today includes the 9th chart topper which remains the song with the longest ever Number 1 tenure and the longest unbroken Top 10 run. Overall this is the strongest bunch yet, but not because of that one which is a fairly unremarkable song really, though Frankie Laine almost wins today with another of his efforts. I doubt the average score of 5.8 today will be beaten any time soon
9 Frank Chacksfield's Tunesmiths With Jack Jordan Little Red Monkey A quite scary but fantastic instrumental; you feel like the monkey's in the room with you 9 Frankie Laine The Girl In The Wood The backing vocals really make this but all in all it's exciting, vibrant and haunting - everything that his monster hit isn't 8 Nat 'King' Cole Pretend Sadly 5 weeks at #2 for this behind you know what; a lovely tender little number of course done brilliantly by Nat 8 Buddy Morrow Night Train It's a night train alright - another wonderfully evocative instrumental and the only hit for Buddy Morrow 7 Johnston Brothers Oh Happy Day Interesting history behind this record and has a nice folky almost gospel feel to it 7 Johnnie Ray Somebody Stole My Gal Nice jazzy ballad assisted by Johnnie's usual slightly quirky performance 6 Eddie Fisher Downhearted Another heartbreak ballad from Eddie - not his best but still very nice and beautifully sung 6 Guy Mitchell Pretty Little Black-Eyed Susie Guy's songs always seem to be catchy and / or irritating; happily this one is more the former 6 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray Ma Says Pa Says Normally not keen on this type of flirtatious duet but this one is clever and genuinely makes me smile 5 Frankie Laine I Believe Don't get me wrong it's decent, but slightly plodding and just builds up once and then it's over 5 Kay Starr Side By Side It's nice and a similar style to her chart topper but nowhere near as good 4 Patti Page (How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window? I'm a sucker for nice harmonies so that's probably why I've given this a point more than Lita's version 3 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray A Full Time Job Their other duet is entertaining but just find this one silly and the song doesn't grab me 2 Billy Cotton And His Band With Doreen Stephens And Chorus In A Golden Coach (There's A Heart Of Gold) Gah this is so dreary and the horse and crowd noise sounds don't improve it 2 Jimmy Boyd And Frankie Laine Tell Me A Story Was going to give this a 1 but I suppose there's a certain cuteness; Jimmy was only 13 bless him but not a fun listen As I've unusually given two 9s I've linked both of them. Coming next: #61 16/05/1953 Muriel Smith Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me 3 11-7-6-4-6-{3}-3-4-3-3-6-4-6-7-4-9-11->17 #62 16/05/1953 Winifred Atwell Coronation Rag 5 12-12R(2)-{5}-9-12-11->6 #63 16/05/1953 Ron Goodwin Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight') 3 12-11-11-10-11-8-7-9-7-6-5-6-{3}-5-3-10-7-7-9-8-8-11-9->23 #64 23/05/1953 Eddie Fisher With Sally Sweetland I'm Walking Behind You 1 6-7-6-5-4-{1}-3-5-4-4-3-5-4-7-5-6-6-12->18 #65 23/05/1953 Frank Chacksfield Terry's Theme From 'Limelight' 2 10-3-{2}-2-5-4-2-2-2-3-2-2-3-5-2-3-3-5-5-5-5-5-6-12->24 #66 30/05/1953 Mantovani The Song From The Moulin Rouge 1 10-8-4-7-6-5-4-5-2-5-4-{1}-2-3-2-5-3-3-6-7-6-10R(4)-12R(3)->23 #67 06/06/1953 Dickie Valentine In A Golden Coach 7 {7}->1 #68 06/06/1953 Vera Lynn The Windsor Waltz 11 {11}->1 #69 06/06/1953 Dorothy Squires I'm Walking Behind You 12 {12}->1 #70 04/07/1953 Ted Heath And His Music Hot Toddy 6 11-11-11-10-8-8-{6}-6-7-10-8->11 #71 11/07/1953 Al Martino Rachel 10 {10}-10-12-12-12R(6)->5 #72 11/07/1953 Vivian Blaine Bushel And A Peck 12 {12}->1 #73 18/07/1953 Gisele MacKenzie Seven Lonely Days 6 12-11R(2)-10R(3)-{6}-9-11->6 #74 25/07/1953 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray Let's Walk That-A-Way 4 11-8-9-10-9-{4}-4-4-4-4-4-4-8-9->14 #75 08/08/1953 June Hutton And Axel Stordahl With The Boys Next Door Say You're Mine Again 6 10-12-12-7R(2)-9-{6}-10->7 This post has been edited by JulianT: 11th January 2023, 11:04 PM |
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4th January 2023, 10:50 PM
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#27
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 Alone and wounded
Pronouns: She/her
Joined: 18 January 2011 Posts: 60,191 User: 12,810 
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Winifred Atwell was the artist from yesterday that I enjoy a lot in general, I find her piano playing so charming
 Oh wow is that clavioline usage in 'Little Red Monkey'?! Sounds like it comes from the same universe as 'Telstar' by The Tornados  what a great discovery, thank you!
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5th January 2023, 09:48 AM
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#28
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,558 User: 8,705
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QUOTE(Jade @ Jan 4 2023, 10:50 PM)  Winifred Atwell was the artist from yesterday that I enjoy a lot in general, I find her piano playing so charming Oh wow is that clavioline usage in 'Little Red Monkey'?! Sounds like it comes from the same universe as 'Telstar' by The Tornados what a great discovery, thank you!I do find Winifred charming but they all sort of merge into one for me. Yes sorry meant to comment on that - it’s the first ever hit to use an electronic keyboard apparently. And yes very much “Telstar” vibes! |
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5th January 2023, 10:38 AM
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#29
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,852 User: 17,376
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Yes I like both of those tracks, and the Monkey tune is def years ahead of its time! An obscure little oddity Ive never heard of
I'd opt for Nat King Cole Pretend though, such a great song, and even better as done uptempo in 1981 by Alvin Stardust;s top 10 hit version. |
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5th January 2023, 05:23 PM
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#30
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
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So we have Winifred's "Coronation Anthem" and 2 renditions of the terribly tedious "In A Golden Coach" charting around this time. It's almost like there was some sort of event happening this year - anyway I'm sure it won't happen again whatever it was. Average dropping below 5 today oops, but still a few that I really like and the chart toppers coming out around the top this time.
8 Eddie Fisher With Sally Sweetland I'm Walking Behind You 10th #1: it's creepy for sure but brilliantly so and Sally's unsettling, distant sounding harmonies really make it 8 Muriel Smith Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me Just a very classy version of this excellently performed 7 Mantovani The Song From The Moulin Rouge 11th #1: a very atmospheric instrumental and the accordian really gives it that French vibe 6 Dorothy Squires I'm Walking Behind You Great voice and nice to hear a female version of this, but nowhere near as enchanting as the chart topping version 6 Ron Goodwin Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight') Not much to choose between the two versions of this; both nice but I very slightly prefer this longer one 6 Frank Chacksfield Terry's Theme From 'Limelight' I believe "I Believe" kept this at #2 for a record 8 weeks; also lovely but nothing Earth shattering 5 June Hutton And Axel Stordahl With The Boys Next Door Say You're Mine Again Nice little tune here but very 50s sounding 5 Winifred Atwell Coronation Rag Another feel good number from Winifred but not that memorable for me 4 Vivian Blaine Bushel And A Peck From "Guys And Dolls" and no doubt makes more sense in the context of the musical; over before it really gets going 4 Al Martino Rachel OOOHHH RAAAYYYCHEELLL - not his finest song but he certainly makes a good fist of selling it 4 Ted Heath And His Music Hot Toddy Nice but slightly plodding instrumental this 3 Gisele MacKenzie Seven Lonely Days I think it's the backing men in this that get on my nerves, boo hoo hoo hoo 3 Doris Day And Johnnie Ray Let's Walk That-A-Way 7 straight weeks at #4 is impressive, but quite an irritating song; feel free to stop doing duets now Doris and Johnnie 2 Dickie Valentine In A Golden Coach No horse and crowd noises this time but still such a dreary track 2 Vera Lynn The Windsor Waltz I know it's meant to be light singalong fun but it's a really unmemorable tune, and once again crashed by a backing rabble Quite a few chart toppers in tomorrow's batch after "I Believe" is finally dispatched for good: #76 15/08/1953 Nat 'King' Cole Can't I? 6 9-11-11-11R(3)-{6}-10-6-10R(3)->8 #77 22/08/1953 Jimmy Young Eternally 8 9-12-{8}-11-10-11-11-12-11->9 #78 29/08/1953 Guy Mitchell Look At That Girl 1 8-5-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-4-3-10-10->14 #79 05/09/1953 Frankie Laine Where The Winds Blow 2 12-10-7-7-{2}-3-4-3-5-7-9-12->12 #80 19/09/1953 Nat 'King' Cole Mother Nature And Father Time 7 8-9-12-9-{7}-10-11->7 #81 19/09/1953 Dean Martin Kiss 5 9-7R(2)-8-10-{5}-7-10-12->8 #82 26/09/1953 Winifred Atwell Flirtation Waltz 10 12-{10}R(2)-12R(4)->3 #83 03/10/1953 David Whitfield The Bridge Of Sighs 9 {9}->1 #84 17/10/1953 Frankie Laine Hey Joe 1 3-{1}-1-3-4-6-5-8->8 #85 17/10/1953 David Whitfield Answer Me 1 12-8-4-{1}-2-2-2-5-1-2-2-2-6-12R(3)->14 #86 24/10/1953 Mantovani Swedish Rhapsody 2 6-9-9-5-3-3-{2}-4-5-5-5-2-4-7-8-9-6-12R(2)->18 #87 24/10/1953 Diana Decker Poppa Piccolino 2 11-8-8-6-5-4-4-{2}-5R(4)-9->10 #88 24/10/1953 Ted Heath And His Music Dragnet 9 12-{9}R(5)-11R(2)-11R(5)-12R(3)->5 #89 31/10/1953 Frankie Laine Answer Me 1 3-2-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4-6-5-6-8-8-10->17 |
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6th January 2023, 10:28 PM
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#31
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,558 User: 8,705
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Not a great selection today and it may have included 4 #1s but they're a fairly lacklustre bunch overall. I've put some nice instrumentals near the top and this is definitely the most I've connected with one of Winifred's.
8 Mantovani Swedish Rhapsody Like this even more than "Moulin Rouge"; great tune and orchestration 7 Winifred Atwell Flirtation Waltz By far my favourite of hers so far; love the staccato effects and the other instruments that join towards the end 7 Frankie Laine Where The Winds Blow Prefer Frankie's more upbeat numbers like this one; backing singers create the wind effect very effectively 6 Nat 'King' Cole Mother Nature And Father Time Lovely as ever from Nat and a nice ballad 6 Guy Mitchell Look At That Girl 12th #1 and by far the better of his chart toppers; nice jazzy number 5 David Whitfield The Bridge Of Sighs THE BREEEEEEDGE OF SIIIIIIIIGHS! - not a fan of his overdramatic vocal style in general but it works quite well on this one 5 Frankie Laine Answer Me 15th #1 and the better of the two versions of the angst ridden track with Frankie's smoother delivery, but not a brilliant song 4 Nat 'King' Cole Can't I? A fairly boring song from Nat though sung and played well 4 Ted Heath And His Music Dragnet An iconic TV theme but as a piece of music I can take or leave it: better when it gets going towards the end 4 David Whitfield Answer Me 14th #1: for me this doesn't work as well with David's heavy vibrato and it becomes overly laboured 3 Frankie Laine Hey Joe 13th #1: Frankie addresses his "palsy walsy" Joe and warns him off the "pearly girly"; very silly lyrics and the song doesn't do a lot 3 Dean Martin Kiss Boring and sleepy ballad this, slightly saved by some nice instrumentation 2 Jimmy Young Eternally It's the "Limelight" theme set to words, and my gosh it's dull - so much better as an instrumental 2 Diana Decker Poppa Piccolino One of those tunes that becomes stuck in your head that you really don't want there Just one more group left in 1953! #90 07/11/1953 Guy Mitchell Chicka Boom 4 6-8-9-7-6-5-9-9-9-8R(2)-8-{4}-10-11-11->15 #91 07/11/1953 Eddie Fisher Wish You Were Here 8 11-11-{8}-12-11-9-12-12-12->9 #92 21/11/1953 Les Paul And Mary Ford Vaya Con Dios 7 {7}-11-9-10->4 #93 21/11/1953 Lee Lawrence Crying In The Chapel 7 11-{7}R(3)-10-10-10-10->6 #94 28/11/1953 Jimmy Boyd I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 3 8-{3}-8-8-8-8->6 #95 28/11/1953 The Beverley Sisters I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 6 11-{6}R(2)-7-7-7->5 #96 05/12/1953 Ray Anthony And His Orchestra Dragnet 7 {7}-11R(5)->2 #97 05/12/1953 Winifred Atwell Let's Have A Party 2 7-3-3-3-3-9-{2}-4-5-14R(43)-16-18-20-20-20->15 #98 05/12/1953 Ray Martin And His Concert Orchestra Swedish Rhapsody 4 10-{4}R(2)-4-4->4 #99 12/12/1953 Joan Regan With The Squadronaires Ricochet 8 {8}-12R(4)-10-12-9->5 #100 12/12/1953 David Whitfield Rags To Riches 3 12-{3}R(4)-7-6-4-5-3-3-8-11-10->11 #101 19/12/1953 Eddie Calvert Oh Mein Papa 1 6-6-6-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-3-3-3-8-7-7-10-12->21 #102 19/12/1953 Billy Cotton And His Band Featuring The Mill Girls And The Bandits I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 11 {11}-11-11->3 #103 19/12/1953 Guy Mitchell Cloud Lucky Seven 2 12-12-12-8-5-3-3-3-{2}-4-4-8-8-9-9-12->16 |
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6th January 2023, 10:34 PM
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#32
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Alone and wounded
Pronouns: She/her
Joined: 18 January 2011 Posts: 60,191 User: 12,810
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Glad you gave 'The Song From The Moulin Rouge' a positive score as it's the first one that appears on my favourite U.K. #1s playlist, so lovely.
 QUOTE(JulianT @ Jan 5 2023, 09:48 AM) I do find Winifred charming but they all sort of merge into one for me. Yes sorry meant to comment on that - it’s the first ever hit to use an electronic keyboard apparently. And yes very much “Telstar” vibes!  fair, happy that her scores are going up now at least and this has blown my mind as 'Telstar' already sounded so advanced in 1962. Early 50s is another level
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7th January 2023, 11:42 AM
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#33
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,852 User: 17,376
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Hold Me Thrill me is a fab song, loved the Gloria Estefan version, and the Moulin Rouge tune is also a goodie. I don't mind Mantovani despite the name becoming a dirty word for Elevator Music. And I didn't know that I knew Swedish Rhapsody but I know it very well!!!!
One of those tunes that has popped up all my life here and there without ever knowing what it was (usually to do with Sweden, not surprisingly as a Swedish composer wrote it)! Thanks for the info!  I like it! Answer Me is a great song when done well, Barbara Dickson's 1976 hit version is by far the best one though. Sweet, charming and melodic where these versions are slow and turgid. |
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7th January 2023, 09:40 PM
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#34
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,558 User: 8,705
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Just as Christmas is over in the real world we've reached Christmas 1953 in this world. None of the versions of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" are a patch on The Ronettes though. I've given the win to a singer who I haven't heard much about but she certainly gives this one plenty of welly.
8 Joan Regan With The Squadronaires Ricochet A cheeky and vigorous number beautifully sung; lovely 8 Eddie Fisher Wish You Were Here Another very convincing heartbreak ballad from Eddie 7 Ray Martin And His Concert Orchestra Swedish Rhapsody A bit slower than the Mantovani version of this and think it's slightly less punchy but still very good 7 Eddie Calvert Oh Mein Papa 16th #1: in a way baffling this instrumental vesrion was so huge but there is something mesmerising about the trumpet 7 Winifred Atwell Let's Have A Party Just a piano medley of song snippets but it's very well done and can see why this was a popular record to put on at Christmas 6 Lee Lawrence Crying In The Chapel A future #1 for a certain other artist of course; not sure why but I quite like the religious fervour of this and he sings it well 6 David Whitfield Rags To Riches One of David's better ones (he does have some horrors to come unfortunately) - not oversung and a decent tune 5 Guy Mitchell Cloud Lucky Seven The more grown up of the two songs from the bubblegum pop king of the period here; still haven't given any of his a lucky seven 5 Billy Cotton And His Band Featuring The Mill Girls And The Bandits I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus My favourite of the three versions here - quite nicely done whoever the Mill Girls and Bandits were 4 Guy Mitchell Chicka Boom Very random lyrics about a girl "from Seattle where her daddy raises cattle", but still somewhat catchy 4 The Beverley Sisters I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Some nice harmonies in this version but it's too slow and plodding 3 Ray Anthony And His Orchestra Dragnet Quite a repetitive theme and I found the Ted Heath version a bit more interesting 3 Les Paul And Mary Ford Vaya Con Dios Husband and wife vocal guitar duo - seems quite a lifeless song to me 3 Jimmy Boyd I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus In theory it makes perfect sense for this to be sung by a child but in practice the vocals are quite grating |
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8th January 2023, 10:52 AM
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#35
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
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quite a jolly pick there. Oh Mein Papa has never been one I rate, but trumpets were big in the 50's so that might explain it!
Elvis must have been taking notes - Crying In The Chapel was a huge fave of mine when I was 8, dad used to sing it, and he was a huge David Whitfield fan, which explains why he was so enthusiastic about Elvis' version of the fab Rags To Riches song. I don't know the original, but I still like both Elvis covers. Ronettes def the best version of Santa Claus! Dragnet eventually an Art Of Noise hit, I think, after the movie version, but the theme tune was everywhere right through to the 70's. I like it. Used to watch the TV show in Singapore where it was still running. Vaya Con Dios was a 1973 hit for Millican & Nesbitt. An elderly Spanish chap in a restaurant in Gran canaria was singing Spanish songs on his guitar to entertain customers back in the 00's and was asking for requests, but no-one was asking for any, so I suggested Vaya Con Dios and he was so pleased to have one he could sing. Best version I've heard I really wanted the 1973 Eurovision song (and global hit) from Mocedades - Eres Tu. Fab song. |
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8th January 2023, 02:56 PM
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#36
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,558 User: 8,705
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And so as it's the end of the year it's time to choose my favourites and there were 4 songs that I gave 9s:
Gold medal: Little Red Monkey - Frank Chacksfield's Tunesmiths With Jack Jordan (if you just have 2 minutes to spare on reading this go and listen to that; I'm regretting not giving it a 10 in fact) Silver medal: Mills Brothers - The Glow Worm Bronze medal: Frankie Laine - The Girl In The Wood And the unlucky 4th place goes to Bing Crosby with The Isle Of Innisfree. Worst song of the year: Zing A Little Zong - Bing Crosby And Jane Wyman My medallists all peaked at #10 or lower in a chart that was only a Top 12: who knew there were such gems lurking in the depths of the 1953 charts? First 2 months of 1954 tomorrow: #104 09/01/1954 Frankie Laine Blowing Wild 2 7-{2}-2-2-2-2-4-2-7-5-8-12->12 #105 16/01/1954 Ken Mackintosh The Creep 10 12-{10}R(2)->2 #106 23/01/1954 Eddie Fisher Oh My Papa 9 {9}-11R(2)-10R(3)-11R(2)->4 #107 23/01/1954 Obernkirchen Children's Choir The Happy Wanderer 2 10-7-6-7-6-7-5-3-{2}-2-2-2-2-4-6-3-4-5-4-4-4-5-12-11R(2)-8-10->26 #108 23/01/1954 Dean Martin That's Amore 2 11-7-4-5-{2}-3-3-6-5-11-8->11 #109 30/01/1954 Frankie Vaughan Istanbul (Not Constantinople) 11 {11}->1 #110 06/02/1954 Bonnie Lou Tennessee Wig Walk 4 7-{4}-5-5-4-4-4-7-7-11->10 #111 06/02/1954 Rosemary Clooney/Jose Ferrer Man (Uh-Huh)/Woman (Uh-Huh) 7 11-10-{7}-7-12->5 #112 13/02/1954 Frank Chacksfield Ebb Tide 9 {9}-11->2 #113 13/02/1954 Ted Heath And His Music Skin Deep 9 12-{9}-11->3 #114 20/02/1954 Norman Wisdom Don't Laugh At Me ('Cause I'm A Fool) 3 8-6-6-4-7-4-6-{3}-5-10-7-9-8-10-10->15 #115 20/02/1954 Guy Mitchell The Cuff Of My Shirt 9 {9}-12R(4)-11R(2)->3 #116 20/02/1954 David Whitfield The Book 5 10-9-10-9-6-{5}-5-7-11-12-12-11-12R(3)-10-11->15 #117 20/02/1954 The Stargazers I See The Moon 1 12-8-2-{1}-1-1-1-1-3-1-4-5-5-8-11->15 This post has been edited by JulianT: 1st March 2023, 02:55 PM |
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9th January 2023, 05:25 PM
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#37
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,558 User: 8,705
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Into 1954 now and like Craig Revel-Horwood I had hoped to hold out longer without using my 10 paddle, and perhaps use it on something people don't know, but "That's Amore" is just too iconic so there it goes. Basic choice I know. Not much else to get too excited about in this bunch; in fact the competition for worst is much fiercer than that for best today.
 10 Dean Martin That's Amore Just the perfect 1950s song 7 Frankie Vaughan Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Quite silly but fun and a good tune with some token Eastern elements 7 Eddie Fisher Oh My Papa Think I very slightly prefer this to the monster hit instrumental version: still has a nice trumpet part and Eddie sings it well 6 Ted Heath And His Music Skin Deep A good tune well performed but there's a better version of this instrumental to come 6 Ken Mackintosh The Creep Wind band style instrumental that builds up nicely 6 Frankie Laine Blowing Wild Similar idea to "Where The Winds Blow"; preferred the windy effects in that but another good one 5 Frank Chacksfield Ebb Tide Frank's least exciting instrumental hit so far for me but some nice oboe action 5 Guy Mitchell The Cuff Of My Shirt This has a certain charm to it and romps along quite nicely; not bad from Guy 4 Norman Wisdom Don't Laugh At Me ('Cause I'm A Fool) My dad sang this line to me when I was young a few times; quite nice but not the most exciting of songs 3 Bonnie Lou Tennessee Wig Walk The 1950s "Cha Cha Slide" maybe - gets a bit annoying after a few listens 3 Obernkirchen Children's Choir The Happy Wanderer #2 for 5 weeks mostly behind the Stargazers which was unfortunate, but why do the children to sing in such an odd trilly way? 2 David Whitfield The Book EEETSA BOOK!!! - this is David at his worst; not much of a tune delivered with forced nasal vocals that get bigger and bigger 1 Rosemary Clooney/Jose Ferrer Man (Uh-Huh)/Woman (Uh-Huh) On any other day this would have finished bottom; very poorly aged lyrics and a terrible song 1 The Stargazers I See The Moon 17th #1 and worst of the whole decade; such a dire performance Next group: #118 27/02/1954 Guy Mitchell Sippin' Soda 11 {11}->1 #119 06/03/1954 Duke Ellington Skin Deep 7 9-{7}-11-10->4 #120 13/03/1954 Glenn Miller Moonlight Serenade 12 {12}->1 #121 20/03/1954 Kay Starr Changing Partners 4 6-8-10-{4}-6-5-5-4-6-4-9-8-9-10->14 #122 20/03/1954 Alma Cogan Bell Bottom Blues 4 10-6-{4}-6-8-6-9-10-11->9 #123 20/03/1954 Bing Crosby Changing Partners 9 10-{9}R(2)-11R(3)->3 #124 27/03/1954 Frankie Laine Granada 9 10-{9}R(2)->2 #125 03/04/1954 Doris Day Secret Love 1 10-5-{1}-2-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-3-3-3-6-7-4-6-5-10-8-10-8-14-18->29 #126 10/04/1954 Johnnie Ray Such A Night 1 10-4-3-{1}-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-7-7-9-10-12->18 #127 10/04/1954 The Stargazers The Happy Wanderer 12 {12}->1 #128 17/04/1954 Frankie Laine The Kid's Last Fight 3 9-8-{3}-6-3-6-5-6-7-11->10 #129 17/04/1954 Nat 'King' Cole Tenderly 10 {10}->1 #130 17/04/1954 Ruby Wright Bimbo 7 12-9-11-{7}-12R(2)->5 #131 01/05/1954 Guy Mitchell A Dime And A Dollar 8 {8}-9R(2)-11-8-9->5 |
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9th January 2023, 08:16 PM
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#38
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,852 User: 17,376
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Deano and That's Amore
Smooth crooner legend with one of his best songs, and we've still got Volare to come! I had no idea that They Might Be Giants had covered Istanbul (Not Constantinople) much less that Frankie Vaughan had sung it! Live and learn! Frankie goes up in my estimation (and I always liked him in the 60's anyway).Ebb Tide - Righteous brothers (as usual) is the definitive version, can't be bettered. And we get to The Happy Wanderer, which was still getting a lot of plays during the 60's, not least on children radio show Junior's Choice. Fol de ri fol de ra! I kind of think it was probably the Pinky & Perky version I knew better though (think Chipmunks). |
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9th January 2023, 10:30 PM
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#39
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Alone and wounded
Pronouns: She/her
Joined: 18 January 2011 Posts: 60,191 User: 12,810
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I wholeheartedly approve of your Gold medal choice, of course
 also a fan of: 'Let's Have A Party', 'That's Amore' and 'Istanbul (Not Constantinople)''I See The Moon' really is a sonic assault so the 1 feels justified. I agree with PFC that the Righteous Brothers' version of 'Ebb Tide' is great. I was listening through a countdown of best albums and a Phil Spector collection was on there, so heard it through that. |
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9th January 2023, 10:49 PM
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#40
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 The owls are not what they seem
Pronouns: He/him
Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,131 User: 9,232
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WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE LIKE A BIG PIZZA PIE
 Most 50s songs I heard were just inoffensive at worst, but I See The Moon is something else x |
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