A bouncy oldie from Kay Starr, Side by side; written in 1927 and made
popular by many singers, however, it this 1953 version that is the most
memorable. A chart topper for her dual-tracked vocal. I listened to it often on
the BBC's morning radio show, Housewives' Choice when I was home on school
holidays. It was a regular request on that show.
SONGS
Side by side - Kay Starr
I love the next song because it is an English version of the famous Italian
song 'Mattinata' written by Ruggero
Leoncavallo in the beginning of 20th century. It is an absolutely wonderful
melody that I have loved for nearly 7 decades. It is You're Breaking My
heart from Vic Damone, a big hit for him in 1949.
SONGS
You're Breaking My heart - Vic Damone
One of the most popular singers of the postwar era was Perry Como. His
mellifluous tones of his voice graced many chart hits. Here is his Catch a Falling
Star. Then Fever originally an RnB hit for its composer Little Willie John but
done here by Peggy Lee who had a big world wide hit with this moody tune.
SONGS
Catch a Falling Star - Perry Como
Fever - Peggy Lee
Now the crooning voice of Bing Crosby and the lovely wistful but aching
You are my Sunshine.
SONGS
You are my Sunshine - Bing Crosby
Songs about love are a sure-fire way to get your song noticed by the music
buying public. Here is Young Love from Sonny James, a 1958 hit for him. Sonny
just passed away a few months ago. He had a long successful music career but it
mostly remembered for this song. Then Treasure of Love from Clyde McPhatter. a
solo hit for him after he quit as lead singer of the Drifters.
SONGS
Young Love - Sonny James
Treasure of Love - Clyde McPhatter
Here are is an Italian song written by Domenico Modugno Ciao Ciao
Bambino. This is Connie Francis' version. My family and I were on holiday in the
summer of 59 on the what is known as the Italian Riviera, in English, to compare
it to the more famous French Riviera but is actually known as the Riviera dei
Fiore locally, as the coast of flowers. Everywhere we went they were singing
this song. It is Followed by Sway from teen idol Bobby Rydell.
SONGS
Ciao Ciao Bambino - Connie Francis
Sway - Bobby Rydell
Here are a couple more examples of eccentric rock n roll hits. One From
1959 the other 1961. Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton 's 1959 hit
And a huge 1961 hit , But I Do by Clarence 'Frogman' Henry. One of my
sister's favourites and regularly played in the Lavalette household. In the 80s
on a visit to London, I even managed to get a cassette of The Frogman's greatest
hits. His was indeed a distinctive voice.
SONGS
Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton
But I Do - Clarence 'Frogman'
Henry
Here are The Del-Vikings with their Doo-wop hit Come Go with Me then an
oldie re-done in the rock style Heart & Soul this is The Cleftones
version. There was a bigger hit version by Jan & Dean out at the same
time.
SONGS
Come Go with Me - The Del-Vikings
Heart & Soul - The Cleftones
Coming up are 2 classic rock era tunes. Mr. Rock n Roll himself, Chuck
Berry with School Days. Ring Ring Goes the Bell ! Then an early Latin-rock tune,
La Bamba from the late Ritchie Valens. He only had a brief life but his impact
on popular music of the rock era has been immense. His songs remain staples of
Rock Bands everywhere.
SONGS
School Days - Chuck Berry
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
Here is something a little different. Once more it is a song that filled
the summer night air in 1966. Everywhere I traveled in the US that Summer I
heard this song, Winchester Cathedral by The New Vaudeville Band. Although it
was apart of the so-called British invasion of the 60s, I have put it into "When
the Lights Come On Again" because its style harkens back to the pre-war era.
Not a rock styled song at all. It remains popular even today and was also
recorded by Frank Sinatra!
SONGS
Winchester Cathedral - The New Vaudeville Band
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