The Kingston Trio - Scotch and Soda (1958)

Somewhere between 1953 and 1955- depending on who is telling the story and how they’re remembering it- Dave Guard and Bob Shane took a drive from Stanford University, where Guard was an undergraduate, to Los Angeles. The occasion was Easter; or, it might have been around Thanksgiving- again, depending on the recollection of the storyteller. But, as the story goes, Dave Guard was in a relationship with a fellow Stanford undergraduate, Katie Seaver, who came from Fresno, California. Since Fresno was on the way from Stanford to L.A., they decided to stop at the Seavers’ home and pay Katie a visit, presuming she was there.

But when the duo arrived at the doorsteps of Katie’s parents’ home, they were informed by her parents that she was not there. Being kind folks, Charles and Betty Seaver invited the boys inside in case she happened to return shortly. While in waiting, Guard and Shane were entertained by Katie’s parents and younger, eleven year old brother, Tom (who was, in fact, the same Tom Terrific who would later find success pitching for the New York Mets).

When the conversation turned to music, the Seaver couple played a song for the boys, heard below, which they had learned on their honeymoon in 1932 (or was it 1934?) in Phoenix, Arizona. They told the story about how while away on their honeymoon, they had grown fond of a particular song they had been hearing in the hotel lobby, being played by a backroom piano player. Considering it was their honeymoon, they asked the piano player to write the lyrics down for them so that they could always remember it as “their song." The piano player obliged, but never included his name, thus having himself remain anonymous to history.

As it were, both Guard and Shane became two-thirds of The Kingston Trio (along with Nick Reynolds) when the group was formed in 1957. The song learned from the Seaver couple was included on their first album, The Kingston Trio, which was released in 1958 and sold millions of copies. As time went on, Guard eventually gave himself credit for the song, much to the chagrin of his bandmates. Eventually, after years of not being able to identify the mystery piano player from Phoenix, the Seaver couple was given partial credit for the song.



The Kingston Trio - Scotch and Soda (1958)

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Lyrics:

Scotch and soda
Mud in your eye
Baby, do I feel high
Oh me, oh my
Do I feel high

Dry martini
Jigger of gin
Oh, what a spell you’ve got me in
Oh my
Do I feel high

People won’t believe me
They’ll think that I’m just braggin’
But I could feel the way I do
And still be on the wagon

All I need is one of your smiles
Sunshine of your eye
Oh me, oh my
Do I feel higher than a kite can fly
Give me lovin’
Baby, I feel high

Oh, people won’t believe me
They’ll think that I’m just braggin’
But I could feel the way I do
And still be on the wagon

All I need is one of your smiles
Sunshine of your eyes
Oh me, oh my
Do I feel higher than a kite can fly
Give me lovin’
Baby, I feel high

The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)

This doo-wop group was originally formed in 1950 by cousins Jacob “Jake” Carey and Ezekiel “Zeke” Carey. The two had moved from Baltimore, Maryland to the south side of Chicago, Illinois and joined their church’s choir, where they met other original members. As with most doo-wop groups of the time, members of the group left, other members joined, and the lineup switched around quite a few times. The group started out under the name “The Swallowsand,” until they discovered a group in Baltimore using the name “The Swallows” had started to take off. This led them to start calling themselves “The El Flamingos,” followed by “The 5 Flamingos,” and then finally, just “The Flamingos.”

Originally performed in the 1934 movie Dames by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, this song was written by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin. It had been featured in numerous films by different performers; and, at its peak, hit number two for Ben Selvin in 1934.

But it was The Flamingos who really put the song into popular culture when they recorded and released their version in 1959. Though The Flamingos’ version only reached number eleven on the national charts, it reached number one in countless local markets, and became a hit in multiple countries surrounding the globe. Since its debut, the version heard below has been used in dozens of movies, television shows, and has been sampled by numerous artists.



The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)

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Lyrics:

My love must be a kind of blind love
I can't see anyone but you

Are the stars out tonight?
I don't know if it’s cloudy or bright

I only have eyes for you, dear

The moon may be high
But I can't see a thing in the sky

I only have eyes for you

I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue

You are here
And so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you

Benny Goodman - Memories of You (1956)

Benjamin “Benny” Goodman was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 30th, 1909. He was a jazz musician, a swing musician, a clarinetist, and a bandleader. He led a popular, integrated jazz group during the height of segregation. He performed throughout his entire life- which ended in 1986 at the age of seventy seven- despite the ailing health of his later years. His overwhelming success in the music industry earned him the nickname “The King of Swing.”

The song heard below is a 1956 recording by Benny Goodman on his clarinet, and featuring his backing band. When originally written in 1930 by Eubie Blake, the song had accompanying lyrics which were written by Andy Razaf. The song had been made for use in the 1930 Broadway play Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1930. It was in this play that the song was first introduced by singer Minto Cato. Although the version below is instrumental, there is a version which was released by Goodman featuring the lyrics being sung by Rosemary Clooney.



Benny Goodman - Memories of You (1956)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

The Dubs - Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely (1957)

In 1956, two vocal doo-wop groups from Harlem, New York merged together. Billy Carlisle and Richard Blandon came from The Five Wings (which had originally been called The 5 Stars). Jake Miller, Thomas Gardner, and Cleveland Still came from The Scale-Tones after having only recorded one record. Originally naming themselves The Marvels, the group recorded and released a failed single titled “I Won’t Have You breaking My Heart.” After renaming themselves The Dubs, they put out their first (and immediate) success, the song heard below. After its release in early 1957, Thomas Gardner was replaced by a different ex-member of The Five Wings, Tommy Grate. This new lineup had two more hits with the songs “Could This Be Magic” and “Chapel of Dreams”. The group split up in November 1958 after declining success. The group was resurrected in July 1959, and although there were no more hits, they remained together until the mid-1980s. At that time, the group splintered into two separate entities, each of which still performs to this day.

Written by Richard Blandon, this song was the group’s first taste of success. It was initially released locally on the Johnson label, but was soon picked up for national release on George Goldner’s Gone label. Although it reached number seventy-two on the Billboard Hot 100, it never charted on the R&B charts. After the song’s success, Thomas Gardner left the group and was replaced with Tommy Grate.



The Dubs - Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely (1957)

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Lyrics:

Ask me for the world
It doesn't seem much
Ask me for the moon, dear
And I'll reach out to touch
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

Ask me for the stars, dear
And I'll do your command
Ask me for the diamonds
I'll put them on your hand
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

I searched this world
This whole wide world
Looking for a girl such as you

I gave up my search
When I looked into
Pretty, pretty eyes of blue

Ask me for the stars, dear
And I'll do your command
Ask me for the diamonds
I'll put them on your hand
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

Don't ask me to be lonely

The Fleetwoods - Come Softly to Me [Undubbed] (1958)

Gary Troxel and Gretchen Christopher were waiting to be picked up after school during their senior year of high school. The duo began to pass the time by singing and humming together. Gretchen thought the vocals they were toying around with would go great with some music she had written, so she convinced Troxel to join her in combining the two. The duo was pleased enough with the result that they asked Gretchen’s singing partner, Barbara Ellis, to join them in their newly formed vocal group. Originally calling themselves Two Girls and a Guy, the trio named their song “Come Softly” and recorded the vocals over a five month period (June – November 1958). Since the trio was singing a capella, they kept time by having Gary jingle his car keys. Once the vocals were perfected, the group’s co-producers flew the tapes to Los Angeles and had acoustic and bass guitars overdubbed. The song, renamed “Come Softly to Me” was officially released by the renamed group, The Fleetwoods, in February 1959. It stayed on the charts for sixteen weeks, with four weeks at number one.

Later that very same year, the group released “Mr. Blue,” which also went to number one. This feat made the trio the very first group in the world to have multiple number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in a single year. They were also they first ever mixed-gender group to achieve more than one number one hit. All in all, the trio had eleven hit songs in their short career. Gary Troxel’s involvement with the group waned, as he had been obligated to join the U.S. Navy’s Naval Reserve in 1956. That, combined with the nation’s growing desire for British pop, saw the vocal group split up in 1963.

The song heard below is the finalized vocals of “Come Softly to Me” that were sent by the group to Los Angeles for overdubbing. The version heard here does not include the overdub of the Latin-influenced acoustic guitar playing (by Bonnie Guitar) nor the bass guitar. The only non-voice element heard is the jingling of Gary Troxel’s keys to help the singers keep time.



The Fleetwoods - Come Softly to Me [Undubbed] (1958)

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Lyrics:

Oh, I was busy kissing Gary.
Tee-hee.
Take three.

(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)

(Come softly, darling)
(Come to me, stay)
(You're my obsession)
(Forever and a day)

I want- want you to know
I love- I love you so
Please hold- hold me so tight
All through- all through the night

(Speak softly, darling)
(Hear what I say)
(I love you always)
(Always, always)

I've waited- waited so long
For your kisses and your love
Please come- come to me
From up- from up above

(Come softly, darling)
I want- want you to know
(Come softly, darling)
I love- I love you so
(Come softly, darling)
I need, need you so much
(Come softly, darling)
Wanna feel your warm, warm touch

The Pastels - Been So Long (1957)

In 1954, DiFosco “Dee” Ervin, Jr., Richard Travis, Tony Thomas, and Jimmy Willingham were all stationed at a local base in Narsarssuak, Greenland as members of the U.S. Air Force. Together, they formed a doo-wop outfit and reached local acclaim after performing at the local military affairs. Within a couple of years, all four members of the group were transferred to a base located in Washington D.C., where they eventually shone at the “Tops in Blue” Air Force talent show. They decided to make a run at getting a record deal and were successfully signed by the small Hull Records around 1956. In total, the quartet released three singles: one top five hit heard below, and two less successful follow-ups. In early 1959, the group decided to disband.

Ervin, Jr., whose name may have actually been Defosca Erwin by some accounts, would later have a successful solo career. He would go by the stage name Dee Erwin, was called Big Dee Irwin, and recorded a successful 1963 duet cover of Bing Crosby's 1944 "Swinging on a Star" with Little Eva.

Released in November 1957 on the Hull label, this song was the group’s most successful release. Written by Ervin, Jr., the song got the attention of Chess Records, who decided to release the single nationally on their Argo subsidiary label. The new release of the song reached number four on the R&B charts in early 1958 and even reached number twenty-four on the Billboard pop charts.



The Pastels - Been So Long (1957)

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Lyrics:

Been so long
(Been so long)
Since I held you tight
(Held you tight)
Been so long since
(Been so long)
Since I kissed you goodnight
The blues are mine

Been so long
(Been so long)
My hours seemed like years
(Seemed like years)
Been so long
(Been so long)
I shed precious tears
The blues are mine

I never ever
Thought I'd fall in love like this
I need your arms
That warmth of your sweet kiss

Been so long
(Been so long)
I need you, oh, so bad
(Oh, so bad)
Been so long
(Been so long)
My heart is sad
The blues are mine

Tom & Jerry - Hey, Schoolgirl (1957)

“Tom” and “Jerry” had known each other ever since childhood, having grown up just three blocks apart in Queens, New York. While still in elementary school, sixth grade, they were both cast in the Alice in Wonderland school play. Later, they attended Parsons Junior High and Forest Hills High School. In their junior year, 1957, the pair began performing as “Tom & Jerry,” using the record company-appointed stage-names of Tom Graph and Jerry Landis. Although they had been writing songs together as early as 1955, it wasn’t until 1957 that they recorded their first song, heard below, which became a big hit. Dedicated to becoming “rock and roll” singers, the duo tried various aliases and band names, such as Tico & the Triumphs, with only lukewarm success. Upon completing high school, the pair split and went to different colleges, later reuniting in the Greenwich Village scene, having both been infatuated with the growing folk movement. From there, the duo began recording again, but decided to use their real names: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, from then on known together as Simon & Garfunkel.

Released in 1957, this song was written by both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel for Sid Prosen at Big Records. Featuring the B-Side “Dancin’ Wild,” the song reached number forty-nine on the charts and sold over one hundred thousand copies. As confirmed by Simon and Garfunkel, and rather apparent from the recording, the duo was heavily influenced at the time by The Everly Brothers. “Tom & Jerry” performed the song on American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, after the rise in its popularity.



Tom & Jerry - Hey, Schoolgirl (1957)

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Lyrics:

Woo, boppa-loocha-bah
You’re mine
I say woo, boppa-loocha-bah
You’re mine

Hey, schoolgirl in the second row
The teacher’s lookin’ over
So I gotta whisper way down low
You say, “woo, boppa-loocha-bah”
“Let’s meet after school at three”

She said, “Hey, baby, there’s a’one thing more”
“School is over at half past four”
“Maybe when we’re older, then we can date”
Ooh, “Let’s wait”

Hey, schoolgirl in the second row
The teacher’s lookin’ over
So I gotta whisper way down low
You say, “woo, boppa-loocha-bah”
“Let’s meet after school at three”

She said, “Hey, babe, I got a lot to do”
“It takes me hours when my homework’s through”
“Someday we’ll go steady, so don’t you fret”
Ooh, “Not yet”

Hey, schoolgirl in the second row
The teacher’s lookin’ over
So I gotta whisper way down low
You say, “woo, boppa-loocha-bah”
“Let’s meet after school at three”

Then she turned around to me with that gleam in her eye
She said, “I’m sorry if I passed you by”
“I’m gonna skip my homework, gonna cut my class”
“Bug out of here real fast”

Hey school girl in the second row
Now we’re goin’ steady
Hear the words that I want you to know
Well it’s, “Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, you’re mine”
I knew it all the time

Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, ah ha, you’re mine
Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, ah ha, you’re mine
Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, ah ha, you’re mine
Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, ah ha, you’re mine
Woo, boppa-loocha-bah, ah ha, you’re mine…

Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go (1958)

Born Richard Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, this Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist only had a career that lasted eight months before ending in tragedy. As a young boy, Valenzuela was absent on one particular day of school to attend his grandfather’s funeral. On that same day, two planes collided above the playground of his school, killing and injuring many of his friends. From there forward, Valenzuela had a fear of flying. A self-taught musician, Valenzuela joined a local band at the age of sixteen, while still in high school, called The Silhouettes. He started as a backup singer and guitarist, but when the group’s lead vocalist quit, Valenzuela took charge. He was eventually discovered by Del-Fi Records' owner and president, Bob Keane, who had Valenzuela respell his first name from “Richie” to “Ritchie,” and shorten his last name from “Valenzuela” to “Valens.” Soon, Valens was recording nationwide hits, appearing in movies, and dropping out of high school to join a nationwide tour. “The Winter Dance Party,” a tour that began in early 1959, featured Valens, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Dion and the Belmonts, and Frankie Sardo. On February 2nd, 1959, just eight months after Valens’ career had started, Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash that also claimed the life of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, now known as “The Day the Music Died.” Although his imprint on rock and roll history was short lived, there were an astounding number of future musicians to have been influenced by him, both Latinos and non-Latinos alike.

This was Ritchie Valens’ first hit song. It was written by Valens himself with the help of Bob Keane, credited as Kuhn, using his real surname, and featured the B-Side “Framed,” a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Heard below, the song was recorded, pressed, and released in a span of mere days. It was the success of this song and his record that followed (“Donna”/”La Bamba”) which led Ritchie to quitting high school and focusing music full-time. The song reached number forty-two in the US.



Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go (1958)

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Lyrics:

Well, come on, let's go
Let's go, let's go, little darlin'
And tell me that you'll never leave me
Come on, come on, let's go’a
Again, again, and again

Well, now, swing me, swing me
All the way down, there
Come on, let's go little darlin'
Let's go, let's go again once more

Well, I love you so, girl
And I'll never let you go
Come on, baby, so
Oh, pretty baby, I love you so

Let's go, let's go, let's go
Little sweetheart
That we can always be together
Come on, come on, let's go again

I love you so, girl
And I'll never let you go
Come on, baby, so
Oh, pretty baby, I love you so

Let's go, let's go, let's go, little darlin'
They’re dancin’ and we’ll be longer
Come on, come on, let’s go’a
Again, again and again and again
Again, again and again and again
Again, again and again and again
Again, again…

Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One (1957)

Thurston Harris, born on July 11, 1931, got his first big break as a member of The Lamplighters, a vocal group that would later change their name to The Tenderfoots. The Tenderfoots, you may recall from our previous post, eventually transformed into The Sharps (albeit without Harris) and eventually bloomed into The Rivingtons. So although Harris was no longer a member of the group as they morphed into The Rivingtons, he did manage to have immense success with his one hit song, heard below, while being backed by The Sharps. After the large popularity of the song, Harris was able to reach the charts only once more with his hit “Do What You Did” reaching the Top 20 on the R&B charts. Sadly, after declining record sales, Harris was dubbed a one-hit wonder and became a bus driver in 1965 for twenty years in the Los Angeles, California area. In 1985, Harris took a job as a bus driver/tour guide for Universal Studios before succumbing to acute alcoholism and heart failure in 1990, passing away at the age of fifty-eight.

Written and originally recorded by Hollywood Flames member Bobby Day, this song was first brought to prominence through the voice and talents of today’s artist, while backup vocals were sung by The Sharps. Produced by Aladdin Records in Los Angeles, California, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the R&B charts. It was later covered by Frankie Avalon, Frankie Lymon, Clyde McPhatter of The Drifters, The Dave Clark Five, The Jackson Five, Huey Lewis and the News, and many others. It has been used in numerous commercials, television shows, and movies.



Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One (1957)

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Lyrics:

Little, bitty, pretty one
Come on and talk to me
Lovey-dovey, lovey one
Come sit down on my knee

Tell you a story
Happened long time ago
Little, bitty, pretty one
I've been watchin' you grow

Little, bitty, pretty one
Come on and talk to me
Lovey-dovey, lovey one
Come sit down on my knee

Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love (1958)

Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 8, 1939, Jerry Butler, Jr.’s family had very little money but attended church regularly. It was in a local housing community and the church choir that Butler would meet Curtis Mayfield, born June 3, 1942 in the mid-1950s. Together, the two boys sang in a gospel quartet known as the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers. Inspired by artists such as Sam Cooke, Butler and Mayfield united with Arthur and Richard Brooks, brothers, to develop a vocal group of their own known as The Roosters. What they eventually became, with the addition of Sam Gooden, was The Impressions. After signing with Vee-Jay Records, the band released their first hit, heard below, in 1958. After their next hit, “Come Back My Love,” Jerry Butler left the band to embark on a solo career. Mayfield wrote most of his successful songs. Mayfield also became The Impressions’ new primary singer and songwriter as the group welcomed Fred Cash to the lineup, a member who had previously been with them for a short while when they were still known as The Roosters. The new Impressions soared to new heights, reaching number two with “Gypsy Woman,” number one with “It’s All Right,” number three with the famous “People Get Ready” (previously featured), and numerous others. Mayfield would eventually leave the group in 1970 to have a successful solo career of his own, but the group continued on. Although their last hit song, “Loving Power,” was released in 1976, the group is still together today featuring original member Sam Gooden and Roosters-era member Fred Cash.

Written by Jerry Butler with help from Arthur and Richard Brooks, this song was The Impressions first big hit. Released in 1958, it was put out with the credit being given to “Jerry Butler & The Impressions,” as the group was known before Butler parted ways. The song peaked at number eleven and has since been covered by Jerry Butler (as a solo artist in 1966), Otis Redding (in 1965), The Rolling Stones (in 1989), and various others.



Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love (1958)

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Lyrics:

Your precious love
Means more to me
Than any love could ever be
For when I wanted you
I was so lonely and so blue
For that's what love will do

And darling, I'm-
(I'm so surprised)
Oh, when I first realized
That you were fooling me

And darling
They say that our love won’t grow
But I just wanna tell them
That they don't know

For as long
As you're in love with me
Our love will grow wider
Deeper than any sea

And of all the things that I want
In this whole wide world
Is just for you to say
That you’ll be my girl

And oh
(Wanting you)
Wanting you
(Oh, I'm lonely and blue)
I'm so lonely
(That's what love will do)

The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love (1957)

Born Isaac “Don” Everly (b. 1937) and Phillip “Phil” Everly (b. 1939), these American brothers were in the top two of the charts by the time they were twenty and eighteen years old, respectively. Born in Kentucky, the Everly brothers close vocal harmonies inspired artists of the 1960s such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, and many others. In 1956, family friend Chet Atkins had the brothers signed at Columbia records, but the release of their first single, “Keep A’ Lovin’ Me,” flopped and they were dropped from the label. Not to be discouraged, the duo signed with Cadence and released their first million-copy seller in March 1957, also heard below. Through 1957 and ’58, the brothers toured a rugged schedule with Buddy Holly, supporting their hit songs “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do is Dream,” “Bird Dog,” and many others. The 1960s saw a slight decline in popularity, as the brothers had a falling out with their manager and were consequently cut off from their usual songwriting team. Sales were especially low after the Everly’s stopped working for six months to report to boot camp in November 1961, having enlisted in the Marines as reserves to avoid getting drafted. Their last top ten hit, “That’s Old Fasioned,” was in 1962. Between drug addiction, a falling out between the brothers, and working with The Hollies, there’s a lot more to the story than what’s been briefly touched upon here.

Written by the aforementioned songwriting team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, this song was rejected by more than thirty artists before being accepted by The Everly Brothers as their first single for Cadence Records. Reaching number one on the country charts, it only reached number two on the pop charts, being kept off the top spot by Elvis Presley’s “(Let Me be Your) Teddy Bear.” Notable cover versions of the song include a live rendition by Simon & Gafunkel for their Bridge Over Troubled Water album in 1970 and a particularly bitter version by George Harrison in 1974 that altered some of the lyrics to address his ex-wife, Pattie Boyd, leaving him for his best friend Eric Clapton. The version heard below is the first release of the song.



The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love (1957)

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Lyrics:

Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry

Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye

There goes my baby
With someone new
She sure looks happy
I sure am blue
She was my baby
‘til he stepped in
Goodbye to romance
That might have been

Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry

Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye

I'm through with romance
I'm through with love
I'm through with countin’
The stars above
And here’s the reason
That I'm so free
My lovin’ baby
Is through with me

Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry

Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
Bye bye, my…

The Drifters - White Christmas (1954)

Created in 1953 by George Treadwell to be a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, this group has never had a consistent lineup. With over sixty people being in various incarnations of the group, they are regarded as one of the least stable groups in doo-wop and rhythm and blues/soul history. As an example of their different lineups, “Money Honey” was released in 1953 by the original Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters; “This Magic Moment” was released in 1960 by Ben E. King with The Drifters, a different incarnation; and “Under the Boardwalk” was released in 1964 by The Drifters featuring Johnny Moore (a previous singer from the group in 1958), also a different incarnation. Although the group has had more than twenty successful songs, it would be far too complex to accurately and clearly explain which members were in which incarnation of the group during the time of each of their many hits. Instead, we’ll just say that there’s a reason so many people wanted to be affiliated with The Drifters’ name: they were known for success.

This song, written and composed by Irving Berlin, was first recorded and released by Bing Crosby in the 1942 film, Holiday Inn. Crosby’s version has sold over fifty million copies and is the best-selling single of all time for any music category. This version of the song, recorded and released by a version of The Drifters that featured Bill Pinkney and Clyde McPhatter, was released in 1954 and topped out at the number two spot on the US R&B charts in December. On the US pop charts, it reached number eighty. In recent years, it has been most memorably associated with Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin McCallister, in the 1990 movie Home Alone.



The Drifters - White Christmas (1954)

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Lyrics:

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where those treetop glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The snow

And I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and the children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May those days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way

Bobby Darin - Dream Lover (1959)

Born Walden Robert Cassotto in The Bronx, New York 1936, this American singer first reached fame in 1958 with his co-written hit song “Splish Splash”. The following year saw him rise to worldwide renown with the releases “Mack the Knife,” “Beyond the Sea,” and the track heard below. In the early 1960s, his career shifted more toward country music and eventually acting in movies, where he starred in crime dramas and romantic comedies aimed at cashing in on his teen idol image. He wrote the music to many of the movies he starred in and is the only actor to have been signed to five major Hollywood film studios in the same year. Becoming more involved politically, he worked with Robert Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign and was driven into seclusion for nearly a year following Kennedy’s assassination. Later, he formed Direction Records, aimed at giving an outlet to “folk artists with something to say” and had his own variety show on NBC until his death in 1973. He died while recovering from heart surgery, which he only needed after failing to take his instructed medication.

Written and first recorded by Darin, this song was released on March 5, 1959. In July the song peaked at number two in the United States and number one in the United Kingdom. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years, but is most widely recognized as being connected with this artist. It features a young Neil Sedaka on piano.



Bobby Darin - Dream Lover (1959)

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Lyrics:

Every night I hope and pray
A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms

'cause I want (yeah yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah yeah)
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone

Dream lover, where are you
With a love, oh-so true
And the hand that I can hold
To feel you near as I grow old?

'cause I want (yeah yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone

Someday, I don't know how
I hope she'll hear my plea
Some way, I don't know how
She'll bring her love to me

Dream lover, until then
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do
‘til all my lover's dreams come true

'cause I want (yeah yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone

Dream lover, until then
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do
‘til all my lover's dreams come true

'cause I want (yeah yeah, yeah)
A girl (yeah yeah, yeah)
To call (yeah yeah, yeah)
My own (yeah yeah)
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone

Please don't make me dream alone
I beg you don't make me dream alone
No, I don't wanna dream

Dale Hawkins - Susie Q (1957)

Born Delmar Allen Hawkins in Louisiana 1936, this pioneering rock and roll artist is credited with creating the blueprints for what would become swamp rock, as popularized by bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival. He himself was said to be influenced by Elvis Presley and the guitar arrangements of Scotty Moore. Although he created music for much of his life, he was also a record producer, notably producing The Five American’s “Western Union”. His cousin, equally famed for pioneering swamp rock, is Ronnie Hawkins of Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks.

Chosen by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,” this song was completely written and first recorded by today’s artist. Upon release, however, writing credits were split between Hawkins, Stan Lewis (the owner of the Jewel/Paula Records label), and Eleanor Broadwater (the wife of Nashville DJ Gene Nobles) for the purpose of sharing royalties. The guitarist on the song was James Burton, who is famed for working with some of rock and rolls biggest names. The song was perhaps most famously covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival for their self-titled debut album in 1968.



Dale Hawkins - Susie Q (1957)

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Lyrics:

Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
How I love you
My Susie Q

I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
My Susie Q

Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
Baby, I love you
My Susie Q

Well, say that you'll be true
Well, say that you'll be true
Well, say that you'll be true
And never leave me blue
My Susie Q

Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
Oh, Susie Q
How I love you
My Susie Q

Chuck Berry - Thirty Days (1955)

Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri 1926, this American guitarist, singer, and songwriter is a pioneer of the rock and roll genre. Influencing nearly every person to hold a guitar from 1955 onward, he fine-tuned the use of guitar solos, flashy showmanship, and numerous other rock elements that separated the genre from anything else being heard. He had four number-one hits and fourteen top ten hits on the R&B charts, as well as six top ten hits on the Hot 100. He served two different stints in prison, one for armed robbery while in high school and one for taking a minor across state lines, but always remained in high demand. Although peaking in the 1950s with songs like “Maybellene,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and “Johnny B. Goode,” he continued to have success in the 1960s and on through 1972. He has received numerous awards, inductions, and today, at the age of 86, he continues to do live performances in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. As John Lennon once said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.”

Written and first recorded by Chuck Berry, this song was his second release for Chess Records. Released in 1955, it reached number two on the US R&B charts. It has been covered by Ernest Tubb, Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks (as “Forty Days”), and others. Despite reaching number two on the charts, it is often omitted from Berry’s “greatest hits” compilations.



Chuck Berry - Thirty Days (1955)

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Lyrics:

I'm gonna give you thirty days to get back home
I done called up a gypsy woman on the telephone
Gonna send out a world-wide hoodoo
That'll be the very thing that'll suit you
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days

Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)
Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)

Baby, I'm a’see that you’ll be back home in thirty days
Well, she gonna send out a world-wide hoodoo
That'll be the very thing that'll suit ou
I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days

Well, I talked to the judge in private early this morning
Ah, they took me to the sheriff's office to sign a warrant
They gonna put a false charge again' ya
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days

Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)
Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)

I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days
Yeah, gonna put a false charge against ya
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days

If I don't get no satisfaction from the judge
I'm gonna take it to the FBI and voice my grudge
If they don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days

Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)
Oh, thirty days
(Thirty days)

Baby, I'm a’see that you’ll be back home in thirty days
Well, if you don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you’ll be back home in thirty days

The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away (1957)

Originally known as The Hearts, this doo wop group is most closely related to their hit song heard below. Formed in Jamaica, Queens, New York in the mid-‘50s, they had to change their name, The Hearts, to something else when they discovered in 1955 that an all-female group of the same name had had a minor hit on the Billboard music charts. Choosing the name seen above, they also soon recruited James “Shep” Sheppard to join. After one hit song and being signed to multiple labels, the group finally split up in 1959. Shep went on to form Shep and the Limelites in the early ‘60s, but died on January 24th, 1970 after being beaten and robbed in his car near the Long Island Expressway in New York.

Written by Shep and William H. Miller, this song reached number fifty-two on the US Hot 100 and number five on the R&B Singles charts. The song’s inspiration came about after Shep’s ex-girlfriend moved from New York to Texas. It was released on Roulette Records and featured the B-Side, “Oh Baby Don’t”. And, finally, as with many other doo wop songs, this song was mentioned in Frank Zappa and The Penguins' 1963 song, "Memories of El Monte," which A Bit Like You And Me previously featured.



The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away (1957)

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Lyrics:

You're a thousand miles away
But, I still have your love to remember you by
Oh my darling, dry your eyes
Daddy's coming home soon

On my knees every day
All I do is pray, baby, just for you
Hope you always want me, too
Daddy's coming home soon

It may be on a Sunday morning
It may be on a Tuesday afternoon
But no matter what the day is
I'm going to make it my business to get home soon

You're (a thousand miles away)
But, I still have your love to remember you by
Oh my darling, dry your eyes
Daddy's coming home soon

Thomas Wayne - Tragedy (1959)

Born in 1940 under the name Thomas Wayne Perkins, this singer is most famously remembered as a one-hit wonder for his ‘certified gold’ song heard below. Raised in Batesville, Mississippi, he was the brother of Johnny Cash’s guitarist, Luther Perkins. After the success of his release began to fade, he worked as a sound engineer up until his death, from a car accident, in 1971.

This song, Wayne’s most well-remembered work, was originally written and released by Gerald H. Nelson and Fred B. Burch. Wayne’s version of the song rose to number five on the Billboard Top 100. The background vocals, provided by the DeLons, were contributed by a trio of girls found at the local high school in Memphis, Tennessee, where the song was recorded.

In 1973, Paul McCartney & Wings recorded a version of this song intended to be released on their then-double album Red Rose Speedway. As it turned out, Red Rose Speedway was reduced to one record rather than two and this song was omitted from the track listing. The Wings version has never officially been released.



Thomas Wayne - Tragedy (1959)

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Lyrics:

Wind and storm
Gone's the Sun (the Sun)
From the stars
My dark has come
You've gone from me

Oh, oh tragedy

Oh, come back
Have me here
Hold me, love
Be sincere
You've gone from me

Oh, oh tragedy

Like smoke from a fire of love
Our dreams have all gone above

Blown by wind
Kissed by snow
All that's left
Is the dark below
You've gone from me

Oh, oh, tragedy

(Oh, oh, oh)
Tragedy

Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops (1958)

Born Jack Leroy Wilson, Jr. in 1934, “Mr. Excitement” was influential in shifting rhythm and blues music into the genre of soul. Dubbed by Elvis Presley as “The Black Elvis,” he was known for his dynamic stage presence which always involved high-energy dancing. He would often choose unattractive females from the audience to kiss him on stage, rationalizing that “if I kiss the ugliest girl in the audience, they’ll all think they can have me and keep coming back and buying my records.” His life was filled with numerous tragedies including multiple arrests, multiple gunshot wounds, and multiple offspring dying at a young age. Even his own life was cut short when a mid-performance heart-attack in 1975 would put him in an on-again off-again coma for the next nine years until his death.

This song was written by Roquel “Billy” Davis and the Gordy siblings, Berry Jr. and Gwen. The song reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as number one on the R&B charts. The popularity of the song not only led to wealth and stardom for Wilson, but much wealth for those who wrote it. Berry Gordy, Jr. would take his profits and start the recording giant Motown Records.



Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops (1958)

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Lyrics:

Hey
Hey
Hey!

My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow never dry up
Lonely teardrops

Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will (say you will)
Say you will (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)

My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow never dry up
Lonely teardrops

Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will (say you will)
Say you will (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)

Just give me another chance
For our romance
Come on and tell me
That one day you'll return
‘cause everyday that you've been gone away
You'll know why my heart does nothing but burn, crying

Lonely teardrops
My pillows never dry up
Lonely teardrops

Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will (say you will)
Say you will (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)

Say it right now, baby (say you will)
Come on, come on (say you will)
Say it, darling…

Dean Martin - Sway (1954)

Known as “The King of Cool,” this iconic legend was a television star, movie actor, comedian, and singer. Born in 1917, Dino and his friends Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. made up the core of the ‘60s version of the “Rat Pack”. He is also remembered as the straight man in a comedy act with friend Jerry Lewis (father of Gary Lewis from Gary Lewis and the Playboys). As with all stars of this caliber, his life and legacy couldn’t possibly be summarized here.

This song, originally titled “¿Quién será?,” was a Mexican mambo song by bandleader Pablo Beltrán Ruiz in 1953. This version’s lyrics, in English, were written by Norman Gimbel. It reached number sixteen in the US and number six in the UK. Although it doesn’t fit in with the usual genres of music found on this site, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad thing for a little variety now and again. I hope you’ll agree.



Dean Martin - Sway (1954)

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Lyrics:

When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me; make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close; sway me more

Like a flower bendin’ in the breeze
Bend with me; sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me; sway with me

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sound of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth; sway me now

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sound of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth; sway me now
(Sway me now)

You know how
Sway me smooth; sway me now

Bert Weedon - Guitar Boogie Shuffle (1959)

Born in 1920, this guitarist has the honor of being very influential to many future guitarists of the 1960s. Born in London, he worked with numerous big name stars, such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Nat King Cole, as well as making a name for himself as a solo artist. His best-selling tutorial guides on how to play guitar, titled Play in a Day, were highly influential on many future legends like John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page to name a few. He passed away April 20, 2012, a few weeks before this feature was written.

Originally released in 1948 under the title of “Guitar Boogie,” this song was originally a country and western track recorded by Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith. In 1958, it was recorded by The Virtues, a group out of Philadelphia, using a rock ‘n’ roll approach and renaming it the “Guitar Boogie Shuffle”. By 1959 it was climbing the charts in the US while its UK counterpart, recorded by today’s artist, reached number ten in the UK.



Bert Weedon - Guitar Boogie Shuffle (1959)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)