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

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

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

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)

Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk (1959)

Italian brothers from Brooklyn, New York, Santo and Johnny Farina had their first and biggest hit (heard below) in 1959 and continued milder success through the ‘60s. Their cover of The Beatles’ “And I Love Her” hit number one in Mexico for twenty-one weeks and their version of the theme song to The Godfather went to number one in Italy for twenty-one weeks, as well.

This song was the last instrumental to reach number one in the 1950s and is often tied to the final scene of La Bamba (1987), the Ritchie Valens story. Although it’s instrumental, it originally had lyrics written to accompany it. They never recorded a version using those lyrics, but Betsy Brye did later in 1959.



Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk (1959)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Buddy Holly - Smokey Joe's Cafe [Undubbed] (1959)

A pioneer of rock and roll, this man was one of the biggest artists of the ’50s rock scene and incredibly influential on The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and all other rock musicians. The Beatles came up with their name by mimicking the insect name of Holly’s backing group, The Crickets. His popularity only lasted for one and a half years before The Day the Music Died, a plane crash which claimed his life, as well as the lives of The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.

This song was recorded in January of 1959, mere days/weeks before his death. This is the undubbed version which leaves out the session musicians and backup singer. I think this version is much, much better.

Also, in my opinion, the lyrics from “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and The Americans must have been inspired by this song, as it’s nearly the same event occurring in both songs.



Buddy Holly - Smokey Joe's Cafe [Undubbed] (1959)

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Lyrics:

One day, while I was eatin' down at Smokey Joe's Café
a-sittin' there, eatin’, down at Smokey Joe's Café
A chicken walked in through the door
That I had never seen before
At least I never saw her down at Smokey Joe's Café
And it scared me when she sat right down next to me

Her knees were almost touching mine at Smokey Joe's Café
A chill was runnin' down my spine at Smokey Joe's Café
I could smell her sweet perfume
She smiled and made my heart go ‘boom’
And everybody in the room at Smokey Joe's Café
They said, "be careful, that chick belongs to Smokey Joe"
And from behind the counter, I saw a man
A chef's hat on his head and knife in his hand
He grabbed me by the collar and began to shout
"You better eat up all your beans, boy, and clear right on out"

Well, I know I'll never eat again at Smokey Joe's Café
And so, I'll never see ‘er again at Smokey Joe's Café
I'd rather eat my chili beans
At Jim's or Jack's or John's or Jean’s
Than take my chances eating down at Smokey Joe's Café
I risked my life when- that Smokey Joe's a crazy fool