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The 1950's ---- Musical variety at its best!

"I Believe" was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman "I Believe" on her TV show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on TV. Froman, upset by the Koren War in 1952 so soon after World War II, asked Drake, Graham, Shirl and Stillman to compose a song that would offer hope and faith to the populace. Froman's commercial recording reached No. 11 in the Billboard charts during a 10-week stay. In the UK this record ran for 18 nonconsecutive weeks on the chart. Frankie Laine was #1 in the UK in 1953
 
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In late 1940's and into the 1950's, new equipment and recording techniques brought about what RCA deemed NEW Orthophonic High Fidelity Records. The sound was noticeably more brilliant. As a result of this and the sound quality of FM radio, classical and instruments became quite popular --- even in demand as a means to demonstrate the quality of one's HiFi equipment. In 1953 Frank Chacksfield had a hit with EBB TIDE.
 
Perry Como was very popular. He really came off as genuine (not put on). I understand he started out as a barber. He recorded for RCA. Anyway, here is one of his hit from 1953, SAY YOU'RE MINE AGAIN
 
Speaking of Perry Como. He also had a number one hit in 1953 with a song that came out in 1952 ----- though Mr. Como's version was the only one to reach number 1 in both the US and the UK. That song is DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES:
 
In 1953, a hit melody would move up the charts even though it ran into difficulties because of its connection with Charlie Chaplin who was caught up in the McCarthy hearings, known as "Terry's Theme" or "Theme from Limelight". The music was composed by Chaplin for the 1952 movie LIMELIGHT. Terry is the central female character's name in the movie. Only the music was played in the movie. It became so popular that Englishmen Geoff Parsons and John Turner quickly added lyrics and the new song was christened "Eternally". LIMELIGHT was re-released in US in 1972 as it had been boycotted in America during the initial run and Chaplin won the Oscar for "Best Original Dramatic Score". LIMELIGHT (TERRY's THEME):
 
Eddie Fisher had a big hit with I'M WALKING BEHIND YOU in 1953 ---- a wedding song with a twist:
 
Hit recordings were not without a humorous side. An example would be ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGONET by Stan Freberg. It was of course a takeoff of the popular DRAGNET series of that era. As noted earlier, the theme also became a hit. Imagine ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGONET was actually played and requested on AM radio stations across the country in 1953 and beyond. Many years later DOCTOR DEMENTO (The doctor is in!) would be reintroducing this recording on his "oddball radio program" on FM radio stations, such as WMMR way back in the 1970's ------ where he played all sorts of peculiar recordings and many long forgotten gems...
 
Thank you for that correction! At least, it is great to see if people are actually investigating... A clever way to find out ---- don't you think?
Well, truthfully, I thought most people knew that because they knew who Rosemary Clooney was (the films White Christmas and Holiday Inn and "Come On-A My House" and "Hey There"). When George Clooney first became well-known, he was always identified as the nephew of Rosemary Clooney.

 
In 1953 Joni James had a hit with a song written in 1952, and would be a hit once more in 1963 by the Duprees -- entitled: HAVE YOU HEARD. Well, here is your opportunity.... Here is the original hit!
 
1953 saw a pretty tune that would be recorded again and again. The song by Darrel Glen (COUNTRY) is the first and would reach #4 after charting for 17 weeks starting in July. The song is YOU SAW ME CRYING IN THE CHAPEL. The Oriels (R&B) would come out with their version the same year and this would be their greatest hit which hit #1 beginging in August . Lets not forget June Valli, who reached 4 on the charts starting in August 1953: Elvis would also do this song in the 1960's
 
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In 1954 two groups would have a hit with the same song ---- The Crew Cuts would sell more records (reaching #1) followed by The Cords (as this was The Cords only hit) reaching #2. The song was SH-BOOM or LIFE COULD BE A DREAM. The song sounds like a play on bombs dropping, gun, and machine gun fire.
 
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Now STAN FREBERG with the TOADS would make a parody of SH-BOOM the same year (1954) as the hit. He poked fun at the mumbly singing and even Marlin Brando. Every generation faces criticism, it would seem (see the 1920's CRAZY WORDS- CRAZY TUNE pg. 2)
 
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In 1954 a Musical Comedy hit Broadway with a bang called THE PAJAMA GAME. John Raitt intoduced the song on stage that would be a big hit for Rosemary Cloney that same year! The song is HEY THERE: John Raitt only had one movie role where he reprised his stage performance. Here is the 1957 scene with the song... Note the dictation machine!
 
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Another big hit from the Pajama Game was called, HERNANDOS HIDAWAY:

Here is the scene from the movie version ------ however, it followed the stage verson quite well. OH! One thing I love about this musical/production, is that it does a great good job representing the Postwar period --- small town America, a clothes factory (yes, we did produce clothes back then), and the feel of that time period. It is enjoyably realistic.
 
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In 1955 The Cordettes had a number 1 hit across the board with MR. SANDMAN. It was composed in 1954 and is a great represntative of the entire decade. It isn't quite rock'n roll, but it's fun. And hearing the song, one can't help but imagine stepping back in time with Marty and finding a world that somehow seemed so upbeat and clean, and looking towards an even brighter future :
 
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In 1954 Rosemary Cloney was quite popular. Here is one of her really popular hits on COLUMBIA Records--- THIS OLE HOUSE written the same year. And the same year the first original singer of this song on RCA VICTOR Records Stuart Hamblen
 
Doris Day had a deep emotional conection with the song SECRET LOVE. This song was writen for the movie CALAMITY JANE. Day recorded the song on 5 August 1953 in a session at the Warner Bros. in just one take. The single of "Secret Love" was released on 9 October 1953—three weeks prior to the premiere of the Calamity Jane film—by her longtime record label, Columbia Records on both 45 and 78 rpm. The single entered the Top 20 bestselling singles survey at number 17 dated 9 January 1954 with the single reaching number 1 on the Top 20 survey for the week ending 17 February 1954, the week in which the song's Academy Award nomination for Best Song had been announced, for the film year 1953 ---- which the song utimately won. This song would be sung by not a few artists in later years.
 
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In 1950 a popular tune was born that would reappear with Dean Martin and again with Sammy Davis Jr... This version is with Bing and Gary Crosby and remained on the charts for 19 weeks in the summer of that year peaking at number 3. Earlier that year the original remained on the charts 7 weeks. This "Happy tune" is known as SAM's SONG. You may also note that this record is a 45 RPM. Again, many record companies issued singles in both the 75 RPM and the 45 RPM format. By 1955/56 --- 78's were dead in the United States.



Gary Crosby and Friend? LOL ... that's as cute as they probably hoped it would be.
 
The Four Aces had a big number one hit of THREE COINS IN A FOUNTAIN from the movie of the same name. Three Coins in the Fountain refers to the act of throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome while making a wish. The song won an Academy Award that year.
 
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THE FOUR KNIGHTS had their biggest hit in 1954 (the same year THE FOUR ACES had THREE COINS IN A FOUNTAIN. They appeared on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show. This group would come into existence as THE FOUR KNIGHTS in 1945 and would disappear in the mid 60's. Their biggest hit, a million seller was I GET SO LONELY (don't we all?)
 
WHEN YOUR YOUNG AT HEART would become a hit in 1954. The song was written in '53. It would be the movie with Doris Day and Frank of the same name that would continue this hit into the following year.
 
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