And now, we go back a whopping 53 years to the spring of 1960. The day before the date of this chart, the Soviet Union shot down American spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers, eventually giving a group of Irishmen the inspiration to call their rock band "U2." But before that happened (and in fact, just eight days before Bono was even born), this is what America's popular music chart looked like.
40 - "Teddy," Connie Francis
Newark, New Jersey native Concetta Franconero broke through on the pop charts in 1957 with "Who's Sorry Now," and had charted consistently ever since. This song, the B-side of a hit we'll encounter later, is just a basic, orchestrated pop ballad about how much she loves a guy named Teddy. No twist at the end that she's talking about a stuffed bear, no revelation that Teddy died, nothin'. Still, Francis' voice is pretty and clear, and a pleasure to hear.
39 - "Just One Time," Don Gibson
North Carolinian Gibson was a consistent presence on the country charts for nearly 25 years, and he wrote songs that were huge hits for Patsy Cline ("Sweet Dreams") and Ray Charles ("I Can't Stop Loving You"). His first and biggest pop hit as an artist was 1958's "Oh Lonesome Me," but he would crack the Top 40 three more times, including this wish to see an old flame just once more. He borders on yodelling on the choruses, and it works. Solid, well-crafted C&W.
38 - "Fannie Mae," Buster Brown
This Georgia-born singer (whose name, which he shared with a popular comic-strip character/children's shoe mascot, may or may not have been the one he was born with) was nearly 50 when he cracked the 40 and topped the R&B charts with this blues raveup on which he just wants the title lady to come home. The harmonica solo is terrific.
37 - "He'll Have to Stay," Jeanne Black
Early in the year, country star Jim Reeves released "He'll Have to Go," a song about calling a lover and learning that she's in the company of another man. The song was a smash, so much so that then-unknown singer Black recorded an answer record from the woman's point of view. Singing to the tune of the original, Black declares that because the man on the phone has been away for so long, she's found a new beau and she's not giving him up. Black really wasn't that good a singer to these ears, and she didn't have any major hits after this, so it's safe to say that this tune's success was mainly powered by the gimmick. Still, I'll take this battle of the sexes over the Eamon/Frankee war of '04
36 - "Mountain of Love," Harold Dorman
Mississippian Dorman had his only hit of consequence with this soul-pop number about a man looking down form on high on a city in which his ex is currently marrying someone else. A great song that's been covered multiple times (most successfully by Johnny Rivers and Charley Pride), but for me, the original is the one to seek out.
35 - "Doggin' Around," Jackie Wilson
Born in Detroit in 1934, Wilson's electrifying vocals and stage performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement." Here, he chastises a cheating lover for her philandering, saying that if she continues "I'm gonna put you down." Whether he means he's going to leave her or do something more...drastic, I can't say. But a fine song regardless.
34 - "Paper Roses," Anita Bryant
The biggest hit for this onetime Miss Oklahoma was that uses fake flowers as a metaphor for romantic insincerity. I first became aware of her as a child in commercials for Florida oranges. It wasn't until later I learned about the anti-homosexual campaigning that pretty much ended her showbiz career. Overall, not a fan. And speaking completely objectively, Marie Osmond's version of this song is better.
33 - "Love You So," Ron Holden
This Seattle singer's only major hit was this R&B ballad. Not lyrically innovative, but a simple, romantic number made that surely was slow-danced to by millions of teenagers at the time. Good, solid stuff.
32 - "Big Iron," Marty Robbins
The pride of Phoenix, Arizona, Robbins was a country legend, amassing 16 #1 country hits (including the 1959 pop charttopper "El Paso"), during a thirty-year career that ended with his death in 1982. This song tells the Old West story of an "Arizona Ranger" who comes to a town intending to kill a wanted outlaw named "Texas Red." Eventually, the two meet in an old-fashioned gunfight, and the Ranger, to the surprise of everyone but the listener, is faster on the draw and shoots down the bad guy. Robbins voice is a pleasure, and the song is basically a Hollywood Western epic condensed into four minutes of goodness.
31 - "Apple Green," June Valli
Bronx-born Valli first gained fame in the 50s singing on the game show Stop the Music and the pre-Casey countdown TV series Your Hit Parade. Both of her Top 40 hits peaked at #29, the second being this old-school pop ballad about how wonderful the world seems "when you're 17 and in love." Her voice is sultrier than I imagined. I was pleasantly surprised.
30 - "The Madison," Al Brown's Tunetoppers
The Madison was a dance invented in Columbus, Ohio, and was a nationwide craze for a couple of years. It was performed in a line, and involved called steps that could include such moves as the "Birdland" and the "Boss Turn," both of which are mentioned it this, one of two Madison-themed Top 40 hits (the other being "Madison Time" by The Ray Bryant Combo). Other steps not mentioned here includet the "Rifleman," the "Basketball," and the "Jackie Gleason." A fun little artifact "for kids from 8 to 83."
29 - "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops," Frankie Avalon
Philadelphia's Francis Avallone had a brief run as one of rock n' roll's top teen heartthrobs, mainly during Elvis Presley's stint in the Army. On his penultimate Top 40 hit, he blandly sings about how he's going to make a girl trade all her tears for smiles. Not sure how that works. Anyway, he was much cooler later on in the "Beach Party" movies with the recently passed Annette Funicello. And he was all right in Grease, too.
28 - "Money (That's What I Want)," Barrett Strong
Mississippi-born Strong gave the fledgling Motown label its first major hit with this rollicking soul raveup about how wealth may not be the only thing in life, but it sure helps. The Beatles and The Flying Lizards both later cut memorable takes on this, but Strong, who would go on to co-write several major hits for other artists on the label, still has the definitive version.
27 - "Angela Jones," Johnny Ferguson
All I could find out about the one-hit wonder behind this gentle, folkish number about high school romance is that he was a DJ in the 50s. However, I did learn that the songwriter, John D. Loudermilk, wrote a few pop hits, most famously the Paul Revere and the Raiders smash "Indian Reservation." I like this one better
26 - "What Am I Living For," Conway Twitty
Mississippian Harold Jenkins, who took his stage name from two towns in Arkansas and Texas, respectively, broke on the scene in 1958 with the quality Elvis soundalike "It's Only Make Believe." He'd score a handful of pop hits after that, including this rockabilly ballad about the only woman he could possibly imagine loving. The heartache in his voice is palpable, so it's hardly surprising that he'd eventually turn to country music, where he ended up being one of the most prolific hitmakers of the 70s and 80s.
25 - "Lonely Weekends," Charlie Rich
Before he was country's "Silver Fox," Arkansan Rich recorded rockabilly for Memphis music mogul Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame. His first major hit was another Elvis soundalike about how his loneliness particularly upsets him on Saturdays and Sundays. Okay, but his country hits are better.
24 - "Clementine," Bobby Darin
The versatile pop star born Walden Robert Cassotto had a hit with this swinging version of the 19th century folk song about a miner's daughter. In this version, Clementine weighs "two-ninety-nine," and her girth causes her to collapse a bridge and drown. Later, Darin jokes that sailors might mistake her corpse for a whale. This sounds quite a bit like his earlier smash "Mack the Knife," but it hasn't aged nearly as well.
23 - "Wild One," Bobby Rydell
A Philly-based teen idol like Frankie Avalon, Rydell's biggest hit was this sax-heavy teen romp about trying to tame a girl who's "got a new baby every day." Disposable pop for the kids, and that always has a place on the pop charts.
22 - "Mama," Connie Francis
The A-side of "Teddy" was this g ballad about how missing one's mother after she's passed. It was originally written in Italian, and Francis sings in both Italian and English. The kind of big emotional showcase she excels at.
21 - "Mr. Lucky," Henry Mancini
The legendaty film and TV composer had his first Top 40 single with the theme song to a short-lived TV-series about a professional gambler who runs a floating casino. This is a smooth orchestral number, and while I like the organ on this, it doesn't really stand out like some of his more famous compositions.
In Part Two: puppies, clowns, and a deadly battle on the high seas.
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