ELDER MUSIC: 1959 Again
Sunday, 31 August 2014
This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to take over the column. He's been here each week ever since delighting us with his astonishing grasp of just about everything musical, his humor and sense of fun. You can read Peter's bio here and find links to all his columns here.
What happened in 1959?
- Renée Fleming was born
- Barbie doll was launched
- The Twilight Zone made its premiere
- Hawaii became the 50th state of the U.S.
- Bonanza premiered
- The Morris Mini-Minor was released
- Rio Bravo was released
- Melbourne were premiers
RICKY NELSON had several hits this year.
He also appeared in a couple of films, most notably Rio Bravo, a film I like a lot. The song I've selected is Never Be Anyone Else But You.
♫ Ricky Nelson - Never Be Anyone Else But You
I'm sure that readers of this column know and love Nat King Cole's Mona Lisa. CONWAY TWITTY recorded a version of the song this year as well.
Conway intended it only for an album he was recording, however, it managed to escape and become a big hit. Those who like Nat's version but are unfamiliar with Conway's had better prepare themselves.
TONI FISHER had a couple of hits around this time.
This is a rather odd one. It seems that phase shifting was deliberate. At least, that's what they told us at the time. I think someone stuffed up the recording and they decided to release it as it was and spin that tale.
The song is The Big Hurt.
NEIL SEDAKA's first hit was a paean to Carole King back when they went to school together and she was named Carol Klein.
I think you'll have guessed the song I'm talking about, Oh! Carol. He put a talky bit in the middle because it worked for The Diamonds with Little Darlin', so he figured it would work for him. Seems he was right.
There's always room for The King. Here's ELVIS with A Fool Such As I.
This was originally performed by Hank Snow in 1952. A bit later Jo Stafford and Tommy Edwards both had a go at it. No one remembers those versions.
♫ Elvis Presley - A Fool Such As I
Heavens, I haven't had the EVERLY BROTHERS yet. That's remiss of me.
I will rectify that instantly with Take a Message to Mary. The song was written by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant who wrote many of the Everly's early hits.
♫ The Everly Brothers - Take a Message to Mary
LLOYD PRICE had several big hits around this time. They were all pretty good and worth a listen.
This was the one that sold the most of all his records and gave him the nickname Mr Personality. The song is Personality.
Okay, here's the odd one out for the year. This is DODIE STEVENS.
Those who recognise the name are probably slapping their foreheads because they know what's coming. For the rest of you, sit back and relax to Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces, a song Dodie didn't particularly like but the record company insisted on her recording it. It was a huge hit.
♫ Dodie Stevens - Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces
Here is a song we've had before but that time it was sung in French. Today there's an English version by THE BROWNS.
The Browns were sisters Bonnie and Maxine and their brother Jim Ed. Their most famous song was The Three Bells.
♫ The Browns - The Three Bells
JOHNNY O'KEEFE closes the year.
There were many visiting performers (to Australia) around this time who wished he'd close the show whenever they were on rather than their having to follow him. Indeed, there were some who made return visits who stipulated in their contracts that Johnny was not to be on the bill with them.
This is because he was one of the greatest rock and roll performers the world had seen. His act was so full on that no one could compete, especially when he performed a cover of the Isley Brothers' song, Shout.
The record is a pale imitation of what happened on stage.
♫ Johnny O'Keefe - Shout (Pt. 1 & 2)
You can find more music from 1959 here. 1960 will appear in two weeks' time.