It's easy to flick on the radio and get thrown back into memories half forgotten after hearing just a few notes of a song from a special time in your life. That’s as true of songs from ten years ago as it is of melodies of bygone times. The ‘50s were a special time in American culture; the nation had asserted itself as a world power, fresh off the victory of WWII. The economy had been catapulted into the stratosphere and the future seemed bright and hopeful, yet there was an undertone of shifting attitudes toward historical social constructs surrounding race and gender that would come full tilt in the ‘60s. The musical composition of the times reflected the prevailing national mood, and at times, as art often does, presaged cultural change that would impact the country for decades to come. These chart-toppers can bring back old memories, or at the very least ignite a sense of the times gone by if you’re too young to remember these jams.
Come On-A My House, performed by Rosemary Clooney, is a flirtatious pop song that's co-written by William Saroyan. He is the only dramatist, novelists and a Pulitzer-Prize recipient who was also able to write a smash hit. This piece skyrocketed Rosemary Clooney to fame, but despite this boost, the singer admits she hated the song. According to Clooney, if it weren't for Mitch Miller's orders, she wouldn't have done it.
Here's the song that gave birth to Lou Bega's 1991 hit, Mambo No. 5. Pérez Prado & His Orchestra were the reason behind the popularity of Cuban music in America. Cherry Pink (And Apple Blossom White) was a rare instrumental chart-topper that became everyone's summer jam in the '50s.
Before Mitch Miller had a win for the Texas Revolution by reviving this rendition, Johnny Horton was a rockabilly singer who achieved equal fame with this light-hearted song about 19th-century military conflicts. After its release, marching snare drums were the new hot beat of the 1950s.
It was spring of 1955 when Frank Sinatra debuted arguably his best musical creation: In The Wee Small Hours. The record skyrocketed in tandem with the ongoing success of his standalone 45 rpm success, Ol' Blue Eyes. Indeed, the lonesome but slightly jauntier song, Learnin' The Blues, emerged as the singer's most successful hit of the 1950s.
Elvis Presley’s least successful song was a chart-topper entitled (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, released during the summer of 1957. This sweet song had nothing on his previously released mega-hits, All Shook Up and Love Me Tender. Despite our rather strong phrase of “least successful,” Teddy Bear is a 106-second gem filled with vocal tics and hiccups that only Elvis can get away with.
The Yellow Rose of Texas was an old folk song released in 1858. Funnily enough, it wasn't until 97 years after its creation that it became a smash summertime hit. Mitch Miller, a successful pop producer of the time, transformed the tune into a catchy arrangement, and the rest was pop music history. The song tells the tale of the Battle of San Jacinto, and the music was so popular that it knocked Billy Haley's song from the number one chart position.
Shelby F. Wooley had a successful stint as a character actor in westerns. She appeared in films like The Outlaw Josey Wales and High Noon. However, her immortality wasn't found through her acting career, but with her novelty song entitled The Purple People Eater. Following this song's success, Ms. Wooley experienced success with a string of country songs. She managed all this while simultaneously mentoring a budding singer by the name of Rogue Miller, who was destined to become a Nashville Legend.
It was destiny that dictated Gogi Grant's success with The Wayward Wind. You see, the music industry of the '50s demanded that musicians and singers compete for soundtracks. Several artists recorded the song, but Gogi Grant was the one to emerge victorious. Quite an achievement considering his competition included country singer Tex Ritter, pre-stardom Shirley Bassey, and British radio personality Jimmy Young.
Bill Haley & His Comets released a song in 1954 that would ultimately become the first number one hit of the rock ‘n roll era. Despite this, the song didn't perform well on its first released as its B-side placement hindered it from getting much play time. A year after its release, however, it earned a place on the soundtrack of Blackboard Jungle, making it an overnight sensation that changed the face of rock ‘n roll forever.
In a series of fortunate events, Elvis Presley experienced unprecedented and consecutive success in the 1950s. It all started in July of 1956 when he released the song Don't Be Cruel. Another victory followed in the form of the still famous tune Hound Dog. Elvis then got the chance to be an opening act for The Ed Sullivan Show the following September. And the rest was hip-swiveling history!