Wayne Cottrell

Charting the Music of the Fifties -- Volume 3 Wayne Cottrell

For the second half of the 1950s, what is the number nine popular single in Australia? "April Love" by Pat Boone with Billy Vaughn. Boone's shift from R& B covers to love ballads is reflected in this hit. What is the number nine single in the UK? Elvis Presley's version of "Blue Suede Shoes." The song is often associated with Presley, although Carl Perkins was the original recording artist. How about the number nine single in Canada? "At the Hop" by Danny & the Juniors. Danny Rapp was no more than 17 at the time, being part of the late 1950s rush of new, young talent. The number nine single in Flanders is "Veel Bittare Tranen" by Enny Denita. She was primarily a dancer, but her single was a big-seller in Belgium. In Germany, the number nine single is Harry Belafonte's well-known "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)." There was a fever for islands music in Germany at the time, and this folk tune fit right in. How about the number nine single in Norway? Vidar Sandbeck and his catchy, folksy "Pengegaloppen." The number nine single in Wallonia is "Little Darlin'" by Canadian group The Diamonds. The quartet recorded the song as a parody of doo-wop, but the result was a smash hit that is still representative of the sounds of the times. And, what about the number nine Classical composition of the entire decade? Alan Hovhaness' "Symphony #2 'Mysterious Mountain'." It took some time for Hovhaness' music to be accepted by his contemporaries. But, a positive review by an insightful music critic turned the tide, and Hovhaness stopped destroying his works! If you would like to know the other entries in these and five other countries, as well as the top Classical compositions of the entire decade, then get the book, and look inside. The book features numerous mini-biographies of artists and composers, as well as an extensive bibliography.