THE LINE

Here  walking the line are the Everlys and Leonard Nimoy (Mr Spock). Nimoy has gone on to fame as a photographer.

INSTRUMENTAL

Here we have Degüello which means 'the beheading', 'slit throat' or 'no quarter' depending on who you read. I had this song on a 45 then lost it as usual but then managed to get a copy again. It was used as the theme song in two films - John Wayne's Alamo and again in another John Wayne (much superior film) Rio Bravo. It is supposed to have actually have been played at the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. This version is by Nelson Riddle.

Also here today we have Jorgenn Ingman the Swedish guitarist with Milord

NOT ENGLISH

Not sung in English. We have here Laurie London (who at age 13 hit gold with He's got the whole world in his hands) - Itsy bitsy teeny weenie etc. in German.

Leader of the pack by Deutsche Die Crazy Girls (German) and Hans Boekhout - Muss I Denn (Wooden Heart) in Dutch.

WEIRD, ODD, STRANGE, ETC

Some really odd music here.

Joe Meek (1929-1967) - singing Magic Star. I have put this vocal version of Telstar up before but this time it is sung by the actual producer of the song. Joe produced many hits, Have I the right, Cumberland Gap, Johnny Remember Me to name just a few, but he had a sad ending to his life. At the age of 37, suffering from depression, he shot his landlady before committing suicide.

Frank Sinatra - with John F. Kennedy's theme song for the 1960 Us election. Taking his hit High Hopes Frank had the words changed to an election message for Kennedy.

Now the real oddity - Fred Lennon. This is Johns father trying to cash in on the fame of his son. Of course he had walked out on John and his mother and John had no time for him. The Next Time You Feel Important (Picadilly TN 35290 B) and That's My Life (My Love And My Home) (Picadilly TN 35290 A)

MORE FIVE OH

Max Bygraves - Tulips from Amsterdam and You need hands. Many of his hits are on You Tube. Born Walter William Bygraves he has now retired to Australia.

Dorothy Collins - My Boy Flat Top. A popular hair style of the 50's

Jane Morgan - The day the rains came down. She put out a couple of interesting records. The song we have today she sang in French on the other side while Fascination for the Gary Cooper film had her sing the hit on one side and an orchestral version on the other. A very talented lady.

Ricky Valance - Tell Laura I Love Her. Was the first Welshman to reach No.1 in the UK with this hit. Shirley Bassey was the first Welshperson.

Vaughn Monroe (he of the deep voice) - Sound Off
You can sound on here.

TWO RAYS

Ray Smith with Rockin' Little Angel and the wonderful voice of the late (died 2005) Ray Peterson with 3 great songs - Missing You, I'm Gone and Fever. Fever was written by Eddie Cooley who also sang a the marvelous 'Priscilla'. Click !

FIFTIES

The Weavers from a 1949 LP. 

(remember those!!) 

Standing l to r:

Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman. Seated: Ronnie Gilbert.

The 1950's was a time of change as the 'moon in june' music gave way to Rock and Roll.

The transition to the new sound was upsetting to the older generation. This is always the way. The parents saying their music is great; while their kids music is rubbish. 

However, the current 'music' of Rap is just that - rubbish. There is some goood modern stuff, Bryan Adams, Springsteen, U2, The Mavericks and so on. Much of the early 50's was bad but amongst the blandness were also some gems. 

Why is it that many artists who rose to fame in that 1956-1966 period can still dominate the music world today - Elvis, The Stones, Beatles, Johnny Cash and the like. The industry wonder why sales are down. It is a combination of factors - competition from other pastimes such as video games, TV, Internet etc but I think the blame has to be  because most of the current stuff is awful. 

Some 1950's are here - not all gems but an interesting reflection of those times - 

Weavers - Hey round the corner. The first of the folk singers with the iconic Pete Seeger. The Weavers enabled the rise of folk music and to groups such as The Kingston Trio.

Bill Haley - still in his C & W days - Love letters in the sand 

Anne Shelton - Lay down your arms . I remember reading that the BBC were not happy playing this song as it gave the impression that soldiers should go AWOL. Then again those were the days of the 'Cold War' and war in Korea. 

Margaret Whiting - Good morning Mr Echo

Don Cornel - Heart of my heart  

Ethel Merman & Dick Haymes - I Wonder Why