What was #1 on the day you were born.

Subject: BS: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Joe Sanchez
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 05:40 AM

Some people believe our lives are profoundly influenced by whatever pop song was #1 on the day we were born.

My number #1's are:
'You're So Vain' by Carly Simon in the US
'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool' by Little Jimmy Osmond in the UK
'Ben' by Michael Jackson in Australia

See which songs you get
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Zen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:41 AM

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole (UK)
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr (US)

Zen

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:46 AM

There's Always Room At Our House - Guy Mitchell

Never heard of it!

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: G-Force
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:50 AM

Unfortunately the charts only started in about 1952 in the UK. Too late for me.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:53 AM

Best thread for a long time!

You Don't Know - Helen Shapiro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I2cG-ed6hw

Dreadful; I remember thinking so at the time actually...

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:04 AM

Alas, I was bit early for formal charts. Probably the White Cliffs of Dover by Vera Lynn or something.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:17 AM

He's Got The Whole WorldIn His Hands - Laurie London - US
Magic Moments - Perry Como - UK

So disappointed, in fact, think I am going to be sick.

Does it count if my labour was induced and I was born before I wanted to be?

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: sian, west wales
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:24 AM

"I went to your wedding" by Patti Page. OK - I've heard of her, but not the song. Guess I was busy doing other things ...

sian

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:03 AM

Barbara Allen

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Weasel
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:03 AM

Sorry, this is an ageist thread - please remove it.

:-)


Lawrence

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Nessie
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:10 AM

'Here in my Heart' by Al Martino (?!) was the first entry on the UK Charts the week after I was born.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Gedi
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:14 AM

Wake up Little Suzy - Everly brothers

Spot on

Ged

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: kendall
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:19 AM

All I do is dream of you
Cocktails for two.

Fred Astaire celebrated his 35th birthday.

Many things happened that year, John Dillinger bit the big one, Bonnie and Clyde were taken out, Baby Face Nelson bought the farm, and I think Machine gun Kelly got it that year.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: goatfell
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:23 AM

on the day I was born there was a man called Ken Dodd had he had a number one hit called 'tears'

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:29 AM

Too Young - Nat 'King'

This thread just proves that this forum really is just used by a bunch of OLD FARTS! :-)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:49 AM

Hey, I resent that OLD FARTS! remark.

'Yankee Doodle' - Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys

- Phil (with tongue firmly in cheek)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:51 AM

UK: I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
USA: Dominique - The Singing Nun
Oz: Do You Love Me? - Brian Poole and the Tremeloes

Result!!! Or what?

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:53 AM

Would you prefer youth impaired flatulence?

Can I pick my own song since I did not get to pick my birthdate?

This is so not fair!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: topical tom
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:58 AM

If I Knew You Were Comin' Id've Baked a Cake-Eileen Barton

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:05 AM

What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford and The Checkmates

hmmmm

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: quokka
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:07 AM

I knew there was a good reason why I always loved this song!!!
-To Sir With Love: Lulu. I love the movie too :-)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:10 AM

I had no idea there were so many young people on Mudcat - all these modern songs!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:16 AM

Des O'Connor - "I Pretend"

Never heard of it but I bet it's shite.

The site quoted in the first post won't open for me but I found this that works (for UK number ones only).

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,KevBoyd
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:17 AM

Oops, that last one was me.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:18 AM

Aaargh! - no good for those of us born before 1945.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jeanie
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:19 AM

Ah, this is lovely. No. 1 when I was born was "I Believe" by Frankie Laine.

You can hear it, read the lyrics and see some beautiful pictures

here

I am thrilled to bits. I couldn't have wished for a more lovely song. Without going into too much detail, nobody thought I was going to survive when I was born - it is a miracle that I am here to see all these lovely things in this world and this song is so very, very apt.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:33 AM

I looked this up in the Guinness Book of Hit Singles some years ago, apparently it was "Mouldy Old Dough" by Leiutenant Pigeon, but according to the Thisdayinmusic website, it was "Clair" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.

Apparently though, 9 months before I was born the number one was "Son of My Father" by Chicory Tip ;-)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: JohnB
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:58 AM

Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered by Doris Day.
Just about sums me up perfectly.
JohnB

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: beardedbruce
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:59 AM

Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:07 AM

Too Young - Nat 'King' Cole

How True. I certainly was

G.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Grampus
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:09 AM

Sorry that guest was me sans cookie

G.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:18 AM

UK: Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
US: At The Hop - Danny & The Juniors
Aus: Diana – Paul Anka

However, I was born in Lebanon and I can't find the answer for that.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: sharyn
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:21 AM

USA: "Get a Job" The Silhouettes
UK: "Magic Moment" Perry Como

Sharyn

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Newport Boy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:24 AM

It's more difficult for those of us with considerable life experience. There was no weekly chart then. But a list of 5 top songs of 1936 gives me:

Pennies from Heaven - Bing Crosby
The Way You Look Tonight - Fred Astaire
Summertime - Billie Holiday
Cross Road Blues - Robert Johnson
Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson

No rubbish when I was born! I'll go with Cross Road Blues as my song.

Phil

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:30 AM

UK - Geraldo and Joe Loss, but that was sheet music and anyway I'm not really into big bands.

US - Heartaches by Ted Weens.

I have heard of people like Highway Patrolman Frank Quinn and Frank Crumit but Mr. Weens escapes me - is he likely to feature in Folk America tonight or is he a good ol'boy?

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: goatfell
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:36 AM

i'm an old fart

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:37 AM

I must be so old that the charts hadn't been invented on my bday

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:38 AM

Gawd - the wax cylinders that were popular around the time I was born were:

"I'll Be Seeing You" - Bing Crosby
"G.I. Jive" - Louis Jordan

And - Tim Leaning - way back in the mists of time, I was briefly a reincarnated Checkmate...

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:40 AM

When I Grow Too Old To Dream by Glen Grey.

I ain't there yet...

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:48 AM

I've never done a blue clicky before and this ain't blue: clwww.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInhistory/selectMonth.htm

The website is #1 Song on this date in history, if you google it.

I found mine for 1935, and the only thing older than me is dirt.

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:48 AM

Frankly , I had never thought much about this. but thanks to google I now know it is:

ADDRESS UNKNOWN
The Ink Spots
Written by: Vaughn Horton/Denver Darling/Gene Autry

- #1 week of November 11, 1939

Address Unknown - not even a trace of you.
Oh what I'd give to see the face of you.
I was a fool to stay away from you so long.
I should have known there'd come a day when you'd be gone.

Address Unknown - oh how could I be so blind?
Who'd think that you would never be hard to find?
>From the place of your birth to the ends of the earth
I've searched only to find - only to find - Address Unknown.

(Spoken:)
Address Unknown - honey chile, I ain't even got a trace of ya.
You know one thing?
I'd give anything in the world just to see the face of ya.
I was a fool to stay away from you and everything else so long.
I should have been diplomatic and figured that some day
You'd be solid gone.

Address Unknown - oh how could I be so blind?
Who'd think that you would never be hard to find?
>From the place of your birth to the ends of the earth
I've searched only to find - only to find - Address Unknown.


Transcribed by: Samantha Stevens

Truly, I don't remember ever hearing this song an any radio show that specializes in songs of the 1930s and '40s. But I solid dig the Ink Spots. And B-Cowboy star Gene Autry, one of my boyhood heeroes, is listed as one of the writers. That makes it extra special.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:54 AM

The Doggie in the Window - Patti Page which happens to be one of the first songs I remember! *bg*

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: frogprince
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 11:16 AM

Green Sleeves


(actually, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Glenn Miller)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 11:19 AM

And if you were born today, according to the list I checked, today's number one hit is a beautiful love song by Kelly Clarkson titled "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Boy, would that bring back wonderful memories in the years to come.

The #1 hit on my wife Ruth's birthday was very prophetic: "Happy Days Are Here Again."

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: alanabit
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 11:25 AM

"Unchanined Melody" by Jimmy Young in the UK. (That will take some living down).
"Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley in the USA. (An improvement on the UK effort IMO).
Link here.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:08 PM

Alanabit--I tried your link. The site doesn't go back to the 'dark ages' of 1939. Don't they know there was music before 1946....waaay before.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:17 PM

John on the Sunset Coast: Try the address that I posted: #1 Song On This Date In History on your search window. I'll try making a blue clicky again, but it didn't seem to work. I was born in 1935 and it goes back into the 20's. That should cover us all.


http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInhistory/selectMonth.htm

If this is a blue clicky, why ain't it blue?

Search for #1 Song On This Date In History John, and you'll find it

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:40 PM

Jerry, thank you. I had found the name of the song and the lyrics as posted above, but now I've heard 8 bars, as they used to say. I love the Ink Spots, but they were pretty schmaltzy...but a lot of music back then was.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:41 PM

My Gawd, I didn't realize that there are as many children on this web site as there are!

I recall a couple of hairy guys grunting and banging rocks together. . . .

But seriously, folks, some of the big hit songs of 1931 were "As Time Goes By" (later featured in the movie Casablanca in 1942), "I Surrender Dear", "Love Letters in the Sand" and "Dancing in the Dark." Kate Smith and Rudy Vallee were riding high that year. A new young singer made his radio debut on CBS three months after I was born—Bing Crosby. . . .

Back to the guys with the rocks. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: kendall
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 01:01 PM

All I did was go to google and type in hit parade 1934.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 01:18 PM

#1 hits on the day I was born:

US: "Near You," Frances Craig. (Never heard of it)
UK: "Now is the Hour," Gracie Fields (I've heard of Gracie, but not that song)
AUS: no data for 1947

I tried our wedding day, and got much more satisfying results:

US: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life,' Stevie Wonder (yesss!)
UK: "See My Baby Jive," the Wizzards (what???)
AUS: "Top of the World," the Carpenters (sappy, but acceptable)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 01:32 PM

I found my song below. Just click on your month and day and a whole list of songs going back over 1oo years appears. I wouldn't put to much stock in lists prior to the 1930s, however.


http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 02:31 PM

Hey John:

Jusy a side note on the Ink Spots. A friend of mine took over the lead from Bill Kenny when he went solo, and was the lead singer for the Ink Spots for something like 16 years. I got to know my friend Jimmy from singing with him in a Men's Chorus a few years ago. I always liked the Ink Spots, myself. I was born in 1935, so I grew up with many of their hits and then enjoyed the songs again when many of them were re-recorded by the Hilltoppers.

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Rog Peek
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 02:37 PM

Using KevBoyd's blue clicky, it seems 'Bless You' by The Ink Spots was No. 1 the day I was born.

Rog

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 02:42 PM

Yeah, the Hilltoppers covered a lot of Ink Spots and Mills Brothers in the early '50s.

Without googling or otherwise looking it up, which member of the Hilltoppers went on to greater musical fame through at least the '60s after leaving the group.

Hint: It was not as a singer.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 02:53 PM

"Dies Irae" by Benedict and the Carthusians.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:13 PM

Billy Vaughan of The Hilltoppers alos played the saxes and went on to become a producer at Dot Records.
My birthhits were (July 3rd 1947) Monte Rey and Mantovani with "Tell Me Marianne" in the UK and in the US Perry Como with "Chi Baba, Chi Baba"

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:23 PM

PoppaGator - I also gave up on my birth date and tried Wedding Day and (to my horror) it was Englbert Humperdinks's 'Last Waltz.' Oh well, I still have the memory (September 1967) of us sitting in a cafe in Cherbourg, waiting to go to the terminal for the ferry home at the end of our honeymoon and hearing Procul Harem's 'Whiter Shade of Pale'on the radio. Made us proud to be British!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:24 PM

Diana - Paul Anka on both sides of the pond.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: pdq
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:29 PM

"but Mr. Weens escapes me - is he likely to feature in Folk America tonight or is he a good ol'boy?"

Well, Ted Weems was a very popular band leader in the US from the mid 1920s through the mid 1950s.

His early efforts were "novelty" and "hot jazz", the latter a bit closer to the Paul Whiteman school than the New Orleans style.

Like Fred Waring, Ted Weems was Pennsylvania Dutch as we call it (German) descent. He was a trained musician and did the most important thing an entertainer can do: entertain people.

He moved easily into "sweet" style of the Big Band Era and was very popular with the average (musically) unsophisticated people. Folk, as interpreted on Mudcat, is not where this guy lived.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Ed.
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:31 PM

My birthday's a mixed bag:

In my home country, the UK, it was The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck

I did better (not hard) in the USA with Ode To Billy Joe by Bobbie Gentry

Australia redeems my birthday with Itchycoo Park by the Small Faces

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: The Barden of England
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:50 PM

Not too sure in my case - 17th. June 1945, but it looks like Sentimental Journey - Les Brown, Doris Day may have been around, and I've certainly had one of those ever since.
john Barden

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:52 PM

"I'll Never Smile Again," by Tommy Dorsey. That's OK, I couldn't believe it either...

When I started elementary school (we didn't have kindergarten), it was "To Each His Own," by Freddie Martin.

When I was entering high school, it was "Sh-Boom," by the Crew Cuts.

When I was graduating from high school, it was "All I Have To Do Is Dream," by the Everly Brothers.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:59 PM

I think this is a thread for people younger than you or I, Cap'n.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: bobad
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 04:23 PM

You're Breaking My Heart - Vic Damone

That's probably what my mother said when she saw me.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Bainbo
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:09 PM

FanTASTic. Here in the UK it was Hoots Mon, by Lord Rockingham's XI. I first heard the record on a pub juke box when I was - ooh, 19, maybe, and I've loved it ever since. But I had no idea! I'm chuffed to little bits.

In the U.S. it was To Know Him Is To Love Him, by the Teddy Bears, and in Australia It's All In The Game, by Tommy Edwards.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:25 PM

Billy Vaughn, as FB, noted is the correct answer to to my earlier question. But in addition to being a record producer, he also led the sax-filled Billy Vaughn Orchestra which cranked out lots of LP. His monster hit, I guess, was "Sail Along Silver(y) Moon".

                         =====================

TJinSanDiego--
"Sh-Boom" by the Crew Cuts is the exemplar for bad white covers of R&B songs. In Los Angeles, I don't know about SD, the Chords original was far and away the more popular version. Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris [The Three Haircuts(?)] did wonderful takes skewering groups like the Crew Cuts. I was just about to enter the 10th grade when Peter Potter introduced the real "Sh-Boom" on "Juke Box Jury" in the summer of 1954.

                         =====================

On the day I graduated high school (yes, I managed to), Pat Boone's "Love Letters in the Sand" was the primero song in the country.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: SussexCarole
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:43 PM

In the UK the NME chart was started on 14th November 1952 - two days before I was born - so the very first number one was 'Here in my Heart' by Al Martino. Nessie - Perhaps you & me should share a party!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: kendall
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:28 PM

What ever happened to those singable pop songs?
The Wayward Wind
Mule Train
Ghost Riders in the sky.
Love is blue.
Unchained melody.
Those were the days.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: open mike
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:24 PM

I'm Walking Behind You -- Eddie Fisher

guess i was too young to remember it on that day.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:42 PM

PoppaGator, you probably do know "Now is the Hour"-- It was one of the most recorded songs in it's day--check this Guy Lombardo does "Now is the Hour"

For those that don't like the Ink Spots, here is a bit more earthy version-- Hank Snow's 1950 Version of "Address Unknown"--If anyone wants hear their birthday song, a lot of old recordings are on Youtube, and there's a pretty good chance it's there--

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:56 PM

Those were the days.

Kendall, do you mean the son? Or are you pining for the singable tunes of yore?

A story about Unchained Melody. I choose to believe it is true.

Johnny Johnston was a pleasant singer (crooner type) in the 1940s. He appeared in several MGM musicals of the period.

Flash forward a few years; Johnston is offered and takes the second lead in a movie, "Unchained." This is a prison movie staring football player Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsh, who is trying to build an acting career. The producers of the film ask Johnston to sing the title song for the movie credits. He declines because he, too, wants to focus on his film career. The movie tanks. But Roy Hamilton and Al Hibler have monster hits with the title song. Bad career choice fo JJ.

Johnny Johnston never again approaches his 40s popularity, and ends his career hosting bowling shows on the tele.

Elroy Hirsh also doesn't do well in acting, but he ends up as Athletic Director at his Alma Mommy, U. of Wisconsin.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:16 PM

Like many groups, the Hilltoppers lead singer Jimmy Sacca went on his own. From what I remember, he had a minor hit before disappearing. He joins lead singers who never equalled their success they had with the group they were in like Tony Williams of the Platters (who had a couple of minor hits, from what I remember,) and Bill Kenny of the Ink Spots. Of course there were some who went on to pretty good success as solo artists, including Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, and even Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.

Jerry

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Joe_F
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:21 PM

My parents kept the New York Times for the day I was born (28 October 1937), but either the state of the Hit Parade that day was not news, or it was not fit to print. Wikipedia, however, says that the top tune for the year was "One-o'Clock Jump" with Count Basie, which I am sorry to say I know nothing about. No. 2 was "Sing Sing Sing" with Benny Goodman, which I do admire.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: RangerSteve
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:35 PM

I only checked the U.S. - it was Frankie Laine doing Mule Train.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 10:11 PM

JoeF--According to Pop Memories, which is Joel Whitburn's compilation of Billboard Chart information from 1890 to 1954, the number one hit on the day you were born, and for the last two weeks in October, 1937 was "You Can't Stop Me from Dreaming" by Teddy Wilson--I am not sure, but the vocalist was likely Billie Holiday.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Cats
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 11:45 PM

I Believe by Frankie Lane .. Hmmmm

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:20 AM

"Sh-Boom" by the Crew Cuts? Never heard of it or the group.

"Little Things Mean a Lot" by Kitty Kallen in the UK. Never heard of those either.

I always assumed it was something like "16 Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford. My folks had that 45 since I can remember. And "The Thing" (is that Phil Harris?) from around the same time.

I was more into classical music anyway. It was probably something by Bernstein or Copland or Toscanini (conducting).

SRS

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:54 AM

It lists Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen for the day my Rog and I got hitched. Ah, wish Freddie was still around.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: kendall
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 08:34 AM

Ah yes, the singable ones, the ones that made sense.
Alternative music= no melody, no lyrics, no harmony. In other words, Rap.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 09:01 AM

Did you leave a C off, Kendall?

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 09:14 AM

Hey wha, I must be over the hill (1937). But not to despair! Rather than let an ageist website beat me, I turn to the inimitable Sigmund Spaeth's listing of pop songs in 1937 from "Popular Music in America." (loud cheers)

Out of some 40 total -- don't worry, not gonna cite em all! -- I'll pick a few titles popular in that year, a few of which I actually remember:

As Long As You're Not in Love With Anyone Else
Boo-Hoo!
Ebb Tide
Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?
It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Lane
My Cabin of Dreams
Nice Work if You Can Get It (Gershwin, who else)
Once in a While (Bud Green-Michael Edwards -- great torch, my favorite of the bunch)
That Old Feeling (by the great Lew Brown & Sammy Fain)
There's a Lull in My Life
Too Marvelous For Words
Whispers in the Dark
You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming

Gee, think we could be psychoanalyzed via the song titles? Anyway, I'm safe, it could well be that none of these was actually charting on my birthday. Bob

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: quokka
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:00 AM

Kendall - I believe Ghost Riders in the Sky was written by a current Mudcatter...

Cheers

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Reinhard
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 03:36 PM

"When" by the Kalin Twins.

Which was also in the charts in Showaddywaddy's version when I finished school. The latter is the only version I knew until today so this thread is adding to my education. Thank you.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:05 PM

'The Winner Takes it All' by Abba in the UK charts
'Magic' by Olivia Newton-John in the US charts

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:13 PM

quokka

Ghost Riders in the Sky was written by Stan Jones.

If Jones is a member here, then he's a Ghost Writer in the Sky. He went to the bing round-up about 45 years ago.

I'm often surprised to find people I thought alive, dead. And more happy to find those I thought were gone are still around/

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 07:59 PM

1943

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"

"Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer"


Halcyon days

AD

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 09:57 PM

MTed: I'll see if I can scare it up.

The jacket of _Copulatin' Blues_ (Stash ST-101) informs me that the performance of "Stavin' Chain" was *recorded* on the day I was born -- and, if the Harlem Hamfats were in fact in Harlem at the time, then not far from where it happened, either (Harkness Pavilion Hospital). Perhaps that is a more significant part of my musical horoscope.

The first song I ever *heard* was very likely "Rozhenkes mit Mandeln". I have the copy in my mother's handwriting that she studied it from while she was waiting for me to appear.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Janie
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 10:04 PM

USA Cold, Cold Heart - Tony Bennett

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Padre
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:38 PM

I had to pick the day I started school in order to get a song to come up - the curse of old age!

"To Each His Own" by Freddie Martin

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 06:44 AM

Furthermore, when Helen Shapiro recorded You Don't Know (#1 in August 1961 - link below) she was 14-years-old. Hell, she's only 62 now, same age as my beautiful mother-in-law - now there's a thought! Not sure why I find this business so unsettling actually, probably because of the utterly archaic nature of the music itself in terms of historic & cultural remoteness. And into this dark & alien realm I was born...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I2cG-ed6hw

On a happier note, Sun Ra recorded his Futuristic Sounds in the October of the same year, which still sounds fresh as a daisy.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: *Laura*
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:42 AM

Don't Turn Around - Aswad - UK
Man in the Mrror - Michael Jackson - US
I Should be so Lucky - Kylie Minogue - AUS

hmm

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,John in Hamilton
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 09:27 AM

Massachusetts by the Bee Gees was #1 in Britain

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: boosh
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:06 PM

The Number 1 single was:
Culture Beat - "Mr Vain"

The Number 1 album was:
Meat Loaf - "Bat Out Of Hell II - Back Into Hell"

i found it out here

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 08:36 PM

I have been tracking this and checking in on several of the neat U-Tube clips (thanks ) and went from Helen Shapiro to The Shadows......then this am, my sister in the uk told me she had seen Liquorice Locking (ex Shad) playing last night......!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 08:43 PM

Tried it. Got someone I'd never heard of singing something I didn't know. Yawn.

Now -- what was #1 on the day I first got laid -- that might be relevant to me.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 10:01 PM

I forgot to mention that, by the Billboard Charts, my tune was "The Thing"--Though I am a big Phil Harris fan, I've always tried to fudge it a bit, and claim "Harbor Lights" , which was the week before, or "Tennessee Waltz", which was practically the whole month after. Maybe they were on "Your Hit Parade"-)

It is worth listening to these old songs--there is something to Kendall's point--a lot of the old hits had beautiful melodies, and it is kind of amazing to see how many of the popular songs from fifty, seventy five, and even a hundred years ago are familar today--especially when most of us wouldn't recognize more than a few hits from the last ten years.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: pdq
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 10:13 PM

"...a lot of the old hits had beautiful melodies..."

That separates the squealing and howling of most modern AM radio junk from lasting music.

Neil Young, Phil Ochs, and Jerry Garcia (of the Grateful Dead) are/were brilliant at writing melodies. As a result, their compositions will be around a long time.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 12:46 AM

"The Old Lamplighter" by Sammy Kaye. Strangely enough it is a song that I sometimes sing, but with The Browns more country twist.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 01:19 AM

"The Old Lamplighter" by Sammy Kaye, also. January, 1947. We must be the same age, Sandy.

Number one on the day Michelle and I got married was "The Wonder of You" by Elvis Presley.
- Phil

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Stu
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:08 AM

Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby By The Beatles (double-A side, for those who remember such things).

Quite happy with that one.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:22 AM

Dunno 'bout songs
But Mother reckoned I was number 1 in Wednesbury, maybe I was singing (of sorts).

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:23 AM

IB:
Furthermore, when Helen Shapiro recorded You Don't Know (#1 in August 1961 - link below) she was 14-years-old. Hell, she's only 62 now, same age as my beautiful mother-in-law - now there's a thought! Not sure why I find this business so unsettling actually, probably because of the utterly archaic nature of the music itself in terms of historic & cultural remoteness. And into this dark & alien realm I was born...

I had a chuckle when I read this. One man's dark & alien realm is another man's teenage years. :-)

Helen Shapiro was part of a tour that passed through our city (Lancaster) in 1962. One of the lads in our 6th form played guitar in a band that was chosen to back her. ("Jumbo" Wilson - where are you now...?).

I heard HS on the radio just recently, singing jazz these days, with a very fine voice.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 09:38 AM

While I'll avoid repeating the "ageism" charge, this is obviously a game for little kids, since the charts are short by decades of going back to when I came on the scene.

(Maybe they didn't have charts back then. Can't recall exactly when we invented them.)

John

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Leadbelly
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 01:41 PM

In 1943, mostly sold records have been:

1. Paper Doll - Mills Brothers (Obviously, I looked like, when I came to join this world)
2. Oh, what a beautiful morning - Bing Crosby (That's what I felt, when I recognized my first sunrise)
3. As times goes by - Rudy Vallee ( That's what I feel today)

Great songs. Just tailor-made for life-time.

Manfred

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Nickhere
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 01:44 PM

You know, this thread topic is a great one to ask someone diplomatically if you don't know their age / birthday!

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 01:48 PM

I think it was Handel`s Water Music.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 02:40 PM

Janie:

Tony Bennett's recording of the Hank Willams classic "Cold Cold Heart" was Number One on one of my birthdays ~ I think about my 3rd or 4th. (I am not bothering to look it up again to pinpoint the exact year, but I'm pretty sure it was '51 or '52.)

So: Not only do I know your approximate age, I don't have to ask "What's your sign?" Unless that song stayed at the top of the charts longer than most, your b-day is around the first week of November and you're a Scorpio like me. (Not that I put the slightest credence in astrology, except as a conversational ploy.)

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:27 PM

To John on the Sunset Coast:

You are right as rain regarding the Crew Cuts. I was up in Fresno County in those days, which may explain the reference to the "Crew Cuts." They happened to have the record on the juke box in our cafeteria. We had a senior quartet during my freshman year of high school who went by the name "The Squires." They did a better version of "Sh-Boom" than the Crew Cuts, but no one did it better than the Chords. And yes, I do remember the take-off on "Your Show of Shows that skewered all those rip-off masters of the era. The mainstream record companies didn't have the cojones to use the original artists, so we got the 'white' version of a lot of great songs back then.

Several folks mentioned Frankie Laine. When I moved to San Diego, in 1967, one of the first people I ran into was the late Frankie Laine, who lived for many years in Point Loma. There is a hospital wing at Mercy Hospital named for him and his late wife, Nan, using his birth name of Frank LoVecchio. He was a very generous guy who kept singing into his 90's. He told the story on himself once about recording "Blazing Saddles" for Mel Brooks. Brooks let him believe it was a straight western, and he did it that way. He didn't find out until the premier what sort of wacky film it was.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Pistachio
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 04:16 AM

Perry Como, UK Magic Moments..and US. Catch a falling star for my twin and me.
Buddy Holly -It don't matter any more for my Husband.
Woman In Love - Streisand for our Wedding,
Cliff (and the Young ones) Livin' doll, for my daughter and
The Joker, Steve Miller Band for my son.
Useless information - all our birthdays and our anniversary fall on the same day within any year! I did say useless info...
Back to work! - but thanks for the thread.
Hazel.

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: cloudstreet
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 04:35 AM

Can't Buy Me Love (Beatles) in Oz, US and UK.

I have been deeply affected by this sentiment ever since.

John

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 12:19 PM

It would probably have been "Who set fire to the Old Coliseum" by Nero Caesar and the lyre-o-maniacs if the charts had been invented at the time.
Ray

Subject: RE: What was #1 on the day you were born.
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 01:06 PM

I see who has my birthday, and what their #1 songs were, but not what was the #1 song ON my birthday?