What was #1 on the day you were born.

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