“MONA LISA”–NAT KING COLE / CARL MANN / CONWAY TWITTY

One great song two very different versions, both big hits.  Nat King Cole charted his classic version of…MONA LISA in 1950.  His version became a #1 hit on both the Billboard R&B and Pop charts.  The single record on Capitol Records (F1010) became a #1 R&B hit for 4 weeks and a #1 Pop hit for 8 weeks.  Nat’s version sold over 1 million copies and was awarded a “Gold Record”.  He also won a “Grammy: Hall of Fame” award.  The song was featured in the movie…”Captain Carey, U.S.A. starring Alan Ladd.

Carl Mann charted a rock-a-billy version in 1959.  His recording on Phillips Records (3539) became a #24 Billboard R&B hit and a #25 Billboard Hot 100 hit.  Carl’s version of MONA LISA remained on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks.

Conway Twitty charted his version of MONA LISA also in 1959.  Conway’s version on MGM Records (12804) charted at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 12 weeks.

Three versions of one classic song…pick your favorite…all three are here for you enjoyment.

Nat King Cole – Mona Lisa-1950 #1 R&B and Pop (Capitol Records)

Carl Mann – Mona Lisa – 1959

Conway Twitty – Mona Lisa – 1959

Till the next time—Joe

CLASSIC “SONG OF THE DAY”–THE CRESCENDOS–”OH JULIE”

One of my favorite tunes from the teen years is this great classic…OH JULIE by The Crescendos on the Nasco Records label (6005).  The single record charted on January 6, 1958 and climbed the Billboard Top 100 chart to #5.  The record crossed over to the Billboard R&B chart on January 27, 1958 and became a #4 hit record.  Record sales topped 1 million and The Crescendos were awarded a gold record.

Members included…George Lanius, James Lanius, Ken Brigham, Tom Fortner and Jim Hall.  George Lanius died in 1996 at the age of 56.  The female voice on the record is Janice Green.  The flip-side of the record is…MY LITTLE GIRL, it did not chart.  The Crescendos did not chart any other hit records, but their one big hit…is a classic!!!!

CLICK THE TITLE BELOW…THE CRESCENDOS ARE SINGING…”OH JULIE”…JUST FOR YOU.

The Crescendos – Oh Julie

Till the next time—Joe

THE ANSWERS TO…THE EARLY YEARS OF “ROCK AND ROLL” QUIZ

Thank You for the wonderful response to yesterday’s “Rock and Roll Quiz”.  The answers are:

1-Till

2-ABC-Paramount

3-O Dio Mio

4-Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go

5-Love Letters In The Sand

6-The Chantels

7-Pony Time

8-Dream Lover

9-Whispering Bells

10-Blueberry Hill

11-Don and Phil…Wake Up Little Susie

12-I’m A Man

13-To The Isle

14-Connie Francis

15-Shake, Rattle And Roll

16-Don’t Let Go

17-Mary Lou

18-Poor Little Fool

19-The Great Pretender

20-Love Me Tender

21-Personality…”Mr. Personality”

22-We Got Love

23-Star Dust-#12…Deep Purple-#20

24-Dreamin’

25-Hula Love

How did you do?…The music and the memories…the great artists that brought these songs to us are a part of history now….we were told the music would never last…but 57 years later I am proud to repeat the words of Danny And The Juniors…”Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay”.

To all of you who read my posts each day…”Thank You”…to all the great artists and people behind the scenes who have made this wonderful music…”Thank You”…The “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL” is here and stronger than ever…”LET’S KEEP OUR MUSIC ALIVE”.

Till the next time—Joe

QUICK FACT–JIMMIE RODGERS

JIMMIE RODGERS NOT ONLY CHARTED A #1 HIT RECORD…HONEYCOMB IN AUGUST OF 1957…WITH HIS FIRST CHARTED HIT, BUT CONTINUED TO CHART TOP TEN HITS WITH HIS FIRST 5 HIT SINGLE RECORDS, THEY ARE:

HONEYCOMB—8/1957 #1

KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE—11/57 #3

OH-OH, I,M FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN—2/58 #7

SECRETLY—5/58 #3

ARE YOU REALLY MINE—8/58 #10

HIS NEXT RECORD…BIMBOMBEY—11/58 JUST MISSED THE TOP 10, CHARTING AT #11.

ALL OF THESE HITS WERE ON ROULETTE RECORDS.  JIMMIE WOULD CHART 25 BILLBOARD HOT 100 HITS BETWEEN 1957 AND 1967.  HE IS THE #17 RANKED ARTIST OF THE 1950′S, AS LISTED BY JOEL WHITBURN IN HIS RECORD RESEARCH BOOK—TOP POP SINGLES 12TH EDITION.  HIS FOLK-POP RECORDINGS AND HIS WONDERFUL VOCAL RANGE, MADE HIM ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR RECORDING ARTISTS OF THE “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.

TILL THE NEXT TIME—JOE

2011 In Review—Joe Troiano’s Blog…”The Golden Era Of Rock And Roll”

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 83,000 times in 2011. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 4 days for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

QUICK FACT–THE APPLEJACKS–”MEXICAN HAT ROCK”–1958

The Applejacks were a studio band led by Dave Appell.  He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1922.  He also co-produced all of Tony Orlando & Dawns hits.

In September of 1958 The Applejacks charted their first Billboard Top 100, Top 40 hit,  “MEXICAN HAT ROCK”.  The song is an adaptation of the 1919 song “Mexican Hat Dance”.  The single record was released on Cameo Records (149).  The flip-side is “STOP! RED LIGHT”.  The “MEXICAN HAT ROCK” became a big instrumental hit…charting at #16 and remaining on the Top 100 for 15 weeks.

The Applejacks would follow-up in December of 1958 with another Top 40 hit…”ROCKA-CONGA” (Cameo 155)  The single would chart at #38 and have a 10 week run on the Billboard Hot 100.  One more hit would follow.  In February of 1959…”BUNNY HOP” (Cameo 158), would make its debut and reach #70 on the Hot 100.

We are happy to feature these wonderful instrumental favorites by…THE APPLEJACKS…big hits from the “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”

Mexican Hat Rock

Rocka-Conga

Till the next time—Joe

MORE NEW POSTS THIS EVENING–AND COMING SOON!!! “THE GREATEST SONGS OF CHRISTMAS” ON THE “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL JUKEBOX”

Till the next time—Joe

“THANK YOU” TO OLDIES MUSIC FANS EVERYWHERE

Hi,  I would like to say “THANK YOU” to all of you who stop by my website on WORDPRESS.COM and for all of you who read my posts on FACEBOOK.

Today’s post is the 1,500th post on JOE TROIANO’S BLOG (KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE).  I “THANK YOU” so much.  It is a pleasure to share the music and memories of the “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL” with you.  Thousands and thousands of you visit my site…making it one of the most visited “oldies” music sites on the web.

From one “old rock and roller”…..THANKS

Till the next time—Joe

THE FLAMINGOS–”I’LL BE HOME”

The Flamingos began singing in church in their home town of Chicago, Illinois.  Their fabulous harmonies first scored a national hit on the Billboard R&B chart in February of 1956.  That is when their “Golden Classic”…I’LL BE HOME  on Checker Records (830) made its debut.  The single climbed the R&B chart to #5.  The flip-side of the record was…NEED YOUR LOVE, it did not chart.

Members of The Flamingos included…Nate Nelson, cousins Zeke Carey and Jake Carey…cousins Paul Wilson and Johnny Carter.  The group first recorded for Chance Records in 1953, but did not chart a national hit.  Tommy Hunt and Terry Johnson joined in 1956, replacing Zeke Carey and Johnny Carter who went into the US Army.  I’LL BE HOME  did not chart on the Billboard Top 100, Pop chart.  Pat Boone recorded his version of the song and it became a #4 hit on the Top 100, with another cover…TUTTI’ FRUTTI (Little Richard) as the flip-side.

The Flamingos would continue to chart big hit single records…classics such as…LOVEERS NEVER SAY GOODBYE…MIO AMORE…and of course, their classic…I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU.

We are proud to feature this classic, Flamingos recording for you…another great sound from the “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.

I’ll Be Home

Till the next time—Joe

QUICK FACT–BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND–”TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT”

Legendary blues singer/guitarist, Bobby “Blue” Bland was born on January 27, 1930 in Rosemark, Tennessee.  He was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” in 1992 and won a Grammy for “Lifetime Achievement” in 1997. He charted 63 R&B hits between 1957 and 1985.  He also charted 37 hit records on the Billboard pop charts between 1957 and 1974.

On December 4, 1961 he charted one of his best.  With a fabulous rhythm section and a beat that was out of this world, his classic recording of…TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT  on Duke Records (344) made its Billboard Hot 100 debut.  The single charted at #28 and remained on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks.

The single crossed over to the Billboard R&B chart and stopped just a notch below #1.  TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT  charted at #2 and remained on the chart for 15 weeks.  Bobby won a Grammy: Hall Of Fame for his classic recording and the song was also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

In a career that featured so many great hits…TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT…is one of his best.  CLICK THE TITLE BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE LEGENDARY…BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND…SINGING…”TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT”…get ready to move your feet!!!!

Turn On Your Love Light

Till the next time—Joe