THE PLATTERS–THE #1 CROSS-OVER HITS

You can write on book on the hits of The Platters.  The group from Los Angeles, California included: Tony Williams-lead, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed and Zola Taylor.  Their first big hit record is the classic…ONLY YOU (AND YOU ALONE) on Mercury Records (70633).  The single record became a #1 R&B hit and a #5 Pop hit.

Any artist or group would be thrilled to have one cross-over hit that became a Top 10 hit…but The Platters were not just any group…they charted 3 hit single records that became not just Top 10 hits, but #1 hits…yes 3 hit singles that became #1 Pop and R&B hits…here they are.

1—THE GREAT PRETENDER…(Mercury 70753) Charting in December of 1955…and selling over 1 million records.

2—MY PRAYER…(Mercury 70819) Charting in July of 1956…it also sold over 1 million copies.

3—TWILIGHT TIME…(Mercury 71289) Charting in April of 1958 and it also became a million-seller.

The Platters were and still remain one of the very best vocal groups from the rock era...R&B or Pop…The Platters could do it all…On Mercury Records the original group charted  17 R&B single records and 38 Billboard Pop Hits.  The Platters are the #1 vocal group of the 1950′s.

CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO LISTEN TO “THE PLATTERS”…SING THEIR #1 CROSS-VER HITS…

The Great Pretender

My Prayer

Twilight Time

Till the next time—Joe

SONG OF THE DAY–THE SCHOOLBOYS…”PLEASE SAY YOU WANT ME” / “SHIRLEY”

The Schoolboys are an R&B / Doo-Wop vocal group from Harlem, New York.  Members included Leslie Martin, James Edwards, Roger Hayes, James McKay and Renaldo Gambie.

On February 16, 1957 The Schoolboys charted one side of their double-sided hit on the Billboard Top 100…SHIRLEY, climbed the Top 100 to #91.  The single record also charted on the Billboard R&B chart on February 23, 1957 and went to #15.  The Schoolboys hit was recorded on the Okeh Records label (7076).  The ballad side of the record is…PLEASE SAY YOU WANT ME…it charted on March 23, 1957 on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #13.  The song did not chart on the Top 100.  The single record would become the groups only national hit record.  Both sides of this classic single record are considered Doo-Wop classics.

The Golden Era Of Rock And Roll is pleased to present both sides of this wonderful record for you to enjoy…the great hits…from the greatest era in pop music…The “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.

The Schoolboys – Please Say You Want Me-1957

The Schoolboys – Shirley-1957

Till the next time—Joe

“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 PENTAGONS–”TO BE LOVED (FOREVER)”

The Pentagons are an R&B/Doo-Wop group from San Bernadion, California.  Members included Josephus Jones-lead vocal, half-brother Otis Munson and brothers Ken and Ted Goodloe. Ken Goodloe passed away in 2008 at the age of 60.

The groups biggest pop hit is their 1961 classic…TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) on Donna Records (1337).  The record was first released on Fleetwood International (100) in 1960.  The single charted on February 20, 1961, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at #48.  The Pentagons hit remained on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks.  The flip-side of the single record  is DOWN AT THE BEACH, it did not chart.

In October of 1961 the group charted their second single record…I WONDER (IF YOUR LOVE WILL EVER BELONG TO ME) on Jamie Records (1201).  The single record charted at #84 on the Hot 100 and stayed on the pop chart for 5 weeks.  The flip-side…SHE’S MINE did not chart.

The Pentagons did not chart any other hits, they should have, because they were that good.  Their classic…TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) is an oldies and doo-wop classic that should have been even bigger in 1960 than it was.  Thanks to oldies radio and internet oldies and doo-wop stations, the record has reached a new audience and lives in the ‘GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.

CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW…THE PENTAGONS ARE SINGING THEIR CLASSIC…”TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) JUST FOR YOU.

The Pentagons – To Be Loved (Forever)

Till the next time—Joe

SONG OF THE DAY–THE MOONGLOWS–”TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE”

The Moonglows are one of the most famous R&B and Doo-Wop groups of all-time.  They formed in Cleveland, Ohio.  Lead singers were Bobby Lester, who died in 1980 (age 50) and Harvey Fuqua, died in 2010 (age 80), with Alexander “Pete” Graves, died in 2006 (age 76), Prentiss Barnes, also died in 2006 (age 81) and Billy Johnson, who played guitar…he died in 1987 (age 58).

The Moonglows recorded classic hits such as…SINCERELY  a #1 R&B hit in 1955…MOST OF ALL…#5 in 1955…WE GO TOGETHER…#9 in1956 and…SEE SAW…a #6 hit also in 1956.  In 1957 The Moonglows recorded the #5 R&B hit record…PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE.

One of the groups biggest hits charted in October of 1958…TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE on Chess Records, where all of the above mentioned hits were recorded.  The single record was credited as “Harvey and The Moonglows” (Harvey Fuqua on lead) as was…SEE SAW and PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE.  The single charted at #9 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE is a classic from the GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL and is still played today on oldies radio…great music takes on a life of its own…and lives on…CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW AND LISTEN TO…HARVEY AND THE MOONGLOWS…AS THEY SING…”TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE”.

Prentis Barnes is the brother of James “Pookie” Hudson of The Spaniels.  The Moonglows were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Harvey & The Moonglows – Ten Commandments Of Love

Till the next time—Joe

SONG OF THE DAY–ROY ORBISON–”CRYING” / “CANDY MAN”

Roy Orbison charted so many classic hit records in his career.  In 1956 he charted his first hit…OOBY DOOBY on Sun Records (242).  The record label gave credit to Roy Orbison and Teen Kings.  The single record charted at #59 on the Billboard Top 100 and was the beginning of many classic hits to come.

Roy charted singles through 1989, with his last hit record…YOU GOT IT a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  On August 7, 1961 he charted…CANDY MAN on his record label of many years…Momument Records (447).  The single charted at #25 and remained on the Hot 100 for 14 weeks.  Just a week later on August 14, 1961, his classic ballad…CRYING, the other side of his single record charted.  This song is Roy Orbison at his best…belting out a sad love song as only he could.  CRYING became the “A” side of the single record, going all the way to #2 and remaining on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks.

Roy Orbison’s CRYING… won a Grammy: Hall Of Fame Award and it is listed at #68 on the Rolling Stone magazine Top 500 Songs.  Roy charted 31 hit single records…10 of these are Top 10 hits and 2 are #1 hits…(RUNNING SCARED-1961 and OH, PRETTY WOMAN-1964. Roy Orbison left us in December of 1988 at the age of 52…much too soon!!!

The “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL” IS HAPPY TO PRESENT BOTH SIDES OF THIS CLASSIC ROY ORBISON HIT FROM 1961…”CRYING” AND “CANDY MAN”.

Crying

Candy Man

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.

TOMMY DEE–”THREE STARS” A TRIBUTE TO “BUDDY HOLLY, THE BIG BOPPER & RITCHIE VALENS”

TOMMY DEE’S TRIBUTE TO…BUDDY HOLLY, THE BIG BOPPER AND RITCHIE VALENS BECAME A HUGE HIT IN 1959.  THE SONG WAS ABOUT THE THREE ROCK STARS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN A PLANE CRASH ON FEBRUARY 3, 1959.

TOMMY’S VERSION CHARTED ON MARCH 30, 1959 ON CREST RECORDS (1057).  TOMMY A RADIO DJ AT THE TIME (KFXM-SAN BERNADINO) RECORDED THE SONG, (THAT WAS FIRST RECORDED BY EDDIE COCHRAN), WITH CAROL KAY AND THE TEEN-AIRES.  THE SINGLE BECAME A #11 HIT ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100 AND REMAINED ON THE CHART FOR 12 WEEKS.

TOMMY DEE, WHO WAS BORN THOMAS DONALDSON ON JULY 15, 1933 IN VICKER, VIRGINIA WOULD NOT CHART ANOTHER HIT RECORD.  HE WOULD LATER BECOME A RECORD COMPANY PRODUCER/PROMOTER IN NASHVILLE.  TOMMY DEE PASSED AWAY IN JANUARY OF 2007 AT THE AGE OF 73.

CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW…TOMMY DEE IS WAITING TO PERFORM HIS CLASSIC TRIBUTE TO…BUDDY HOLLY…THE BIG BOPPER…AND…RITCHIE VALENS…”THREE STARS”…SOLID GOLD FROM THE “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.

Three Stars

TILL THE NEXT TIME—JOE

SONG OF THE DAY–FOUR ACES–”LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING”

The Four Aces charted their biggest hit record on August 27, 1955.  Their recording of  “LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING” on Decca Records (29625) climbed to the top of the Billboard Pop Chart…at #1 a position it held for 6 weeks.  The single record would remain on the pop chart for 21 weeks.  The “flip-side” of the single is another great Four Aces recording…”SHINE ON HARVEST MOON”.  It did not chart.

The Four Aces classic is the title song from the movie…”Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing” starring William Holden and Jennifer Jones.  The song won the Oscar for “Best Song”.

The Four Aces charted 16 hits between 1951 and 1954, including “TELL ME WHY” a #2 hit record.  They also charted a #1 hit with their classic…”THREE COINS IN A FOUNTAIN” in 1954.  The group would chart 20 Billboard Top 100 hits between 1955 and 1959.  They were the #1 Pop singles artist of 1955.

CLICK THE TITLE BELOW…THE FOUR ACES ARE WAITING TO SING THEIR CLASSIC #1 HIT FROM 1955…”LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING”…

Four Aces – Love Is A Many-Splendered Thing

Till the next time—Joe