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by Sam Juliano
The Eighth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival concluded on Friday. I don’t think I am overpraising it when I say it was one of the best in the series. Thanks to this year’s writers: Jamie Uhler, Sachin Gandhi, Robert Hornak, Marilyn Ferdinand, Roderick Heath, Dennis Polifroni, Jay Giampietro, and Joel Bocko for their inspired work and diverse posts. Equal thanks to Tony D’Ambra, Peter Morose, Duane Porter, Patricia Perry, Celeste Fenster, John Greco, J.D. Lafrance, Todd Sherman, Brian Wilson, Maurizio Roca, the Texas Sam Juliano, Marvin Sommer, Steve Elworth, Jim Clark, and others who have left comments, likes on Facebook and have read the entries. The site numbers were most impressive.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF VALERIE CLARK, a longtime supporter of the series.
Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” Voted Top Popular Song of 1955!
One of the greatest hits of the 1950s, a seminal song by Chuck Berry, was voted #1 in 1955 in a poll that attracted 34 participants. According to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., “Maybellene” outdistanced Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame,” 337-296.
1. Maybellene – Chuck Berry 337
2. Ain’t That A Shame – Fats Domino 296
3. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley 285
4. Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley & the Comets 275
5. Tutti-Frutti – Little Richard 262
6. Mannish Boy – Muddy Waters 247
7. Only You – The Platters 245
8. Cry Me a River-Julie London 205
9. The Great Pretender – The Platters 183
10. Earth Angel – The Penguins 182
11. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – Frank Sinatra 166
12. Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash 163
13. Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes 143
14. Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford 130
15. Why Do Fools Fall in Love/Frankie Lymon & Teenagers 126
16. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing – The Four Aces 125
17. Mystery Train – Elvis Presley 115
18. Lernin’ the Blues (Frank Sinatra) 112
19. My Babe – Little Walter 104
20. I Hear You Knocking – Smiley Lewis 87
21. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White – Perez Prado- 85
22. Flip, Flop and Fly/Big Joe Turner 71
23. Lullaby of Birdland – Sarah Vaughan 71
24. Whatever Lola Wants – Sarah Vaughan 64
25. Sincerely – McGuire Sisters 63
26. Blue Velvet-Clovers 60
27. Love and Marriage-Frank Sinatra 60
28. The Wallflower (Roll with Me, Henry) – Etta James 60
29. Sincerely – The Moonglows 58
30. Speedo – Cadillacs 56
31. Everyday I Have the Blues – B.B. King 55
32. I Got a Woman – Ray Charles 55
33. Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin 55
34. Unchained Melody – Roy Hamilton 52
35. A Blossom Fell/ If I May – Nat King Cole Four Knights 50
36. As Long As I’m Moving-Ruth Brown 50
37. The Yellow Rose of Texas – Mitch Miller 50
38. A Fool For You – Ray Charles 48
39. Baby, Let’s Play House – Elvis Presley 47
40. Tweedle Dee – LaVern Baker 47
41. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ – Sonny Boy Williamson 45
42. Life is But a Dream – Harptones 45
43. Pledging My Love–Johnny Ace 45
44. At My Front Door – The El Dorados 37
45. Smokey Joe’s Café, The Robins 37
46. Who Will Be Next” – Howlin’ Wolf 34
47. I’m a Man- Bo Diddley 32
48. April in Paris – Count Basie 30
49. Unchained Melody – Les Baxter 30
50. Autumn Leaves (Roger Williams) 29
Top Popular Songs of 1956 Poll!
We will again ask voters to list their Top 20 in alphabetical, chronological, or ranked order. NOTE WELL: You are not required to list 20 songs. You can list as few as you like. My own Top 20, as always, is presented in alphabetical order:
Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins)
Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino)
Come Go With Me (Dell-Vikings)
Don’t Be Cruel (Elvis Presley)
In the Still of the Night (The Five Satins)
The Great Pretender (The Platters)
Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley)
Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
I Walk the Line (Johnny Cash)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra)
Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee)
Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)
Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)
Moonglow and Theme from ‘Picnic’ (Morris Stoloff)
My Prayer (The Platters)
Oh, What a Night (Dells)
Que Sera, Sera (Doris Day)
Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry)
Singin’ the Blues (Guy Mitchell)
Smokestack Lightin’ (Howlin’ Wolf)
——————————TOP 100 of 1956———————–
1 Hound Dog Elvis Presley
2 Long Tall Sally Little Richard
3 Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley
4 Don’t Be Cruel Elvis Presley
5 Be-Bop-A-Lula Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
6 Roll Over Beethoven Chuck Berry
7 In The Still Of The Night Five Satins
8 Blueberry Hill Fats Domino
9 Please, Please, Please James Brown & the Famous Flames
10 I Walk The Line Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two
11 Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
12 Fever Little Willie John
13 The Train Kept-A-Rollin Johnny Burnette Trio
14 Come Go With Me Del-Vikings
15 Let The Good Times Roll Shirley & Lee
16 Rip It Up Little Richard
17 Honky Tonk Bill Doggett
18 Blue Monday Fats Domino
19 Jim Dandy Lavern Baker
20 Oh What A Nite Dells
21 My Prayer Platters
22 Who Do You Love Bo Diddley
23 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man Chuck Berry
24 Ready Teddy Little Richard
25 Honey Don’t Carl Perkins
26 I’m In Love Again Fats Domino
27 Little Girl Of Mine Cleftones
28 A Thousand Miles Away Heartbeats
29 I’ve Got You Under My Skin Frank Sinatra
30 Tear It Up Johnny Burnette Trio
31 Drown In My Own Tears Ray Charles
32 I Put A Spell On You Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
33 Love Is Strange Mickey & Sylvia
34 Goodnight My Love Jesse Belvin
35 Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Harry Belafonte
36 Stranded In The Jungle Cadets
37 Slippin’ And Slidin’ Little Richard
38 I Promise To Remember Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
39 One Hand Loose Charlie Feathers
40 Race With The Devil Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
41 Boppin’ The Blues Carl Perkins
42 My Baby Left Me Elvis Presley
43 Smokestack Lightnin’ Howlin’ Wolf
44 My Blue Heaven Fats Domino
45 Ooby Dooby Roy Orbison
46 Without Love (There Is Nothing) Clyde McPhatter
47 The Girl Can’t Help It Little Richard
48 Honey Hush Johnny Burnette Trio
49 Singing The Blues Guy Mitchell
50 Woman Love Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
51 Too Much Monkey Business Chuck Berry
52 Corrine, Corrina Joe Turner
53 All Mama’s Children Carl Perkins
54 Ain’t Got No Home Clarence “Frogman” Henry
55 Diddy Wah Diddy Bo Diddley
56 Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles
57 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Elvis Presley
58 It’s Too Late Chuck Willis
59 The Closer You Are Channels
60 You Gave Me Peace Of Mind Spaniels
61 Treasure Of Love Clyde McPhatter
62 The ABC’s Of Love Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
63 Since I Met You Baby Ivory Joe Hunter
64 Bluejean Bop Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
65 Devil Or Angel Clovers
66 Get Rhythm Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two
67 One Night Smiley Lewis
68 Party Doll Buddy Knox
69 Ruby Baby Drifters
70 You Can’t Catch Me Chuck Berry
71 Rock And Roll Ruby Warren Smith
72 Crazy Arms Ray Price / Jerry Lee Lewis
73 Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind Five Keys
74 Trying To Get To You Elvis Presley
75 Up On The Mountain Magnificents
76 You’ve Got Me Dizzy Jimmy Reed
77 Church Bells May Ring Willows
78 (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch Platters
79 Candy Big Maybelle
80 Your Promise To Be Mine Drifters
81 Love Me Elvis Presley
82 I’ll Be Home Flamingos
83 Share Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
84 Rubber Biscuit Chips
85 The Woo Woo Train Valentines
86 Ubangi Stomp Warren Smith
87 I Ain’t Got You Billy Boy
88 The Angels Sang Solitaires
89 Please Say You Want Me Schoolboys
90 Jump, Jive An’ Wail Louis Prima
91 Bottle To The Baby Charlie Feathers
92 You Ain’t Treatin’ Me Right Mac Curtis
93 I Want You To Be My Girl Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
94 Forty Days And Forty Nights Muddy Waters
95 Dixie Fried Carl Perkins
96 Bacon Fat Andre Williams
97 Just A Gigalo-I Ain’t Got Nobody Louis Prima
98 Young Love Sonny James
99 Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
100 The Way You Look Tonight Jaguars
20 more worth mentioning.
101 The Fool Sanford Clark
102 So Long Fats Domino
103 Anyway That You Want Me Elvis Presley
104 Down In Mexico Coasters
105 Can’t We Be Sweethearts Cleftones
106 Castle In The Sky Bop-Chords
107 The Girl I Love Cadillacs
108 When I’m With You Moonglows
109 Your Way Heartbeats
110 Just Walking In The Rain Johnnie Ray
111 The Flying Saucer Buchanan & Goodman
112 When My Dreamboat Comes Home Fats Domino
113 I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
114 Confidential Sonny Knight
115 Lonely Avenue Ray Charles
116 I Can’t Quit You Baby Otis Rush
117 Sweet Little Angel B.B. King
118 Don’t Forbid Me Pat Boone
119 The Green Door Jim Lowe
120 See Saw Moonglows
Angelo D’Arminio
1 The Still Of The Night Five Satins
2 Roll Over Beethoven Chuck Berry
3 Blueberry Hill Fats Domino
4 Blue Monday Fats Domino
5 My Prayer Platters
6 Long Tall Sally Little Richard
7 My Blue Heaven Fats Domino
8 Come Go With Me Del-Vikings
9 Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
10 Little Girl Of Mine Cleftones
11 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man Chuck Berry
12 I’m In Love Again Fats Domino
13 Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
14 I Walk The Line Johnny Cash
15 Rip It Up Little Richard
16 A Thousand Miles Away Heartbeats
17 Too Much Monkey Business Chuck Berry
18 Corrine, Corrina Joe Turner
19 You Can’t Catch Me Chuck Berry
20 Young Love Sonny James
4
Derek Vincent
I thought we were doing ’86 next. Oh well.
Active
Sammy Juliano
Derek, I had announced previously we would do 1955 to 1962, but then right after that, 1986 to the present.
Derek Vincent
Sammy Juliano cool . I can wait
Scott Neil Laster
Derek Vincent we aren’t going back and forth , it was decided to go 1955- 1961 and then start on 1986 and go forward from that year
Derek Vincent
Scott Neil Laster I am not good on those early years. I’ll wait til ’86 to play.
Scott Neil Laster
Derek Vincent I was surprised at how many great songs I recognized. My most listened to period is 1964- 1984 , then kind of a dead area until 1991 on
Scott Neil Laster
1: I Put a Spell On You- Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
2: Blue Suede Shoes- Carl Perkins
3: Please, Please, Please – James Brown
4: Who Do You Love – Bo Diddley
5: Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
6: Blueberry Hill- Fats Domino
7: Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
8: Be-Bop-A-Lula- Gene Vincent
9: Roll Over Beethoven- Chuck Berry
10: Hound Dog- Elvis Presley
11: Blue Monday – Fats Domino
12: Fever – Little Willie John
13: 40 days and 40 Nights – Muddy Waters
14: Rubber Biscuit- The Chips
15: Diddy Wah Diddy – Bo Diddley
16: Honey Don’t – Carl Perkins
17: Get Rhythm- Johnny Cash
18: I Walk the Line- Johnny Cash
19: Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley
20: Heartbreak Hotel- Elvis Presley
2
Ken Baker
Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins)
Come Go With Me
I Walk the Line
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Singin’ the Blues
Since I Met you Baby
Just a Gigalo
Love Me Tender
Just Walking in the Rain
Blue Monday
Blueberry Hill
Get Rhythm
2
Ahmet Türkoğlu
01. Earth Angel – The Penguins
02. Everytime We Say Goodbye – Ella Fitzgerald
03. Who Do You Love – Bo Diddley
04. My Funny Valentine – Chet Baker
05. La Deserteur – Boris Vian
06. Blue Moon – Elvis Presley
07. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
08. The Hangman – John Jacob Niles
09. I Put a Spell on You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
10. Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry and His Combo
11. Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
12. Fever – Little Willie John
13. Long Tall Sally – Little Richards
14. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
15. In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins
16. Manhattan – Ella Fitzgerald
17. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
18. Can’t We Be Friends – Ella and Louis
19. Frog Went Courting– John Jacob Niles
20. Be Bop a Lula – Gene Vincent
2
Rod Timmons
As a toddler I remember hearing Doris Day singing, Que Sera, Sera !
And Sinatra’s, I’ve got you under my Skin
2
Lucia Harper
The Wayward Wind, Gogi Grant
Moonglow, Morris Stoloff
Green Door, Jim Lowe
Just Walkin’ in the Rain, Johnnie Ray
I’m in Love Again, Fats Domino
Tonight You Belong to Me, Patience and Prudence
Be-Bop-a-Lula, Gene Vincent
See You Later, Alligator, Bill Haley & His Comets
Singing the Blues, Guy Mitchell
Long Tall Sally, Little Richard
The Still Of The Nite, Five Satins
Come Go With Me, Del-Vikings
Let The Good Times Roll, Shirley & Lee
I Put A Spell On You, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Love Is Strange, Mickey & Sylvia
Day-O (Banana Boat Song), Harry Belafonte
Smokestack Lightnin’, Howlin’ Wolf
Slippin’ And Slidin’, Little Richard
Just A Gigalo-I Ain’t Got Nobody, Louis Prima
I’ll Be Home, Flamingos
2
Jerry ‘Jay’ Bryant Jr.
The mystery of Why Do Fools Fall in Love deepens. Released on Jan. 10, 1956, it’s not included in the top 100 list in this post, nor the “20 others worth mentioning,” though no less than four other Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers songs are listed. Yet “Fools” was #28 on Billboard’s Top 100 for the year (https://billboardtop100of.com/1956-2/). Weird. Since the song placed so well on the 1955 list without my vote and probably won’t garner much support for ’56, I think I’ll refrain from voting for it this year and support “I Want You to Be My Girl” instead. My old band used to do a slowed-down, bluesy arrangement of that one that was a lot of fun.
BILLBOARDTOP100OF.COM
1956 – Billboard Top 100
1956 – Billboard Top 100
Duane Porter
1. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
2. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
3. Lady Sings the Blues – Billie Holiday
4. Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf
5. Black Coffee – Peggy Lee (reissue)
6. Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
7. Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
8. Drown in My Own Tears – Ray Charles
9. Please Please Please – James Brown
10. Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
11. The Girl Can’t Help It – Little Richard
12. Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters
13. April in Paris – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
14. Moonglow and Theme from Picnic – Morris Stoloff
15. Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino
16. Wild About You – Elmore James
17. Sweet Little Angel – B.B. King
18. Jim Dandy – LaVern Baker
19. Keep It to Yourself – Sonny Boy Williamson
20. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
Keith @ nostalgicitalian.com
1. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins/Elvis
2. Since I Met You Baby – Ivory Joe Hunter
3. Corrine, Corrine – Big Joe Turner
4. Hallelujah I Love Her So – Ray Charles
5. My Blue Heaven – Fats Domino
6. Fever – Little Willie John
7. Rip It Up – Little Richard
8. Please Please Please – James Brown
9. Jump Jive and Wail – Louis Prima
10. Ain’t Got No Home – Clarence Frogman Henry
11. Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley
12. Blue Monday – Fats Domino
13. My Prayer – The Platters
14. Ooby Dooby – Roy Orbison
15. Come Go With Me – Del-Vikings
16. Goodnight My Love – Jessie Belvin
17. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
18. Day-o – Harry Belafonte
19. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
20. Party Doll – Buddy Knox
Keith–thank you so much for patrticipating, and for forward the terrific 1956 list!!!!
My Twenty For 1956 (Alphabetical Order)
Bad Penny Blues : Humphrey Lyttelton And His Band.
Bambino : Dalida.
Be-Bop-A-Lula : Gene Vincent And The Blue Caps.
Blueberry Hill : Fats Domino.
Blue Moon : Elvis Presley.
Blue Suede Shoes : Elvis Presley.
Ella : Jose Alfredo Jimenez.
Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye : Ella Fitzgerald.
The Girl Can’t Help It : Little Richard.
Heartbreak Hotel : Elvis Presley.
In The Still Of The Nite : The Five Satins.
I Put A Spell On You : Screamin Jay Hawkins.
I’ve Got You Under My Skin : Frank Sinatra.
I Walk The Line : Johnny Cash.
Jamaica Farewell : Harry Belafonte.
Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody : Louis Prima.
Knoxville Girl : The Louvin Brothers.
Love Is Strange : Mickey a Sylvia.
Smokestack Lightin : Howlin Wolf.
Take my Hand Precious Lord : Mahalia Jackson.
Thank for the terrific Top 20, Marco!!!
The Spotify playlist is up WITD-1955.
Elvis dominated 1956 and as a fan from way back:
Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley
Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
One-Sided Love Affair – Elvis Presley
My Baby Left Me – Elvis Presley
Shake Rattle And Roll – Elvis Presley
Blue Moon – Elvis Presley
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Ready Teddy – Elvis Presley
Rip It Up- – Elvis Presley
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – Elvis Presley
Anyway That You Want Me – Elvis Presley
Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
Who Do You Love – Bo Diddley
Honey Don’t – Carl Perkins
Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
The Train Kept-A-Rollin – Johnny Burnette Trio
Thanks as always for the Spotify posting Tony! Your Elvis-friendly Top 20 warms my heart!!!!
RIP Tony LoBianco, handsome ex-pugilist who went on to star on Broadway and in the visceral, award-winning The French Connection and the cult shocker, The Honeymoon Killers.
Thank you so very much Mark! I did post his passing on FB .
Spells, mojos, and hoodoo blues.
Mostly in order of preference.
Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
Please Please Please (James Brown)
I Put a Spell on You (“Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins)
The Girl Can’t Help It (Little Richard)
Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley)
Be-Bop-a-Lula (Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps)
Love Is Strange (Mickey and Sylvia)
Got My Mojo Working (Ann Cole)
I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers)
Ain’t Got No Home (Clarence “Frogman” Henry)
Excellent Top 10; many thanks Mark!
So we say goodbye to Anouk Aimee, an overnight film sensation in La Dolce Vita and an Academy nominee for A Man and a Woman (she lost to Liz Taylor). She also appeared in Lola, Model Shop, and Bellocchio’s Leap Into the Void for which she won the best actress award at Cannes, and the film remains unseen by me. (It’s unavailable on DVD.) RIP.
Mark–thank you for remembering her here so astutely! I posted on her passing today on FB.
Aimee is not to be confused with Capucine (Walk on the Wild Side), a mistake I’ve sometimes made