In 1981, two songs with the same title (written by different people and recorded by two different women: one a well known American Country Music artist, and one a relatively unknown Scot) topped the Billboard™ Hot 100.

To avoid confusion, the name of one of the songs was changed. Here’s the story.

It can be a battle for parents to send their reluctant young campers off to their first summer camp. (Just as it was in this #2 hit by Allan Sherman in August, 1963.) But as you will observe, in the end, this boy had a positive experience at Camp Granada.

What makes a song a summer song? Maybe it’s just the word “summer” in the song’s title. Or perhaps the tune evokes thoughts of islands, beaches, bikinis, and barbeques.

Sometimes music memories seem quite unlikely. Listen to four unrelated songs that became associated in a child’s mind because of his father’s fatal illness.

“The Yellow Rose of Texas” by Mitch Miller is considered by many to be the second #1 hit single of the Rock era. Johnny Lee charted with it too. Hear the music.

Teen Angel · Mark Dinning · 1960
  Play the song.  

I have lived most of my life in the southwestern part of Dallas County, Texas.
There is a road that runs east/west for many miles through the area. Camp Wisdom Road—named for an nearby Boy Scouts camp—runs through south Dallas and westward into [...]

Some musicians work their whole lives for a hit song, but it never happens. Some musicians have that magic hit only once.

Sherry · The Four Seasons · 1962
  Play the song.  

Some of our grandchildren were visiting us over the weekend. At one point on Saturday evening I came across my youngest granddaughter. She was playing games on one of the computers in my home office. And at the same time she was grooving [...]

Number One Hits of the Rock Era

1955

(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock · Bill Hailey & The Comets

The Yellow Rose Of Texas · Mitch Miller

Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing · The Four Aces

Autumn Leaves · Roger Williams

Sixteen Tons · “Tennessee” Ernie Ford

1956

Memories Are Made Of This · Dean Martin

Rock And Roll Waltz · Kay [...]

Laurie (Strange Things Happen) · Dickey Lee · 1965
  Play the song.
A few days ago, as I was passing a group of grandkids watching TV in the afternoon, I overheard one of the children’s cable networks publicizing a “Halloween In April Week.” The station was apparently reprising some of its October programming—six months later—to [...]