It’s All In The Game · Tommy Edwards · 1958

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In 1912, a Chicago banker named Charles Gates Dawes wrote the music for a tune he called “Melody in A Major.” Dawes was an amateur flutist, but he’s better known (well, not that much better known) for being Vice-President of the United States in the second administration of President Calvin Coolidge (1925-1929).
Source: The Billboard Book of #1 Hits

In 1951, songwriter Carl Sigman added lyrics to Dawes’ music, and the result was “It’s All in the Game.” It was recorded that year by Sammy Kaye, Carmen Cavallaro, Dinah Shore, and Tommy Edwards. The latter was the biggest hit version, entering the Billboard™ chart on October 5 and climbing to number 18.

Edwards had already had a hit with “Morning Side of the Mountain,” but after “It’s All in the Game” he found it difficult to maintain momentum. By 1958, MGM Records was ready to drop him from the artist roster. But stereo recording was just coming into vogue, and this new technology helped save Tommy’s career.

With one session left to record under his MGM contract, Edwards was asked by record executive Marty Craft to re-cut “It’s All in the Game” in stereo. Instead of using the 1951 arrangement, he updated it to a rock and roll ballad. MGM liked the new version well enough to release it as a single, and six weeks after it entered the Hot 100, it topped the chart. In November, it also went to number one in Britain.

Edwards had eight more chart records in the next two years, including a new version of “Morning Side of the Mountain” in 1959. His last chart entry was “It’s Not the End of Everything” in 1960. But in chart terms, it was.

It’s All In the Game - The Complete Hits of Tommy Edwards

  Morning Side of the Mountain

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The Carols Those Kids Used To Sing The Statler Brothers Christmas Collection · MP3 Time Life Treasury of Christmas Time Life Treasury of Christmas Volume 2

12 Days of Christmas Songs for your Christmas tree Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 A Song And A Christmas Tree My Christmas song list is inspired by Andy Williams’ unique version of the traditional carol.   Play the song. Buy MP3 · Buy the CD   Twelve Days of Christmas (Traditional) The Twelve Days Of Christmas is a famous old English carol. The creator of the song is lost to history, but I can imagine how it came to be. What must have happened is this: At some point back during the Rennaisance some poor fellow may have forgotten his true love’s birthday. She didn’t get his gift that day, and he felt terrible. So he devised a way to give her a memorable Christmas gift (actually, 364 gifts in all, one for every other day of the year.) On twelve days at Christmas time she would receive his gifts. Each succeeding day would bring the lady not only a new gift but and additional set of all the previous ones.

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   Day 1 · A Song and a Christmas Tree In 1605, an anonymous citizen of Strassburg wrote: “At Christmas they set up fir trees in the parlours…and they hang thereon roses cut out of many-coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold foil, sweets, etc.” Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries the Weinachtsbaum was a central feature of German celebrations. In The 1840s, the custom was adopted in England and, later, in America. O Christmas Tree · The John McCarthy Chorale “O Christmas Tree” is an old tradional German carol. Brenda Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded this song in 1958. The song’s composer was Johnny Marks, the same fellow who gave us “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree · Brenda Lee Buy MP3 · Christmas Collection CD

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   Day 2 · Two candy canes Christmas candy, sugar plums, ginger bread, cookies, and hot chocolate. Here’s a song for your holiday sweet tooth. This is from the movie “The Polar Express.” Hot Chocolate · Tom Hanks Buy MP3 · Polar Express Soundtrack

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   Day 3 · Three boughs of holly Greenery—fir, bay laurel, holly, ivy, mistletoe, rosemary—has been associated with celebrations, religious and secular, throughout the ages. There is little wonder that it is firmly a part of our Christmas traditions. A Holly Jolly Christmas · Burl Ives Have A Holly Jolly Christmas · MP3 One of the most familiar of Welsh carols is the evocative “Deck The Halls,” a sprightly secular carol that enumerates many of the Yuletide symbols associated with festivities in the British Isles, including boughs of holly and the traditional Yule log. Deck The Halls · Mannheim Steamroller (instrumental) Buy MP3 · Mannheim Steamroller CDs

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   Day 4 · Four colored lights Colored lights are a more modern form of seasonal decoration. Back in the ’60s, when I was a kid, my brother and I had the responsibility of hanging the Christmas lights on the front of the house a few weeks before the holiday. This consisted of climbing ladders and scaling the rooftop to install two long strings of colored lights along the eves. Red, blue, green, yellow, and white bulbs: installed, tested, and replaced as needed. The living room had a bay window that we opened on evenings before Christmas to display our color-changing aluminium Christmas tree. We were proud of our simple, but effective display. Then one year a new neighbor moved into the house across the street. The man (Mr. Smith) owned a car dealership. We boys were particularly interested when he began to have his house decorated for the season. He employed professionals to do the job. They covered the entire house with red-colored lights. They installed a tree in the front yard that was large enough to rival many small town municipal Christmas trees. It too was coverd with bright lights. A simulated team of reindeer were placed upon the roof. Now we expected them to place a big sleigh full of toys and gifts behind the reindeer. But he surprised us. A big crane drove up to his house and precisely placed a beautiful candy red Renault convertible automobile full of packages atop his home. For about two weeks, Mr. Smith employed an off duty policeman to convincingly portray Santa Claus and to hand out giant candy peppermint sticks to the carloads of folks that lined the street every night. This is a fact. Every little kid in our neighborhood believed! Believe · Josh Groban Buy MP3 · Josh Groban CDs

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   Day 5 · A shining star The fifth day brings us a shining star and music to remind us of the nativity. One of the most beloved Christmas songs, “Silent Night” was composed in 1818. Silent Night · The Lennon Sisters The Lennon Sisters CDs This track is from The Lettermen’s 1966 album For Christmas This Year. O Holy Night · The Lettermen Buy MP3 · The Lettermen CDs

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   Day 6 · Little silver bells Bells are a big part of Christmas. There is an old Slavic legend that at the stroke of midnight on the night that Christ was born, his birth was heralded by a miraculous ringing of every bell throughout the world. This version of “Carol of the Bells” is from the million-seller 1958 album “Sing We Now of Christmas” by the Harry Simeone Chorale. Carol of the Bells · Harry Simeone Chorale Now, a tune about Christmas in the big city. “Silver Bells” was written in 1950 by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, and was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the film The Lemon Drop Kid. Bing Crosby recorded his popular version that same year, and since then the song has been sung at Christmas by pop stars and school children alike. Perry Como recorded this version in 1968. Silver Bells · Perry Como Buy MP3 · Perry Como CDs Bing Crosby recorded “Jingle Bells” with the Andrews Sisters in 1943. Jingle Bells · Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters Buy MP3 · Bing Crosby CDs This song has sold millions of copies over the years. It was recorded in 1957 by country singer Bobby Helms, who had racked up two giant hits, “Fraulein” and “My Special Angel,” just a few months before. “Jingle Bell Rock” was the high point of Bobby’s career — and one of the best-selling hits of the 1950s. Jingle Bell Rock · Bobby Helms Buy MP3 · Bobby Helms CDs With Bells On · Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Once Upon A Christmas

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   Day 7 · Candles aglowing Think of yourself as a candle. By yourself, perhaps, you may think you shine but a tiny, paltry light. But with the combined flames of many other people’s candles, we can all light the world. Give some of your time and/or money to help others. Every tiny gift helps.       Some of my suggestions One Little Candle · Chicago Buy MP3 · Christmas: What’s It Gonna Be Santa

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   Day 8 · Gold and silver tinsel Gold was one of the gifts of the wise men. Gold and silver decorations adorn Christmas trees everywhere. (Here too.) “Silver And Gold” is another Johnny Marks song. Silver And Gold · Vanessa Williams Buy MP3 · Vanessa Williams CDs

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   Day 9 · A guardian angel There is an angel in us all. In the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” George Bailey’s guardian angel, Clarence, teaches George a valuable lesson: Everyone’s life is important because it touches so many other lives. No one is a failure who has friends. This is a reminder to us to be a friend and to nurture friendships. Be a guardian angel to someone else. Ring a bell. This song is from a Target Stores advertising campaign from a few years ago. Another Angel Gets His Wings · Trisha Yearwood; Vince Gill

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    Day 10 · Some Mistletoe Some Christmas songs are great for a laugh. Here are a few. This classic children’s tune started out as a promotional pamphlet for the Montgomery Ward department store in 1939. The story was written by Robert L. May. Ten years later composer Johnny Marks turned “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” into a song. It was recorded by Western star Gene Autry, who cut a version that reached number 1 on the pop charts. Bing Crosby recorded his version which reached number 14 the next year. A third version by Spike Jones and his City Slickers was also a hit in 1950. Then in 1960, The Chipmunks brought “Rudolph” back up the charts for a fourth time. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer · Gene Autry Buy MP3 · Gene Autry CDs One of the co-writers of this next song was a fellow named Roy Bennett. The song came about when he was inspired by an accident one of his daughters had (she spilled ink on a carpet). The authors added a bit of embroidery and came up with “Nuttin’ For Christmas”. Five versions of the song all became chart hits in 1955. This was one popular version. Nuttin’ For Christmas · Stan Freberg Stan Feberg CDs “Merry Christmas from the Family” is a holiday song written by Country artist Robert Earl Keen. He first recorded it in 1994. This popular version was recorded by Montgomery Gentry. Buy MP3 · Montgomery Gentry CDs Merry Christmas From The Family · Montgomery Gentry “Santa Baby” was originally recorded in 1953, by Eartha Kitt, and it was a big hit. Many other artists have covered it, but my favorite version is Madonna’s. Santa Baby · Madonna Buy MP3 · Madonna CDs In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Elmo and Patsy recorded a couple of versions of this popular novelty song. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer · Elmo and Patsy Buy MP3 · Elmo & Patsy CDs Day 10 brings mistletoe and this song by Spike Jones, whose popular comedy songs of the 1940s helped get Americans through World War II. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was a top hit in 1952. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus · Spike Jones and His City Slickers/George Rock, Vocal Buy MP3 · Spike Jones and His City Slickers CDs

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    Day 11 · Gifts for one and all Spike Jones and His City Slickers (Day #10, above) had more than one Christmas hit. In 1947, “(All I Want For Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth” peaked at number one. But in Christmas songs, the gift that most of us seem to want most is love. Recorded in 1994, Mariah Carey’s mega Christmas hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” makes it clear that she does not care about Christmas presents under her tree; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover. All I Want For Christmas Is You · Mariah Carey Buy MP3 · Mariah Carey CDs The exact same sentiment is expressed in this big hit from Vince Vance And The Valiants recorded in 1989. It is a totally different song though. All I Want For Christmas Is You · Vince Vance and The Valiants (Lisa Layne, vocal) Vince Vance and The Valiants; Lisa Layne CDs In 1991, Jim Brickman’s “The Gift” reminds us, also, that love is the greatest gift. The Gift · Jim Brickman Buy MP3 · Jim Brickman CDs

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    Day 12 · All their good wishes “Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad…” However you wish to say it, the twelfth day brings all our good wishes. “Mele Kalikimaka” is Hawaii’s way to say it. Mele Kalikimaka · Jimmy Buffett Buy MP3 · Jimmy Buffett CDs And now, I wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous new year. This beautiful version of José Feliciano’s song is from a mid ’90s Christmas cd distributed by the Dallas, Texas radio station KVIL (103.7). Feliz Navidad · Leticia Hernandez

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Remember the lessons from the 12 days of Christmas: believe, light a candle, ring a bell, laugh, and give the gift of love.

Monster Mash · Bobby “Boris” Pickett · 1962

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They came one-after-another in the early sixties: hit songs based on new dance fads: “The Twist”, “Pony Time”, “The Peppermint Twist”, “Mashed Potato Time”, “The Wah-Watusi”, The “Loco-Motion” just to name a few. (And wouldn’t you know it?) The number 1 song on the Hot 100 on Halloween, 1962, was—what else—a dance fad? Monster Mash

Bobby Pickett was born in 1940, in Somerville, Massachusetts. As a boy, his father managed a movie theater in their hometown, so Bobby got to see as many movies as he wanted, as often as he wanted. Later, he decided to become an actor, and he became very adept at imitating the voices of other actors. One of his best imitations was his take on Boris Karloff who had brought to life—so to speak— the monster in the Frankenstein movies of the 1930s.

But after a stint in the army, and while waiting for his acting career to take off, Bobby met up with four old high school buddies, and they formed a singing group, the Cordials. The band had a weekly gig on Friday nights at a restaurant in Los Angeles that was owned by the mother of singer Timi Yuro (who had a big hit with “Hurt” in 1961.) One of the songs in their repertoire was the Diamond’s “Little Darlin‘,” and in the middle of the song Bobby recited a monologue in his Karloff voice. Leonard Capizzi, one of the Cordials, told Bobby that they should write a song about a monster dancing to one of the latest hits. But Bobby wasn’t so sure, after all, he still wanted to pursue his acting career, and he figured that a song about a dancing monster would never be more than just a novelty.

But after about a year, with acting success still remaining elusive, he and Lenny got together one afternoon and they wrote “Monster Mash.” The Cordials were under contract to Garpax Records; they signed Bobby, and he recorded it. “Monster Mash” entered the charts in the middle of September, 1962, and on October 20, it knocked the Four Seasons’ “Sherry“ out of the number one spot, where it remained for two weeks.

Later that year, Bobby had a number 30 hit with “Monster’s Holiday”, and a decade later, in 1973, “Monster Mash” was re-issued on the Parrot label and it again charted for twelve weeks, peaking at position 10.

Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom) · Perry Como · 1956  

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These are definitely the dog days of summer. It is hot here in North Texas. The official area temperature yesterday was 107oF. So far, we have had 24 100o plus days this summer, with the last ten consecutive days at or above the century mark. The Very Best Of Perry Como

The term “dog days” refers to the observation that the bright star Sirius (the “dog star” prominent in the northern hemisphere in the constellation Canis Major) rises daily with the sun this time of year, and the ancients thought that its added heat must account for the oppressive heat of late summer.

Of course, we now know that the dog star has absolutely nothing to do with summer heat waves, but there is little doubt that the hot dog days are difficult for both man and man’s best friend alike.

So, for dog days music memories, I present some classic dog songs.

Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom) was a chart topper for Perry Como in 1956. He had a knack for recording off-beat novelty songs and turning them into #1 hits. This one topped the Billboard™ Jockey Chart. The original record was RCA 6427, and it, of course, prominently features Nipper, the dog from the RCA logo, intently listening to his master’s voice. The Nipper label was also the label for Elvis Presley’s #1 hits, including “Hound Dog“, which along with its B side: “Don’t Be Cruel” dominated the top spot for eleven weeks during the dog days of the summer of 1956.

  Hound Dog · Elvis Presley · 1956
 

Elv1s 30 #1 Hits

Little Darlin’ · The Diamonds · 1957

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In the early days of Rock and Roll, some of the popular music consisted of R&B hits that were “cleaned up and repackaged” to make them “suitable” for mainstream America. This was done by having popular white singing artists record their own versions of tunes that had been hits for their black counterparts.

For example, Pat Boone’s early career featured quite a few covers of hit R&B material: In 1955, he recorded “Ain’t That A Shame” (which was a #1 R&B and #10 Pop hit for Fats Domino), and in 1956, he covered the songs “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” (#2 and #1 R&B and #17 and #6 Pop hits for Little Richard.) There were other alternate recordings of other rock and roll songs by other artists too.

Though few of these covers have stood the test of time, one notable exception is The Diamonds’ classic version of “Little Darlin’“, which had been a #11 R&B hit for the song’s writer Maurice Williams and his group The Gladiolas in 1957.

However, unlike the three songs cited above, and much to his own frustration, Williams’ own version of “Little Darlin’” was never able to cross over into the Pop top 40. The Diamonds had remarkable success with their version, though, as they kept it hovering at position #2 for eight weeks. (It never reached #1 thanks to Perry Como’s “Round and Round“, and Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up“.) But in 1960, Maurice Williams and his new group, The Zodiacs, finally broke into the Pop top 40, and in fact, topped the Pop chart with another song that he had written: “Stay.”

“Stay” proved to be an evergreen, hitting the top 20 two more times: once when the Four Seasons took it to number 16 in 1964, and with Jackson Browne’s #20 version in 1978. (In Britain, the Hollies recorded it in 1963.)

For the short of it, here is the hit version of “Stay” by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs, which (clocking in at one minute and 37 seconds), must be the shortest #1 pop hit of the Rock era.

  Stay · Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs · 1960
 

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! · Allan Sherman · 1963

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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. Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!

A few years before—in 1959—the boys from Camp Kookamonga had a battle of their own to fight in a song that peaked at number fourteen on the Hot 100. But that camp song was actually the second “battle” tune of the year to chart. To top it off, both songs were written to the same folk melody.

The first battle tune of 1959 was actually about the last battle of the War of 1812. The date of the battle was the eighth of January in the year 1815. Andrew Jackson and his men had defeated the British forces at New Orleans. Celebrating the victory was a song soon played by fiddlers all over the country: “The Eighth of January.”

It wasn’t until 1955 that Jimmy Driftwood wrote lyrics for that song and retitled it “The Battle of New Orleans.“

  The Battle of New Orleans · Johnny Horton · 1959
 

The Battle of New Orleans

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer… Hot music for a summer party. Here’s a little list of 20 summer songs representing several genres and spanning many years.

1. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer Nat King Cole · 1963 · #6 Buy MP3 Nat King Cole CDs

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2. Summertime Rick Nelson · 1962 · (flip side of Young World) Buy MP3 Ricky Nelson CDs

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3. The Tide Is High Blondie · 1980 · #1 Buy MP3 Blondie CDs

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4. Theme From “A Summer Place” The Lettermen · 1965 · #16 Buy MP3 The Lettermen CDs

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5. The Seashores of Old Mexico George Strait · 2006 · #11 (Country) Buy MP3 George Strait CDs

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6. Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett · 1977 · #8 Buy MP3 Jimmy Buffett CDs

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7. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini Brian Hyland · 1960 · #1 Buy MP3 Brian Hyland CDs

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8. Kokomo The Beach Boys · 1988 · #1 Buy MP3 The Beach Boys CDs

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9. Vacation Connie Francis · 1962 · #9 Buy MP3 Connie Francis CDs

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10. Under The Boardwalk The Drifters · 1964 · #4 Buy MP3 The Drifters CDs

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11. A Summer Song Chad & Jeremy · 1964 · #7 Buy MP3 Chad & Jeremy CDs

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12. Evangeline Chad Brock · 1998 · #51 (Country) Buy MP3

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13. Marianne The Hilltoppers · 1957 · #3 Buy MP3

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14. An American Dream Nitty Gritty Dirt Band · 1980 · #13 Buy MP3 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band CDs

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15. Summer In The City The Lovin’ Spoonful · 1966 · #1 Buy MP3 The Lovin’ Spoonful CDs

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16. Surf City Jan and Dean · 1963 · #1 Buy MP3 Jan and Dean CDs

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17. The Lady In The Blue Mercedes Johnny Duncan · 1979 Buy this song on CD

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18. Love In The Hot Afternoon Gene Watson · 1975 Gene Watson CDs

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19. In The Summertime Mungo Jerry · 1970 · #3 (One-Hit Wonder) Buy MP3 Mungo Jerry CDs

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20. Some Beach Blake Shelton · 2004 · #1 (Country) Buy MP3 Blake Shelton CDs

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