Popular Songs Of 1958, Vol. 1

Time for some real throwback music. Thus begins a three-part retrospective of the best and most Popular Songs of 1958. If you aren’t that familiar with the music of sixty years ago, give it a listen. You might be surprised how much you like it. If these golden oldies bring back memories for you, then all I can say is you’re welcome. I hope you will…enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Perry Como & Dean Martin  ~  “Return To Me”

2)  The Everly Brothers  ~  “All I Have To Do Is Dream / Cathy’s Clown”  (The first of these two songs was a hit in 1958. The second one came two years later.)

3)  Elvis Presley  ~  “Don’t”

4)  Ricky Nelson  ~  “Stood Up”

5)  Bobby Day  ~  “Rockin’ Robin”

6)  Chuck Berry  ~  “Sweet Little Sixteen”

7)  Pat Boone  ~  “A Wonderful Time Up There”

8)  Nat King Cole  ~  “Looking Back”

9)  The Four Preps  ~  “26 Miles (Santa Cantina)”

10)  Johnny Cash  ~  “Guess Things Happen That Way”

11)  Buddy Holly  ~  “Peggy Sue”

12)  David Seville  ~  “Witch Doctor”  (Fun fact: “David Seville” is a stage name for Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. This same guy later created “Alvin & The Chipmunks” and lent his stage name to the cartoon animals’ human “dad.”)

13)  The Champs  ~  “Tequila”

14)  Danny & The Juniors  ~  “At The Hop”

15)  Sheb Wooley  ~  “Purple People Eater”

16)  Conway Twitty  ~  “It’s Only Make Believe”

17)  Pérez Prado  ~  “Patricia”

18)  The McGuire Sisters  ~  “Sugartime”

19)  Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington  ~  “Tea For Two Cha-Cha”

20)  The Kingston Trio  ~  “Tom Dooley”

21)  Andy Williams  ~  “Are You Sincere?”

22)  Don Gibson  ~  “Oh, Lonesome Me”

23)  Frankie Avalon  ~  “De-De-Dinah”

24)  Ricky Nelson  ~  “Waitin’ In School”

25)  Elvis Presley  ~  “Don’t Ask Me Why”

More “Forbidden” Songs

Every now and then, I have what I think is an original idea for a music post, then I go back into my “vault” of old posts and realize I’ve already done that topic before. Such is the case with this post, which features songs with the word “Forbidden” in their titles. I originally did a “Forbidden” Songs post over three years ago. However, upon recent reflection, I realized that post was comprised entirely of songs by artists that no one – myself included! – had ever heard of before. I knew I could do better. And so I did. Enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Madonna  ~  “Forbidden Love”

2)  Yanni  ~  “Forbidden Dreams”

3)  Chic  ~  “My Forbidden Lover”

4)  This Century  ~  “Forbidden”

5)  Gloria Estefan  ~  “Heaven’s What I Feel (Corazon Prohibido)”  (In case you don’t speak Spanish, the word “Prohibido” means “Forbidden.” So this one qualifies in two languages!)

6)  Leo James Conroy  ~  “Forbidden Fruit”

7)  Nancy Wilson  ~  “Forbidden Lover”

8)  Violent Femmes  ~  “Forbidden”

9)  Selena  ~  “Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love)”  (Yep, there’s that Spanish word again.)

10)  Andy Williams  ~  “Forbidden Love”

11)  Erja Lyytinen  ~  “Forbidden Fruit”

12)  Martin Garrix  ~  “Forbidden Voices”

13)  Darlene Love  ~  “Forbidden Nights”

14)  Marty Friedman  ~  “Forbidden City”  (I don't think this is the whole song. But, wow, what a snippet!)

15)  Polina Gagarina  ~  “Forbidden Love”  (Apparently, Russia has their own Lady “Gaga.” So to speak.)

16)  The Reverend Horton Heat  ~  “Forbidden Jungle”

17)  Tapps  ~  “My Forbidden Lover”

18)  Lefty Frizzell  ~  “Forbidden Lovers”

19)  Heim  ~  “Forbidden Waltz”

20)  Paul van Dyk  ~  “Forbidden Fruit”

21)  Fox.E & The Good Hands  ~  “Forbidden Fruit”

22)  Be Bop Deluxe  ~  “Forbidden Lovers / Down On Terminal Street”

23)  Nik West  ~  “Forbidden Fruit”

24)  Electronic  ~  “Forbidden City”

25)  Storm Large  ~  “Forbidden”

Popular Songs Of 1957, Vol. 1

And now we begin another trip back in time. The year is 1957. Rock and roll is in its infancy. Traditional pop music still holds many of the top slots on the charts. Artists of color are enjoying more mainstream success. And all of the music is top-notch. Here's part 1 of 3 in the Popular Songs Of 1957. Ready, set, enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Elvis Presley  ~  “Jailhouse Rock”

2)  Harry Belafonte  ~  “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)”

3)  Pat Boone  ~  “Love Letters In The Sand”

4)  Mickey & Sylvia  ~  “Love Is Strange”

5)  Little Richard  ~  “Jenny Jenny”

6)  Marty Robbins  ~  “A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)”

7)  Patti Page  ~  “Old Cape Cod”

8)  Bobby Helms  ~  “My Special Angel”

9)  Johnnie & Joe  ~  “Over The Mountain, Across The Sea”

10)  Jerry Lewis  ~  “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody”

11)  Debbie Reynolds  ~  “Tammy”

12)  Paul Anka  ~  “Diana”

13)  The Tune Weavers  ~  “Happy Happy Birthday, Baby”

14)  Andy Williams  ~  “Butterfly”

15)  The Del-Vikings  ~  “Come Go With Me”

16)  Sonny James  ~  “Young Love”

17)  Jane Morgan  ~  “Fascination”

18)  Johnny Mathis  ~  “Wonderful! Wonderful!”

19)  Marvin Rainwater  ~  “Gonna Find Me A Bluebird”

20)  Elvis Presley  ~  “All Shook Up”

21)  Don Rondo  ~  “White Silver Sands”

22)  Gale Storm  ~  “Dark Moon”

23)  Thurston Harris  ~  “Little Bitty Pretty One”

24)  Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps  ~  “Lotta Lovin’”

25)  Jerry Lee Lewis  ~  “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”

"Watch" Songs

In case you haven't heard (where have you been?), there's a pretty good-sized hurricane headed our way. And by "our," I mean the eastern seaboard where I live. With that in mind, here's the first in a two-part series featuring songs with "Watch" and "Warning" in their titles. Ya get it? Huh? If not, I'm not going to explain it to you. First up, "Watch" songs. Prepare yourself...for enjoyment!  ~  JH

1)  Silentó  ~  "Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)"  (C'mon, you had to know this song would show up on the blog at some point, right?)

2)  Eisley  ~  "Watch It Die"

3)  Tears For Fears  ~  "Watch Me Bleed"

4)  Kate Voegele  ~  "Just Watch Me"

5)  Matisyahu  ~  "Watch The Walls Melt Down"

6)  Julie Andrews  ~  "Someone To Watch Over Me"

7)  Keane  ~  "Watch How You Go"

8)  Tegan and Sara  ~  "Night Watch"

9)  Dinosaur Jr.  ~  "Watch The Corners"

10)  David Byrne & St. Vincent  ~  "I Should Watch TV"

11)  Alter Bridge  ~  "Watch Over You"

12)  Agnes Obel  ~  "I Keep A Close Watch"

13)  Brett Dennen  ~  "Watch Away, Walk Me Burn"

14)  Jefferson Airplane  ~  "Watch Her Ride"

15)  Hanson  ~  "Watch Over Me"

16)  Anita Baker  ~  "Watch Your Step"

17)  Stereophonics  ~  "Watch Them Fly Sundays"

18)  Clay Walker  ~  "Watch This"

19)  Lorrie Morgan  ~  "Watch Me"

20)  Eric Hutchinson  ~  "Watching You Watch Him"

21)  'Til Tuesday  ~  "Don't Watch Me Bleed"

22)  Elvis Costello  ~  "Watch Your Step"

23)  Andy Williams  ~  "Music To Watch Girls By"

24)  Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, & Linda Ronstadt  ~  "Gold Watch And Chain"

25)  Trace Adkins  ~  "Watch The World End"