Today in Billboard Chart History - August 15

[Dawn]

Today, let's take a look at an early chart. These were the top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart on August 15, 1960.

10. Image of a Girl – Surfaris
9. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson
8. The Twist – Chubby Checker
7. Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
6. Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino
5. Walk-Don’t Run – Ventures
4. Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison
3. I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
2. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland
1. It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley

Any thoughts or memories of these songs?

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Not a particularly favorite period of time in music for me.

Don't know 10 or 6.

9. Not too bad a song, don't go out of my way to listen though.

8. Way overplayed at this point.

7. The other Twist man. Haven't heard this a bunch. Typical song of the era.

5. Instrumental that I know but couldn't really hum aloud.

4. Along with the King, the best on here. (Does that surprise anyone? They WERE rock and roll at this point!)

3. Nice enough song, nothing I NEED to hear though.

2. Overdone.

1. The King. Always good. Rather hear Marie's the Name or Little Sister, but of course this is great.

[H2IZCOOL]

Hey Dawn! Love this chart!!!
I think this may be your earliest date yet. (The 50s can't be far off, can they? )

10. Image of a Girl – Surfaris Great R&R/doo wop ballad. But it wasn't the Surfaris; it was the Safaris. Totally different group.

9. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson Wow! The dead teenager song was s-o-o-o big in the early '60s. Ray had a great, understated voice. This was his biggest hit, but he had many fine songs.

8. The Twist – Chubby Checker This was the first time around for The Twist. It became an obsession later.

7. Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard & the Midnighters Sweet justice, for this week at least, that the guy who originated the Twist, outranked the guy who bought the rights to it.

6. Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino One of my faves by the Fat Man!

5. Walk-Don’t Run – Ventures In the early '60s, there wasn't a garage band around that didn't play this. One of the best sounds of the times.

4. Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison Well, you know how I feel about Roy. Best voice in the history of pop/rock music. Although he had been around for a few years already, this song introduced him to the masses. It was also, I believe, the first song that really put his vocal range in the spotlight.

3. I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee Typical Brenda. Good song.

2. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland. I once heard someone say that with this song, Brian Hyland invented bubblegum music. Whatever. It was a very enjoyable novelty song.

1. It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley. Well, the king was not an Italian opera star. And the song is done to the tune of O Sole Mio. But it was a very good effort. -- And Elvis COULD sing.

[Ken]

10. This is a nice little tune . I've heard it a few times

9.Not a bad song . I don't mind hearing it once in a while.

8.Yeah it's overplayed but I've never really gotten tired of it.

7.What a rocker! love that saxaphone..

6.This is one of my many faves from Fats

5.A first rate instrumental.

4.I remember hearing Roy for the first time when I was little I could not believe the power he had in his voice. I've always loved this.

3.Speaking of voices - Brenda was great! love it.

2.Easily one of the best remembererd novelty tunes ever.

1. Wow! a great track from The King.

[Railyn]

This is an in-between time in music, and a time I'm not real enthusiastic about.

10) Not familiar.
9) Ew. Not a fan of the tragedy songs.
8) It's ok, but gets tiresome after awhile.
7) It's ok.
6) Not familiar.
5) One of my dad's favorites.
4) Not too bad. Roy's ok.
3) Ew. No thanks.
2) A good novelty song.
1) Eh.

[Dawn]

SAT-The said:

Not a particularly favorite period of time in music for me.

Don't know 10 or 6.

9. Not too bad a song, don't go out of my way to listen though.

8. Way overplayed at this point.

7. The other Twist man. Haven't heard this a bunch. Typical song of the era.

5. Instrumental that I know but couldn't really hum aloud.

4. Along with the King, the best on here. (Does that surprise anyone? They WERE rock and roll at this point!)

3. Nice enough song, nothing I NEED to hear though.

2. Overdone.

1. The King. Always good. Rather hear Marie's the Name or Little Sister, but of course this is great.

Like you, I haven’t heard ‘Finger Poppin’ Time’ very often – the oldies stations here pretty much ignore it.

I’m with you about Roy – he was definitely one of the outstanding talents of that era. ‘Only the Lonely’ has always been a favorite of mine. My parents had his greatest hits album when I was very young, and I remember hearing those songs many times. Great memories!

I agree, you can’t go wrong with Elvis. ‘It’s Now or Never’ is not one of my top favorites of his, but it’s still a very good tune.

[Dawn]

H2IZCOOL said:

Hey Dawn! Love this chart!!!
I think this may be your earliest date yet. (The 50s can't be far off, can they? )

10. Image of a Girl – Surfaris Great R&R/doo wop ballad. But it wasn't the Surfaris; it was the Safaris. Totally different group.

9. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson Wow! The dead teenager song was s-o-o-o big in the early '60s. Ray had a great, understated voice. This was his biggest hit, but he had many fine songs.

8. The Twist – Chubby Checker This was the first time around for The Twist. It became an obsession later.

7. Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard & the Midnighters Sweet justice, for this week at least, that the guy who originated the Twist, outranked the guy who bought the rights to it.

6. Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino One of my faves by the Fat Man!

5. Walk-Don’t Run – Ventures In the early '60s, there wasn't a garage band around that didn't play this. One of the best sounds of the times.

4. Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison Well, you know how I feel about Roy. Best voice in the history of pop/rock music. Although he had been around for a few years already, this song introduced him to the masses. It was also, I believe, the first song that really put his vocal range in the spotlight.

3. I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee Typical Brenda. Good song.

2. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland. I once heard someone say that with this song, Brian Hyland invented bubblegum music. Whatever. It was a very enjoyable novelty song.

1. It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley. Well, the king was not an Italian opera star. And the song is done to the tune of O Sole Mio. But it was a very good effort. -- And Elvis COULD sing.

Hey H2! I thought you’d like this one! A 50’s chart should be coming up before long!

Oops, you’re right about the Safaris – I must have mixed them up when I was typing up the post! ;D

That’s true about the dead teenager songs being popular back in the early-to-mid 60’s – there was also ‘Last Kiss’, ‘Leader of the Pack’, and a number of others. This song is one I haven’t heard very often, but I agree, Ray did have a good voice.

‘Walk Don’t Run’ is definitely a classic. The Ventures had such a unique sound for that time.

[Dawn]

KenFrank said:

10. This is a nice little tune . I've heard it a few times

9.Not a bad song . I don't mind hearing it once in a while.

8.Yeah it's overplayed but I've never really gotten tired of it.

7.What a rocker! love that saxaphone..

6.This is one of my many faves from Fats

5.A first rate instrumental.

4.I remember hearing Roy for the first time when I was little I could not believe the power he had in his voice. I've always loved this.

3.Speaking of voices - Brenda was great! love it.

2.Easily one of the best remembererd novelty tunes ever.

1. Wow! a great track from The King.

‘Walking to New Orleans’ is one of my favorite Fats Domino songs also. I can still remember a commercial for one of his albums that they used to show on TV a lot back in the mid-70’s. That’s actually where I first heard some of his songs.

I agree with you about Roy – he was a tremendously gifted vocalist, with a very impressive range. Definitely one of the best tenor voices in pop music history.

[Dawn]

'W

Railyn said:

This is an in-between time in music, and a time I'm not real enthusiastic about.

10) Not familiar.
9) Ew. Not a fan of the tragedy songs.
8) It's ok, but gets tiresome after awhile.
7) It's ok.
6) Not familiar.
5) One of my dad's favorites.
4) Not too bad. Roy's ok.
3) Ew. No thanks.
2) A good novelty song.
1) Eh.

I like 'The Twist', but I agree, it does tend to be a little overplayed.