50s - Autumn Leaves (Roger Williams)

Autumn Leaves

"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. It was originally a 1945 French song "Les feuilles mortes" (literally "The Dead Leaves") with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prevert. The English lyrics was written by the famous American songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1947. The song became a pop and jazz standard in both the French and English languages.

Many artistes had recorded the song and among them was Nat King Cole who sang this song over the the titles sequence of the movie "Autumn Leaves" (1956) which starred Joan Crawford.
However, it was Mr Piano, Roger Williams, who made the song a # 1 hit in the United States in 1955. This was the only piano instrumental to ever reach number one on the Billboard single chart. And it remained in that position for three weeks (October - November).

Roger's version became an American standard and still stands at the greatest selling piano recording of all time.

50s - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (The Four Aces)

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, in the 50s. The song was publicised first in the movie of the same name in 1955.

This sentimental theme song was one of the first songs written for a movie to become a top hit. The version recorded by The Four Aces went to #1 on the charts for four weeks (1 week in September, 1 week in October and 2 weeks in November) in 1955. This was quite a feat, considering rock 'n' roll was beginning to take its root. The song went on subsequently to win the Academy Award for The Best Original Song.

The song has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Ringo Starr and Barry Manilow, among many others.

Lyrics:

Love is a many-splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king

Once on a high and windy hill
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many-splendored thing

The video below showed The Four Aces re-performing the popular song in later year

50s - The Yellow Rose Of Texas (Mitch Miller)

The Yellow Rose Of Texas

"The Yellow Rose of Texas" is a traditional folk song which has long been popular in the United States and is considered an unofficial state song of Texas. The actual author is unknown.

Don George rearranged the original version of the song, which Mitch Miller made into a popular recording 1955 that knocked Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" from the top of the Best Sellers chart in the U.S. The song stayed in the top of the chart for 6 weeks (5 weeks in August - September, with a break of 1 week, and topped the chart again for another week in October).

Mitch Miller

Mitch Miller is an American musician, singer, conductor, record producer, A&R man and record company executive. He was one of the most influential figures in American popular music during the 1950s and early 1960s, both as the head of Artists & Repertoire at Columbia Records and as a best-selling recording artist.

In his early career, Mitch had guided such acts like Frankie Laine and Patti to success. When he was in Columbia Records, he made stars out of Tony Bennett, Johnnie Ray, Guy Mitchell and many others.

Miller's own recording career as a pop artist and conductor began, with big-scale choral recordings credited to "Mitch Miller and His Gang." Their first hit was a bold rendition of the Israeli folk song "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena". The group later chalked up a six-week run at the number one spot with "The Yellow Rose of Texas". Miller and company also enjoyed huge hit singles with numbers like the "Colonel Bogey March" from the war epic "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Between 1958 and 1962, "Mitch Miller and the Gang" chalked up 19 Top 40 hits.

Mitch also hosted a very popular (early karaoke?) NBC-TV series called the "Sing Along With Mitch" in 1961.

50s - Rose Marie (Slim Whitman)

Rose Marie

"Rose Marie" is a popular song from the musical or operetta of the same name. It was written by Rudolf Friml, Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II.

It became a astounding hit in 1955 for American country & western music singer Slim Whitman in Britain (and not USA)!

Whitman's rendition of the songs spent (a record-breaking then)11 weeks, from end July to early October, at #1 in the UK Single Charts.

In addition to his fantastic success with "Rose Marie", an earlier recording of "Indian Love Call" and "China Doll" also occupied high places in the best sellers. Two more songs, "Roll On Silvery Moon" and "Cattle call" were also reported to have brisk sales in every corner of Britain.

50s - Rock Around The Clock

Rock Around The Clock

"Rock Around the Clock" is a 12-bar-blues-based song written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (aka Jimmy DeKnight) in late 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954.

Although it was not Bill Haley's first rock and roll record (he had American chart success with "Crazy Man, Crazy" in 1953, and in 1954, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" reached #1 on the Billboard R&B chart), this recording became an anthem for the rebellious Fifties youth and is widely considered to be the song that, more than any other, brought rock and roll into mainstream culture in the USA and around the world.

The song, 'though recorded in 1954, only topped the US Single Charts in June 1955, when it was used playing over the credits of the movie, Blackboard Jungle.

"Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock and roll recording to hit the top of US Billboard's Pop charts. The song stayed at this place for eight weeks.

In the UK, the song reached number 17 on the pop charts in January 1955, four months before it first entered the US pop charts. The song re-entered the UK charts to reach #1 in November 1955, and after a three-week break returned to the top place for a further two weeks in January 1956.

50s - Unchained Melody

Unchained Melody

"Unchained Melody" is a popular song composed by Alex North (music) and Hy Zaret (lyrics) in 1955.

Initially, North and Zaret were contracted to write a song for for an obscure prison film "Unchained", and hence their song eventually becamed known as "Unchained Melody". Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. The song was nominated for an Oscar Best Song Award in 1955 but did not win.

Les Baxter released an instrumental version which topped the US Single Charts for 5 weeks (May - June, 1955). Jimmy Young's version hit #1 on the British charts for 3 weeks (June - July, 1955). Hundreds of other recordings (including Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow, U2) followed.

However, the July-1965 version by The Righteous Brothers became a jukebox standard for the late 20th century, and it regained massive popularity when used in the 1990 blockbuster film "Ghost" that starred Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg.

1995, the song was performed by Robson Green and Jerome Flynn in the UK drama series "Soldier Soldier". This version was subsequently released as a single and reached #1 in the UK.

Pop Idol talent contest winner 2002, Gareth Gates also recorded a cover version of the song. The single reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart on its first week of release, remaining at the top of the charts for four weeks (Mar - Apr 2002).

50s - Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White

Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White



"Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" is the English version of "Cerisier rose et pommier blanc", a popular song with music by Louiguy.

Perez Prado's recording of the song as an instrumental with his orchestra was the most popular version in 1955, reaching #1 for 5 weeks (April - May) on the US single charts and two weeks in the UK charts. Trumpeter Eddie Calvert continued its popularity and topped the UK charts for 4 more weeks (May - June '55)

The most popular vocal version was by Alan Dale, reaching #14 on the charts in 1955.

Among the many other artistes who have recorded this song, instrumentally or vocally, are Jerry Murad and The Harmonicats, Chet Atkins, Pat Boone (whose version was a major hit in the Philippines), Liberace, The Ventures, etc.

Most people, especially in the Asian regions, have associated this song with some striptease acts, e.g. the Rose Chan show in Malaysia.

50s - McGuire Sisters

McGuire Sisters
(Years active: 1952 - 1968)

McGuire Sisters were an American singing trio, composing of three sisters, Christine, Dorothy and Phyllis. The group was very popular in the 50s and among their most popular songs are Sincerely and Sugartime. Sincerely was at the top of the US Singles Chart for 6 weeks (Feb - Mar '1955).

During their stellar career, the sisters have performed before 5 American presidents and Queen Elizabeth II. They have also frequently appeared in numerous stage and TV variety shows. The sisters decided to put a wrap of their career in 1968. Since then, the sisters have made occasional public appearances. In 2004, they united to perform in a PBS Special, "Magic Moments: The Best of 50s Pop".

50s - The Chordettes

The Chordettes (years active: 1946 - 1961)

The Chordettes were a a female singing quartet, specialising in a cappella and traditional popular music. First establlishing themselves with their hit record "Mr Sandman" in 1954, they continue to chart in the last half of the 50s and the early 60s with cover versions of rock 'n' roll and R&B songs.

Formed in Wisconsin in 1946, the original members of the group were Janet Ertel, Carol Buschmann (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz and Jinny Osborn (or Jinny Lockar). In 1952, Lynn Evans replaced Schwartz, and in 1953, Margie Needham replaced Osborn (who was having a baby), although Osborn later returned to the group. Nancy Overton also was a member of the group at a later time. Originally they sang folk music, but eventually changed to a harmonizing style of the type known as barbershop harmony or close harmony.

The Chordettes' biggest hit was "Mr Sandman" in 1954, which topped the US Single chart for 7 weeks. The record sold over one million copies and reached #11 in the UK Singles Chart. They also hit #2 in 1958 with the million-seller "Lollillop".

The Beatles - Rarities

Rarities

This UK compilation album was released in October 1979. This was original released as part of the The Beatles Collection box set. Like some earlier compilation albums, this stand-alone album is also not available in CDs, but all the tracks here are included in the double CD compilation "Past Masters".

This album includes lesser known songs that are not included on the original studio albums - B-sides of singles, two songs sung in German, songs from an EP and one alternative version of
Across The Universe.

All songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, except where noted.

Side A

1. Across The Universe: This was recorded in 1968 but never made it as a single or included in the Abbey Road album. It was finally given to WWF who included it on the charity album No-One's Gonna Change Our World. A different recording of this song appeared later on the Let It Be album. John sings lead vocal on this track, with Paul harmonising in places. It also features backing vocals from two female singers (Lizzie Bravo and Gayleen Pease) which is not included in the Let It Be album version. Instrumentation includes John on acoustic/lead guitars, Paul on piano, George on sitar and Ringo on maraccas. John and George Martin duet on organ, too.

2. Yes It Is: Originally released as B-side to the 1965 Ticket To Ride single, it features a three-part harmony vocals from John, Paul and George, with John singing solo in parts.

3. This Boy: This was released in 1963 as B-side to I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Like the previous track, the song is dominated by a close harmony vocals from John, Paul and George with John singing the lead vocal.

4. The Inner Light (Harrison): Originally released as the B-side to the 1968 Lady Madonna single, it is the last of three Bealtes' track by George Harrison featuring almost entirely Indian instrumentation. (The previous two were Love You To and Within You, Without You.). George is on solo vocal with session musicians playing the Indian instrument. The other three Beatles were not present.

5. I'll Get You: This was released in 1963 as the B-side to She Loves You. The song has John in lead vocal, with Paul and George providing the harmony vocals. John also overdubs in the harmonica.

6. Thank You Girl: This track was also released in 1963 as the B-side to From Me To You. It features a lead vocal duet from John and Paul and a predominant harmonica from John.

7. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (Lennon-McCartney-Nicolas-Hellmer) : This is the German version of I Want To Hold Your Hand. The German lyrics was written by two German songwriters.

8. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number): Although this track was recorded in 1968, it was only released in 1970 as the B-side of Let It Be single. The lyrics of this intriguing track, which sounds like a jam session, are simply a repetition of the title, with some spoken comments. The lead vocals are from John, Paul and Ringo (who is uttering some meaningless verses). The instrumentation has John on maraccas, george on xylophone and Ringo doubles on drums and bongos. The jazzy piano is from Paul while Brian Jones (from The Rolling Stones) helps out with a saxophone solo.

9. Sie Liebt Dich (Lennon-McCartney-Nicolas-Hellmer): This is the German version of She Loves You.

Side B:

1. Rain: Originally released as the B-side to Paperback Writer in 1966 , this was included earlier in 1970 on the Hey Jude compilation album.

2. She's A Woman: This was written by Paul and orignally released as the B-side of I Feel Fine in 1964. Paul is on solo vocal and doubles on bass and piano. Ringo plays drums and maraccas.

3. Matchbox (Perkins): Ringo is on solo vocal in this Carl Perkins song. Producer George Martin adds in the piano. The song was originally released in 1964 as part of the Long Tall Sally EP.

4. I Call Your Name: The song is also from the Long Tall Sally EP. John sings the lead vocal in this track, which was given and recorded earlier to Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas.

5. Bad Boy (Williams): see A Collection Of Beatles Oldies

6. Slow Down (Williams): The third track from the Long Tall Sally EP features John on solo vocal of this Larry Williams song. George Martin is on piano.

7. I'm Down: Paul writes and sings lead vocal in this up-tempo song, which was earlier released as the B-side of Help! in 1965. John and George provide the backing vocals. John plays the Hammond organ with Ringo doubles on drums and bongos.

8. Long Tall Sally (Johnson-Penniman-Blackwell): This last of four tracks from Long Tall Sally EP was originally recorded by Little Richard, who also co-wrote this rock 'n' roll track. Paul is on a lead powerful vocal here.

The Beatles - Hey Jude

Hey Jude

This is another compilation album consisting some of the Beatles's non-album singles (1966-1969), plus Can't Buy Me Love & I Should Have Known Better. The last two songs are chosen in preference to The Inner Light (B-side of Lady Madonna) and Get Back (A-side of Don't Let Me Down).

The album was previously issued in the USA and was only available in UK in May 1979. Like A Collection of Beatles Oldies, this album was also not easily found in CD format with the many, better compilation albums available in the market.

With the exception of Old Brown Shoe by George Harrison, all songs in this compilation album are credited to Lennon-McCartney.

Side A

1. Can't Bue Me Love: (see A Hard Day's Night album)

2. I Should Have Known Better: (see A Hard Day's Night album)

3. Paperback Writer: (see A Collection of Beatles Oldies album)

4. Rain: This track was previously issued as the B-side to Paperback Writer single. John is the lead vocalist of the song, with backing vocals from Paul and George. Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine.

5. Lady Madonna: This is written and sung by Paul who also plays bass and a rock 'n' roll style piano. The backing vocals are from John and George. The saxophone backing are provided by 4 session musicians.

6. Revolution: The track was previously issued as the B-side to the Hey Jude single in August 1968. John sings lead solo vocal and plays the lead guitar together with George who plays a second distorted guitar. Paul is on bass, organ and piano.

Side B

1. Hey Jude: This was the A-side of the first single by the Beatles on ther own Apple label. It was one of the Beatles longest songs clocking 7:11 minutes. Paul writes and sings lead vocal on this track. He also accompanies himself on piano wth backing vocals from John and George. Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine. The ending 4-minute fade out is the longest on a Beatles' record. All four Bealtes plus a 40-piece orchestra sing and play to a one-line chorus (na..na..na..na..na..na..) in the fade-out.

2. Old Brown Shoe (Harrison): This George's song was issued as the B-side to a 1969 single, The Ballad ogf John and Yoko. It features George on lead vocals and lead guitar. John and Paul provide the backing vocal. Paul adds in the piano and Billy Preston plays the organ.

3. Don't Let Me Down: Previous issued as the B-side to the Get Back single, this blues-influenced track features John on lead vocal with harmony vocal from Paul. John plays the lead guitar instead of George who is on rhythm guitar. Billy Preston provides some solo organ passages.

4. The Ballad Of John And Yoko: This track was issued as a single in May 1969, two months after John and Yoko was married in Gibraltar. John and Paul play all instrument in this song. George and Ringo are not present. John, who plays acoustic/lead guitar, is on lead vocal and Paul provides harmony vocal. Paul is on bass, drums, piano and maraccas.

This album, together with A Collection of Beatles oldies and all the 12 studio albums, almost covers every official Beatles song. Of course, there are still some rarities albums, earlier recordings, compiltion albums from the Beatles available in the market.

The Beatles - A Collection of Beatles Oldies

A Collection of Beatles Oldies

This compilation album, featuring a selection of songs from The Beatles between 1963 to 1966, was released in December 1966, 4 months after the Revolver album, to cash in on the Christmas market. (The Beatles were in the first stages of preparing the Sgt. Pepper album, then.)

There are 16 songs in this album; it includes one 'new' track, Bad Boy, which had not been issued in UK. Among the other 15 tracks are 8 tracks previously included on the Beatles UK albums and 7 other tracks previously available only on singles.

This album (in vinyl) became obsolete with the many compilation albums available in later years.

All songs here, with the exception of Bad Boy written by Larry William, are credited to Lennon-McCartney.

Side One:

1. She Loves You: This track is the A-side of the Beatles' 4th single. It features the lead vocal duet from John

and Paul.

2. From Me To You: This is the follow-up single to Please Please Me. The lead vocals are shared by John and Paul with George joining in places on chorus. Apart from the usual instrumentation, John also plays the harmonica.

3. We Can Work It Out: This 11th UK single from The Beatles features Paul on lead vocal. John sings harmony vocal in the chorus and plays harmonium and acoustic guitar. George plays only the tambourine.

4. Help! : (see Help! album)

5. Michelle: (see Rubber Soul album)

6. Yesterday: (see Help! album)

7. I Feel Fine: This is the eighth single from the band. It opens with single note of feedback, then goes into the guitar riff around which the song is contructed. The lead vocal is from John. Paul and George on backing vocals. Both John and George play the lead guitars.

8. Yellow Submarine: (see Revolver album)

Side Two:

1. Can't Buy Me Love: (see A Hard Day's Night album)

2. Bad Boy (Williams): The lead vocal is a solo from John, who doubles on rhythm guitar and hammond organ. Paul and George play their usual bass and lead guitars. Ringo is on drums and tambourine.

3. Day Tripper: This was issued as a double A-sided single with We CanWork It Out. The lead vocals are a duet from John and Paul. John doubles on rhythm guitar and tambourine.

4. A Hard Day's Night: (see A Hard Day's Night album)

5. Ticket To Ride: (see Help! album)

6. Paperback Writer: The song begins with an a capella introduction. The lead vocal is from Paul, who also joins John and George on a 3-part haromony backing vocals.

7. Eleanor Rigby: (see Revolver album)

8. I Want To Hold Your Hand: The song opens with John's rhythm guitar, then follows by lead vocal duet from John and Paul. They are joined by George for the chorus line. With their signature hand-clappings, this is one of the Beatles' early powerful recordings.

The Beatles - Let It Be

Let It Be

This is the 12th and final UK studio album by the Beatles, released in May 1970, shortly after the band's announcement on their breakup.

Most of the songs here are recorded in January 1969, before the recording and release of the Abbey Road album.

The album acts as a soundtrack album for the 1970 movie, Let It Be, documentary of the band rehearsing and recording the album.

The rehearsals and recording sessions for the album did not run smoothly because of the increasing squabbles among the Beatles. There were lots of arguments and musical differences during the sessions. The presence of Yoko Ono in the studio worsened the atmosphere. The movie, instead of showing the making of an album, showed the world the breaking-up of one of the world's greatest pop bands.

However, the movie did has its moments; an impromptu concert, shown at the end of the film, was held on the roof of the Apple office in London's Saville Row. The Beatles managed to perform 5 songs (I Dig A Pony, I've Got A Feeling, One After 909, Don't Let Me Down and Get Back) before the arrival of the police to stop the concert, after receiving some complaints about noise.

All songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, except where noted.

1. Two Of Us: The opening track, written by Paul, is a close harmony duet between Paul and John (who both play the acousic guitars) with Paul soloing in places. George plays the lead guitar with Ringo on drums. This reminds us of the 3 guitars and drums sound of the early 60s.

2. Dig A Pony: The song has a false start and then it starts with the lead guitar riffs and lead vocal from John with harmonies from Paul. George takes over playing the rhythm guitar while Billy Preston plays the organ.

3. Across The Universe: This recording is slightly slower than the original, as if it has been deliberately slowed down from its recorded speed. This has given John's solo vocal a whining quality. John plays acousic and lead guitars and joins George Martin on organ. Paul is on piano while George plays the tamboura. Ringo plays only the maraccas. Co-producer Phil Spector's over-dubbing of the choirs and orchestras, somehow, destroys the original simplicity of the song.

4. I Me Mine (Harrison): The song opens with the organ played by Billy Preston, with George on acoustic guitar, Paul on piano, John on lead guitar and Ringo on drums. George is on lead vocal with harmones from John and Paul. The track also has an over-dubbed orchestra from session musicians.

5. Dig It (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey): a 51-second filler with John singing odd unconnected lines. This short track has Paul on piano, George on lead guitar and Billy Preston on organ.

6. Let It Be: This is one of the best songs from the Bealtes. Paul is on lead vocal ad piano. John plays the lead guitar, George on bass, Ringo on drums/maraccas, and Billy Preston on organ. To the dislike of Paul, Phil Spector overdubs brass and choir into the track.

7. Maggie Mae (Trad. Arr.-Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey): The Beatles interpret a traditional old Liverpudian song. John is on lead vocal with Paul and George harmonising. John and Paul play the acoustic guitars. George is on bass and Ringo on drums.

8. I've Got A Feeling: Both Paul and John sing the lead vocals in this track. The line-up is John on lead guitar, Paul on bass, George on rhythm guitar, Ringo on drums and Billy Preston on organ.

9. One After 909: This track is taken from the rooftop concert. It's one of John's earlier rock 'n' roll songs. The vocals are a duet between John and Paul, with John singing solo on one verse. The line-up is the same as I've Got A Feeling.

10. The Long And Winding Road: Paul's lovely ballad has him in solo vocal and piano. John is the only other Beatles present with the 6-string bass accompaniment. Phil Spector overlays the song with choirs and orchestras (strings, harp and drums) much to Paul's displeasure. (Paul strips off the orchestration in a later album called: Let It Be - Naked.)

11. For You Blue (Harrison): The track features a solo vocal from George who also plays the acoutic guitar. John plays on a steel guitar, Paul doubles on bass/piano and Ringo on drums.

12. Get Back: The last track on the album has Paul on lead vocal with harmonies from John in places. Again, like the few "rooftop" songs, the line-up is John on lead guitar, Paul on bass, George on rhythm Ringo on drums and Billy Preston on organ.