He's really straining. I guess it's a difficult song to sing. I know he was very popular in that era (the last big era for the crooners), although I'm surprised it was a hit of that size. His voice is very unpolished for that era...maybe people connected to this.

He's really straining. I guess it's a difficult song to sing. I know he was very popular in that era (the last big era for the crooners), although I'm surprised it was a hit of that size. His voice is very unpolished for that era...maybe people connected to this.

It doesn't sound to me like he's straining too much to reach the notes... it sounds like he has some issues with breath control. He was pretty unpolished for that era.... but they sure liked him in the UK. I think it still holds some kind of record for being at number one 16 weeks. The Agnes Jackson version was recorded much later, of course... recorded in 1970, and released on the Ward Singers' 1971 album "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" (Mint copies of which, BTW... sell for almost 100$)

Edited August 10, 201213 yr by alphanguy74

The next one came in between the Frankie Laine dominance at number one, Eddie Fisher once again, with "I'm Walking Behind You", which was number one from June 26 - July 2, 1953.... for one week.

I find this song to be excrutiatingally slow, plodding... and just boring as hell.

Frankie Laine was mega popular, and it's so odd that if you would ask my father his favorite singer from the era and the biggest singer from the era, he wouldn't say anyone but Frankie Laine even if it isn't actually true. He had catchy tunes though, some became really popular.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5sLwPziSznU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I think Eddie Fisher was lucky to be in that safe mom-and-pop era, and he was also a familiar face on TV in the variety show era. He doesn't seem very interesting, and he completely destroyed his public image because he wanted Liz Taylor. That scandal was the first huge celebrity story of the era when the public could get more involved in these things, it went on for years, and defined him. Even after Liz left him for Burton, he still got publicity mostly for his romances, like his difficult relationship with Connie Stevens.

Next is "Theme From Moulin Rouge" by Mantovani, which was also in the middle of Frankie Lanie's massive run, number one for 1 week, August 14 - August 20, 1953.

Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (Italian pronunciation: [anˈnuntsi̯o ˈpaolo mantoˈvaːni]) (November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980) known as Mantovani, was an Anglo- Italian conductor and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British hit singles and albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before The Beatles ... the first act to sell over one million stereo albums and had six albums simultaneously in the US Top 30 in 1959".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUF0Pf4ZAiw

I think this is lovely, and one of the best instrumentals of the 50's, it's so relaxed and elegant sounding.

Edited August 12, 201213 yr by alphanguy74

Next is "Look At That Girl" by Guy Mitchell, which held the #1 spot for 6 weeks, from September 11 - October 22, 1953. Guy had several Big hits, and a couple of #1's here in the US... but none would equal the chart run of this one in the UK.

Moulin rouge is pretty, like a fairy tale.

Look At That Girl sounds very dated even for 1953.

Next we have Frankie Laine once again, and his incredible dominance of the UK chart, with "Hey Joe", which was number one for 2 weeks, from October 23 - November 5, 1953.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZ5sjCnQfg

This song sounds almost like it belongs in a western movie. I never thought Frankie Laine was the best singer, I was surprised he was so hugely successful as he was.

It sounds like it isn't quite sure what it wants to be. The song is very overly affected and a good example of how confused music was in the last few years before rock and roll.

It was. There are bits of big band, country and western mixed together in it. It's an odd hit to be sure.

Alphanguy, I am so very sorry for not posting much in this thread (especially given your invaluable contributions to my thread). I am curious if you know the answer to this question: when did Guy Mitchell's popularity end in Britain? (In the U.S., it pretty much ended after "Heartaches by the Number.")

His popularity dropped off the same time. He gained his popularity much sooner in the UK.. but it all ended in both countries with "Heartaches By The Number", which only went to number 5 in the UK.

Listening to all the UK number ones on my own and the best selling songs of the decade (I'm in 2003), Unchained Melody has to be the song that reached the top of the UK charts the most times under different artists.