It’s time for the #1 hits the year I was born, 1953, when I arranged the armistice which ended the Korean conflict and ordered Stalin to go away.
I’ve noticed that many of my friends who were born in the mid-1960s and later know the sensations of their natal year. I suppose a lot of that was them hearing the songs on oldies stations.
But the early 1950s was a bit of a neverland, neither the big band tunes of the 1930s and 1940s nor the rock and roll era that started c. 1955.
As it turned out, someone gave me a CD of the hits of that fateful annum. It came out in 2006 from SONY/BMG. Not all were #1s, but it did give me a more profound background about that year of music. The ones marked with an asterisk (*)were on the album.
All these #1s below, except No Other Love, were certified gold records. You will note there are 72 weeks represented because there were multiple charts involving sales, radio airplay, and jukebox play.
Songs
Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You) – Les Paul and Mary Ford, eleven weeks at #1
The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart) – Percy Faith with Fecilia Sanders on vocals, ten weeks at #1
*You You You – The Ames Brothers, eight weeks at #1 . I most remember Ed Ames from a hatchet demonstration he performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
*RagsTo Riches – Tony Bennett with the Percy Faith Orchestra, eight weeks at #1
The Doggie In The Window – Patti Page, eight weeks at #1. My mother sang this novelty song around the house when I was growing up.
Till I Waltz With You Again – Teresa Brewer, seven weeks at #1
I’m Walking Behind You – Eddie Fisher, seven weeks at #1. That’s Sally Sweetland on harmony vocals
*Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes -Perry Como, five weeks at #1
No Other Love – Perry Como, four weeks at #1. From the musical Me and Juliet by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
St. George and the Dragonet – Stan Freburg, four weeks at #1, novelty
There were lower-charting songs I know quite well: Dean Martin’s That’s Amore (#2), Eh, Cumpare by Julius LaRosa (#2), and Eartha Kitt’s version of Santa Baby (#3).
Familiar songs from the album include Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, Venezuela by Harry Belafonte, and The Four Lads’ version of Istanbul.
For all you 1953 enthusiasts, 161 songs.
Ed Ames passed away recently at 95
So he did. I mentioned that a few days ago: https://www.rogerogreen.com/2023/05/31/may-rambling-potential-dangers/
Julius LaRosa was fired by Arthur Godfrey on the air during the broadcast of October 19, 1953. LaRosa sang the song “Manhattan” and right after Godfrey said on the air that it was LaRosa’s swan song. Godfrey’s reason for the firing was that LaRose “lacked humility” and never explained exactly what that meant. Most of the press and all of the audience sided with La Rosa. After the firing Godfrey’s popularity took a huge dip and he never regained the admiration he once held.