Howdy-hi, folks! There’s no telling where I might go with the music series. For the past three weeks, I’ve invited you to pitch a song title that works with the weekly theme. Some of you did just that and so I decided to use the first 10 contributions that I received to build today’s TTT playlist. While you won’t find 10 songs actually on my playlist, if you factor in the extra credit in my explanation of who submitted what and all of my babbling then you’ll see there are more than 10 songs for you to enjoy today. 😉
Special thanks to these bloggy friends for their song title contributions!
- Sandee “All I Have To Do Is Dream” made the Rolling Stones’ The 500 Greatest Songs of All Times list ranking at 141 by The Everly Brothers recorded in March 1958. This song did very well for the Everly Brothers becoming the most played song by DJs, Top 100 chart, Billboard Singles chart, Billboard Hot 100, #1 R&B chart, #1 country charts. The song made a return to the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. Crazy popular song and continues to be the most recognizable version on the planet. It’s fun to see who covers a popular song. This one hasn’t been recorded too many times over the years. Naturally, my eyes pop a little when I saw that Andy Gibb & Victoria Principle recorded the song. I had forgotten these two were a couple at one time.
- Brian “Peggy Sue” recorded by Buddy Holly & the Crickets in 1958. At first I thought Brian just shortened Peggy Sue Got Married (2007 remastered version) but it turns out that one is sequel that Holly recorded with The Hollies.
- Debbie “Tequila” by The Champs according to SongFacts originally released on the B-side “Train to Nowhere” in December 1957. SF doesn’t say why but DJs flipped the record instead to play “Tequila” and it went to #1 in the US where it stayed for five weeks making it the biggest hit of the ’50s. It was neat to learn some familiar names in music were once member of The Champs like Glenn Campbell and Seals & Crofts. I’m sure others I know but don’t recognize the names. The song has been covered a couple of dozen or so times. The only group that jumped out at me was Hot Butter (1973), in my humble opinion doesn’t come close to being as good as the original.
- Tom “Love Letters in the Sand” is a really old song. It first published in 1931 by Ted Black. The song’s origin was inspired by 1881 arrangement, “The Spanish Cavalier” (music only) by William D. Hendrickson. Pat Boone’s covered the song in 1957 and it became a major hit for Boone spending five weeks at number one on Billboard Top 100 but spent a whopping 32 weeks altogether on the chart. Incidentally “Love Letters in the Sand” lyrically doesn’t sound anything like the The Spanish Cavalier versions I listened to at YT, if you’re curious. In fact, The Spanish Cavalier rendition I found old country & western artists did which is quite suiting for that genre. I did find country singer, Tom T. Hall covered “Love Letters in the Sand” from 1984.
- CW (blog reader) “Mr. Blue” a number one hit for The Fleetwoods in November 1959 is new-to-me. After reviewing who’s covered this old tune, I found it interesting that country singer, Garth Brooks recorded the song for his 1990 album, No Fences. FYI: Brooks album topped the Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in August of the same year.
- Eugenia “The Great Pretender” released November 1955 become The Platters best selling R&B song in January 1956, topping The Top 100 chart the following month and was the 12th best selling song of that year. This song hasn’t been covered too much but was an interesting discovery to learn east Tennessee native, Dolly Parton recorded a version in 1984 which has a southern gospel flavor to it.
Let’s build a playlist together! Leave a song of your choice in comments from any decade that you just love and if I use it, then I’ll give you credit for the contribution! That’s it for today. Don’t scoot off just yet, following this post you’ll find a new installment of random musing and giggles in Tickle Me Tuesday. Have a terrific day! X💋X💋, Cathy