1950s Top Thirteen – 53, 54, 55

So we’re still firmly in the years of Mum’s choices, not mine, and because she and Dad met while ballroom dancing, everything is heavily dance influenced. These were the songs I heard mostly in my early years – possibly even from the womb in 1959!

Mambo was king, and I challenge anyone not to strike a Tango pose when Hernando’s Hideaway starts. Or if you prefer your tango Argentinian ...
The movie Moonstruck affirmed my number 1 from this era. After all: “When the Moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie …”

1. Dean Martin - That's Amore - 11-53 - Capitol
2. Archie Bleyer - Hernando's Hideaway - 06-54 - Cadence
3. Perry Como - Papa Loves Mambo - 10-54 - RCA
4. Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano - 11-54 - Columbia
5. Doris Day - Secret Love - 01-54 - Columbia
6. Dean Martin - Sway - 08-54 - Capitol
7. Frank Sinatra - Young-At-Heart - 02-54 - Capitol
8. Tony Bennett - Stranger In Paradise - 12-53 - Columbia
9. Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock - 05-55 – Decca
10. Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart - 01-53
11. Sarah Vaughan - Whatever Lola Wants - 05-55 - Mercury
12. The Platters - Only You - 10-55 - Mercury
13. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby - 12-53 - RCA Victor

And couple that got away …
Chuck Berry - Maybelline - 08-55 - Chess
Frank Sinatra - Three Coins In The Fountain - 06-54 - Capitol
Dean Martin - Memories Are Made Of This - 12-55 - Capitol

Yet again, certain songs seem to catch the imagination of the record publishers (if not the public), resulting in two or three copies of the same song released within a few months/weeks of each other.
For example in 53: Crying In the Chapel by Rex Allen/David Glenn/June Valli.
Then in 55: Unchained Melody by Les Baxter & His Orchestra /Roy Hamilton/Al Hibbler and The Ballad Of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes/Tennessee Ernie Ford/Fess Parker.
And one with a slight name change – and I’m not talking about the singer!
Oh My Papa – Eddie Fisher/Oh, mein Papa – Eddie Calvert