Cry - Johnny Ray

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 29, 1951 - Mar. 14, 1952

This song will serve as our gateway to the year 1952.



Lyrics:

If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye
It's no secret you'll feel better if you cry
When waking from a bad dream
Don't you sometimes think it's real
But it's only false emotions that you feel

If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Remember sunshine can be found behind the cloudy skies
So let your hair down and go on and cry

If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Well now, remember sunshine can be found
Behind a cloudy sky
So let your hair down and go right on and cry

Sin (It's No Sin) - Eddy Howard

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Nov. 17 - Dec. 28

This song hit the charts for six different performers in 1951! Eddy Howard was the only one to reach the no 1 billboard position. In this clip, we hear three different versions:

1) Billy Howard
2) The Four Aces
3) The Duprees



Lyrics:

Take away the breath of flowers
It would surely be a sin
Take the rain from April showers
It's a sin
Take away the violins, dear
From a lovely symphony
And the music deep within
Would cease to be
Is it a sin to love you so
To hold you close
And know you are leaving

Though you take away my heart, dear
Still the beating there within
I'll keep loving you forever
For it's no sin

Is it a sin to love you so
To hold you close
And know you are leaving
Though you take away my heart, dear
Still the beating there within
I'll keep loving you foreve
For it's no sin

Download this song at Amazon.com:
Eddy Howard's version
The Four Aces' version

Cold, Cold Heart - Tony Bennett

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Nov. 3 - Nov. 16

Again, I'm not sure this is an original recording.



Much later, Norah Jones made a very nice interpretation of this song and released it on her break-through album Come Away With Me. That version is probably more familiar to the youngest parts of our audience.



Lyrics:

I tried so hard, my dear to show
That you're my every dream
Yet, you're afraid each thing I do
Is just some evil scheme
A memory from your lonesome past
Keeps us so far apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart

Another love before my time
Made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now
For things I didn't do
In anger unkind words are said
That make the teardrops start
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart

[Instrumental Interlude]

There was a time when I believed
That you belonged to me
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you
The more we drift apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart

Download Cold, Cold Heart at Amazon.com:
Tony Bennett's version
Norah Jones' version

Because Of You - Tony Bennett

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Sept. 8 - Nov. 2

I didn't find any good clips with an original recording of this song, but here's a clip with Tony Bennett singing it many years later:



Lyrics:

Because of you there's a song in my heart
Because of you my romance had its start
Because of you the sun will shine
The moon and stars will say you're mine
Forever and never to part

I only live for your love and your kiss
It's paradise to be near you like this
Because of you my life is now worthwhile
And I can smile
Because of you

------ instrumental break ------

I only live for your love and your kiss
It's paradise to be near you like this
Because of you my life is now worthwhile
And I can smile
Because of you

Download Because Of You at Amazon.com

Come On-a My House - Rosemary Clooney

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single July 28 - Sept. 7

Years after this song hit the charts, Rosemary Clooney, who is by the way the aunt of George Clooney, revealed that she first hated this song, but was forced to record it. See the second clip. It's a good thing she let herself be talked into it, since this song made her a star overnight.





A cover by Della Reese:



Lyrics:

Come on-a my house my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give a you
Apple a plum and apricot-a too eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Figs and dates and grapes and cakes eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you everything

Come on-a my house my house, I'm gonna give you Christmas tree
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Marriage ring and a pomegranate too ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Peach and pear and I love your hair ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Easta-egg
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Everything - everything - everything

SPOKEN: Come on-a my house-a!

Download Come On-a My House at Amazon.com

Too Young - Nat King Cole

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single June 23 - July 27



Lyrics:

They try to tell us were too young
Too young to really be in love
They say that love's a word
A word we've only heard
But can't begin to know the meaning of

And yet were not too young to know
This love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all



And yet we're not too young to know
This love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all

Download Too Young at Amazon.com

The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise - Les Paul & Mary Ford

This post constitutes a little detour in our journey through time; this song never actually reached the #1 position on the billboard, and thus, is not one of our destinations on this trip. However, being your guide through this adventure, I feel that it's worth a digression. It was still a major hit, with a #2 peak position.

In the last post, we made acquaintance with Les Paul & Mary Ford and their special sound. Given the context and the novelty of their sound, I find their music both very interesting, inspiring and beautiful. In this clip, you'll recognize the same sound as in the clips in the last post, and Les Paul shows off some of his dazzling guitar skills.



Lyrics:

Dear one, the world is waiting for the sunrise.
Ev'ry rose is covered with dew
And while the world is waiting for the sunrise
And my heart is calling you.

(instrumental break)

Dear one, the world is waiting for the sunrise.
Every little rose bud is covered with dew
And my heart is calling for you
The thrush on high his sleepy mate is calling
And my heart is calling you.

Download this song at Amazon.com

How High The Moon - Les Paul & Mary Ford

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Apr. 21 - June 22

Les Paul was also an inventor, and he played a major role in the development of electrical instruments and recording techniques. In 1941 he invented the first solid electrical guitar, that is without the sound hole in the body of the guitar. That way he could avoid resonance. He was also a pioneer in using and developing reverbs (echo effects) and multitrack recording. Mary Ford, who was not only his co-artist but also his wife, is said to be one of the first persons to have been part-singing with herself.





Lyrics:

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Till it comes true
That you love me as I love you

Somewhere there's music
How near, how far
Somewhere there's heaven
It's where you are
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

[Guitar Solo]

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

Be My Love - Mario Lanza

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Mar. 10 - Apr. 20
Words by Sammy Cahn, music by Nicholas Brodszky.

Be my love
For no one else can end this yearning
This need that you and you alone create
Just fill my arms
The way you've filled my dreams
The dreams that you inspire
With every sweet desire

Be my love
And with your kisses set me burning
One kiss is all I need to seal my fate
And hand in hand
We'll find love's promised land
There'll be no one but you for me
Eternally
If you will be my love

Download Be My Love at Amazon.com

If - Perry Como

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Mar. 3 - Mar. 9



Lyrics:

If they made me a king,
I'd be but a slave to you

If I had everything,
I'd still be a slave to you

If I ruled the night,
Stars and moon so bright,
Still I'd turn for light to you!

If the world to me bowed,
Yet humbly I'd flee to you

If my friends were a crowd,
I'd turn in my need to you

If I ruled the earth,
What would life be worth,
If I hadn't the right to you!

[ Instrumental Break ]

If I ruled the night,
Stars and moon so bright,
Still I'd turn for light to you

If the world to me bowed,
Yet humbly I'd flee to you

If my friends were a crowd,
I'd turn in my need to you

If I ruled the earth,
What would life be worth,
If I hadn't the right
To you!

Download If at Amazon.com

The year 1951

Unemployment dipped to 3.3% in the US and new roads were built to take the ever increasing numbers of cars including the New Jersey Turnpike. Children were given more than any other time in previous history with guitar lessons and sets of Encyclopedias to improve their minds . The average family income was $3,700 per year and people had money to spend so cars became more luxurious and had more powerful engines with options for two tone paint, during this time things like turn signals were still an extra and most drivers still used hand signals to tell other drivers which way they were turning. Television continued to grow with popular programmes like "I Love Lucy" and the first tests for Color Television Pictures were broadcast from Empire State Building . Europe continued to export many cars to the US including Volkswagon's and Austin's.

Quoted from Thepeoplehistory.com.

The Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 16, 1950 - Mar. 2, 1951

Wow. Just wow...


Download The Tennessee Waltz at Amazon.com

This was her second number one hit in a little less than two months, and it remained on top for sixteen weeks. And, yes, she sure could sing.

This is the perfect song for celebrating a new year. Yes, our time machine is now leaving the year 1950 and heading on into 1951. It's been an interesting first year! Thanks to those of you who came along for this first part of our trip. Make sure to stay aboard for more.

Lyrics:

I was dancing with my darlin' to the Tennesse waltz
when an old friend I happened to see.
I introduced him to my loved one,
and while they were dancing
my friend stole my sweet-heart from me.

I remember the night and the Tennessee waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost.
Yes I lost my little darlin' the night
they were playing the beautiful Tennessee waltz.

Update: Also see the post Norah Jones - The Tennessee Waltz.