Big Bopper – Chantilly Ace 01/1959
Rosemary June – I’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time 01/1959
Slim Dusty – A Pub With No Beer 02/1959
Michael Flanders – Little Drummer Boy 03/1959
Reg Owen – Manhattan Spiritual 03/1959
Ritchie Valens – Donna 03/1959
Stonewall Jackson – Waterloo 07/1959
Hugo And Luigi – La Plume De Ma Tante 07/1959
The Chipmunks with David Seville – Ragtime Cowboy Joe 07/1959
The Impalas – Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) 08/1959
Jerry Keller – Here Comes Summer 09/1959
Ray Peterson – The Wonder Of You 09/1959
Browns – The Three Bells 09/1959
Monty Sunshine with Chris Barber – Lonesome 10/1959
Les Compagnons De La Chanson – The Three Bells 10/1959
Floyd Robinson – Makin’ Love 10/1959
Santo And Johnny – Sleep Walk 10/1959
Dickie Pride – Primrose Lane 11/1959
David MacBeth – Mr Blue 11/1959
Ivo Robic – Morgen 11/1959
Sammy Turner – Always 11/1959
Wink Martindale – Deck Of Cards 12/1959
Stevie Marsh – If You Were The Only Boy In The World 12/1959
Elmer Bernstein – Staccato’s Theme 12/1959
Ernie Fields And His Orchestra – In The Mood 12/1959
Listen to: Santo And Johnny – Sleep Walk
During this first decade of the UK charts, every one hit wonder I listen to was either completely new to me or an established classic that I could either name the artist, the title or sometimes both. All but one. What a lovely surprise and odd experience to happen upon “Sleep Walk” as a song that was familiar yet not. That I’d heard before but couldn’t place. I’ve since come to find out that it’s very much a “Tik Tok Sound” and has been used in the background in many videos up to this date. The achingly beautiful steel guitar that tells more than an instrumental is supposed to; it’s really good stuff. On another note, I was shocked to discover that The Chipmunks have only ever had one top 40 song. David Seville had charted in May of the last year with “Witch Doctor” but this isn’t Two Hit Wonders so enough about him.
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