Rosemary Clooney - This Ole House

Rosemary Clooney - 'This Ole House'

26th November, 1954 (1 week)

American singer Rosemary Clooney - aunt of some chap named George - scored her first UK Number 1 towards the end of 1954 with her version of This Ole House. Her popularity had been boosted earlier in the year by starring in the classic film alongside Bing Crosby (who would recall her as 'the best in the business').

Much as this song makes you smile when you listen to it, it was a 'bit' misunderstood by Clooney - a mistake that Was That Really At Number One? readers will see repeated by Shakin' Stevens in the 1980s. The song, written by Stuart Hamblen, is actually intended as an epitaph for a dead man he found in a dilapidated old house, miles from civilization whilst out hunting with his friend John Wayne...

But sod all that misery. Feel free to bop away to this one: