Frankie Laine - Answer Me

Frankie Laine - 'Answer Me'

13th November, 1953 (8 weeks)

I said 'Answer Me' would be back before you knew it! Making its second appearance at number 1, this time recorded by Frankie Laine, making his 3rd appearance in this position for 1953:

Not content with having the biggest selling single of 1953, Mr Rawhide claimed the 1953 Christmas Number 1 as well with his version of the previous number 1 single. The first (but not only) time a number 1 would be removed by another version of the same song.

Which ties in nicely with the common theme of number 1 singles being a snap shot of popularity, not necessarily cultural trends. Multiple versions of the same version of a song appearing in the charts is still going to this day - the best example probably being the battle for Christmas number 1 2008 between Alexandra Burke and Jeff Buckley, which was of course well and truly won by X-Factor's Alexandra Burke. But more on that 'a bit later on'.

As a song though, I much prefer this version to David Whitfield's. Frankie Laine's voice is much rawer and charged with emotion, lending a greater poignancy to the song over the irritating operatic style of Whitfield.

David Whitfield - Answer Me

David Whitfield - 'Answer Me'

6th November, 1953 (1 week)

David Whitfield was launched to number 1 on the 6th November 1953 with his version of 'Answer Me, My Love' by the strength of a predominately female fan-base.

Interestingly, this song was originally banned by the BBC. Not because Whitfield was a satanic anti-Christ prone to abusing his female fanbase (though imagine the scandal), but because the BBC didn't approve of the original religious connotations. It was actually being directed at God, called 'Answer Me, Lord Above' asking why the poor old chap's lover had left. So Aunty Beeb slapped it with the 'banned' label. Considering how much the BBC gets attacked by 'certain right wing news outlets' for being too politically correct under this government, it's interesting to see they've probably been making the same claims for the past 60 years.

Anyway, a re-recorded version was released with new lyrics directing the song at the lover themselves and cutting out the middle man, if you will, and got to number 1, so here it is:

Personally, I've never really understood the sheer financial power of the young girl market (perhaps that's why I never get any dates. Well, that and I sit at a computer writing blogs about Number 1 singles rather than actually, erm... talking to people). I think this is another example of this lack of understanding. To me, listening to Whitfield's voice is as pleasant as rubbing your ear against sandpaper. Yet he still managed to be very popular. Go figure.

This song itself, however, will pop up again very very soon...