Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano

Rosemary Clooney - 'Mambo Italiano'

14th January, 1955 (1 week)

4th February, 1955 (2 weeks)

Famous aunt Rosemary made a welcome return to the top of the chart in 1955 with her second Number 1 after 'This Ole House'. She stayed there for 3 non-consecutive weeks with the now well-known song Mambo Italiano ('younger' readers may remember Shaft's remix from 2000 reaching number 12 in the charts, though versions by Dean Martin and Bette Midler also exist).

The song was written by Bob Merrill - of 'How Much Is That Doggy In The Window' hatefulness - under a very strict deadline, scribbled on the back of a napkin in an Italian restaurant, scoring approximately 0% on the 'Incredible Coincidences-o-Matic'.

Below is Rosemary Clooney strutting her stuff to Mambo Italiano:

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: