Outside Of Heaven

Eddie Fisher – ‘Outside Of Heaven’

30^th January 1953 (1 week).

For what was only the 4th single to top the UK charts it is the turn of another American, Eddie Fisher, one of Elizabeth Taylor's seven husbands (though that would be a further 7 years in to the future), with 'Outside Of Heaven'.

Musically, the Pleasantville Soundtrack continues. Of course, this was always going to be the case, I mentioned in my previous post, the charts don't always represent the reality of what's happening in popular music and the majority of the world won't be ready for rock n roll until Bill Haley & his Comets blast along in 1955. Even if it does seem to start a trend for grammatically incorrect pop song titles...

Not that those fact renders this music unlistenable. Far from it, in fact. Simon Cowell could do a lot worse than looking this far back when selecting songs for the next X Factor Big Band week.

Comes A-Long A-Love

Kay Starr – ‘Comes A-Long A-Love’

23^rd January 1953 (1 week)

Kay Starr became the third recording artist to have a UK number 1 single with her version of Comes A-Long A-Love.

The song marks a more uptempo number than the previous two, but still very much in the same 'jazz-pop-big band' stylings of the pre-rock n roll 1950s and very much captures the zeitgeist of what was then modern chart music (which doesn't always reflect popular culture of the era - after all, this is a trip through the charts, rather than a trip through defining genres of music).

This song was not as popular as one of Kay Starr's previous hits, 'Wheel of Fortune' - but again, further proof that nothing in pop music is new: there are countless similar examples of artists throughout the past 50 years whose songs considered their 'biggest' today weren't necessarily their most immediately commercial success stories.

You Belong To Me

Jo Stafford – ‘You Belong To Me’

16^th January 1953 (1 week)

The second UK number 1 single and the first by a female vocal artist: Girl Power!

The song is a reminder to a lover that no matter where they are, or what amazing sights of the world they see, they still belong to the singer. Though it manages to come down on the good side of the ‘romantic song/Sting-penned ballad about stalking’ divide. It’s the sort of thing you can imagine playing on a jukebox in the background of a milkshake bar/diner. Or on the soundtrack to Pleasantville.

I was thinking about making another Michael Buble joke here – the song is prime Buble-bashing material after all and I do have quite the acute dislike for the Canadian crooner. Then I saw that he is one of a myriad artists (including Carla Bruni!) who have actually done a version of this song. So I guess the joke’s on me, really.

Here In My Heart

Al Martino – ‘Here In My Heart’

14^th November 1952 (9 weeks)

The first UK number 1 and as result, one of the most important songs in chart history: stayed there for an impressive 9 weeks (a feat only topped 5 times in nearly 60 years) and as a result also became the first Christmas number 1 as well.

As for the song itself, it’s pretty much the warbling balladeer number that was very much of its time. The subject topic is a familiar one ‘here in my heart I’m alone and so lonely, here in my heart I just yearn for you only’, I have a feeling that’ll be a topic popping up again and again and again. And again. Clearly, musically, there is a long road to be travelled down - this is most definitely of a pre-rock n roll era (even if lyrically not much has changed in 50 years). Though having said that, I can imagine Michael Buble doing a cover of this today…

In The Beginning

One night coming up to New Year, in what was more likely than not a 'slightly inebriated' state I declared I was sick to the back teeth of crap New Year's Resolutions: "I'm going to lose weight", "I'm going to give up smoking" and so on. No, you're not, you're always going to be fat and at a high risk of cancer. So why not do something more fun, I thought to myself. Why not do something totally useless and that will in no way better you as a person but do it just because it's fun. Hell, whilst you're at it you could jump on to this blogging malarky and tell the world (or the few random people who stumble across it) your thoughts on the history of the UK charts.

So here it is. My New Year's Resolution. In all its pomp and self-satisfied sarcasm. I hope anyone who reads this will gain some sort of pleasure from it, if not produce a full blown laugh. At the very least you could always think 'well hey, at least I'm not as sad as that douchebag'.

Enjoy!