As adjuncts to our highly popular "America's Greatest Hits" series of collections for each calendar year in the 50s and early '60s, we have already produced collections based on landmark moments in the Billboard charts - "The First Top 100 Nov. 1955" (ACQCD7062), "The First Hot 100 Aug. 1958" (ACQCD7083) and "The First Hot 100 of the '60s" (ACQCD7097), each comprising all the records in the Top 100 for the date in question. This collection highlights another musical landmark with the Top 100 on the date when Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" went to No. 1 in the first week of May in 1956. Although, contrary to popular wisdom, the advent of rock 'n' roll was much more of a musical progression than an explosion, the arrival of The King at the top of the charts was somehow an especially significant and iconic moment, which marked something of a watershed between the established order of the early '50s and the changing musical, social and political landscape of subsequent years. It comprises 100 records from the Billboard chart of May 5th 1956, from Elvis at No. 1 to Peggy Lee's "Joey, Joey, Joey" at No. 100, and as those two records imply, the chart encompasses strands of music of all kinds as the rock 'n' roll pioneers jostle for position with the crooners, divas, vocal groups and orchestras who had held sway for so long. It's a fascinating snapshot of a time when the music business and popular tastes were in transition, and every week there was something new to excite the baby-boomers. Alongside the major names there some obscure and often collectable records - minor one-hit wonders on relatively unknown labels which are not generally available on CD and which give a fascinating insight into the music of the time. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record.
11 Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Feat. Frankie Lymon) - the Teenagers
12 Ivory Tower - Cathy Carr
13 Moonglow & Theme from Picnic - Morris Stoloff
14 Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
15 Moonglow & Theme from Picnic - George Cates and His Orchestra
16 Main Title (From 'Man with the Golden Arm') - Richard Maltby Orchestra
17 Rock and Roll Waltz - Kay Starr
18 Eddie My Love - the Fontane Sisters
19 Why Do Fools Fall in Love - Gale Storm
20 Juke Box Baby - Perry Como
21 Why Do Fools Fall in Love - the Diamonds
22 Long Tall Sally - Pat Boone
23 Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
24 Happy Whistler - Don Robertson
25 Ivory Tower - Gale Storm
- Disc 2 -
1 Mr. Wonderful - Peggy Lee
2 Eddie My Love - the Chordettes
3 Main Title & Molly-O - Dick Jacobs
4 Standing on the Corner - the Four Lads
5 R-O-C-K - Bill Haley and His Comets
6 I Was the One - Elvis Presley
7 Wild Cherry - Don Cherry
8 Bo Weevil - Teresa Brewer
9 Theme from the Threepenny Opera (Moritat) - Dick Hyman Trio
10 Too Young to Go Steady - Nat King Cole
11 See You Later Alligator - Bill Haley and His Comets
12 Main Title (From 'Man with the Golden Arm') - Elmer Bernstein
13 Lovely One - the Four Voices
14 To You, My Love (Je Ne Sais Pas) - Nick Noble
15 Without You - Eddie Fisher
16 I'm in Love Again - Fats Domino
17 Poor People of Paris - Russ Morgan
18 I Want You to Be My Girl (Feat. Frankie Lymon) - the Teenagers
19 Innamorata - Dean Martin
20 Eddie My Love - Teen Queens
21 Can You Find It in Your Heart? - Tony Bennett
22 Church Bells May Ring - the Diamonds
23 The Great Pretender - the Platters
24 Held for Questioning - Rusty Draper
25 Port-Au-Prince - Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
- Disc 3 -
1 Saints Rock and Roll - Bill Haley and His Comets
2 Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant
3 Slippin' and Slidin' - Little Richard
4 Look Homeward Angel - the Four Esquires
5 Main Title (From 'Man with the Golden Arm') - Les Elgart & His Orchestra
6 Walk Hand in Hand - Andy Williams
7 Mr. Wonderful - Sarah Vaughan
8 Too Close for Comfort - Eydie Gorme
9 A Crazy Little Palace (That's My Home) - Billy Williams
10 Little Girl of Mine - the Cleftones
11 Walk Hand in Hand - Tony Martin
12 My Little Angel - the Four Lads
13 On the Street Where You Live - Vic Damone
14 Rock Island Line - Don Cornell
15 To Love Again - the Four Aces
16 No Other One - Eddie Fisher
17 Main Title (From 'Man with the Golden Arm') - Billy May and His Orchestra
18 Delilah Jones - the McGuire Sisters
19 Tutti Frutti - Pat Boone
20 Rock Right - Georgia Gibbs
21 Lisbon Antigua (In Old Lisbon) - Mitch Miller
22 Winner Take All - the Platters
23 Flowers Mean Forgiveness - Frank Sinatra
24 Mr. Wonderful - Teddi King
25 It Only Hurts for a Little While - the Ames Brothers
- Disc 4 -
1 Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
2 Rock and Roll Wedding - Sunny Gale
3 Forever Darling - the Ames Brothers
4 My Blue Heaven - Fats Domino
5 Innamorata - Jerry Vale
6 In a Little Spanish Town ('Twas on a Night Like This) - Bing Crosby
7 I Woke Up Crying - Joni James
8 Church Bells May Ring - the Willows
9 Just As Long As I'm with You - Pat Boone
10 Eleventh Hour Melody - Lou Busch and His Orchestra
11 Our Love Affair - Tommy Charles
12 Never Let Me Go - Nat King Cole
13 Theme from the Threepenny Opera (Mack the Knife) - Louis Armstrong & His All Stars
14 A Little Love Can Go a Long Long Way - Dream Weavers
15 Eleventh Hour Melody - Al Hibbler
16 Hi Lili Hi Lo - Dick Hyman Trio
17 I Could Have Danced All Night - Dinah Shore
18 My First Formal Gown - Patti Page
19 Poor People of Paris (Jean's Song) - Chet Atkins
20 Main Title (From 'Man with the Golden Arm') - Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra
21 Bo Weevil - Fats Domino
22 If You Can Dream (Feat. Al Alberts) - the Four Aces
23 Picnic - the McGuire Sisters
24 Joey, Joey, Joey - Peggy Lee
As adjuncts to our highly popular "America's Greatest Hits" series of collections for each calendar year in the 50s and early '60s, we have already produced collections based on landmark moments in the Billboard charts - "The First Top 100 Nov. 1955" (ACQCD7062), "The First Hot 100 Aug. 1958" (ACQCD7083) and "The First Hot 100 of the '60s" (ACQCD7097), each comprising all the records in the Top 100 for the date in question. This collection highlights another musical landmark with the Top 100 on the date when Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" went to No. 1 in the first week of May in 1956. Although, contrary to popular wisdom, the advent of rock 'n' roll was much more of a musical progression than an explosion, the arrival of The King at the top of the charts was somehow an especially significant and iconic moment, which marked something of a watershed between the established order of the early '50s and the changing musical, social and political landscape of subsequent years. It comprises 100 records from the Billboard chart of May 5th 1956, from Elvis at No. 1 to Peggy Lee's "Joey, Joey, Joey" at No. 100, and as those two records imply, the chart encompasses strands of music of all kinds as the rock 'n' roll pioneers jostle for position with the crooners, divas, vocal groups and orchestras who had held sway for so long. It's a fascinating snapshot of a time when the music business and popular tastes were in transition, and every week there was something new to excite the baby-boomers. Alongside the major names there some obscure and often collectable records - minor one-hit wonders on relatively unknown labels which are not generally available on CD and which give a fascinating insight into the music of the time. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record.