The Yearly GELT's TOP 1955-1959


1959
The best year of our lives
Artist of the year Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon was undoubtedly the great teen idol of the late 50’s. Trained to the trumpet, he had played on stage from the age 11, what had allowed him to attend very early the world of entertainment. Noticed by singer Al Martino, he recorded his first two instrumental singles in 1954 and began to assert his singing talent. After achieving minor successes, he releases in 1959 the song which will reveal him to the world. With a dazzling intro and its crystal clear sound , Venus remains for all those who knew this time the symbol of the year, cheerful and teenager forever.


#
Artist
Title
CT
VIDEO
1
Frankie Avalon
Venus
(Ed Marshall/Peter De Angelis)

2
The Flamingos
I Only Have Eyes For You
(Harry Warren/Al Dubin)

3
Dion & The Belmonts
A Teenager In Love
(Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)

4
The Skyliners
Since I don't Have You
(Joe Rock/Jimmy Beaumont)

5
Ray Charles
What'd I Say
(Ray Charles)

6
Ben E. King & The Drifters
Dance With Me
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Irv Nahan/George Tradwell)

7
The Clovers
Love Potion No. 9
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

8
Paul Anka
Put Your Head On My Shoulder

9
The Platters
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(Jerome Kern/Otto Harbach)

10
The Feetwoods
Come Softly To Me
(Gretchen Christopher/Barbara Ellis/Gary Troxel)

11
The Tempos
See You In September
(Sid Wayne/Sherman Edwards)

12
Neil Sedaka
Oh Carol
(Neil Sedaka)

13
Dodie Stevens
Pink Shoe Laces
(Mickie Grant)

14
Buddy Holly
It Doesn't Matter Any More
(Paul Anka)

15
Frankie Avalon
Bobby Sox To Stockings
(Ruth Faith/Richard DiCicco)

16
Chuck Berry
Back In The USA
(Chuck Berry)

17
Brenda Lee
Sweet Nothin's
(Ronny Self)

18
Wilbert Harrison
Kansas City
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

19
Sarah Vaughan
Broken Hearted Melody
(Hal David/Sherman Edwards)

20
The Coasters
Poison Ivy
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

21
Phil Phillips
Sea Of Love
(John Phillip Baptiste/George Khoury)

22
Connie Francis
Lipstick On Your Collar
(Edna Lewis/George Goehring)

23
Ritchie Valens
Donna
(Ritchie Valens)

24
The Isley Brothers
Shout
(Ronald Isley/Rudolph Isley/O'Kelly Isley)

25
Fabian
Turn Me Loose
(Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)

26
Bobby Darin
Mack The Knife
(Marc Blitzstein/Bertholt Brecht/Kurt Weill)

27
The Fleetwoods
Mr Blue
(DeWayne Blackwell)

28
Paul Anka
Lonely Boy
(Paul Anka)

29
Steve Lawrence
Pretty Blue Eyes
(Teddy Randazzo/Bobby Weinstein)

30
Frankie Ford
Sea Cruise
("Huey "Piano" Smith)

31
The Platters
Enchanted
(Buck Ram)

32
The Everly Brothers
'Til I Kissed You
(Don Everly)

33
 Dinah Wasington
What A Difference A Day Made
(Maria Grever)

34
Johnny Mathis
Misty
(Erroll Garner/Johnny Burke)

35
Lloyd Price
Personality
(Harold Logan/Lloyd Price)

36
The Impalas
Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)
(Arthur Zwirn/Gio Giosasi)

37
Brook Benton
It's Just A Matter Of Time
(Brook Benton/Clyde Otis)

38
Tommy Edwards
Please Mr Sun
(Ray Getzov/Sid Frank)

39
Fats Domino
I'm Ready
(Al Lewis/Fats Domino/Sylvester Bradford)

40
Della Reese
Don't You Know
(Bobby Worth)

1958

Artists of the Year : The Everly Brothers

Both prodigy brothers Don and Phil knew from childhood the atmosphere of studios thanks to their father Ike Everly who hosted a program on a radio station in Shenandoah. Their parents had chosen to make a career as singers, hitting leisurely the road between Kentucky and Tennessee. Upon graduation, the brothers chose to form a duet and to engage into music, drawing very fast the attention of Chet Atkins, the new manager of the RCA studios in Nashville. After a failed first record released in 1956, they got acquainted with music publisher Wesley Rose, excited at once by the freshness of their style, a trendy mix of rock and country forming  the melting pot of “pop music” which they will claim soon to belong. Assisted from 1958 by songwriters Felice and Bourdeault Bryant, they will string together hits like Wake Up Little Susie, Problems or All I Have To Do Is Dream and tour with Buddy Holly, convincing him to change his jeans and T-shirt against smart Ivy League suits.


#
Artist
Title
CT
VIDEO
1
Peggy Lee
Fever
(Eddie Cooley/Otis Blackwell)


2
Tommy Edwards
It's In All The Game
(Carl Sigman/Charles Dawe)

3
Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode
(Chuck Berry)

4
The Champs
Tequila
(Daniel Flores)

5
The Everly Brothers
All I Have To Do Is Dream
(Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant)

6
Chuck Berry
Sweet Little Sixteen
(Chuck Berry)

7
Elegants
Little Star
(Vito Picone/Arthur Venosa)

8
Ritchie Valens
La Bamba 
(Ritchie Valens)

9
The Crests
Sixteen Candles
(Luther Dixon/Allyson R. Khent)

10
Bobby Day
Rockin Robin
(Leon René)

11
Connie Francis
Who's Sorry Now
(Bert Kalmar/Harry Ruby/Ted Snyder)

12
Eddie Cochran
Summertime Blues
(Jerry Capehart/Eddie Cochran)

13
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Tears On My Pillow
(Sylvester Bradford/Al Lewis)

14
Elvis Presley
I Beg Of You
(Rose Marie McCoy/Kelly Owens)

15
Ricky Nelson
Poor Little Fool
(Sharon Sheeley)

16
Conway Twitty
It's Only Make Believe
(Conway Twitty/Jack Nance)

17
The Silhouettes
Get A Job 
(Earl Beal/Raymond Edwards/Richard Lewis/William Horton)

18
The Royal Teens
Short Shorts
(Bob Gaudio/Tom Austin)

19
Ricky Nelson
Stood Up
(Dub Dickerson/Erma Herrold)

20
Elvis Presley
I Got Stung
(Aaron Schroeder/David Hill)

21
Jackie Wilson
Lonely Teardrops
(Berry Goldy, Jr./Gwendolin Gordy:Roquel "Billy" Davis)

22
David Seville & the Chipmunks
Witch Doctor
(Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.)

23
The Platters
Twilight Time
(Buk Ram/Mortie Nevis/Al Nevis/Artie Dunn)

24
Jimmie Rodgers
Secretly
(Al Hoffman/Dick Manning/Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore)

25
Connie Francis
Stupid Cupid
(Howard Greenfield/Neil Sedaka)

26
The Everly Brothers
Bird Dog
(Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant)

27
Cliff Richard & The Shadows
Move It
(Ian Samwell)

28
Bobby Darin
Splish Splash
(Bobby Darin/Murray Kaufman)

29
The Big Bopper
Chantilly Lace
(Jerry Foster/Bill Rice/J.P. Richardson)

30
Domenico Modugno
Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)
(Franco Mugliaci/Domenico Modugno)

31
The Chordettes
Lollipop
(Julius Dickson/Beverly Ross)

32
Perry Como
Catch A Falling Star
(Paul Vence/Lee Pockriss)

33
Laurie London
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
(Traditional)

34
The Coasters
Yakety Yak
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

35
Paul Anka
Crazy Love
(Paul Anka)

36
Dalida
Come Prima
(Alessandro Taccani/Enzo Di Paola/Mario Panzeri)

37
Bobby Freeman
Do You Want To Dance
(Bobby Freeman)

38
Petula Clark
Baby Lover
(Wandra Merrell)

39
The Everly Brothers
Problems
(Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant)

40
The Kalin Twins
When
(Jack Reardon/Paul Evans)

1957


Artist of the yearChuck Berry
Still a teenager, he had spent three years in reform school further to an armed robbery. Having found later a job at General Motors, he dreamed however especially about a music career helped by his guitar and memories of gospel inherited from its childhood. He joined in 1951 pianist Johnnie Johnson and met Muddy Waters who arranged for him a recording session in the Chess studios. His first title Maybellene released in July, 1955 quickly reached #1 in the R&B chart allowing him without delay access to fame. The tone was set, his free and easy style, his stagy way to move and hold his guitar quickly asserted his personality as an outstanding performer. Great composer, he released therefore a series of tracks going to make the history  rock n' roll, if only by their unique intros making since the enjoyments of guitar learners. Despite his maturity, Chuck Berry is at the time mainly worshiped by the classrooms and dancing parties audience as evidenced by his last hit School Day.


#
Artist
Title
CT
VIDEO
1
Chuck Berry
School Day (Ring! Ring! The Bell)
(Chuck Berry)


2
Elvis Presley 
Jailhouse Rock
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

3
Elvis Presley
All Shook Up
(Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley)

4
The Diamonds
Little Darlin'
(Maurice Williams)

5
Paul Anka
Diana
(Paul Anka)

6
The Everly Brothers
Wake Up Little Susie
(Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant)

7
Danny & The Juniors
At The Hop
(Buddy Holly)

8
The Four Coins
Shangri-La
(Robert Maxwell/Matt Malneck/Carl Sigman)

9
Pat Boone 
Love Letters In The Sand
(J. Fred Coots/Nick Kenny/Charles Kenny)

10
Chuck Berry
Rock And Roll Music
(Chuck Berry)

11
Sam Cooke
You Send Me
(Sam Cooke)

12
Bobby Helms
You Are My Special Angel
(Jimmy Duncan)

13
Jerry Lee Lewis
Great Balls Of Fire
(Jack Hammer/Otis Blackwell)

14
Thurston Harris
Little Bitty Pretty One
(Bobby Day)

15
Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps
Lotta Lovin'
(Bernice Bedwell)

16
The Everly Brothers
By Bye Love
(Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant)

17
Johnny Mathis
Chances Are
(Robert Allen/Al Stillman)

18
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
That'll Be The Day
(Buddy Holly)

19
Dale Hawkins
Susie Q
(John Fogerty)

20
Tommy Sands
Teenage Crush
(Audrey Allison/Joe Allison)

21
Patsy Cline
Walking After Midnight
(Allan Block/Donn Hecht)

22
Ricky Nelson
A Teenager's Romance
(David Gillam)

23
Patti Page
Old Cape Cod
(Claire Rothrock/Milton Yakus/Allan Jeffrey)

24
The Diamonds
The Stroll
(Clyde Otis/Nancy Lee)

25
Jerry Lee Lewis
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
(Dave Williams/Roy Hall)

26
The Del-Vikings
Whispering Bells
(Clarence Quick)

27
Fats Domino
Blue Monday
(Dave Bartholomew/Blue Monday)

28
 Jodie Sands
With All My Heart
(Peter De Angelis/Bob Marcucci)

29
Marty Robbins
A White Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation
(Marty Robbins)

30
The Bobbettes
Mr Lee
(Bobbettes)

31
Charlie Grace
Butterfly
(Bernie Lowe/Karl Mann)

32
Bonnie Guitar
Dark Moon
(Ned Miller)

33
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
 Peggy Sue
(Buddy Holly/Jerry Allison/Norman Petty)

34
Little Richard
The Girl Can't Help It
(Bobby Troup)

35
Larry Williams
Short Fat Fannie
(Larry Williams)

36
Johnny Mathis
It's Not For Me To Say
(Robert Allen/Al Stillman)

37
Ricky Nelson
Be-Bop Baby
(Pearl Lendhurst)

38
Dalida
Histoire D'un Amour
(Carlos Almaran)

39
Margie Rayburn
I'm Avalaible
(Dave Burgess)

40
The Platters
I'm Sorry
(Buck Ram)


1956

Artist of the year : Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent would have certainly never made a music career if a bad leg injury further to a motorcycle accident had decided him to leave there Navy where he was a crewman since 1952. He will soon be known by playing in Country bars of his native Virginia with his rockabilly group called the Blue Caps. He writes then his first songs including Be-Bop-A-Lula, supposed to recall the comic-strip "Little Lulu". The title was inspired by the famous Ba-Ba-Le-Ba created in 1945 by Helen Humes later popularized by Lionel Hampton as Be-Ba-Re-Bop.

The song which soon became a national hit did not fail to stir the critics of right-thinking censors judging its lyrics too explicit, loaded with an inappropriate sexual contents. But what is most remarkable about this never graying song remains  the panting voice of Gene Vincent himself on a slow bluesy tempo as the skittering effects from lead guitarist Cliff Gallup.




#
Artist
Title
CT
VIDEO
1
Elvis Presley
Heartbreak Hotel
(Mae Boren Axton/Tommy Durden)
2
Gogi Grant
The Wayward Wind
(Stanley Lebowski/Herb Newman)
 
3
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
Be-Bop-A-Lula
(Gene Vincent/donald Graves/Bill "Sheriff Tex" Davis)  be
 
4
The Platters
My Prayer
(Georges Boulanger/Jimmy Kennedy)
 
5
Elvis Presley
Hound Dog
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)

6
The Five Satins
In The Still Of The Night
(Fred Parris)
 
7
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
(Jimmy Merchant)
 
8
Jessie Belvin
Goodnight My Love
(George Motola/John Marascalco)

9
Elvis Presley
Don't Be Cruel
(Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley)

10
Doris Day
Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
(Jay Livingston/Ray Evans)
 
11
Sonny James
Young Love
(Rick Cartey/Carole Joyner)

12
Nat King Cole
Night Lights
(Chester Cohn/Sammy Gallop)

13
Vic Damone
On The Street Where You Live
(Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner)
 
14
Chuck Berry
Roll Over Beethoven
(Chuck Berry)

15
Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender
(George Poulton/Aura Lee/Vera Matson/Ken Darby/Elvis Presley)
16
Johnny Burnette Trio
The Train Kept-A-Rollin'
(Tiny Bradshaw/Howard Kay/Lois Mann)

17
Carl Perkins
Blue Suede Shoes
(Carl Perkins)
 
18
Don Cherry
Band Of Gold
(Jack Taylor/Bob Musel)
 
19
Fats Domino
Blueberry Hill
(Vincent Rose/Larry Stock/Al Lewis)
 
20
The Four Lads
Not Not Much
(Lee Hazlewood)
 
21
Sanford Clark
The Fool
(Robert Allen/Al Stillman)
22
Little Willie John
Fever
(Eddie Cooley/Otis Blackwell)

23
Pat Boone
Anastasia
(Alfred Newman/Paul Francis Webster)

24
The Del-Vikings
Come Go With Me
(Clarence E. Quick)

25
Jim Lowe with The High Fives
The Green Door
(Bob Davie/Marvin Moore)
26
Patience & Prudence McIntyre
You Belong To Me
(Billy Rose/Lee David)
27
Bill Haley & His Comets
See You Later Alligator
(Bobby Charles)
 
28
Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
True Love
(Cole Porter)
 
29
Perry Como
Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)
(Al Hofmann/Dick Manning)
 
30
Otis Williams & The Champs
Ivory Tower
(Jack Fulton/Lois Steele)
 
31
The McGuire Sisters
Picnic
(George Duning/Steve Allen)
32
Pat Boone
I Almost Lost My Mind
(Ivory Joe Hunter)
 
33
Kay Starr
Rock And Roll Waltz
(Shorty Allen/Roy Alfred)
 
34
Little Richard
Long Tall Sally
(Richard Wayne Penniman/Robert Blackwell/Enotris Johnson)
 
35
The Crew Cuts
Angels In The Sky
(Dick Glasser)
 
36
Bo Diddley
Who Do You Love
(McDaniels)

37
Buddy Knox
Party Doll
(Buddy Knox/Jimmy Bowen)

38
Teresa Brewer
A Tear Fell
(Eugene Randolph/Dorian Burton)
39
Mickey & Silvia
Love Is Strange
(Bo Diddley)

40
The Heartbeats
A Thousand Miles Away


1955

Artist of the year : Bill Haley & The Comets 
Long trained to boogie-woogie and western swing,  30–year old Bill Haley looks already like a veteran with his old fashion kiss curl stuck on his forehead and the same rock n’ roll rhythm tirelessly strummed for more than three years. But he holds now with Rock Around The Clock the hit that will lead him straight to the Hall of Fame. Punchy, easy to sing, easy to memorize, this title will for ever symbolize the era of the rock n’ roll, since then danced and sung around the world by millions fans of all ages.




 #
 Artist
 Title
 CT
 VIDEO
 1
Bill Haley & The Comets
Rock Around The Clock
(Max Freedman/Jimmy DeKnight)
 

 2
Elvis Presley
Mystery Train
(Herman Parker/Sam Philips)
 
 3
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Sixteen Tons
(Merle Travis)
 4
Sarah Vaughan
Whatever Lola Wants
(Richard Adler/Jerry Ross)
 
 5
The Platters
Only You
(Ande Rand/Buck Ram)
 
 6
The Ames Brothers
The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane
(Sid Tepper/Roy Bennett)
 
 7
Little Richard
Tutti Frutti
(Richard Wayne Penniman/Dorothy LaBostrie)
 
 8
The Cheers
Black Denim Trousers
(Jerry Lieber/Mike Stollner)
 9
The McGuire Sisters
Sincerely
(Harvey Fuqua/Alan Freed)
 
 10
Little Walter
My Babe
(Willie Dixon)
 
 11
Boyd Bennett & His Rockets
Seventeen
(Boyd Bennett)
 
 12
Gales Storm
Teenage Prayer
(Bix Reichner/Bernie Low)
 
 13
Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison Blues
(Johnny Cash)
 
 14
The Four Aces
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
(Sammy Fain/Paul Francis Webster)
 
 15
Doris Day
I'll Never Stop Loving You
(Nicholas Brodszky/Sammy Cahn)
 16
Chuck Berry
Maybellene
(Chuck Berry)
 
 17
The Cadillacs
Speedoo
(Esther Navarro)
 
 18
Fats Domino
Ain't That A Shame
(Fats Domino/Dave Bartholomew)
 
 19
El Dorados
At My Front Door
(Johnny Moore/Ewart Abner)
 
 20
The Platters
The Great Pretender
(Buck Ram)
 
 21
Elvis Presley
Milkcow Blues Boogie
(Kokomo Arnold)
 
 22
"Big" Joe Turner
Flip, Flop And Fly
(Jesse Stone/Lou Willie Turner)
 
 23
Jo Stafford
Suddenly, There's  A Valley
(Chuck Meyer/Biff Jones)
 
 24
Pat Boone
Love Letters In The Sand
(J. Fred Coots/Nick Kenny/Charles Kenny)
 
 25
Etta James
Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)
(Johnny Otis/Hank Ballard/Etta James)
 
 26
Nat King Cole
Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
(Anna Sosenko)
 
 27
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Love Me Or Leave Me
(Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn)
 
 28
Muddy Waters
Mannish Boy
(McKinley Marganfield/Mel London/Ellas McDaniel)
 29
Frankie Laine
A Woman In Love
(Frank Loesser)
 
 30
Caterina Valente
Jalousie
(Jacob Gade/Vera Bloom)
 31
Al Hibbler
Unchained Melody
(Alex North/Hy Zaret)
 32
Joni James
How Important Can It Be
(Bennie Benjamin/George David Weiss)
 
 33
Dean Martin
Memories Are Made Of This
(Terry Gilkyson/Richard Dehr/Frank Miller)
 
 34
B.B. King
Ten Long Years
(B.B. King/Jules Taub)
 35
The Drifters
Adorable
(Buck Ram)
 
 36
Joan Weber
Let Me Go Lover
(Jenny Lou Carson/Al Hill)
 
 37
Bill Haley & The Comets
Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
(Bill Haley)
 
 38
Dinah Shore
Love And Marriage
(Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen)
 
 39
Shirley & Lee
Let The Good Times Roll
(Shirley Goodman/Leonard Lee)
 
 40
Billy Boy
I Wish You Would
(Billy Boy Arnold)

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