The First Billboard Hot 100 - Top Ten Quiz

Answer: Perez Prado

Number one on the Billboard Chart for eight weeks, "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White" was a big hit in 1955 for Perez Prado and his orchestra. His follow up in 1958, "Patricia", was number one in the week prior to this first Hot 100 chart. The record was number two this week having been replaced by "Poor Little Fool".

Answer: The Kalin Twins

The Kalin Twins, Herbie and Hal, finally cracked the charts with their single "When", which placed at number five on the initial Hot 100 top ten. The twins had tried for over a year to get a record released that could get airplay and follow on with sales; "When" achieved this for them, going on to sell over two million copies.

The record topped the UK chart and made number one in Australia. Their subsequent releases did not sell very well so the boys retired from the music business. A subsequent release in 1959, "Sweet Sugar Lips" received a lot of airplay and sold well in Sydney, but only managed a few weeks on the national top forty, peaking at number thirty.

Answer: Ricky Nelson

The first number one hit for Ricky Nelson and the first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Poor Little Fool" has that distinction. The song was written by Sharon Sheeley who was the girlfriend of Eddie Cochran and was in the car with Eddie and Gene Vincent when the accident occurred that ended Eddie's life in 1960. Ricky Nelson went on to place 52 songs on the Billboard Chart between 1957 and 1972. Twenty of the songs made the top ten with his biggest hit coming in 1961 with "Travelling Man" backed with "Hello Mary Lou".

Answer: Elvis Presley

"Hard Headed Woman", a single lifted from the soundtrack of the movie "King Creole", gave Elvis Presley his eleventh number one hit. In this first Hot 100 top ten the record was sitting at number four, having reached the top position on the old Top 100 chart in July of 1958.

Answer: Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin in his short career managed to place 45 records on the Billboard Hot 100, of which ten made the top ten. "Splish Splash" comes in at number three on this first chart and is considered a Rock 'n' Roll classic. Bobby Darin's follow up single, "Queen of the Hop" was also a top ten hit later in 1958.

Answer: Duane Eddy

"Rebel Rouser" was the first of many top forty chart entries for Duane Eddy and became his signature tune. "Rebel Rouser" made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958 peaking at number six. The song made the UK chart peaking at nineteen and down under the record made it to number nine.

"Rebel Rouser" was an accidental hit as Dick Clark as per the record company's wishes was promoting the flipside "Stalkin'" at a record hop. He ran out of songs so turned all the 45s over and played the flipsides. Legend has it that he was asked to play "Rebel Rouser" four more times that night and the rest is history.

Answer: The Coasters

Peaking at number one in July of 1958, "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters is now a Rock 'n' Roll classic. The record place seventh in the first Hot 100 top ten. "Yakety Yak" was the Coasters' biggest hit and only number one on the pop chart. The group followed with further hits many of which were later covered by groups of the 1960s, songs such as "Charlie Brown", "Along Came Jones" and "Poison Ivy" - all three were top ten records.

The Coasters had achieved top ten status with their earlier hits, "Young Blood" and "Searchin'".

Answer: Peggy Lee

Rounding out the chart at number ten was "Fever" a sultry version by Peggy Lee. The song was written by Eddie Cooley and John Davenport (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell) and first recorded by Little Willie John. Peggy Lee's version has some lyric changes and a different tempo. The song has been covered by many artists including Madonna, Elvis Presley and Beyonce.

Answer: Jack Scott

Jack Scott was a Canadian-born rockabilly/country singer of the 1950s. "My True Love" backed with "Leroy" gave Jack his first of four top ten hits. This record peaked at number three but on this first chart it came in at number eight. Jack Scott's other top ten hits were "Goodbye Baby", "What in the World's Come Over You" and "Burning Bridges".
Note: "What in the World's Come Over You" was a number one hit for Jack Scott in Australia in early 1960.

Answer: Johnny Otis

The number nine hit was "Willie and the Hand Jive". Johnny Otis, the rock 'n' roll everyman - he was a musician, composer, performer, producer, talent scout and DJ. He had a top ten hit with "Willie and The Hand Jive". Using the (Bo Diddley) beat, the song is great addition to the rock and roll lexicon. Johnny Otis started recording in the late 1940s and continued through the 1970s. A portion of his performance of "Willie and the Hand Jive" at the Monterey Jazz festival is featured in Clint Eastwood's directorial debut picture, "Play Misty For Me".

On my copy of "Willie and the Hand Jive" released in Australia on a Capitol 45, the artist is shown as Johnny Otis. Most records have the artist as The Johnny Otis Show.

Johnny Otis is credited with discovering Hank Ballard, Jackie Wilson, Etta James and The Robbins (who became The Coasters).

The top ten of this first Hot 100 for the week ending 04 August 1958 were:
1. "Poor Little Fool" - Ricky Nelson
2. "Patricia" - Perez Prado
3. "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin
4. "Hard Headed Woman" - Elvis Presley
5. "When" - The Kalin Twins
6. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy
7. "Yakety Yak" - The Coasters
8. "My True love" - Jack Scott
9. "Willie and the Hand Jive" - The Johnny Otis Show
10. "Fever" - Peggy Lee.

SOURCE: Joel Whitburn Presents' "Billboard Top Ten Charts" 1958 -1997