Music from 1956 Trivia

1. "Well they said you was high-classed Well, that was just a lie" This lyric sample was taken from an Elvis Presley song that Billboard ranked as the 21st most popular hit of 1956 based on various chart based statistics. What song was it?

From Quiz The Top Hits of 1956 - Vol 2

Answer: Hound Dog

"Hound Dog" was written in 1952 by a pair of 19 year olds, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, at the behest of bandleader Johnny Otis who wanted a song to showcase the talents of the band's singer, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. It took them about a dozen minutes to compose and upon its release, became a smash hit on the R&B chart, Number One for seven weeks. Ironically, Lieber and Stoller would go on to compose several Presley hits. When they composed this one, they had never heard of him... no one had! Although Elvis Presley was aware of Thornton's record, the version he was most attracted to was the one he heard in a Las Vegas lounge as performed by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. He incorporated his own rendition into his act, singing it live on the Milton Berle and Steve Allen TV shows. Audience reaction was so overwhelmingly positive that the RCA label insisted that he record it despite his reluctance to do so. With this song, "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Don't Be Cruel", Elvis literally carried the R&R genre on his back during its formative years in the mid-1950s. "Hound Dog" was accorded B-side status when it was released as the flip to "Don't Be Cruel", perhaps because of Presley's reticence to record it. At the time, as the A-side, "Don't Be Cruel" seemed to be garnering most of the acclaim in terms of recognition and charting honors. I think that over time, "Hound Dog" is now regarded as Presley's signature song between the two.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Dean Martin

"Memories Are Made of This" gave Dean Martin a number one hit for six weeks on the US pop chart in 1956. The song was his only UK number one hit and was top of the UK chart for four weeks the same year. Dean Martin had a very successful ten year movie partnership with Jerry Lewis between 1946 and 1956. After the split, which was not very amicable, he had an even more successful solo career in movies, TV and music. His 1964 US number one hit "Everybody Loves Somebody" knocked The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night" off the top spot after only two weeks. He became a member of the so-called "Rat Pack" (the '60s version) with Frank Sinatra as the Chairman of the board.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Sixteen

"Sixteen Tons" (written by country singer Merle Travis in 1947) was the weight of No.9 coal Tennessee Ernie Ford was singing about. It was number one for four weeks on the UK chart in 1956. It was number one for eight weeks on the US pop chart in 1955. Born Ernest Jennings Ford, he charted over 25 hits on the US country chart between 1949 and 1976.

From Quiz The Top Hits Of 1956

Answer: Love Me Tender

Of the songs listed, "Love Me Tender" was the ballad and it indeed was adapted from an old folk song written by George R. Poulton and W. W. Fosdick. Perhaps coincidently, the song was introduced in the movie "Love Me Tender" which was set during the Civil War. "Love Me Tender" spent four weeks at number one, 14 weeks in the top ten, 19 weeks in the top 40 and 23 weeks in the top 100. According to their rating, this song accumulated 1720.46 points, good for number 14 for 1956.

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: Doris Day

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Waltz

Kay Starr spent six weeks at the top of the US pop chart with "Rock and Roll Waltz" in 1956. It was number one for one week on the UK chart the same year. Kay was the daughter of a full-blooded Iroquois Indian, and had sung with the Glen Miller and Bob Crosby bands. She had many solo hits in the US in the '40s and early '50s. She only made the US top ten once more with "My Heart Reminds Me", which reached number nine in 1957.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Dean Martin

Dean Martin sang "Memories Are Made Of This". It was number one for four weeks on the UK chart in 1956. It was number one for six weeks on the US pop chart in 1956. Dean Martin teamed up with comedian Jerry Lewis from 1946 to 1956. Later as part of Frank Sinatra's rat pack his career was arguably more successful after the split with Jerry Lewis, with records, movies and his own TV show in the '60s and '70s. Frank Sinatra had a number two hit on the UK chart with "(Love Is) The Tender Trap" in 1956. It reached number seven on the US pop chart in 1956. Tony Bennett had a number 29 hit on the UK chart with "Come Next Spring" in 1956. It failed to chart in the US. Perry Como had a number four hit on the UK chart with "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" in 1956. (Yes you are not seeing things, that is the title). It was number one for one week on the US pop chart in 1956.

From Quiz The Top Hits Of 1956

Answer: Whatever Will Be, Will Be

Also known as "Que Sera, Sera", the song won an Academy Award that year. Perhaps that was the purpose of the movie, merely to serve as a vehicle for Day to warble the song as often as possible throughout it. Good song, weak movie! Although it never topped the charts, it did peak at number two for three weeks and spent 15, 22 and 27 weeks in the top 10, 40 and 100 respectively to total 1743.67 points.

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: The Four Lads

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Elvis Presley

Who else could it be? Elvis Presley hit the top of the US pop chart with "Heartbreak Hotel" for eight weeks in 1956. It reached number two on the UK chart. Elvis has entered the building, this was the first of five US number one hits for Elvis this year. He wasn't the first Rock 'n' Roller in the chart, but he made the biggest shock wave (pity about the later movies). He was the King until The Beatles came along, but he never really lost the crown. Pat Boone had a number four hit with "I'll Be Home" on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number one for five weeks on the UK chart the same year. Carl Perkins had a number two hit with his original "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1956. It reached number ten on the UK chart the same year, sadly it was his only top ten hit on either chart. Roy Orbison and The Teen Kings reached number 59 with "Ooby Dooby" in 1956. It was his only US chart hit in the '50s. It never charted in the UK.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: The Dream Weavers

The Dream Weavers had a UK number one for three weeks with "It's Almost Tomorrow" in 1956, their one and only UK chart hit. It reached number seven on the US pop chart in 1956. The Snooky Lanson version of the song reached number 20 on the US pop chart in 1955. The David Carroll version reached number 20 on the US pop chart in 1955. The Jo Stafford version reached number 14 on the US pop chart in 1956. All three alternative versions of "It's Almost Tomorrow failed to chart in the UK.

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: Admiration

Sung by Teresa Brewer

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Boom

Perry Como spent one week at number one on the US pop chart with "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" in 1956. It reached number four on the UK chart. Yes, they don't write songs like that anymore, but I bet you can't resist singing the title at least. Perry Como was one of the most popular entertainers worldwide in the '50s and '60s. Among his honors are five Emmy awards, three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2002.

From Quiz Musical Memories of the Class of '56

Answer: The Chordettes

The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America was the launching ground for these four fabulously talented women from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Tenor Jinny Osborn's father was national president of the SPEBSQSA when The Chordettes were formed in 1949.

From Quiz The Top Hits Of 1956

Answer: Just Walking In The Rain

All these songs were Johnnie Ray hits but the other three pre-dated the rock era in 1951 or 1952. Almost totally deaf, Ray was notorious for his on-stage histrionics that, for some reason, made him an idol to a legion of female fans. With the ongoing rock and roll revolution, Ray's schtick lost its cachet and he would only have two more top 20 hits in 1957 before disappearing from the charts altogether in 1959. "Just Walking In The Rain" was another song that peaked at number two on the Billboard charts but altogether, it sat in the top 10 for four months, hence its high ranking.

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: Shirley and Lee

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: The Wayward Wind

Gogi Grant had a number one for eight weeks with "The Wayward Wind" on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number nine on the UK chart the same year. Not many singers are named after a restaurant but Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg was. She sang under the names of Audrey Brown and Audrey Grant, RCA A&R man Dave Kapp renamed her Gogi Grant after a place he liked to eat at called Gogi's LaRue. "Wind in the Willow" was a number 53 hit for Jo Stafford on the US pop chart in 1957. It failed to chart in the UK. "The Summer Wind" was a number 25 hit for Frank Sinatra on the US pop chart in 1966. It reached number 36 on the UK chart the same year. "Windy" was a number one hit for Association on the US pop chart in 1967. It failed to chart in the UK.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Winifred Atwell

Winifred Atwell played "The Poor People Of Paris" and had a number one hit for three weeks on the UK chart. It failed to chart in the US. Winifred Atwell from Trinidad & Tobago was a trained pharmaceutical dispenser but became a very popular pianist in the '50s when she moved to the UK and later Australia. She had 11 top ten hits (piano instrumentals) including two number one hits on the UK chart between 1952 and 1959. Les Baxter had a number one for six weeks on the US pop chart with his version of "The Poor People Of Paris" in 1956. Lawrence Welk had a number 17 hit on the US pop chart with his version in 1956. Russ Morgan had a number 19 hit on the US pop chart with his version in 1956. All of the three alternative versions of "The Poor People Of Paris" failed to chart in the UK. Multi chart entries of the same song were the norm in the '50s.

From Quiz Musical Memories of the Class of '56

Answer: Elvis Presley

"Heartbreak Hotel" and "Don't Be Cruel" and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and "Love Me Tender" were Presley's four No. 1 Billboard hits in 1956.

From Quiz The Top Hits Of 1956

Answer: Rock And Roll Waltz

Number one for four weeks on the Top 100 chart, it accumulated a total of 1862.33 points. The other songs listed also were highly ranked songs for 1956. "Allegheny Moon" by Patti Page was number 20, "Tonight You Belong To Me" by Patience and Prudence was number 30 and "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl" by Teresa Brewer ranked number 53.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: I Almost Lost My Mind

Pat sang "I Almost Lost My Mind", but gained a number one hit for four weeks on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number 14 on the UK chart the same year. Pat was at it again with this song, recording a big R&B hit. Written and recorded by Ivory Joe Hunter, it was a number one hit for him on the US R&B chart in 1950. It has been recorded by artists of many musical genres such as, Eddie Cochran, Willie Nelson, Nat 'King' Cole, Fats Domino, Charlie Rich, Duane Eddy and Bill Haley and His Comets to name but a few. The alternate songs are all Pat Boone top ten hits on the US pop chart in 1956.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Love

"No Other Love" gave Ronnie Hilton his only UK number one for six weeks in 1956; it failed to chart in the US. Ronnie Hilton (real name Adrian Hill) born in Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire UK, was a very popular singer in the '50s. Along with many other singers of the time his chart career waned in the late '50s after Rock'n'Roll appeared on the scene. He remained popular on TV and did have two minor hits in 1964 and 1965; later he presented "Sounds of the Fifties" on BBC Radio 2.

From Quiz Musical Memories of the Class of '56

Answer: Eddie Fisher

Eddie was No. 1 with "Wish You Were Here" (1952), "I'm Walking Behind You" (July 1953), "Oh My Papa" (January 1954), and "I Need You Now" (November 1954). He was husband to Liz and Debbie and Connie, oh my! And he's the father of Carrie and Joely Fisher, as well as Todd and Tricia. Oh Papa!

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: Perry Como

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: The Platters

The Platters had a number one hit for five weeks with "My Prayer" on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number four on the UK chart the same year, then 28 and 22 in 1957. The Platters had many different members over the years and at one time there was more than one group using the name. They had four number one hits on the US pop chart during the '50s. The Hilltoppers had a number 38 hit with "Ka-Ding-Dong" on the US pop chart in 1956. It failed to chart in the UK. The Chordettes had a number five hit with "Born To Be With You" on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number eight on the UK chart the same year. The Four Lads had a number three hit with "Standing On The Corner" on the US pop chart in 1956. It reached number 34 on the UK chart in 1960.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Pat Boone

"I'll Be Home" sang Pat Boone and reached number four on the US pop chart in 1956. It was number one for five weeks on the UK chart in 1956. This was a cover of The Flamigos R&B hit. Many of his early hits were cover versions, such as "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" which Little Richard and his co-writers decided to write so up-tempo that Pat Boone would not be able to sing it. He did and had a number eight hit on the US pop chart in 1956, number 18 on the UK chart. Pat Boone has claimed to be a descendant of American pioneer Daniel Boone and is a cousin of actors Richard Boone and Randy Boone. Nat 'King' Cole had a number 21 hit on the US pop chart with "Too Young To Go Steady" in 1956. It reached number eight on the UK chart in 1956. Elvis Presley had a number one for eight weeks on the US pop chart with "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956. It reached number two on the UK chart in 1956. Vic Damone had a number four hit on the US pop chart with "On The Street Where You Live" in 1956. It reached number one for one week on the UK chart in 1958.

From Quiz Hits Of 1956

Answer: Jim Lowe

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Hound Dog

"Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" was a double A-side number one hit for 11 weeks on the US pop chart for Elvis in 1956. Only "Hound Dog" made it to the UK chart and reached number two the same year. "I Was The One" was the B-side of "Heartbreak Hotel" and reached number 19 on the US pop chart this year. "My Baby Left Me" was the B-side of "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and reached number 31 on the US pop chart this year. "Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)" was the B-side of "Love Me Tender" and reached number 20 on the US pop chart this year.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1956

Answer: Anne Shelton

Anne Shelton sang "Lay Down Your Arms". It reached number one for four weeks on the UK chart in 1956. It reached number 59 on the US pop chart in 1956. The song was engineered by Joe Meek of later "Telstar" fame. Anne Shelton performed at UK military bases during WWII and had her own radio show "Calling Malta". She sang with the Glenn Miller orchestra and was invited to go to France with them but had prior engagements in the UK so didn't go. She acted in several films and performed in several Royal Variety Performances. She was awarded the OBE in 1990 for her services to the "Not Forgotten Association", a charitable organization for disabled service personnel from all wars. Vera Lynn had a number 17 hit on the UK chart with "A House With Love In It" in 1956; it did not chart in the US. Alma Cogan had a number 13 hit on the UK chart with "Willie Can" in 1956, which did not chart in the US. Doris Day had a number one hit for six weeks on the UK chart with "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" in 1956. It reached number two for three weeks on the US pop chart in 1956.

From Quiz The Top Hits Of 1956

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Sinatra and Riddle collaborated on some of the best albums produced in the 1950s and early 1960s for Capitol Records. In fact, many critics regard them as some of the best recordings of all time! Riddle didn't confine himself to Sinatra. He also did the arrangements for many in the stable of Capitol artists such as Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland and Dean Martin. Because Presley and Como recorded for RCA Victor and Boone for Dot Records, they never benefited from Riddle's expertise although it is dubious indeed that Presley and Riddle would have seen eye to eye on musical arrangements! "Lisbon Antigua" garnered 1968.56 points based on its 17 week stay in the top 10 of the Top 100 chart, including six weeks at number one.

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