“And The Hits Kept Coming”
January 1957
As the year 1957 begins, a movie star would debut on the musical scene. His name was Tab Hunter and his recording of “Young Love” would debut at #9 on the KOBY Top 40 on the week of January 7. In 4 weeks it would sit atop the Bay Area’s Top 40. Other songs that would debut on KOBY in January of 1957 were “Knee Deep In The Blues” by Guy Mitchell, “On My Word Of Honor” by The Platters, “Too Much” and “Playing For Keeps” by Elvis Presley, “I Dreamed” by Betty Johnson, “Greensleaves” by The Beverly Sisters, “The Girl Can’t Help It” by Little Richard, “Cinco Robles” by Les Paul and also by Russell Arms, “I Love My Baby” by Jill Corey, “Wringle Wrangle” by Bill Hayes, “Marianne” by Terry Gilkyson & The Easy Riders and also The Hilltoppers, “Your Wild Heart” by Joy Layne, “Can I Steal A Little Love” by Frank Sinatra, “A Very Special Love” by Mitch Miller, “Ten Thousand Miles” by Michael Holladay, “You Don’t Owe Me A Thing” by Johnnie Ray and “One In A Million” by The Platters.
February 1957
Records that would debut on KOBY in February 1957 were “Butterfly” by Charlie Gracie and also Andy Williams, “Only One Love” by George Hamilton IV, “I Miss You So” by Chris Conner, “Round And Round” by Perry Como, “Almost Paradise” by The Norman Petty Trio and also by Roger Williams, “Jim Dandy” by Laverne Baker, “Party Doll” by Buddy Knox and also by Steve Lawrence, “Hep Dee Hootie” by Tommy Sands, “Ballerina” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “Walkin’ After Midnight” by Patsy Cline, “Who Needs You” by The Four Lads, “I’m Walkin'” by Fats Domino, “Teenage Crush” by Tommy Sands, “One Step At A Time” by Brenda Lee and “Chantez Chantez” by Dinah Shore.
March 1957
Maurice Williams was a member of a group called The Gladiolas. He wrote a song called “Little Darlin'”, a song that his group would record. A Canadian group called The Diamonds would record this same song and have a monster hit . The Diamonds would debut with “Little Darlin'” on the KOBY Top 40 on the week of March 4, 1957 and in 2 weeks it would climb all the way to #1. Other new entries in March would include “Come Go With Me” by The Dell Vikings, “Mama Look At Bubu” by Harry Belafonte, “Treasure Island” by Gale Storm, “Sittin’ In The Balcony” by Eddie Cochran and also by Johnny Dee (Johnny Dee was also known as John D. Loudermilk), “Ninety Nine Ways” by Tab Hunter, “Why Baby Why” by Pat Boone, “Lucille” by Little Richard, “Just Because” by Lloyd Price, “The Ship That Never Sailed” by Billy Vaughn and also by David Carroll, “After School” by Joy Layne, “Lucky Lips” by Ruth Brown, “I’m Sorry” by The Platters, “Dark Moon” by Bonnie Guitar, “Pretend” by Tab Smith, “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley ( a song that would debut at #3 on the week of March 25), “I’m Stickin’ With You” by Jimmy Bowen, “Gone” by Ferlin Husky and “There Oughta Be A Law” by Mickey & Sylvia.
April 1957
New entries on the KOBY Top 40 in April of 1957 were “The Banana Boat Song” by Stan Freberg, “Silent Lips” by Georgia Gibbs, “Rock A Billy” by Guy Mitchell, “Pledge Of Love” by Ken Copeland and also Mitchell Torok, “Number Three” by Bill Doggett, “Ricky Tick Song” by Teresa Brewer, “Empty Arms” by Teresa Brewer and also Ivory Joe Hunter, “Shish-Kebab” by Ralph Marterie, “School Day” by Chuck Berry, “Peace In The Valley” by Elvis Presley, “Rang Tang Ding Dong” by The Cellos, “Yes Tonight, Josephine” by Johnnie Ray, “Ring A Ding Ding” by Tommy Sands, “So Rare” by Jimmy Dorsey, “Love Is A Golden Ring” by Frankie Laine, “Searchin” by The Coasters, “Four Walls” by Jim Reeves and “Bernadine” by Pat Boone.
May 1957
New entries on the KOBY Top 40 for the month of May were “Valley Of Tears” by Fats Domino, “Start Movin” by Sal Mineo, “A White Sport Coat” by Marty Robbins, “A Teenager’s Romance” by Ricky Nelson, “Love Letters In The Sand” by Pat Boone, “Talkin’ To The Blues” by Jim Lowe, “Earth Angel” by The Penguins (originally recorded in 1954), “Let The Four Winds Blow” by Roy Brown, “Freight Train” by Rusty Draper, “Gunfight At O.K Corral” by Frankie Laine, “My Dream” by The Platters, “Goin’ Steady” by Tommy Sands, “Island In The Sun” by Harry Belafonte, “Hi Ho Steve O” by Gordon Hathaway (Louis Nye) and “Gonna Find Me A Bluebird” by Joyce Hahn
June 1957
New entries to the KOBY Top 40 in June of 1957 were “Old Cape Cod” by Patti Page, “Jenny Jenny” by Little Richard, “Baby” by The Avons, “Over The Mountain” by Johnnie & Joe, “I Like Your Kind Of Love” by Andy Williams & Peggy Powers, “Teddy Bear” and “Loving You” by Elvis Presley, “It’s Not For Me To Say” by Johnny Mathis, “Rockin’ Shoes” by The Ames Brothers, “Around The World In 80 Days” by Mantovani, “Short Fat Fanny” by Larry Williams, “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers and “With All My Heart” by Jody Sands. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: The Music Surveys of KOBY in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California, U.S.A, and the “Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition” by Joel Whitburn.
