“KOBY Is Still On Top”
July 1958
These were the days when local record shops in the Bay Area would have free KOBY Top 40 surveys just like the one pictured above. Songs that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “That’s How Much I Love You” by Pat Boone, “Western Movies” by The Olympics, “Delicious” by Jim Backus, “King Creole” by Elvis Presley, “Rockin Robin” by Bobby Day, “Everybody Loves A lover” by Doris Day, “Volare” by Domenico Modugno, “Gingerbread” by Frankie Avalon, “I Believe In You” by Robert & Johnny, “You Cheated” by The Shields, “Just A Dream” by Jimmy Clanton, “Early In the Morning” by The Rinky Dinks (early Bobby Darin), “Angel Baby” by Dean Martin, “Fever” by Peggy Lee, “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran, “Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes” by Bobby Freeman, “How The Time Flies” by Jerry Wallace, “Born Too Late” by The Poni Tails, “Are You Really Mine” by Jimmie Rodgers, “You Are My love” by Seph Acre & The Pets and “Enchanted Island” by The Four Lads.
August 1958
Songs that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “It’s All In The Game” by Tommy Edwards, “Little Star” by The Elegants, “Bird Dog” by The Everly Brothers, “Moon Talk” and “Beats There A heart So True” by Perry Como, “Susie Darlin'” by Robin Luke, “Come Closer To Me” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “King Creole EP, Vol 2” by Elvis Presley, “Somebody Touched Me” by Buddy Knox, “Daisy Mae” by Jody Reynolds, “Topsy Part 2” by Cozy Cole, “Down The Aisle Of Love” by The Quintones, “She Was Only Seventeen” by Marty Robbins, “Ramrod” by Duane Eddy, “Tears On My Pillow” by Little Anthony & The Imperials, “Love Is A Funny Little Game” by The Vogues, “Up Until Now” by Johnnie Ray, “Hey Boy, Hey Girl” by Oscar McLollie & Jeanette Baker and “Itchy Twitchy Feeling” by Bobby Hendricks.
September 1958
Song that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “Carol” by Chuck Berry, “Near You” by Roger Williams, “Tea For Two Cha Cha” by Warren Covington, “Promise Me, Love” by Andy Williams, “It’s Only Make Believe” by Conway Twitty, “The Day The Rains Came” by Raymond Lefevre, “Firefly” by Tony Bennett, “Gee Whiz” by Bob & Earl, “The Only Way To Love” by Frankie Lymon, “The Scramble” by The Flames, “Necklace Of Teardrops” by The Humdingers, “The Ten Commandments Of Love” by Harvey & The Moonglows, “Come On, Let’s Go” by Ritchie Valens, “La Do Da Da” by Dale Hawknis, “With Your Love” by Jack Scott, “Everyone Was There” by Bob Kayli (this was really Robert Gordy, Barry’s younger brother), “Guaglione” by Prez Prado, Heavenly Angel” by The Satellites, “Real Wild Child” by Ivan and “There Goes My Heart” by Joni James.
October 1958
Songs that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “Tom Dooley” by The Kingston Trio, “Drag Race” by Don Pearly, “The Hula Hoop Song” by Teresa Brewer and also by Georgia Gibbs, “Call Me” by Johnny Mathis, “I’m Truly, Truly Yours” by Robert & Johnny, “The Treasure Of Your Love” by Eileen Rodgers, “Lonesome Town” by Ricky Nelson, “To Know Him Is To Love Him” by The Teddy Bears, “Nine More Miles” by Georgie Young, “Mexican Hat Rock” by The Applejacks, “The End” by Earl Grant, “Goodnight” by The Elegants, “I’ll Wait For You” by Frankie Avalon, “That Old Black Magic” by Louis Prima & Keely Smith, “Letter To An Angel” by Jimmy Clanton, “Beep Beep” by The Playmates and “Cannonball” by Duane Eddy.
November 1958
Songs that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “I Got Stung” by Elvis Presley, “Hold It” by Bill Doggett, “Mr. Success” By Frank Sinatra, “I’ll Remember Tonight” by Pat Boone, “Need You” by Donnie Owens, “Need Your Love” by Donnie Owens, “Love Is All We Need” by Tommy Edwards, “Mad Passionate Love” by The Mary Kaye Trio, “Problems” by The Everly Brothers, “Poor Boy” by The Royaltones, “Non Dimenticar” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “Pretty Girls Everywhere” by Eugene Church, “Mr. Grillon” by The Archibald Players (a parody of TV’s “Gunsmoke”), “Hideaway” by The Four Esquires, “Play Some Music For Broken Hearts” by Don Cornell, “Light Of Love” by Peggy Lee and “Queen Of The Hop” by Bobby Darin.
December 1958
Songs that would debut on the KOBY Top 40 this month were “Bimbombey” by Jimmie Rodgers, “Come Prima” by Marino Marini, “The Chipmunk Song” by The Chipmunks, “Philadelphia U.S.A” by The Nu Tornadoes, “Donna” and “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by The Platters, “A Lover’s Question” by Clyde McPhatter, “Goodbye Baby” by Jack Scott, “Mocking Bird” by The Four Lads (the Four Lads did a version of this song in 1952), “Green Christmas” by Stan Freeberg, “Whole Lotta Lovin” by Fats Domino, “My Happiness” by Connie Francis, “Try Me” by James Brown & The Famous Flames, “The Hawaiian Wedding Song” by Andy Williams, “The Little Drummer Boy” by The Harry Simeone Chorale, “Lonely Teardrops” by Jackie Wilson, “Gotta Travel On” by Billy Grammar and “Sixteen Candles” by The Crests. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: The Top 40 Music Surveys of KOBY in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area.
