Songs of 1958 - #MusicMovesMe

It's the last day of September!

It's Monday and it's time for #MusicMovesMe.  

Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only,  please! Non-music posts are subject to removal or labeling as "No Music".)   First, there is XmasDolly.  Her chief co-conductor is Cathy of Curious as a Cathy. Her other co-conductors are Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, and me. 


This month, our guest conductor was Mary from Jingle Jangle Jungle. (Thank you, Mary!) For today she has picked "First Grade Songs - Songs that were popular when you were in first grade (or six years old).

Now, I didn't enter first grade until September of1958 and didn't turn six until later that year, but what I am going to do is use all of 1958 because it was such a fun year for music.

Don't believe me?  Let's start with a couple of novelty songs.

Witch Doctor - David Seville (yes, that David Seville, who created "The Chipmunks".

Sheb Wooley and Purple People Eater

But seriously, there was a lot of good music out there in 1958.  How about this almost-instrumental, with easy lyrics to learn - Tequila by The Champs?

Although this next song was released in September of 1957, it was one of the hottest singles of 1958. (Anyone remember "singles"?)  Danny and the Juniors with "At the Hop".

Speaking of Danny and the Juniors, they were part of a music trend that was popular in 1958 - doo wop music.  As someone who grew up in the Bronx, I would be drummed out of the Bronx if I did not include a song by Dion and the Belmonts - so here goes, with their first hit (yes, in 1958), I Wonder Why.

This next song charted several times, first in 1957, again in 1958, and has been covered many times.  The woman who the song was named after made national news when she passed away in 2018 - that is how beloved this song was.  Despite the initial 1957 release, I am including it due to its greatness.

Buddy Holly with "Peggy Sue".

This next song has quite a history.  Tommy Edwards had a hit in 1958 with "It's All in the Game" but the melody for this song was actually written in 1911 ( called "Melody in A Major) by Charles Dawes, who was later to become Calvin Coolidge's second term Vice-President.  Dawes also co-won the Nobel Peace prize in 1925.  The lyrics were added in 1951.

For my final selection, I the Platters and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.

Oh, they don't make music like this anymore....


And it's a modern day wrap!

See you next Monday for more music - same time same place.