America in 1952 was to say the least a very significant year. Television was getting a foothold and the most significant events in music was the first reported 'Rock 'n' Roll riot at Alan Freed's Moondog Celebration Ball in Cleveland, Ohio, the first broadcast of 'American Bandstand' (without Dick Clark) and on March 27th the opening of Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee. These last three occurrences had a profound impact on most of the artists featured on this CD; America's Greatest Hits of 1952. All of these titles reached the top 3 on the Billboard charts for the year. Pee Wee King's opening track was surely one of the first Country titles to cross over to the pop charts. Mind you the country artists and writers were supplying a lot of crossover hits in this period and Jo Stafford's cover of Hank Williams; 'Jambalaya' was no exception. Al Martino's big ballad 'Here In My Heart' also has the distinction of being the very first No 1 on the very first British Hit Parade in 1952. This album is very much a barometer of the popular sounds of the day with, perhaps, the exception of Johnny Standley's 'It's In the Book', a big favourite on BBC Radio at the time but never a UK hit. It's a parody of fundamentalist preachers and is presented here in its full-length version, which featured a sing along gospel pastiche.

Track Listing

• Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys - Slow Poke
• Kat Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
• Georgia Gibbs - Kiss Of Fire
• Leroy Anderson - Blue Tango
• Doris Day - A Guy Is A Guy
• Al Martino - Here In My Heart
• Percy Faith & His Orchestra - Delicardo
• Vera Lynn - Auf Wiedersehen Sweetheart
• Rosemary Clooney - Half As Much
• Eddie Fisher - Wish You Were Here
• Jo Stafford - You Belong To Me
• Patti Page - I Went To Your Wedding
• Johhny Standley w/ Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights - It's In The Book
• Joni James - Why Don't You Believe
• Mills Brothers - The Glowworm
• Jimmy Boyd - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
• Eddie Fisher - Anytime
• Ray Anthony w/ Tommy Mercer - At Last
• Rosemary Clooney - Botch-A-Me (Ba Ba Ba Ciami Piccina)
• Johnnie Ray - Little White Cloud That Cried
• Four Aces - Tell Me Why
• Gaylords - Tell Me You're Mine
• Les Paul & Mary Ford - Tiger Rag
• Ella Mae Morse - Blacksmith Blues
• Jo Stafford - Jambalaya

Additional Details

Label: Acrobat

Genre: Pop/Rock

Release Date: 11/08/11

UPC: 824046518028