The Hit Parade Era - Fantasy Programming

[hornet61]

The forgotten Era in Radio......forget any maket value, let not go there, this is fanatasy radio programming.

The period of music between the end of Big Band and the start of Rock N' Roll and a few years beyond Rock N' Roll as pop standards........"The Hit Parade Era" - truly beautiful music.

Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean Alot
Don Cornell - I'm Yours
Eddie Fisher - Heart
Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me
Frankie Laine - Moonlight Gambler
Nat Cole - Mona Lisa
Tommie Leonitti - Free
Kit Carson - Band of Gold
Karen Chandler - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me (1954-12 years before Mel Carter)
Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say
Les Baxter - Wake The Town and Tell The People
Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
Johnnie Ray - Little White Cloud That Cried
Freddie Martin - I Get Ideas
Sarah Vaughn - Make Yourself Comfortable
Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody
Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze

Here's a few ...which ones, would you add to the list...maybe we can program a whole fantasy station.

 

[andreajesus]

dude, you look like you got a good start with that list... 8)

Andrea

 

[RicoGregg]

At one time, this fantasy was very real. In the 80s, Satellite Music Network out of Chicago had a service, the name of which I forget, that programmed this exact type of music. All of the DJs were former musicians, some of whom played on some of the recordings they spun.

It ran regionally here in SoCal at KWRM-AM in Corona. I worked there for a couple of years. The format ran until 1988, when both station management and the format's demographics changed (READ: Got older). KWRM presently runs both Chinese and Spanish language programming in 12 hour blocks.

What I liked about the format besides the novelty of the music, which was just a touch before my time, was the laid-back atmosphere of the presentation. All the jocks sounded like they were sitting in their easy chairs.

The station itself has 5 towers just off the 91 Freeway, a few miles from the Orange County border, and at the time, other than the freeway, was a good mile or so from civilization. There was a small pond in front of the station property, and I would see mud hens swimming there, along with occasional fishermen on their lawn chairs. I had to watch out for occasional snakes on the property. Fortunately, none of them rattled.

 

[stilldustyvinyl]

I'll add five of my favorites from your place and time:

Ivory Tower..............Cathy Carr
Wayward Wind..........Gogi Grant
Canadian Sunset........Hugo Winterhalter
Walking In The Rain....Johnny Ray
Allegheny Moon.........Patti Page

 

[radioman148]

I'll add five of my favorites from your place and time:

Ivory Tower..............Cathy Carr
Wayward Wind..........Gogi Grant
Canadian Sunset........Hugo Winterhalter
Walking In The Rain....Johnny Ray
Allegheny Moon.........Patti Page

Don't forget "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White"

 

[TheFonz]

The forgotten Era in Radio.......

The period of music between the end of Big Band and the start of Rock N' Roll and a few years beyond Rock N' Roll as pop standards........"The Hit Parade Era" - truly beautiful music.

This may be a forgotten era in satellite radio as well. I understand that Sirius/XM's Channel 5 has dropped Bob Moke's excellent "Moments To Remember" show.

 

[radioman148]

The forgotten Era in Radio.......

The period of music between the end of Big Band and the start of Rock N' Roll and a few years beyond Rock N' Roll as pop standards........"The Hit Parade Era" - truly beautiful music.

This may be a forgotten era in satellite radio as well. I understand that Sirius/XM's Channel 5 has dropped Bob Moke's excellent "Moments To Remember" show.

That's bad news. Bob Moke's show was excellent & his knowledge of music unsurpassed.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

OK I'll add a few off the top of my head (I was a weee lil' one when these were hits, but my older brother already was into music and radio)..
First the list so far followed by my additions..

Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean Alot
Don Cornell - I'm Yours
Eddie Fisher - Heart
Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me
Frankie Laine - Moonlight Gambler
Nat Cole - Mona Lisa
Tommie Leonitti - Free
Kit Carson - Band of Gold
Karen Chandler - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me (1954-12 years before Mel Carter)
Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say
Les Baxter - Wake The Town and Tell The People
Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
Johnnie Ray - Little White Cloud That Cried
Freddie Martin - I Get Ideas
Sarah Vaughn - Make Yourself Comfortable
Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody
Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze
Ivory Tower..............Cathy Carr
Wayward Wind..........Gogi Grant
Canadian Sunset........Hugo Winterhalter
Walking In The Rain....Johnny Ray
Allegheny Moon.........Patti Page
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Prez Prado
.......................................
Learning the Blues - Sinatra
Glow Worm-Mills Brothers
Let Me Go Lover - Joan Weber
Skokian- 4 Lads
Three Coins in the Fountain - 4 Aces
Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes (yes a novelty but coonskin cap memories! )
A Tear Fell - Nat King Cole
Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Hearts Made of Stone - Fontaine Sisters
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Suddenly There's a Valley - Gogi Grant
Music Music Music-Teresa Brewer
Tweedle Dee-Georgia Gibbs
Dance With Me Henry-Georgia Gibbs
Band of Gold-Don Cornell
Hot Diggety-Perry Como
Papa Loves Mambo-Perry Como
The Thing - Phil Harris
Love is a Many Splendored Thing - 4 Aces
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- 4 Lads
Standing on a Corner- 4 Lads

 

[radioman148]

OK I'll add a few off the top of my head (I was a weee lil' one when these were hits, but my older brother already was into music and radio)..
First the list so far followed by my additions..

Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean Alot
Don Cornell - I'm Yours
Eddie Fisher - Heart
Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me
Frankie Laine - Moonlight Gambler
Nat Cole - Mona Lisa
Tommie Leonitti - Free
Kit Carson - Band of Gold
Karen Chandler - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me (1954-12 years before Mel Carter)
Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say
Les Baxter - Wake The Town and Tell The People
Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
Johnnie Ray - Little White Cloud That Cried
Freddie Martin - I Get Ideas
Sarah Vaughn - Make Yourself Comfortable
Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody
Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze
Ivory Tower..............Cathy Carr
Wayward Wind..........Gogi Grant
Canadian Sunset........Hugo Winterhalter
Walking In The Rain....Johnny Ray
Allegheny Moon.........Patti Page
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Prez Prado
.......................................
Learning the Blues - Sinatra
Glow Worm-Mills Brothers
Let Me Go Lover - Joan Weber
Skokian- 4 Lads
Three Coins in the Fountain - 4 Aces
Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes (yes a novelty but coonskin cap memories! )
A Tear Fell - Nat King Cole
Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Hearts Made of Stone - Fontaine Sisters
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Suddenly There's a Valley - Gogi Grant
Music Music Music-Teresa Brewer
Tweedle Dee-Georgia Gibbs
Dance With Me Henry-Georgia Gibbs
Band of Gold-Don Cornell
Hot Diggety-Perry Como
Papa Loves Mambo-Perry Como
The Thing - Phil Harris
Love is a Many Splendored Thing - 4 Aces
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- 4 Lads
Standing on a Corner- 4 Lads

I must be getting old because I remember almost all. BTW: "Moonlight Gambler" is a great one.

 

[hornet61]

You folks are awesome



Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean Alot
Don Cornell - I'm Yours
Eddie Fisher - Heart
Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me
Frankie Laine - Moonlight Gambler
Nat Cole - Mona Lisa
Tommie Leonitti - Free
Kit Carson - Band of Gold
Karen Chandler - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me (1954-12 years before Mel Carter)
Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say
Les Baxter - Wake The Town and Tell The People
Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
Johnnie Ray - Little White Cloud That Cried
Freddie Martin - I Get Ideas
Sarah Vaughn - Make Yourself Comfortable
Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody
Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze
Ivory Tower..............Cathy Carr
Wayward Wind..........Gogi Grant
Canadian Sunset........Hugo Winterhalter
Walking In The Rain....Johnny Ray
Allegheny Moon.........Patti Page
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Prez Prado
.......................................
Learning the Blues - Sinatra
Glow Worm-Mills Brothers
Let Me Go Lover - Joan Weber
Skokian- 4 Lads
Three Coins in the Fountain - 4 Aces
Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes (yes a novelty but coonskin cap memories! )
A Tear Fell - Nat King Cole
Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Hearts Made of Stone - Fontaine Sisters
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Suddenly There's a Valley - Gogi Grant
Music Music Music-Teresa Brewer
Tweedle Dee-Georgia Gibbs
Dance With Me Henry-Georgia Gibbs
Band of Gold-Don Cornell
Hot Diggety-Perry Como
Papa Loves Mambo-Perry Como
The Thing - Phil Harris
Love is a Many Splendored Thing - 4 Aces
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- 4 Lads
Standing on a Corner- 4 Lads

new from the nest:
Till Then - Mills Brothers
Tammy -Debbie Reynolds
Thats Amore - Dean Martin
You Belong To Me - Jo Stafford
Autumn Leaves - Roger Williams
I Apologize - Billy Eckstine
Joey - betty Madigan
Butterfly - Charlie Gracie or Andy Williams
Dark Moon - gale Storm
Day By day - 4 freshmen
Teach Me Tonight - DeCastro Sisters
If I give My Heart To You - Denise Lor
Dinah Shore - Love and Marraige
Dorothy Collins - Seven Days
Earl Bostic - Flamingo

 

[SuperRadioFan]

only got a minute here--

Secret Love - Doris Day
Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)-Doris again
Cab Driver - Mills Brothers (although came out in the 60s still appropriate for this list)
Yellow Rose of Texas - Mitch Miller

 

[radioman148]

"Singin' The Blues" by Guy Mitchell was the first record I ever bought. Still have the 78.

 

[GridLeakBias]

Hornet – You have introduced a truly fascinating subject – the Hit Parade.

How many here recall, from memory, not history, listening to the Lucky Strike Hit Parade, a weekly radio show, during which there was a count down to the number one tune of the week? ("Casey" Kasem had a similar weekly radio program, Casey's Countdown, which was popular into the 90s.)

How far back in time does the Hit Parade go? Can’t say for sure, but I’ll place some from my memory and collection.

Here we go, 1940:
In The Mood – Glenn Miller
There I Go – Vaughn Monroe
Darn That Dream – Benny Goodman
Sierra Sue – Bing Crosby
On the Isle of May – Connie Boswell
The Breeze and I – Jimmy Dorsey
Down Argentina Way – Bob Crosby and orchestra
Frenesi – Artie Shaw
Blueberry Hill – Glenn Miller
Maybe – The Ink Spots
All The Things You Are – Tommy Dorsey
Only Forever – Bing Crosby
Beat Me Daddy (Eight to the Bar) – Will Bradley
Ferryboat Serenade – The Andrew Sisters
Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins and orchestra
Romance in the Dark – Lil Green
It’s a Blue World – Tony Martin
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me) – The Ink Spots
Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller
Trade Winds – Bing Crosby
Make Believe Island – Mitchell Ayres and His Fashion in Music
I’ll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey and orchestra
I’m Nobody’s Baby – Judy Garland
When You Wish Upon A Star – Cliff Edwards

On second thought, is my list too long, with some tunes which are less recognizable? If so, I can be more brief in the future.

 

[Tom Wells]

I'll play. Don't forget:

Patricia- Perez Prado
Josephine - Les Paul
and for fun..
Blood on the Saddle - Tex Ritter

 

[radioman148]

Hornet – You have introduced a truly fascinating subject – the Hit Parade.

How many here recall, from memory, not history, listening to the Lucky Strike Hit Parade, a weekly radio show, during which there was a count down to the number one tune of the week? ("Casey" Kasem had a similar weekly radio program, Casey's Countdown, which was popular into the 90s.)

How far back in time does the Hit Parade go? Can’t say for sure, but I’ll place some from my memory and collection.

Here we go, 1940:
In The Mood – Glenn Miller
There I Go – Vaughn Monroe
Darn That Dream – Benny Goodman
Sierra Sue – Bing Crosby
On the Isle of May – Connie Boswell
The Breeze and I – Jimmy Dorsey
Down Argentina Way – Bob Crosby and orchestra
Frenesi – Artie Shaw
Blueberry Hill – Glenn Miller
Maybe – The Ink Spots
All The Things You Are – Tommy Dorsey
Only Forever – Bing Crosby
Beat Me Daddy (Eight to the Bar) – Will Bradley
Ferryboat Serenade – The Andrew Sisters
Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins and orchestra
Romance in the Dark – Lil Green
It’s a Blue World – Tony Martin
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me) – The Ink Spots
Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Glenn Miller
Trade Winds – Bing Crosby
Make Believe Island – Mitchell Ayres and His Fashion in Music
I’ll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey and orchestra
I’m Nobody’s Baby – Judy Garland
When You Wish Upon A Star – Cliff Edwards

On second thought, is my list too long, with some tunes which are less recognizable? If so, I can be more brief in the future.

Don't forget the TV version of "You're Hit Parade" with Dorothy Collins, Snookie Lanson & Giselle McKenzie among others.

 

[hornet61]

all these entries are monsters and the diversity is awesome !!!!!!!

superradiofan......Cab Driver is a perfect fit. you're right It may have been recorded in the 60's but it sounds like it was recorded in 1952

GLb....the 40's is certainly the birth of the Hit Parade Era...the list is never too long or too deep, when the music is so greeeeaaaat.
Don't forget "Slowboat To China" by Kay Kyser with Ish Kabibble, Ginny Sims, and Harry Babbit. Your Hit parade TV list is good, lets not forget the fourth member Russell Arms.

radioman.....Singin' the Blues yes,yes,yes....don't forget Guy Mitchell's version of Singin the blues.

Tom......and I like your thinking with Tex Ritter that is a perfect example of the forgotten artist that belongs on this list, along with cowboy copas and hawkshaw hawkins....I forget who did the country version of Slow Poke.

I am in between basketball games at the tournamnet so I did this in a hurry, forgive the spelling. i've some more entries myself, later tonight.

 

[radioman148]

all these entries are monsters and the diversity is awesome !!!!!!!

superradiofan......Cab Driver is a perfect fit. you're right It may have been recorded in the 60's but it sounds like it was recorded in 1952

GLb....the 40's is certainly the birth of the Hit Parade Era...the list is never too long or too deep, when the music is so greeeeaaaat.
Don't forget "Slowboat To China" by Kay Kyser with Ish Kabibble, Ginny Sims, and Harry Babbit. Your Hit parade TV list is good, lets not forget the fourth member Russell Arms.

radioman.....Singin' the Blues yes,yes,yes....don't forget Guy Mitchell's version of Singin the blues.

Tom......and I like your thinking with Tex Ritter that is a perfect example of the forgotten artist that belongs on this list, along with cowboy copas and hawkshaw hawkins....I forget who did the country version of Slow Poke.

I am in between basketball games at the tournamnet so I did this in a hurry, forgive the spelling. i've some more entries myself, later tonight.

Hornet--you're right "Cab Driver" sounds like it was recorded 20 years earlier.

 

[GridLeakBias]

....I forget who did the country version of Slow Poke.

“Slow Poke”, recorded by Pee Wee King was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 21-0489 (78rpm) and 48-0489 (45 rpm). It reached the country charts in Sept 1951 and remained at the #1 position for 15 weeks. It also hit the Billboard Best Seller chart in Oct 1951, stayed on the chart for 22 weeks and peaked at #3.

“Slow Poke” was an extremely popular tune in 1951, the tune also charted that same year for: Arthur Godfrey, Columbia Records #39632; Hawkshaw Hawkins, King Records #998; Helen O'Connell, Capitol Records #1837; and Roberta Lee, Decca Records #27792.

 

[radioman148]

....I forget who did the country version of Slow Poke.

“Slow Poke”, recorded by Pee Wee King was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 21-0489 (78rpm) and 48-0489 (45 rpm). It reached the country charts in Sept 1951 and remained at the #1 position for 15 weeks. It also hit the Billboard Best Seller chart in Oct 1951, stayed on the chart for 22 weeks and peaked at #3.

“Slow Poke” was an extremely popular tune in 1951, the tune also charted that same year for: Arthur Godfrey, Columbia Records #39632; Hawkshaw Hawkins, King Records #998; Helen O'Connell, Capitol Records #1837; and Roberta Lee, Decca Records #27792.

Helen O'Connell, now that's going waaay back.

 

[GridLeakBias]

....I forget who did the country version of Slow Poke.

“Slow Poke”, recorded by Pee Wee King was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 21-0489 (78rpm) and 48-0489 (45 rpm). It reached the country charts in Sept 1951 and remained at the #1 position for 15 weeks. It also hit the Billboard Best Seller chart in Oct 1951, stayed on the chart for 22 weeks and peaked at #3.

“Slow Poke” was an extremely popular tune in 1951, the tune also charted that same year for: Arthur Godfrey, Columbia Records #39632; Hawkshaw Hawkins, King Records #998; Helen O'Connell, Capitol Records #1837; and Roberta Lee, Decca Records #27792.

Helen O'Connell, now that's going waaay back.

You're so right, we're talking Helen with the Jimmy Dorsey Band of 1939 (and on) with her memorable tunes, "Green Eyes", "Amapola," "Tangerine" and "Yours", backed by the soothing voice of Bob Eberly (brother of Ray Eberly, also a major male vocalist in the Big Band Era).