Timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
"Silhouettes" was a big national hit, peaking at #3 for two weeks and remaining in the top ten for over two months against really heavy competition. But in the New York City area it was a monster, the #1 song of the entire year 1957 according to my compilation of the weekly charts of WMGM, the dominant top 40 radio station at the time. During its run of seven weeks at #1 it fended off the challenges of both "You Send Me" and "Jailhouse Rock."
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The earliest stereo version of a single originally released in mono that is included in the Timeline.
 

 

 

 
Chuck Berry`s original recording clocked in at 3:10. A couple of early CD reissues used this original *studio* master, which is how I first learned about it. It was speeded up about 6% for release, as had previously been done with a few Fats Domino releases. Five years after this release, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys put new "surfer" lyrics to the melody and arrangement of "Sweet Little Sixteen." Chuck Berry was officially identified as the co-writer of "Surfin` USA" before long.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Jan Berry and Arnie Ginsburg - Jan teamed with Dean Torrence in 1959 to record "Baby Talk" and later to sing "surf" music classics.
 

 
Just broke into the Top 40 nationally but was a Top 10 hit in New York City.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
"I Wonder Why" broke the mold for white doo-wop groups with a distinctive, ballistic bass part that virtually steals the show from Dion`s lead vocal. But these samples show that the song itself bears a strong resemblance to a pretty obscure predecessor, which I discovered only recently. - - - Also worth mentioning: (1) The song broke in New York City nearly two months before I slotted it here, based on national charts. (2) The version on "Golden Age of American R&R vol. 9" is an interesting alternate take, not the original. A further heads up that two otherwise wonderful reissue sets omit the original mono version in favor of a stereo mix: "The Complete Dion & The Belmonts" from the Collectors` Choice label (1998) and the "King of the New York Streets" Dion box set from the Right Stuff label (2000). I have no problem with the stereo version as long as both are included. But the stereo version is no substitute for the real deal!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
For all the times this song has been reissued on CD by companies with the highest reputations, I know of only two sources for the original mono single version, this one and the "Doo Wop Love Songs" box set on Shout! Factory 10664. All others use a later stereo version that adds overdubbed percussion and echo while to my ear diminishing the depth and rich timbre of Jerry Butler`s magnificent lead vocal.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This is the only source I know for the original single master without added echo (the way I remember it sounding).
 

 

 

 
This song did not chart nationally but reached #14 in the New York City area. The Manhattan Transfer`s faithful version on their 1979 "Extensions" album reached a far wider audience. Still, the innocence, urgency, and street-corner vibe of the Video`s version make it one of the truly great upbeat doo-wop songs.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Most CD reissues of this song are in stereo. This is a good source for the mono version.
 

 

 

 

 

 
There are two common versions of this song on CD reissues. Faithful to the original release is the version with a faded ending and lots of echo on the talking parts ("I`d like to help you son, but you`re too young to vote.") I prefer the other version, the original studio version, with a cold ending and before the echo was added, but with more bite and presence to the whole sound.
 

 
The R&B national hit version was a cover of the original recording by a white group, The Slades, which was the only version played in Oklahoma, where my wife grew up.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Elvis recorded both a pretty straight cover of Smiley Lewis`s original "One Night of Sin" and this ingenious adaptation in winter 1957.