Timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This song also appeared on the LP Genius Sings the Blues in December 1961 and on a few later compilations, but no one of these seemed to me a better choice for when to sequence it.
 

 
Stereo versions of "El Paso" omit four lines from the mono version that begin right after Our Hero shoots the handsome young stranger: "Just for a moment I stood there in silence, Shocked by the FOUL EVIL deed I had done. Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there; I had but one chance and that was to run." The 4:39 length is the mono single version.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Dave Marsh did not include "Wonderful World" in his 1989 book, "The Greatest 1001 Singles Ever Made," but later wrote that it was a "stupid oversight" not to have done so.
 

 
The best of many good tracks on Elvis`s first studio album after his stint in the army.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
"Rank Stranger" is a folk story in the form of a hymn sung by bluegrass legends. It`s in the Timeline because it`s such a great record I couldn`t leave it out. Never charted. It`s one of four songs in the Timeline that rank in the top 10 of country music`s 500 greatest singles in the book "Heartaches By The Number" by Cantwell and Friskics-Warren.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This song is based on the melody and arrangement of "What`cha Gonna Do," written by Atlantic Records` president Ahmet Ertegun, which was recorded by Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters and peaked at #2 on the R&B chart in spring 1955. Hank Ballard added new lyrics and recorded it as "The Twist," which barely made the top 20 on the R&B chart when first released as a B-side early in 1959. Re-released in July 1960, Ballard`s "Twist" began climbing the pop chart but soon became an historical footnote when Chubby Checker released a competing cover version with the promotional support of Dick Clark and American Bandstand. That version was a massive pop hit, the only song ever to attain the #1 position on the Hot 100 on two separate occasions more than a year apart. Musically, Hank Ballard`s version is far superior. Note that the CD source is the *1959* disc in the "Blowing The Fuse" series.
 

 
Recorded in 1958, this record was a cover of Elvis Presley`s "Party" from the 1957 movie, Loving You. It appeared only on an LP at that time, and was not released as a single until the summer of 1960.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This is the only CD source I know for the mono version. Although the stereo mix sounds OK by itself, it does not preserve the depth, resonance, and very special timbre of the lead vocal that I treasure.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Covered by Beyoncé, who played Etta in film about Chess Records. Famously sung live by Beyoncé as first couple danced at Obama`s first inaugural ball, January 2005.
 

 
There was a strong element of a doo-wop "revival" in 1961. Three significant Timeline hits had been recorded years earlier. "Moon Out Tonight" was recorded and first released in 1958. "Dedicated" was recorded and first released in spring 1959. And "Barbara-Ann" was recorded in 1958 but not released until 1961.
 

 
There was a strong element of doo-wop "revival" in 1961. Three significant Timeline hits had been recorded years earlier. "Moon Out" was recorded and first released in 1958. "Dedicated" was recorded and first released in spring 1959. And "Barbara-Ann" was recorded in 1958 but not released until 1961. In the case of "Dedicated," the huge success of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" was the obvious impetus for an immediate follow-up.
 

 
Bobby Bland was better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland throughout his career. After 1960, however, "Blue" was usually omitted from his name on singles releases but not from his albums. I decided to omit "Blue" in the Timeline to make searching more consistent. See this discography for details.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
There was a strong element of doo-wop "revival" in 1961. Three significant Timeline hits had been recorded years earlier. "Moon Out" was recorded and first released in 1958. "Dedicated" was recorded and first released in spring 1959. And "Barbara-Ann" was recorded in 1958 but not released until 1961.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Some songs take a lot longer than others to climb the national charts. "Please Mr. Postman" was released in August 1961 and finally reached #1 on the pop charts - the first Motown song to do so - the last week in November (chart date December 11). The song was so popular and influential that its basic arrangement was copied by two of the biggest hits of 1962, "Mashed Potato Time" and "Monster Mash."
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
If not literally the first rock instrumental to have something of a "surf" sound to it, "Let`s Go Trippin`" is nevertheless regarded as the first clearly distinguishable surf music record. And no one questions Dick Dale`s claim to be "King of the Surf Guitar."
 

 
Bobby Bland was better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland throughout his career. After 1960, however, "Blue" was usually omitted from his name on singles releases but not from his albums. I decided to omit "Blue" in the Timeline to make searching more consistent. See this discography for details.
 

 
This New Orleans classic featuring General Johnson`s lead vocal spent 12 weeks in the lower half of the Hot 100 this time and then returned for another 3 weeks of national chart action in June 1964. General Johnson later attained fame as the lead singer of Chairmen of the Board ("Give Me Just A Little More Time") in 1970.