Worst #1 hit, 1955-1959?

[NightTrain]

Poll question: Worst #1 hit, 1955-1959?

Let's go back to the beginning of the Rock 'n' Roll Era and see what crapola slithered to the top of the Billboard charts when Ike was in the White House.

[mmm]

1. WOW those are bad!

(What is a 'dog zigity' - God I hate that.)

[Kenneth ken]

2. I hadda go with

Rock and Roll Waltz. Could it be any more obvious the writer didn't understand the first thing about Rock-n-Roll?

[terrya]

3. Pat Boone doing a cover of a Fats Domino song.

Dear God, that's just out and out torture.

[starroute]

4. Just had to vote for "Venus"

Venus if you will
Please send a little girl for me to thrill
A girl who wants my kisses and my arms
A girl with all the charms
Of you

Venus, goddess of love that you are
Surely the things I ask
Can't be too great a task

Or something like that.

In 1959, I was twelve, and was doing my best to "fit in" with the other twelve-year olds by adopting a couple of teen idols and buying their records. For no particular reason -- since I couldn't tell one from another -- I selected Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Not only did I buy, "Venus," I actually had the record jacket tacked up on my bulletin board for many months. I even listened to the 45, at least often enough that I can still regurgitate a fair chunk of the lyrics.

In 1960, I turned thirteen, and said to myself, "Well, I'm a real teenager now, I don't have to pretend any more. I can give up all this junk." And I did. Dropped it cold. I didn't even listen to Top 40 radio again until 1967.

"Venus" may not be the most maudlin or the most plastic of your nominations, but it sure holds a special place in my personal pantheon of pop drivel.

[NightTrain]

8. I think I know why you went with Avalon and Fabian

Because 1959 was their big year. Thanks mainly to Dickless Clark and "American Blandstand," Frankie and "Fabe" were all over the goddamned place in '59. A young rock 'n' roll fan couldn't have gotten away from them if he wanted to.

After 1959, though, neither of those dorks ever had another major hit single--thankfully!

[5thGenDemocrat]

13. Yeah, but Christ --

Wasn't Bobby Darin hot right about then? Gene Pitney? I mean, I'm only 47 -- but I KNOW there was some good music in there somewhere.
John
Hey -- "Beyond the Sea" and "Town Without Pity" are classics.

[Another Bill C.]

5. You forgot

"It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater" by Sheb Wooley. It was Number 1 in 1958

[NightTrain]

12. Time to come clean: I have a soft spot for novelty records

Guess it comes from listening to Dr. Demento in the late '70s and early '80s.

[sistersofmercy]

6. Had to go with Pat Boone attempting Fats Domino cover.

I love Fats Domino.

[Hand]

7. Hard to choose, but...

I mean, these are real out and out four-barrel REEKERS! However... I'm going for Lonely Boy. Anka really pegged the horrid needle with that one--it's so bad it's not even funny!

:puke: :puke: :hurts: :hurts:

[mlawson]

9. The Whole World in his Hands....

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGH!!!!!! We had to SING that horrible ditty during chapel in grade school!!!

This was 1958. Where was Ms O'Hair when we needed her????

[NightTrain]

10. Wow! Not a single vote for Georgia Gibbs

It's gotta be because folks have never heard the record. Thankfully, that musical abortion disappeared from the airwaves decades ago!

[HEyHEY]

11. Paul Anka

Yeah...that was not a great song