A Premature Autopsy...

PLAY THE SHOW

The following was taken from the Idaho Evening Statesman, dated 50 years ago (December 5, 1959);

One of the most significant results of the continuing disc jockey scandals is the demise of rock and roll. Although the entire credit cannot be given to revelations of payoffs to sponsors of junk which had no chance otherwise, public disgust at the methods of promoting primitive noises on records has hastened the decline of this fad.

Surveys of record companies, movie makers and distributors and promoters of both mediums taken after the payola investigations began have been unanimous in their conclusions that gyrating dancers and shimmying guitar players are on the decline. It is a decline which began early in the year, as evidenced by scanning lists of the top 10 tunes at various periods in the year...Rock and roll is but another experience, fading into the oblivion from whence it came.

There are few mourners. Many, like the musician (my emphasis – ed.) who is head of Columbia Records popular recording department, Mitch Miller, are openly rejoicing. Long an opponent of the style, Miller’s comment on its decline was, “I refused to make that trash.”

To the cynical mind, accustomed to one musical fad giving way to another more extreme, it is soothing to note the replacement for rock and roll has been the ballad…Looking back on it now, it is easy to see why the bubble burst. But there was a time when music lovers didn’t think they would survive the noise. Peace and quiet – it’s wonderful.

At the time, the article was less humorous than you may think, as evidenced by the top 40 charts. Today’s show features songs that appeared on the pop charts during the week this article went to publication, including;

1) My Favorite Things – Mary Martin (The Sound of Music)

2) I’m Movin’ On – Ray Charles

3) Tear Drop – Santo and Johnny

4) Unforgettable – Dinah Washington

5) Reveille Rock – Johnny & the Hurricanes

6) Dance With Me – The Drifters

7) Way Down Yonder in New Orleans – Freddie Cannon

8) Be My Guest – Fats Domino

9) El Paso – Marty Robbins

10) The Big Hurt – Toni Fisher

11) So Many Ways – Brook Benton

12) We Got Love – Bobby Rydell

13) Why – Frankie Avalon

14) In the Mood – Ernie Fields

15) Heartaches by the Number.