HIGH NOON (Do Not Forsake Me)
Tex Ritter Recorded the song for the movie soundtrack and Capitol initially released a version without the drums (thinking Country fans didn’t like drums). US#12, 8 weeks in the Top 30 from 20 September 1952. Stanley Kramer had completed a new western movie starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly; it was titled ‘High Noon’. After screening it, Kramer decided that it was going to be a box office disaster unless something was done to kill the silence and repetitious boredom of Cooper’s long walks in the film. He asked Tiomkin to write a melody that could be used to salvage the film. Tiomkin suggested that they used one and repeat it during the troubled scenes. After working on a melody for a few days, he called lyricist Ned Washington and asked him to write lyrics for his tune. These men blended lyrics and melody into the song, High Noon, and needed a cowboy singer to record it. Tiomkin said that Tex Ritter should be used and called him.

Tex took Merle Travis and a few other musicians to the studio to pre-record the soundtrack. After they recorded the soundtrack and even though the preview audience gave the film a poor rating. Tiomkin suggested that Tex record it for Capitol. The producer for Capitol, Ken Nelson, was cool to the idea so Tiomkin took the song to Columbia Records, and Frankie Laine and Mitch Miller were scheduled to record it. When Nelson at Capitol heard that Laine were going to record it, they changed their minds and rushed Tex into the studio. On 14 May 1952, Tex recorded “High Noon” (master number 10102), Capitol F 2120. Capitol released it on 21 June 1952, one week before the Laine recording was issued. (Frankie Laine’s recording was made 15 May 1952).

They soon realised that they had made a mistake. Country musicians and their fans did not like drums, so the heavy drum beat that makes the song memorable was not on the Tex Ritter record. However, the drum beat was prominent on the Frankie Laine recording. Ken Nelson had the drum overdubbed on the music track and released it with the master number 10485, retaining the Capitol release number F2120.

In Britain, Decca Records was Capitol’s United Kingdom license and their producer Dick Rowe, saw ‘High Noon’ and was captivated by the song and its effective use in the film. They had already released the original recording (no drums) in England. Since the song’s haunting effect was not on the record, Rowe opted not to promote it; instead, he decided to record it again. Tex was on tour in Britain, so Rowe arranged a recording session in Decca Studios. This recording comes closer in arrangement and sound to the soundtrack than any of the other recording, and is the best recording of “High Noon” made by Tex. The master number is MSC 126, and the release number is CL 13778. Tex’s first performance of the song before a live audience was in London, England during this tour.
Featured – Mon 14 July, 2008

Bill Haley & His Comets
RIP IT UP by Little Richard was a US#17 in 1956, 18 weeks in Top 100 from 7 July and R&B#1 (2 weeks)
Mark Matheson said, “Long Tall Sally was a moderate hit probably only by default. It was the B-side to Tutti Frutti here (released in 1957) and Tutti Frutti was the hit. Rip It Up was not a big seller. It was overshadowed by the Bill Haley version over here. “
Featured – Tue 15 July, 2008

The Shirelles
DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE (Moderate Hit)
The 1st million-seller for the quartet of Addie Harris, Shirley Owens, Doris Kenner and Beverley Lee who began performing together in high school in New Jersey. A talent show success in 1957 brought them a recording contract with Decca with their first release, "I Met Him On A Sunday" making the charts in April 1958. Their 2nd chart first appeared for 4 weeks in 1959 from 13 July - peak #83. Then charted again (after the success of their #1 hit "Will You Love Me Tomorrow") for 16 weeks on the Top 100 from 23 January 1961with a peak of #3
Featured – Wed 16 July, 2008

Tommy James & The Shondells
HANKY PANKY, US#1(2) from 16 July 1966
Written by the husband and wife team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, the song didn't sell when first issued in 1963 on the Snap label. It was through the attention of a DJ going through a job lot of 45 rpm records and giving the song air-play that the record got attention, and a scramble to obtain the master tape ended with rights going to Roulette Records and with their promotion, the song shot to #1 for 2 weeks. All the other members of The Shondells come from Greensboro, Pittsburg. Big Hit in N.Z.
Featured – Thu 17 July, 2008

The Animals
THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
UK#1, 9 July, Au#1(2) from 19 August and US#1(3) from 5 September 1964, (11 weeks in Top 100 from 8 August 1964). The America version was edited down to 2:58. The Animals 1st million-seller with a traditional negro song, that had been a success for folk singer Josh White. Alan Price of the Animals, toned down the rather bawdy lyrics for their version. They made a tour of Britain with Chuck Berry in 1964 and also toured the States that year. A Gold Disc was presented to the group by MGM Records of the USA in September 1964, before they returned to England. This their 2nd single, went on to sell over 5 million. MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
Featured – Fri 18 July, 2008