Special offer

#1 Album In America -- 55 Years Ago Today

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

A bit of history was made between May and July 1956. It was the first time that an album, defined as rock 'n' roll, topped the album charts in the United States.

The other oddity about the RCA album was that it did not include any of the artists big single hits, one of which had been released only two months prior to the album. I was only four years old when this album was released. So I do not remember it, other than the songs as oldies. But I still remember remnants of the era. For example, my dad had a green Hudson Hornet and I learned to drive on that 1950's car in the mid 1960's. 

This #1 album (the title is the artist's name) included a song that had been a big hit by another performer. It has since become a classic, a signature song, of early rock-a-billy. To see an original performance of this song, the best known cut from the album that ruled the charts back then, you need to take a break from Zorro. Simply click on the TV to change the channel from steamy action-adventure to music.

 

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Jimmy Katz
Wynd Realty & Katz Realty Group - Alpharetta, GA
"REAL Solutions for Real Estate!"

'the king'.  the kids in the next generation will think we are referring to michael jackson!

Jul 06, 2011 03:30 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

That is the first car my parents owned and I think I recently called it something else!  Ours was powder blue...and baby don't step on my blue suede shoes!

Jul 06, 2011 08:01 AM
Keith Gilkey
Re/Max Chesapeake - Elkton, MD
410-920-7214, Re/Max Chesapeake

Steven, Bringing back those memories. I was 5 at the time. Thanks for sharing.

Jul 06, 2011 08:03 AM
Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS
ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group - Worcester, MA
'Helping You Make the Best Move"

Steven,

My Mom was in love with him and may have been screaming in this video!

Thanks for the memories!

Jul 06, 2011 09:55 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Steve,


Did he not learn that move from Forest?

Jul 06, 2011 10:24 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Gawd, I must be getting old. I remember the TV, Zorro, the Hudson and Elvis. Cool post...

Jul 06, 2011 10:43 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Steven, 1956 was a great year for many reasons...

I love the car, I will admit I would love to own that car.

Thanks for the smile!

Jul 06, 2011 02:16 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Michael,

You are looking pretty ancient.

Jul 06, 2011 07:05 PM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy and evening to you Steve

Steve, just like Michael, I also remember that there TV, the Zorro TV show, Elvis and the Hudson. Those sure were mighty fine days.

Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire

Jul 07, 2011 04:39 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Dale,

Thanks for the comment. Those were pretty fun times, based on my memory.

Jul 08, 2011 02:30 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It seems he got pretty far with that drug store guitar.  Do you know how much he paid for it?

Jul 09, 2011 12:13 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jay,

I think I read that somewhere, but no. You probably know, your having been about 35, when that came out. I was a wee one and remember less of the hype

Jul 09, 2011 07:18 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Some people say he paid $7 and others $12.50.  It was the latter.  I happened to be in Tupelo that morning when he came in and felt sorry for the kid cause he only had $12.  I gave him the two quarters.

Jul 09, 2011 10:38 PM