Here Is A Special BONUS SUPER CHART from 70 YEARS AGO TODAY

Hi Kent, 

Here is a special bonus Super Chart for the second week of July, 1955.

That's the week that "Rock Around The Clock" became the first bona fide rock 'n' roll record to top the chart. 

Other interesting notes for that week's chart: 

Bill Haley also has four other sides on the chart -- No's. 39, 51, 73 and 81 (that last one being an earlier recording made for the Essex label); and, among all the orchestral and pop vocal records on the chart, Bo Diddley's iconic single was at No. 67, prior to peaking at No 54 the following week.

– Randy Price

Bill Haley actually first released "Rock Around The Clock" the year before ... and it went virtually unnoticed.  (Only Cash Box Magazine charted it in 1954, where it peaked at #36.)

 

But after it was used over the opening credits of the new teen-exploitation film "Blackboard Jungle," teenagers around the world adopted it as their anthem ... and rock and roll was on its way. 

 

Soon Haley was starring in his own films (including one called "Rock Around The Clock.)  He would have a total of 23 Top 40 pop hits, including a re-release of "Rock Around The Clock" in 1974 when it was used as the original theme song of the hit new television series "Happy Days."  

Haley never really had the look of a rock star (or movie matinee idol either for that matter) ... he was already thirty years old when "Rock Around The Clock" topped the charts in July of 1955.  It would take someone like Elvis Presley to become the poster child for this new genre of music which, of course, was supposed to outlive its popularity phase in fifteen minutes but instead has endured for over seventy years now.

This July, 1955 chart also boasts three versions of "Unchained Melody," a song The Righteous Brothers would resurrect some ten years later with great success.  (It, too, found a new audience when it was used in the film "Ghost" in 1990.)

The only Top 20 Hit with a bullet this week is Pat Boone's version of "Ain't It A Shame," currently twelve spots higher than Fats Domino's original.  (kk)

 

THE BILL HALEY AND HIS COMETS HIT LIST

1953 - Crazy Man Crazy (#15)

1954 - Rock Around The Clock (#36)

1954 - Shake, Rattle And Roll  (#6)

1954 - Dim, Dim The Lights (#11) 

1954 - Happy Baby (#39)

1955 -  Mambo Rock (#14) 

1955 - Birth Of The Boogie (#18)

1955 - Rock Around The Clock (#1)

1955 - Razzle-Dazzle  (#15)

1955 - Two Hound Dogs (#31)

1955 - Burn That Candle (#13)

1955 - Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie (#23)

1956 - See You Later, Alligator (#6)

1956 - R-O-C-K (#16)

1956 - The Saints Rock 'n' Roll  (#18)

1956 - Hot Dog Buddy Buddy (#35)

1956 - Rockin' Through The Rye (#39)

1956 - Rip It Up (#15)

1956 - Teenager's Mother (#24)

1956 - Rudy's Rock (#34)

1958 - Skinny Minnie (#22)

1959 - Joey's Song (#35)

1974 - Rock Around The Clock (#36) 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  "Rock Around The Clock" actually topped both Billboard's and Cash Box's BEST SELLERS chart the week before ... but back then, both magazine published several different charts each week ... Best Sellers In Stores, Most Played By Disc Jockeys and Most Played In Juke Boxes ... and Randy Price factored the data from ALL of these various charts when compiling The Super Charts in the pre-Hot 100 era (1955 - 1958.)  As such, "Rock Around The Clock" didn't hit #1 on THE SUPER CHART until the week ending July 16th ... so THIS is the anniversary that we are celebrating here today.  (kk)