Chart Of All Time - 1955

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by Matthew Dixon

1954 had seen the chart debut of Bill Haley and his Comets, but it was for "Rock Around The Clock" that they are best known for. It probably defines the whole Rock and Roll era, and it was released at the start of 1955. Far from getting the year off to a big bang, it limped into the chart at 17, fell to 18 and was then out... Until later, we'll come back on that one.

The hits that really properly started the year off came from Dickie Valentine with "The Finger of Suspicion" and Rosemary Clooney with "Mambo Italiano" (later to be covered by Shaft). After them, came two of the years biggest stars with their big singles.

Ruby Murray is nowadays probably best known for the original of "You Needed Me" but it was "Softly, Softly" that gave her a massive hit in 1955. That was followed by another huge hit, "Give Me Your Word" by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Sadly Tennessee hasn't really lasted in people's memories, but in the mid 50's, he was massive. As was the song "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White". Both "Prez" Prado, and Eddie Calvert, managed to get big hits with the song - both topping the chart, with only Tony Bennett's one and only truly hit "Stranger In Paradise" able to stop them getting eight weeks at the top of the chart between them. Among those denied the top spot in this time were the Crew Cuts with their one hit wonder "Earth Angel".

1955 also saw the film "Unchained" and that film had a song created for it. They didn't actually give the song a name and it was just known as the melody from "Unchained", or "'Unchained' Melody". Two of the first 16 versions to be released both became huge hits, but Jimmy Young beat Al Hibbler to top the chart with the song, with Al as a close second. However, it was Slim Whitman who got the biggest hit of the year, when "Rose Marie" managed a massive 11 weeks on the top of the chart. This time around, Frankie Laine was on the receiving end of a big hit denying him the top of the chart, as was David Whitfield, with "Ev'rywhere". As the year was heading to a close, Jimmy Young managed a second chart topper with "The Man From Laramie". However, we can't leave the year until...

I said at the start of this that "Rock Around The Clock" didn't exactly get off to a flying start. As Jimmy Young topped the chart, Bill Haley and his Comets were back, thanks to the film "Blackboard Jungle" and within seven weeks they were at the top of the charts. The times of the charts being completely dominated by easy listening music were gone, and the Rock & Roll era was born. Wouldn't it be great to end the year on such a high point. That wasn't the case as Dickie Valentine scored a massive Christmas No. 1, and the first Christmas No. 1 to be about Christmas - "Christmas Alphabet".

Here are the 20 best charting singles of the year:

Here are the ten most successfully charting artists of 1955: