Now, if you need to go to another diary, or any other source of information, and get yourself educated and inspired, to vote for Democrats, in November, and as long as you live, you can skip this diary, and take care of important business.
But if you are taking a break, then let’s get into some music.
I posted a diary, a few weeks ago, and it got a nice reaction. That diary had classical music, and pop music, from many different decades. That whole experience, inspired me to start a series of diaries, posting each Sunday afternoon, when I am able to do so. I decided to post YouTube videos of the top ten hits, of each year, starting with the year I was born, 1955.
So, here we go:
I like going to Wikipedia, for basic information:
en.wikipedia.org/…
That particular article is about an album, released in 1988, that features the hits of 1955. Good enough. Let’s get started:
Nice guitar solo, and saxophone solo.
Next:
I had never watched this particular video, until just now. It seems he was outside the USA. The back up band may have been local. I heard that through most of his career, he did not have his own back up band. Notice how clearly he pronounces all the words, as he sings. His mother was an English teacher. Chuck Berry wrote his own autobiography, and I read it, some years ago. Anyway, one more thing: you notice he was paying the guitar, himself, including a very energetic solo. And he was doing his famous duck walk, while still playing that guitar, and doing it well. Well done, Chuck Berry.
Next:
I like the introduction, by Wolfman Jack. I like the time of 1973, when we could reach back to the fifties, as Wolfman Jack did, bringing the Penguins, and their hit from 1955, on to the stage, yet we had a lot more, to choose from. 1973 is the year I graduated from high school.
Next:
That man sure was careful to lean towards the camera, and sing, with passion, leaning his face right in to that camera. Showmanship!
Next:
Interesting. I do not think I ever heard that song before. Very short. A little singing, a nice saxophone solo, and then the singer in the middle, singing, “No, no, no, no, no….,” a little more singing, and the end. The outfits look truly pretty, white and glittery.
Next:
I think we should call that a novelty song, one of the “splatter platters” of that era, songs about folks getting killed in traffic accidents. Best thing about this song: very lively, galloping rhythm. I like that.
Next:
I am familiar with the sound of most of these songs, but I never saw these YouTube videos, until today. I am getting some kind of education. I always heard of The Platters, I always heard this song, but I truly did not know, that the Platters were, if I am seeing this video clearly, ten Black Americans, five in dark outfits, playing instruments, (the back up band,) and five singers, with a lead singer, and four back up singers, singing, “OOOOoohhhh.” (I noticed that the pretty woman tried to keep a pretty smile, on her face, while singing. Nice.)
What I do not understand about this video: Why does the camera cut to some white folks, being seated at a table, and then, again, as another white man joins the couple? What is the purpose of all that? White appropriation? My wife, Tonia, who was my loving wife for ten years, until she died, on the 10th of March, of this year, she was a Black woman. So, I am a little bit sensitive to white folks, pushing Black Americans, off to the side.
Anyway. Next:
I do not recall ever hearing that song before. Very upbeat, very happy. I especially like the lyrics, “Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Jack, you make my heart go clickety clack.”
By the way, her face looks similar to Tonia’s face. Nice smile.
Next:
Alright, this is another one I never heard before. I like it, seems like basic “doo whop,” right?
Nice saxophone solo, nice harmony.
Next:
I do not think I ever heard this one before, either.
It’s nice, mellow, easy listening, basic “doo whop.” Right?
Well, that is all ten, of the top hits of the year I was born, 1955, according to the compilation that Billboard put together, in 1988.
Well, I plan to do this every Sunday evening.
This series, put out by Rhino Records, has 40 installments, covering hits from 1955, through 1995, when I turned 40 years old. So, even if I skip a few Sundays, we should get through all that, within one year. Then, I can look around online, for a different listing of hits, for years after 1995.
Speaking of skipping a Sunday, I am going out of town, for the weekend, on October 7, 8, and 9th. So, the Sunday, October 9th installment will be pushed back, to the following week, or, posted later in that evening.
Anyway, tell me what you think, my fellow music fans.
But more important than all this, Vote for Democrats, this year, and every year. We can make big changes, if we work together, and vote together.
Thanks for listening.