The pop hits of 1955 were pretty conventional compared to what the following years would show. Yes, it was the year of Rock Around The Clock hitting the top of the charts, but it wouldn’t be until the following year when Elvis and others took over that you see the real change. Incidentally, there are 73 weeks of hits because of the conflicting charts.
Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White – Perez “Prez” Prado and his orchestra, the King of the Mambo (RCA Victor), 10 weeks at #1, gold record, instrumental. Trumpet solo by Billy Regis. From the film Under Water! This was released on both 45 and 78 rpm
Sincerely (Harvey Fuqua-Allen Freed) – The McGuire Sisters, orchestra conducted by Dick Jacobs (Coral), 10 weeks at #1, gold record. Original R&B release by The Moonglows. Fuqua became a top Motown songwriter.
(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock (De Knight-Freedman) – Bill Haley and his Comets (Decca), eight weeks at #1, gold record. First recorded by Sonny Dae & His Knights. In the spring of ’55, once people heard it played over the titles of the hit movie “Blackboard Jungle,” Haley’s version exploded.
Sixteen Tons (Merle Travis) – “Tennessee” Ernie Ford, orchestra conducted by Jack Fascinato (Capitol), eight weeks at #1, gold record.
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (Sammy Fain-Francis Webster)- Four Aces featuring Al Alberts, orchestra and chorus conducted by Jack Pleis (Decca), six weeks at #1, gold record. From the 20th Century Fox CinemaScope production Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing.
The Yellow Rose Of Texas (D. George) – Mitch Miller with his Orchestra and Chorus (Columbia), six weeks at #1, gold record. Recorded for his 1955 LP “The Confederacy.”
Disney
The Ballad of Davy Crockett (T. Blackburn-G. Bruns- Bill Hayes, orchestra conducted by Archie Bleyer (Cadence), five weeks at #1, gold record. “The song originated with Walt Disney’s wildly popular ‘Davy Crockett’ dramatization, a three-episode Frontier Land segment starring Fess Parker that aired on the new ABC television series ‘Disneyland’ between December 1954 and February 1955.”
Autumn Leaves/Les Feuilles Mortes (Joseph Kosma-Johnny Mercer-Jacques Prevert)- Roger Williams (Kapp), four weeks at #1, gold record, instrumental
Let Me Go Lover – Joan Weber (Hill-J. L. Carson), orchestra and chorus conducted by Jimmy Carroll (Columbia ), four weeks at #1, gold record, from the Studio One TV production.
Dance With Me, Henry (Wallflower) (James-Otis-Hank Ballard)- Georgia Gibbs, orchestra and chorus conducted by Hugo Peretti (Mercury), 3 weeks at #1, gold record
Hearts Of Stone (Ray-Jackson) – The Fontane Sisters, orchestra and chorus conducted by Billy Vaughn (Dot), three weeks at #1, gold record
Unchained Melody (Alex North-Hy Zaret) – Les Baxter, his Orchestra and Chorus (Capitol), two weeks at #1. From the Hall VBartlett production Unchained.
Learnin’ the Blues (Dolores Vicki Silvers) – Frank Sinatra, orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle (Capitol), two weeks at #1
Ain’t That A Shame (Antoine “Fats” Domino- Dave Bartholomew)- Pat Boone, orchestra and chorus conducted by Billy Vaughn(Dot), two weeks at #1, gold record