IN PRAISE OF ALLEY CATS

PART 1 - 1954 to 1959
Spencer Leigh reports

The most significant and most commercially successful music paper in the 1950s was the New Musical Express. In November 1952, it inaugurated the first chart of the best-selling records in the UK; and by the end of the decade, it had sales of over 100,000 every week. Its reporting was very good, so long as it didn’t stray into anything too controversial. The features on performers were very upbeat, and bad habits or controversial areas were glossed over.

With one exception.

The NME’s management let off steam on a back page column, Tail-Pieces by the Alley Cat (originally Ad Lib by the Slider), which was full of newsy, mischievous and jokey one liners: sometimes they got as close as they dared to giving the reader the true measure of a performer and very often, they did not name the performer, but left the reader to guess. The author’s pseudonym had been carefully chosen: this was a catty column.

Although I don’t mind reading newsprint on a microfiche, it is always more enjoyable to hold the publications, and thanks to the NMEs donated to the Institute of Popular Music at Liverpool University, I have been reading through the Alley Cat columns from 1954 to 1959. Here is the pick of six years of feline comments, annotated where appropriate. As they say now, but never said back then: enjoy!

There’s a certain femme thrush who is really brokenhearted because she can’t get a release from her existing contract to join one of the biggest name bands in the country. And I do mean brokenhearted!
11 June 1954
This is a good example as to how the Alley Cat column worked. Ottilie Patterson was singing with a dance band and wanted to join Chris Barber’s Jazz Band, and she had just recorded ‘Brokenhearted’.

Ray Ellington won £75,000 on the pools and has invested in a block of flats in London.
1 October 1954

The Winifred Atwell Revue ended its season at the Tivoli, Sydney very prosperously and happily when it transferred to the Tivoli, Melbourne last week. But at Easter, when four extra performances were added to meet the unprecedented demand for seats, part of the success of the show was jeopardised when the six nudes threatened to leave because they said their pay was too scanty. However, everything was amicably settled and the show went on.
20 May 1955
…and the clothes came off. Things must have been different in Australia as I can’t recall any UK stars touring with nude shows.

Cyril Stapleton partnered Jean Campbell for a duet of Dance With Me Henry in last Friday’s Show Band broadcast.
8 July 1955
Rock’n’roll starts here.

In a Sunday newspaper article, Frankie Vaughan revealed his salary is £1,000 weekly in the Empress Ice show; irrespective of the authenticity, patrons might expect some better skating from him for this kind of money.
8 July 1955
Lucky he wasn’t touring with that nude show…

I wonder how Marlene Dietrich will like the audience at two Blackpool Sunday concerts, compared to the Café de Paris smart set? But at a reported fee of £1,000, should she worry?
15 July 1955

One of Marlene Dietrich’s fabulous gowns actually cost more than £2,000.
29 July 1955
So that’s where the money went.

Terrific plug for Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around The Clock’ recording in Blackboard Jungle film, now showing in the West End.
23 September 1955

When Max Bygraves mouthed the words of Meet Me On The Corner on recent important TV show, he hoaxed millions of viewers. What reaction would the BBC adopt if a lesser-known artist requested the same privilege?
28 October 1955
In 1955, the deceit at the BBC related not to quiz shows, but to singers miming.

Seems like Sabrina is the big thing in Johnnie Ray’s life these days.
11 November 1955
I somehow doubt that.

Are major recording companies helping cut-price labels? Several dealers are complaining that delay in securing hit discs is resulting in a loss of trade and where the purchaser is more interested in the title than the singer, low price firms will benefit.
18 November 1955
Good for Embassy! I can well remember ordering singles and having to wait ten days or so.

Memo to well-known British solo singer: Several friends have patiently waited to collect outstanding debts from you; you cannot expect sympathy because you have gambled away your lucrative earnings from variety dates.
9 December 1955
No idea who this is, but intriguing.

Louis Armstrong has recorded ‘Only You’.
6 January 1956

The success of Rock Island Line is further proof of how unpredictable the music industry is.
13 January 1956

Sigh of relief from Dick James on the appearance of Robin Hood in the Top 20: his vocal is heard each Sunday on the ATV series – so was his face red when the Gary Miller version was the first to enter the frame.
20 January 1956

The slick compering of handsome David Jacobs has considerably improved Jack Hylton’s weekly AR-TV series from the Albany 11Club; Lita Roza was in great form – visually and vocally.
20 January 1956

Have you realised the remarkable similarity between the first few bars of Dam Busters’ March and I’ll Never Stop Loving You?
20 January 1956
It’s more than the first few bars too. The Dam Busters March was written by Eric Coates and I’ll Never Stop Loving You was written for Doris Day by Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky in the film, Love Me Or Leave Me. Both were issued around the same time, but being film material would have been written some months earlier. Is it coincidence? I’ll Never Stop Loving You was nominated for an Oscar: if it had won, could Eric Coates have leapt onto the podium and said, “Hang on, that Oscar’s mine.”

When Eamonn Andrews entered the Top 20, he was the most astonished man in the profession.
20 January 1956
But not as astonished as most of the country.

In less than a year as manager of the Parlophone label, George Martin accomplished quite a feat by steering three discs into the Top 20 frame at the same time – Eve Boswell’s Pickin’ A Chicken, Dick James’s Robin Hood and Eamonn Andrews’ The Shifting Whispering Sands.
27 January 1956
Quite minor in view of his later achievements

Have you realised how many of today’s singers sound like Vera Lynn? What better compliment to a great artist.
27 January 1956

Best wishes to Wally Stott, suffering from internal trouble.
27 January 1956
A little bit early for his sex change but this could be the Alley Cat saying, “I know what’s going on.” Why else would this be in the column?

Hot From the Wax Works:
Remember the Frankie Laine and Jimmy Boyd version of The Little Boy And The Old Man. It is reissued as Little Child with fresh lyrics and plenty of recordings including Danny Kaye with his daughter Dena.
3 February 1956

Capitol have 7 of the first 12.
10 February 1956

Dick Rowe secretly married his secretary in London last month.
10 February 1956

Did Robin Hood’s men fight as hard for victory as Dick James and Gary Miller?
10 February 1956

Publicist Ken Pitt will have a busy time handling press arrangements for Billy Daniels, the Stan Kenton Orchestra and Billy Eckstine – plus Danny Purches, the Eric Delaney Band and the newspaper writer’s dream boy, Liberace.
10 February 1956

Arthur Helliwell devoted almost his entire space n The People last Sunday to explain the difficulties in his first TV show: pity some professional artists cannot be afforded the same opportunity.
10 February 1956
There were three editions of The Arthur Helliwell Show

Jack Payne’s attitude towards Hugh Mendl in Off The Record on Monday was unjust, unnecessary, ungentlemanly – and unforgiveable for a programme host.
17 February 1956
Hugh Mendl was a Decca producer and, at a guess, Payne was telling him that Rock Island Line was rubbish.

Has My Boy Flat Top reached the age of 17 yet? Both titles sound so similar.
17 February 1956
Boyd Bennett wrote his 1955 hit Seventeen, and he followed it with the similar My Boy Flat Top. Frankie Vaughan covered both titles. Much has been made of Ringo Starr singing a girl’s song, Boys, but My Boy Flat Top is a much more deserving candidate; a ridiculous choice for Frankie.

Arthur Helliwell reproduced some of our recent comments on his TV appearance in The People last Sunday; despite his remarks, we still think he would be more suited to a butcher’s shop than a television studio.
24 February 1956

Last Friday’s Goon Show was quite the funniest show for several months.
2 March 1956
This will have been The Treasure Of Loch Lomond.

Ruby Murray’s latest, Lucky Star, penned by Johnny Brandon, but is the market being flooded with her records?
2 March 1956
Lucky Star also recorded by Johnny Brandon and Chick Murray
6 April 1956
Quite likely the public had had enough for a while. She had seven Top 10 titles in 1955 but she want to wait until August for any chart action in 1956.

British composer Joe Lubin, formerly with the Noel Gay Company, is the composer of Pat Boone’s latest hit, Tutti Frutti.
2 March 1956
Well, two lines of it. He amended Little Richard’s lyric for Pat Boone.

Cash Box said that Winifred Atwell was a big success on Ed Sullivan’s TV show but as she did not appear, the reference must have been written in advance.
2 March 1956

Chief of Decca Records, E R Lewis, is at present in America on a business trip. Last weekend he sent by transatlantic plane, the manuscript copy of a new composition with the request that it should be recorded immediately by Dave King. A session was hurriedly arranged and within 24 hours, Dave King was on the way to the USA himself. He was carrying the tape recording of the “secret song”, which was handed to Mr Lewis on Wednesday. It will be shortly be issued on the London label in Ameica and of course by Decca here.
9 March 1956
This has to be You Can’t Be True To Two

Interviewed by a British journalist, Liberace said that in considering marriage, a prospective wife must be prepared to share him with his fans; sounds queer.
9 March 1956
I find this astonishing: a few months later, Liberace sued the Daily Mirror for an article with questioned his sexuality and won. Considering how the Jason Donovan case brought down The Face, could something similar have happened earlier with the NME?

Seems like Decca’s Hugh Mendl will be denied the opportunity of a return contest with Jack Payne in Off The Record; what a pity we cannot hear Hugh’s views – so we place our columns at his disposal in order than viewers and readers can at least learn his side of the story.
9 March 1956

American vocalist Kit Carson has used six different stage names during her career; when asked what he called her, Kit’s husband replied, Honey.
9 March 1956

Wonders never cease! What is generally agreed to be a mediocre tune and inferior recording, It’s Almost Tomorrow by the Dream Weavers, now tops the best sellers; is this the first vocal group to attain the No 1 place in Britain?
16 March 1956

Lita Roza had a farewell party at the London Stork Room last Tuesday prior to departing for the US; her sister Alma Warren and Geraldo trumpeter Ronnie Hughes were amongst the guests.
16 March 1956

At the Butlin’s reunion on Saturday afternoon, March 24, Dick James will not only sing Robin Hood, but will be dressed for the part, complete with bow and arrow.
16 March 1956

The Jack Payne – Joe Loss interview was too long and not particularly interesting because of Payne’s poor handling and repetitiveness.
16 March 1956
The Alley Cat detested Payne as much as he loved Stapleton.

Just to prove that it was not a freak the first time, Lonnie Donegan has a second hit on his hands with Digging My Potatoes; expect this to grace the best-selling frame very soon.
16 March 1956

What influenced Mitch Miller to record five separate discs of We All Need Love – by Vic Damone, Sammy Kaye, Percy Faith, Liberace and Ken Griffen?
23 March 1956

E R Lewis returned from the States, delighted at his sensational deal to handle the RCA-Victor distribution here.
30 March 1956

Joan Regan is seeking a divorce from American cameraman, Dick Howell.
30 March 1956

Stan Kenton’s interview in Off The Record was telefilmed on the previous Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspurs football ground. Reason was the unavailability of cameras at the time, so Stan was rushed to White Hart Lane where a BBC TV unit was in operation at the Spurs – Manchester City match. Stan’s interview with Jack Payne was telefilmed within five minutes of the match ending.
30 March 1956

Barbara Lyon engaged to TV producer Russell Turner.
6 April 1956

Jill Day owns a racehorse: now she needs a disc jockey to ride a record hit to the winning post.
6 April 1956

The fact that Ken Pitt is the press agent for both couldn’t possibly have had anything to do with Stan Kenton’s somewhat peculiar choice of a Danny Purches record among his eight Desert Island Discs, or could it?
20 April 1956

Norma Evans, daughter of comedian Norman Evans, is a real singing find.
27 April 1956

Frankie Vaughan’s This Is The Night, which he sings in Ramsbottom Rides Again, was composed by his pianist, Bert Waller.
27 April 1956

Owner of the mystery voice on new Bill McGuffie record is singer Denny Dennis.
27 April 1956

Monty Norman and Diana Coupland plan to marry within six weeks.
4 May 1956

As Billy Daniels is appearing in Britain on bail for an alleged shooting offence, his reference to the incident from the stage is in very bad taste.
4 May 1956

Don Black’s brother Michael was unable to handle the Louis Armstrong concerts owning to prior commitments and decided to give Don, young NME staffman, his first big chance to shine in the compering world. Don carried out the task admirably.
11 May 1956

Marilyn Monroe asked to stand as a candidate for election as Lord Record of Glasgow.
11 May 1956

Bandleader Denny Boyce has composed Sabrina Samba.
11 May 1956
Fairly bounces along…

Nat Hentoff comments, “The American Rock And Roll Show which the Freddy Randall group joins, needs this band like it does me.”
11 May 1956
Trumpeter Freddy Rendall led a UK trad band and they would be the Musicians’ Union exchange for someone, possibly Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars.

Facial resemblance of Frank Sinatra and Teddy Johnson.
11 May 1956

Lonnie Donegan still taking the same size in hats.
11 May 1956
Wonderful!

The Ink Spots on Sunday Night At The London Palladium relied entirely on past hits, which have become very dated. Almost everything is a solo effort by Bill Kenny with very little vocal backing.
11 May 1956

Rockin’ And Rollin’ by the Stargazers is composed by Joe Henderson.
11 May 1956

Famous American artist departing from Britain this month had to pay a huge income tax demand; the authorities had not forgotten that the star had a liability, dating back several years.
25 May 1956
Again, who?

Ted Heath arranger, Johnny Keating looks a million dollars in his American-styled suit, shoes, shirt, tie and cuff-links; he could earn plenty by hiring out the complete outfit to musicians at ten shillings a day.
25 May 1956

Cynical remark by Jack Payne on Sunday’s British bandbox was not called for regarding Lonnie Donegan; British artists who can sell discs like him in America deserve cheers, not jeers, from the record spinners.
1 June 1956

Gary Miller is receiving plenty of reaction to his sobbing gimmick; tears are flowing at his variety dates.
1 June 1956

The Keynotes are in Rock And Roll 1956 on BBC TV on June 23.
8 June 1956
And tell me why.

Joan Regan likely to marry a Liverpool industrialist.
8 June 1956

Bert Weedon has come up with a new sound on his recording of John Scott Trotter’s Flannel Foot.
8 June 1956

How Little We Know is the best Johnston Brothers’ disc to date; the BBC banning of the Frank Sinatra version should help sales.
15 June 1956

What’s My Line celebrity Edmundo Ros made sure that the blindfolded panel would detect his identity quickly – by not disguising his voice.
15 June 1956
It would have been totally embarrassing if they still hadn’t guessed who he was.

Sign on a record dealer’s window, Rock and Roll spoken here.
15 June 1956

Acquittal of Billy Daniels on a shooting charge and he was in great form at Finsbury Park Empire.
22 June 1956

Dean Martin: “There is something about Anita Ekberg that I like but I just can’t put my finger on it.”
22 June 1956

In one night Johnnie Ray lost his four weeks salary at the gambling tables in Las Vegas.
22 June 1956

Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson sang great duet of Mack The Knife on Winfred Atwell TV show.
22 June 1956

Great non-stop package show in Sing It Again, presented by Johnnie Stewart (BBC Sunday)
29 June 1956

Was Sadie’s Shawl found near Zambesi?
29 June 1956
What does this refer to?

Irrespective of where he is America, Elvis Presley telephones his mother in Memphis every afternoon at 3pm.
6 July 1956

Because he liked the Four Voices’ disc of Bim Bam Baby, San Antonio disc-jockey Don Keyes played it on his programme non-stop for four hours.
6 July 1956

Asked to sing the title song of a forthcoming Hollywood film, Perry Como is reputed to have asked a fee exceeding £6,000; after the shock, they secured instead America’s next best record-seller Pat Boone for £1,000.
6 July 1956
Presumably Friendly Persuasion

Slim Whitman’s success here far surpasses his accomplishments in the States.
6 July 1956

Ed Sullivan says, “David Whitfield has an open invitation to appear on my TV show four times every year.”
6 July 1956
David Whitfield made 5 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Who will be the first to wear a mile dress? Alma Cogan leads the field with a 400 yarder, while Patti Lewis chalked up on the 300 mark.
13 July 1956

The scent-sprayed Fountains Of Rome lyric flows from the pen of Norman Newell.
13 July 1956

Your Alley Cat was amazed to hear Eric Delaney sing with his band on the Light Programme: how frustrating for the many vocalists turned down as unsuitable by the BBC Dance Music Committee.
13 July 1956

Barbara Lyon’s godmother, Louella Parsons, flies to London for her wedding to Russell Turner.
20 July 1956

Terry Devon, wife of Tito Burns, was part of the Fraser-Hayes Quartet on Jimmy Wheeler BBC-TV show.
20 July 1956

There have been letters about the Stargazers’ Heartbreak Hotel but they have never performed the title.
20 July 1956

Why Do Fools Fall In Love is an inspiration to all writers of rubbish.
20 July 1956

The Best Things In Life Are Free is about the hit songwriting team, Henderson, De Silva and Brown with Norman Brooks as Al Jolson.
20 July 1956

Both Billy Eckstine and Ray Burns have recorded Condemned For Life With A Rock’n’Roll Wife.
3 August 1956

Dick James and Sydney Bron have paid a hefty advance for US song, Street Of Happiness, recorded by Tony Bennett and Georgia Gibbs.
3 August 1956
An early example of Dick James getting into song publishing, but not in this case choosing wisely.

Not one British disc in the Top 10 this week.
10 August 1956

On holiday in Blackpool last week, Joan Regan taught her sons Rusty and Danny how to build sand castles.
10 August 1956
This is news?

In the past six months, Elvis Presley has been responsible for more than 20% of pop records sales by the American RCA-Victor label.
10 August 1956

Lorrae Desmond effective as an actress in the Tony Hancock BBC-TV programme last Friday.
10 August 1956
The episode was The Dancer.

Dickie Valentine’s impersonation of Billy Daniels has done much to sustain the “black magic” interest in Britain.
10 August 1956

Carl Perkins will be packing his blue suede shoes for a British visit this autumn.
10 August 1956
What happened here?

Christian Dior designed spectacular gold lamé stage suit for Liberace.
10 August 1956

Will acting spoil Marilyn Monroe?
10 August 1956

The MU and their London organiser Alex Mitchell have not heard the last of Colin Beaton: who can blame him after their disgusting attitude prior to last Sunday’s Stoll concerts?
17 August 1956
This was a Mel Tormé concert, but what happened?

Why does the BBC acknowledge that Edmundo Ros appears by permission of the Edmundo Ros Club?
17 August 1956
Free advertising!

Daydreams by Dickie Valentine has shades of Al Jolson and Johnnie Ray in the middle chorus?
17 August 1956

Plans for Lonnie Donegan to record a vocal version of The Faithful Hussar fell flat.
17 August 1956

Coral/Brunswick/Vogue exploitation manager Tony Hall said that this column was the most outspoken in musical journalism.
17 August 1956

Frankie Laine had to find a gift from his wife, Nan, in a treasure hunt; it was a diamond ring, hidden in Mitch Miller’s beard.
24 August 1956
Don’t the stars play fabulous games?

ITV show featuring Ambrose called Yakity Yak
24 August 1956

Norman Wisdom to film with Anita Ekberg in Las Vegas.
24 August 1956

40% of best sellers are in rock’n’roll idiom.
24 August 1956

E R Lewis presented National Playing Fields’ Assoc with £10,000 from sales of All Star Hit Parade.
24 August 1956

American vocalist Jerry Wayne domiciled in London is composer of 10,000 Miles.
7 September 1956
His son, Jeff, wrote the musical version of The War Of The Worlds

Not until the Stargazers (with Stapleton’s Saturday Show) was it noticeable by comparison that the Teenagers scored a hit through lack of real competition from a top vocal group.
14 September 1956

Straight role for Pete Murray in The Last Enemy on AR-TV.
14 September 1956

Alma Cogan’s 19 year old sister Sandra Caron in musical comedy at Watergate Theatre, London.
14 September 1956

Jerry Colonna to wax a special version of I’m Walking Backwards For Christmas for US market.
14 September 1956

Johnny Gray plays driving tenor sax on Stargazers’ She Loves To Rock.
14 September 1956

All box office records at Brooklyn Paramount for Alan Freed’s latest show.
14 September 1956
This featured Fats Domino, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Big Joe Turner and the Penguins. In a nine-day run, the revue grossed $220,000.

Jewel and Warriss’s comedy antics have yet to raise a smile by the Alley Cat; but even worse was Jimmy Jewel’s vocal offering in their BBC-TV show last Saturday, which hit rock bottom.
21 September 1956
What a sour puss.

Appearing in ABC-TV Music Shop tomorrow are Annette Klooger, Jackie Lee and the Three Deuces. This show has now been extended to 45 minutes and surprise guests will be introduced each week.
21 September 1956

Edmund Hockridge devoid of any motion outside of miming on Jack Jackson Show.
28 September 1956

Asked to comment on rock’n’roll George Shearing said, “I’m neutral – it doesn’t matter who kills it.”
28 September 1956

Tony Crombie and his Rockets played rock’n’roll while Harry Secombe and Alma Cogan danced to it in Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
28 September 1956

Malcolm Vaughan’s hit Every Day Of My Life, now getting large sales by McGuire Sisters in US.
5 October 1956

Feel sure that if the Stargazers had been an American vocal group, their She Loves To Rock disc would have already been a big hit here.
5 October 1956

Decca’s British rock’n’roll record by Tommy Steele lacks the essential authentic flavour; best thing on the disc is Ronnie Scott’s driving tenor sax playing.
12 October 1956
Could be right!

Jim Laker big friends with Harry Secombe.
12 October 1956

Jack Jackson’s ATV show suffering from too many zany interludes.
12 October 1956

For his screen debut in Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley has composed, published and recorded the four songs which he features in the film.
12 October 1956
Yes, well…

Annie Ross will appear in Broadway in the British revue Cranks, but not Danny Purches, now scoring a big success in the show here.
12 October 1956

Although Billie Anthony lost the case brought against her by Stanley Dale, the financial setback was counteracted by national press publicity, which was cheap at the price.
19 October 1956
Breaking a management contract

Having given an important series to Yana, Ronnie Waldman should have chosen a top executive to guide the programme as opposed to Russell Turner, a producer with limited experience.
19 October 1956

Elvis Presley paid £8,000 for appearing in Love Me Tender.
19 October 1956

Spike Jones impersonates Liberace on his latest disc, I’m In The Mood For Love.
19 October 1956

Wally Stott has acquired his pilot’s licence and is at present building himself an 18 foot yacht.
19 October 1956
Glad his ‘internal troubles’ are over.

Humphrey Lyttelton hardly recognisable on recent programme – his hair was smartly brushed and his trousers were pressed.
26 October 1956

Tommy Steele’s manager, Laurence Parnes, is a particular friend of Johnnie Ray.
26 October 1956
A saucer of milk for that Alley Cat.

Jack Payne is becoming the Gilbert Harding of the musical profession; his attitude towards Frank Chacksfield on a BBC record programme last Saturday had to be heard to be believed.
26 October 1956

Marilyn Monroe at Royal Film Performance remarked, “We don’t have a Queen of England back home.”
2 November 1956

When Jack Payne announced the best selling records in Off The Record last Monday, he commented that Elvis Presley’s disc in second position was “amazing – but there it is”. Under the circumstances, it is more amazing that any comment should have been allowed.
2 November 1956

Grab Me A Gondola, the first British musical comedy to include rock’n’roll in its score.
2 November 1956
‘Rockin’ At The Cannon Ball’ by Joyce Blair anybody?

Yana looks very worried in her TV series – hardly surprising, considering the decision to launch her at this high level so early in her career.
9 November 1956

Does Tommy Steele expect to again more popularity by appearing with untidy hair, as he did in Jack Jackson’s ATV show.
9 November 1956

Another vocal stylist, Alan Dean has been forced to wax rock’n’roll titles in his quest for a hit disc in the States.
9 November 1956
Not that it did him any good.

Dickie Valentine and David Whitfield were to play Teddy Boys and not sing in the cancelled Royal Variety Show but Sabrina was to sing with the Nitwits.
9 November 1956
The show was cancelled because of the Suez crisis.

Australian audience booed Stan Freberg for his jokes about Johnnie Ray.
16 November 1956

Although rock’n’roll artists have been extended a friendly paw by the Alley Cat, it seems a great pity that a delightful song (Blueberry Hill) must be massacred by a weapon – the voice of Fats Domino.
16 November 1956

Miss Barbara Herold sent 13,600 letters about Elvis to a radio station in Chicago.
16 November 1956

Alex Mackintosh sang You Can’t Lose Me with Petula Clark on BBC-TV’s House Magazine.
16 November 1956
An early example of a BBC announcer getting in on the act.

If Grace Kelly receives royalties from True Love, Bing Crosby will be the laughing stock of show business.
23 November 1956
Grace just sang on the final chorus: cf. Kris Kristofferson’s contribution to Evergreen.

Winner of BBC-TV Song Festival – Everybody Falls In Love With Someone by Norman Newell and Peter Hart.
23 November 1956

Variety says that Elvis has been offered £4,000 a week for London’s Empress Hall.
23 November 1956

Tommy Steele currently getting £140 a week in variety.
23 November 1956
No wonder he wanted to meet Elvis: he wanted to find out how to get a raise.

Eve Boswell to adopt Hungarian refugee child.
23 November 1956
Madonna before her time.

Signature tune of Jack Jackson’s Record Roundup on Radio Luxembourg sung by the Stargazers and penned by Cliff Adams.
23 November 1956

Elvis Presley bears a certain facial resemblance to David Hughes.
30 November 1956

Congratulations to the composer who named a title Sham Rock on the new Tony Crombie LP.
30 November 1956
Post-modernism in 1956!

British agent Lew Grade flew to New York last Saturday: one of his tasks concerns a British band to tour the States in exchange for Bill Haley’s Comets.
30 November 1956

Green Door disc has swelled Boys Clubs’ funds.
30 November 1956

Daily Mirror Disc Festival at Palladium – Ruby Murray’s performance was pathetic. Lonnie Donegan in all white outfit. Ronnie Hilton outstanding with Juke Box Baby
7 December 1956

New Lita Roza record: The Last Waltz
7 December 1956

Frankie Laine declined to follow Sammy Davis on Broadway in Mr Wonderful.
14 December 1956

The music publisher Fred Jackson is still punching away at Heartbreak Hotel.
14 December 1956

Throughout America, Love Me Tender has collapsed at the box office, after huge first week takings.
14 December 1956

Tommy Steele’s hair is a poor advertisement for a home perm.
21 December 1956

According to Variety, the 21 year old the Earl of Wharncliffe had joined the British Musicians’ Union so that he can play in a rock’n’roll band.
21 December 1956
The Earl was due to open the Cavern on 16 January 1957 but he didn’t turn up.

Audience for UK premiere of Love Me Tender included both Lonnie Donegan and Tommy Steele.
4 January 1957

New blues album by Johnnie Ray, The Big Beat.
4 January 1957
Jumping on the bandwagon

TV cameras over-exposed Alma Cogan’s developed figure on Harry Secombe’s BBC show.
4 January 1957

How ridiculous for the BBC to follow the marathon Billy Cotton Wakey Wakey Sunday radio series with a small two-beat group.
11 January 1957

St Therese Of The Roses is biggest-selling popular record ever in Eire.
11 January 1957

Sales of rock’n’roll bracelets by Starpics of Blackpool have exceeded 250,000. Benn Lewis says, “The power of our advertising in the NME has been responsible for this great reaction.” Also Robert Beatty showed one on Saturday Night Out on BBC TV.
11 January 1957

Dennis Lotis’s name was misspelt on his Christmas card – Lotus.
18 January 1957

Armen’s Theme probably dedicated to Tin Pan Alley character, Lou Harman.
18 January 1957

Throat trouble forced Dickie Valentine to delete ballads from his vocal contribution to Aladdin in Liverpool last Saturday.
18 January 1957

Tommy Steele stars at the ultra-exclusive Café de Paris next week. If this venue books Bertram Mills circus as a future attraction, nobody could be expected to raise an eyebrow.
18 January 1957

Filming has begun on Hal Wallis’s Running Wild; Elvis spent four days at Memphis with the screenwriter/director Hal Kanter, who insisted on studying Elvis’s home life before proceeding.
25 January 1957

On The Ed Sullivan Show, Ed had said that Elvis was going to Hollywood to make Running Wild. The title was changed to Loving You.

25 January 1957

If what is printed in Confidential is true, Tony Curtis will have plenty of explaining to do to Janet Leigh.
25 January 1957
So what did Confidential say?

You Are My First Love, a hit for Ruby Murray and written by Paddy Roberts, now recorded by Nat King Cole.
25 January 1957

Besides Suez and Russia, our only other worry is if Liberace makes another film.
25 January 1957
Sincerely Yours was an artistic and commercial disaster. In the film one character tells Liberace, “You’re very popular in San Francisco.”

A Call From Mitch Miller has been registered as a film title by Hal Wallis and Joseph Hazen.
1 February 1957
This was the original story which appeared in Good Housekeeping and became Loving You.

Hal Wallis announces a new title for the Paramount film starring Elvis, Something For The Girls.
1 February 1957
And yet another title before we get to Loving You.

Chordettes have waxed Come Home To My Arms, written by Dorothy Squires.
1 February 1957

Rave reviews for Nat Cole’s LP After Midnight.
1 February 1957

RCA Musical Director Joe Riseman emphatically states that Elvis Presley is not a dope addict.
1 February 1957
What is all this about? Very, very early in Elvis’ career for such speculations.

We hardly expected Tommy Steele to cover Guy for the second time in succession.
1 February 1957
Singing The Blues and then Knee Deep In The Blues, and Mitchell had been covering Marty Robbins!

Slim Whitman Sings contains many British songs.
8 February 1957

Songwriter Jimmy Craig has filed a suit against Frank Sinatra, claiming Frank’s Your Love For Me is an infringement of Love Is A Beautiful Thing.
8 February 1957

If you cannot show Elvis Presley from the waist down, then don’t show Jayne Mansfield from the waist up.
22 February 1957
Brilliant!

Jill Day wore a dress with a couple of spider’s webs where no self-respecting spider’s webs ought to be.
22 February 1957

Al Hibbler irritating audiences with his persistent, over-emphasised British accent.
1 March 1957

Jolly Joyce, booking manager for Bill Haley, used to be a comedian. Judging by his voice, he didn’t need a microphone.
1 March 1957

George Liberace is to make an album of rock’n’roll items with a large orchestra.
8 March 1957
This is Liberace’s brother.

Kenneth Earle: “After the Hilos Under Glass, we’ve got Malcolm Vaughan Under Concrete.”
8 March 1957
Earle was Vaughan’s partner, but Vaughan became a solo star.

Don Black celebrated engagement to Shirley Berg of Clapton.
15 March 1957

Guy Mitchell: “I once made an LP of cowboy songs. It died. On second thoughts, a thing has to live before it can die. This one didn’t even live.”
22 March 1957
Is this a reference to Guy Mitchell Sings (1954)?

When Dinah Washington married Eddie Chambley, her four ex-husbands sent telegrams of congratulations and apologies for being unable to attend the ceremony.
29 March 1957

Sam Goody wants to open cut-price record stores in London.
5 April 1957

Sylvia Sims has waxed Lonely Woman written by ex-NME editor Ray Sonin and Benny Carter.
5 April 1957

Rita Hayworth co-stars in Pal Joey but her singing voice will be dubbed by Jo Ann Greer, the vocalist with Les Brown’s band.
5 April 1957
(31 January 1958 – column says Hayworth is doing it herself)

Elvis and the Colonel bought space in American music journals to congratulate Hank Snow on celebrating 20 years as an RCA recording artist.
12 April 1957

Betty Lou wears an Elvis Presley bracelet in the film, The Wayward Bus
12 April 1957
The film starred Joan Collins and Jayne Mansfield.

When Slim Whitman warbles I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen, he should remain there with her.
12 April 1957
The Alley Cat didn’t mind giving some readers kittens: he is constantly griping at Slim Whitman, Ruby Murray, Fats Domino and Frankie Lymon. The cat loves Dickie Valentine, Anne Shelton and indeed any singer or actress with a large bust.

Warner Bros planning a film starring Tab Hunter called Young Love.
12 April 1957

Teddi Beverley and Alyn Ainsworth broken off engagement.
12 April 1957

Tommy Sands in This Is Your Life in US. The final guest, Buddy Adler, gave him five year contract with 20th Century Fox.
19 April 1957

Ray Ellington married to Anita West, who presented Palais Party.
19 April 1957

The projected return tour of Bill Haley this autumn is unlikely to materialise, unless they regain flow of hit discs.
19 April 1957
An indication that Lew and Leslie Grade lost money on the tour?

Although Peggy Lee returning to Capitol, her sessions will be produced by Sinatra’s Essex Productions who will sell the recordings to Capitol.
19 April 1957
Sinatra getting ready for Reprise.

Milton Berle: “I told my psychiatrist everything I know: now he’s doing my act.”
19 April 1957

On 6.5 Special, teenagers were screaming in ecstasy at Dickie Valentine’s impressions of Elvis Presley and Johnnie Ray.
19 April 1957
Maybe not in ecstasy.

Eartha Kitt is performing Anne de Nys’ An Englishman Needs Time, who is a London cabaret artist.
19 April 1957
Her daughter was the actress Virginia McKenna.

Elvis Presley has completed 10 day US tour for £50,000.
26 April 1957

Tentative title of new Pat Boone film is Home In Indiana with music from Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster.
26 April 1957
This became April Love

Is Gary Miller really being considered for film role as James Dean?
26 April 1957
Doubt it.

Johnnie Ray renewed his friendship with Noel Coward. They wrote Hand On My Shoulder together.
26 April 1957
Can’t trace this song at all.

Due to an oversight, Mercury did not issue Whatever Lola Wants in UK, now Alan Freeman is rushing out Sarah Vaughan’s version which was the biggest seller in US.
26 April 1957

Edna Savage no longer unofficially engaged to Ronnie Carroll.
3 May 1957

Evening News critic Bill Boorne says that it was impossible to understand any of the lyrics sung by the Platters and was even more severe in his criticism of Lonnie Donegan.
3 May 1957
This will have been their week together at the London Palladium.

In Untamed Youth, Mamie Van Doren sings It All Belongs To You with such conviction that Ray Anthony should be worried.
3 May 1957

Visitors to Johnnie Ray’s dressing room at the Palladium by a large photograph of Sabrina.
3 May 1957
Covering up well!

So many British agents competed to secure Little Richard that his fee was increased to tremendous proportions: Lew and Leslie Grade likely to finalise dates for the autumn.
3 May 1957
They didn’t.

Home grown talent undergoing the worst best-selling phase in years.
3 May 1957

Johnnie Ray entertained women prisoners in Holloway for 30 minutes with self-piano accompaniment.
3 May 1957
First Sabrina and now this. He’s certainly leading a queer life: oh dear, I’m turning into the Alley Cat.

Vera Lynn’s version of The Faithful Hussar is known as Don’t Cry My Love in US.
3 May 1957

For a new Hollywood film, Hot Rod Rumble, Elvis Presley is trying very hard to secure a part for his girlfriend, Las Vegas dancer, Dotty Harman.
10 May 1957
Elvis was performing at the Nee Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. Artistically, it was a disaster but he did pinch Hound Dog off Freddie Bell and also dated the dancer, Dorothy Harmony, who was soon replaced with the stripper, Tempest Storm. As for the film, was Elvis contemplating a hot rod movie?

When Chris Barber secures a divorce, he will marry Ottillie Patterson.
10 May 1957
Which he did.

Now that Alma Cogan has left Take It From Here, it has produced a much improved singer in June Whitfield.
17 May 1957

From one of the Platters at the Palladium: “When Tommy Steele’s girlfriend wanted a mink stole, Tommy went out and stole one for her.”
17 May 1957
Bit risqué to knock the local talent, wasn’t it?

Jane Street for Winifred Atwell, written by Johnny Brandon.
17 May 1957

Alan Dean staying at the same flat he occupied five years ago in London. Now occupied by his brother-in-law, bandleader Norman Burns.
24 May 1957

Following Lita’s separation from Ronnie Hughes, her close friend is Digby Wolfe.
24 May 1957

Mantovani’s son came home with latest Tommy Steele record.
24 May 1957
And…?

Eddie Fisher’s Around The World and Heart not issued here by HMV, nor Perry Como’s No Other Love, perhaps HMV’s Wally Ridley can offer an explanation as to why Ronnie Hilton’s versions are so close to the originals?
24 May 1957
This is an intriguing comment. If Ridley was in charge of the RCA product being released here, could he hold it back if it might hold back one of his artists?

Annoying that a great singer like Lee Lawrence must seek his fortune in America when at least a dozen throat-clearers could be deported and reduce the spate of vocal garbage gabbers.
24 May 1957

Five days after appearing on 6.5 Special, 30,000 applications had been received for Frankie Vaughan photographs.
31 May 1957

No truth that Tommy Steele has been having elocution lessons from Geraldo.
31 May 1957
Is this a dig at Geraldo’s accent? Was he hard to understand?

Bert Wittam, Pet Clark’s pianist, write The Trees In Grosvenor Square, one of the best ballads of recent years.
31 May 1957

Sabrina should record Good Companions.
31 May 1957
How could this column survive without Sabrina?

Fantastic box office takings at Liverpool Empire last week by Lonnie Donegan – the highest for a British attraction during past seven years.
7 June 1957

First RCA disc likely to enter chart here – Island In The Sun
7 June 1957
As opposed to through the previous licensing deal with HMV.

On soundtrack of The Tommy Steele Story, Tommy sounds reminiscent of Johnnie Ray.
7 June 1957

Who copied who on Little Darlin’ – the Diamonds or the Gladiolas?
14 June 1957
Song written by Maurice Williams of the Gladiolas.

Freddie Bell: Tommy Steele has crowd-winning ways and I rate him very near to Elvis Presley.
14 June 1957

Frankie Laine has become keen on cricket.
14 June 1957

Vic Hyde visited a skiffle cellar in Soho Street: “It’s a Turkish bath with weird music at the same time, and it keeps the kids off the streets.”
14 June 1957
Hyde was a circus entertainer who could play three trumpets at once.

An Indian student Kudlip Singh has covered Butterfingers for US market.
14 June 1957

Although rumours persist of a switch from Pye to Decca, a long term contract exists between Lonnie Donegan and Denis Preston, who leases the discs to Pye.
14 June 1957

Norman Newell very impressed by Sammy Cahn’s lyric for Howard Keel in London last Sunday for recording session. He says that it is equal to the brilliant Tender Trap.
14 June 1957
Any ideas for the title?

Ronnie Carroll and Edna Savage like two love birds on 6.5 Special.
21 June 1957

Might be a good idea if Lonnie Donegan revises his stage lyrics of Puttin’ On The Style. The reference that his group earns more than Tommy Steele could be considered in bad taste.
21 June 1957

Sorting out requests for Housewives’ Choice, Godfrey Winn reveals that postcards were divided into three sections – pops, classical and David Whitfield.
21 June 1957

Dickie Valentine rushing to cut Putting On The Style, but he’ll be too late.
21 June 1957

Bunny Lewis (who once handled David Whitfield) is now personal manager to Donald Peers.
5 July 1957

Being mistaken for Sabrina is becoming quite embarrassing for Mrs Guy Mitchell.
5 July 1957

Ben Bowers mimics Nat ‘King’ Cole in stage revue Disc Doubles, which prevents him from singing his latest release.
5 July 1957

A report that Little Richard is retiring from show business in September to become an evangelist has been denied by New York agent Tim Gale. “He is fully booked until early next year.”
5 July 1957
That’s what you think.

Frankie Vaughan’s protégé, trumpeter Murray Campbell.
5 July 1957

Although plans were made for Bill Haley to return in September, this has cooled off.
5 July 1957
Clearly not made the Grades.

Whilst always anxious to welcome new stars to Britain, first announcement that Charlie Gracie was booked for a variety tour was surprising (on the strength of two semi-successful disc releases). Now Lew and Leslie Grade will present him as the star at the London Hippodrome, Gracie’s status seems to be out of proportion, and this situation is even more remarkable – particularly when realising that, at the time same, the incomparable Mel Tormé is playing provincial stage dates for the same theatre company controlling London Hippodrome.
19 July 1957
The implication is that the Grades booked Gracie on the rebound from Haley. They wanted to do some more rock’n’roll shows, thought that Haley was a loser and considered Gracie was a rising star.

Is Russ Hamilton the first British singer to enter the Top 10 with his own composition?
19 July 1957

Fats Domino’s Valley Of Tears is enough to make many cry.
19 July 1957

When current Digby Wolfe TV series is completed, a continental motoring holiday is planned by Lita Roza – unescorted.
19 July 1957

At Finsbury Park Empire on Monday, Terry Dene was congratulated on his performance by his own agent, Harry Foster – but the young singer did not know him.
19 July 1957

Hyman Zahl has entered Harrow Hospital for another operation. (Turns out to be a hernia)
19 July 1957

Could it have been memories of exciting romantic flings in Britain which resulted in Frankie Lymon’s latest waxing Goody Goody.
19 July 1957
This 14 year old knew how to enjoy himself.

Did Little Richard record Lucille at an evangelists’ meeting?
19 July 1957

Elvis Presley impersonators now include a girl in man’s clothing – Muriel Koebbe, highly rated in the Chicago area.
19 July 1957

At the Stars’ Organisation for Spastics cricket match and garden fete at Harrow on Sunday, Tommy Steele’s shirt was auctioned and brought £4 for spastic children. Four girls purchased it and one said, “We’ll split it into four – back, front and two sleeves.” An LP signed by Gracie Fields brought £2 and a 78 autographed by Liberace £1. Cyril Stapleton sold Robin Hood’s bow for £2.10s and Vera Lynn and Joan Regan worked at stalls. Despite intermittent rain, a goodly sum was raised.
19 July 1957

Silence Is Golden waxed by Jo Stafford with Vic Damone.
2 August 1957

Jimmy Jackson is a young Liverpool rockabilly singer.
2 August 1957
Thought I knew all the singers that had come from Liverpool, but evidently not. Jimmy Jackson was on the 6.5 Special LP.

Tony Osborne wrote Esther while Dorothy Squires and Roger Moore wrote the lyric. She will record it this month.
2 August 1957

Following nationwide publicity following Tommy Steele’s departure from Hotel Majestic St Anne’s on Tuesday, he must be singing A Room With A View rather than There’s A Small Hotel.
2 August 1957
What’s this all about?

Mel Tormé to wax LP in UK and it will devoted to our best-known composers.
9 August 1957

National press coverage given to Dorothy Squires’ refusal to appear on current London Hippodrome variety bill, proved a blessing in disguise to Charlie Gracie; this unexpected publicity boosted advance takings considerably.
9 August 1957
She didn’t object to being on the bill, but she did object to Gracie closing the show. She didn’t share the Grades’ faith in him but had plenty in herself.

Billy Daniels quipped, “A hangover is the moaning after the night before.”
9 August 1957

When DJ Keith Fordyce announced after Wonderful, Wonderful on 208 Top Twenty last Sunday that the singer was Ronnie Hilton – then this crazy cat realised that a British singer had produced one of 1957’s greatest records.
9 August 1957

Bob Monkhouse was once a bass player.
16 August 1957

First serious US attempt to complete with British skiffle output is The Skiffle Sound by Dick Jacobs and his group on Coral
16 August 1957
A bit late in the day too.

Bye Bye Love reminds the Alley Cat of Gonna Get Along Without You Now.
16 August 1957

Few will deny magnificent screen debut by Frankie Vaughan but is praise of TV personality Peter Noble justified? He wrote, “Frankie is a good deal more than a carbon copy of Victor Mature. He has the softness, the tenderness of Rossano Brazzi and he sings like Mario Lanza – and he photographs like a dream.”
23 August 1957
Presume this is a reference to These Dangerous Years, although he had been in Ramsbottom Rides Again!

Tommy Steele’s agent, Ian Bevan has written The Story Of The London Palladium.
23 August 1957
Published 1952

Decca has advised dealers that Vera Lynn’s Travellin’ Home disc has been withdrawn.
23 August 1957

Bill Shepherd (Coronets) and Ray Martin wrote Yomme, Yomme, which has been recorded by Eartha Kitt.
23 August 1957

Tommy Steele was going to cover Johnnie Ray’s Build Your Love but this has been cancelled.
30 August 1957

Alan Freed has been offered £8,500 per week by Leslie Grade to present a rock’n’roll package here.
30 August 1957
The Grades appear desperate to get that rock’n’roll honeypot.

Not likely that Charlie Gracie’s so-called romance with buxom showgirl June Wilkinson will blossom any further.
30 August 1957
An Essex girl, June Wilkinson was a Playboy centrefold known as The Body.

Elvis Presley was scheduled to sing two songs in The Girl Can’t Help It but the project collapsed.
30 August 1957
Intriguing. It is said, and I like to think it’s true, that Jayne Mansfield was dispatched to see Elvis Presley and offer herself in exchange for a cameo in The Girl Can’t Help It. However, wouldn’t she have to offer herself to Col Parker as well?

Rumours are spreading from Southsea that David Whitfield is adopting a big time attitude.
30 August 1957

Bad records selected for 208 Jamboree programme on Saturday were equalled by calibre of Gus Goodwin’s boring jokes.
6 September 1957

In Cinderella at Liverpool this Christmas, former Show Band compere Rikki Fulton plays the dame; star of this pantomime is Tommy Steele.
6 September 1957
The panto was changed to Goldilocks And Three Bears: just thought you’d like to know that.

Although Paul Lincoln, proprietor of 2 Is, has a business interest in Terry Dene and Les Hobeaux, he remains an active professional wrestler.
6 September 1957
Sounds like he was wise to stick to his day job.

Promising TV debut by John Barry Seven in AR-TV’s Music box, presented by Jack Hylton.
6 September 1957

Bing Crosby sounds like a refined, more musical Elvis Presley on new release.
13 September 1957
Current release was Man On Fire/Seven Nights A Week

New singer on US Poplar label, Terry Dean
13 September 1957
Female Terry Dean had one single on Poplar, followed by three on Laurie and one on Madison as Terri Dean.

Bobby Troup wrote Julie Is Her Name for Julie London and it has been recorded by the Four Freshmen.
13 September 1957

What a well-known skiffle artist is expecting can hardly be termed a happy event under the circumstances.
13 September 1957
This a bit racey. Clearly a reference to Nancy Whiskey infanticipating (to use an Alley Cat word). The father was fellow musician Bob Kelly, not yet divorced.

Vocal version of Ron Goodwin’s Swinging Sweethearts waxed by Dick Haymes for US Decca label.
13 September 1957

Lonnie Donegan, appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, said, “My first public engagement was in this hall a few years ago at a concert organised by Maurice Kinn, who paid me £4.10s. Tommy Steele must have been out of town that day.”
13 September 1957
Lonnie remembered every penny he was paid.

Decca’s leading stars absent from recent hit parade lists – Tommy Steele’s successes have saved them almost single-handed.
27 September 1957

Talk of Terry Dene headlining a Christmas season at Nottingham Empire, a teenage show.
27 September 1957

There are no Teenagers on Frankie Lymon’s Goody Goody. It is unit formed by Bill Shepherd.
27 September 1957

Paul Anka sounds like Tommy Steele on Diana.
27 September 1957

David Whitfield and Ray Ellington to appear in Robinson Crusoe at the Palladium.
27 September 1957

Hit songs containing feminine names in their titles have become very fashionable during recent months in Britain: Diana, Lucille, Long Tall Sally, Jenny Jenny, Yes Tonight Josephine, Anastasia, Bernadine, Marianne, Call Rosie On The Phone, Short Fat Fannie, Cindy Oh Cindy, I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen, Bring A Little Water Sylvie and Wake Up Little Susie.
11 October 1957

NME poll – Bad press notices in the Spring account for low Frankie Laine position, but complete absence of record hit since March sent Bill Haley down in flames. He was the World’s Outstanding Personality last year.
11 October 1957

Although listed originally, Lucille Mapp is not in The Golden Disc.
11 October 1957

Dick Powell: “I’ve seen Clark Gable chased by more young girls than Elvis Presley.”
11 October 1957

Paul Lincoln enthusiastic about new find – a singer to be called Wee Willie Harris.
11 October 1957

20th Century Fox attempting to star Tommy Sands, Elvis Presley and Pat Boone in the same film.
18 October 1957
This became Mardi Gras with Boone, Sands and Gary Crosby.

Two new US releases by the Crickets (Oh Boy, Not Fade Away) were composed by their manager Norman Petty.
18 October 1957
That’s what you think…

Now acting as Terry Dene’s touring manager is his father, Albert Williams.
18 October 1957

On Fire, Les Paul sings for the first time.
18 October 1957

Elvis Presley has five entries in current Top 20 – which equals previous accomplishment by Bill Haley and before that, Ruby Murray.
18 October 1957

Plans are all set for Tommy Steele’s marriage to June Laverick – scores of reporters and cameramen are expected to attend the ceremony due to take place at Boreham Wood, Herts on Thursday December 3. But relax, all you Steele fans – it’s only a screen wedding, part of the film, The Duke Wore Jeans, which starts shooting at the British National Studios next Monday.
1 November 1957

In I Want You To Be My Baby, Don Lang holds onto one breath for 3minutes and 20 seconds. Maybe Don should join an aqua show.
1 November 1957
Rubbish. The record only last two minutes and has an instrumental break: nevertheless it is a very impressive, if soulless, performance.

Ratings for Jack Jackson’s ATV show have taken a dive – later transmission time is responsible.
1 November 1957

Matchbox was intended to be the plug side of Terry Wayne’s current disc but it looks as though Your True Love will be the big seller.
1 November 1957

Tommy Steele went to see Wee Willie Harris on stage.
1 November 1957

New hostess on Double Your Money is Linda Gray, daughter of Leslie Grade.
1 November 1957

If 60 musicians are arriving with Count Basie, won’t the MU have something to say. The exchange is with Ted Heath and his Orchestra.
1 November 1957

Gordon Jenkins conducts left handed.
1 November 1957

A gay place to be in Hollywood last Thursday was the fancy dress ball at which Elvis Presley was confronted by himself. Nat ‘King’ Cole went along as Elvis, carrying a guitar and wearing the biggest sideburns he could find.
8 November 1957

What a pity more could not be made of Line Renaud singing in Paris to Eric Robinson’s accompaniment – surely some split screen tricks would have been effective. (The World Our Stage, BBC TV, last Saturday)
8 November 1957

Pity Diana Dors did no better than Jayne Mansfield on Sunday Night At The London Palladium. Diana’s singing was pretty dreadful and the Palladium standards used to be very high.
8 November 1957

Elvis Presley received around $475 a minute for latest concerts, roughly £170.
8 November 1957

Latest LP in America is for those who desire to play the phonograph while watching television. It plays 40 minutes of silence.
8 November 1957

Don Black has left Joe Henderson to join John Fields Music.
8 November 1957

Cole Porter grabbed a mere $150,000 (£53,000) for penning six songs for Aladdin TV spectacular.
8 November 1957

Benny Bell and the Blockbusters’ The Sack Dress was recorded by Dennis Preston and sold to Parlophone.
8 November 1957

Larry Page did well on The Jack Jackson Show and seemed none the worse for his hand operation.
8 November 1957

Alma Cogan at New York Persian Room includes a tribute to British songwriters: Lady Of Spain, If, Among My Souvenirs, If YouWere The Only Boy In The World, The Gypsy, Smile and Oh Mein Papa.
15 November 1957

How can BBC accuse ITV of bad taste after Wee Willie Harris in 6.5 Special?
15 November 1957

Shani Wallis fined £2 for motoring offence.
15 November 1957

Russell Turner has listened to Rhapsody In Blue by Winifred Atwell and Ted Heath and his Orchestra over 300 times.
22 November 1957

Last Saturday’s 6.5 Special came from Manchester with over 8,000 applications for tickets.
22 November 1957

At a Texas cinema recently, Earl Shanks threw a cow bell at the screen during an Elvis Presley number in Jailhouse Rock. He was escorted to a local jail.
22 November 1957

Dennis Lotis gets star billing in The Golden Disc with Terry Dene receiving an “introducing” credit.
22 November 1957

If you want to embrace a hula hula girl, does she wriggle out of it?
22 November 1957

Lonnie Donegan was very excited at the concert by Sister Rosetta Tharpe at Chiswick Empire.
29 November 1957

Diano Marina – Edna Savage written by TV producer George Inns and Bert Weedon. (corrected to musician George Weedon the next week)
29 November 1957

He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands has almost as many words in the title as in the lyrics.
29 November 1957

George Elrick’s speech decrying the press has not been favourably received in Fleet Street.
29 November 1957

Guy Mitchell reads the Bible at every opportunity.
29 November 1957
Despite having a wife who looks like Sabrina.

Chance for Lonnie Donegan to obtain hat trick of No 1s seems hopeless with My Dixie Darling.
29 November 1957

Bob Hope quipped, “I donated £100 to the Spastics Fund but they only got £90 as it was sent through my agents, Lew and Leslie Grade.”
29 November 1957

Whether you like Elvis Presley or hate him, his accomplishments are worthy of the highest praise. Bing Crosby collected 20 million sellers in 30 years, while Presley is heading towards shattering Crosby’s record, at the time when his major professional career will have just passed the two year anniversary.
6 December 1957

Ronnie Carroll is fighting enormous odds in rivalling Pat Boone on April Love.
6 December 1957
Well, he was a noted gambler.

Winifred Atwell played a medley of four skiffle songs, three popularised by Lonnie Donegan, at the Royal Variety Show, somewhat ironic in view of his omission.
6 December 1957

The title performed by Terry Dene in the Jack Jackson Show was so bad, it must be considered strong hit parade material.
6 December 1957
Probably Lucky Lucky Bobby

Lonnie Donegan received £3,000 for his appearance in 6.5 Special film.
6 December 1957

Carole Lindsey, shortest of the Kaye Sisters, has become engaged to their manager – comedian Len Young.
6 December 1957

Paul Anka not at ease on Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
13 December 1957

Great acting by Bertice Reading in Requiem For A Nun at London’s Royal Court.
13 December 1957

On 6.5 Special, noticeable that Johnny Duncan had more hair that the three supporting Blue Grass Boys combined.
13 December 1957

A pianist with fast fingers away from the keyboard (but ego shattered by failure of amorous advances) caused dismissal of feminine singer featured in same small group.
20 December 1957
Again, who is this?

Producer Freddie Carpenter is having to spend more time in Liverpool than anticipated – rehearsing the Tommy Steele pantomime.
20 December 1957

Count Basie In London, No 16 album in New York.
20 December 1957

Currently riding high here with Ma, He’s Makin’ Eyes At Me, Johnny Otis claimed he was a joint composer of Hound Dog, but New York Federal Court dismissed his suit against Elvis Presley’s music publishing firm.
20 December 1957

Asked by David Jacobs on the Show Band show for the title of the closing tune, Cyril Stapleton said, “It will be Slow Train Blues because of complaints we have not played this tune recently. The composer, Eric Winstone, has been making all the complaints.”
20 December 1957

David Hill who wrote All Shook Up has recorded Johnny Otis’s Keep Me In Mind for RCA.
27 December 1957

Whilst appearing in pantomime for the next few weeks at Liverpool, Ruby Murray will travel to Crewe every weekend, spending 24 hours with her husband Bernie Burgess there; he travels from Birmingham where he is in panto with the Jones Boys.
27 December 1957

Herbert Smith, producer of 6.5 Special and The Tommy Steele Story, is likely to sign Dickie Valentine for his next production.
27 December 1957
Apart from a cameo in 6.5 Special, I don’t think Dickie Valentine ever appeared in a film.

Although her Other Piano was purchased for £2.10, Winfred Atwell is reputed to have spent £10,000 in transportation of the instrument.
27 December 1957
Winnie played honky tonk on her Other Piano.

More than 400 members and their relatives attended the champagne and coke party of George Melachrino’s fan club.
27 December 1957
And coke?

Eric Delaney’s Christmas cards were in bad taste.
27 December 1957

Don’t be surprised in Pat Boone revives the 1950 hit, Confidentially, written and recorded by British singer and comedian Reg Dixon.
27 December 1957
We wouldn’t be and he didn’t.

Was George Formby the original rock’n’roll boy?
3 January 1958
No

Highlight of AR-TV’s Christmas Eve show was Tommy Steele’s delightful interlude with his sister, Sandra Hicks.
3 January 1958

Ted Ray was a professional soccer player with Liverpool FC.
3 January 1958

List of gold disc winners in 1958 NME annual omitted Mantovani with Charmaine.
3 January 1958

Aggregate sales of Alone in UK is now over half a million. Southlanders’s version has topped 100,000.
3 January 1958

Sammy Davis has covered a rock and roll tune, I’m Coming Home, a cover of the Chancellors’ original.
3 January 1958

After two years’ Sunday night run, how does Jack Jackson feel about tackling 6.5 Special at the same time on Saturdays?
3 January 1958

Only thing delaying confirmation of Everly Brothers visit to Britain – one of them has a strong romantic attachment, making him reluctant to leave America. Agent Leslie Grade is fighting to overcome any problems.
3 January 1958

Frank Sinatra has six entries in Billboard’s Top 30 albums of 1957.
3 January 1958

Is fame and quick success proving for Terry Dene to cope with?
3 January 1958

Prediction that Liberace will not marry this year.
3 January 1958

Mamie Van Doren’s first son is named after Perry Como but he regards her as too sexy for his TV show.
10 January 1958

Malcolm Vaughan has recorded A Night To Remember for Kenneth More’s next film.
10 January 1958

All resident artists mimed to Three Bears on Jack Jackson Show but no credit given to the vocal by Bobby Troup.
10 January 1958

Forgotten Dreams was a fantastic sheet music success, but only made a fleeting appearances in record charts.
10 January 1958
Correct – No 2 on sheet music charts, but neither Leroy Anderson nor Cyril Stapleton reached the Top 20

Advance orders over 250,000 for Jailhouse Rock in UK, a record figure.
17 January 1958

Too much unfunny comedy from Josephine Douglas and Pete Murray on 6.5 Special.
17 January 1958

A really sensational version of Ha Ha Ha by Kay Armen on Brunswick.
17 January 1958

6.5 film producer Albert Shaughnessy wrote You Are My Favourite Dream for Diane Todd.
17 January 1958

A pop vocalist with a Radio Times cover is rare – Frankie Vaughan deserves the honour.
17 January 1958

Manager John Kennedy a twosome with Carole Lesley from These Dangerous Years.
17 January 1958

Lewis Lymon hits rock bottom with his tuneless distortion of Too Young.
24 January 1958

Dennis Preston angry at last week’s exclusive story about the Lonnie Donegan/Pye Records deal.
24 January 1958

Jack Fishman and Joe Henderson will share £5,000 royalties on Why Don’t They Understand. Sales of the George Hamilton IV now near 750,000.
31 January 1958

Spike Milligan recording ballads for Parlophone.
31 January 1958

Look Homeward Angel stars Anthony Perkins on Broadway
7 February 1958

In order to reduce weight, David Whitfield takes long daily walks, joined by his wife Sheila, who rides a bicycle.
7 February 1958

Highlight of 6.5 Special was Danny Purches singing Be My Girl, which must have shook Jim Dale who introduced him.
7 February 1958

Glen Mason got a black eye at Show Biz XI v BBC XI last Sunday.
7 February 1958

Just when Lew and Leslie Grade expected confirmation of Everly Brothers tour, they received news of a postponement for several months.
7 February 1958
They didn’t come over until 1960 and then it was for Arthur Howes.

Because of injury suffered aboard an aircraft prior to the birth of her first child, Pier Angeli has accepted a settlement of £15,000, taking the advice of husband Vic Damone.
7 February 1958

Frequent visitor to Liverpool Press Club is Tommy Steele who is keen to exploit his prowess at snooker against local journalists.
14 February 1958

The Evening News had Gary Miller’s The Story Of My Life at No 1.
14 February 1958

During his first six months as a star, Paul Anka earned £40,000
14 February 1958

Elvis Presley on Jerry Lee Lewis: “The boy has everything, he can’t miss.”
14 February 1958

A new MU ruling prevents Johnny Franz from sending backing tracks to Australia for Shirley Bassey to dub her voice.
14 February 1958

Catch A Falling Star is the selling side for Perry Como in US.
14 February 1958
Magic Moments in the UK

Gary Miller joined Buddy Holly tour only a day after arriving home from Middle East forces tour.
14 February 1958

Spike Milligan ballad issued by Parlophone.
14 February 1958
Single was Will I Find My Love Today

Two Cry songs – Johnnie Ray and Julie London.
14 February 1958

US cabaret singer Kaye Ballard to be on Sunday Night At The London Palladium with the Crickets
21 February 1958

Appearing in The Big Beat is Howard Miller, the Chicago DJ who persuaded Tab Hunter to become a singer.
21 February 1958
…but don’t hold that against him.

Perry Como is only the third name from RCA’s large roster to gain UK Top 10 entry.
21 February 1958

As an evangelist, no doubt Little Richard is interested in hymns.
21 February 1958
The Alley Cat is at it again!

Highlight of BBC-TV’s Ted Ray Show was Bill Maynard’s stylish vocal on The Story Of My Life.
21 February 1958

Why didn’t any stop Jack Payne’s ill-timed introduction of Wee Willie Harris on Off The Record? He should have had his script censored.
21 February 1958

Sammy Davis’s act includes devastating mimicry of Elvis Presley.
21 February 1958

The Silhouettes’ Get A Job is released in US by Ember, controlled by British-born Doug Moody, son of EMI chief Wally Moody.
21 February 1958

Colin Hicks managed by Johnny Kennedy. He is infuriated by remarks about Hicks in the Sunday Pictorial by Jack Bentley.
21 February 1958

A TV set has a picture in front, knobs on the side and an instalment behind.
21 February 1958

eden ahbez penned Sam Cooke’s Lonely Island.
28 February 1958
The Hollywood hippie who wrote Nature Boy

US music publisher Lou Levy purchased British racehorse, Orchestra Stalls.
7 March 1958

Ronnie Hilton’s B-side One Blade Of Grass being promoted as he has lost Magic Moments battle.
7 March 1958

Sam Cooke says, “When it’s gospel, I get the feeling that I’m singing to the Lord as opposed to singing my way into the Cash Box best sellers.”
7 March 1958

Is new BBC post for Ronnie Waldman success or demotion?
7 March 1958

Buddy Holly did all the singing on Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
7 March 1958

Paul Anka has written Go Little Snowman for his 8 year old brother, Andy.
7 March 1958

That an unknown singer (George Hamilton IV) should enter the best sellers with Why Don’t They Understand is amazing as John Fraser’s superior record was heavily exploited a few months ago and failed to reach charts.
7 March 1958

Buddy Holly and the Crickets arrived in Britain with their manager, Norman Petty, who is a competent organist.
7 March 1958
... but better on the fiddle.

Johnny Brandon has written Screamin’ Ball At Dracula Hall for the Duponts.
7 March 1958

Few international stars have suffered more mental anguish than Judy Garland, now seeking a divorce from Sid Luft.
14 March 1958

In 6.5 Special film, Joan Regan appears in a negligée.
14 March 1958
The excitement mounts.

Although Liberace headlines London Palladium variety bill (from April 7), Dick Shawn should get fantastic press acclaim, especially if he includes hilarious portrayal of imaginary Elvis Presley fan club chairman.
14 March 1958

Lita Roza sang All The Way magnificently but looked plump on Sing For Your Supper (BBC TV last Friday).
14 March 1958

Frankie Vaughan sounds like Guy Mitchell on new release.
14 March 1958
New single is Can’t Get Along Without You, written by Melvin Endsley, who wrote Singing The Blues.

Buddy Holly wants to purchase a British sports car.
14 March 1958

Only British composition in Top 30 this week is Why Don’t They Understand.
14 March 1958

When Edna Savage collapsed at her London flat last week, Terry Dene is reported to have helped the lady in distress; but Ronnie Carroll was the first familiar face on the scene the following morning.
21 March 1958

According to Week End, the ideal man would have Tommy Sands’ hair, Jeffrey Hunter’s eyes, Tony Curtis’s eyebrows, Marlon Brando’s nose and Elvis Presley’s mouth. Bing Crosby’s money would also help.
21 March 1958

Sammy Davis secured role in Porgy And Bess by deferring operation on his nose.
21 March 1958

Paul Anka is reducing weight by running behind a car every day – to groom himself for a film role.
21 March 1958
And they called it puppy fat…

Johnny Otis received a cable from Leslie Grade, cancelling next month’s tour here.
21 March 1958
Was that because the follow-up single, Bye Bye Baby, wasn’t a big seller?

Did 6.5 Special justify its expensive hop to Paris?
21 March 1958
And taking place in Le Caveau, the model for The Cavern.

Billy Reid’s I’ll Close My Eyes revived by Joan Regan in 6.5 Special film
21 March 1958

When Ken Morris sang Nairobi on Top Tune Time, Joan and Edna Savage crept up behind him in a jungle scene. “Who’s that?” he asked and was told, “A couple of Savages.”
21 March 1958

The Crickets were dropped from last week’s See You In Soho TV show, owing to alleged disagreement with Jack Hylton.
21 March 1958

Others will be pink with envy if Wee Willie Harris makes the best sellers.
21 March 1958

As the making of his TV series prevented Pat Boone singing April Love at the Oscars, Jimmie Rodgers took his place.
28 March 1958

Tommy Steele got £2,500 for The Tommy Steele Story.
28 March 1958

Will Terry Dene’s friendship with lawyer Nemone Lethbridge lead him to the bar?
28 March 1958
A not so veiled reference to Dene’s drinking. The following year Nemone Lethbridge married Jimmy O’Connor, who had been reprieved from hanging for a murder conviction. O’Connor became an established playwright and was obsessed with obtaining a pardon, which never came.

Why did Cry My Heart by David Whitfield/Mantovani tearfully collapse?
28 March 1958

Gary Miller is ex-Blackpool footballer, missing Show Biz soccer games on Holly tour.
28 March 1958

Are there any differences between British and American teenagers?
Paul Anka: No, they are the same age.
28 March 1958
He was a scream, that Paul Anka.

An Italian comedian Renato Rascel wrote Arrivederci Roma and appears with Mario Lanza in Seven Hills Of Rome.
28 March 1958

Jayne Mansfield: “I wear a large diamond ring in order to draw attention to myself.”
28 March 1958

Fans pleaded in vain for locks of Elvis Presley’s hair when he was reduced to a crew cut on joining the army.
4 April 1958

After Terry Dene made his triumphant comeback at the Empress Hall on Sunday, compete David Jacobs said, “He’s going to be a good boy now.”
4 April 1958

Nancy Sinatra (ex wife of Frank) dating TV’s Wyatt Earp, Hugh O’Brian.
4 April 1958

Banana Split is a flop tune that earned Steve Allen £4,000 as it is on the reverse of Sugartime by the McGuire Sisters.
4 April 1958

Frankie Vaughan asked lots of questions about Terry Dene in US, and it seems that Terry’s activities have been widely reported.
4 April 1958

Jerry Lee Lewis had piano lessons when he was nine years old for two weeks – but none since!
4 April 1958

Johnny Duncan had the plaster removed from his broken ankle five weeks early for an appearance on 6.5 Special.
4 April 1958

Terry Dene is now using Dennis Plowright, former Dennis Lotis accompanist, in his stage act.
11 April 1958

Joe Lubin is the manager of a new record company launched by Marty Melcher.
11 April 1958

Why is the film called The Duke Wore Jeans? The character is not a duke and he doesn’t wear jeans.
11 April 1958

Has the death of a jazzman ever been more fully covered by British national papers than W C Handy’s and was that due to the fact that the film of his life story is to be released soon?
11 April 1958

Charlie O’Curran who has been supervising dance direction of King Creole is married to Patti Page.
11 April 1958

Three of Eddie Fisher’s biggest hits were British songs – I’m Walking Behind You, Lady Of Spain and Oh My Papa.
18 April 1958

Eddie Fisher saw Dean Martin at the Coconut Grove and called out, “Nobody told me he’s parted from Jerry Lewis.”
18 April 1958

Because they couldn’t get a copy of Whole Lotta Woman, Johnny Duncan and the Blue Grass Boys stopped at a roadside café to listen to it on a jukebox on the way back from Sheffield. They had to learn the arrangement for last Sunday’s Palladium show with Marvin Rainwater.
18 April 1958

In view of Elvis Presley’s call-up, it is likely that Ferlin Husky will secure the screen role of portraying Hank Williams.
18 April 1958
The film, Your Cheatin’ Heart, was eventually made with George Hamilton miming to Hank Williams Jr’s singing voice.

Squeals of recognition from the audition helped the What’s My Line panel to break records in discovering Frankie Vaughan last Sunday.
18 April 1958

Charlie Gracie’s current variety tour hastened his marriage to childhood sweetheart Joan Domato; he didn’t want to leave her behind.
18 April 1958
And what happened to June Wilkinson?

Marion Ryan’s seven year old boy twins featured in Week End
18 April 1958

Eric Delaney’s 60 gallon fish tank sprung a leak while he was on tour.
18 April 1958

Alma Cogan denies it was a stunt when a stranger walked on stage at Manchester and asked “Will you marry me?”
18 April 1958
But a cameraman happened to be there.

Dick Shawn at the London Palladium says that Elvis Presley must have done more for teenagers of the world than Jack the Ripper ever did.
18 April 1958

Frank Sinatra will produce Oceans 11 with Peter Lawford in Europe this year.
18 April 1958

Elvis Presley is the only private employing a colonel in the US army.
18 April 1958

Of all people, Liberace does not have a US press agent.
25 April 1958

Although Capitol has the strongest talent, EMI have the hits on MGM, long considered their weakest label.
25 April 1958

With Skinny Minnie No 49 in Cash Box, Bill Haley could be on the comeback trail.
25 April 1958
Sadly, no

Humphrey Lyttelton’s band guessed their leader was going to be in This Is Your Life but he refused to believe them.
25 April 1958

The Weavers on Saturday’s 6.5 Special had won £100 in a talent contest at Kilburn State Cinema and Russell Turner was one of the judges.
25 April 1958

Former AFN disc jockey Nick Clooney has completed two films for MGM including Handle With Care, he is Rosemary’s younger brother.
25 April 1958
And George’s father.

Jim Dale’s new Vauxhall Cresta has a registration number of JD 65.
25 April 1958

Possible title for autobiographies: Tommy Steele – Bermondsey Buoyant and Liberace – Mom’s The Word.
25 April 1958

Johnny Stewart who has recorded Wishing For Your Love is a protégé of Alma Cogan.
25 April 1958

Billy Eckstine sued for divorce by Carole Drake after eight weeks of marriage.
2 May 1958

How many national press critics decided to dislike Jerry Lewis’ London Palladium performance before he opened? Still, the public has acclaimed his brilliant artistry.
2 May 1958

The Stargazers are performing a medley of Tommy Steele’s hits in concert.
2 May 1958

Joan Regan received a note of congratulations from Alma Cogan; “Congratulations, I just knew it would be a baby.”
2 May 1958

Appearing on Panorama last week, Richard Dimbleby asked Lonnie Donegan what was essential to be a star. Lonnie replied “Guts”
9 May 1958

Don Lang leaving 6.5 Special.
9 May 1958
Jack Good booked him for ‘Oh Boy!’ and asked him to perform the ‘6.5 Special’ theme song.

You Need Hands published by Max Bygraves’ own company, Lakeview Music.
9 May 1958

Barry Barnett is 19 year old nephew of Sam Browne.
16 May 1958

Marvin Rainwater’s Tea Bag Romeo is dedicated to Arthur Godfrey who sponsors tea.
16 May 1958

Russ Hamilton dressed to kill when escorting starlet Barbara Roscoe to Another Time, Another Place premiere.
16 May 1958
Somehow “Russ Hamilton” and “dressed to kill” don’t fit in the same sentence.

Lack of disc hit for Charlie Gracie led to costly tour for Lew and Leslie Grade, which ended last Sunday.
16 May 1958
I’m beginning to realise why the Grades were so up in arms about Larry Parnes bringing Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent into the country. He had devised a successful rock’n’roll after they had failed.

The forthcoming Johnny Mathis screen biography was negotiated by Hollywood agent Henry Wilson – the man responsible for giving rock Hudson and Tab Hunter their unusual names.
16 May 1958

Frankie Laine sponsoring US tour by Michel Legrand.
23 May 1958

Alan Freed has resigned from his lucrative New York disc jockey post.
23 May 1958
That’s putting it politely.

New US vocal group – the Rock-A-Fellas.
23 May 1958

Tommy Steele produced the Kentones at Decca.
23 May 1958
Very unusual for an artist to be allowed to produce.

Johnnie Ray said after his TV special: “I have never worked with a better girl singer than Anne Shelton.”
23 May 1958

Norman Petty has penned Since You Went To School for the McGuire Sisters.
23 May 1958

Alma Cogan should promote her B-side Comes Love and leave the others to fight it out with Stairway Of Love.
23 May 1958
Unheeded advice.

By selecting his own records on Record Week, Geraldo was either conceited, careless or clueless.
23 May 1958

Danny Purches has recorded The Shrine On The Second Floor for Columbia.
30 May 1958
Song from stage hit, Expresso Bongo

Glasgow Rock written for Lonnie Donegan’s performance at Scottish Royal Variety Show.
30 May 1958

The NDO with Alyn Ainsworth now undertaken 4,500 broadcasts.
30 May 1958

Frank Sinatra on night club performances has been making scathing remarks against Rudyard Kipling’s daughter for refusing his Road To Mandalay disc to be issued in Britain.
30 May 1958

Colonel Parker is a likely visitor to London this weekend; his last trip was with Tom Mix’s show 20 years ago.
30 May 1958
Surprise, surprise, he never made it.

The Platters were received at the Vatican by His Holiness Pope Pius XII.
30 May 1958

Bunny Lewis handling the Mudlarks.
6 June 1958

Billboard gives a rave review to Frankie Vaughan in Dangerous Youth (UK title, These Dangerous Years), which is out the same week as King Creole.
6 June 1958

Tab Hunter’s new single I’m A Runaway on London is from Gunman’s Walk.
6 June 1958

Although Bob Crosby was pleasing on Sunday Night At The London Palladium, too much material was angled at brother, Bing. When singing, Bob sounded like Ronnie Hilton.
6 June 1958

Jerry Lee Lewis’s new release – Fools Like Me!
13 June 1958

Rory Blackwell claims he is the answer to Elvis Presley: what was the question if he is the answer!
13 June 1958

When Jack Palance appeared on ATV’s Saturday Spectacular, nobody applauded him until David Whitfield introduced him.
13 June 1958

In Denmark, These Dangerous Years is called Frankie – Young Man In Uniform.
13 June 1958

Buddy Holly contributes a vocal to Alan Freed’s Rock Around The Block album on Coral.
13 June 1958
Two actually I’m Gonna Love You and Listen To Me.

In a Hull court, a lawyer said, “Apart from your honour and the Corporation, David Whitfield is Hull.”
13 June 1958

Little Bernadette unearthed by E R Lewis for Harry Belafonte.
13 June 1958

After Marion Keene’s contortions and distorted singing, the programme should have been called Sex Five Special. Russell Turner’s audience of debs increased the show’s sinking feeling, and surely Jim Dale will never make so many mistakes again.
20 June 1958

Dickie Valentine sings In My Life with his wife, Elizabeth.
20 June 1958

While Malcolm Vaughan was cutting a disc last Friday, his car was towed away by police.
20 June 1958

Judy No 27 in Variety, 42 in Cash Box for Frankie Vaughan
20 June 1958

In Ferriday Jerry Lee Lewis remarried Myra Davis on June 4.
20 June 1958
That’s Myra Gale Brown.

Playing eight weeks annually for three years in Las Vegas guarantees Pearl Bailey £240,000.
20 June 1958

When Bernard Bresslaw sang the one word lyric of Lollipop on Sunday Night At The London Palladium, Michael Medwin asked him why he suddenly stopped. He said, “I’ve forgotten the words.”
20 June 1958

Lonnie Donegan starring in the first ABC-TV series, Can Do
27 June 1958

Larry Page is marrying his fan club secretary, Ann Ward, at Caxton Hall on July 11.
27 June 1958

Jesse Presley 61 year old grandfather to Elvis Presley has been signed by a Kentucky record label – to wax the songs he remembers from his youth.
27 June 1958
He did make an album, The Roots Of Elvis Presley.

Petula Clark confirmed by the Bishop of Croydon.
27 June 1958

Jerry Lee Lewis opened and closed on the same night on his New York cabaret debut.
27 June 1958

Edna Savage and Terry Dene deserve each other.
4 July 1958

Jazz vocals from tennis star – Althea Gibson Sings.
4 July 1958

Pete Murray and Jo Douglas star in Dead On Nine at Chester.
4 July 1958

Hearing Billie Anthony sing from a car in Bournemouth to accompaniment of Eric Robinson from London was chaotic.
4 July 1958

As Terry Dene is to marry ex-telephonist Edna Savage, presumably her number will be engaged if Ronnie Carroll rings.
4 July 1958

In the People last Sunday, Neal Adren wrote that Perez Prado was a new name to him – not surprisingly
11 July 1958
There are numerous digs at Arden’s lack of knowledge and poor research.

Attemping a stage comeback, 83 year old Albert Whelan, whistling and singing.
11 July 1958

Ken Pitt has opened a coffee bar known as The Little Dump at Southall, Middlesex. Ken is UK manager for Billy Eckstine.
11 July 1958

Ernest Ponticelli one time piano accompanist to Donald Peers has written Toby’s Walk, latest Columbia release for pianist Russ Conway.
11 July 1958

Scottish Royal Show producer Dick Hurran has many song hits to his credit including Mary Lou.
11 July 1958

Only worthwhile singer in West End musical Expresso Bongo (Millicent Martin) has waxed two titles from the show with backing from Tony Osborne.
11 July 1958

Over a long period, disc sales now 100,000 for Frankie Laine’s Champion The Wonder Horse.
18 July 1958

Bernard Bresslaw and Anne Shelton sang a duet of Magic Moments in Bernard Delfont show from Prince of Wales on ATV
18 July 1958

Perry Como has maintained his membership of the Hairdressers’ Union.
18 July 1958

US cover of Tulips From Amsterdam by Richard Hayes on US Decca
18 July 1958

Any similarity in melody between current Connie Francis hit records cannot be accidental.
18 July 1958
Who’s Sorry Now and now I’m Sorry I Made You Cry

Mantovani - 50 weeks on US LP hit parade with Film Encores.
18 July 1958

Pet Clark’s Miracle is a great ballad and her best ever recording.
18 July 1958
Can’t trace this at all. Song is probably Make Me A Miracle but she didn’t record it.

Do DJs complain of spins and needles?
18 July 1958

Maurice Chevalier: “Music still sends me but not rock’n’roll.”
25 July 1958

Hardly surprising that Jackie Dennis’s contract has been terminated with Harold Fielding.
25 July 1958
Washed up at 16 – it’s a hard life.

Would Wee Willie Harris’ pink rinse stand up to an Omo washing test?
25 July 1958

Since MGM first issued Purple People Eater here, reverse side has been changed – now Recipe Of Love
25 July 1958

Daily Sketch reports that Mario Lanza did not pay bill for stay at Dorchester. Can he not reach the high notes so easily these days?
25 July 1958

The only fresh material for some comedians are their new suits.
25 July 1958

Once Elvis’s leading lady, the Las Vegas showgirl Dotty Harman spends her spare time with Tommy Sands these days.
1 August 1958

Doesn’t Shirley Bassey bear a striking resemblance to Teresa Brewer?
1 August 1958

Frankie Vaughan duet with Hetty King on Prince of Wales Theatre TV last Sunday.
1 August 1958

Oscar Davis, Jerry Lee Lewis’s manager, made a daring but unsuccessful attempt to secure dates with Liberace.
1 August 1958

Mitch Miller has recorded Rock A Bye In Beardland.
1 August 1958

Shirley Bassey backed by Eddie Calvert on Birth Of The Blues on Night Of 100 Stars.
1 August 1958

Eydie Gorme has now copied Max Bygraves’ Gotta Have Rain.
1 August 1958
She had previously recorded You Need Hands and taken Max’s song into the US Top 20.

After legal expenses, Liberace donates £14,000 from Confidential legal action to charity.
1 August 1958
Confidential had run a cover story on why his theme song should be Mad About The Boy but the feature relied upon a single, anonymous source.

Had Tommy Steele accepted Serious Charge as his next screen role, the director chosen was Leslie Norman of Shiralee and Dunkirk fame.
1 August 1958
Film critic Barry Norman’s father.

Will Little Richard’s next LP be called Big Dick?
1 August 1958
Yes, well…

Both sides of next disc by Johnnie Ray, Up Until Now/ No Regrets, composed by Otis Blackwell.
8 August 1958
Ray’s career was falling apart and the implication is that he was getting a rock’n’roll writer (All Shook Up, Great Balls Of Fire) to sort him out.

In one week after Tony Perkins left Look Homeward Angel, cast takings dropped £1,000.
8 August 1958

Marvin Rainwater has launched a Services To Songwriters firm, partnered by Ray Rainwater, his brother.
15 August 1958

Jerry Lee Lewis is not being considered for This Is Your Life!
15 August 1958

Vic Damone’s fee was £1,250 for telefilming an appearance with Mantovani’s Orchestra last Monday.
29 August 1958

A recent Top 20 208 programme was hardly the setting for Keith Fordyce to express his obvious dislike of Marty Wilde’s Endless Sleep.
29 August 1958

While Ted Heath televised on 6.5 Special last Saturday, Mrs Moira Heath took their two young sons to Fulham v Stoke.
29 August 1958

Carrie Music Co owned by Debbie Reynolds have their first song release here (Hillside In Scotland) in sheet music charts – thanks to Dick James’s concentrated exploitation.
29 August 1958

Rosemary Clooney’s It’s A Boy written by Paddy Roberts
29 August 1958

Unescorted, Lita Roza leaves for a holiday in Spain this weekend.
29 August 1958

Sammy Davis seeking divorce in Mexico from Loray White. Now linked with Kim Novak.
5 September 1958

Jayne Mansfield on Europe: “It’s so European.”
5 September 1958

Title song of Lita Roza’s Me On A Carousel written by Tony Osborne in 90 minutes.
5 September 1958

Offered to highest bidding disc company, Vince Eager’s No More/They Introduced Us; the auctioneer is Larry Parnes.
5 September 1958
No More came out on Parlophone, but B-side still unheard.

Norrie Paramor finally agreed that Eddie Calvert has potential as a vocalist.
5 September 1958

Barbara Windsor, a 6.5 Special discovery who often cross-talked with Jim Dale, now on Jack Jackson show.
5 September 1958

Lonnie Donegan’s golf greatly improved, partnered by Andy Gray (NME Editor)
5 September 1958

Lionel Bart very annoyed that he was not in NME’s Tribute To British Songwriters. On what grounds?
5 September 1958

Rosemary Clooney’s It’s A Boy is so like Lita Roza’s that it cannot be coincidental.
12 September 1958

Army duties prevent Elvis Presley starring in Hank Williams screen biography – Ferlin Husky and Johnny Cash being tested by MGM
12 September 1958

Diana Dors’ slick stage act created by Dickie Dawson; he is certainly versatile!
12 September 1958

Meredith Willson has told Sammy Davis he cannot include songs from The Music Man in his stage act.
12 September 1958

When Fontana’s Jack Baverstock received a demo from Bill Crompton, he signed him to wax the title, A Hoot And A Holler. It is now covered by Don Lang for HMV.
12 September 1958

Rex North in the Sunday Pic says that Yana is “cold”: he certainly doesn’t know!
12 September 1958
Wonderful!

After miming two songs on recent 6.5 Special, Malcolm Vaughan applauds himself after each number: why?
19 September 1958

Is Dickie Dawson receiving jokes in a postal tuition course from Alan King?
19 September 1958

As opposed to 7,000 fans on his first visit to Nashville, Jerry Lee Lewis attracted only 400 last week; local DJ Bill Massey said flop was caused by Jerry’s marriage to schoolgirl Myra Brown, from nearby Memphis.
19 September 1958

Before Frankie Vaughan’s film Wonderful Things opened at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre, Sabrina appeared there with her wonderful things.
19 September 1958

Elvis Presley’s singing in King Creole often sounded like Frankie Laine.
19 September 1958
Possibly Trouble and New Orleans.

Jack Good refused Bertice Reading permission to sing It’s A Boy on Oh Boy last Saturday – but Dudley Heslop (who replaced her) seemed an unsuitable choice.
19 September 1958
Dudley Heslop became Cuddly Dudley

June Wilkinson, a London model 43-22-36 who was a close friend of Charlie Gracie here last year is now filming in Hollywood. “Bundles from Britain” is what the producer Ray Stark calls her.
19 September 1958
How close? I’m going to enjoy my next interview with Charlie.

Was London’s storm caused by Russ Hamilton singing September In The Rain on the previous evening’s 6.5 Special?
19 September 1958

Before a recording session last Friday morning, Frankie Vaughan was fishing at Brighton until 3am – with his wife, and also Johnny Franz of Philips.
19 September 1958

Considering how few British singers have appeared on Perry Como’s show, it is surprising that he should select Jackie Dennis, who rarely secures a top programme here.
26 September 1958

Pianist Roger Williams has a dramatic screen role in The Build-Up Boys with Dana Andrews.
26 September 1958

It may not be hit parade material but Shirley Bassey’s next disc is her best ever.
26 September 1958
Probably As I Love You, which went to No 1

If Mario Lanza makes a film with Zsa Zsa Gabor, they will co-spar.
3 October 1958

NME Poll - Would Cliff Richard have triumphed in Favourite New Singer if voters had realised that Marty Wilde was under 21? Current hit discs influenced many votes – hence, Dickie Valentine dealt heavy blow
3 October 1958

Dean Martin likely to star in The Beach Boys with Kim Novak, no support needed.
3 October 1958

Johnny Cash likely for Juke Box Jamboree for Sam Katzman.
3 October 1958
This will be Juke Box rhythm, which didn’t have Cash but had Johnny Otis and the Treniers – and an acting role for Jack Jones.

Mad Passionate Love by Bernard Bresslaw could be Capitol’s biggest British success in US.
3 October 1958

After seeing him in AR-TV’s Late Extra, why is Jimmy Rushing so highly regarded by jazz fans?
3 October 1958

Asked to dub Jayne Mansfield’s singing voice in foreign languages for other European versions of The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw, Eve Boswell refused saying, “They don’t want an expensive voice for the expensive body.”
3 October 1958

Bad choice of material by Platters on Palladium TV show.
10 October 1958
And the Platters weren’t in the UK at the time…

Queens Park Rangers would like Chas McDevitt to play league games for them.
10 October 1958

Clint Ballard Jr has written Ginger Bread (Avalon) and Won’cha (Four Lads)
10 October 1958

Why are girls dancing together permitted on 6.5 Special; also why does producer Russell Turner admit demonstrative spectators.
10 October 1958
As you may have gathered, the Alley Cat was constantly making little digs at Russell Turner.

After hearing Peggy Lee’s great Fever, what must Oh Boy viewers have thought listening to Cherry Wainer’s mutilated version on Saturday?
10 October 1958

Surprising that Jack Good has still refused permission for Marty Wilde to sing his latest disc on Oh Boy. Decca employee Tony Hall made reference to one record company only (Decca) when introducing Lord Rockingham’s XI latest release – and by coincidence, Jack Good controls the group.
10 October 1958
Marty’s single is No One Knows, and nobody did.

When viewers were about to take 40 winks, Billy Raymond winked almost that many times on Cool For Cats last Friday.
10 October 1958

Originally Ray Anthony’s part in The Beat Generation was in the role of Mamie Van Doren’s husband; instead he plays her divorced husband.
10 October 1958
And in real life, they were married in 1955 and divorced in 1961. This is one of the few contemporary films about the world in which Jack Kerouac and the other beat writers lived.

American commitments forced Harry Belafonte to decline a Royal Variety Performance invitation.
17 October 1958

Tommy Steele’s favourite hobby is collecting cigarette lighters.
17 October 1958

Volare should be called Mussolini’s Revenge, says Dennis Crosby, DJ son of Bing.
17 October 1958

Charlie Drake demonstrated hula-hoop on BBC-TV.
17 October 1958

Jerry Lewis sang Return To Me on Eddie Fisher’s US TV show.
17 October 1958

“The cure for dandruff is baldness,” says Guy Mitchell.
17 October 1958

Has a craving for publicity influenced Larry Parnes to make unwise decisions on Marty Wilde’s behalf recently?
17 October 1958
Marty had been dropped from Oh Boy but was there more?

Jack Good planning dance routine for Cherry Wainer.
17 October 1958
The world is still waiting.

After announcing his NME Poll victory, Jim Dale’s introduction of Pete Murray was cheered by Saturday’s 6.5 Special audience. Sportingly, Pete acknowledged Jack Jackson’s equal victory – and Derek Johnson was representing us on a discussion panel.
17 October 1958

23 year old Gerry Dorsey (6 ft 2 in, singer from Leicester) is tested by Columbia’s Norrie Paramor this week: another discovery of Hymie Zahl, he is supposedly related to the late Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
17 October 1958
“Supposedly” is a big word. Gerry became Engelbert Humperdinck.

Well respected in Northern musical circles, Patrick McManus died at Birkenhead last Saturday: featured Joe Loss vocalist Ross McManus is his son.
17 October 1958
And we all know who his grandson is.

On November 17, Harry Robisnon is to marry heiress Miss Ziki Arnot.
17 October 1958

In his fast new MG sports racing car, Marty Wilde should take precautions to avoid endless sleep.
17 October 1958

The long awaited second marriage of Julie London is delayed – by a cooling-off session in her engagement to pianist-composer Bobby Troup.
17 October 1958

Fantastic box office figures enjoyed by Lonnie Donegan at Liverpool Empire last week.
17 October 1958
As there had been a similar comment in June 1957, the Liverpool Empire’s publicity machine was working well.

Lionel Bart has privately waxed songs from his Oliver Twist musical with a pianist, his own secretary and Valerie Shane.
17 October 1958

After Jack Good had extensively rehearsed the latest Marty Wilde disc title for Oh Boy, this opportunity was missed when Larry Parnes broke Marty’s contract by withdrawing him.
17 October 1958
Good had relented on No One Knows.

While on holiday in France, Frankie Vaughan kept his promise – making return flight to appear free in Albert Whelan’s benefit concert in London.
24 October 1958

Although three companies have offered Roy Castle recording contracts, the Grades have other plans for this bright future star.
24 October 1958

Sammy Davis spending time with striptease dancer Candy Barr.
24 October 1958
She was earning $2,000 a week as a stripper in Las Vegas: her story in Texas Monthly (September 2001) has been posted on the web.

Oh Boy’s Jack Good greeted by jeers when he said Cliff Richard couldn’t appear on Saturday: Terry Dene deputised.
24 October 1958

Liberace has not been on speaking terms with his mother or brother George for a year.
24 October 1958
Was this over the court case?

Norrie Paramor recorded a Jet Flight album to coincide with the first Atlantic jet service this month – but Columbia slipped up and used a picture of a Boeing, instead of a Comet, on the cover.
31 October 1958

Did nerves cause Michael Holliday to cancel Prince Of Wales starring date?
31 October 1958

Having penned songs since age of 12, Steve Allen admits output is ahead of demand.
31 October 1958

Bob Hope on Elvis Presley: “He’s a guy who has lost his hula-hoop but hasn’t found out about it yet.”
7 November 1958

Joe Henderson’s speciality in the new Radio Luxembourg show, The Bristol Club, is to play a Top 20 tune backwards.
7 November 1958

Recent ABC-TV Oh Boy show confirmed Cliff Richard is destined for the highest peak of teenage adoration.
7 November 1958

Terry Dene makes an appearance at a south London record shop next Monday with two Pearly Queens to promote Pretty Little Pearly.
7 November 1958

When Marty Wilde entertained Brentford Old Contemptibes, he chose to sing You Are My Sunshine.
7 November 1958

When interviewing Sabrina on ABC-TV’s After Hours on Sunday, Michael Bentine wore dark glasses.
14 November 1958

Cliff Richard took his Drifters to give a concert at his old school in Cheshunt after a recent Oh Boy show.
14 November 1958

Alma Cogan gets plenty of laughs by cracking this gag: “When fire broke out at an Arthur Murray dance studio, the students shouted, Help, help, cha-cha-cha.”
14 November 1958

On Music To Be Murdered By – Side Two, Alfred Hitchcock says, “You have just put your needle into what is commonly known as my flip-side and I shan’t be able to sit down for a week.”
14 November 1958

Princess Margaret ordered a copy of Rikki Fulton’s Tom Dooley from Fontana.
14 November 1958

The Secret (Gordon MacRae) written by Joe Lubin. Cover from Otis Williams on Parlophone.
21 November 1958

US B-side of Raymond Lefevre’s Top 20 hit Day The Rains Came is Butterfingers.
21 November 1958

Charlie Drake’s Goggle Eye Ghee, written by Max Bygraves
21 November 1958

Before any dots were added to Sunday night’s outline picture of Fred Astaire in ATV’s Dotto, he was recognised by NME MD Maurice Kinn.
21 November 1958

Some running wild in final Oh Boy, Red Price played trumpet and trombone and Harry Robinson proved his ability on bagpipes; hoots mon!
21 November 1958

Rory Blackwell has decided to name a new discovery Terry Lee Lewis.
21 November 1958
And Terry Lee Lewis became Mark Wynter.

Instead of posting in Germany, Steve Lawrence remains in America as vocalist with US Army Orchestra; accordingly his wife Eydie Gorme continues her career instead of joining him in Europe.
28 November 1958

Reports suggest that Buddy Holly is launching a solo career, breaking from his manager Norman Petty; he is hardly likely to miss the singing of the Crickets – a unique vocal group – who never open their mouths.
28 November 1958

Jerry Lee Lewis has penned an article regarding his wife in a Hollywood magazine – “Only 13, But All Woman!”
28 November 1958

A surprising twosome dining together – Cliff Richard and Cherry Wainer.
28 November 1958
I was only 13 but I always found her a bit scary and would have been surprised if she dated anyone.

Cliff Adams wrote I T A L Y (I Trust And Love You) (Anne Shelton) and Snowy The Christmas Kitten (Ken Platt) with Howard Barnes under pseudonym.
5 December 1958

Arsenal did so badly at Blackpool that Lord Rockinham’s XI would have done better.
5 December 1958

Ecstatic enthusiasm for Benny Hill’s Oh Boy take-off on his ABC-TV show last Saturday; when impersonating Cherry Wainer many viewers thought she was appearing personally. On rival network, Billy Cotton’s encounter with guest Lonnie Donegan almost produced clash of temperamental fireworks but Bill paid him some very nice compliments.
5 December 1958
If some thought that Benny Hill as Cherry Wainer was Cherry Wainer, then it bears out what I was saying about her being a bit spooky.

Having played Tom Dooley 300 times, DJ Dennis Day is convinced that he is innocent.
5 December 1958

A pianist watched striptease dancer Candy Barr and complained about the acoustics.
5 December 1958

Illness prevented Anne Shelton appearance at TV producers ball, but deputy Joan Regan included an impersonation of Anne – besides Ruby Murray and Vera Lynn; perfect mimicry with natural style voice.
12 December 1958

Tommy Lennon (real name of Glen Mason) wrote Cha Cha Rock, Jack Parnell B-side.
12 December 1958

Cash Box says that Tommy Steele’s phrasing in Hey You is like Elvis Presley’s.
19 December 1958

Last week’s criticism of Cliff Richard’s Oh Boy performance by the Alley Cat gained results; on Saturday, Jack Good obviously toned down his antics.
19 December 1958
A bad result, surely.

Although 10 years ago, Jo Shelton waxed for Decca with Cyril Stapleton’s Orchestra, only now has this younger sister of Anne Shelton decided on a show business career.
19 December 1958

Mike Preston – A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring, No 57 in Cash Box
Edmundo Ros – I Talk To The Trees Ch Cha No 86
19 December 1958

Note the name Gerry Dorsey; his advance Decca pressing of Mr Music Man leaves Roy Castle’s far behind.
19 December 1958

Is Tito Burns a surprising choice as Cliff Richard’s new manager (in place of Franklyn Boyd), considering Tito represents Cherry Wainer?
19 December 1958

This column deplored Lawrence Parnes’ action when he withdrew Marty Wilde from Oh Boy but his apology to Jack Good (admitting the mistake) deserves praise.
19 December 1958

Col Parker has bought the screen rights of Pat Boone’s book Twixt 12 And 20 – to be filmed by Elvis Presley following his army service.
26 December 1958

An idea being considered by Norrie Paramor – the complete stage performance of Cliff Richard for an LP.
26 December 1958

Saturday’s BBC-TV 6.5 Special included Russell Turner’s surprise guest – a violent shock by a con-“fused” Frankie Howerd; all his batteries were flat, made worse for Tony Osborne’s band by a punctured voice.
26 December 1958

Ronnie Hilton deserves better luck. Last year Perry Como captured all his Magic Moments, followed by Robert Earl’s success at his expense, then Vic Damone crowded him out until finally Jane Morgan lowered his temperature.
2 January 1959
Then he should do some original songs!

If a quiz master asked your Alley Cat who penned British lyrics of More Than Ever, Norman Newell would be the reply.
2 January 1959

While composing It’s Only Make Believe, Conway Twitty had All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings on his brain.
2 January 1959

Somewhat gloomy Perry Como Christmas Show
2 January 1959

Gus Goodwin now introduces Tuesday’s Records From America, while Gerry Wilmot presents 208’s Record Hop on Friday.
2 January 1959

Fantastic reaction to Benny Hill’s shattering impressions on Saturday’s ATV Show especially Kent Walton and Cool For Cats; highlight was his Alma Cogan take-off – enhanced by miming her singing which Janie Marden impersonated with realism.
2 January 1959

At a recent film party, Sammy Cahn wrote this line into a parody, which produced Frank Capra vocalised:
“My choice would be Frank Sinatra for any script I own,
But only if it’s impossible to get in touch with Vic Damone.”
2 January 1959

Heard in cabaret:
“Tommy Trinder’s the name”.
Orson Welles shouted from his table, “Why don’t you change it?”
“Are you proposing?” snapped Tommy.
2 January 1959

A plain Christmas card (with explanation that business had not been good) was Tommy Steele’s feeble effort.
2 January 1959

Red River Rose (Ames Bros) tipped for US hit parade and composed by Johnny Johnston. Dickie Valentine’s original issued several months ago in US.
9 January 1959

The British tour by Michell Torok was arranged by Phil Raymond, now personal manager of Bridie Gallagher.
9 January 1959

If Christmas cards were sent by Cliff Richard and Jack Good to yours truly, they got lost in the post.
9 January 1959

If Brunswick release revival of Smiles by Red Foley here, the more recent Max Bygraves’ You Need Hands will sound familiar.
9 January 1959

Shan Palmer of the Kaye Sisters is now wearing Mervyn Conn’s engagement ring.
9 January 1959

Max Bygraves not only composed, published and waxed My Ukelele, but Shirley Bassey’s Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me is owned by his music firm.
9 January 1959

ITV’s Spot The Tune was saved by Marion Ryan last week; viewers could spot the goon when a contestant failed to recognise Jackie Rae’s singing voice.
16 January 1959

Hoots Mon sold over 600,000 and Hands/Tulips 750,000 in the UK.
16 January 1959

Cliff Richard is a non-smoker.
23 January 1959

Why were viewers subjected to Beatrice Lillee’s solo performance during Florence Desmond’s This Is Your Life?
23 January 1959

Praise to considerate Jack Good – for belated Christmas card.
23 January 1959

Infanticipating – Don Everly and his wife.
23 January 1959

Johnnie Ray recorded Bob Merrill’s When’s Your Birthday Baby.
30 January 1959

Bobby Charlton proved a pop music expert on Double Your Money
30 January 1959

High school confidential - did Jerry Lee Lewis make the Leslie Grade?
30 January 1959

Jimmie Rodgers on US This Is Your Life.
30 January 1959

Joe E Lewis – My first record sold 30 copies, my next 2. What can you do – one hits, one misses.
30 January 1959

The Everlys would have played Sunday Night At The London Palladium but the Mudlarks’ appearance made it impossible.
6 February 1959
Gracie Fields was the highly suitable replacement.

Could Harry Robinson be thinking of severing connections with Lord Rockingham’s XI?
6 February 1959

Surprisingly at Oh Boy Hammersmith stage show, Vince Taylor was wildly cheered.
6 February 1959

Sales exceed 200,000 for Pat Boone’s first book.
6 February 1959

Lonnie Donegan’s new house in Woodford cost £15,000.
6 February 1959

Col Parker says Elvis will earn $800,000 from Jailhouse Rock
13 February 1959
Is this before or after his cut?

Frankie Vaughan will refuse any attempt to be featured on This Is Your Life.
13 February 1959

When Paul Anka read last week’s NME, he first learned of Buddy Holly’s death, a great personal shock.
13 February 1959
Was news travelling so slowly then? Surely not.

An expensive luxury: bringing Buddy Greco over for Palladium show. Della Reese also had affected English diction. It was the same as Al Hibbler and both are managed by Lou Magid.
13 February 1959

Rock hits rock bottom – Little Richard’s By The Light Of The Silvery Moon.
20 February 1959

Imagine the House of Lords considering Harry Robinson’s claim to be Lord Rockingham.
20 February 1959
There was a court case over whether arranger Harry Robinson or producer Jack Good was Lord Rockingham. In the end, the decision was settled out of court: great Alley Cat joke.

Lloyd Price once had Larry Williams in his band.
20 Feburary 1959

If bookings for Conway Twitty not received, his managed Don Seat plans to promote concerts himself.
20 February 1959

Tommy Sands dissatisfied with 20th Century Fox film contract.
20 February 1959
Which he had been given in public on TV (see entry for 19 April 1957.)

An amazing shock – Elvis Presley dethroned by Shirley Bassey.
20 February 1959

Originally waxed by King Bros, Father Time now recorded by Ponitails.
20 February 1959

Jack Good says Alma Cogan included in Oh Boy because Shirley Bassey refused to sing a duet with Marty Wilde.
20 February 1959

Buddy Holly died one day before a writ issued by Norman Petty claiming Buddy could not use the name the Crickets for his new group.
20 February 1959

Andy Williams’ Hawaiian Wedding Song approaching 1m in US. Norman Murrells and Bill Crompton share £4,000 for writing B-side House Of Bamboo.
20 February 1959

Ian Samwell wrote One Little Thing for the Bachelors on Parlophone.
27 February 1959

Peter Lawford has written the song, Thin Man’s Woman.
27 February 1959

Polka Dots always polished on Dig This.
27 February 1959

Otto Harbach who wrote Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is 86. His son gave him a gold disc.
6 March 1959

Although Val Guest was seeking Peter Sellers for Expresso Bongo film, the script was unsuitable.
6 March 1959

New Vernons Girl for Marty Wilde – first was Sibby Raine.
6 March 1959

Since Cliff Richard received Sounds Unlimited by the Louvin Bros as gift from NME, they have become his favourites.
6 March 1959
The Louvins didn’t make an album called Sounds Unlimited.

Tommy Steele’s Hiawatha competes with Buddy McCoy RCA waxing.
6 March 1959

Next Tommy Steele film is in colour.
13 March 1959
Oh, wow!

Mistakes and Cruising Down The River deleted from Connie Francis album of British songs.
13 March 1959
Don’t think that the album ever appeared.

Ruby Murray and husband Bernie Burgess to open The Softly Softly Shop for selling baby linen.
20 March 1959

The Poni-Tails Early To Bed is too much like When to be coincidental.
27 March 1959

With an Al Hoffman and Dick Manning score, Mr Parliament starring Arthur Askey, has been postponed until autumn.
27 March 1959
Never staged

Too many tongue-in-cheek remarks from Kent Walton in Cool For Cats.
27 March 1959

Frankie Vaughan made a return appearance on What’s My Line on Sunday – he last appeared in the show in 1956.
27 March 1959

Wait For It, Lorrae Desmond, penned by her manager, Bunny Lewis.
27 March 1959

Marty Wilde on film roles: “I want to talk clearly, not posh.”
27 March 1959

Nat Cohen behind Roy Hicks, Tommy’s brother, becoming apprentice jockey.
3 April 1959

Little Richard returns on an American gospel label.
3 April 1959

Once heard as the backing on Jerry Lee Lewis discs, Jimmie and the Nighthoppers have their own record on London - Night Hop.
3 April 1959
Which JLL discs did they play on, and did Sam Phillips know about it?

Ricky Nelson has five secretaries to answer his fan mail
3 April 1959

In an American magazine, Elvis Presley nominated Dorothy Squires as his favourite female singer.
10 April 1959
Raises the question as to whom he had heard.

Vince Eager crowns local tulip queen in ancient ceremony at Spalding, Lincs next week.
10 April 1959
Hitting the big time!

On Monday, Garry Mills stars in a religious service at Soho’s 2-Is coffee-bar.
10 April 1959
No doubt looking for a star.

Hit composer of I Got Stung and Start Movin’, David Hill wins his own disc contract with the US Kapp label.
10 April 1959

Time Flies for the Mudlarks, written by Ian Samwell.
10 April 1959

John Raitt is reputed to have played leads in more Broadway musicals than any other singer.
10 April 1959

Latest addition to the exotic Wee Willie Harris wardrobe – a leopard skin loincloth.
10 April 1959

Jack Good threatens strong action against members of Oh Boy cast who reveal details of material to be used on the show. Even so, the Alley Cat wagers that Tommy Steele will do Hiawatha this Saturday.
10 April 1959

Cliff Richard made an impressive start on his first long variety tour at Coventry this week.
10 April 1959

Pye have now dropped the Nixa name from their releases.
10 April 1959

The Alley Cat wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the mysterious Sharkey Todd on Parlophone’s horror disc was Wally Whyton.
10 April 1959

On Drumbeat, Roy Young played the piano standing up while Russ Conway played side saddle.
10 April 1959

Jackie Dennis, 16, told reporters he is getting engaged to Pearl Liddell one of the Liddell Triplets who were on the Aberdeen Tivoli bill with him last week. Pearl, four years older than Jackie, stayed awake all night when the singer was kidnapped in a students’ rag.
17 April 1959

Joy Beverley’s nine year old son by her previous marriage has changed his name by deed poll to Vincent Beverley Wright.
17 April 1959

Ray Orchard has made a cardboard record publicising his activities.
17 April 1959

A request for a Cliff Richard disc on Saturday Club was signed by 981 pupils of two Stevenage schools last week.
17 April 1959

ABC-TV have dropped their plan to present a stage version of Oh Boy in Manchester when the television series ends.
17 April 1959

Frankie Vaughan has recorded Venus for release in France.
17 April 1959

Signatures in the visitors’ book at Mozart’s house in Salzburg, Austria include Elvis Presley’s.
24 April 1959
Elvis never visited Austria. Obviously a fake.

Johnnie Ray escorting entertainer Jean Kean in New York
24 April 1959

Russ Conway chose the title Side Saddle when he saw the Queen in a newsreel of the Trooping of the Colour.
24 April 1959

Taking Tommy Steele’s place in the TV Stars football team, Bernard Bresslaw.
24 April 1959

Bix Reichner wrote both I Need Your Love Tonight and Papa Loves Mambo.
24 April 1959

To reduce risks of parking charges, Petula Clark is having her bright pink car resprayed.
24 April 1959

David Lane made his first appearance with the Mudlarks on The Jack Jackson Show this week.
24 April 1959

Belfast students planned to kidnap Ruby Murray last week – but rang up to ask permission first.
1 May 1959

Dickie Pride studied singing and piano for four years at the Royal School of Church Music before becoming a rock’n’roller.
1 May 1959

Edna Savage didn’t travel to Derby on Sunday to see husband Terry Dene make his stage comeback.
1 May 1959
Spending the day with Ronnie Carroll?

Tommy Steele came back from Riviera holiday on Sunday wearing a mackintosh with a velvet collar.
1 May 1959
So don’t go out into the rain.

Quote of the week from BBC Drumbeat producer Stewart Morris, “Oh Boy is copying us”
1 May 1959

Some months ago, a film company commissioned Alan Freeman to supervise recordings by new actor/singer but didn’t release them. They were by Anthony Newley.
8 May 1959

Biggest press build-up since Elvis for Fabian in US
8 May 1959

Gordon MacRae to cut Palace Of Love, previously recorded by Michael Holliday.
8 May 1959

Who chose new Terry Dene title, There’s No Fool Like A Young Fool?
8 May 1959

Entering the NME sellers with two debut discs last week proved a world record for Anthony Newley.
15 May 1959

If imitation is any criterion, Jack Good was flattered by BBC-TV’s Drumbeat show, but despite Cliff Richard not reaching his Oh Boy standard, the superb Sheila Buxton performance ranks her Top Rank’s top capture by manager Dick Rowe.
15 May 1959

“I’m a Method actor. I’ve had no training.” (Cliff Richard)
15 May 1959

Insisting on train journeys, Louis Prima never travels to a date with wife Keely Smith – a keen plane passenger.
15 May 1959

For cutting a rug, Marty Wilde’s hair is the ideal site.
15 May 1959
Even 50 years ago, Marty was considering a toupée!

Sal Mineo bought Mary Pickford’s Long Island home for £70,000.
15 May 1959

Plenty of bull for Tommy The Toreador
15 May 1959

Once a shocking pink, Wee Willie Harris’ hair is now a horrible red.
15 May 1959

Only Love Me (Kay Starr) is vocal version of Eddie Calvert’s Angelina, written by Eddie.
22 May 1959

A long term deal for Marty Wilde to be presented in variety by Lew and Leslie Grade has been discussed with his manager, Larry Parnes.
22 May 1959

Recent Oh Boy scriptwriter Trevor Peacock competed Drumbeat, replacing Gus Goodwin successfully.
22 May 1959

Rex Harrison’s disc royalties on My Fair Lady so far £75,000.
22 May 1959

Before performing Tijuana Jail on the Roy Rogers Show, the Kingston Trio were ordered to clean up the lyrics.
22 May 1959

Poor Little Fool caused Neil O’Malley’s court action against Sharon Sheeley, claiming £33,000 royalties.
22 May 1959
According to P J Proby, the case was dropped after the Burnette brothers threatened him.

Debut this month of Pat Boone’s racehorse, April Love
29 May 1959

Down By The Riverside is just where Paul Anka should have left his BBC-TV Drumbeat contribution.
29 May 1959

Although persuaded by Pye’s Michael Barclay to wax A Teenager In Love, displeasure was evident when Dickie Valentine ignored it on Sunday’s major ATV show.
29 May 1959
Dickie, aged 29, was keen on recording the song in the first place.

Six weeks ago, Billy Fury’s group dyed their hair white: waiting for the results could turn it grey.
29 May 1959

David Jacobs on Juke Box Jury introduced Jo Shelton’s record as her first.
5 June 1959

More than any other artist, Bo Diddley’s records are bought by the Everly Brothers.
5 June 1959

Once Elvis Presley’s girlfriend, noted American striptease artist Tempest Storm has married singer Herb Jeffries.
5 June 1959
Who recorded The Devil Is A Woman.

Seated in the front row of Drumbeat audience on Saturday, Jack Good.
12 June 1959

Hugo Alfven who wrote Swedish Rhapsody was married last week at 87.
12 June 1959
He died within a year, perhaps from a little too much Swedish rhapsody.

In BBC TV Juke Box Jury audience, Tony Osborne heard his latest disc pronounced by David Jacobs as an unlikely hit.
12 June 1959

Bobby Darin plays guitar, piano, bass, drums and vibes.
12 June 1959

New Juke Box Jury signature tune waxed by Ossie Warlock and the Wizards; this nom de plume conceals Tony Osborne’s identity.
12 June 1959

On hearing Roulette was No.1 Russ Conway said, “I must buy presents for Bert Weedon, Joe Muddel (sic) and other boys who played on the session.”
19 June 1959

Headliner Liberace seemed uncertain on Sunday Night At The London Palladium, particularly in his duet with Janet Medlin.
19 June 1959

Tommy Dee has recorded The Chair about a murderer sentenced to death.
19 June 1959

Although Gary Miller, Pete Murray, Alma Cogan and Mandy Miller all voted “no hit” (Juke Box Jury), for Paul Anka’s Lonely Boy, this columnist strongly disagrees; also Freddy Cannon’s Tallahassee Lassie could make them eat their words.
19 June 1959

Don’t Forget by Hughie Green, written by Max Bygraves
19 June 1959

Don’t say Brown, say Johnny Hovis, name of new Capitol singer.
19 June 1959

Alma Cogan’s favourite composers are Al Hoffman and Dick Manning.
26 June 1959

London’s happiest man is Benny Hill as his neighbours are several Vernons Girls.
26 June 1959

Juke Box Jury exposure made Peter Gunn a whirlwind hit.
26 June 1959

Teddy Bears’ Seven Lonely Days is 1953 Gisele Mackenzie hit.
26 June 1959

An infringement of Boosey and Hawkes’ Estralita copyright caused withdrawal of McGuire Sisters’ US hit Summer Dreams here.
26 June 1959

Pye vocal team, Jean-ettes replace Three Barry Sisters in Drumbeat.
26 June 1959

Because Frankie Avalon is visually so similar to a teenage Frank Sinatra, a father and son film is planned by producer Aaron Spelling.
26 June 1959

When naming the man she hoped to marry, did Marion Ryan consider his wife and child?
26 June 1959

Michael Julian wrote Kiss Me Honey (Bassey) and I Don’t Know (Glen Mason)
26 June 1959

Matt Monro sings Camay soap commercial.
26 June 1959

“The most talented newcomer in the rock jungle is Bobby Darin.” (Sammy Davis)
26 June 1959

Can Drumbeat be as enjoyable for Marty Wilde as Oh Boy?
26 June 1959

For A Penny is probably Pat Boone’s best, yet least successful, disc.
3 July 1959

Moira and Ted Heath making their 27th visit to Ascot.
3 July 1959

Leiber and Stoller penned I Can’t Hear A Word You Say.
3 July 1959

100 Strings And Joni, produced by Norman Newell in UK
3 July 1959

Ruby Murray could have kissed Jimmy goodbye without Dick James’ intensive exploitation
3 July 1959

JBJ panellist Susan Stranks suffered death of father – Alan Stranks wrote No Orchids For A Blue Lady
10 July 1959

Top Rank just issued Terri Dean’s disc here.
10 July 1959

Jewish or Christian Scientist – Tommy Sands is undecided.
10 July 1959

Posters for Lonnie Donegan’s latest surround Charing Cross Station.
10 July 1959

His great success with Living Doll proves Cliff Richard’s talent is not confined to rock titles only: Lionel Bart deserves praise for this tune – which no doubt Tommy Steele would have welcomed.
17 July 1959

Producer Russell Turner gave Juke Box Jury panel a big problem – Elvis Presley’s latest disc.
17 July 1959

When he appears in Las Vegas, Johnny Mathis is rationed to £3 10s nightly – by manager Helen Noga – for playing slot-machines.
17 July 1959

Decca summoned Tommy Steele for a rush session his week to wax Freddy Cannon’s Tallahassee Lassie which has not entered charts here.
24 July 1959

Ricky Nelson lost over £100 playing gin rummy with Molly Bee in Honolulu.
24 July 1959

Pet Clark on Juke Box Jury discussed Joe Henderson’s cover version more than recording by Hugo and Luigi which was played.
24 July 1959

Refusing British screen role Jayne Mansfield suspended by 20th Century Fox.
24 July 1959

At Tommy Yeardye’s Paint Box restaurant, Lita Roza’s sketches of nudes are displayed, besides Anthony Newley’s drawings.
24 July 1959
Doesn’t say where restaurant is.

Roy Young dropped by Stewart Morris on Drumbeat.
24 July 1959

Only Elvis Presley is like to prevent Cliff Richard’s first No.l.
24 July 1959

Aimed at exposing the situation here, Paul Anka has been paged to film Teddyboys – costarring Frankie Avalon in a Hollywood production.
31 July 1959

His mother considers David Whitfield’s younger brother is a better singer – Gordon Whitfield
31 July 1959

When court hears Barbara Lyon’s divorce application, would Russell Turner like Juke Box Jury verdict?
31 July 1959

Suspension lifted, presumably Jayne Mansfield gets double figures for British film.
31 July 1959

Requests were so great that Johnny Franz decided to include All American Boy in Marty Wilde’s first Philips LP?
31 July 1959

His billing reads: Bob Harvell, original imitator of Nat King Cole
31 July 1959

Requests for Cliff Richard’s Living Doll to Saturday Club far exceeded Elvis Presley’s Big Hunk O’Love.
31 July 1959

Top Rank manager Dick Rowe forecasts a brilliant future for Tony Hatch, his young assistant.
31 July 1959

Striving to find Ritchie Valens’ successor, Del-Fi label owner Bob Keene predicts answer is DJ Don Redfield’s discovery – 18 year old Chan Romero.
31 July 1959

Rank Records send boxed with Only 16 cigarettes to exploit Craig Douglas’s latest disc – a puff for a puff?
31 July 1959

Why was Vince Taylor asked to resign from Elvis Presley’s British fan club?
14 August 1959
Go on - tell us!

Johnny Mathis criticised for distasteful Let’s Do It
14 August 1959

Pete Murray: Alimony is the high cost of leaving.
14 August 1959

Marty Wilde probable compère on new Oh Boy series
14 August 1959

Harry James has waxed The No 1 Hit by Wingy Malone.
14 August 1959

David Hill recorded Living Doll for Kapp.
14 August 1959

Names on new US discs – Rocky Storm, Tonto Schwartz, the Gay Poppers, Ira Ironstrings and Mickey Mozart
21 August 1959

Judy Garland offered £35,000 to film Gaiety Girl in London.
21 August 1959

Wally Ridley should release Ronnie Hilton’s Bless This House as a single.
21 August 1959

An offer of £35,000 from Ed Sullivan turned down for filmed TV appearance by Elvis Presley from Germany.
28 August 1959

New Capitol artist, Larry Hovis.
28 August 1959

When Richard Lyon turned up with his mother, Bebe Daniels for Connie Francis’s reception, imagine their surprise at meeting Russell Turner – for the first time since Barbara Lyon’s divorce announcement.
28 August 1959

Doesn’t JBJ producer Russell Turner realise that inconsequential chatter spoils the programme. David Jacobs interviewed Craig Douglas this week, both managed by Bunny Lewis.
28 August 1959

Debbie Reynolds on panel when Eamonn Andrews was guest chairman for US What’s My Line
28 August 1959

Forecast a hit by 208 DJS and JBJ, Jimmie Rodgers Ring A Ling A Lario.
28 August 1959

Dickie Dawson on JBJ – Leslie Uggams sounds like Laurie London on stilts.
28 August 1959

If You Come Back To Me, written by Jim Dale, recorded by Newley
4 September 1959

Secret Christmas LP by Sinatra includes Nancy, Tina and Frank Jr
4 September 1959

US TV series Martin Fury
4 September 1959

Vulgar outburst by Dickie Dawson on hearing the Chordettes on JBJ
4 September 1959

Mike Pratt owns silk screen printing firm.
4 September 1959

Dean Martin regularly receives letters from AA
11 September 1959

Russell Turner has presented both Ivo Robic and Leslie Uggams with One More Sunrise on JBJ. What about Dickie Valentine?
11 September 1959

Was Only 16 modelled on She Was Only 17?
11 September 1959

Five chart entries for Donegan this year.
11 September 1959

Recent JBJ panellist Judy Carne is a girlfriend of Glen Mason.
11 September 1959

Had Norrie Paramor returned from holiday earlier, Cliff would have recorded Here Comes Summer.
11 September 1959

Plenty Good Lovin’ sold 145,000 in first week.
11 September 1959

Dudley Heslop was an unknown bongo player but now Cuddly Dudley.
11 September 1959

Teddy Beverley linked with British water ski champion, Peter Felix.
11 September 1959

Disc duet of Murray and Jacobs fallen through
11 September 1959

Fabian secured Hound Dog Man as Ricky Nelson wanted four times more.
11 September 1959

Pat Boone has broken his toe.
11 September 1959

Why is Pet Clark’s vocal style so ultra-American?
11 September 1959

ATV made £300,000 loan to Pye Records.
11 September 1959

Stan Stennett pilots own plane between stage dates.
11 September 1959

Would Dean Martin like Fabian for a son in law? He is dating his daughter, Claudia, in Hollywood?
11 September 1959

Both Doris Day and Rock Hudson have recorded Pillow Talk.
18 September 1959

Dorothy Dandridge’s voice dubbed by Adele Addison in Porgy And Bess.
18 September 1959

Flipside of Craig’s Only 16 highly recommended.
18 September 1959

Gary Miller, Pete Murray, Alma Cogan and Mandy Miller all voted Lonely Boy a Miss on JBJ. Also Tallahassesse Lassie (Freddie Cannon) voted a miss.
18 September 1959

Radio Luxembourg’s greatest response – an offer of Pat Boone’s photograph brought 27,000 applications.
25 September 1959

A fan club has been formed by Tommy Steele for blind members.
25 September 1959
Sorry, Tommy, but the joke's there for the taking. Was there also a fan club for deaf members?

BBC refused Tommy Steele permission for a Juke Box Jury skit with David Jacobs in his ATV show last Saturday: Macdonald Hobley deputised.
25 September 1959

Cliff Richard playing guitar again.
25 September 1959

Larry Parnes should be interested in the names of Crash Craddock and Sammy Salvo.
25 September 1959

Will we get National Health prescriptions when Dr Crock joins panel on Juke Box Jury?
25 September 1959

Cliff No 80 with Living Doll – in at last.
2 October 1959

Despite Marty Wilde’s improvement, while he dominates Boy Meets Girls, the series is in danger.
2 October 1959

Dickie Dawson will regret forecasting no more hits for Johnnie Ray on Juke Box Jury.
2 October 1959

Why is almost every Tommy Steele venture tagged with “his highest ever fee”?
2 October 1959

In error, Lonnie Donegan waxed Sal’s Got A Sugar Lip instead of Johnny Horton’s flipside, Johnny Reb.
2 October 1959

Wearing sideburns in Can Can, Sinatra told by Mitzi Gaynor, “You look perfect to play Elvis Presley.”
9October 1959

The Cheltenham motor dealer Bob Walker sold Marty Wilde a Vauxhall Cresta.
9 October 1959

Russ Conway grew a beard in hospital.
9 October 1959

9 million viewers for Juke Box Jury.
9 October 1959

Pet Clark asked David Jacobs to vote instead of her when Joe Henderson record played in Juke Box Jury.
9 October 1959

Anthony Newley plays a psychiatrist in In The Nick. He says that he has been couched for the part.
9 October 1959

Angels In The Rain by the Four Coins, written by Neil Sedaka
16 October 1959

Under Peter Elliott’s expert guidance, Cliff Richard is a keen horserider.
16 October 1959

7,000 threatening letters received by Eddie Fisher after he married Elizabeth Taylor.
16 October 1959

Malcolm Vaughan refused Southport pantomime.
16 October 1959

Jim Dale composed one side of Anthony Newley’s current success.
16 October 1959
Song is It’s All Over, B-side of Someone To Love

Marty Wilde likeliest hope of deposing Bobby Darin unless Cliff gets there first.
16 October 1959
And Marty never made No. 1.

Wearing western clothes, Bedford mock hold-up by Billy Fury and Dickie Pride was election day publicity stunt.
16 October 1959

Neil Sedaka’s own version of Stupid Cupid a best seller in Italy.
23 October 1959

£80 damage to Vince Eager’s new car – within a week of Larry Parnes making expensive gift.
23 October 1959

Continued progress by Marty Wilde in Boy Meets Girls – nice treatment of Plenty Good Lovin’, and also Mack The Knife in sharp suit.
23 October 1959

Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus in UK
30 October 1959

Anthony Newley recording cover version of Heartaches By The Number
30 October 1959
Session cancelled – 6 November 1959

Hilarious Lita Roza laughter since Daily Sketch named actor Alfred Marrion a romantic suitor
30 October 1959

Criticism of Jerry Lewis’s Jazz Singer as Jolson’s voice quality not captured.
30 October 1959

Flying Standards will crash unless Stewart Morris (BBC TV producer) changes course. Having Shirley Eaton and Sylvia Sands in the same series provides little contrast while Johnny Hartman is mediocre. There is also insufficient opportunity for Ken Mackintosh’s orchestra.
30 October 1959

Can Russell Turner justifiably give a Juke Box Jury seat to Digby Wolfe again? He was obviously unaware of Buddy Holly’s death on Saturday’s programme.
6 November 1959

Why did the Beverley Sisters get superior billing over Cliff Richard on Palladium TV show?
6 November 1959

Jack Good made a difficult choice for Little Tony – Sam Cooke’s You Send Me.
6 November 1959

Larry Parnes has sold his chain of profitable gown shops.
6 November 1959

Because new disc by Lonnie Donegan not considered good visual material, manager Cyril Berlin refused Palladium TV date this Sunday.
6 November 1959
The song was San Miguel

In Piccadilly, Tommy Steele hailed a taxi driven by Alan Stuart, one of his Steelmen.
6 November 1959

After hearing Cliff Richard sing Here Comes Summer at Finsbury Park on Monday, a fan remarked, Jerry Kelly doesn’t sing it as good – unaware that the laughing seat-holder in front was Keller himself.
6 November 1959

With an Elvis Presley impression, Debbie Reynolds stopped the show at a Hollywood Bowl concert.
6 November 1959

Hark at mediocre songwriter Neal Arden’s liberty – suggesting, until inspiration returns, Russ Conway should take a composing partner.
13 November 1959

Vast improvement by Michael Cox on Boy Meets Girls
13 November 1959

Wally Whyton provides special material on Peter Sellers Parlophone LP lampooning Lonnie Donegan.
13 November 1959
Whyton had wanted to keep this hidden from Donegan.

Desperate attempt to re-establish Jo Stafford in best sellers: Leiber and Stoller penned her latest release.
13 November 1959

RCA singer Big Dave Washington weighs 30 stone.
13 November 1959

Texas prison concert earned Tommy Sands £1,000 fee.
20 November 1959

When a fan shouted “Where’s Cliff Richard?” at Kilburn this week, the compere Tony Marsh replied, “If I told you, you’d be so embarrassed.”
20 November 1959

Dick James wrote Message From Jimmy for Ruby Murray
27 November 1959

Bernie Winters has appeared with Anthony Newley in four films this year.
27 November 1959

Best-ever Alma Cogan disc, We Got Love?
27 November 1959

Hylda Baker has covered Makin’ Love.
27 November 1959

No l in Canada Living Doll (Cliff Richard)
No 1 in Australia I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (Johnnie Ray)
27 November 1959

BBC paying Joan Regan £850 for each of 24 TV shows.
27 November 1959

Was The Browns’ booking for Boy Meets Girls advisable?
4 December 1959

Denied from Hollywood that Eddie Cochran is serious about Sharon Sheeley.
4 December 1959

Once it was Tony Osborne’s wife, now most photographed spectator is Capitol’s Edna Bowers in Juke Box Jury audiences.
4 December 1959

Lionel Bart’s Let’s Get Married sung by Newley in Confessions film, with assistance of Bernie Winters: title tune penned by Joe Henderson.
4 December 1959

Bobby Darin on This Is Your Life in US this week.
4 December 1959

A dull contribution from the Browns on Boy Meets Girls followed by Joyce Baker’s solo vocal and slow Marty Wilde ballad reduced pace of production to a miserable crawl; only Emile Ford’s verve compensated.
11 December 1959

Opinion of your Alley Cat disagrees with Juke Box Jury panel but endorses David Jacobs’ view that Some Kinda Earthquake is another Duane Eddy smash hit.
11 December 1959

Bruce Forsyth was pianist in Jack Jackson’s band in 1946
11 December 1959

For their disc sessions, the Kingston Trio remove their shoes.
11 December 1959

“Financial problems for Sammy Davis now, besides being coloured and Jewish!”
11 December 1959

Our Love Will Last by Ernestine Anderson, composed by Johnny Brandon.
11 December 1959

Giggling Jayne Mansfield almost in tears listening to Ella Fitzgerald with The Christmas Song on Juke Box Jury.
18 December 1959

Concert dates limited to nine a month by Cliff Richard, under Arthur Howes, in 1960
18 December 1959

Tommy Steele turned down What Do You Want
18 December 1959

Otis Blackwell visiting London in January.
18 December 1959

Repaying £12,500 loan, Sammy Davis settled contractual dispute with Frank Sennes of Hollywood’s Moulin Rouge
18 December 1959

Don Webb, on Coral, discovered by Buddy Holly’s mother.
18 December 1959

Fabulous performance by Henri Salvador on Chelsea TV last week.
25 December 1959

Billy Cotton emphatic that he discovered Russ Conway on This Is Your Life but Norman Newell deserves priority claim.
25 December 1959

Bobby Darin waxed LP of his act at Chicago club.
25 December 1959
But it was Darin At The Copa, that is the Copacabana in New York, which was released in 1960.