Perfect Harmony

Today in Music History: January 19

Growing up with music of the 50s meant listening to songs whose words were totally understandable. Singing along seemed natural as images formed connecting the dots of memories stored in the mind or making new ones. This was the era when pop, R&B and rock 'n' roll flowed together in perfect harmony.

Welcome into the Spotlight...

America's Foremost Vocal Group

The Platters: One of the leading R&B vocal groups of the 50s, the first black group to be accepted as a major chart act and, for a short time, the most successful vocal group in the world

The Platters were the most popular black group of their time with a soulful tone to pop-oriented, harmony-rich material. True to their form the harmonizing was impeccable framed by string-laden arrangements. From 1955 to the end of the decade, hit after hit was charted, including four singles that reached No.1: "The Great Pretender", "My Prayer", "Twilight Time" and the single becoming an international hit in today's spotlight "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".

1959 The Platters 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart. Although The Platters recording has become the definitive version, recordings have been made by Artie Shaw (1941), Harry Belafonte (1950), Sarah Vaughan, and others. Some interesting facts about the original song:

Songfacts: This was written in 1933 for the musical Roberta, starring Bob Hope. The lyrics were written by Otto Harbach and the music by Jerome Kern. In 1934, four different recordings charted: Paul Whiteman #1, Leo Reisman #3, Emil Coleman #4, and Ruth Etting #15.

No.1 hits (singles & albums) on this day...
[Click on the year for the songs that hit number one on the charts in the US during that year.]

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  1980 Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart. The group’s third US No.1, it went on to sell over 23 million copies in the US alone. 'The Wall' is still the third largest grossing album in the US, behind Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller' and Eagles’ 'Greatest Hits'.

•  1991 Janet Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love Will Never Do', her 5th US No.1, a No.31 hit in the UK.

• 1997 Madonna won the Best Actress award for her role in Evita at the Golden Globe Awards.

• 2003 Norah Jones started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Come Away With Me', also a UK No.1.

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  2014 Bruce Springsteen scored his 10th UK No.1 album with High Hopes, putting him ahead of the likes of Abba, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. The achievement puts him on level pegging with The Rolling Stones and U2, who also have 10 UK No.1's. The Beatles lead the way, with 15, followed by Madonna on 12, while Elvis Presley and Robbie Williams both had 11 each.

  
  

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...