Q. Most of the news and entertainment media has covered the recentU.K. chart debut at the No. 1 position of "A Little LessConversation," by Elvis Presley. It is an amazing feat, to be sure.Now I am wondering if either he or the Beatles ever did that here,especially in their '50s and '60s heydays. How about songs like "AllShook Up" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"? I notice they play "AllShook Up" at some baseball games when the opposing team's pitcher isin trouble. I find that clever.
A. Neither Elvis, the Beatles, nor anyone else in those years,managed to debut atop the Billboard singles chart. As for the twohits you mention, both took three weeks to get where they were going."All Shook Up" made its debut at No. 26, jumped to No. 6, then to No.1. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" entered at No. 45, then jumped to No.3, then to No. 1.
As for the same situation on the Cash Box charts, both artistsreached the top in just two weeks. Elvis did it twice, with "AllShook Up" (No. 13 to No. 1) and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (No. 47to No. 1), and the Beatles with "Hey Jude" (No. 38 to No. 1). Duringone recently televised game, as the opposing manager, pitcher andcatcher held a meeting at the mound, the P.A. system blared out "YouTalk Too Much." I found that one clever, too.
Q. Can you solve a musical mystery whose answer has not onlyeluded me, but has had many in my family think I'm nuts for decades?In the early '70s, a friend was given a stack of 45s that included"Don't Gild the Lilly, Lilly." I have no idea who sang it or when itfirst came out. The record disappeared shortly after that, though Ican still hear it in my head. Proving to my friends and family thatthis was a real record, and discovering who sang it, has become anobsession. Please help me!
A. First comes the validation you so desperately need. The correcttitle is "Don't Gild the Lily, Lily." Hardly obscure, this tune isthe flip side of the summer '61, Top 5 hit, "Hats off to Larry," byDel Shannon (Big Top 3075). As for acquiring this track--apart frombuying the original single ($10-$20)--there is one CD that includes"Don't Gild the Lily, Lily" among its 30 tracks.
Titled "The Very Best Of Del Shannon: Runaway" (Collectables090431-27962-5), it is also noteworthy because of another song. Ofthe many Del Shannon collections, this is where you will pick up "IWon't Be There,'' an otherwise hard to find Big Top release from1962.
Consider your obsession officially over.
IZ ZAT SO? When Del Shannon left Big Top in 1963 and started hisown label, Berlee Records, many wondered about the origin of thename. Many years later, we learned that Del Shannon (born CharlesWestover) concocted Berlee to honor his parents: Bert and LeoneWestover.
Jerry Osborne is a syndicated columnist. Write to him c/o ChicagoSun-Times, Features Department, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611.
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