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The Way We Were in the 50s
Favourite songs and golden memories. The 50s saw a new age of optimism, with music that was carefree and happy. With this album we remember hits that we sang to, danced to and romanced to. What great stars there were: Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Guy Mitchel
Favourite songs and golden memories. The 50s saw a new age of optimism, with music that was carefree and happy. With this album we remember hits that we sang to, danced to and romanced to. What great stars there were: Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Guy Mitchel
The Way We Were in the 50s
Favourite songs and golden memories
The 50s saw a new age of optimism and hope, with music that was carefree and happy. With this album we remember twenty one hits that we sang to, danced to and romanced to. What great stars there were: Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Guy Mitchell, and a host of other famous performers.
1. She wears red feathers Guy Mitchell
2. Be my love Mario Lanza
3. The Tennessee waltz Patti Page
4. Somewhere along the way Nat King Cole
5. I believe Frankie Laine
6. My love and devotion Doris Day
7. Cry Johnnie Ray
8. Charmaine Mantovani
9. Here in my heart Al Martino
10. Music! Music! Music! Teresa Brewer
11. Sugarbush Eve Boswell
12. You belong to me Jo Stafford
13. Too young Jimmy Young
14. Outside of heaven Eddie Fisher
15. Half as much Rosemary Clooney
16. Bewitched, bothered and bewildered Bill Snyder
17. Because you're mine Mario Lanza
18. Theme from 'Limelight' Frank Chacksfield
19. Mona Lisa Nat King Cole
20. I'm walking behind you Eddie Fisher
21. Don't let the stars get in your eyes Perry Como
CCL CDG1084
This compilation P &C 2004 Classical Communications Ltd
Image: Teenage couple sharing a soda drink through straws/1950's, Taxi, FPG
Programme notes by Martin Moritz
Made in Great Britain
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The Way We Were in the 50s
Favourite songs and golden memories
Certain decades, by general consent, exhibit an identifiable character: the Naughty Nineties, the Roaring Twenties and, of course, the Swinging Sixties -' shorthand' tags which convey our perceptions of the periods. The Nineteen Fifties has no such label attached to it. Viewing the decade, dispassionately, half a century on, what impression are we left with? It is often depicted as a dull decade, particularly when set against the vibrant and colourful Sixties. But, in fact, it was a time when hope outweighed despair and we began to put the War behind us. There was a real sense of optimism with a future that held the promise of a better life for all.
In 1951 we looked back so as to look forward. The Festival of Britain, last held in 1851, was the perfect showcase to boost our national pride. Herbert Morrison, the then Foreign Secretary, described it as 'Britain giving itself a pat on the back'. The Festival promoted British resources and achievements as well as the people and their way of life. It was a decided success and united the country for the five months that it was open.
If there was still cynicism and depression, they were eradicated with the arrival of a lovely, young Queen and the promise of a new golden age. The Coronation, in June 1953, was watched by millions in their homes on television and so could be enjoyed, instantly, throughout the country. TV had arrived and its popularity would soar, especially with 'commercial' or independent television only some two years away. June 2nd 1953 was also notable for Mount Everest being conquered with a team that included a Briton. It was a great day to be British!
If TV was yet to make its national mark, there were other diversions in the early 50s. Radio was the main source of domestic entertainment and millions of us regularly listened to Housewives' Choice' and Music While You Work (a relic from the war designed to boost morale which, surprisingly, survived until 1967). In the evenings, we sat glued to the radio so as not to miss such serials as Dick Barton, which in 1951 was replaced by The Archers, Paul Temple and the series which interrupted my home-work, Journey into Space. There were two excellent comedy shows, both of which began life in the late-40s: Take It From Here' with Dick Bentley and Jimmy Edwards, and Ray's A Laugh (with Ted Ray and a young Peter Sellers). Tony Hancock, who was already a radio star, was waiting in the wings to engulf the population. And there were The Goons and homework was totally ignored!
In the cinema, screens were getting wider and sound was becoming directional. Cinerama begat Cinemascope both revelling in the glory of magnetic stereophonic sound.. 3D was all the rage but was finally defeated by the discomfort of glasses perched on noses and the superiority of wide screen techniques. Over the coming decades, the David and Goliath of TV and cinema would have to fight for supremacy and loyalty.
Musically, the first half of the 50s was very much an extension of the 40s. Sentimental, innocent ballads and novelty songs were the stuff that the newly introduced Hit Parades were made of. However, a new sound was lurking menacingly and Rock 'n' Roll was its name. This rebellious, teenage music would prove to be revolutionary infiltrating popular music and fuelling the recording careers of such giant groups as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Our musical souvenir of the 1950s remembers some fondly remembered hits performed by the favourite stars of the time and I hope that each recording will strike a pleasant bell of memory recalling that diverse decade.
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