Various The Fabulous 50's (2-LP)

(Emi) 28 tracks

For those of us lucky enough to have been around during the 50's the word 'FABULOUS' is no overstatement, the decade heralded in the era of ?OP' music that we know today. The war had been over just a few short years and peoples' expectations were high. Changes, that we take for granted today, were underway and the music business reflected those high hopes and new beginnings. The forties had been the era of the Dance Bands, but the universal popu-larity of the bands was fading and in the fifties many performers whose early years had been spent with the Dance Bands were now forging solo careers for themselves. EDDIE CALVERT was a prime example, from commencing his solo trumpet playing career the hits flowed continually through the decade. We feature here his first and greatest hit - from 1953 - 'O MEIN PAPA' . It was in fact the great bandleader JACK PAYNE who was instrumental in bringing to the publics attention a sweet, young girl from Northern Ireland who was to achieve enormous success throughout the fifties — RUBY MURRAY, We feature her first hit from 1956 'HEARTBEAT' and from the following year 'LET ME GO LOVER'.

We also feature the first hit from that great singer RONNIE HILTON from November 1954 'I STILL BELIEVE' along with his great No 1 hit 'NO OTHER LOVE' from 1956. Ronnie continued to enjoy hit records way into the 60's and is still in demand today. The same could be said for another star singer who commenced his career in the 50's — FRANKIE VAUGHAN, and still. a big star today, we feature his early hit from 1955 'HAPPY DAYS AND LONELY NIGHTS's' . Someone with the same surname and credentials is MALCOLM VAUGHAN and his hit song 'ST THERESE OF THE ROSES' from the following year, 1956, is also included in this great 50's collection. The hits are endless: from 1955 RAY BURNS with 'MOBILE' — 1956 `SHIFTING WHISPERING SANDS' by EAMONN ANDREWS — 1957 MICHAEL HOLLIDAY with THE STORY OF MY LIFE'. This collection also features some great singers who were synonymous with this great decade. Mention the names and the memories come flooding back. ALMA COGAN, BILLIE ANTHONY, RAY ELLINGTON, CAROLE CARR and what's more they're all here with many more besides. The 60's were to bring more great changes — but that's for another day, for the moment let's simply wallow in this great era, a decade when hopes were high — dreams were young — and the music said it all.