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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

1958, for cars and music, a very good year

Ed Sullivan and Buddy Holly
1958
For Day 2 of our 30-day poetry challenge at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, our friend Fireblossom has posted the prompt: 1958.

I don't think she remembers 1958, but I certainly do. I was a young girl inappropriately in junior high school, which I couldn't enjoy very much because I was so young, but I did like two things:

1958 was the 100th birthday of my home province, British Columbia, which we celebrated wholeheartedly, and, besides that, I loved the music of the time. I finally had my own record player and could use my own money to buy my first record: "Oh Boy" by Buddy Holly and the Crickets. It was a 45rpm record, and the song on the other side was called "Not Fade Away."


Public Domain photo from 1958


I’d go back to 'fifty-eight just to hear the songs...
...Domenico Modugno sang “Volare”...
who knew? I always thought it was Dino
but Dean’s on the list with “Return to Me”
while Elvis Presley sang “Don’t”

when Perry Como caught a falling star
Conway Twitty said it’s only make believe
Laurie London had the whole world in his hands
and Pat Boone had a wonderful time up there

Elvis
Presley
Elvis sang five of the top hundred hits
and my favorite is still his “One Night”
but the very first record I ever bought
was “Oh Boy” by the Crickets
and the soon to be late Buddy Holly

some songs lasted a long, long time
“Twilight Time” became so annoying
but “Great Balls of Fire” hung on
along with “Johnny B Goode”
people still bop when they hear “At the Hop”
and groan when they hear “Book of Love”

Paul
Anka
there were funny songs back in old fifty-eight
“Witch Doctor” and “Yakety Yak”
“The Purple People Eater” was fun
and “Rockin’ Robin” well, not so much,
“Lollipop”
“Splish Splash”
and a Little Nash Rambler’s “Beep Beep”

Paul Anka was young then
(can you believe it?)
and Johnny Cash made the list
Jimmie Rodgers had kisses sweeter than wine
now don’t get me started on 'fifty-nine



13 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

Music is so attached to memory and you have listed the sound track to an era.

Jo said...

Oh what nostalgia, Kay. Even though I was only five then, I remember hearing the music on the radio and years later Buddy Holly and Perry Como was all the comeback rage in South Africa. I hope you're all keeping well. Big hug for you and Lindy. Jo

Phil Slade said...

Oh kay why did you do that? Buddy Holly, 45rpm, Roy Orbison, The Carpenters. Sorry you youngsters but it's true, "They don't make them like that anymore"

Unknown said...

You prompt the reader to get onto the dance floor! '58 was a great year... The Good Husband was born then~

Helen said...

Naturally ~~ I know every one of the songs in your poem! Graduated from high school in 1959 and into the big wide wonderful world.

Fireblossom said...

I LOVE the music of the late fifties. Buddy Holly is fantastic! They used "Rave On" in the movie "Pleasantville", which is a special favorite of mine. You're right, I don't personally remember the fifties, but I adore the music.

Thanks for being part of my challenge, Kay!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

My first 45 was Twilight Time and my dad showed great interest in the purchase. He hovered by the record player and, as the first notes sounded, said "I guess I dont have to worry about your musical taste." High praise.

When I look back, it is the songs of those days that I remember - the soundtrack of all our hopes and dreams........am working on a poem, but may not finish it till tomorrow - this is a working day and evening and am exhausted! Good one, Kay. We remember all the same songs.

Maude Lynn said...

I love the music of that era!

Other Mary said...

Hahaha - that was fun! I know some of them Kay. I do remember vinyl and 45's though. Groovy write! (Or was that from the 60's?)

LLM Calling said...

I really love the ending

Daryl said...

always liked paul anka ... saw him in a store a few years ago .. he had the darkest tan i have ever seen on a Caucasian other than George Hamilton

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh my gosh -=- blast from the past! (I'm 72, so this was definitely my era!).

Powell River Books said...

I remember having the Little Nash Rambler record. - Margy