The "Insane World Of Mike Sain" airs every Wednesday at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on WPON-AM 1460 Detroit. Today's theme was "Appearing On The Ed Sullivan Show II," a continuation of last week's show in which Mike played songs by various oldies artists who appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Mike also played two requests plus Freddie and the Dreamer's "I'm Telling You Now" in memory of Freddie Garrity who passed away last weekend.
The songs are listed below with their respective chart debut dates which, for comparison, are given alongside the date(s) they were performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. Other Ed Sullivan show data are also shown. (From: TV.com - The Ed Sullivan Show Episode List)
| Song | Artist | Chart debut | Date(s) song aired on EDS | EDS artist debut | Last show | # shows |
| The Great Pretender | The Platters | 12/17/1955 | 10/27/1957 | 8/12/1956 | 8/2/1959 | 4 |
| I'm Telling You Now (in memory) | Freddie And The Dreamers | 3/13/1965 | 4/25/1965 | 4/25/1965 | 4/25/1965 | 1 |
| You Send Me | Sam Cooke | 10/21/1957 | 11/3/1957; 12/1/1957 | 11/3/1957 | 12/1/1957 | 2 |
| Diana | Paul Anka | 7/15/1957 | 9/8/1957; 11/3/1957; 12/17/1961 | 9/8/1957 | 3/2/1969 | 13 |
| Kisses Sweeter Than Wine | Jimmie Rodgers | 11/18/1957 | 11/3/1957 | 9/8/1957 | 6/1/1958 | 4 |
| Dance To The Bop | Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps | 12/9/1957 | 11/17/1957 | 11/17/1957 | 11/17/1957 | 1 |
| Peggy Sue | Buddy Holly And The Crickets | 11/11/1957 | 12/1/1957 | 12/1/1957 | 1/26/1958 | 2 |
| Don't Be Cruel (by request) | Elvis Presley | 8/11/1956 | 9/9/1956; 10/28/1956; 1/6/1957 | 9/9/1956 | 1/6/1957 | 3 |
| My Special Angel | Bobby Helms | 10/14/1957 | 9/22/1957; 12/1/1957 | 9/22/1957 | 12/1/1957 | 2 |
| Shaddap You Face (by request) | Joe Dolce | 5/2/1981 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| This Little Girl Of Mine | The Everly Brothers | 2/10/1958 | 3/2/1958 | 6/30/1957 | 2/28/1971 | 11 |
| Beyond The Sea | Bobby Darin | 1/18/1960 | 1/3/1960 | 5/31/1959 | 5/6/1962 | 5 |
| Bad To Me | Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas | 5/30/1964 | 6/7/1964; 6/27/1965 | 6/7/1964 | 6/27/1965 | 2 |
Disclosure: This page includes links that will take you to various online merchants outside of allbutforgottenoldies.net that sell recordings with some of the songs featured on this page. Please note that these are referral or affiliate links from which allbutforgottenoldies.net may receive, at no additional cost to you, a commission if you should make any purchases through them.
Notes:
- "The Great Pretender" topped both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts for the Platters in 1956. The B-side of this song, "I'm Just A Dancing Partner," also charted that same year. "The Great Pretender" later became a Country chart hit for Lamar Morris in 1968. The Platters' performance of this oldies classic was aired on 10/27/1957 on the Ed Sullivan Show as a film clip from one of their concerts. Besides "The Great Pretender," the Platters' best known songs also include "Only You (And You Alone)" (1955) and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (1959). The Platters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
- Freddie and the Dreamers' "I'm Telling You Now" topped the charts in 1965 and was this groups chart debut song. "I'm Telling You Now" was playing this morning in memory of lead singer Freddie Garrity who passed away last weekend. Freddie and the Dreamers performed "I'm Telling You Now" on the Ed Sullivan Show on 4/25/1965.
- "You Send Me" topped both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts for Sam Cooke in 1957 and was his chart debut song. This song later also charted for Teresa Brewer (1957), Aretha Franklin (1968), the Ponderosa Twins + One (1971), and the Manhattans (1985). Sam Cooke got his start singing gospel music at age 6 and he was a member of several gospel and soul groups before going solo. In 1986, Cooke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- "Diana" topped the both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts for Paul Anka in 1957 and later also charted for Bobby Rydell in 1965. Anka wrote "Diana" in tribute to Diana Ayoub, a former babysitter who was five years older than he was. Besides "Diana," Anka's other best known also include "Lonely Boy" (1959) and "You're Having My Baby" (1974), both of which topped the charts. Anka is a highly acclaimed songwriter who not only wrote most of his own material but also hit songs for other artists.
- Jimmie Rodgers' "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" was a Top 10 hit on all three major charts (Pop/Rock, R&B, and Country). This song was previously a hit for the Weavers in 1951. Jimmie Rodgers is best remembered for his 1957 smash hit, "Honeycomb," which was the first in a long string of hits that lasted until 1967. He also had his own TV variety show and starred in several movies.
- "Dance To The Bop" was Gene Vincent's last chart hit. Although his career was short, this famed rocker made a huge splash in the late 1950s with "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and several other hits. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Buddy Holly's smash 1957 hit, "Peggy Sue," was originally called "Cindy Lou" and renamed "Peggy Sue" after the girlfriend and later wife of one of the Crickets, Jerry Allison. A noncharting sequel, "Peggy Sue Got Married" (Coral 62134), was released in the summer of 1959. "Peggy Sue" later also charted for the Beach Boys in 1978. On 2/3/1959, Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 1978 movie, "The Buddy Holly Story," starring Gary Busey in the title role, chronicles Holly's many innovations and contributions to rock and roll.
- Both "Don't Be Cruel" and its flip side, "Hound Dog," topped the charts for Elvis Presley in 1956. "Don't Be Cruel" later also charted for Bill Black's Combo (1960), Barbara Lynn (1963), and Cheap Trick (1988).
- "My Special Angel" was a Top 10 pop hit in 1957 and it also topped the Country charts that same year. This song later also became a Top 10 hit for the Vogues in 1968. Bobby Helms is famous not only for this oldies classic but also for the perennial "Jingle Bell Rock." Although his string of pop hits ended in 1962, Helms continued charting on the Country charts through 1970. In late 1996, "Jingle Bell Rock" resurfaced one more time on the pop charts as a result of being included in the soundtrack for the 1996 movie, "Jingle All The Way," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce was the only charted song for this Italian-American novelty singer. This song is included on the following compilation CDs: Australian Pop Classics: Novelty Songs of the 60s & 70s; Eighties Complete, Vol. 1-3 [BOX SET]; Mega 80's, Vol. 2 [BOX SET].
- "This Little Girl Of Mine" and its flip side, "Should We Tell Him," were both hits in 1958 for the Everly Brothers. "This Little Girl Of Mine" was previously a Top 10 R&B hit for Ray Charles in 1955 and later became a minor pop hit for the Righteous Brothers in 1964 (peaking at only #114). The Everly Brothers charted numerous hits on both the country and pop charts. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
- "Beyond The Sea" was a Top 10 hit for Bobby Darin in 1960. This song was previously a hit for Roger Williams (1956) and Benny Goodman (1948). "Beyond The Sea" is based on a French song, "La Mer," written by Charles Trenet ca. 1945, with English lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Bobby Darin had a long string of hits from 1958-1973. He also acted in several movies and was nominated for an Oscar in 1963. Darin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
- Both Bad To Me" and its flip side, "Little Children," were chart hits for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. These songs were the first to chart in the US for this British Invasion band. The lead singer was born William Howard Ashton near Liverpool, and early in his singing career he performed under the stage name of Billy Kramer (he chose the Kramer surname at random from the telephone directory).
Click here for a complete list of "Insane World Of Mike Sain" playlists available on this web site.
