UK Singles Chart: 1958

Now we are in the penultimate year of the 50s, we've already had plenty of Rock and Roll music in the charts and several well known acts have already made their chart debuts.

The first number one of the year was "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and this was followed by Elvis Presley's second number one, "Jailhouse Rock", a sign that Rock and Roll wasn't going away any time soon.

So far though, the majority of the Rock and Roll hits were either by Americans or Brits covering American songs. In terms of Brits, we already have Tommy Steele as an established chart act. Then in July, Marty Wilde makes his chart debut with "Endless Sleep", but again this is a cover of American artist Jody Reynolds.

In September we have the chart debut of Cliff Richard and the Drifters with "Move It" which is credited as being the first British penned Rock and Roll single. You may be thinking how is Cliff Richard Rock and Roll? and why did he collaborate with an American Doo Wop group for his debut hit? Well Cliff Richard was considered Rock and Roll when he started out and the Drifters is not the American Doo Wop group, it is in fact the group that would become the Shadows, mainly due to the American group of the same name who were still yet to have a UK hit by this point. The personnel of the Drifters at this point though was different to the Shadows we know now, but they were still known as the Drifters when Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch joined.

In November, we have the first British penned Rock and Roll number one, "Hoots Mon" by Lord Rockinghams XI which was also their chart debut. They would only have one further hit, "Wee Tom" the following year.

The year also saw the chart debut of Duane Eddy with "Rebel Rouser" bringing instrumental Rock and Roll to the charts for the first time. Other notable chart debuts included Sam Cooke with "You Send Me" in January, Ricky Nelson with "Stood Up" in February, Bobby Darin with "Splish Splash" in August, Eddie Cochran with "Summertime Blues" in November and Big Bopper would have his only UK hit, "Chantilly Lace" in December.

The history books suggest that Skiffle had its day by 1958, but Lonnie Donegan is still active in the charts this year having five hits including a number three with "Tom Dooley" in December.

Songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David made their chart debut in 1958 with "The Story of My Life". Their were four versions which charted with Michael Holliday's version reaching number one. This was knocked off number one with another Bacharach/David composition, "Magic Moments" by Perry Como.

We now don't have any artists who have had a hit every year in the charts to date as none of the four artists (Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray, Nat King Cole and Winifred Atwell) would have a hit in 1958 The record for most number ones would still be held jointly by Frankie Laine and Guy Mitchell, the latter also not having any hits on 1958. However, Elvis Presley has now overtaken Frankie Laine as the artist with the most hit singles with 26. He would go on to hold this record for many years to come.

The year saw two more nationalities in the charts for the first time. There was Elias & His Zigzag Jive Flutes from South Africa who had a hit with "Tom Hark". Then there were three Italians, Renato Carosone with "Torero - Cha Cha Cha", Domenico Modungo with "Volare" and Marino Marini also with "Volare".

So with just one year of the 50s to go, what else does the 50s charts have in store for us? Find out in a couple of weeks.