Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:
The list of records to listen to has grown this year but instead of having more variety we have more duplication. It also speaks volumes when the best record is a cover that's not as good as the original which is the case with the Hilltoppers cover of "Only You" by the Platters.
Then the next best records are TV theme tunes which are helped by their familiarity. One thing I've learned is that Tennessee Ernie Ford only had new entries in January, his first coming in 1955 and the other 2 in this month. In both cases this month he's done the better version of each record.
After the TV themes (i.e. "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" and "Robin Hood") we have the chart debut of Lonnie Donegan. This introduced a new type of music to the world, skiffle. I like the DIY ethos of the music and the fact it encouraged many people to make music themselves. However I do find the music itself has it's limitations and the music it inspired that came later (e.g. The Beatles) is much better.
The records from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole aren't bad, just a bit boring so score 1 point. However the 2 versions of "The Shifting Whispering Sands" both get zero. It's hard to say which version is worse, both are long, boring and a bit silly. As Eamonn Andrews was a TV presenter as opposed to musician it seems right to put his version bottom.
One notable thing about this batch of records, no rock n roll. Bill Haley and his Comets were still the only rock n roll acts to have had a chart hit at this point but more was to come later in 1956.
This batch has been the toughest listen, least of all because of the repetition of the same songs.
Score: 28%
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