Lots of good stuff here
I can also hear the songs crackling from my pocket size transistor radio early on a Sunday morning – folding papers for my Denver Post paper route.
By 1957 the music industry was taking a bit more serious notice of rock and roll – although begrudgingly – but by 1959 everyone (well, not everyone – i.e. Mitch Miller) was on board as these great trade ads do attest. And by 1959 Cash Box was running regular editorials testifying to the marketability of – yes rock and roll and the new pop!
Nice to see the Falcons here – The Royal Teens with Bob Gaudio and Carl Dobkins, Jr. – With “Mack the Knife” Bobby Darin was finally able to break away from Rock and Roll and go where he wanted to be (number 1 for nine weeks!).
Bob Gaudio and the Teens broke onto the scene in early 1958 when their recording of “Short Shorts” was picked up by ABC-Paramount from the small New York independent label – Power Records. “Short Shorts” composer Bob Gaudio would depart the Royal Teens to join a final version of Franki Valli’s “Four Lovers” and would help skyrocket them to stardom with his songs.
And oh yes! A trade ad placed by “Tops Records”!! Brian McFadden – Any comment??? I don’t think I have come across another one.
