I’m now being transported to the year of 1956. This world is even stranger. Ike is running for re-election again and this Adlai guy thinks he can actually win. Hah, dreamer! There is also this new music they call rock n roll. I don’t see anyone rolling though and they don’t even use rocking chairs. Well, there is this guy that keeps swiveling his hips like he just drank Pine Sol or something. They don’t like to show his hips on TV. They show a hound dog instead (calm down, talking dog). There’s also this movie called Giant- it doesn’t look all that big to me. They have this guy Rock Hudson, he’s so dreamy (shut up, talking dog, he’s not gay). Women are expanding in the marketplace; they’ve now graduated from selling appliances to selling cars on TV, women’s liberation rules.

Musically, of course, it’s another year for jazz album wise. I have to do a top twenty this year because Elvis Presley recorded ninety three albums or something. Anyway, are you ready? Okay, here we go.

(elvis)

Event of the year: Elvis wiggles his hips and the girls go wild.

Fad: Greasy kids stuff

Babe of the Year: Kate Smith

Scandal of the Year: John Wayne and friends get radiation poisoning

Movie or TV show to barf to: The Conqueror (John Wayne as Genghis Khan)

What we could have done without: The nuclear arms race

Pet of the year: The Hound Dog Elvis had to sing to

Other Tidbits: The US still likes Ike and tolerates Dick. Everyone fears Elvis’ hips, Rock and Liz get hot and heavy in Giant, I Love Lucy doesn’t get cancelled yet, The Million Dollar Quartet breaks up, The Suez Canal is locked, John Wayne turns day-glo,  Godzilla destroys Tokyo. Four out of Five doctors recommend Lucky Strikes, Ralph Nader claims candy cigarettes are bad for your health, Father says he knows best, Mother pissed.

But enough of this trivia. The top twenty albums of 1956 (and number one is a real surprise.)

1)  Moondog- Moondog

2)  Odetta- Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues

3)  Johnny Burnette- Johnny Burnette and the Rock n Roll Trio

4)  Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley

5)  The Modern Jazz Quartet- Fontessa

6)  Sonny Rollins- Saxophone Collosus

7)  Thelonious Monk- Brilliant Corners

8)  Billie Holiday- Lady Sings the Blues

9)  Moondog- More Moondog

10)  Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers- The Jazz Messengers

11)  Elvis Presley- Elvis

12)  Sonny Rollins- Plus 4

13)  Charles Mingus- Pithcantropus Erectus

14)  Gene Vincent and the Blue Cats- Bluejean Bop

15)  Duke Ellington- Ellington at Newport

16)  Julie London- Lonely Girl

17)  Frank Sinatra- Songs For Swingin Lovers

18)  Harry Belafonte- Calypso

19)  Fats Domino- This Is Fats Domino

20)  Julie London- Calendar Girl

I will mention Moondog as my biggest surprise but this is a year for surprises. There still isn’t a lot to choose from this year but the albums at the top are a considerable improvement from 1955. Take Odetta. I’ve heard of her legend but until this project I didn’t hear a lot of her songs. Her Ballads and Blues, well, I can see how she could have influenced Dylan among others. Johnny Burnette scores with my favorite Rock n Roll album of the year and I’ve always liked Elvis’ debut. His second album isn’t so bad either. The list tails off a bit after Elvis’ second entry but Gene Vincent does sneak in there at number fourteen. As for Julie London, I will say she looks sexy on the album covers.

Biggest Surprise- Moondog.

It is one of the most brilliantly unusual albums I’ve ever heard- and we’re talking 1956

Biggest Disappointment- Charles Mingus- Pithcantropus Erectus.

He’ll get better, but I guess I was expecting Black Sinner even this early.

Stinker of the Year- The Louvin Brothers- The Tragic Songs of Life.

Okay, it starts out with Kentucky. Yeah there is something tragic about Kentucky all right. I guess Alabama must be a tragic place too. A horrible rendition of In the Pines and then more cheerful dongs about tragedy. Don’t miss My Brother’s Will.

Okay so make sure you come back next week for my first  actually first twenty-five. See you then. Talking dog, that’s not a fire hydrant!