dicky-valentineRouteNote has decided to bring a week-by-week account of the UK Top Forty on this day 55 years ago. The only two actual solid functions of this probably being that either you could maybe win yourself a Budweiser T-Shirt in a pub quiz with the new and interesting trivia you’ve just filled yourself up on, or maybe actually find something “new” that you like! So, Until we get stuck in the 90’s, which isn’t going to happen any time soon, where Brian Adams reigns supreme, here is the first instalment, with links to hear the songs made available when possible of course. RouteNote is firmly aware, (before I get ripped apart by angry geeky music historians) that the UK Charts actually began in 1952, I just felt that 55 was a nice round number!

McGuireSincerely200

Number one 55 years ago today was  “Christmas Alphabet” by Dickie Valentine backed by the Johnny Douglas Orchestra, a Christmas number one that wasn’t knocked off the top until 20th January in the new year.

In 1949 Buddy Kaye wrote a successful hit for Perry Como named “A-You’re Adorable”. A song in which Perry sang about his lover whilst progressing through the alphabet matching a perfect quality of hers with next letter. Assuming he had a winning formula Buddy rewrote the song as a “Christmas Alphabet” early 1954 for the McGuire Sisters in the US. Only to be covered later by Dickie the following year for the UK audience. Before Cliff Richard, Dickie was the one to watch for the Christmas top spot with “Christmas Alphabet” his first of three consecutive festive number ones.