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1959: |
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Paul Anka
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"It ('Put Your Head On My Shoulder') just seemed like a nice idea for a song."
-- Paul Anka |
| In 1959, at the ripe age of 17 Paul Anka had been a recording failure, followed by a superstar with two #1 songs to his credit. When he was 14 he spent a summer in California and hustled himself a recording opportunity with Modern records. But "I Confess" didn't sell and Paul returned to Canada. The next year, he won a contest and got a trip to New York where he continued to pursue a recording contract. Eventually he met with Don Costa at ABC Paramount records and sold him on a song he had written, "Diana." Diana went to #1 in September of 1957. Paul followed with "You Are My Destiny" (#7) in 1958 and then a string of five other moderately succesful songs. In the summer of 1959 he had his second #1 with "Lonely Boy." He wouldn't have another until 1974 when his career revived and "(You're) Having My Baby" went to #1. During the Elvis Era, Paul Anka put 23 songs in the top forty. He had three top ten hits in 1959. He was also a big success as a song writer. In 1959, Buddy Holly's last release, "It Doesn't Matter Any More" was written by Anka. He wrote most of his own songs, including "Put Your Head On My Shoulder," a record that spent three weeks at #2 in 1959. Paul wrote a lot from personal experience. His first #1, "Diana" was a reflection on an older woman back in Canada (sometimes reported as having been a baby sitter) and "Lonely Boy" was voicing his emotions as he continued to tour after the loss of his mother. The idea for "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" came to him while he was touring and playing one of the many "sock hops." While singing one of his ballads, he noticed that all of the girls had their heads resting on the guys shoulder. In 1960 he would write and record "Puppy Love" about his relationship with Annette Funicello. His song writing credits also include "My Way" and the theme for the "Tonight" show. |
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| title |
week debuted |
highest ranking |
weeks on chart |
| Diana |
1957 7 29 |
1 |
18 |
| You Are My Destiny |
1958 2 3 |
7 |
11 |
| Crazy Love |
1958 4 28 |
15 |
10 |
| (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings |
1959 1 5 |
15 |
13 |
| Lonely Boy |
1959 6 8 |
1 |
14 |
| Put Your Head On My Shoulder |
1959 9 14 |
2 |
14 |
| It's Time to Cry |
1959 11 30 |
4 |
12 |
| Puppy Love |
1960 3 7 |
2 |
11 |
| My Home Town |
1960 6 6 |
8 |
9 |
| Summer's Gone |
1960 10 10 |
11 |
7 |
| The Story of My Love |
1961 2 6 |
16 |
5 |
| Tonight My Love Tonight |
1961 3 27 |
13 |
8 |
| Dance On Little Girl |
1961 6 12 |
10 |
7 |
| Love Me Warm And Tender |
1962 3 17 |
12 |
9 |
| A Steel Guitar & a Glass of Wine |
1962 6 16 |
13 |
7 |
| Eso Beso |
1962 11 24 |
19 |
5 |
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