Classical albums and soundtracks from the movies and Broadway dominated album sales. In August of 1958, "Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1" was the #1 album. Can you hear Chuck Berry? -- "roll over Bethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news!"

Top Albums:

Van Cliburn - Tchaikowdsky's Piano Concerto No. 1
Johnny Mathis -- Johnny's Greatest Hits
Original Cast - The Music Man
Soundtrack - South Pacific
Pat Boone - Stardust

Billboard Top 40 for 8/18/1958
Rank..Previous .. # Weeks .. Title .. Artist

#1 .. 2 / 3 Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu------------------Domenico Modugno
#2 .. 14 / 5 Little Star-----------------------------The Elegants
#3 .. 6 / 8 My True Love----------------------------Jack Scott
#4 .. 1 / 7 Poor Little Fool------------------------Ricky Nelson
#5 .. 10 / 6 Just A Dream----------------------------Jimmy Clanton
#6 .. 3 / 10 Patricia--------------------------------Perez Prado
#7 .. 5 / 9 When------------------------------------The Kalin Twins
#8 .. 8 / 8 Rebel Rouser----------------------------Duane Eddy
#9 .. 13 / 6 Fever-----------------------------------Peggy Lee
#10 .. 4 / 9 Splish Splash---------------------------Bobby Darin
#11 .. 15 / 5 Ginger Bread----------------------------Frankie Avalon
#12 .. 9 / 9 Willie and the Hand Jive----------------The Johnny Otis Show
#13 .. 7 / 8 Hard Headed Woman-----------------------Elvis Presley
#14 .. 16 / 5 Everybody Loves A Lover-----------------Doris Day
#15 .. 12 / 6 If Dreams Came True---------------------Pat Boone
#16 .. 18 / 5 Born Too Late---------------------------The Poni Tails
#17 .. 34 / 3 Bird Dog--------------------------------The Everly Brothers
#18 .. 11 / 12 Yakety Yak------------------------------The Coasters
#19 .. 21 / 5 Western Movies--------------------------The Olympics
#20 .. 37 / 3 Volare----------------Dean Martin

There were four #1 songs in the top ten of August 18th, 1958.    “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” had just replaced “Poor Little Fool” in the top spot.  “Little Star” would take the #1 position the next week and “Patriia” had been the #1 song in July.  After giving way to The Elegants, Domenico Modugno would regain the top position the next week and eventually register five weeks as #1.  With 17 weeks in the top forty and 13 in the top twenty, the Italian import would score the most popularity points for 1958 and be the concensus #1 song of the year.  The song also did well in English versions as Dean Martin would make it a #12 record in 1958 while Bobby Rydell’s version would reach #4 in 1960 (both titled “Volare”). 

Three other records in the top twenty also claimed #1 credentials.  “Hard Headed Woman” and “Yakety Yak” were in the top position in July while “Bird Dog” was headed there in September.

One of the most recognizable records of the era was “Willie and the Hand Jive.”  Johnny Otis’s recording had peaked at #9 earlier in August and was ranked only #69 on the 1958 Billboard survey, but with its Bo-Diddly style guitar would stand the test of time and eventually be featured in the 1979 movie, “Grease.” 

Two artists who would be chart fixtures over the next several years had their chart debuts during the summer of 1958.  Bobby Darin’s “Splish Splash” had peaked at #3 and Duane Eddy’s “Rebel Rouser” was #6 in July.

And among all the great records mentioned above, we also heard Frankie Avalon’s “Ginger Bread” which did manage to crack the top ten at #9 in September.