This collection is unavailable via iTunes.
To buy this recording from Amazon.com, click here: Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 50's, Vol. 1 _________________________________________________________________

BMG/RCA 8466-2-R


Over the years that Nipper has sat with ear cocked to his master's voice, this attentive dog has been treated to an almost limitless range of music. From Mozart to Mancini, from Sinatra to Starship, the history of RCA Records is virtually a history of recorded music in America. In this series of releases, affectionately titled Nipper's Greatest Hits, we offer a decade by decade survey of the songs that set our feet and our hearts into motion. The very diversity of these collections is their glory. This diversity speaks to the richness of our national life – its many often contradictory facets, and its incredible rate of change. Enjoy this music with ears unbiased by current fashion and you will find revealed a chronology of America's social evolution and a celebration of life that shows no signs of abating. And Nipper, delighted like all the rest of us, just can't stop listening.

Note: All chart positions refer to Billboard magazine's charts unless otherwise indicated. Songs are arranged in order of entry on the charts.
__________________________________________________

1. MY HEART CRIES FOR YOU 2:30
Dinah Shore
(Carl Sigman/Percy Faith)
Major Songs Co., / T.B. Harms Co./ Drolet Music (ASCAP)
With Henri Rene and his Orchestra
Charted 12-9-50

(RCA Victor 20/47-3978)
Recorded in New York, October 29, 1950.
Entered chart: December 9, 1950, peaked at #11.

After rising to prominence as the featured vocalist with Xavier Cugat's Band, Dinah Shore began her solo career in 1941. Over the next 16 years, she accumulated 34 Top Twenty hits and became one of the most famous entertainers of her generation. Her stylish verve and technical precision were fully polished by the time of this 1950 release. Although she has enjoyed a long career in television, it is as the Number One Female Vocalist of the 1940's that Dinah Shore will always be remembered.

2. BE MY LOVE 3:30
Mario Lanza
(Sammy Cahn/Nicholas Brodszky)
SBK Miller Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP)
With Ray Sinatra and his Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir
Charted 12-16-50

Conducted by Ray Sinatra
"Be My Love" (from the MGM motion picture Toast of New Orleans)
(RCA Victor Red Seal 10-1561/49-1353)
Recorded in Hollywood, June 27, 1950.
Entered chart: December 16, 1950, peaked at #1 (one week).

With his first and biggest hit, "Be My Love," Mario Lanza took a giant step toward becoming the most popular operatic tenor since Caruso. Two more Top Ten hits, "The Loveliest Night of the Year" and "Because You're Mine," and a successful film career
were his before the music world was saddened by news of his untimely death on October 7, 1959.

3. SLOW POKE 3:00
Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys
(King/Price/Stewart)
Ridgeway Music (BMI)
Charted 11-3-51
(Vocal refrain by Redd Stewart)
(RCA Victor 21/48-0486)
Recorded in Chicago, March 14, 1951.
Entered chart: November 3, 1951, peaked at #3.

Pee Wee King's "Tennessee Waltz" became one of the biggest hits of all time when Patti Page released it in 1950 but it was this song, "Slow Poke," that established his own popular recording career. Another of his compositions, "You Belong to Me," was taken to the top of the charts by Jo Stafford in 1952 and has since been covered by artists working in a wide variety of popular music genres.

4. C'EST SI BON (IT'S SO GOOD) 2:57
Eartha Kitt
(Seelan/Hornez/Betti)
MCA Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
With Henri Rene and his Orchestra
Charted 7-18-53

(RCA Victor 20/47-5358)
Recorded in New York, March 12, 1953.
Entered chart: July 18, 1953, peaked at #8.

After electrifying Broadway in the revue "New Faces of 1952," Eartha Kitt warmed the airwaves with her sassy, seductive delivery of this saucy French tune. She quickly followed with two more hits, the seasonal (and steamy) "Santa Baby" and "Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell, "and went on to an enduring stage, cabaret, and television career (Ms. Kitt – with tongue firmly in cheek – created a hilarious Catwoman on the Batman TV series).

5. CHERRY RINK AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE 3:01
Perez Prado and his Orchestra
(Rosa/Louiguy/Leonardi)
Chappell & Co, (ASCAP)
Trumpet solo by Billy Regis
Charted 3-5-55

PEREZ "Prez" PRADO "The King of the Mambo" AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Trumpet Solo, Billy Regis
"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (Cerezo Rosa)" (RCA Victor 20/47-5965)
Recorded in New York, August 23, 1954.
Entered chart: March 5, 1955, peaked at #1 (ten weeks).

"Prez" Prado helped popularize the syncopated beat of latin music in America with this giant hit from the Jane Russell-Gilbert Roland film, Underwater. It inspired the soon-to-emerge craze for the cha-cha. In 1958, this Cuban born pianist/organist topped the charts again with "Patricia."

6. THE CATTLE CALL 2:30
Eddy Arnold
(Tex Owens)
Forster Music Pub. (ASCAP) - With Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra and Chorus
Charted 7-16-55

(RCA Victor 20/47-6139)
Recorded in New York, April 28, 1955.
Entered chart: July 16, 1955, peaked at #42.

Eddy Arnold made the big move from Henderson, Tennessee to Nashville in 1939. He fronted Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys as a vocalist until 1943 when he formed his own band, The Tennessee Plowboys. With Col. Tom Parker as his manager. Arnold carved a permanent niche for himself in America's musical past with a string of highly influential #1 Country hits.

7. DUNGAREE DOLL 2:00
Eddie Fisher
(Ben Raleigh / Sherman Edwards)
E.a, Marks (ASCAP)
With Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra and Chorus
Charted 12-17-55

(RCA Victor 20/47-6337)
Recorded In New York, November 3, 1955.
Entered chart: December 17, 1955, peaked at #7.

After debuting as a vocalist with Buddy Morrow's band, Eddie Fisher had become a featured regular on Eddie Cantor's highly rated radio show by 1949. Between 1950 and 1957, he gave his adoring fans 19 Top Ten smashes. Although renowned for his big ballads like "Oh My Papa," Eddie proved his versatility with rock and roll numbers like "Dungaree Doll," which featured guitar great Al Caiola.

8. THE ROCK AND ROLL WALTZ 2:56
Kay Starr
(Dick Ware / Shorty Allen)
Travis Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
With Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra and Chorus
Charted 12-31-55

(RCA Victor 20/47-6359)
Recorded in New York, November 20, 1955.
Entered chart: December 31, 1955, peaked at #1 (six weeks).

After glittering stints with the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Charlie Barnet, and Bob Crosby, Kay Starr moved on to a solo career that yielded 16 Top Twenty hits (including a duet with Tennessee Ernie Ford). She occupied the top slot for nine weeks in 1952 with "Wheel of Fortune" and enjoyed an extended stay there again four years later with this smash hit.

9. HEARTBREAK HOTEL 2:06
Elvis Presley
(Axton / Durden / Presley)
Tree Publishing, Co. (BMI)
Charted 3-3-56

(RCA Victor 20/47-6637)
Recorded in Nashville, January 10, 1956.
Entered chart: March 3, 1956, peaked at #1 (eight weeks).

This song was the product of Elvis Presley's first recording session for RCA Records and at the time no one knew what a revolution was being born that day. Elvis' regular boys from his Sun session, Bill Black and Scotty Moore, were there along with Country greats Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins on piano and guitar respectively. Drummer D.J. Fontana, who was to play with The King for years after, debuted on this session that would change popular music forever. In October 1988, "Heartbreak Hotel" returned as the title song of a new motion picture.

10. BANANA BOAT (DAY-O) 3:02
Harry Belafonte
(Belafonte/Burgess/Attaway)
Shari Music Co. (ASCAP)
With Tony Scott and his Orchestra and Chorus
Charted 1-12-57

Millard Thomas, guitar
(RCA Victor 20/47-6771)
Recorded in New York,
October 20, 1955.
Entered chart: January 12, 1957, peaked at #5.

Calypso and Harry Belafonte were virtually synonymous in the late fifties. His LP named for this sexy, swaying island music topped the album charts for an astounding 31 weeks and remained a best seller for close to two years. His popularity was assured with a series of hits including "Jamaica Farewell," "Mary's Boy Child," and "Mama Look a Boo Boo," but it was "Banana Boat" with its infectious' 'Day-o" that made Belafonte an undimmable star.

11. MELODIE D' AMOUR (MELODY OF LOVE) 2:36
The Ames Brothers
(Leo Johns/Henri Salvador)
Rayven Music Co., Inc, (BMI)
With Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra
Charted 10-7-57

(RCA Victor 20/47-7046)
Recorded in New York, August 22, 1957.
Entered chart: October 7, 1957, peaked at #5.

The Ames Brothers gave the world 12 Top Twenty hits during the fifties including "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" and this standout. The quartet began their career with Russ Morgan and his Orchestra and were a major influence on the sibling harmonies to come in the next decade from The Beach Boys.

12. CATCH A FALLING STAR 2:26
Perry Como
(Paul Vance / Lee Pockris)
Marvin Music, Co. (ASCAP)
With Mitchell Ayres and his Orchestra and The Ray Charles Singers
Charted 1-13-58

(RCA Victor 20/47-7128)
Recorded in New York, October 9, 1957.
Entered chart: January 13, 1958, peaked at #1 (one week).

Perry Como debuted professionally with the Freddy Carlone Band and came to prominence as vocalist with Ted Weems and his Orchestra. His solo career began auspiciously in 1944 with the hit "Long Ago (And Far Away)." Como has long been one of RCA's most consistent chartmakers and continues his association with the label to this day. "Catch a Falling Star" appears in stereo for the first time on this compilation.

13. LAZY MARY 2:38
Lou Monte
(Paolo Citroella, English lyrics by Lou Monte)
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc, (ASCAP)
With Joe Reisman and his Orchestra
Charted 3-10-58

(RCA Victor 20/47-7160)
Recorded in New York, November 13, 1957.
Entered chart: March 10, 1958, peaked at #12.

Lou Monte's versatility stretched from soaring ltalian ballads to side splitting novelty tunes. His first nationwide smash came in 1953 with an inimitable version of "At the Darktown Strutters Ball." He surged up the charts again five years later with this Italo-American classic, which appears in stereo for the first time on this compilation.

14. OH LONESOME ME 2:29
Don Gibson
(Don Gibson)
Acuff/Rose Publishing (BMI)
Charting 3-10-58

(RCA Victor 20/47-7133)
Recorded in Nashville, December 3, 1957. Entered chart: March 10, 1958, peaked at #7.

One of Country music's seminal artists, Don Gibson's timeless compositions have been covered again and again over the years. "Oh Lonesome Me" formed half of perhaps the greatest two-sided release in Country history. "I Can’t Stop Loving You" was the flip and Gibson rode both to the top of the Country charts. Ray Charles took the latter to Pop #1 success in 1962.

15. SEND ME THE PILLOW YOU DREAM ON 2:29
Hank Locklin
(Hank Locklin)
Four Star Sales Co. (BMI)
Charted 6-2-58

(RCA Victor20/47-7127) Recorded in Nashville, June 28, 1957. Entered chart: June 2, 1958, peaked; at #77.

Sometimes it seems a song is a major smash for everyone but the guy who wrote it. So it has been for Hank Locklin's "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," which has been a best Seller for artists as wide-ranging as The Browns, Johnny Tillotson, and Dean Martin. Locklin's own version soared to #5 on the Country charts but stalled at #77 on the Pop chart. Simply said, it was a song before its time.

16. GUESS WHO 2:51
Jesse Belvin
(Jo Anne Belvin)
Michele Publishing Co. (BMI)
With Shorty Rogers and his Orchestra and Chorus
Charted 3-30-59

(RCA Victor 47-7469)
Recorded in Santa Monica, January 29, 1959.
Entered chart: March 30,·1959, peaked at #31.

Jesse Belvin had achieved considerable success before signing with RCA in 1958: He wrote the Penguins classic "Earth Angel," set new R&B standards with his own hit "Goodnight My Love," and had chart hits with The Cliques, The Charges, and The Shields (most notably "You Cheated"). His RCA career began auspiciously with "funny" and this track but was tragically truncated when Belvin died in an automobile accident in 1960.

17. MAKIN' LOVE 1:54
Floyd Robinson
(FIoyd Robinson)
Emerald Music Pub. Inc, (BMI)
Charted 7-20-59

(RCA Victor 47-7529)
Recorded in Nashville, March 17, 1959.
Entered chart: July 20, 1959, peaked at #20.

The first week of 1959 was truly momentous for Floyd Robinson. Jesse Lee Turner entered the Pop charts with a song Robinson had penned , "The Little Space Girl" (it eventually reached the Top Twenty) and he signed a major contract with RCA. "Makin' Love" was his first release and by July, it too had reached the Top Twenty. Quite a six months!

18. THE THREE BELLS (LES TROIS CLOCHES) 2:49
The Browns
(Bert Reisfeld/Jean Villard)
Southern Music Pub. (ASCAP)
Charted 7-27-59

(RCA Victor 47-7555)
Recorded in Nashville, June 1, 1959.
Entered Chart: July 27, 1959, peaked at #1 (four weeks).

The Browns were on the verge of breaking up when they recorded "The Three Bells" for producer Chet Atkins who trimmed the song's six-minute length to more releasable form. It rocketed to #1 ending all plans for disbanding the talented group. Their next single, "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)," reached #13, and they returned to the Top Ten with "The Old Lamplighter" a few months later.

19. OH! CAROL 2:14
Neil Sedaka
(Howard Greenfield / Neil Sedaka)
Screen Gems - Columbia Music, Inc, (BMI)
Charted 10-12-59

(RCA Victor 47-7595)
Recorded in New York, July 31, 1959.
Entered chart: October 12, 1959, peaked at #9.

Neil Sedaka payed his dues as lead singer of The Tokens before signing an RCA contract as a solo artist in 1958. This, his first of many smashes including "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," was inspired by another talented New York songwriter of the era, Carole King. She reciprocated with a much less successful "answer song," appropriately titled "Oh! Neil." "Oh! Carol" appears in a stereo mix without added reverb, very similar to the original monaural 45, for the first time on this compilation.

20. HE'LL HAVE TO GO 2:19
Jim Reeves
(J. Allison / A. Allison)
Beechwood Music (BMI)
Charted 12-28-59

(RCA Victor 47-7643)
Recorded in Nashville, October 15, 1959
Entered Chart: December 28, 1959, peaked at #2 (three-weeks).

After beginning his career with the Circle O Ranch Boys, who had a #1 Country hit in 1953 with "Mexican Joe," Jim Reeves established himself as a major artistic force in Country music as a solo artist. His first Pop crossover hit was the classic "Four Walls," which topped the charts in 1957. With this immortal track, Reeves cracked the Top Ten a second time. Despite his death in 1964, Reeves' material has continued to generate hits.
__________________________________________________

Digital mastered at RCA Recording Studios, New York City, May, June 1988
Digital Series Coordinator: Don Wardell
Digital Producer: John Snyder
Digital Engineer: Joe Lopes
Compiled and Researched by Ron Furmanek

Annotation by Ron Furmanek and Steve Kolanjian with Patrick Snyder
Chart Information courtesy of Billboard and Joel Whitburn
Cover Illustration: Christopher Hitz
Art Direction: Pietro Alfieri

Other volumes of Nipper's Greatest Hits available: The '50's, Volume 2; The '60's, Volumes 1 and 2; The '70's.

These recordings are monophonic with the exception of numbers 11, l2, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, which are Stereo.

Tmk(s) ® Registered· Marca(s) Registrada(s) RCA Corporation except BMG logo TM BMG Music © 1988 BMG Music
Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Music, New York. NY.
Printed in U.S.A.