50s Archives - Vinyl Stories

Frank Sinatra – Where Are You? (1957)

July 26, 2023

A look at “I’m a Fool to Want You,” Frank Sinatra’s most emotionally revealing song. Extra: How Ava Gardner inspired one of Sinatra’s best recordings.

Frank Sinatra – No One Cares (1957)

July 24, 2023

How a young widow from Toronto gave Frank Sinatra his first hit. The story of Ruth Lowe and “I’ll Never Smile Again.”

Roy Orbison – At the Rock House (1961)

July 17, 2023

In 1956 Roy Orbison and his band, The Teen Kings, arrived at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee to recut their record “Ooby Dooby.” However, despite being signed by Sam Phillips, Roy would find himself floundering at the legendary label and wouldn’t find chart success until 1961 and at a different label. Why did it take Roy Orbison so long to make it, and how did Sam Phillips allow Roy Orbison to slip through his fingers? A look at Roy Orbison at Sun Records.

The Crew Cuts – Rock and Roll Bash (1956)

June 30, 2023

Although thier sound barely sounds like rock n’ roll by todays standards, in 1954 ,Toronto based vocal group The Crew Cuts drove 600 miles in a snow storm to Cleveland and became the first Canadian group to enter the Billboard charts with their doo wop classic “Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream).” A look at Canada’s earliest entry into the pop industry when rock was very young.

Elvis Presley – Elvis (1956)

May 17, 2023

After more than two decades of interviewing celebrities, Sam Tweedle has heard a lot of stories about Elvis Presley, but this is the best Elvis story he was ever told. A story about a former child star’s encounter with the King of Rock n’ Roll, and an insight into one of the quieter moments of Elvis’ life, humanizing a legend.