Conway Twitty - Conway Twitty Sings (1958)

"The Story of My Love" by Conway Twitty


Ronnie Hawkins found it difficult to get off the ground in the crowded field of rockabillies populating the South.  His friend and fellow, more successful rockabill, Conway Twitty, recommended Hawkins and his band move North to Canada where competition was less stiff.  It was good advice that Conway Twitty himself didn't need.  Twitty released his debut album Conway Twitty Sings in 1958 on MGM Records. (Note: The album is more often said to have been released in 1959, but I'm, personally, just going with what it says on the Conway Twitty website. It's most likely it was recorded in 1958 and released early the next year.)

Here is the discography surrounding Conway Twitty's debut album:

I Need Your Lovin' (1957 single)
Shake It Up (1957 single)
The Chronological Classics: Conway Twitty 1946-1957 (1957 compilation album)
Why Can't I Get Through to You Baby (1958 single)
It's Only Make Believe (1958 single)
Conway Twitty Sings
The Story of My Love (1959 single)

"It's Only Make Believe" by Conway Twitty


"Just in Time" by Conway Twitty


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Ronnie Hawkins - Ronnie Hawkins (1959)

"Mary Lou" by Ronnie Hawkins


Dale Hawkins's brother was also a rockabilly roller.  Ronnie Hawkins, occasionally credited with his backing band The Hawks (more on them in the distant Tour future), released his debut album Ronnie Hawkins in 1959 on Roulette Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Ronnie Hawkins's debut album:

Summertime (1958 single)
Hey! Bo Diddley (1958 single)
Forty Days (1959 single with The Hawks)
Mary Lou (1959 single with The Hawks)
Ronnie Hawkins

"Forty Days" by Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks

(Note: The drummer has a bright future.)

"Mister and Mississippi" by Ronnie Hawkins


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Dale Hawkins - Oh! Suzy-Q (1958)

"Suzie Q" by Dale Hawkins


James Burton played guitar in Ricky Nelson's band starting in 1957 at the age of 18.  Despite his youth, Burton had already earned a reputation in the music industry for his playing and was sought out for session work.  One historic recording session was in his home state of Louisiana for Dale Hawkins on the foundational rock song "Susie-Q" (spelled differently often).  Dale Hawkins released his debut album Oh! Suzy-Q in 1958 on Chess Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Dale Hawkins's debut album:

See You Soon Baboon (1956 single)
Susie-Q (1957 single)
Baby, Baby (1957 single)
Tornado (1958 single)
Oh! Suzy-Q
La-Do-Dada (1958 single)
My Babe (1958 single)
Take My Heart (1959 single)
Yea-Yea (Class Cutter) (1959 single)
Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby (1959 single)
Our Turn (1959 single)
Liza Jane (1959 single)
Don't Break Your Promise to Me (1959 single)
Poor Little Rhode Island (1960 single)
Linda (1961 single)
Grandma's House (1961 single)

Assorted songs "performed" by Dale Hawkins on his regional TV show


"Grandma's House" by Dale Hawkins


"Poor Little Rhode Island" by Dale Hawkins


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Ricky Nelson - Ricky (1957)

"You're My One and Only Love" by Ricky Nelson


Hayley Mills: "Who's that?"
Hayley Mills (twin): "Are you kidding? Ricky Nelson?"
Hayley Mills: "Oh, your boyfriend."
Hayley Mills (twin): "I wish he was! You mean you've never heard of him? Where do ya come from? Outer Space?"
-- The Parent Trap

A child actor who starred in his parents' radio and TV sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Ricky Nelson transitioned, in his teens, to rockabilly music through the sheer force of trying to impress his girlfriend and his father's industry ties (Note: His father was himself an experienced band leader).  He signed a recording contract, first with Verve then Imperial, as a "young personality".  His performances on Ozzie and Harriet helped turn him into one of rock 'n' roll's biggest stars, immediately topping the charts.  Ricky Nelson released his debut album Ricky on Imperial Records in 1957.

Here is the discography surrounding Ricky Nelson's debut album:

A Teenager's Romance (1957 single)
You're My One and Only Love (1957 single)
Teen Time (1957 compilation songs)
Ricky (1957 EP)
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (1957 single)
Ricky
Honeycomb (1957 EP)
If You Can't Rock Me (1957 EP)
True Love (1957 EP)
Stood Up (1957 single)
My Bucket's Got a Hole in It (1957 single)

"A Teenager's Romance" by Ricky Nelson


"Bye Bye Love" by Ricky Nelson (with The Four Preps)


Interview with Ricky Nelson


"If You Can't Rock Me" by Ricky Nelson


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Hayley Mills - Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills (1962)

"Johnny Jingo" by Hayley Mills


The Parent Trap, featuring songs by the Sherman Brothers, was a star vehicle for the Disney child to teen actress Hayley Mills.  One of the songs from the movie "Let's Get Together" became a surprise Top 10 hit and one can only imagine the subsequent record released in 1962 Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills was a way of banking off of its success.

Here is the discography surrounding Hayley Mills's debut album:

Pollyanna Songs (1960 EP)
Let's Get Together (1961 single)
Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills
Jeepers Creepers (1962 single)
Ching-Ching and a Ding Ding Ding (1962 single)
In Search of the Castways (1962 soundtrack)
Enjoy It (1962 single with Maurice Chevalier)
Castaway (1962 single)
Flitterin' (1962 single with Eddie Hodges)
Pollyanna (1963 story album)
Summer Magic (1963 soundtrack with Eddie Hodges)

"Jeepers Creepers" by Hayley Mills


"Castaway" by Hayley Mills


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The Sherman Brothers - The Parent Trap (1961)

"The Parent Trap" by Annette Funicello & Tommy Sands


Ludwig von Drake might like you to think he wrote all of his own songs, but they were actually ghostwritten for him by the songwriting team Robert and Richard Sherman, or The Sherman Brothers.

Songwriters are pretty difficult to tally up for the purposes of the Tour but the Sherman Brothers' songs tend to double as soundtracks, so they'll be organized as composers by the films on which they worked.  In 1961, they contributed songs to three Disney films (as well as holding songwriting duties for some of The Mouseketeers).  For The Absent-Minded Professor and Greyfriars Bobby, they contributed a song or two for each that would play over the opening credits or be saved for the Disney Story Album of those movies.  The Parent Trap marked the first time the Shermans' songs made their way into the actual narrative structure of a Disney film.  They wrote a handful of songs for The Parent Trap, but its score was written by Paul J. Smith and performed by the Camarata Chorus and Orchestra on the record release.

Here is the discography surrounding The Sherman Brothers's debut album:

The Flubber Song / Medfield Fight Song (1961 songs for The Absent-Minded Professor)
The Parent Trap
Greyfriars Bobby (1961 song for Greyfriars Bobby)

"Let's Get Together" by Hayley Mills & Hayley Mills


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