Lloyd Price - "Stagger Lee"
Hit Number 1: February 9, 1959
Stay at Number 1: 4 Weeks
"Stagger Lee" has a unique history to it. It had actually first been released in 1923 by Waring's Pennsylvanians and had been covered several times through the years, before Lloyd Price covered the song himself in 1958. In early 1959, Price's version topped the charts, and was the first censored song to hit the top spot on the charts.
"Stagger Lee" is a song about a black pimp in St. Louis named Lee Shelton, and was handed the nickname Stag Lee. One night, him and an acquaintance named Billy Lyons were drinking and gambling, before getting into an argument. Lyons takes Shelton's Stetson hat as a result of the argument. Well, Shelton was apparently so pissed about his hat, that he shot Lyons, killing him, and takes back his hat and leaves. This whole thing was based on a true story, and is told by the point of view of someone who was walking his dog, before stumbling onto the scene of the fight, and narrating the whole thing.
The song itself is a complete banger. It starts slow, and you even begin to think that it could even be some ballad-type song, before it just takes off, and remains like that for the rest of the song. Price doesn't even seem to come across as someone who is sad for Lyons being killed, or even horrified to be telling this story. He sounds energized and excited, like he's getting pumped with adrenaline watching this insane thing take place. But the way the song is delivered still works great, and it's a big reason why this song was so popular in its day. (I would imagine that this was a big reason anyway. I wasn't exactly alive in 1959)
Price himself would have a nice career himself. He never hit #1 again, but he came awfully close. Later in 1959, his lively and fun "Personality" stalled at #2 behind Johnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans". That song actually led to Price adopting the nickname of Mr. Personality. (Personality is a 9) But he had his 4 weeks of glory with "Stagger Lee". Which is not a bad way to spend some time at the top.
Oh yeah, and in case if you were wondering, Shelton did not get away with his crimes. He was tried and convicted of the murder in 1897. He actually got paroled in 1909, but his freedom was short-lived, as he went back to prison in 1911 for assault and robbery. He died in incarceration in 1912. Shelton was an absolute dumbass, but at least he inspired an awesome song.
GRADE: 9/10
THE TWOS:
The Crests' "16 Candles" peaked at #2 behind "Stagger Lee". It's a 7.
Ritchie Valens' (one of the musicians who died in the tragic plane crash that took the lives of him, Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and the pilot Roger Peterson) "Donna" also peaked at #2 behind "Stagger Lee". It's a 9.
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