(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
Percy Faith and His Orchestra's - "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'"
Hit Number 1: February 22, 1960
Stay at Number 1: 9 Weeks
Somehow the top song of 1960 was an instrumental for a 1959 movie, and the song wasn't even the original version of the song. Somehow it resonated with the people of that time, and the song not only peaked at #1, but it stayed there for 9 weeks in 1960. To be honest though, as far as instrumentals go the song is not that bad, and it does give you a sense of peace and comfort. That was kind of what the composer of the song, Percy Faith, was known for throughout his career.
Faith had started playing piano and violin as a child, but when he badly burned his hands in a fire, he turned to conducting instead. Faith had become a key figure of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's live-music broadcasting from 1933 to 1940, as his live orchestras used the new medium of radio broadcasting around that time. After this, he moved to Chicago, and became the orchestra leader for Carnation Contented program on NBC. He was also was the orchestra leader on the CBS radio network program, "The Coca-Cola Hour". The guy was certainly big in the orchestra game, but he really reached new heights and national fame when his version of "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'" held the top spot on the charts for 9 weeks.
Now, Faith's version of the song was not the one that was used in the actual film "A Summer Place". It's a cover of the original instrumental that was arranged by fellow composer Hugo Winterhalter. His version is nice enough, but I for one think that I prefer Faith's version, just like the general public in 1960 apparently did. There's just something real calm and peaceful about the song, and is one that you can put on at anytime and feel for 2 and a half minutes that you have no worries in life, and all that exists is you and this song. There's a lot to be said for how this song can make a human being feel, but that's not enough to ever be a top song of a year, and one that should ever hold the #1 spot for 9 weeks. The song just acts as something to listen to on a bright sunny day while cruising down an open highway.
Faith continued to orchestrate popular songs througout the early 1960s, and even scored some motion pictures throughout the 1960s. When the 1970s arrived, rock music started to get harder, and that kind of hurt Faith's music, as it was no longer something the public desired. He did score a minor hit in 1976, when he redid "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'", putting a disco twist on the song. He never got to see the public's reaction to the remake though, as cancer claimed his life in February of that year.
GRADE: 6/10
JUST MISSED:
With "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'" holding the top spot for 9 weeks, there were 5 songs that stalled at #2 behind it. The first was Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man". It's also a 6.
Next, was Jim Reeves' "He'll Have to Go". It's a 7.
Then, there was teen idol Bobby Rydell's "Wild One". It's a 7.
Speaking of teen idols, Paul Anka was the next victim of "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'". His "Puppy Love" also peaked at #2 behind it. It's a 4.
Lastly, there was the very forgettable "Greenfields" by the Brothers Four. It's a 3.
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