(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.)
The Everly Brothers - "Cathy's Clown"
Hit Number 1: May 23, 1960
Stay at Number 1: 5 Weeks
The Everly Brothers, who were noted for their close harmonies, already had several hits before they had a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. On the Pre-Hot 100, perhaps their most famous song "All I Have To Do Is Dream" went to #1 (It's a 10), as well as "Wake Up Little Susie." (That one is an 8) The brothers were very big in the late 1950s, but their popularity clearly bled a little into the 1960s, when "Cathy's Clown" hit #1 in May of 1960. And it was no cheapie either, as it had a 5-week reign at that spot.
The brothers, Don and Phil, began writing and recording their own music in 1956, and scored their first hit with "Bye Bye Love", which by the way is a catchy as hell song. (It's an 8) And that song pretty much acted as the coming out party for the two. It was written by the husband and wife team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, who also wrote the other two aforementioned songs for the brothers. After those songs became so successful, the brothers signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records and started writing most if not all of their new music. One of those songs was "Cathy's Clown".
"Cathy's Clown" as far as the content goes, was not like most other Everly Brothers songs. Their past hits were mostly about love and heartbreak, and they came across as innocent guys who wouldn't even have a mean bone in their body. Then there's "Cathy's Clown". "Cathy's Clown" is a song about a guy who is in a relationship, but feels like he's being treated like crap. He goes as far as to tell this Cathy person that "I don't want your love anymore", and that he knows she is lying behind his back. He questions whether she even cares about how he feels, and that he's going to need to "stand tall".
The structure of the song is very nicely done as well. It still features the brothers close harmonies, and they have some real force behind their voices without overdoing it. The drumming in the song was recorded with a tape loop, making it sound as if there were two drummers. That added a nice touch to the song. Not to mention the talent that was in the studio too. The brothers played guitar, and the piano was played by Floyd Cramer (who played with artists such as Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline). The bass guitar was played by Floyd Chance (who played on previous #1 "It's Only Make Believe") and the drums were performed by Buddy Harman who also played with Elvis, as well as artists such as Johnny Cash, and future blog entries Kenny Rogers and Roy Orbison. So, there was no lack of talent in the studio when "Cathy's Clown" was recorded.
The Everly Brothers never reached #1 again, but they already had plenty of fame anyway. They entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961, pretty much ending their run as musicians altogether. If that wasn't enough, the fact that pop music was changing and that the brothers, just like the rest of the damn country, started having problems with drug usage in the late 1960s, their popularity trended down even more. They broke up in 1973, but got back together in 1983. They continued to perform until Phil died in 1983. Despite the fact that "Cathy's Clown" was basically their last moment of glory, it was a great song to end off with.
GRADE: 9/10
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