Top of the Pops!

Today our Top of the Pops! goes waaaay back to commerate the 75th birthday of the King of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley.
Here is the top 5 for the week ending April 21st 1956.
This was an odd top 5 because 2 of the hits were instrumentals and very little if any video exist of the original artist performing or in this case conducting their orchestras.
This was the week that rock n roll made it clear that is was not going away but getting bigger.
Lets get it started!

#5- Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
A former #1 hit that spent 4 weeks at the top in February/March.


#4- Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
This was written by Carl Perkins and it topped out at #2 and beat Elvis' version to the charts.


#3- Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
Another former #1 that was knocked off by Elvis Presley and his first #1. This spent 4 weeks at the top in March and April. This song had followed Nelson Riddle's "Lisbon Antigua" into the top spot and was the only time in the rock era that 2 instrumentals would be back to back #1 songs.


#2- Hot Diggity - Perry Como
One of the few times a Perry Como song didnt reach the top of the charts, but he had the misfortune of hitting #2 behind that new sensation Elvis Presley. Even Mr. Smooth couldnt budge the future King of Rock N Roll from the top.


#1- Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
Here is the first #1 single for Elvis Presley and was the first of his 17 to top the Billboard Hot 100. This was released on January 27th and when it reached the top on April 21st it would stay there for 8 consecutive weeks. This was Elvis' first recording for RCA Victor and it would be the biggest
selling single of 1956.