KODY in North Platte, Nebraska currently runs a news-talk format and simulcasts on 106.1 FM, but in the late ’50’s forward (I have no information on when they changed formats) they were a Top 40 station. Here is their Top Ten for January 9, 1960.
| # | Song/Artist | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | El Paso Marty Robbins |
The Marty Robbins classic, which reached #1 on both the Country chart and on the Hot 100. |
| 9 | Little Donkey Patti Page |
About half the songs on this week’s survey are Christmas songs. This is one, about the donkey Mary rode on to Bethlehem. |
| 8 | The Chipmunk Song The Chipmunks |
This song came out in 1958, and again in 1959 and 1961. It reached #1 on the Hot 100 in 1958 and #41, #45, and #39 the following three years. Starting in 1963, seasonal records had their own survey. |
| 7 | Running Bear Johnny Preston |
A song written by J.P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper, it reached #1 in January 1960 and stayed there for three weeks. |
| 6 | We Got Love Bobby Rydell |
Written by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, this spent 17 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at #6. |
| 5 | This Time Of The Year Brook Benton |
Another Christmas song, this reached #12 on the R&B chart and #66 on the Hot 100. Folks in North Platte liked it, though. |
| 4 | It’s Christmas Once Again Jimmie Rodgers |
I can’t find any information about this record as far as charting, but again, the folks in North Platte liked it. |
| 3 | Mighty Good Ricky Nelson |
The flip side to his #20 hit “I Wanna Be Loved,” this song managed to make the Top 40, peaking at #38. |
| 2 | Be My Guest Fats Domino |
John Marascalco and Tommy Boyce worked with Fats on this song. He released it in October 1959 and it reached #8 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart. |
| 1 | Why Frankie Avalon |
A solid #1 hit on the Hot 100, it also reached #6 on the R&B chart and #20 in the UK. |
And thats Top Ten Tuesday for January 12, 2021.
I’m guessing my mom was running around a lot and I heard some of these in the car. I remember more of them than I should.
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My folks really weren’t radio people back then. Mom really didn’t start listening to the radio until after Dad died. They might have turned it on when company was coming, more as background noise.
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Great selection of songs from that time. Interesting mix.
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Interesting that the station would leave the Christmas songs on the chart this far into January. With a lot of stations, the Christmas records are back in the vault December 26.
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Yes, very true.
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What a great list and an interesting one. I always like Marty Robbins and his music. My mom remembered the Chipmunk song as well as my dad. My dad liked it more than my mom but they always laughed about this song and the yelling for “Alvin.”
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I love Running Bear!
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That’s a fun song, isn’t it?
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