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Song of the Day #5,993: ‘Ringo’ – Lorne Greene

The 60s were a strange time, when Bonanza‘s Ben Cartwright could score a #1 hit with a spoken-word country and western song. That’s exactly what Lorne Greene did the week of December 1, 1964, when his ‘Ringo’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a single week.

Accompanied by a promotional recording explaining that the song was not about The Beatles’ drummer, this tale of the bond between a gunslinger and a lawman became an unexpected hit for a man whose other musical attempts were largely met with crickets.

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Song of the Day #5,992: ‘Teach Me Tonight’ – The DeCastro Sisters

Throwing back to the week of November 30, 1954, we find The Chordettes atop the Billboard chart with ‘Mister Sandman,’ followed by two more repeats: Eddie Fisher’s ‘I Need You Now‘ and Rosemary Clooney’s ‘This Ole House.’

In the fourth spot, on the way to a peak at #2, was ‘Teach Me Tonight’ by The DeCastro Sisters, a trio of Cuban-born siblings. This was the fifth version of the song to land on a Billboard chart between 1954 and 1955, and the one that made it the farthest.

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Song of the Day #5,991: ‘Slipping My Mind’ – Michael Penn

Husband of Aimee Mann, brother of Chris and Sean, talented singer-songwriter Michael Penn… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.

To be fair, Penn did show up on a couple of Random Weekends about five years ago, so I’ve at least encountered him more recently than the others I’ve featured this week. But here’s a guy I used to listen to religiously, somebody with a sound and perspective that really hit home for me.

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Song of the Day #5,990: ‘Cathedrals’ – Jump, Little Children

Jump, Little Children, the North Carolina indie rock band that expanded on the typical guitar, bass and drums lineup with a cello and accordion… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.

I was a big fan of the band’s first four releases, including a collection of demos from 1995. Their major-label debut, 1998’s Magazine, was the one that really caught my attention, with its interesting blend of instruments and lead singer Jay Clifford’s unique voice.

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Song of the Day #5,989: ‘White Flag’ – Dido

English singer-songwriter Dido, whose debut album No Angel sold more than 15 million copies worldwide… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.

Dido had modest success in the UK following the release of No Angel, but it was the inclusion of the first verse of the song ‘Thank You’ on Eminem’s ‘Stan’ that brought her international fame. Her ethereal vocals served as a perfect backdrop for his take on a homicidally obsessed fan.

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