When I hear the phrase “old people music”, I think of a certain kind of music. A particular genre that has always had a storied history, and which is still enjoyed today. You may have heard of songs like Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, or Unchained Melody.
Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree
There’s nothing like a good old fashioned love song to put a smile on your face. The Andrews Sisters have given us more than a few hits to savor. Among their best-known tunes is “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.” It’s a song that really gets your heart pumping.
During the dark days of World War II, it was a big deal to hear a popular song. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra paired up to record “Don’t Sit Under the Apple tree” in early 1942. After being released as a single, it spent 13 weeks on the Billboard charts.
Among other things, the song also made it into the film Around the World. The song has been recorded by many notable artists over the years. In the early ’90s, Carol Channing recorded a version with T. Graham Brown. As far as modern-day artists go, the song has been covered by Otis Redding, Johnny Cash, and Carol Channing.
As a matter of fact, “Don’t Sit Under the Apple” was one of the hottest songs of the 1940s. It’s not uncommon for a song to spend more time on the charts than the rest of the year, and this particular version stayed on the chart for a good while.
Interestingly enough, the song is not as popular now as it was when it was first released. However, it still manages to snag the ear of a generation of listeners.
Jailhouse Rock
Jailhouse Rock is a rock ‘n’ roll movie starring Elvis Presley. Released in 1957, it is considered a classic early rock ‘n’ roll film.
It features a musical drama and comedy. The film’s storyline centers on a man sent to jail for manslaughter. He meets his cell mate Hunk and gets inspired to learn to play guitar. In prison, he is treated badly by his fellow inmates. But he discovers a talent for music and starts his own record company.
Although Presley did not write most of the songs, he did choreograph and record the songs. The songs were written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
“Jailhouse Rock” reached #1 on the charts in October 1957. It remained there for three weeks. RCA Victor released it as the first single from the film soundtrack EP.
Jailhouse Rock was not only a hit, it also established Presley’s reputation as a rock ‘n’ roll star. It also introduced Hollywood to the concept of rock ‘n’ roll musicals.
While the film was criticized as an over-glamorized portrayal of a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, it also showed a resemblance to the real life of Presley. Foreshadowing his later career, it is also an insider’s look at the rock ‘n’ roll record business.
As Presley’s second starring role, Jailhouse Rock paved the way for his later success. Unlike most films of the time, it does not include a clash of generations.
Unchained Melody
Unchained Melody is a song that triggers a lot of emotion. It is one of the most popular songs of the 20th century, and it is not just a rock ‘n’ roll anthem. In fact, it has been covered by hundreds of artists. Some of its most notable renditions include Elvis Presley, U2, Richard Clayderman, and Lena Horne.
While it hasn’t won any awards, it has been covered more times than we could have possibly imagined. Not to mention, it has been featured on several lists of the best love songs of all time. The song has been recorded in more languages than you can count.
Unchained was a musical hit in the 1950s, based on a book by Kenyon Judson Scudder. But, it wasn’t until the movie was released in 1955 that “Unchained Melody” was a major pop phenomenon. This is largely thanks to composer Alex North and lyricist Hy Zaret.
The song has been covered more than a few times, including by Demi and Patrick, the Righteous Brothers, and countless other popular artists. As a matter of fact, it is one of the highest grossing songs of all time for copyright holders.
Its title is not as important as the song itself. For instance, the song does not actually mention the word “unchained.”
One of the most interesting aspects of this song is that it was one of the earliest ‘B’ side releases by a major recording artist. It was produced by Bill Medley, who also produced numerous other ‘B’ side releases for The Beatles.