The year ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ roared to the top of the charts

Another disaster in the music world, on April 17, 1960 after a concert in Bristol, United Kingdom Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent along with Cochran’s fiancée, songwriter Sharon Sheeley left in a taxi to go to London airport. They were to take a short break home in the United States from their hectic UK tour program, before returning to resume the tour.

Driving through Wiltshire the taxi blew a tyre and crashed headlong into a lamp-post. Eddie Cochran was thrown into the roof of the car and died. The driver Pat Thompkins, Vincent and Sheeley escaped with serious injuries.

Eddie’s new single ‘Three Steps To Heaven’ was soon roaring to the top of the charts worldwide. Like Buddy Holly before him it seemed as if Eddie Cochran was only getting started.

UK chart newcomer Lance Fortune (‘Be Mine’) and US singer Jerry Keller (‘Here Comes Summer’) were hurriedly rushed in to replace Cochran and Vincent on the tour. Following every tour date was a very young budding guitarist from Liverpool, George Harrison.

Eddie Cochran’s career took off in 1956 when he had a cameo role in the movie The Girl Can’t Help It, singing ‘Twenty Flight Rock’. His James Dean like good looks won him a record contract with Liberty Records where his first single ‘Sittin’ In The Balcony’ went to the top 20 in the US.

The following year he released one of the most iconic rock records of all time, ‘Summertime Blues’. Then came ‘C’mon Everybody’, ‘Three Steps To Heaven’, ‘Something Else’ and ‘Weekend’ among others. It was said rock ‘n’ roll died with Eddie Cochran; how different the pop scene would have been had Cochran and Buddy Holly not died so tragically and so young.

In Australia Johnny Ashcroft had his biggest hit with ‘Little Boy Lost’, a song that detailed the story of a boy lost in the bush in January 1960. The song was also recorded in the US by Jimmy Dean and in the UK by Michael Holliday.

Ashcroft was the first Australian artist to receive gold awards live on stage, when he was presented with three during a performance in Tamworth, New South Wales, in 1971. During the presentation he suggested that Tamworth have an annual festival for music and awards for recording country artists. Consequently two years later Tamworth became the country musical capital of Australia with an annual festival, handing out awards and Golden Guitars to Country Artists.

In the UK, occupying the number one spot for four weeks was Lonnie Donnegan with ‘My Ole Man’s A Dustman’, a month before hitting the top in Australia. This was the year of the novelty records, as well as Donnegan’s there was ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport’ sung by Rolf Harris; Tommy Steele’s ‘What A Mouth’ and ‘Little White Bull’; Brian Hyland’s ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini’, and ‘Alley Oop’ sund by The Hollywood Argyles.

Brian Hyland was only 16 years old when ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ sold more than 2 million records. It was the first of many hits for the singer, which included ‘Four Little Heels’, ‘Ginny Come Lately’, ‘Sealed With A Kiss’ and in 1970 ‘Gypsy Woman’, produced by friend and mentor Del Shannon, his last chart entry.

The number ones in Australia in April 1960

2nd, 9th: ‘What In The World’s Come Over You’, Jack Scott
16th, 23rd, 30th: ‘Beatnik Fly’, Johnny & The Hurricanes

The number ones in the UK in April 1960

2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd: ‘My Ole Man’s A Dustman’, Lonnie Donnegan
30th: ‘Do You Mind’, Anthony Newley

The number ones in the US in April 1960

2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd: ‘Theme From A Summer Place’, The Percy Faith Orchestra
30th: ‘Stuck On You’, Elvis Presley

The top 10 in Australia in April 1960

1. ‘Beatnik Fly’, Johnny & The Hurricanes
2. ‘What In The World’s Come Over You?’, Jack Scott
3. ‘He’ll Have To Go’, Jim Reeves
4. ‘What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For?’, Emile Ford & The Checkmates
5. ‘Handy Man’, Jimmy Jones
6. ‘Starlight, Starbright’, Lonnie Lee & The Leemen
7. ‘Teen Angel’, Mark Dinning
8. ‘Village Of St. Bernadette’, Andy Williams
9. ‘The Hippy Hippy Shake’, Chan Romero
10. ‘Little Boy Lost’, Johnny Ashcroft

There are some amazing tunes from April 1960, what were your favourites? Do you remember singing along to Eddie Cochran’s ‘Summertime Blues’?

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