The Ballad Of Davy Crockett – Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes occupied the UK top 10 for seven weeks in 1956 with this track.

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Sixty years ago this week, The ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes was at its highest position of number 2 in the UK singles chart for the second of three weeks. It had entered the top 20 two weeks previously at number 13 and broke into the top 10 a week later. After falling from its peak position, the song spent another three weeks in the top 10, two of them in the top 5, and then fell to number 12 for a final week in the chart.

The ballad of Davy Crockett was released on the London record label and was the only UK top 10 hit for Bill Hayes. The single was a US number 1.

The original version of the song was recorded for the television series Davy Crockett in 1954 by the Wellingtons. Three other versions of the song entered the UK chart in 1956. Max Bygraves took his recording to number 20, a version by Dick James reached number 14 and Tennessee Ernie Ford’s single peaked at number 3.

More music from Bill Hayes

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 28 January 1956

1. Sixteen tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford

2. The ballad of Davy Crockett – Bill Hayes

3. The ballad of Davy Crockett – Tennessee Ernie Ford

4. Love and marriage – Frank Sinatra

5. Love is a many-splendored thing – Four Aces

6. (Love is) the tender trap – Frank Sinatra

7. Rock-a-beatin’ boogie – Bill Haley and His Comets

8. Rock around the clock – Bill Haley and His Comets

9. Rock Island line – Lonnie Donegan

10. Sixteen tons – Frankie Laine with the Mellomen