Too Risque For Boston Radio

It was banned in Boston---but still hit the #1 position on the Billboard charts on this date in 1957.

“It” was the song “Wake Up Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers. Following their smash, “Bye Bye Love”, “Susie” was their first number one hit. Radio stations in Boston thought the lyrics a bit too suggestive (can you imagine how those same radio guys would react TODAY after hearing the radio?)

The Everly Brothers were one of the most important and influential duos in rock & roll history. Three and four-part harmonies were common—as the gospel singing that gave way to doo-wop and early rock and roll featured this type of sonic portrait.

The Everly Brothers created a whole new sound altogether. Being realted probably helped-as their extremely tight two-part harmonies were paired with acoustic guitars and a backbeat rhythm that was truly unique. Genetically similar vocal chords had to play a part, no?

Don and Phil Everly began singing together at the tender ages of 8 and 6 respectively. Their parents had a radio show in Iowa. When the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1953, the duo sought work as songwriters in Nashville.

Complete failure.

Even retooling and trying things out as a performing duo and attempting to put out a record of their own, the Everly Brothers couldn’t even crack the low end of the Country and Western charts.

The move that changed their careers forever was their migration to Cadence Records—and the tutelage of producer and session man Chet Atkins—and songwriters Felice and Boudreaux Bryant. “Bye Bye Love” made it to #2—and the rest is history!

Here’s an early TV appearance of the Everlys singing their #1 hit:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icy84NQ9zXY&feature=related

That song wouldn’t be their last #1 however—scoring two more with “All I Have To Do Is Dream” in 1958 and “Cathy’s Clown” in 1960.

Then came their highly publicized breakup-although the details of WHY are somewhat obscured. After a stint in the Marines (where they were out of the spotlight), battles with drug addiction and the British Invasion of the Beatles and other new groups, the ability of the Everly Brothers to make hits and sell albums suffered greatly.

In 1970, Don Everly released a solo album, but it was not a success. The brothers would not speak to each other for the next TEN YEARS, only getting together once in 1975 to attend their father’s funeral.

The two got back together in 1983, appearing at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They still perform, but rarely. I got to see them at the Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour “Old Friends” in 2003 and 2004.

They were still amazing—and it was weird to see The Everly Brothers as essentially the “opening act” for a duo so infuenced by their music. I give credit to Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, who showcased them and praised them from the stage. No strangers to feuds themselves, it was good to see both legendary duos back together again.

In all, The Everly Brothers had 26 Billboard Top 40 singles –35 in the Top 100 –which still holds the record for a duo. Only Hall & Oates have more Top 40 singles (29).

Appropriately, The Everly Brothers were among the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Since then, they have received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, been inducted into the Country Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (who knew there WAS one?) and the Vocalist Hall of Fame (ditto)

An incredible legacy—and all they had to do was dream.
And sing.

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