Song #29 - "Cathy's Clown" - The Everly Brothers

#1 for weeks of May 23, 30, and June 6, 13, and 20, 1960. 

     Tic-Tac-Toe, three great songs in a row, and this one is certainly the best of the bunch! If you by some unfortunate chance haven't heard anything by this famous singing duo, go right now and listen to "Bye Bye Love", "Wake Up Little Susie", "Claudette" and the mellow "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Let It Be Me". All great classic songs indeed, but then go have a listen to this one and you'll hear an amazing sound progression.  

     "Cathy's Clown", written by the Everly Brothers themselves (Phil and Don Everly), is musically the freshest sounding song so far. With a jaunty punchy guitar part, booming march-like drums, and the finest ingredient - two of the best singing duos in music history, it leaves the 1950's in the dust. 

     The Everly Brothers' two part harmonies were always sung close together giving each of their songs a very vibrant and bright feel. The only time this song is sung solo is during the piano-heavy bridge where Don Everly laments over how bad his girlfriend Cathy is treating him. 

     However, it's the chorus that makes this song an undisputed classic. Going vocally from singing in unison to a Major 2nd to a Perfect 4th, it is a vocal hook that will permanently stick with you. Two part harmony never sounded better!

     The Everly Brothers, while having a more diminished success in the rest of the 1960's, would still put out great material. In 1966, they teamed up with The Hollies and recorded, Two Yanks In England, an album showcasing The Everly Brothers' versions of Hollies songs with the latter themselves providing instrumentation. The Everly Brothers still continue to perform to this very day. Postscript - Sadly, as of January 3, 2014, we've lost Phil Everly, one half of this timeless duo. What many vocal bands accomplished with four or five singers, Phil and Don accomplished with just two. RIP. 

Final Verdict - A song fully deserving of #1 status, not just by sales but by its high quality. This is a song that has stood the test of time and still sounds fresh and invigorating to this day. "Cathy's Clown" is a masterpiece of Rock that deserves to be part of your record collection. 

        Coming Up Next - "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" by Connie Francis. 

                                 Until Next Time - Dr. Rock -