1956 Songs: Standing on the Corner

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Let’s see….rock and roll? Check! Pop? Check! Country? Check! Rockabilly? Check! What have we left out of 1956? Oh, show tunes! Let’s scratch that genre off with this song from 70 years ago. Not well remembered, but fun nevertheless. Standing on the Corner - The Four Lads The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is happy to provide the following tune in accordance with the Canadian content law. Yes, the Four Lads were Canadian. They may be better remembered in their home land than here in America (they’re in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame), although they did have a number of hits in the 50s. The most memorable hit of theirs was “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” a 1952 novelty-style hit that was later covered in the 80s by They Might Be Giants. “Moments to Remember” was a top 3 hit in 1955, and this song was also a gold record top 3 hit in 1956. The song came from the play The Most Happy Fella, written by songwriting legend Frank Loesser. As a friend of mine said about another song, this didn’t age well. “Take me down to Main Street and I review the harem parading for me there” and “you can’t go to jail for what you’re thinking” aren’t exactly things you’ll hear in a feminist anthem. But, remember, it was a different time. This song was also covered by the likes of Dean Martin and the Mills Brothers. In fact, the Mills Brothers’ version was the first version of this song that I heard! Here’s to Frank Loesser, the Four Lads, and the fun and innocence of the 50s. Standing on the Corner Written by Frank Loesser Recorded by The Four Lads Released as a single, 1956 You don’t know a nicer occupation: