Retro Redux: Teresa Brewer And Her B-Side Million-Seller

I'm not one to brag about the reliability of my memory. In fact, just the opposite — I'll be the first to admit that my memory is so full of holes that you could use it to make a chain-link fence. That's why a lot of the songs I remember from my childhood are a little blurred as to how and where I first heard them. However, there are exceptions, and there is one song that I have no doubt about. Someone in our house - probably my Mother, but it could have been my Dad - bought that record and played it so often that even after all these years, I think I could still sing along with it.

Teresa Brewer was actually a show-biz veteran, appearing as a dancer at age 5 and later touring with the Major Bowes Amateur Hour, but by her teen years she led a pretty ordinary life, although she did occasionally sing on local radio. She couldn't read music but she could belt out a song in her distinctive voice. She began to attract notice and soon found herself with an agent.

She was only 18 years old in 1949, when she made a record of a song called "Copenhagen", a tune that her record company thought might get some attention for the fledgling singer. For the less-emphasized B-side of the record, they picked an obscure novelty song...but then a funny thing happened. Sales of the record began to build and when it peaked in 1950, they had a million-seller on their hands — but it was the B-side that became the hit, racking up countless plays on jukeboxes. The song was "Music! Music! Music!" and it made Teresa a star.

Selling a million records was quite a feat in those days, but Teresa followed that up with a number of hits. Her voice was a little different — clear as a bell, with a kewpie-doll sound that was very appealing to listeners, especially when used on the bouncy songs she continued to churn out. Throughout the 1950's, tunes such as "Ricochet", "Gonna Get Along Without You Now", and "Till I Waltz Again With You" sold well and kept her popular and successful.

Article Author: Big Geez

Big Geez is a retiree who takes time off from trimming his ear hair to write about music -- occasionally writing reviews, but most often using his regular music feature, Retro Redux, to share his opinions about how something resonates with his memories and those of his generation. …

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