Elvis Presley became an established star in the UK during 1956, and his earliest 45 r.p.m recordings are much sought after by collectors. However Elvis had to wait until 1957 to get his first UK #1 with this record. He'd hit the #2 spot on two previous occasions with Heartbreak Hotel and Hound Dog.

Only a handful of his records appeared on "His Master's Voice" after 'All Shook Up' because RCA began issuing under their own label in the UK during 1957.

'All Shook Up' was written by Otis Blackwell and was recorded in January of 1957. It was about the time that this record hit the top of the U.S. charts that Elvis bought his famous home, Graceland. The record sold more than two million copies in the states, but didn't top the UK chart until June 1957.

Elvis Presley's 1950s recordings are considered by many to be his best work although his records continued to enjoy hit success in the UK during every year until, and even beyond, his death in 1977.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets became established favourites with the British record buying public very quickly following the release of 'That'll Be The Day' and its follow-on, 'Peggy Sue', which was issued under Buddy Holly's own name.

Buddy Holly and his group issued a string of successful UK hit records during the following eighteen months. Buddy Holly split from the group following a dispute with his manager Norman Petty and met a tragic death shortly afterwards.

Arguably, Holly's influence on British Rock and Roll was greater even than that of Elvis Presley or any other of the Rock and Roll pioneers that preceded him. This was probably because Buddy Holly did not fit the established R&R image of his contemporaries. He was just an ordinary guy who wore glasses- so he was possible to emulate, and many did so.

Although now dead for more than 40 years, his influences live on- especially in Europe. His songs are still popular and recently the legend has been retold in the immensely popular UK Musical, 'Buddy'.

In 1957 the UK chart was dominated by American artists. The British had not yet got to grips with Rock and Roll and could best compete for chart success with more traditional material or comedy.

Parlophone was used by EMI as the label carrying their comedy output. It was to be a source of amusement and delight for the Beatles a few years later when they found themselves on the same marque as so many well loved comedy artistes.

Peter Sellers' first chart success came with this single; though his first Album, the 10" LP 'Best of Sellers' is possibly better known. 'Any Old Iron' was a rendition of the old Music Hall song by a character that Peter had developed for radio's Goon show.

He had reached the charts the year previously, collectively with his goon colleagues, with 'Ying Tong Song' and 'I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas'. Peter Sellers went on to record several further comedy albums. One of these was to feature the singing of Matt Monro as a spoof Frank Sinatra- Matt's first appearance on the label. He too was to have a career with Parlophone, but as a successful balladeer from 1960 to 1965.

No doubt that Parlophone's association with the 'Fab four' helped initiate Peter Sellers' brilliant 'thespian' version of 'A Hard Day's Night' in 1965.

In 1957, Frank Sinatra was recording prolifically on both albums and singles. It was at this high point in his association with the Nelson Riddle orchestra that he produced this wonderful Cahn and Van Heusen ballad.

'All The Way' never quite made the top despite the fact that it was effectively a double 'A' side, having 'Chicago' on its flip. It did however manage the #3 spot on some versions of the UK chart, but frustratingly it stalled at #2 on his home ground.

At this time Frank Sinatra was a vociferous critic of the new 'Rock and Roll', but within a few years even he would be trying to capitalise on the new craze with numbers like 'Everybody's Twisting'.

Frank Sinatra continued to reach the charts with singles despite 'Rock and Roll' and achieved his greatest ever 45rpm success in 1966 with 'Strangers In The Night' which reached #1 on both sides of the Atlantic. The next occasion he would be seen at #1 in the singles chart was in the company of his daughter Nancy with 'Something Stupid' the following year.