This week in 1962

1 Return To Sender Elvis Presley

2 Lovesick Blues Frank Ifield

3 Sun Arise Rolf Harris

4 Bobby’s Girl Susan Maughan

5 The Next Time/Bachelor Boy Cliff Richard 6 Swiss Maid Del Shannon

7 Let’s Dance Chris Montez

8 Telstar Tornados

9 Dance With The Guitar Man Duane Eddy 10 Devil Woman Marty Robbins

‘Return To Sender’, No. 1 in the UK through Christmas 1962, was also the first Christmas number one in Ireland, as the Irish charts had only been established in October of that year. It was co-written by Otis Blackwell (who also wrote the Elvis hits ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘All Shook Up’) and Winfield Scott, for the movie ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’. In the US, Elvis had to settle for number two in the Billboard charts as ‘Return to Sender’ was held off the top spot for five straight weeks by the Four Seasons’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. It is said that when the US Postal Service issued stamps commemorating Elvis in 1993, collectors mailed covers on the day of issue to false addresses so that they would be sent back marked ‘Return To Sender’, and become collectors’ items.