'Ricky' hit the top without a No. 1 hit

Q. An amazing fact I learned is that before the Beatles, RickyNelson is the only rock artist besides Elvis Presley to have a No. 1album. Now I'm wondering if, like those other two did so often,Nelson simultaneously held the No. 1 position on the singles charts.

A. Nelson almost topped both charts in January 1958, when hisdebut LP "Ricky" reached No. 1. But his hit single then, "Stood Up,"stalled at No. 2. "Ricky" sold very well in spite of having only twohits, "Be-Bop Baby" and its flip side, "Have I Told You Lately That ILove You." (Although they share the same song title, this is acompletely different song than the one that charted for Rod Stewart.And Rick's hit was written by Gene Autry.)

That amazing fact you mention needs a little fine tuning. Only ifyou classify rock separate from soul, or soul stars singing C&W, isthe statement accurate as quoted. If consolidating the styles, thenboth Ray Charles and Little Stevie Wonder preceded the Beatles atopthe LP charts.

Ray reached No. 1 in June 1962 with "Modern Sounds in Country andWestern Music," and Stevie a little over a year later with "The 12Year Old Genius." Coincidentally, both Ray and Stevie topped thesingles charts at the same time as their albums ranked No 1.

Q. I am on the lookout for songs about girls named April. Though Ihave been to Paris ("April in Paris") and in love ("April Love"),they, like most "April" songs, are about the month. My search hasturned up two titles, neither of which I have heard. It is my hopeyou recognize them and can tell me what they are about: "April Again"and "April's Fool."

A. Well, one out of two isn't so bad. "April Again," a Top 10middle-of-the-road hit in 1968 for Dean Martin, is about not beingable to relive the month of April. In "April's Fool," which made theC&W Top 15 in 1969, Ray Price sings of being fooled by a lady namedApril.

Q. Among boxes of very old 78s my parents left me are two by theAmericans Orchestra. Both are on a label whose name is 100 Percent. Ihave no way to play a 78, but these look interesting. The titles are"Mystic City" and "Cross in the Wildwood." Do they have any value?

A. All 78s made by 100 Percent came out in the 1920s and '30s, andany can sell for $75 to $125.

Q. In 1962, I bought a 45 of the rockabilly ballad "Love'sGamble." The disc is long lost and I am searching for moreinformation about it; so far, I have found nothing. I would like toknow the singer, label and flip side. I believe this recordingoriginated from the Bakersfield, Calif., area, though it isdefinitely not country music.

A. "Love's Gamble" is a 1961 release by Bobby Hollister and theRialtos (Pike 5910). The flip side is "Ring Around Your Neck." Youmay be surprised to learn that Pike even issued "Love's Gamble" witha picture sleeve. They must have believed in its potential, though itdid not become a hit.

The best-known Bakersfield talent first reeled in by Pike iscountry-rocker Ronnie Sessions, who made two Pike singles in '61.Neither became a hit but Sessions did finally break through 11 yearslater, charting 15 hits during the '70s for MGM and MCA.

IZ ZAT SO? All 10 of the No. 1 albums in 1970 are categorized asrock, making it the first full year ever -- specifically 1945 through'69 -- when the United States did not have a non-rock LP at the top.

Jerry Osborne is a syndicated columnist. Write to him c/o ChicagoSun-Times, Features Department, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611, e-mail him at jo@jerryosborne.com, or visit his Web site,www.jerryosborne.com.