Johnny Horton: "North to Alaska"

November 14, 1960 (2 weeks)

So far four acts have managed to tally at least three number ones on the CHUM chart: The Everly Brothers, David Seville and, now, Johnny Horton all racked up a trio of chart toppers while Elvis Presley has no less than eleven — with, needless to say, plenty more to come. Even considering the grip The King had on popular music, this is still an astonishing number. Plus, it's worth remembering that the establishment of a national Canadian chart didn't begin until the middle of 1957: had it come along a year or so earlier, his total likely would be even higher.

The other three are more of a mixed bag. Obviously, The Everly Brothers were great and belong here even if they got jobbed out of a fourth number one when their masterpiece, "Cathy's Clown", lost out to some piece of crap. And then there's David Seville and Johnny Horton: proof, if any was needed, that success doesn't always come out of quality work. But at least the former has one contribution that I would almost consider listening to for pleasure, 1958's "Witch Doctor". Which leaves Horton, a man who never met a song he couldn't completely mess up.

Well, it's important to point out that he didn't seem to choose very good material to begin with. So, either he had a knack for ballsing up mediocre songs or he treated the crappy songs he recorded with all the respect they deserved. (I could go either way on this one) But it doesn't say much for Horton that at best he selected shit songs that weren't improved by his presence. (That said, he was the co-writer of his two most recent number ones so it's also his responsibility that the compositions weren't up to snuff as well)

To give him his due, "Sink the Bismark" had been a modest improvement on the abominable "The Battle of New Orleans" but "North to Alaska" is a return to wretched form. It's as though he found himself a cozy spot doing novelty country anthems for Hollywood motion pictures and he was happy to ride that wave. If this made him a living and bought him a nice house to raise his family then bless him but I'll pass on having to listen to the crummy fruits of his labours.

Okay, one more listen. I guess if I'm going to be as generous as possible, I'll acknowledge that it's not quite as irritating as "The Battle of New Orleans". But that's probably the best I can do. Frankly, I'm glad I don't have to blog about any more of his hits even though I wish it had been due to his career stalling rather than the tragic circumstances that befell just as this his most recent single was climbing the charts.

Sadly, Horton would not live long enough to enjoy the success of "North to Alaska". He was killed in a car accident while en route from Texas to Louisiana between gigs. (Bandmate Tillman Franks, who also co-wrote Horton's final hit, was also in the same the automobile but he managed to survive). I don't care for his records but there's no question he deserved a much longer time on Earth than his thirty-five years. And who knows? He might have even found the inspiration to write and record a passable or even brilliant hit but we'll never know.

Score: 3