"They say for every boy and girl there's just one love in this whole world," and it would take the right singer of such a song to reach the hearts of those who have emotional feelings of "young love." Such was the case with the very popular 1956 song, "Young Love." My CD of Time-Warner's "The Rock and Roll Era" has the Sonny James' version. Tab Hunter, the "dream boat" actor of that time, was the one who had the most popular version. But, now being in the age of judging so vocal performances more on overall quality, the Carl Perkins version seems the best, even if it is the country western version. Such music was shunned pretty much by me until my later adult years.
I recently heard on one of my tapes the Tab Hunter version. His voice sounded a bit hoarse, even off tune, especially when he sang the words, "I-I-know, I-I-I've found mine," the "mine" being his "young love". It made me think, "How could I have enjoyed that song so much when I was a high school freshman?" The answer quickly was answered in the memory compartment of my mind. Tab was a handsome devil, sort of the "wish I was like him" type guy for an adolescent boy. Of course, now that his personal life of being a homosexual brings a different outlook, but Rock Hudson, being the same type--handsome, manly but still homosexual -- gives evidence that people can have certain public images while having very different private live styles that were dealt them.
Regardless of all the nuances regarding the song, "Young Love," it remains one the best love songs of the 50s. The 50s had other movie actors who were promoted as singers. Their looks and youthfulness attracted the young who saw them as role models, of being "cool". And being young in the "puppy love" stage of life is a special feeling one cannot forget. I have clear memories of the girl I danced with to that "Young Love" in our freshman year in the Rogers small gym. I wasn't in love with her, but she was a dish, and I sure enjoyed dancing with her. I also remember hearing Tab singing the song as I drove up to the house of a girl I was taking to a dance. Some songs just bring back memories that stick. "Thanks for memory," Tab. Carl and Sonny don't bring back any memories, even if they were better singers.