On this day in 1957, “Wake Up Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers started a six-week run in the #1 spot on the CKWX Top 50 chart! This follow-up to Don & Phil’s debut hit “Bye Bye Love” was even bigger, reaching #1 on Billboard’s sales, jukebox, and radio airplay charts.

The song’s lyrics were considered controversial at the time. Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the lines “We’ve both been sound asleep / Wake up, little Susie, and weep / The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock / And we’re in trouble deep” were suggestive enough to cause the song to be banned by several radio stations.

“I remember when it happened,” Don Everly told the Chicago Tribune. “They called and said it had been banned in Boston, and I said, ‘What?’ I was naive in those days. To me, they just fell asleep at a movie. Everybody else took it like some big deal.”

After recording “Wake up Little Susie,” Don and Phil hit the road for a 78-city tour, playing alongside some of the all time rock’n’roll greats: Chuck Berry, Buddy Knox, Buddy Holly and The Crickets, Paul Anka, Fats Domino, and Eddie Cochran. “The Biggest Show of Stars” visited Vancouver October 23, 1957. I was there and we’ll relive that special day… right here.