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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHYLAND, Bryan(b 12 Nov. '43, NYC) USA pop singer. Scored still in teens with novelty "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Polka Dot Bikini', an early example of bubble-gum written by Paul Vance/Lee Pockriss (no. 1 USA '60); follow-up "Lopsided, Overloaded, And It Wiggles When I Rode It' failed to match success: Hyland switched from Leader to ABC and made no. 20 with better "Let Me Belong To You' (top 20 '61). "Ginny Come Lately' '62 continued in sub-Anka adolescent-angst vein (no. 21 '62) but major success of period was "Sealed With A Kiss', teenie weepie that made no. 3 both UK/USA. Final hit of early '60s was "Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)', top 30 UK/USA and since revived by Dave Edmunds. Came again mid-'60s with "The Joker Went Wild' and "Run, Run Look And See' (top 25 USA, prod. by Snuff Garrett); then had one-off no. 3 in '73 with "Gypsy Woman', cover of Curtis Mayfield '61 hit for the Impressions, prod. by Del Shannon, who'd wanted to prod. Hyland in '68 but got sidetracked. Made eponymous album for UNI with Shannon, revived another soul hit (Jackie Wilson's '59 "Lonely Teardrop'), but never made change from teen heart-throb to serious artist, ironically a change Shannon made with more success. "Sealed With A Kiss' made no. 7 UK on reissue '75; he's remembered for timeless kitsch. |