Calcutta (song)

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"Calcutta" is a popular song. An instrumental recording of the tune by Lawrence Welk on the 1961 Dot Records album Calcutta! was a chart hit, possibly the largest hit of Welk's career.

The song, which in fact does have lyrics, was something of a departure for Welk with its combination of his recognizable "trademarks," i.e., the harpsichord lead, but backed with handclaps and a brisk rock rhythm.

"Calcutta" would stay atop the charts for two weeks while the album, with its combination of easy listening tunes and covers of then-popular rock singles, charted at number one for three months.

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At the time that "Calcutta" reached number one, Welk, who was then 57, became the oldest artist to have a number one pop single in the U.S. (His record would be broken three years later by Louis Armstrong who, at 62, topped the singles charts with "Hello Dolly" in early 1964.)

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Preceded by
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
February 13, 1961
Succeeded by
"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker