EVERY UK NUMBER ONE SONG: ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ – Eddie Cochran

What was the number one song in the UK on 23rd June 1960?

By Hayley Beasley Dye

American rock ‘n’ roll singer, Eddie Cochran reached number one posthumously 2 months after his death with Three Steps to Heaven for 2 weeks.

It is with some sadness that a song about heaven is what took Eddie to number one shortly after he died in a traffic accident. However, this is an upbeat, optimistic song about the simplicity of finding happiness and falling in love. It’s a simple, snappy song that is lovely to listen to.

Wikipedia

“Three Steps to Heaven” is a song co-written and recorded by Eddie Cochran, released in 1960. The record became a posthumous UK number-one hit for Cochran following his death in a car accident in April 1960. In the US it did not reach the Billboard Hot 100. “Three Steps To Heaven” was recorded in January 1960 and featured Buddy Holly’s Crickets on instruments. The song was written by Eddie Cochran and his brother Bob Cochran. David Bowie used the guitar chord riff in his 1971 song “Queen Bitch” on his album Hunky Dory. He later made reference to the song title in the lyrics of “It’s No Game” on 1979’s Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps).

Lyrics