This Day in Halloween: Novelty pop song “The Purple People Eater” reaches number one on the Billboard charts in 1958. / Illustration by Eiloh Virgo
“The Purple People Eater” reaches number one on the Billboard charts in 1958 and remains there until July 10. The novelty pop song by Sheb Wooley also reaches the top of the Australian charts and number 12 on the U.K. charts that year.
