“Golden oldie”
Radio disc jockeys sometimes play old songs, called “golden oldies.” The 1927 song “Me and My Shadow” was called a “golden oldie” in 1951. Rock and roll songs from the 1950s were sold in 1960 on an album called The Golden Oldies.
Similar terms include “blast from the past” and “oldie but goodie.”
(Oxford English Dictionary)
golden oldie n. colloq. (a) a familiar old song, film, etc., that remains popular and is still regarded with affection; (b) a popular older or elderly person; esp. a veteran performer, etc., who retains his or her popularity or appeal.
1966 Time 2 Dec. 46 The platter..promises to become what the deejays call a ‘Golden Oldie’.
1971 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 65 781/1 New faces and golden oldies alike.
8 January 1951, Chicago (IL) Daily Tribune, “Tower Icker” by Savage, pg. 19, col. 3:
BIll Snyder, the “Bewitched” maestro has a successor hit on the London label, the golden oldie, “Me and My Shadow.”
30 July 1952, Variety, pg. 73, col. 4:
GOLDEN SONG OLDIES AS
‘ANIMAL’ B.O. GIMMICK
(...)
First 30 wires naming the (John—ed.) Golden oldies were awarded a single seat to ‘The Male Animal.’
20 June 1960, Billboard, “Spotlight Winners of the Week,” pg. 58, col. 3:
THE GOLDEN OLDIES
Various Artists, Decca, 4036
31 July 1960, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Court of Records” by Wally George, pg. G3, col. 4:
“The Golden Oldies” (Decca): Time must be really rushing by when hit records by Bobby Darin, Bobby Helms, the Crickets and BIll Haley are packaged under a title like this. Why, it seems like only yesterday that we were beleaguered with “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”
OCLC WorldCat record
Sing along : 84 golden oldies
Author: Bill Hansen
Publisher: [Place of publication not identified] : California Music Press ; New York : C. Hansen [distributor], ©1961.
Edition/Format: Musical score : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Golden oldies : for all organs.
Publisher: Miami Beach : Charles Hansen, ©1962.
Series: Hansen’s all organ series, no. 7.
Edition/Format: Musical score : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Together Golden oldie
Author: Anne Murray
Publisher: [Mississauga, Ont.] : Capitol, 1976.
Edition/Format: Music : 45 rpm : English