This is a song that would not get airplay today because of its inappropriate use of Australian Aboriginal cultural stereotypes; I couldn't finish listening to it. Listeners in Toronto in 1962 didn't feel that way, obviously, as it went all the way to #1.
Charlie Drake (1925-2006) was an English comedian and singer. He appeared in several television series in Britain in the late 1950s and early 1960s; his catchphrase was "Hello, my darlings!" Prior to this, Drake had reached the UK charts a few times, making it to #7 with a cover of Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" and to #12 with "Mr. Custer".
"My Boomerang Won't Come Back" was produced by George Martin, who of course went on to become the Beatles' producer. It reached #14 in the UK charts; a shorter version of the song, prepared for the American market, reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. I do not know whether the longer or the shorter version was played in Toronto.
Drake went on to appear in more television series in the 1960s. In the 1980s, he became a more serious actor. He retired in 1995 after suffering a stroke and spent his final years in a retirement home for actors and performers.
I'll end this with an old joke. Question: what do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back? Answer: a stick.
Created February 18, 2026.