As we enter February, 2023 we’re already half way through 1960 in our journey through musical history. Let’s hear what it sounds like…
Songs of the month
“A Rockin’ Good Way” – Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
“Alley-Oop” – Dante & The Evergreens
“Alley-Oop” – Hollywood Argyles
“Because They’re Young” – Duane Eddy
“Burning Bridges” – Jack Scott
“Cathy’s Clown” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Don’t Come Knockin'” – Fats Domino
“Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” – Connie Francis
[new] “Feels So Fine” – Johnny Preston
[new] “Finger Poppin’ Time” – Hank Ballard
“Good Timin'” – Jimmy Jones
“Happy-Go-Lucky Me” – Paul Evans
“He’ll Have To Stay” – Jeanne Black
“I Really Don’t Want To Know” – Tommy Edwards
“I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Image Of A Girl” – Safaris
[new] “It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
[new] “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – Brian Hyland
“Jealous Of You” – Connie Francis
[new] “Josephine” – Bill Black’s Combo
[new] “Look For A Star” – Billy Vaughn Orchestra
[new] “Look For A Star” – Deane Hawley
[new] “Look For A Star” – Gary Mills
“Love You So” – Ron Holden
“Mack The Knife” – Ella Fitzgerald
[new] “Mission Bell” – Donnie Brooks
“Mule Skinner Blues” – Fendermen
“My Home Town” – Paul Anka
“Only The Lonely” – Roy Orbison
“Paper Roses” – Anita Bryant
[new] “Pennies From Heaven” – Skyliners
“Please Help Me I’m Falling” – Hank Locklin
[new] “Question” – Lloyd Price
“Runaround” – Fleetwoods
“Swingin’ School” – Bobby Rydell
[new] “Tell Laura I Love Her” – Ray Peterson
“That’s All You Gotta Do” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Theme From ‘the Unforgiven'” – Don Costa
[new] “This Bitter Earth” – Dinah Washington
[new] “Trouble In Paradise” – Crests
[new] “Walking To New Orleans” – Fats Domino
[new] “When Will I Be Loved” – Everly Brothers
“Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey” – Bobby Darin
“Wonderful World” – Sam Cooke
“Young Emotions” – Ricky Nelson
[new] = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On July 11th Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird was first published.
I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers, but at the same time I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways this was just about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I’d expected.
The film was released 2-years later, here’s a little time-travel to see the trailer:
The next day the the Etch-A-Sketch toy was first manufactured. Licensed to Ohio Art Company by French inventor André Cassagnes, it quickly became one of the most popular toys of all time.
Then on the 23rd the Soviet Union launched a space capsule with two dogs, Pchelka and Mushka, in advance of manned space flight. Korabl 3 burned up upon re-entry into the atmosphere…
What’d Sadie think?
A mix of tracks at the top this month. Firstly “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” by Connie Francis then “Alley-Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles for a week each before Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry” rounds out the month.
Loved ’em
- “It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
- “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – Brian Hyland
- “This Bitter Earth” – Dinah Washington
- “Trouble In Paradise” – Crests
- “Walking To New Orleans” – Fats Domino
- “When Will I Be Loved” – Everly Brothers
Liked ’em
- “Don’t Come Knockin'” – Fats Domino
- “Feels So Fine” – Johnny Preston
“Finger Poppin’ Time” – Hank Ballard - “Josephine” – Bill Black’s Combo
- “Look For A Star” – Garry Miles
- “Mission Bell” – Donnie Brooks
- “Pennies From Heaven” – Skyliners
- “Question” – Lloyd Price
- “Tell Laura I Love Her” – Ray Peterson
Leave ’em
- “Image Of A Girl” – Safaris
- “Theme From ‘the Unforgiven'” – Don Costa
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.