It’s July, 1962

As we tune in to July, 1962 it’s 58 years and 1 months before Sadie is born and 14 years and 7 months before Thomas is. Let’s hear what it sounded like…

Songs of the month


“A Steel Guitar And A Glass Of Wine” – Paul Anka
[new] “Ahab The Arab” – Ray Stevens
“Al Di La” – Emilio Pericoli
[new] “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” – Neil Sedaka
[new] “Bristol Twistin’ Annie” – Dovells
“Cindy’s Birthday” – Johnny Crawford
[new] “Dancin’ Party” – Chubby Checker
“Gravy For My Mashed Potatoes” – Dee Dee Sharp
“Having A Party” – Sam Cooke
[new] “Heart In Hand” – Brenda Lee
“I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Ray Charles
[new] “I Need Your Loving” – Don Gardner And Dee Dee Ford
“I’ll Never Dance Again” – Bobby Rydell
“It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'” – Johnny Tillotson
[new] “It Started All Over Again” – Brenda Lee
“Johnny Get Angry” – Joanie Sommers
[new] “Johnny Loves Me” – Shelley Fabares
[new] “Little Bitty Pretty One” – Clyde Mcphatter
[new] “Little Diane” – Dion
[new] “Made To Love” – Eddie Hodges
“Palisades Park” – Freddy Cannon
[new] “Party Lights” – Claudine Clark
“Playboy” – Marvelettes
“Roses Are Red” – Bobby Vinton
“Sealed With A Kiss” – Brian Hyland
[new] “Seven Day Weekend” – Gary Us Bonds
“Sharing You” – Bobby Vee
“Snap Your Fingers” – Joe Henderson
[new] “Speedy Gonzales” – Pat Boone
“Stranger On The Shore” – Acker Bilk
“That’s Old Fashioned” – Everly Brothers
“The Crowd” – Roy Orbison
[new] “The Locomotion” – Little Eva
“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” – Gene Pitney
“The Stripper” – David Rose Orchestra
“The Wah Watusi” – Orlons
[new] “The Wah Watusi” – The Orlons
“Theme From Dr. Kildare” – Richard Chamberlain
[new] “Things” – Bobby Darin
[new] “Twist And Shout” – Isley Brothers
“Walk On The Wild Side” – Jimmy Smith
[new] “Welcome Home Baby” – Shirelles
“Wolverton Mountain” – Claude King
[new] “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” – Barbara Lynn

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the 2nd of July Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store as “Wal-Mart Discount City” in Rogers, Arkansas, United States. By 1970, there would be 38 Wal-Mart stores. After 50 years, there were more than 9,766 stores in 27 countries, and 11,766 by mid-2019

On the 12th The Rolling Stones made their debut at London’s Marquee Club, Number 165 Oxford Street, opening for the first time under that name, for Long John Baldry. Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor and Tony Chapman had played together for the group Blues Incorporated before creating a new name inspired by the Muddy Waters 1950 single “Rollin’ Stone”.

And in high-tech news, on the 13th international telephone calls, via satellite, were inaugurated by AT&T, as company president Eugene McNeely placed a call to the French Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones, Jacques Marette. On Telstar’s next orbit, McNeely spoke with Sir Ronald German, the British General Post Office Director-General.

What’d Sadie think?

A week at the top for the provocatively named, “The Stripper” by the David Rose Orchestra before the next 3 weeks of the month are owned by Bobby Vinton’s “Roses Are Red”.

Loved ’em

A month of big songs that lasted the test of time. Particularly memorable to me is Little Eva’s “The Locomotion” that was famously covered by Kylie Minogue during my childhood in the ’80s. Written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King, it was originally written for R&B singer Dee Dee Sharp, but Sharp turned the song down. Sharp is currently charting for “Gravy For My Mashed Potatoes”…

  • “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” – Neil Sedaka
  • “It Started All Over Again” – Brenda Lee
  • “Party Lights” – Claudine Clark
  • “The Locomotion” – Little Eva
  • “The Wah Watusi” – The Orlons
  • “Things” – Bobby Darin
  • “Twist And Shout” – Isley Brothers

Liked ’em
  • “Bristol Twistin’ Annie” – Dovells
  • “Dancin’ Party” – Chubby Checker
  • “Heart In Hand” – Brenda Lee
  • “I Need Your Loving” – Don Gardner And Dee Dee Ford
  • “Johnny Loves Me” – Shelley Fabares
  • “Little Bitty Pretty One” – Clyde Mcphatter
  • “Little Diane” – Dion
  • “Seven Day Weekend” – Gary Us Bonds
  • “Speedy Gonzales” – Pat Boone
  • “Welcome Home Baby” – Shirelles
  • “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” – Barbara Lynn

Leave ’em

We knew what we were getting in for with the name but “Ahab the Arab” only gets worse as you listen, apologies in advance – or skip if you’d prefer!

  • “Ahab The Arab” – Ray Stevens
  • “Made To Love” – Eddie Hodges

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.