Author: Thomas Scovell

It’s mid-winter here in July of 2023, let’s find some warmth in the pop charts of May, 1962…

Songs of the month

[new] “Caterina” – Perry Como
“Cinderella” – Jack Ross
[new] “Conscience” – James Darren
“Dear One” – Larry Finnegan
[new] “Don’t Play That Song” – Ben E. King
“Everybody Loves Me But You” – Brenda Lee
“Funny Way Of Laughin’” – Burl Ives
“Good Luck Charm” – Elvis Presley
“Hide Nor Hair” – Ray Charles
[new] “I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Ray Charles
[new] “I Sold My Heart To The Junkman” – Blue-Belles
[new] “I Wish That We Were Married” – Ronnie And The Hi-Lites
[new] “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’” – Johnny Tillotson
“Johnny Angel” – Shelley Fabares
“Johnny Jingo” – Hayley Mills
“Love Letters” – Ketty Lester
“Love Me Warm And Tender” – Paul Anka
“Lover Please” – Clyde Mcphatter
[new] “Lovers Who Wander” – Dion
“Mashed Potato Time” – Dee Dee Sharp
[new] “Most People Get Married” – Patti Page
“Old Rivers” – Walter Brennan
“P.T. 109” – Jimmy Dean
[new] “Palisades Park” – Freddy Cannon
[new] “Second Hand Love” – Connie Francis
“She Can’t Find Her Keys” – Paul Petersen
“She Cried” – Jay And The Americans
“Shout Shout” – Ernie Maresca
“Shout” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
“Slow Twistin’” – Chubby Checker
“Soldier Boy” – Shirelles
“Soul Twist” – King Curtis
“Stranger On The Shore” – Acker Bilk
[new] “Tell Me” – Dick And Deedee
[new] “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” – Gene Pitney
[new] “The One Who Really Loves You” – Mary Wells
“Twist Twist Senora” – Gary Us Bonds
[new] “Twistin’ Matilda” – Jimmy Soul
[new] “Uptown” – Crystals
“What’d I Say” – Bobby Darin
[new] “You Are Mine” – Frankie Avalon
“Young World” – Rick 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 May the 2nd, 1962 the value of the Canadian dollar was put at a fixed exchange rate at 92.5 United States cents (USD 0.925) after having had a fluctuating value since September 30, 1950. The Canadian Exchange Fund would purchase U.S. dollars in order to keep the Canadian dollar from going more than one percent above 92+1⁄2¢ American, until May 30, 1970. Which is putting all the crypto “stable coin” malarkey over the past few years in perspective for me – ain’t nothing new under the sun!

On the 19th Marilyn Monroe made her last significant public appearance, singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” at a birthday party for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden. The event was part of a fundraiser to pay off the Democratic Party’s four million-dollar debt remaining from Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign. Monroe was stitched into a $12,000 dress “made of nothing but beads” and wore nothing underneath it. Kennedy thanked her afterward, joking, “I can now retire from politics after having had ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.

And on the 22nd American composer Richard Rodgers became the first “EGOT” (the winner of a Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony for television, recorded music, film and stage, respectively) when he received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music for Television, as composer of music for the ABC television show Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years. He’d won an Oscar in 1945 for Best Original Song (“It Might as Well Be Spring”), his first Tony Award in 1950 (“South Pacific”), and his first Grammy Award in 1961 for “The Sound of Music”.

What’d Sadie think?

It’s three weeks at the top for “Soldier Boy” by the Shirelles before Acker Bilk’s “Stranger On The Shore” takes it for a week.

Loved ’em

• “Don’t Play That Song” – Ben E. King
• “I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Ray Charles
• “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’” – Johnny Tillotson
• “Lovers Who Wander” – Dion
• “Second Hand Love” – Connie Francis
• “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” – Gene Pitney
• “The One Who Really Loves You” – Mary Wells
• “You Are Mine” – Frankie Avalon

Liked ’em

• “Caterina” – Perry Como
• “Conscience” – James Darren
• “I Sold My Heart To The Junkman” – Blue-Belles
• “I Wish That We Were Married” – Ronnie And The Hi-Lites
• “Most People Get Married” – Patti Page
• “Tell Me” – Dick And Deedee
• “Twistin’ Matilda” – Jimmy Soul
• “Uptown” – Crystals

Leave ’em

• “Palisades Park” – Freddy Cannon

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

It’s April, 1962 and for the first time it’s occurred to me to see if I could find any evidence of April Fool’s being made that year. And yes indeed, in Sweden the local TV station tricked people into thinking they could make their B&W TV into a Colour one,

“Sweden’s Sveriges Television, which trotted out a “technical expert” to explain on-air — in thoroughly technical terms — how a thinly stretched nylon screen in front of a television would bend light’s wavelengths and produce a color image. The thousands who tried it learned quickly that there was no such trick — and were out a pair of stockings to boot.”

Now let’s go listen to the tunes of the month…

Songs of the month

“Bonnie” – Bobby Rydell
[new] “Cinderella” – Jack Ross
“Come Back Silly Girl” – Lettermen
[new] “Dear One” – Larry Finnegan
“Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” – Connie Francis
“Dream Baby” – Roy Orbison
“Duke Of Earl” – Gene Chandler
[new] “Everybody Loves Me But You” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Funny Way Of Laughin’” – Burl Ives
[new] “Ginny Come Lately” – Brian Hyland
“Good Luck Charm” – Elvis Presley
“Her Royal Majesty” – James Darren
“Hey Baby” – Bruce Channel
[new] “Hide Nor Hair” – Ray Charles
“Johnny Angel” – Shelley Fabares
[new] “Johnny Jingo” – Hayley Mills
“Let Me In” – Sensations
“Love Letters” – Ketty Lester
“Love Me Warm And Tender” – Paul Anka
“Lover Please” – Clyde Mcphatter
“Mashed Potato Time” – Dee Dee Sharp
“Midnight In Moscow” – Kenny Ball
[new] “Nut Rocker” – B. Bumble And The Stingers
[new] “Old Rivers” – Walter Brennan
[new] “P.T. 109” – Jimmy Dean
“Please Don’t Ask About Barbara” – Bobby Vee
[new] “She Can’t Find Her Keys” – Paul Petersen
[new] “She Cried” – Jay And The Americans
“She’s Got You” – Patsy Cline
[new] “Shout Shout” – Ernie Maresca
[new] “Shout” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
“Slow Twistin’” – Chubby Checker
[new] “Soldier Boy” – Shirelles
[new] “Soul Twist” – King Curtis
[new] “Stranger On The Shore” – Acker Bilk
[new] “The Jam” – Bobby Gregg
[new] “Twist Twist Senora” – Gary Us Bonds
“Twistin’ The Night Away” – Sam Cooke
[new] “What’d I Say” – Bobby Darin
“What’s Your Name” – Don And Juan
[new] “When My Little Girl Is Smiling” – Drifters
“Where Have All The Flowers Gone” – Kingston Trio
[new] “You Better Move On” – Arthur Alexander
“You Win Again” – Fats Domino
“Young World” – Rick 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 the 1st of the month The “New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation” was established in line with the UK’s BBC model after the rapid rise of the popularity of TV in NZ.

On April 17th Bob Dylan, who had recently released his debut album as we mentioned lat week, made the first public performance of what would become his signature song, “Blowin’ in the Wind”. The setting was Gerde’s Folk City, a “jazz club” located in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

An on April 30th aAn array of 27 items of bite-size food were sampled and tested for possible inclusion in the USA’s Project Mercury space flights. I remember being fascinated by space food when I was in primary school and doing a project on it during the 1980s.

What’d Sadie think?

Two weeks at number 1 for “Johnny Angel” by Shelley Fabares before yet another hit for Elvis with “Good Luck Charm” for two. And this month those “Twist” songs that peaked last month, keep coming with new variations on a theme…

Loved ’em

• “Hide Nor Hair” – Ray Charles
• “She Cried” – Jay And The Americans
• “Shout Shout” – Ernie Maresca
• “Shout” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
• “What’d I Say” – Bobby Darin

Liked ’em

• “Dear One” – Larry Finnegan
• “Everybody Loves Me But You” – Brenda Lee
• “Funny Way Of Laughin’” – Burl Ives
• “Ginny Come Lately” – Brian Hyland
• “Johnny Jingo” – Hayley Mills
• “Nut Rocker” – B. Bumble And The Stingers
• “P.T. 109” – Jimmy Dean
• “Soldier Boy” – Shirelles
• “Soul Twist” – King Curtis
• “The Jam” – Bobby Gregg
• “Twist Twist Senora” – Gary Us Bonds
• “When My Little Girl Is Smiling” – Drifters
• “You Better Move On” – Arthur Alexander

Leave ’em

• “Cinderella” – Jack Ross
• “Old Rivers” – Walter Brennan
• “She Can’t Find Her Keys” – Paul Petersen
• “Stranger On The Shore” – Acker Bilk

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

It’s March, 1962 in our journey, which is 58 years and 5 months before Sadie is born and 14 years and 11 months before Thomas is.

Let’s do a twist in time and get our ears back there!

Songs of the month

“A Little Bitty Tear” – Burl Ives
“Baby It’s You” – Shirelles
[new] “Bonnie” – Bobby Rydell
“Break It To Me Gently” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
“Chip Chip” – Gene Mcdanielse
[new] “Come Back Silly Girl” – Lettermen
[new] “Cotton Fields” – Highwaymen
“Cottonfields” – Highwaymen
“Cryin’ In The Rain” – Everly Brothers
“Crying In The Rain” – Everly Brothers
“Dear Lady Twist” – Gary Us Bonds
“Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” – Connie Francis
[new] “Dream Baby” – Roy Orbison
[new] “Drums Are My Beat” – Sandy Nelson
“Duke Of Earl” – Gene Chandler
[new] “Good Luck Charm” – Elvis Presley
“Her Royal Majesty” – James Darren
“Hey Baby” – Bruce Channel
[new] “Hey Let’s Twist” – Joey Dee And Starlighters
“I Know” – Barbara George
“I’m Blue” – Ikettes
[new] “Johnny Angel” – Shelley Fabares
“Let Me In” – Sensations
[new] “Love Letters” – Ketty Lester
[new] “Love Me Warm And Tender” – Paul Anka
[new] “Lover Please” – Clyde Mcphatter
[new] “Mashed Potato Time” – Dee Dee Sharp
“Midnight In Moscow” – Kenny Ball
“My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” – Charlie Drake
“Norman” – Sue Thompson
“Peppermint Twist” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
“Percolator” – Billy Joe And The Checkmates
[new] “Please Don’t Ask About Barbara” – Bobby Vee
[new] “She’s Got You” – Patsy Cline
[new] “Slow Twistin’” – Chubby Checker
“Smokey Places” – Corsairs
“The Cajun Queen” – Jimmy Dean
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
“The Wanderer” – Dion
“To A Sleeping Beauty” – Jimmy Dean
“Tuff” – Ace Cannon
[new] “Twistin’ The Night Away” – Sam Cooke
“What’s Your Name” – Don And Juan
[new] “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” – Kingston Trio
[new] “You Win Again” – Fats Domino
[new] “Young World” – Rick 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 March the 1st the very first K-Mart discount store (now Kmart) was opened by the S.S. Kresge Corporation in the United States in Garden City, Michigan. CEO Harry Cunningham founded and oversaw the growth of what would be the largest chain of American discount stores as soon as 1964. In 1990, K-Mart would yield its #1 spot to Wal-Mart, also founded in 1962.

A good year for business for sure as on the 21st the first Taco Bell restaurant was opened, as entrepreneur Glen Bell began the restaurant chain in Downey, California.

On the 7th in London, the Royal College of Physicians issued its report, “Smoking and Health”, declaring that “Cigarette smoking is a cause of lung cancer. It also causes bronchitis and probably contributes to the development of coronary heart disease and various other less common diseases. It delays healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers.”

On March 19th Columbia Records released “Bob Dylan”, the debut album of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The record would sell only a few hundred copies in its first six months. The next year, Dylan would become famous with the best-selling “Blowin’ in the Wind”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3kjsbmZ-g0

What’d Sadie think?

It’s a week at the top for “Duke Of Earl” by Gene Chandler before Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby” dominates it for three. Then the month is rounded out by “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” by Connie Francis.

But really this month goes to…”the twist”. There’s no less than 6 songs with the dance move in the title…

Loved ’em

• “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
• “Dream Baby” – Roy Orbison
• “She’s Got You” – Patsy Cline
• “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” – Kingston Trio

Liked ’em

• “Bonnie” – Bobby Rydell
• “Come Back Silly Girl” – Lettermen
• “Cotton Fields” – Highwaymen
• “Drums Are My Beat” – Sandy Nelson
• “Good Luck Charm” – Elvis Presley
• “Hey Let’s Twist” – Joey Dee And Starlighters
• “Johnny Angel” – Shelley Fabares
• “Love Letters” – Ketty Lester
• “Love Me Warm And Tender” – Paul Anka
• “Lover Please” – Clyde Mcphatter
• “Mashed Potato Time” – Dee Dee Sharp
• “Slow Twistin’” – Chubby Checker
• “Twistin’ The Night Away” – Sam Cooke
• “You Win Again” – Fats Domino
• “Young World” – Rick Nelson

Leave ’em

• “Please Don’t Ask About Barbara” – Bobby Vee

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

We’re travelling back to February, 1962 which is 58 years and 6 months before Sadie is born and 15 years before Thomas is. We missed sending out January, 1962‘s newsletter so go listen to that first if you’re completist!

Songs of the month

“A Little Bitty Tear” – Burl Ives
“Baby It’s You” – Shirelles
“Break It To Me Gently” – Brenda Lee
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
[new] “Chip Chip” – Gene Mcdaniels
“Cottonfields” – Highwaymen
[new] “Cryin’ In The Rain” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Crying In The Rain” – Everly Brothers
“Dear Lady Twist” – Gary Us Bonds
[new] “Do-Re-Mi” – Lee Dorsey
[new] “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” – Connie Francis
“Duke Of Earl” – Gene Chandler
“Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” – Neil Sedaka
[new] “Her Royal Majesty” – James Darren
[new] “Hey Baby” – Bruce Channel
[new] “I Know You Don’t Love Me No More” – Barbara George
“I Know” – Barbara George
[new] “I’m Blue” – Ikettes
“If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody” – James Ray
“Irresistable You” – Bobby Darin
[new] “Irresistable” – Bobby Darin
[new] “Let Me In” – Sensations
“Let There Be Drums” – Sandy Nelson
“Letter Full Of Tears” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
[new] “Midnight In Moscow” – Kenny Ball
“Moon River” – Henry Mancini
[new] “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” – Charlie Drake
“Norman” – Sue Thompson
“Peppermint Twist” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
[new] “Percolator” – Billy Joe And The Checkmates
“Run To Him” – Bobby Vee
[new] “Shadrack” – Brook Benton
[new] “She’s Everything” – Ral Donner
[new] “Smokey Places” – Corsairs
[new] “The Cajun Queen” – Jimmy Dean
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Tokens
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
“The Wanderer” – Dion
[new] “To A Sleeping Beauty” – Jimmy Dean
“Town Without Pity” – Gene Pitney
[new] “Tuff” – Ace Cannon
“Twist-Her” – Bill Black’s Combo
“Unchain My Heart” – Ray Charles
“Walk On By” – Leroy Van Dyke
[new] “What’s Your Name” – Don And Juan
“When I Fall In Love” – Lettermen

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

On February the 5th, hours before the Beatles were scheduled to play at the Cavern Club, drummer Pete Best told his fellow musicians that he was ill and would be unable to appear. Determined not to cancel the show, the group called around for a replacement and Ringo Starr, whose group had the day off, appeared in Best’s place. A film of the band playing at the infamous club below.

On the 14th |A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy|, produced by CBS News and hosted by American First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and CBS reporter Charles Collingwood, was broadcast on US television. Attracting 46,000,000 TV viewers, or three out of every four households in America, it was the highest rated television program up to that time.

Not to be out done, on February 20 20 John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to be launched into orbit, as Mercury 6 lifted off from Cape Canaveral. An estimated 60 million persons viewed the launch on live television, beating Mrs Kennedy’s recent record!

What’d Sadie think?

Two weeks at number one for “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee And The Starlighters before two weeks for “Duke Of Earl” by Gene Chandler.

Loved ’em

• “Crying In The Rain” – Everly Brothers
• “Hey Baby” – Bruce Channel
• “I Know You Don’t Love Me No More” – Barbara George
• “I’m Blue” – Ikettes

Liked ’em

• “Chip Chip” – Gene Mcdaniels
• “Do-Re-Mi” – Lee Dorsey
• “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” – Connie Francis
• “Let Me In” – Sensations
• “Percolator” – Billy Joe And The Checkmates
• “Shadrack” – Brook Benton
• “She’s Everything” – Ral Donner
• “The Cajun Queen” – Jimmy Dean
• “Smokey Places” – Corsairs
• “Tuff” – Ace Cannon
• “What’s Your Name” – Don And Juan

Leave ’em

So… wow! I am aging myself, or pointing out how desperately dated the ’80s were in New Zealand, by noting that they were still playing, “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” during my childhood as I now remember it well. As wikipedia notes, “[it] is not exactly a paragon of political correctness, even by 1961 standards.”

I can only hope that the “black in the face” line was “blue in the face” in the version I heard but that hardly excuses all the other sins in the song. Though apparently this line was the racism-too-far for the BBC at the time who refused to play it until that line was changed. Please note I’ve included the original on this playlist. And in calling out this song I’m ignoring all sorts of other problematic lyrics in songs through-out these charts. But there we go…

• “Her Royal Majesty” – James Darren
• “Midnight In Moscow” – Kenny Ball
• “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” – Charlie Drake
• “To A Sleeping Beauty” – Jimmy Dean

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

We missed sending this newsletter due to a busy week/end so let’s dive straight into the sounds of January, 1962 for those who are catching up…

Songs of the month

[new] “A Little Bitty Tear” – Burl Ives
[new] “Baby It’s You” – Shirelles
[new] “Baby’s First Christmas” – Connie Francis
[new] “Break It To Me Gently” – Brenda Lee
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
[new] “Cottonfields” – Highwaymen
[new] “Dear Ivan” – Jimmy Dean
[new] “Dear Lady Twist” – Gary Us Bonds
[new] “Duke Of Earl” – Gene Chandler
[new] “Funny How Time Slips Away” – Jimmy Elledge
“Goodbye Cruel World” – James Darren
“Gypsy Woman” – Impressions
“Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” – Neil Sedaka
“I Don’t Know Why” – Linda Scott
“I Know” – Barbara George
[new] “If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody” – James Ray
[new] “Irresistable You” – Bobby Darin
“Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker
“Let There Be Drums” – Sandy Nelson
[new] “Letter Full Of Tears” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
[new] “Little Bitty Tear” – Burl Ives
“Moon River” – Henry Mancini
“Moon River” – Jerry Butler
[new] “Norman” – Sue Thompson
“Peppermint Twist” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
“Please Mr. Postman” – Marvelettes
“Revenge” – Brook Benton
“Rock-A-Hula Baby” – Elvis Presley
“Run To Him” – Bobby Vee
[new] “Small Sad Sam” – Phil Mclean
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Tokens
[new] “The Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
[new] “The Wanderer” – Dion
“There’s No Other” – Crystals
[new] “Till” – Angels
[new] “Town Without Pity” – Gene Pitney
[new] “Turn On Your Love Light” – Bobby Bland
[new] “Twist-Her” – Bill Black’s Combo
“Unchain My Heart” – Ray Charles
“Walk On By” – Leroy Van Dyke
“When I Fall In Love” – Lettermen
“When The Boy In Your Arms” – Connie Francis
“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

A couple of pieces of New Zealand news this month. On the 1st Western Samoa (now called Samoa) became independent from New Zealand. The two fautua (advisers), Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Mea’ole, were named as the two heads of state.

Then the next day The University of New Zealand was broken up into four universities (Otago, Canterbury, Auckland and Victoria University) and two agricultural colleges at Canterbury and Massey. There’s a thing I didn’t know as a graduate of the University of Auckland many years later.

On the 5th the first recording on which The Beatles played, the 45 rpm record “My Bonnie”, credited to “Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers” (recorded the previous June in Hamburg), was released by Polydor in the United Kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WARyYtwSoWM

What’d Sadie think?

A week at the top this month for The Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” before “The Twist” by Chubby Checker is back at the top for two more weeks. Then it’s a twist on the twist with “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee And The Starlighters taking the top spot for the last week.

Loved ’em

• “Baby It’s You” – Shirelles
• “Break It To Me Gently” – Brenda Lee
• “Dear Lady Twist” – Gary Us Bonds
• “Letter Full Of Tears” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
• “The Wanderer” – Dion
• “Town Without Pity” – Gene Pitney

Liked ’em

• “A Little Bitty Tear” – Burl Ives
• “Cottonfields” – Highwaymen
• “Duke Of Earl” – Gene Chandler
• “Funny How Time Slips Away” – Jimmy Elledge
• “If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody” – James Ray
• “Irresistable You” – Bobby Darin
• “Norman” – Sue Thompson
• “Till” – Angels
• “Turn On Your Love Light” – Bobby Bland
• “Twist-Her” – Bill Black’s Combo

Leave ’em

A special call-out of “Small Sad Sam” which reminds us that meme culture didn’t start with the Internet – this is a terrible, play on the classic, “Big Bad John” that was obviously turned around pretty quickly in 1962.

• “Baby’s First Christmas” – Connie Francis
• “Dear Ivan” – Jimmy Dean
• “Small Sad Sam” – Phil Mclean

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

A day late with the post this week – which is fitting as we were a day late making our way back from Europe to New Zealand this week after a lovely spot of Spring up north for a wedding. Cold back here in New Zealand, but not quite northern hemisphere winter cold, which would make this month’s crop of Xmas tunes feel more timely at least! Let’s head back to the end of 1961 to hear what it sounded like…

Songs of the month

“A Wonder Like You” – Rick Nelson
“Big Bad John” – Jimmy Dean
“Bristol Stomp” – Dovells
[new] “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
“Crazy” – Patsy Cline
[new] “Fool No.1” – Brenda Lee
“Goodbye Cruel World” – James Darren
[new] “Gypsy Woman” – Impressions
“Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” – Neil Sedaka
“Heartaches” – Marcels
[new] “I Don’t Know Why” – Linda Scott
[new] “I Know” – Barbara George
“I Love How You Love Me” – Paris Sisters
“I Understand” – G-Clefs
“In The Middle Of A Heartache” – Wanda Jackson
[new] “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker
“Let There Be Drums” – Sandy Nelson
[new] “Let’s Twist Again” – Chubby Checker
“Moon River” – Henry Mancini
“Moon River” – Jerry Butler
[new] “Peppermint Twist” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
“Please Mr. Postman” – Marvelettes
[new] “Revenge” – Brook Benton
[new] “Rock-A-Hula Baby” – Elvis Presley
“Run To Him” – Bobby Vee
“Runaround Sue” – Dion
“September In The Rain” – Dinah Washington
“The Fly” – Chubby Checker
[new] “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Tokens
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
[new] “There’s No Other” – Crystals
“This Time” – Troy Shondell
[new] “Til” – Angels
[new] “Tonight” – Ferrante & Teicher
“Tonight” – Ferrante And Teicher
“Tower Of Strength” – Gene Mcdaniels
[new] “Unchain My Heart” – Ray Charles
“Walk On By” – Leroy Van Dyke
[new] “Well I Told You” – Chantels
[new] “When I Fall In Love” – Lettermen
[new] “When The Boy In Your Arms” – Connie Francis
[new] “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
“You’re The Reason” – Bobby Edwards
[new] “Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night” – Kenny Dino

[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 4th President Kennedy authorized the U.S. Department of Defense to commence of Operation Ranch Hand, the defoliation of the jungles of South Vietnam. The first run was on January 12, 1962, and the last in February 1971…

On the 30th, more than 25 years after it had been written, the Fourth Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich was first performed. The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kirill Kondrashin, played the symphony at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The original score had been destroyed during World War II, but was reconstructed from sources discovered in 1960.

No video of that but in the in the video below American composer Leonard Bernstein thanks Shostakovich in 1959 while on a tour in Russia with the NY Philharmonic. (the bit where he calls “1941 the first year of the war” really galls!)

Then on the 31st, a favourite author and coiner of the term, “Generation X”, Douglas Coupland, is born at a NATO base in Baden-Söllingen, West Germany.

What’d Sadie think?

One more week for “Big Bad John” – Jimmy Dean before “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes has a single week at the top. Then it’s two for the classic “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens. Sadie loves to sing-a-long to that one naturally!

Loved ’em

• “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
• “Fool No.1” – Brenda Lee
• “I Know” – Barbara George
• “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker
• “Let’s Twist Again” – Chubby Checker
• “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Tokens
• “Unchain My Heart” – Ray Charles

Liked ’em

• “Gypsy Woman” – Impressions
• “I Don’t Know Why” – Linda Scott
• “Peppermint Twist” – Joey Dee And The Starlighters
• “Revenge” – Brook Benton
• “Rock-A-Hula Baby” – Elvis Presley
• “There’s No Other” – Crystals
• “Til” – Angels
• “Tonight” – Ferrante & Teicher
• “Well I Told You” – Chantels
• “When I Fall In Love” – Lettermen
• “Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night” – Kenny Dino

Leave ’em

• “When The Boy In Your Arms” – Connie Francis

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