Up-to-dates

It’s a belated summer here in Auckland of 2023, as we zip back to hear how 1961 sounded…

Songs of the month

“A Thousand Stars” – Kathy Young & The Innocents
[new] “Angel Baby” – Rosie & Originals
“Angel Baby” – Rosie & The Originals
“Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley
“Baby Oh Baby” – Shells
“Blue Tango” – Bill Black’s Combo
[new] “C’est Si Bon” – Conway Twitty
“Calcutta” – Lawrence Welk
[new] “Calendar Girl” – Neil Sedaka
“Corinna Corinna” – Ray Peterson
[new] “Emotions” – Brenda Lee
“Exodus” – Ferrante & Teicher
[new] “Gee Whiz” – Innocents
“He Will Break Your Heart” – Jerry Butler
[new] “I Count The Tears” – Drifters
[new] “I’m Hurtin'” – Roy Orbison
[new] “It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
“Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
“Lonely Teenager” – Dion
[new] “Lovey Dovey” – Buddy Knox
“Many Tears Ago” – Connie Francis
[new] “My Empty Arms” – Jackie Wilson
“My Girl Josephine” – Fats Domino
[new] “My Last Date With You” – Skeeter Davis
“North To Alaska” – Johnny Horton
[new] “Once In A While” – Chimes
[new] “Pepe” – Duane Eddy
“Perfidia” – Ventures
“Rubber Ball” – Bobby Vee
“Ruby” – Ray Charles
“Sailor” – Lolita
[new] “Shop Around” – Miracles
“Sway” – Bobby Rydell
[new] “The Hoochi Coochi Coo” – Hank Ballard
[new] “There She Goes” – Jerry Wallace
[new] “There’s A Moon Out Tonight” – Capris
[new] “Wheels” – String-A-Longs
[new] “Where The Boys Are” – Connie Francis
“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” – Shirelles
“Wings Of A Dove” – Ferlin Husky
“Wonderland By Night” – Anita Bryant
“Wonderland By Night” – Bert Kaempfert
“Wonderland By Night” – Louis Prima
[new] “You Are The Only One” – Ricky Nelson
“You’re Sixteen” – Johnny Burnette

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

Some history

On the first day of the new year the British farthing coin, used since the 13th century, and worth 1/4 of a penny, ceased to be legal tender.

And then Australia became the second nation to permit the sale of the birth control pill, and the first to allow the Scherer oral contraceptive, with brand name of Anovlar. The G.D. Searle pill Enovid had been permitted in the United States in May 1960. An amusing video from Australia of 1961 on the topic of “should tbe bikini be banned?” feels like an appropriate accompaniment to this one step forward…

On January 5th “Mister Ed”, one of the first “fantasy sitcoms” on American television, premiered as a syndicated TV program and would be picked up by the CBS network beginning on October 1. The show ran for five years, ending on February 6, 1966. But was still screening in NZ in the 1980s as I remember it as a child…

Then on the 20th John F. Kennedy took the oath of office as the 35th president of the United States. For the first time, the event was shown on color television, pioneered by the NBC network.

Finally, to end the month, Ham, a 17 kg male chimpanzee, was rocketed into space from Cape Canaveral aboard Mercury-Redstone 2, in a test of the Project Mercury capsule, thereby becoming the first hominid in space. During the powered phase of the flight, the thrust of the propulsion system was considerably higher than planned. The over-acceleration of the launch vehicle coupled with the velocity of the escape rocket caused the spacecraft to attain a higher altitude and a longer range than planned. However, spacecraft recovery was unaffected. Ham appeared to be in good physiological condition, but sometime later when he was shown the spacecraft it was visually apparent that he had no further interest in cooperating with the space flight program…

What’d Sadie think?

Three weeks at number 1 for “Wonderland By Night” by Bert Kaempfert then the last week goes to “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by the Shirelles.

Loved ’em

Sadie was a particular fan of our first song on the loved ’em list this week, she heard it and asked for her little angel mouse doll to play with as she sang along.

• “Angel Baby” – Rosie & Originals
• “C’est Si Bon” – Conway Twitty
• “Calendar Girl” – Neil Sedaka
• “I Count The Tears” – Drifters
• “It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley

Liked ’em

• “Emotions” – Brenda Lee
• “Gee Whiz” – Innocents
• “I’m Hurtin'” – Roy Orbison
• “Lovey Dovey” – Buddy Knox
• “Once In A While” – Chimes
• “Shop Around” – Miracles
• “The Hoochi Coochi Coo” – Hank Ballard
• “There She Goes” – Jerry Wallace
• “There’s A Moon Out Tonight” – Capris
• “Wheels” – String-A-Longs
• “Where The Boys Are” – Connie Francis
• “You Are The Only One” – Ricky Nelson

Leave ’em

• “My Empty Arms” – Jackie Wilson
• “My Last Date With You” – Skeeter Davis
• “Pepe” – Duane Eddy

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

The end of our first year in the 1960s already – time sure does fly at 4x life. A few Xmas tunes on the charts for us to enjoy unseasonably…

Songs of the month

“A Thousand Stars” – Kathy Young & The Innocents
“Alone At Last” – Jackie Wilson
[new] “Angel Baby” – Rosie & The Originals
“Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley
[new] “Baby Oh Baby” – Shells
[new] “Blue Tango” – Bill Black’s Combo
[new] “Calcutta” – Lawrence Welk
[new] “Corinna Corinna” – Ray Peterson
“Don’t Be Cruel” – Bill Black’s Combo
[new] “Exodus” – Ferrante & Teicher
[new] “Fools Rush In” – Brook Benton
“Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
“He Will Break Your Heart” – Jerry Butler
[new] “Hucklebuck” – Chubby Checker
[new] “I Gotta Know” – Elvis Presley
“I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
“I’ll Save The Last Dance For You” – Damito Jo
“Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
[new] “Last Date” – Lawrence Welk
“Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go” – Hank Ballard
“Like Strangers” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale
[new] “Lonely Teenager” – Dion
“Many Tears Ago” – Connie Francis
[new] “Many Years Ago” – Connie Francis
“My Girl Josephine” – Fats Domino
[new] “My Girl Jospehine” – Fats Domino
“New Orleans” – Gary Us Bonds
“North To Alaska” – Johnny Horton
“Perfidia” – Ventures
“Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
[new] “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Rubber Ball” – Bobby Vee
[new] “Ruby” – Ray Charles
[new] “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” – David Seville & The Chipmunks
[new] “Sad Mood” – Sam Cooke
“Sailor” – Lolita
“Save The Last Dance For Me” – Drifters
“Sleep” – Little Willie John
“Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
“Sway” – Bobby Rydell
“To Each His Own” – Platters
[new] “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
[new] “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” – Shirelles
[new] “Wings Of A Dove” – Ferlin Husky
[new] “Wonderland By Night” – Anita Bryant
“Wonderland By Night” – Bert Kaempfert
[new] “Wonderland By Night” – Louis Prima
“You Talk Too Much” – Joe Jones
“You’re Sixteen” – Johnny Burnette

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

On December 8th the Musical “Peter Pan”, starring Mary Martin, is broadcast on NBC as a special event, videotaped in coloyr for future rebroadcasts.

Then on December 9th the first episode of the long-running ITV drama Coronation Street aired in Britain. It was originally planned to be a 16-part drama but became such a success that, running five times or more per week, it continued past its 10,000th episode in its 60th anniversary year…

And on December 21 Ornette Coleman recorded his influential album “Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation”, and establishes the name for the ‘Free Jazz’ sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdzHZ1BtdyI

What’d Sadie think?

Finally some consistency at the top of the charts with 5 weeks at number 1 for Elvis’ classic – “Are You Lonesome Tonight”.

Loved ’em

• “Angel Baby” – Rosie & The Originals
• “Hucklebuck” – Chubby Checker
• “Many Years Ago” – Connie Francis
• “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee
• “Rubber Ball” – Bobby Vee
• “Sad Mood” – Sam Cooke
• “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
• “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” – Shirelles

Liked ’em

• “Baby Oh Baby” – Shells
• “Blue Tango” – Bill Black’s Combo
• “Corinna Corinna” – Ray Peterson
• “Exodus” – Ferrante & Teicher
• “Fools Rush In” – Brook Benton
• “I Gotta Know” – Elvis Presley
• “Last Date” – Lawrence Welk
• “Lonely Teenager” – Dion
• “Ruby” – Ray Charles
• “Wonderland By Night” – Anita Bryant
• “Wonderland By Night” – Louis Prima
• “Little Drummer Boy” – Harry Simeon Chorale
• “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” – David Seville & The Chipmunks

Leave ’em

• “Calcutta” – Lawrence Welk
• “Wings Of A Dove” – Ferlin Husky

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

How is it nearly the end of our first year in the ’60s? Time really flies at 4x life! Let’s hear what November, 1960 sounds like…

Songs of the month

“A Million To One” – Jimmy Charles
[new] “A Thousand Stars” – Kathy Young & The Innocents
“Alone At Last” – Jackie Wilson
[new] “Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley
“Artificial Flowers” – Bobby Darin
“Blue Angel” – Roy Orbison
“Chain Gang” – Sam Cooke
[new] “Devil Or Angel” – Bobby Vee
“Devil Or Angel” – Bobby Vee
“Don’t Be Cruel” – Bill Black’s Combo
“Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
[new] “He Will Break Your Heart” – Jerry Butler
“I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
[new] “I’ll Save The Last Dance For You” – Damito Jo
“Kiddio” – Brook Benton
“Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
“Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go” – Hank Ballard
“Let’s Think About Living” – Bob Luman
[new] “Like Strangers” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Love Walked In” – Dinah Washington
[new] “Many Tears Ago” – Connie Francis
[new] “My Girl Josephine” – Fats Domino
“My Heart Has A Mind Of It’s Own” – Connie Francis
“My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
[new] “New Orleans” – Gary Us Bonds
“North To Alaska” – Johnny Horton
[new] “Ol’ Macdonald” – Frank Sinatra
[new] “Perfidia” – Ventures
[new] “Peter Gunn” – Duane Eddy
“Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
[new] “Ruby Duby Du” – Tobin Matthews & Co.
[new] “Sailor” – Lolita
“Save The Last Dance For Me” – Drifters
“Sleep” – Little Willie John
“So Sad” – Everly Brothers
“Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
“Summer’s Gone” – Paul Anka
[new] “Sway” – Bobby Rydell
[new] “The Hucklebuck” – Chubby Checker
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
“Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante & Teicher
“To Each His Own” – Platters
“Togetherness” – Frankie Avalon
[new] “Wonderland By Night” – Bert Kaempfert
“You Talk Too Much” – Joe Jones
[new] “You’re Sixteen” – Johnny Burnette

[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 the month a jury in London concluded that Penguin Books had not broken Britain’s Obscene Publications Act, clearing the way for the sale, in the United Kingdom, of 200,000 paperback copies of the, risqué for it’s time, book Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

On the fourth the filming of The Misfits, starring Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, was finished. It proved to be the last film for both legendary actors. Gable, who had performed many of his own stunts, had a heart attack the next day and died on November 16. Monroe would die in 1962 during the filming of the never completed “Something’s Got to Give”.

Then on the thirteenth african-american singer and actor Sammy Davis, Jr. married white Swedish actress May Britt at a time when interracial marriage was uncommon, and, in some states, still illegal. The resulting fallout would effectively end Britt’s film career.

What’d Sadie think?

Nothing is sticking at number 1 at the moment – too much good music to go around! So it’s a week each for:

• “Save The Last Dance For Me” – Drifters
• “Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
• “Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
• “Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley

The latter being a great new tune on the charts this month.

Loved ’em

• “Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley
• “Devil Or Algen” – Bobby Vee
• “I’ll Save The Last Dance For You” – Damito Jo
• “Ol’ Macdonald” – Frank Sinatra
• “Peter Gunn” – Duane Eddy
• “Sway” – Bobby Rydell
• “You’re Sixteen” – Johnny Burnette

Liked ’em

• “A Thousand Stars” – Kathy Young & The Innocents
• “He Will Break Your Heart” – Jerry Butler
• “Like Strangers” – Everly Brothers
• “Love Walked In” – Dinah Washington
• “Many Tears Ago” – Connie Francis
• “My Girl Josephine” – Fats Domino
• “New Orleans” – Gary Us Bonds
• “Perfidia” – Ventures
• “The Hucklebuck” – Chubby Checker

Leave ’em

• “Ruby Duby Du” – Tobin Matthews & Co.
• “Wonderland By Night” – Bert Kaempfert
• “Sailor” – Lolita
  

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

Well a few days of sunshine back here in New Zealand of 2023, then its back to the rain. So let’s escape to the sounds of October, 1960…

Songs of the month

[new] “A Fool In Love” – Ike & Tina Turner
“A Million To One” – Jimmy Charles
[new] “Alone At Last” – Jackie Wilson
[new] “Artificial Flowers” – Bobby Darin
[new] “Blue Angel” – Roy Orbison
“Chain Gang” – Sam Cooke
“Devil Or Angel” – Bobby Vee
[new] “Diamonds And Pearls” – Paradons
[new] “Don’t Be Cruel” – Bill Black’s Combo
“Dreamin'” – Johnny Burnette
“Finger Poppin’ Time” – Hank Ballard
[new] “Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
“I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
“I’m Not Afraid” – Ricky Nelson
“It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
“Kiddio” – Brook Benton
[new] “Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
[new] “Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go” – Hank Ballard
[new] “Let’s Think About Living” – Bob Luman
“Lucille” – Everly Brothers
“Mission Bell” – Donnie Brooks
[new] “Move Two Mountains” – Marv Johnson
“Mr. Custer” – Larry Verne
[new] “My Heart Has A Mind Of It’s Own” – Connie Francis
“My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
“Never On Sunday” – Don Costa
[new] “New Orelans” – Gary Us Bonds
[new] “North To Alaska” – Johnny Horton
“Over The Rainbow” – Demensions
“Pineapple Princess” – Annette & The Afterbeats
[new] “Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
[new] “Run Samson Run” – Neil Sedaka
“Save The Last Dance For Me” – Drifters
[new] “Sleep” – Little Willie John
“So Sad” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
[new] “Summer’s Gone” – Paul Anka
“The Same One” – Brook Benton
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
“The Twist” – Hank Ballard
“Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante & Teicher
“Three Nights A Week” – Fats Domino
[new] “To Each His Own” – Platters
[new] “Togetherness” – Frankie Avalon
[new] “Twistin’ Usa” – Danny & The Juniors
“Volare” – Bobby Rydell
“Walk Don’t Run” – Ventures
“Yogi” – Ivy Three
“You Mean Everything To Me” – Neil Sedaka
[new] “You Talk Too Much” – Joe Jones

[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 Nigeria, formerly a British African colony, became an independent nation of 35,000,000 people, with the new flag hoisted in Lagos at 12:01 a.m. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the first Prime Minister, and Nnamdi Azikiwe the Governor General, of the Federation of Nigeria.

On the 3rd “The Andy Griffith Show” was televised for the first time, making its American debut on the CBS television network at 9:30 pm in the first of 249 episodes. I definitely saw repeats as a child. But I remember Don Knotts more than Andy, I think from his later performance in ’70s classic “Threes Company”.

In a foreshadowing, on October 23rd a woman in Milwaukee splashed Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy with whiskey while he was riding in an open convertible, then tossed the drinking glass into the car. According to an AP report, “Kennedy wiped his face, picked up the tumbler, said calmly ‘here’s your glass’ and handed it back.” No arrests were made.

Then on the 25th the first fully electronic wristwatch, the Accutron 214, was unveiled by the Bulova Watch Company, along with the tiny watch battery to power it. Promoting the watch as the “First instrument of the space age you can wear and use!”, Bulova added “It doesn’t even tick … it hums!”. The least expensive, stainless steel model retailed for $175 equivalent to $1,480 USD today.

What’d Sadie think?

The number one can’t stick this month. A week for “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” by Connie Francis then Larry Verne’s “Mr. Custer” has one, before “Save The Last Dance For Me” by the Drifters splits two weeks with “I Want To Be Wanted” by Brenda Lee sandwiched in the middle.

Loved ’em

Occasionally a song makes me go “ok, the sound is changing” and other times I go, “oh wow I didn’t know their career started that early”. The first song in our Loved’ list this time is both – “A Fool In Love” by Ike & Tina Turner.

It was 21 year old Tina Turner’s first professional release although she had been recording with Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm since 1958. And it was the first national hit record for bandleader Ike Turner since the number-one R&B hit “Rocket 88” in 1951, for which he did not receive proper credit.

Some other great classics this month:

• “Blue Angel” – Roy Orbison
• “Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
• “Let’s Think About Living” – Bob Luman
• “Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
• “Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs

Liked ’em

• “Alone At Last” – Jackie Wilson
• “Artificial Flowers” – Bobby Darin
• “Diamonds And Pearls” – Paradons
• “Don’t Be Cruel” – Bill Black’s Combo
• “Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
• “Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go” – Hank Ballard
• “Move Two Mountains” – Marv Johnson
• “My Heart Has A Mind Of It’s Own” – Connie Francis
• “New Orleans” – Gary Us Bonds
• “Run Samson Run” – Neil Sedaka
• “Sleep” – Little Willie John
• “Summer’s Gone” – Paul Anka
• “To Each His Own” – Platters
• “Twistin’ Usa” – Danny & The Juniors
• “You Talk Too Much” – Joe Jones

Leave ’em

• “Togetherness” – Frankie Avalon

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

No time to waste, let’s jump back in time to September, 1960!

Songs of the month

[new] “A Million To One” – Jimmy Charles
“A Woman A Lover A Friend” – Jackie Wilson
“All My Love” – Jackie Wilson
[new] “Chain Gang” – Sam Cooke
[new] “Devil Or Angel” – Bobby Vee
“Dreamin'” – Johnny Burnette
“Feels So Fine” – Johnny Preston
“Finger Poppin’ Time” – Hank Ballard
“Hello Young Lovers” – Paul Anka
[new] “Honest I Do” – Innocents
“Hot Rod Lincoln” – Johnny Bond
[new] “I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
[new] “I’m Not Afraid” – Ricky Nelson
“I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
“Image Of A Girl” – Safaris
“In My Little Corner Of The World” – Anita Bryant
“It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
“Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – Brian Hyland
“Kiddio” – Brook Benton
[new] “Lucille” – Everly Brothers
“Mission Bell” – Donnie Brooks
[new] “Mr. Custer” – Larry Verne
“My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
[new] “My Heart Has A Mine Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
[new] “Never On Sunday” – Don Costa
“Only The Lonely” – Roy Orbison
“Over The Rainbow” – Demensions
[new] “Pineapple Princess” – Annette With The Afterbeats
“Please Help Me I’m Falling” – Hank Locklin
[new] “Save The Last Dance For Me” – Drifters
[new] “So Sad” – Everly Brothers
“Ta Ta” – Clyde Mcphatter
[new] “The Same One” – Brook Benton
“The Twist” – Chubby Checker
[new] “The Twist” – Hank Ballard
“Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante & Teicher
[new] “Three Nights A Week” – Fats Domino
“Volare” – Bobby Rydell
“Walk Don’t Run” – Ventures
“Walking To New Orleans” – Fats Domino
“Yogi” – Ivy Three
[new] “You Mean Everything To Me” – Neil Sedaka

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

The 1960 Olympics, that kicked off in August, continue into September and on the 2nd New Zealand enjoyed one of its greatest days at the Olympic Games when Peter Snell won gold in the 800m and less than an hour later, Murray Halberg won the 5000m to complete a double in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

The on Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] beats 3-time European champion Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland by unanimous points decision to win Olympic light heavyweight boxing gold medal.

Finally on September 30th “The Flintstones”m the first animated sitcom created by Hanna-Barbera premieres on ABC in the US. I was a big fan of the Flintstones as a kid, to the point I had a imaginary friend called “yabba-dabba-doo!” (Fred’s catch-phrase) as a toddler.

What’d Sadie think?

It’s two more weeks at the top for “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley before “The Twist” snatches it for another week, after having made the top spot for a week in August. Then we have “My Heart Has A Mine Of Its Own” by Connie Francis round out the month.

Loved ’em

Only two tracks in the “Loved” column this week, but total classics! “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke and “Save The Last Dance For Me” by the Drifters. The story behind the latter is particularly heartwarming,

During an interview on Elvis Costello’s show Spectacle, Lou Reed, who worked with one of the writers, Pomus, said the song was written on the day of Pomus’ wedding while the wheelchair-using groom watched his bride dancing with their guests. Pomus had polio and at times used crutches to get around. His wife, Willi Burke, however, was a Broadway actress and dancer. The song gives his perspective of telling his wife to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and ‘in whose arms you’re gonna be.’

Liked ’em

• “A Million To One” – Jimmy Charles
• “Devil Or Angel” – Bobby Vee
• “Honest I Do” – Innocents
• “I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
• “Lucille” – Everly Brothers
• “Never On Sunday” – Don Costa
• “The Same One” – Brook Benton
• “Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante And Teicher
• “The Twist” – Hank Ballard
• “Three Nights A Week” – Fats Domino
• “You Mean Everything To Me” – Neil Sedaka

Leave ’em

• “I’m Not Afraid” – Ricky Nelson
• “Mr. Custer” – Larry Verne
• “My Heart Has A Mine Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
• “Pineapple Princess” – Annette & The Afterbeats
• “So Sad” – Everly Brothers

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

We’re on cyclone watch here in Auckland of 2023 – so much for summer! Let’s escape back to August, 1960 to hear what it sounds like….

Songs of the month

“A Rockin’ Good Way” – Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
[new] “A Woman A Friend A Lover” – Jackie Wilson
[new] “All My Love” – Jackie Wilson
“Alley-Oop” – Dante & The Evergreens
“Because They’re Young” – Duane Eddy
“Don’t Come Knockin'” – Fats Domino
[new] “Dreamin'” – Johnny Burnette
“Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” – Connie Francis
“Feels So Fine” – Johnny Preston
[new] “Feels So Good” – Johnny Preston
“Finger Poppin’ Time” – Hank Ballard
[new] “Hello Young Lovers” – Paul Anka
[new] “Hot Rod Lincoln” – Johnny Bond
“I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
“Image Of A Girl” – Safaris
[new] “In My Little Corner Of The World” – Anita Bryant
“It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley
“Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – Brian Hyland
“Josephine” – Bill Black’s Combo
[new] “Kiddio” – Brook Benton
“Look For A Star” – Billy Vaughn Orchestra
“Look For A Star” – Garry Miles
[new] “Look For A Star” – Gary Miles
“Look For A Star” – Gary Mills
“Mission Bell” – Donnie Brooks
“Mule Skinner Blues” – Fendermen
[new] “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
“My Home Town” – Paul Anka
[new] “Never On Sunday” – Don Costa Orchestra
“Only The Lonely” – Roy Orbison
[new] “Over The Rainbow” – Demensions
“Please Help Me I’m Falling” – Hank Locklin
“Question” – Lloyd Price
[new] “Ta Ta” – Clyde Mcphatter
“Tell Laura I Love Her” – Ray Peterson
“That’s All You Gotta Do” – Brenda Lee
[new] “The Twist” – Chubby Checker
[new] “Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante & Teicher
“This Bitter Earth” – Dinah Washington
“Trouble In Paradise” – Crests
[new] “Volare” – Bobby Rydell
[new] “Walk Don’t Run” – Ventures
“Walking To New Orleans” – Fats Domino
“When Will I Be Loved” – Everly Brothers
[new] “Yogi” – Ivy Three

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

On August 4 the NASA test pilot Joseph A. Walker became the fastest man in history as he flew a North American X-15 at a speed of 2,196 miles per hour (3,534 km/h), breaking a record set in 1956 by Milburn Apt, who had been killed while flying a Bell X-2.

On the 18th the first photograph ever from a spy satellite was taken, after the launch of the American Discoverer 14 at 12:15 pm PDT, and showed a Soviet airfield at Mys Shmidta. With 3,000 feet (910 m) of film, the satellite took more pictures than all 24 of the U-2 spy plane flights put together, and revealed the existence, not previously known to the U.S., of 64 airfields and 26 missile bases. Apparently the satellites had to eject the camera film after taking the photos and it was then retrieved. Pre-digital eh!

The 1960 Summer Olympics opened in Rome on the 25th, with a record 5,348 athletes from 83 nations competing. Cross-country champion Giancarlo Peris lit the Olympic flame after Italy’s President Giovanni Gronchi declared the Games of the 17th Olympiad open.

What’d Sadie think?

Another week at number 1 for the great “I’m Sorry” by Brenda Lee before “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland gets a week there. But its “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley that sticks it out for the last two weeks of August, 1960.

Loved ’em

“A Woman A Friend A Lover” by Jackie Wilson was apparently number 1 for some time in the R&B charts and crosses over into the mainstream well. Jackie Wilson is one of those names I knew from one song before this project, but now I’m a real fan.

“Hot Rod Lincoln” is a remake of a 1955 tune by Johnny Bond and is a fun story song.

“Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Bryan Hyland is of course a catchy classic.

At a time when bikini bathing suits were still seen as too risqué to be mainstream, the song prompted a sudden takeoff in bikini sales… The early 1960s saw a slew of surf movies and other film and television productions that rapidly built on the song’s momentum.

“Kiddio” by Brook Benton was originally released in 1957 but this version is the most well known and most excellent.

And then there’s Chubby Checker’s classic “The Twist” – I didn’t realise this wasn’t the original, and that it was in fact released in 1958 as a b-side to Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, “Teardrops on Your Letter”. They lucked out in not having it come to fame through their version it appears…

The song became popular on a Baltimore television dance show hosted by local DJ Buddy Deane; Deane recommended the song to Dick Clark, host of the national American Bandstand. When the song proved popular with his audience, Clark attempted to book Ballard to perform on the show. Ballard was unavailable, and Clark searched for a local artist to record the song. He settled on Checker, whose voice was very similar to Ballard’s. Exposure for the song on American Bandstand and on The Dick Clark Saturday Night Show helped propel the song to the top of the American charts

Liked ’em

• “All My Love” – Jackie Wilson
• “Dreamin'” – Johnny Burnette
• “Feels So Good” – Johnny Preston
• “Hello Young Lovers” – Paul Anka
• “In My Little Corner Of The World” – Anita Bryant
• “Look For A Star” – Gary Miles
• “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” – Connie Francis
• “Over The Rainbow” – Demensions
• “Ta Ta” – Clyde Mcphatter
• “Theme From The Apartment” – Ferrante & Teicher
• “Volare” – Bobby Rydell
• “Walk Don’t Run” – Ventures

Leave ’em

• “Never On Sunday” – Don Costa Orchestra
• “Yogi” – Ivy Three

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