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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 24, 2022 9:52:19 GMT 1
Many of your songs from 1961 were hits in the UK for other artists either at the same time or later, e.g. Please Mr Postman reached #2 for the Carpenters in the 1970s, their joint biggest hit. And of course that was the first version I heard, as with Showaddywaddy's "Under The Moon Of Love", a cover which, incidentally, has some of the best drumming in it ever.
Daddy's Home is terrible in any version though.
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 24, 2022 10:01:14 GMT 1
Another song Showaddywaddy made famous in the UK "A Little Bit Of Soap" was a US hit for the Jarmels in 1961, peaking at #12 there.
Two songs that peaked outside the top 40 in the UK, the Moontrekkers "Night Of The Vampire" which was one week at #50, and Jo Ann Campbell with "Motorcycle Michael" (#41) were in my top 50 of the year.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:05:40 GMT 1
Now onto 1962, and I'm going up to 30 tracks despite me thinking it was a weaker year for music than the previous two.....
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:15:07 GMT 1
30 Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel USA #1 UK #41
This song written and composed by Lyn Duddy and Lee Pockriss. The song was originally recorded by both Laurie Loman and Georgia Lee, but those two versions were not successful. However, the Californian born actress via her television role as Mary Stone on the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958-1963) recorded this song resulting in a national chart topper. (Well it sure is better than some subsequent occurrences of TV pop music plotlines crossing over into the real world).
In 1964 Shelley Fabares married record producer Lou Adler, who produced the likes of The Mamas & The Papas; Barry McGuire; Scott McKenzie; Janis Joplin; Johnny Rivers & most famously Carole King including her definitive 1971 album "Tapestry".
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:19:10 GMT 1
29 Brenda Lee - Break It To Me Gently USA#4 UK #46
This pop ballad song written by blues musician Joe Seneca with lyrics by Diane Lampert, was produced by Owen Bradley in Nashville. It went top 5 in the USA; Canada #3 & Australia #10; but it failed to pick up steam in the UK. Juice Newton 1982 cover version reached USA #11.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:24:03 GMT 1
28 The Crystals - Uptown USA #13
The Phil Spector produced track was written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil. It was the female group's second single. Their 4th "He's A Rebel" topped the Billboard singles chart, and peaked at UK #19 later in the year.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:28:38 GMT 1
27 The Sensations - Let Me In USA #4
The Philadelphia doo-wop group fronted by Yvonne Baker (who wrote the track) scored their only major hit also peaking at R&B #2. It also peaked at Australia #22.
Yvonne Baker later started a solo career, recording a number of tracks that achieved cult status among Northern soul fans, most notably "You Didn’t Say a Word" on Parkway Records in 1966.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:32:45 GMT 1
26 Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover USA #48
Written by Willie Dixon, the Rock & Roll / R&B standard song was one of Diddley's last record chart hits on Chess Records.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:36:07 GMT 1
25 Marvelettes - Playboy USA #7
This early Motown recording was written by lead vocalist Gladys Horton with Brian Holland, William Stevenson, & Robert Bateman. It also hit R&B #4.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:44:33 GMT 1
24 The Cookies - Chains USA #17 UK #50
The Brooklyn, New York R&B girl group whom had previously provided the backup vocals for the Little Eva hit song, "The Loco-Motion"; had the chance to record another Gerry Goffin/Carole King composition for themselves (after The Everly Brothers passed on it). The Earl-Jean led track resulted in an R&B #6 hit. It was also covered by The Beatles (not the last time in this 1962 countdown) on their debut album "Please Please Me".
Later in the year they would provided backing vocals on the USA #1 "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" by Neil Sedaka, but The Cookies had no such difficulties. Their lead singer may reappear in this thread in the next couple of years.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:49:16 GMT 1
23 Gene Pitney - Only Love Can Break A Heart USA #2
An early Bacharach & David composition, the "Hello Mary Lou", & "Rubber Ball", songwriter famously found him stuck at USA #2 behind The Crystals "He's a Rebel" which was written by ... Gene Pitney! This track topped the Easy Listening (Adult Contemporary) chart, and reached Australia #4 & Canada #11, but it flopped in the UK.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 13:52:38 GMT 1
22 Barbara George - I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) USA #3
The New Orleans female singer/songwriter's only Billboard Pop Top 40 crossover hit topped the R&B charts.
This song was later recorded by many other artists, including Freddie King, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Merseybeats, Ike and Tina Turner, and Bonnie Raitt.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:06:44 GMT 1
21 Francoise Hardy - Tous Les Garcons Et Les Fes FRA #1
The Paris born singer & fashion icon's breakthrough June 1962 single was the beginning of this teenager's journey to national sweetheart status.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:12:27 GMT 1
20 David Rose & His Orchestra - The Stripper USA #1
The 52 year old London born American composer. It was composed by Rose in 1958 for a television special saluting burlesque. The song featured especially prominent trombone lines, giving the tune its lascivious signature, and evokes the feel of music used to accompany burlesque striptease artists. Four years after the instrumental was recorded, MGM Records wanted to rush-release Rose's recording of "Ebb Tide" as a 45-rpm single, but needed a B-side. An office boy went through some of Rose's tapes searching for one, and "The Stripper" was chosen. It became a surprise hit, receiving much radio play. It also went top ten in Canada & Australia.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:16:28 GMT 1
19 Arthur Alexander - You Better Move On USA #24
The self penned December 1961 rhythm and blues song by the Alabama born singer/songwriter, would later be covered by Billy "Crash" Craddock, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Tommy Roe; and was covered by the Rolling Stones.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:23:20 GMT 1
18 The Orlons - The Wah Watusi USA #2
This song was written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell also peaked at #5 on the R&B chart. It gave the Philadelphia R&B group the first of their 9 hits up until the end of 1964. They troubled the UK just once with a #39 single "Don't Hang Up".
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:27:54 GMT 1
17 Gene Pitney - (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance USA #4
Another Bacharach & David composition was written for but not used in the Western film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. As well as making the USA Top 5, it peaked at Canada #2 & Australia #1. Yet it did not chart in the UK.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:31:44 GMT 1
16 The Duprees - You Belong To Me USA #7
Ten years after Jo Stafford first took the song to #1, Joey Vann and the New Jersey doo wop group returned it to the top 10 with this Glenn Miller-flavored orchestration. It was the follow up to their USA #13 "My Own True Love".
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:38:37 GMT 1
15 Shirelles - Baby It's You USA #8
The song written by Burt Bacharach (music), producer Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams), and Mack David (lyrics) was also an R&B #3 hit. It would later be covered by The Beatles on their debut Please Please Me album; whilst the band Smith 1969 USA #5 was a more soulful interpretation. Their next single "Soldier Boy" was a USA #1 & UK #23 hit.
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 24, 2022 15:42:19 GMT 1
14 Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me USA #37
The R&B #4 song was written by James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while production was handled by Leonard and Phil Chess. It was released in 1962 as the third single from her 1962 self-titled album.
In 2010, American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera recorded a cover version of the song on the soundtrack Burlesque. In 2011, the track was sampled on two hits: "Levels" by Swedish DJ Avicii, which in turn was sampled on "Good Feeling" by American rapper Flo Rida.
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