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My record of the week 60 years ago

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King Rollo View member profile	24th August 2021, 06:21 PM Post #41
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	24th - 30th August 1961 40. Say It With Flowers - Dorothy Squires and Russ Conway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiWGvEOe5kk This is not a vocal duet. Ross Conway is playing the piano. It's a ballad that Dorothy wrote herself but it belongs to an earlier era, maybe the 40s. It's her first hit single for eight years and she won't have another one for another eight years. Record of the week : 31. Writing On The Wall - Tommy Steele This wasn't great but better than the other new entry. There's some whistling here as well as singing and I liked the string plucking and piano part. The writing really was on the wall for Tommy Steele as this is the last of his 17 top 40 hits. He's best known for his 1956 number 1, 'Singing The Blues'. He's 84 now and was made a knight in last year's Birthday Honours. H2mjq78wYhg


King Rollo View member profile	31st August 2021, 05:48 PM Post #42
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	31st August - 6th September 1961 22. Ain't Gonna Wash For A Week - The Brook Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBgDeFOLHgA Britain's answer to the Everly Brothers. I liked the percussion on this one. 31. Someday (You'll Be Sorry) - Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90umtK_0zlc A lively jazz tune. The vocal and trumpet are coming out of the right hand speaker while the rhythm section are on the left. 35. Michael Row The Boat Ashore / Lumbered - Lonnie Donegan and his group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlvTnMZFGTg / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FesgkXv1Th4 I'm familiar with Michael Row The Boat Ashore which goes back to the 19th century but I haven't heard this version before. The other A side was a novelty song. I can't say I liked either. This will go on to be Lonnie's sixteenth top 10 single. 38. I'm Going Home (To See My Baby) - Gene Vincent with Sounds Incorporated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW7kJXT2A6w Gene's previous single in June was my record of the week and this is another good one with a really strong vocal. It's his final top 40 hit. 39. Sea Of Heartbreak - Don Gibson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4bo4ByFhLM A country music song, it was OK with a good arrangement. It bears some resemblance to The Smurf Song and will be his only top 40 single. Record of the week : 37. Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker No hesitation this week, it has to be this enduring classic which will put a smile on anyone's face. Number 37 will be its peak for the moment. I'm assuming only a few imported copies were in the shops. It will re-enter the chart in January 1962 and reach number 2 in February. Coupled with 1960's 'The Twist', it will be a top 5 hit again in 1975. E1o3cbLYoIY


Popchartfreak View member profile	1st September 2021, 07:37 AM Post #43
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Let's Twist Again is the main classic there, by far. The Twist was never the monster UK hit it was in the USA, and the dance didn't become a national craze until 1962, spearheaded by this record, which was always more famous in the UK than The Twist. Throw in Twist & Shout, The Beatles masterpiece cover which was also huge (on EP & LP, not eligible for the singles chart) and everybody was Twisting by 1963, including my mum and 5-year-old me. It became a hit again in 1975 due to a hit dance cover by a DJ which sparked demand for the original. That was the first time I ever heard The Twist when it got occasional spins on the chart show as a change from Let's Twist Again being played twice


King Rollo View member profile	1st September 2021, 12:04 PM Post #44
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	Thanks for the extra info, that explains why it didn't get any higher than number 37 at this point.


Jade View member profile	1st September 2021, 05:49 PM Post #45
I wanna keep all of your charm in a canister Pronouns: She/her Joined: 18 January 2011 Posts: 60,200 User: 12,810	Oops I'm fashionably late to this thread but enjoyed catching up! When I was in school, ever keen for a big music project, I randomly decided one day that I wanted to listen to every new entry in the chart and got up to about 1966, I really should've kept it up back then as I had a lot more spare time but could always carry on bit by bit again someday. Anyway, that technically means that I've heard everything in this thread so far, but it was about 7 years ago so my memory definitely struggles in places my easy highlight so far is 'Johnny Remember Me' <3 I remember that song cropping up in an English project I created about songs banned from the BBC. I totally fell in love with it, Joe Meek had such an exciting production flair, with another #1 with his involvement coming up in 1962 being a big favourite of mine for the decade too. His personal life was quite shocking to find out about though Anyway, both sets of vocals of course aid its generally haunting sound too. I actually found a 'Golden #1s' vinyl in a charity shop and that song being on it sealed the deal of my purchase. Keep up the good work


King Rollo View member profile	1st September 2021, 06:12 PM Post #46
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	You did well to get as far as 1966. That's 14 years of new entries. Yes, 'Johnny Remember Me' is certainly one of the best songs so far. I know little about Joe Meek so I'll make sure I read up on him.


King Rollo View member profile	7th September 2021, 06:02 PM Post #47
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	7th - 13th September 1961 17. Wild In The Country / I Feel So Bad - Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONNGi67wTvk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TyXncBBWm8 Wild In The Country is a ballad written for one of Elvis' films with just an acoustic guitar, double bass and backing singers while I Feel So Bad is more uptempo. They were both OK, I don't remember hearing either before. His last four singles have topped the chart but this one will only reach number 4. 37. Breakaway - The Springfields https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIJe76MFS9c I knew there was a group called The Springfields but didn't realise that Dusty Springfield was one of their singers so here she is, two years before her solo career started. This is a quaint country/pop song with Dusty and the two male vocalists all singing in American accents. I listened to it before looking them up so I was assuming they were an American group. This will be the first of five top 40 hits for them. 39. Heart And Soul - Jan and Dean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2rVXozMOnY A doo wop song with a similarity to an earlier number 1 from year, 'Blue Moon'. The vocal harmonies remind me of The Beach Boys and the American male duo will go on to be one of the pioneers of the surf sound. The original version of this song goes back to 1938. Record of the week : 24. Kon-Tiki - The Shadows I wasn't sure what this was going to be from the title alone but I recognise it now although it's not as familiar to me as some of their other songs. It has their trademark guitar sound all over it and wins the record of the week honour by a narrow margin as I enjoyed the two songs at 37 and 39 and if I listened to those two a few more times, one of them might have replaced Kon-Tiki. This will be The Shadows' second number 1 single without Cliff Richard. It's named after Thor Heyerdahl's ship. 3KUachS1LP4


Jade View member profile	7th September 2021, 06:10 PM Post #48
I wanna keep all of your charm in a canister Pronouns: She/her Joined: 18 January 2011 Posts: 60,200 User: 12,810	Great pick for record of the week! I love The Shadows' instrumental surf style and that extends to the Jet Harris and Tony Meehan hits too in a couple of years, two members who left. Their Greatest Hits was another favourite charity shop vinyl find for me I also didn't know that Dusty Springfield was part of a group prior to her solo fame


Popchartfreak View member profile	7th September 2021, 06:52 PM Post #49
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Can't go wrong with The Shadows, but surprisingly the only one of the others I know is the Elvis single which my dad bought and then disappeared when he lent a bunch of singles to a mate who never returned them. I learnt that lesson myself when I was 18. NEVER EVER lend records to anyone unless you are happy never to see them ever again. Dusty's brother was in The Springfields with her, Tom, he's currently 87 and he produced/wrote songs for The Seekers after The Springfields broke up - including all of their biggest hits, and Dusty's lovely Losing You, and The Springfields' big hit the wonderful Island Of Dreams. He retired from music in 1970!


King Rollo View member profile	14th September 2021, 06:32 PM Post #50
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	14th - 20th September 1961 19. Michael - The Highwaymen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Q9kzN2idk Just two weeks after Lonnie Donegan, we have another version of Michael Row The Boat Ashore, this time with its title shortened to Michael. I prefer this version, it's closer to the way the song would be performed in church or Sunday school. The single will go all the way to number 1 but they will have no further top 40 hits. It also topped the Billboard chart. 20. Hats Off To Larry - Del Shannon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk_FR3341bA Del Shannon's follow-up to his number 1, 'Runaway'. It's a good song with some innovative electronic keyboard effects. 32. Together - Connie Francis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leDV9qESs-c A well sung ballad with a beguiling spoken word section in the middle. This will be her ninth top 10 single. 33. True Love - Terry Lightfoot and his New Orleans Jazzmen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSsgNN6fj6Q Some more foot tapping trad jazz now. It's the first hit for the UK band who were from North London, not New Orleans. 35. Get Lost - Eden Kane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxgyjXzh8GM Another follow-up to a number 1 single. My comment will be the same as it was for 'Well I Ask You'. I don't like his vocal style. 36. You'll Answer To Me - Cleo Laine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke37yLx8xoY A string laden ballad with some sultry vocals. I'm surprised that this is her only top 40 single. She was made a Dame in 1997 and is now 93 years old. 37. Drivin' Home - Duane Eddy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FPhrZx0MeY You know what you're going to get from Duane Eddy. As well as the twangy guitar, the saxophone plays a prominent role on this one. Record of the week : 24. Jealousy - Billy Fury I'm picking this for its extravagant orchestral backing track and he sings the song skilfully. It was originally a tango written by the Danish composer Jacob Gade in 1925 and this version keeps to the tango style. It will go on to be Billy Fury's highest charting single, reaching number 2, and kept off the top of the chart by 'Kon-Tiki'. clzBVKxafBc


Popchartfreak View member profile	15th September 2021, 04:44 PM Post #51
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Ah the wonderful Billy Fury my first fave popstar Of the ones I know well (Michael, Hats Off To Larry, Jealousy) I'd plump for Del Shannon, then Fury and probably all the others which I don;t know over Michael - it was all over the place in the 60's and it's left me with sort-of a "ewww" reaction to it. Actually, prob not last as I invariably dont like Trad Jazz, again childhood bad memories of being forced to sit through Kenny Ball on variety shows, ditto Cleo Laine. She's great, just not for me. I can't imagine not liking Connie Francis, Duane Eddy or Eden Kane records though.... The most-recent Duane Eddy track I bought was 2011's Primeval, co-written Eddy & Richard Hawley. It sounds like 1961 and also 2011.


King Rollo View member profile	15th September 2021, 07:08 PM Post #52
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	I have a couple of Duane's 80s collaborations in my collection. One with the Art Of Noise which you'll know and a lesser known one with Jeff Lynne.


King Rollo View member profile	21st September 2021, 08:08 PM Post #53
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	21st - 27th September 1961 After eight new entries last week, we don't have any this time, just two re-entries, so I have another week off.


King Rollo View member profile	28th September 2021, 06:29 PM Post #54
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	28th September - 4th October 1961 25. Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) - The Viscounts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9fIbhyACU8 A great version by the British group of a well known song. The original was by Barry Mann. The version I know best would be Showaddywaddy's from 1982 which turned out to be their last top 40 single. 27. Crying - Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNdBLBleO90 This would have been my ROTW most weeks but there's something better this week. The tympani, bass guitar and marimba all play their part along with the strings and Roy's fantastic vocal. I'm surprised this peaked as low as number 25. I'm more familiar with Don McLean's version which reached number 1 in 1980. 32. There's A Hole In My Bucket - Harry Belafonte and Odetta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AthT8kw7CIo I can only find live versions of this on youtube so I'm assuming that it was the performance at Carnegie Hall that was released as a single as that's the one that crops up the most. I certainly know the song from somewhere. It's a nursery rhyme that has its origins in Germany about 1700. This will be Harry Belafonte's final top 40 hit. 34. Granada - Frank Sinatra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9yV_BAuXwA A song that goes back to 1932 and has been recorded by many singers. This is the second version to chart. It's quite fast paced with a boisterous performance by the orchestra. 36. You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) - Ral Donner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc6JR7oraeU A mid-tempo rock'n'roll song with a very similar vocal style to Elvis Presley. This will be the American singer's only UK hit. 38. I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door - Eddie Hodges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRIhld4O68c Eddie Hodges was a child actor and singer and was only 14 years old when he recorded this. I quite enjoyed it. Record of the week : 26. Walkin' Back To Happiness - Helen Shapiro Helen Shapiro becomes the first act to win my record of the week award twice. As with the first one, this will go all the way to number 1. She was still only 14 years old when she recorded this one. It's a catchy pop song with another remarkably controlled vocal performance. The single sold more than a million copies. f-K0cCoyWf0


Popchartfreak View member profile	2nd October 2021, 11:16 AM Post #55
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	One of my early pop song loves, Walking back To Happiness, loved it and Helen Shapiro, and I've never stopped loving either of them, head and shoulders above most of the UK pop records of the time. Still a catchy bop, woop bah oh yehhhyeh! The barry mann version is the one I knew before Shwaddywaddy had a go, still great fun Who Put The Bomp, and Bazza along with missus Cynthia wrote: I'm Gonna Be Strong (epic song), Walking In The rain, Saturday Night At The Movies, You've Lost That Lovin Feelin' (EPIC song), Make Your Own Kind Of Music, and a huge list of other hits right up to Somewhere Out There for Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram. Roy's Cryin' oh yes another classic! I'd also have opted for Helen Shapiro though, even though this is wonderful. I loved the kd Lang/Roy version too, but I rate the Don McLean chart-topper even more Hole In My Bucket, talking about kiddie faves, I was OBSESSED with this record as a kid, I just couldn't get enough of it. It was played on Juniors Choice on Radio 2 for decades. I'm fond of it for old times sake, but one play every few years is enough Granada is a song I know, but it's not one I know well or have noticed much, and the ral Donner track is new to me. Never heard of him, but he DOES sound like Elvis without the edge, so that and his looks must have sold this one. I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door I know from the Little Jimmy Osmond hit cover in 1974, and which I like as long as I don't hear it too much. The original is as jolly.


King Rollo View member profile	2nd October 2021, 06:44 PM Post #56
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	I was wondering which one you'd prefer out of the Roy Orbison and Helen Shapiro songs so I'm pleased to see you agreed with me. I've just had a listen to Don McLean's version of Crying as I haven't heard it much since 1980 and yes, it's just as good, if not better, as the original. I thought Barry Mann's name was slightly familiar. Those are some good songs that's he's co-written.


King Rollo View member profile	5th October 2021, 06:31 PM Post #57
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	5th - 11th October 1961 25. Wild Wind - John Leyton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bcCjhpADbo This has a similar sound to 'Johnny Remember Me' with the haunting female backing vocals still present but it's not as good. It will come close to being another chart topper, climbing all the way to number 2. 29. Muskrat / Don't Blame Me - The Everly Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AgMEkuuIMk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Aak4-SMig Don't Blame Me is a ballad while Muskrat is more uptempo. I preferred Muskrat which had a nifty rhythm running through it. The Everly Brothers' last two singles got to number 1 but this one will only reach number 20. 34. Hard Hearted Hannah - The Temperance Seven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWm3qP1Kp8c The Temperance Seven are back with their trad jazz and this one about a "a gal who loves to see men suffer" is a little slower paced than 'Pasadena'. 36. My Boomerang Won't Come Back - Charlie Drake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUuID6Rz1FU This novelty song, produced by George Martin, is the only one of this week's new entries I think I've heard before. It would have been another regular on Juniors' Choice and will be the last of Charlie Drake's four top 40 hits. 37. Bless You - Tony Orlando https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLCrxcF_8L8 Tony Orlando is just 17 years old here. It will be ten years before he appears in the top 40 again, going on to have two number 1 singles with his group Dawn. Bless You is a decent midtempo pop song with some sweeping strings. 38. Amor, Amor - Ben E King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFJkxc-89zE Compared to 'Stand By Me', this is a big disappointment. It will be his last top 40 hit until that one returns in 1987. Record of the week : 26. Sucu Sucu - The Laurie Johnson Orchestra I've chosen this instrumental which starts out with the bongo drums and then uses many different instruments with the main hook being played by the brass section. The original version was recorded by Tarateño Rojas in 1959. This version became popular after being used as the theme tune to the ITV spy series 'Top Secret'. It peaked at number 9. Laurie Johnson wrote many other TV theme tunes, most notably The Avengers, Animal Magic and This Is Your Life. It will be 36 years before he appears in the top 40 again with the theme from The Professionals. He was made an MBE in 2014 and is now 94 years old. J2NGSadxES8 This post has been edited by King Rollo: 5th October 2021, 06:32 PM


Popchartfreak View member profile	5th October 2021, 06:51 PM Post #58
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Sucu Sucu is an example of one of the many popular 60's instrumentals that I knew well in the 60's and still know well, and had no idea what they were called or who they were by! I really like this track, and yet had not connected the title Sucu Sucu (which I'm aware of) with the jaunty melody (which I know well) Wild Wind is a decent record, but as you say, no Johnny.... Never heard either of those Everly songs. Charlie Drake was indeed a regular Junior's Choice fave with My Boomerang Won't Come Back. When I was 4 or 5 I thought it was very funny, and loved Charlie Drake. I liked him all the way through to being 13 and Puckwudgie - and then I went right off him as he became very "Last decade" and I wasn't 5 years old anymore. Poor Charlie! Bless You and Amor Amor - both have done much better...


King Rollo View member profile	12th October 2021, 06:26 PM Post #59
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,165 User: 23,961	12th - 18th October 1961 33. Sucu Sucu - Nina and Frederik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFyT_s-eohw We now have a vocal version of Sucu Sucu by the Danish duo. It was alright but not as good as the instrumental last week. Nina and Frederik's biggest hit was Little Donkey which got to number 3 the year before. 38. Sucu Sucu - Ted Heath And His Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmdVUEUHS84 And here is another version. We are back to the song as an instrumental now but again not as good as Laurie Johnson's version. When I first started looking at old singles charts in a book I bought in the early 80s, I thought that this might be the same Ted Heath that went on to lead the Conservative Party, especially as he was also a musician but I later discovered that it's a different Ted Heath. He released over 100 albums which explains why his Sucu Sucu sounds as if it was recorded fairly quickly in a factory produced manner. This is the last of his nine top 40 hits, the first of which was in January 1953 so chartfridays will get round to that one on his thread soon. Two more versions of Sucu Sucu charted at this time but both of them failed to reach the top 40. Record of the week : 39. A Tribute To Buddy Holly - Mike Berry and the Outlaws I can't pick Sucu Sucu again so this was always going to be my ROTW out of the three new entries but I do think think it's the best one this week. It's the same Outlaws who backed John Leyton on Johnny Remember Me and Joe Meek is on production duties. The single peaked at number 24 and ended up being banned by the BBC for being too morbid. I know Mike Berry for his top 10 hit in 1980, The Sunshine Of Your Smile, and his role as Mr Spooner in Are You Being Served, replacing Mr Lucas. He is now the only surviving member of the regular cast. xTlcDRB2gbA


Popchartfreak View member profile	16th October 2021, 10:01 AM Post #60
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	at all the Sucu sucu's, who knew?! Ted Heath I also thought was the same PM I had no idea how he found the time to go sailing and do band records Tribute To Buddy Holly easily the best track, it still holds up as an early UK-based goodie. And I didn't realise Nicholas Smith had also died from the cast of Are You Being Served?