I'm a fan of both of the bookends in your ranking today! I somehow had never made the 'My Sweet Lord' connection but now cannot unhear it :lol:

Poor George, My Sweet Lord is way better than He's So Fine, though The Chiffons were great, He's So Fine is good, and they have one major classic fave still to come for me.

 

But, yes it's all about From Me To You, part of my childhood, a tune that takes me back in time. Not one of my fave Beatles tracks, it has to be said - too much competition for that! - but still an essential record.

The Chiffons later did their own version of My Sweet Lord

https://youtube/YlTnwUXGx6k

Edited April 19, 20232 yr by fiesta

25th April - 1st May 1963

 

31. Scarlet O'Hara - Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

A busy record with orchestral instruments and backing singers added to the guitars and drums. It's not as good as their chart topper, 'Diamonds', but will go as higher as number 2. Jet Harris didn't actually play on this, Joe Moretti played the lead guitar.

34. Young Lovers - Paul and Paula

The second of their two hits (the first one is still in the top 30). It's another soppy love song.

 

Record of the week : 38. Two Kinds Of Teardrops - Del Shannon

 

No standouts this week but this is my favourite. Del Shannon puts in a charismatic lead vocal supported by the backing singers and it's a good catchy tune. It will be his seventh top 10 single, peaking at number 5.

 

don't know any of those :o (though I may know the tune to Scarlett if I hear it - just checked, and I don't, but rather like it) and I'll opt for Del too! :)

2nd - 8th May 1963

 

28. Casablanca - Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen

The usual Kenny Ball jazz sound with a slight Moroccan influence to suit the song's title.

38. My Way - Eddie Cochran https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pTP1xFegvg A decent rock'n'roll tune recorded in 1959. Excluding later re-issues, it will be the last of his posthumous top 40 hits.

39. Woe Is Me - Helen Shapiro

This will be the third single from Helen in a row not to make the top 30. Again, it's a good vocal but the song wasn't great. The backing track was a bit different with hand claps, finger clicking and the drums being played with hands rather than drumsticks.

40. Just Listen To My Heart - The Spotnicks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE5S2R6r_G0 An enjoyable guitar instrumental with good use of the drums. The original vocal version was by Frank Ifield. This will be the last of the Swedish group's four hits.

 

Record of the week : 37. Pipeline - The Chantays

 

An intriguing instrumental track with guitars, electric keyboard and drums which comes under the surf rock genre but it also sounds quite psychedelic to me and something I'd expect to hear in the late 60s so it's ahead of its time, there's a bit of a Doors sound to it. It will be the American group's only hit, reaching number 4 in their own country and number 16 in the UK. I'm pleased to see that The Chantays are still going today.

 

 

 

 

Pipeline a fab easy winner there. I actually dont know the other ones at all!

9th - 15th May 1963

 

21. Lucky Lips - Cliff Richard and The Shadows

If you have lucky lips, you will never be alone. A strange concept to base a song lyric around. This will be the first Cliff single to miss the top 3 since March 1961. The original version was by Ruth Brown in 1956.

37. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody - Freddie and The Dreamers

The first hit for the Manchester group. I can see some potential but it all sounds a bit disorganised to me. James Ray recorded the first version in 1961.

39. Little Band Of Gold - James Gilreath

The only hit for the American singer. It has a country sound to it but also some trumpet playing which was the highlight for me.

 

Record of the week : 17. Do You Want To Know A Secret? - Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas

 

Just two months after the release of the Beatles' debut album comes a cover version of one of the tracks. I didn't really want to give the award to this one but it's a weak field this week. It's a good song and the Liverpool group make a competent job of it even if they don't stray too much from the arrangement of the original. It will spend two weeks at number 2 behind its writers' other single 'From Me To You'.

 

 

Freddie & The Dreamers for me and some kiddie-pleasing antics from Freddie garrity, he was short and fun for kids of my age. Of the 3 that's the only song I knew at the time, though I've come to know Do You Want To Know A Secret and it's nice enough - Billy J Kramer wouldnt have long before he became my absolute fave for a short while. I was easily distracted by great pop stars on the telly and a fab tune. :lol:

Happy to read that you enjoyed 'Pipeline'! I remember discovering that when browsing through 60s charts about a decade ago and was shocked that I managed to pull it out of my brain as a PopMaster answer last year, one of my most satisfying moments to date when playing :lol: it is a standout instrumental for sure.

 

I quite like 'Scarlett O'Hara' too but agree it's not as fab as their chart-topper 'Diamonds'.

16th - 22nd May 1963

 

39. Casanova / Chariot - Petula Clark

/

I'm used to Petula Clark singing in French but she goes into German for Casanova. I didn't like that one but Chariot was much better with its sweeping strings and a soaring vocal. She was back to French for that one.

 

Record of the week : 28. When Will You Say I Love You - Billy Fury

 

Just the two new entries this week so it's another song that probably wouldn't get my award in a busier week. It's a love ballad which he sings well and the piano plays a significant role. It will peak at number 3 and be the last of his four top three singles.

 

23rd - 29th May 1963

 

21. Take These Chains From My Heart - Ray Charles

This cover of a Hank Williams song from 1952 was very close to earning my award this week. The piano solo, the strings and Ray's lead vocal all stand out. It will be the last of his four top 10 singles.

30. Harvest Of Love - Benny Hill

A farmyard based novelty song, I quite enjoyed it. This is Benny's third hit and the last one until his number 1 in 1971.

34. Out Of My Mind - Johnny Tillotson

A below par country ballad, it will be his final top 40 hit. He's still going and released an album of new songs last year.

 

Record of the week : 29. Another Saturday Night - Sam Cooke

 

I chose this one over the Ray Charles song as the chorus has been stuck in my head since I listened to it earlier today. It's about someone who has found a job in a new town but has not found a girl to spend his money on each weekend. It will be Sam's seventh hit, peaking at number 23. A cover by Cat Stevens will reach number 19 in 1974.

 

Not onebof my fave Sam Cooke tracks that one prob due to the cat stevens cover which just got on my nerves them and now.

 

Ray Charles for me out of this batch classy!

30th May - 5th June 1963

 

22. I Like It - Gerry and The Pacemakers

A catchy tune but it's my least favourite of their three number 1 singles. It will spend four weeks at the top of the chart.

29. Forget Him - Bobby Rydell

A fairly good mid-tempo song from the American singer. It will be the last hit for him, most of the previous ones were before I started this thread. He died last year.

33. Falling - Roy Orbison

Another solid Roy Orbison song with the usual fine lead vocal, supported by the strings and backing singers.

40. Foolish Little Girl - The Shirelles

I like the vocal harmonies on this one, the standard is high this week. It will be the last of their three top 40 hits.

 

Record of the week : 39. (Ain't That) Just Like Me - The Hollies

 

Another new group emerges as beat music starts to take hold. This has a pacy, driving rhythm with the bass and lead guitars and drums all playing their part. It's a cover of a song by The Coasters from 1961. The debut single by the Manchester group will reach number 25.

 

 

 

It feels like the sound of the 60s is well and truly here now with groups like Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Beatles hitting the top spot.

Well, there's a Hollies track I've never heard :o Hmmm. I can see The Coasters whimsical style in it, not sure it works as Beat Group. I rate Roy's Falling a lot, and Forget Him I don't know - playing it now. Tony Hatch song how did an American teen idol get hold it?! Hmmm, also. Still, at least they named the school after him in Grease. Overall though, I'm still fond of I Like It - it was part of my life at that time, I loved Gerry Marsden and it brings waves of nostalgia when I very occasionally hear it in a way that the Beatles stuff doesn't so much cos they've never really gone away. It could get very irritating if it was on the radio a lot though! :lol:

6th - 12th June 1963

 

34. Ice Cream Man - The Tornados

This will be the last top 40 hit for the Tornados. It keeps to their familiar sound so each single is making less of an impact.

35. Bo Diddley - Buddy Holly

It was Bo Diddley himself who recorded the original and this cover by Buddy Holly is from 1956. The guitar playing really stands out and this was close to my award this week. For a song from the mid 1950s, it's way ahead of its time.

40. He's The One - Billie Davis

I don't like her vocal on this one, the record would only have to be speeded up slightly to sound like Pinky and Perky. We will have to wait another five years for her last hit single.

 

Record of the week : 27. Atlantis - The Shadows

 

I wasn't sure if I knew this, looking at the song title, but I recognise it now. It's certainly one of my favourites by them. A great tune with the strings and female backing vocals being used to great effect to widen the scale of the record. It will spend two weeks at number 2.

 

Atlantis not familiar to me, shock! Playing it I dont remember it at all and it seems a bit lacklustre compared to other biggies. Ice Cream man I have heard before, I quite like it. Bo Diddley launched a thousand copycats, most of which I prefer actually, oops! Buddy does a decent job though. Billie Davis one of my BJSC flops with her last hit, actual early rapping (though it would never be called that it pretty much is, and she wasn't the first to do it either) and its way better than this one.

13th - 19th June 1963

 

30. Shy Girl - Mark Wynter

A nondescript ballad from Mark that will only reach number 28, well short of the top 10 placings for his last two singles.

35. Lonely Boy Lonely Guitar - Duane Eddy

The female backing singers play a big part here, interacting with Duane's guitar sounds. This is his nineteenth top 40 hit and his last until 1975.

40. It's Been Nice (Goodnight) - The Everly Brothers

The lyrics here are about a date ending sooner than the man would like, he doesn't want to hear the words of the title. The song was OK.

 

Record of the week : 37. Don't Try To Change Me - The Crickets

 

Nothing really deserves my award this week with these four acts past their best but this was marginally my favourite. It's a decent, piano led, country style ballad with a good vocal by Jerry Naylor. According to a youtube comment, Bobby Vee and Glen Campbell are on backing vocals. The single will go no higher than its new entry position.

 

20th - 26th June 1963

 

26. Welcome To My World - Jim Reeves

A country style ballad with some gorgeous strings, this will be his first top 10 single.

34. It's My Party - Lesley Gore

This would win the award most weeks but we have two classics today. It goes straight into the chorus and never lets up. The lead and backing vocals combined with the brass section and drums add up to a fantastic pop song. I didn't know that Quincy Jones was the producer, 20 years before he got round to Thriller. This will be an American number 1 but it will be an 80s cover version that will top the UK chart.

35. Rondo - Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen

The hits keep coming for Kenny Ball. This is another cheery tune with a good clarinet solo in the middle.

36. Indian Love Call - Karl Denver

And the hits keep on coming for Karl as well. This is another great demonstration of his wide vocal range.

 

Record of the week : 37. Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals

 

There's a link to one of the other new entries here, Phil Spector recorded It's My Party with The Crystals after hearing a demo of the song but Lesley Gore's record company managed to get her version out to the radio stations first. Instead, this is the new release by The Crystals and it beats It's My Party by a comfortable margin for me. The wall of sound is in full effect here with the saxophone solo and the drums standing out. It's one of my favourites from the thread so far. It will spend six weeks in the top 10, peaking at number 5.