15th - 21st August 1963

 

36. I'll Cut Your Tail Off - John Leyton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTEqVWC69fs This will be the last of John's seven top 40 singles and it's surely the worst with lyrics about putting a girl over his knee and making her wail as a punishment for flirting with other boys. He's still alive, aged 87.

37. Christine - Miss X

This is a bit of an oddity, some piano playing interspersed with innuendo laden lyrics. It was banned by the BBC but I think that was more down to the fact that 'Christine' is Christine Keeler who was the subject of the Profumo affair which was going on at the time. Miss X was Joyce Blair, brother of Lionel.

39. Surf City - Jan and Dean

A unfinished song written by Brian Wilson which he gave to Jan and Dean because he had lost interest in it, preferring the song which is coming next. It has all the hallmarks of a Beach Boys record and will be the first surf song to top the Billboard chart.

 

Record of the week : 34. Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys

 

I liked both of the surf songs but I'm going with this one. It was the organ and guitar breaks towards the end put it in front of Surf City. The vocal harmonies that they will come to be known for are already in full effect here in their first UK hit. Chuck Berry was later added as a song writer as the melody is very similar to his song 'Sweet Little Sixteen'. The single will go no higher than number 34. Surf City didn't do much better (26) so the record buyers in the colder UK are perhaps not so keen at this point to listen to songs about sunny California.

 

Oh wow 'Sukiyaki' was sent to BJSC? :o if 9 years ago then that was slightly before my time. Well... justice for that DNQ :P

 

Some great surf songs popping up recently with 'Surfin USA' and 'Wipeout'! May have to give the latter a play as the Fat Boys' version is the last one I heard, thanks to the #2 singles sessions :lol:

Well that's a selection of two halves, 2 terrible records and 2 surf classics. Still Jan & Dean for me, but only just. Neither did well in the Uk charts cos we'd had one of the worst modern winters ever, we were snowed in in rural Norfolk, and August was wet and miserable and cold, and September not much better. And we didnt have central heating in those days so... :D

 

Actually, I dont recall hot summer days until, ooh, I left the UK for Singapore in 1969! I can vouch for 1975 being a scorcher though, and 1976 more than any.

 

And Jade, yes, Sukiyaki t'was me, I was interested to see what a younger generation would make of it, and was half expecting to get hardly any points at all, but a few brave souls liked it a bit :lol:

 

 

22nd - 28th August 1963

 

25. It's All In The Game - Cliff Richard

Cliff's version of the Tommy Edwards number 1 from 1958. There's a purity to his vocal here and I like the harp melody but I got bored of it halfway through. It will be the only single by him to reach the US top 40 in the 1960s.

27. Dance On - Kathy Kirby

Kathy's first hit is a vocal version of the Shadows' number 1 from earlier in the year. She puts in a good vocal, supported by a cheerful brass section and a 19 year old Jimmy Page on guitar.

33. Still - Karl Denver

Karl is a bit more restrained this time, combining well with the backing singers. I liked the Italian style guitar playing.

38. Acapulco 1922 - Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen

This is the third year in a row that Kenny has managed four top 40 hits and this cover of a Herb Alpert tune has the same predictable jazz band sound.

 

Record of the week : 36. I Want To Stay Here - Steve and Eydie

 

Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were a married couple. Both of them have had previous solo top 10 hits. They combine well here with this song about not wanting to go out because they have everything they want at home. The production is kept simple, it's just a tuneful melody well sung which is good enough this week to take the award. The single will peak at number 3 and be the last hit for either singer.

 

 

 

 

 

Fully in agreement this week - I Want To Stay Here is lovely

29th August - 4th September 1963

 

37. Two Silhouettes - Del Shannon

The backing singers combine well with Del's lead vocal here but the song wasn't that great and it will miss the top 20. His previous three singles had all made the top 5.

39. I Want To Stay Here - Miki & Griff

A second version of this song comes into the chart a week later. It's very similar but not quite reaching the same standard. It will be the last of the duo's three top 40 singles.

40. Whispering - The Bachelors

This is one of more than 700 versions of the 1920 song to be recorded and the first of two to make the UK chart. They've kept to the 1920s sort of sound with the vocals to the fore and a minimal instrumental backing.

 

Record of the week : 12. She Loves You - The Beatles

 

Not much doubt this week, with one we all know. The vocal harmonies, drums and guitars all contribute to a bigger sound than on their previous releases and, of course, there's that basic, chanting, singalong chorus. This is my favourite by them so far. It will spend four weeks at the top of the chart, returning to that position for a further fortnight seven weeks later and will go on to be the best selling single by anyone in the 1960s. Beatlemania has fully taken hold now.

 

'She Loves You' personifies fan hysteria more than any other record for me! I'm so used to the extra noise of screaming audiences when watching performances of it, especially when they shook their heads :lol: I think 'Please Please Me' is my favourite of their songs to appear so far but can definitely understand why this one was so huge.

She Loves You is one of my Beatles favourites, and not just up to that point - the excitement is still tangible all these decades later.

Can't really deny that 'She Loves You' is among their best songs!

I like the Cliff version of Its All In the game, and Kathy's Dance On, but it's all about Steve n Eydie for me, then and now. Love it to bits. Dusty did a good Pet Shop Boys' produced version in 1990, too. Never heard that Karl Denver track before, it's not as shrill as a lot of his records can be, but "STILL" isn't much of a hook! Borders on the annoying. Kenny Ball is also one that didn't ring a bell, but now I play it I recognise the tune - quite nice actually. I may have to start revising my low opinion of Kenny, there's a fair number of decent hits in his repertoire that I'd blanked on.

 

Well, She Loves You, a cultural phenomenon, a great pop record, and an easy win there! The others I have no memory of, the Del Shannon one seems quite nice, but lacking the urgency of his classics. Miki and Griff is a nice version of a classic song - but it's just not Steve n Eydie, lacks the oomph of their version. Whispering wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it's not far from their very retro style and nostalgia-based appeal to older music fans of the time. It's OK, and doesn't sound like a century-old song!

 

 

5th - 11th September 1963

 

38. Searchin' - The Hollies

A cover of a Coasters song from 1957 which reached number 30. This version will get to number 12. They put on American accents to suit the song's lyrics. I preferred their debut single from May.

40. Still - Ken Dodd

We had Karl Denver singing this two weeks ago and now comes Ken Dodd with a slower version. The backing vocals and strings were very soothing, that's the best I can say about this one. The original was by Bill Anderson earlier this year.

 

Record of the week : 35. Wishing - Buddy Holly

 

Nothing really deserves the award this week but this is the best of the three. I can't find much information on the song, it was recorded at some time in the 1950s. The guitar arrangement was certainly the highlight. This will peak at number 10, the last of Buddy's six solo top 10 singles.

 

One of Buddy’s weaker hits but still the best of the 3

Well it was never gonna be a Ken Dodd pick for anyone I think! :D

 

Oddly, I'd opt for The Hollies, it's a better song, and pretty decent version. Buddy's is nice but after 4 years of dredging through his catalogue, releases were not amongst A Grade Holly.

12th - 18th September 1963

 

16. Applejack - Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

A Latin style instrumental with some brass and piano as well as the guitar and drums, it was OK. It will be the last of the three hits under the Harris & Meehan name with all of them making the top 5 but, like the second one, Jet Harris didn't play on it, his name is there just to help it sell.

34. Frankie And Johnny - Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke's version of a song that goes back to the early part of the 20th Century and is based on a real murder with Frankie shooting the unfaithful Johnny. Apart from re-issues, this will be his last top 40 hit and it's just a year before he gets shot dead himself by a woman whose surname is Franklin.

36. If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez

A first hit for the American singer which will reach the top 5. I'll put it second out of the four, handclaps are used throughout for the rhythm as well as the drums. The song was first recorded by The Weavers in 1950.

 

Record of the week : 33. Do You Love Me - Brian Poole and The Tremeloes

 

An energetic version of the Contours' song from the previous year (written by Berry Gordy Jr.) with Brian Poole putting all he has into the lead vocal, helped by the backing vocals and drums. The group's previous hit, Twist And Shout, is still in the top 20 but this one has been put out ahead of schedule to get in front of another English band whose own version is coming soon. It will go on to spend three weeks at number 1.

 

Applejack isn't familiar to me at all, but it's OK. The other 3 I knew as songs (Frankie & Johnny in the Elvis version) and liked all 3, but these days I'd go for the Contours version of Do You Love Me and If I Had A Hammer is the one I'd rather hear of the 4.

 

 

19th - 25th September 1963

 

28. Hello Muddah! Hello Faddah! - Allan Sherman

Back in December 1962, my ROTW was Like I Do by Maureen Evans and now we have another song using the tune from Ponchielli's 'Dance Of The Hours'. It's a novelty song about summer camp which I remember from Junior Choice in the 70s but haven't heard since so it was good to hear it again for some nostalgia but not one I would want to return to.

31. It's Love That Really Counts - The Merseybeats

Another Liverpool group emerge with an OK song about there being no need to spend money on a girl as it's love that really counts.

32. Shindig - The Shadows

An uptempo guitar tune from the Shadows which was alright but not as memorable as some of their others and it will break a run of eleven consecutive top 5 singles (including the ones with Cliff) when it peaks at number 6.

33. Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love - Little Peggy March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK5YV-8CMEo A busy record with the percussion and rhythm on the left and the strings and backing vocals on the right adding to a spirited lead vocal from the 15 year old American singer who still holds the record for the youngest female artist to have a US number 1 single. That was with 'I Will Follow Him' which will not chart in the UK. This one will be her only hit. I think it's my second favourite from today's batch.

36. Hello Little Girl - The Fourmost

Our second new group of the week and another one from Liverpool. The song is one of the earliest ones written by John Lennon, way back in 1957. There are some high pitched vocals at the start but things soon settle down. The whole track is sung in harmonies, there's no conventional lead vocal.

40. No One - Ray Charles

A solid offering from Ray Charles with a good jazzy contribution from his band. Connie Francis was the first to record the song in 1960.

 

Record of the week : 22. Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals

 

It's three out of three for The Crystals with another outstanding song. The Wrecking Crew and the Phil Spector wall of sound production are in full effect here and there's a fine lead vocal by Dolores Brooks. The single will spend two weeks at number 2.

 

Then He Kissed Me is glorious and very much the highlight of that group!

The Crystals' is a classic no question there and top choice, but I have nostalgic love for Allan Sherman (in the US Hall Of Fame as a key cultural recording, still played to summer camp kids). Great tune and whimsical lyrics. Hello Little Girl is a decent track I got on a box-set vinyl 60's oldies 4-record set in the 70's/early 80's.

 

The Merseybeats is plodding! The Shadows tune comes back to me now, not one of their greats. Peggy March Ive never heard, but I Will Follow Him is a top notch Sister Act 60's classic. This one is enjoyable. Ray Charles is never bad. No One is big band blues soul and I rather like it! 3rd fave of the bunch.

26th September - 2nd October 1963

 

25. The First Time - Adam Faith and The Roulettes

This is the first of four hits with the Roulettes as Adam's backing band and it's a good upgrade to his sound, the drummer makes a great contribution. It will go top five.

37. Everybody - Tommy Roe

A straightforward song which would work well live. This will be his last top 40 hit until 1969.

 

Record of the week : 17. Blue Bayou / Mean Woman Blues - Roy Orbison

 

Either of these songs is good enough to take the award. I did prefer Blue Bayou with the harpsicord combining so well with the harmonica and he co-wrote it. Mean Woman Blues is a cover of an Elvis Presley song from 1957 and has more of a traditional rock'n'roll sound to it. As ever, his vocals on both songs are excellent. The single will peak at number 3.

 

Blue bayou is a great, not that familiar with the cover it wasn't on his greatest hits that I recall back in the day! Everybody was on the first CD album I bought in 1988ish and it's a goodie, Tommy had lots more US hits to make up a proper Hits collection. My first ever record purchase is still 6 years in the future - that would be Dizzy :cheer: