Yes, we sadly lost Mr Rumbold a few years ago.

19th - 25th October 1961

 

22. When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart - Cliff Richard

A ballad from the film 'The Young Ones' which Cliff sings very well but it's a bit too subdued for my liking. The film hasn't been released yet but the single will still get to number 3.

26. Mexicali Rose - Karl Denver

I said I was looking forward to hearing more from Karl Denver and this did not disappoint. The song wasn't great but his unique vocal style made it a worthwhile listen.

40. Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills

This was short and sweet, only 85 seconds long. The fact that she's out of tune most of the time only adds to the song's charm. It sounds like a young girl being made to do a turn in front of the family after Christmas dinner. Hayley Mills was a child actress and this is from the film 'The Parent Trap'.

 

Record of the week : 31. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby - Bobby Darin

 

There isn't a standout this week but I'm choosing this one as I liked the jazzy/rockabilly instrumentation and his vocals. The song was written in 1938 and has been recorded by many artists but this is the only version to chart in the UK, peaking at number 10 and giving Bobby Darin his sixth top ten single.

 

Edited October 19, 20213 yr by King Rollo

You Must Have Been A Beautiful baby was a famous song in the 60's and 70's mostly through nostalgia TV spots but I don't know the Bobby Darin version. He was cool though, I remember him dying far too young when I was in my teens.

 

I adored Hayley Mills as a kiddie she was in so many Disney films I loved like That Darn Cat and Swiss family Robinson, and Let's get Together sounds like she just made it up and chucked it out in one take. I still find it charming, though. Plus, she gave birth to Kula Shaker. That's a good thing!

 

Karl Denver not one I know but it sounds like you'd expect it would sound, sort of sub-Frank Ifield in a yodelling country style. It's almost as if Vic Reeves Pub Singer is singing it....

 

Not one of Cliff's best, happily he didn't do it last night at his Big 80 Tour in Bournemouth, and he did do The Young Ones which sounds fab still, love the Shadows guitar. Cliff's original Fender (the first in the UK he said, google says he bought it for hank marvin) was also there being played on stage. I imagine the insurance is quite high for that one. Still sprightly, and Cliff did great versions of Wired For Sound, Devil Woman, Miss You Nights, We Don;t Talk Anymore, Summer Holiday, Move It!, Dreamin', and a great version of Marvin, Welch & Farrar's forgotten Marmaduke (that's The Shadows, more or less, in a post-hits revamp, and including You're The One That I want songwriter & Olivia Newton-John-producer). I was the youngest there. (I'm lying actually, but at least one of the audience was carried out unconscious after 3 songs, and being fairly sprightly for my age too I managed to exit the building fairly quickly ahead of the generally less able-bodied audience to beat the traffic and without missing anything at all of the show). That concludes my review!

I'm pleased to hear that Cliff is back on the road after all he's been through in the last few years. I'm sure he would have received a rapturous reception when he came out on stage.

 

I knew who Hayley Mills' father was but I didn't know her son was Kula Shaker. :o

I'm pleased to hear that Cliff is back on the road after all he's been through in the last few years. I'm sure he would have received a rapturous reception when he came out on stage.

 

I knew who Hayley Mills' father was but I didn't know her son was Kula Shaker. :o

 

Yes, his fans are pretty enthusiastic and he's still got women adoring him and shouting out to him. Though I did get amused and he smiled when they shouted out a bit of The Young Ones ad lib to Living Doll when he sang it.

26th October - 1st November 1961

 

19. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles

The first top 20 hit for the blind singer. The backing singers take on most of the vocals here with the often repeated chorus. This will be an American number 1. Great song, but the standard is high this week.

31. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean

Another good one, this country hit was played a lot on the radio in the 70s. Big Bad John saves the lives of 20 miners by holding up some timber to prevent a tunnel collapse but perishes himself before they can come back to rescue him. The single will climb as high as number 2.

38. Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee

A nice little pop song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and, like the other new entries so far, a US number 1.

39. The Time Has Come - Adam Faith

This is the first new entry today that I haven't heard before and it's much inferior to the other three.

40. I'm A Moody Guy - Shane Fenton and the Fentones

The first hit single for the future Alvin Stardust. His real name was Bernard Jewry. I like the big echoey production on this one and there's some fine guitar playing from the Fentones.

 

Record of the week : 27. Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

 

When I saw this on the list, I thought it was likely to be an instrumental that I would immediately recognise and I was correct. It's been used a lot on film and TV but I probably haven't heard the full five and a half minutes too often. The saxophone part is the most well known. It disappears after two minutes leaving just the repeated piano hook interacting with the drums before the saxophone returns for the final minute. This will peak at number 6 in three weeks time and is certainly different to most of the songs that reached the top 10 in the early 60s. It was originally released in 1959 but wasn't a hit anywhere until 1961. The single was actually only three minutes long but all the youtube clips are the full album version. Dave Brubeck died in 2012 at the age of 91.

 

well there's a classic batch (plus Adam Faith not at his best)! Alvin was from near mansfield, my birthplace, so a local fave and 50's rocknroll remained popular there right through to the 80's.

 

Big Bad John is anthem I loved as a little kid, cos of the story and cos his name was also John. I still am fond of it, but it's not quite up to the other 3. Ray Charles Hit The Road Jack was a record my dad bought, so I grew up with it, and it's still great. Bobby Vee's Take Good care Of My Baby is even better - the song is fab anyway, and Bobby Vee was one of the best of the teen idols of the time, starting out after Buddy Holly died in the plane crash, and in his style to start with. I caught him in concert in the 80's and he was surprisingly good with a large back catalogue of great songs. I'm sure I've said that before, but the memory isnt what it was...! :lol:

 

So, in conclusion I prob agree with Take Five as the pick of the week, it was great when it was always being used on TV spots in the 60's and beyond, and it's very much the acceptable face of Jazz. The unacceptable face of Jazz being Kenny Ball & co, who I had to endure his records on many a TV show despite actually liking Kenny Ball. :o

 

2nd - 8th November 1961

 

4. (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister - Elvis Presley

/

This is certainly the highest new entry we've had since I started this thread and it will jump to number 1 next week and stay there for four weeks. His Latest Flame was first recorded by Del Shannon while Little Sister is an original. I know His Latest Flame which is OK but I think I prefer the lesser known Little Sister which had some great guitar work running through it.

37. The Mountain's High - Dick and Deedee

The sound quality on the first youtube clip wasn't good so I listened to this stereo one which is a bit better but the comments say it's supposed to have this tinny sort of sound to it. I'll give it a 'quite good' rating for being unusual. It will go no further than number 37 and will be the only UK hit single for the American duo.

39. Stars And Stripes Forever / Creole Jazz - Mr Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band

/

Stars And Stripes Forever was written in 1896 and is the official National March of the USA and now over here turned into a football chant. Both of these are in the jazz band style, I think I preferred Creole Jazz with its lengthy piano solo.

 

Record of the week : 36. Runaround Sue - Dion

 

No doubt that this is the best single this week, a really catchy rock'n'roll/doo-wop number with a fantastic vocal from Dion (DiMucci) who co-wrote the song. It will peak at number 11 and reach the top of the Billboard chart. My familiarity with the song is down to the cover version by Racey which was a top 20 hit in 1980.

 

 

9th - 15th November 1961

 

39. More Money For You And Me - The Four Preps

This is a recording of a live performance and is a medley of songs but with the lyrics changed so The Four Preps seem to be an American version of The Barron Knights. I only know two of the seven songs featured so most of the humour here is lost on me.

 

Record of the week : 23. Moon River - Danny Williams

 

Only two new entries this week but this is still a worthy ROTW. He sings this ballad really well and I like the lush orchestration and the backing vocals. Danny Williams was born in South Africa but was based in the UK for most of his career. Moon River was first sung by Audrey Hepburn in the film 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' which has only been in the cinemas for a month so this record is clearly cashing in on the demand for the song and it will go on to be the Christmas number 1. Danny Williams will go on to have more top 40 hits in 1962 so we will hear from him again.

 

Just popping in to say that I love Take Five, it’s definitely my most played of all of the songs to feature so far :wub:

Yes, it does have a timeless quality to it.

Runaround Sue is a great record, despite the Racey cover ( :lol: ) but my preference is His Latest Flame, I love that song and the beat. Little Sister is pretty good too, esp the guitar you mention. Never heard that Dick & Dee Dee track before, but it's got a certain appeal to it.

 

Moon River is a classic song, though bizarrely when I grew up it was always associated with Andy Williams - who as a singer is hard to beat, I guess why he managed to nab so many covers being bigger than other versions.

16th - 22nd November 1961

 

18. Tower Of Strength - Frankie Vaughan

This will go on to be the number 1 single between the Elvis and Danny Williams records. He certainly belts it out with plenty of vigour. It's more than four years since Frankie's first no.1, The Garden Of Eden. His last four chart hits all failed to reach the top 20 so this is a bit of a resurgence for him.

26. The Savage - The Shadows

An instrumental with the Shadows unmistakable sound to it but not one of their best tunes and it will only get to number 10 which at the time was quite a low chart position for them.

27. Midnight In Moscow - Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen

The hugely popular Russian song, 'Moscow Nights', written in the early 50s, is given the jazz treatment here. I vaguely recognise the main melody. I've also had a listen to the Red Army Choir's version which is much more preferable to this one.

35. Bambino - The Springfields

The second hit for The Springfields. There's a lot going on here with the strings, the Spanish sounding brass section and the vocal harmonies with Dusty prominent. A version of the song by Dalida with different lyrics spent 45 weeks at number 1 in France in 1956/57.

36. Runaround Sue - Doug Sheldon

The debut top 40 hit for the English singer is this cover of the Dion song from two weeks ago. It's much inferior.

37. Everlovin' - Ricky Nelson

A cover of The Crescents' song from 1959. It passed me by, a poor follow up to Hello Mary Lou.

38. Fool Number One - Brenda Lee

A very mature vocal on this country ballad by the 16 year old.

40. Tomorrow's Clown - Marty Wilde

Lyrically, this is in similar territory to the Brenda Lee song. I like the strings and drums on it. His daughter Kim is celebrating her first birthday this week.

 

Record of the week : 25. This Time - Troy Shondell

 

Nothing stands out this week but I think I enjoyed this one the most with a nice Spanish guitar intro that immediately got my attention followed by an impressive vocal and a great piano solo about two thirds of the way in. It was a top 10 hit in several countries but only got to number 22 in the UK where it was the only hit single for the American singer. It's a cover of a Thomas Wayne song from 1958. Tommy James and the Shondells, who recorded the original versions of I Think We're Alone Now and Mony Mony, are named after Troy Shondell. He died in 2016.

 

Not a lot to pick from for so many new entries - I'd go for Frankie vaughan myself for sheer gusto, just over Ricky Nelson. The only ones I already knew were Tower Of Strength & Midnight In Moscow :o

23rd - 29th November 1961

 

31. You're The Only Good Thing (That Happened To Me) - Jim Reeves

Jim Reeves' second top 40 hit is a country style ballad with some strings and female backing vocals. I like his vocal on this and can understand his popularity.

34. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) - Shirley Bassey

Another powerful vocal from Shirley Bassey with orchestral accompaniment. The song goes back to 1928 and has been recorded by many singers.

35. I Love How You Love Me - Jimmy Crawford

The only top 40 hit for the singer from Sheffield, it's a ballad with some acoustic guitar, strings and female backing vocals. The original version of the song was by the American girl group, The Paris Sisters, and was one of the first singles to be produced by Phil Spector. Jimmy Crawford is still alive, having survived a serious motor accident in 2005.

 

Record of the week : 29. Let True Love Begin - Nat King Cole

 

It's ballads all the way this week and this is the best one. I like the production with several musical instruments being used but none of them getting in the way of Nat's wonderful vocal. He had twelve top 10 hits from 1952 to 1957 but only one more since then and this one will go no higher than number 29.

 

 

 

 

 

30th November - 6th December 1961

 

25. My Friend The Sea - Petula Clark

A pleasant enough nautically themed song. Petula had a number 1 back in February with a song called Sailor. Looking at the lyrics to both songs, this could be interpreted as being a sequel to Sailor, I don't know if it was intended to be.

36. The Way You Look Tonight - The Lettermen

A cover of the Oscar winning song from 1936 when it was sung by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time. I like the vocal harmonies and piano on this version. It will be the American group's only top 40 hit.

38. My Sunday Baby - The Dale Sisters

A catchy pop song. The sparse arrangement allows the vocals to shine. The three Yorkshire sisters' real name was Dunderdale. You can understand why that name was shortened. This was the second of their two hit singles.

39. The Coffee Song - Frank Sinatra

Frank originally recorded The Coffee Song in 1946. This is a new version for the first album released on his own label, Reprise Records, which is still going. His swing band are in good form here.

40. I Understand (Just How You Feel) - The G-Clefs

This has two singers singing different melodies at the same time with the melody from the original 1954 Four Tunes song being combined with Auld Lang Syne. I think the idea worked, I quite enjoyed it. It will be the only hit for the G-Clefs.

 

Record of the week : 32. Stranger On The Shore - Mr Acker Bilk with The Leon Young String Chorale

 

I'm choosing this classic chilled instrumental which combines Acker Bilk's clarinet so well with the strings. It was originally called 'Jenny' after his daughter but the title was changed after it was used as the theme to the BBC drama serial 'Stranger On The Shore'. It will go on to reach number 2, being kept off the top of the chart for three weeks by Cliff Richard's 'The Young Ones'. It spent 52 weeks in the top 40 and is still the biggest selling instrumental single in the UK, a record it will surely hold forever.

 

Edited November 30, 20213 yr by King Rollo

7th December - 13th December 1961

 

31. Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie - Eddie Cochran

Another posthumous release. This one is from 1958. All the typical rock'n'roll ingredients are here but nothing to make it memorable.

32. Toy Balloons - Russ Conway

I think most of Russ Conway's hits were piano instrumentals but this one has a children's choir coming in halfway through. They sound like they come from one of the posher schools.

37. So Long Baby - Del Shannon

Del Shannon's third top 10 single from the year. I'm not sure what musical instrument is making that extraordinary sound from 1.17 to 1.33 but it was undoubtedly the highlight of the song.

39. Charleston - The Temperance Seven

The Temperance Seven are back with their fourth and final top 40 hit. Sixty years later, the band are still performing. The Charleston is a tune that many people will think of first if they are asked to name a song from the 1920s.

 

Record of the week : 35. September In The Rain - Dinah Washington

 

I'm going for this lounge jazz number with lovely strings and some great vocals from Dinah Washington. The song was written in 1937 and was first heard in the film 'Melody For Two'. It's her only top 40 single, she came close to a second in 1992 when her version of Mad About The Boy reached number 41 after being used in a Levi's ad. Known as "Queen of the Blues", she died in 1963 aged just 39 after taking the wrong combination of prescription drugs.

 

3 greatchoices there, love dinah washington and nat king cole and stranger on the shore is still lovely.

 

Some of the also rans are of interest but outclassed by those 3!

14th - 20th December 1961

 

11. Johnny Will - Pat Boone

A country/pop song where the protagonist is trying to raise the cash to take the girl to the dance. If he can't, Johnny will. The single will peak at number 4, becoming Pat's first top 10 hit since 1958.

30. Don't Bring Lulu - Dorothy Provine

It's that time of the year for novelty songs. Don't Bring Lulu is a Dixieland jazz song from 1925 and this version is by the American actress Dorothy Provine. It will be her only top 40 hit.

31. Tall Dark Stranger - Rose Brennan

This starts quite slowly with the Spanish guitar but then speeds up with brass instruments, swirly strings and a lively vocal performance by the Irish singer.

35. Mrs Mills Medley - Mrs Mills

Occupying both sides of the single, this honky-tonk piano medley of tunes goes on for six minutes with some of it sounding out of tune. It will be her only top 40 single but she will go on to be a regular guest on light entertainment TV shows in the 60s and 70s.

 

Record of the week : 27. Let There Be Drums - Sandy Nelson

 

A drums based instrumental with some surf style guitar thrown in. I know the song quite well as Bev Bevan released a version in 1976 as his first solo single, he was also one of 20 drummers to contribute to a charity recording of the tune this year and he's named his forthcoming autobiography 'Let There Be Drums'. This will go on to reach number 3, giving Sandy Nelson his second top 10 single.

 

 

 

21st - 27th December 1961

 

21. I'd Never Find Another You - Billy Fury

Another good song from Billy Fury with any array of different musical instruments being used. It will be his third consecutive top 5 hit.

24. Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka

I think I've heard this one before. It's a frothy pop song which will give Neil his highest chart position of number 3 for the second time.

27. Multiplication - Bobby Darin

Another male pop song now but this one is more towards the swing genre with good use of piano and drums.

33. The Night Is Young (And You're So Beautiful) / There Goes That Song Again - Gary Miller

/

Gary Miller's final top 40 single. All his others were from 1955 to 1958 which explains why both these songs sound so dated for 1961. I didn't like either of them. Fact of the day : he sang 'Aqua Marina', the closing credits song at the end of episodes of Stingray.

34. King Kong - Terry Lightfoot and his New Orleans Jazzmen

Another jaunty jazz instrumental. I'm not sure why it's called King Kong. It doesn't make me think of a giant gorilla.

 

Record of the week : 40. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) - The Tokens

 

While I know Tight Fit's version well, I don't think I've heard this version of the song too often. The structure is quite similar and some very high notes are reached here with the vocals. The song goes back to South Africa in 1939 and has been the subject of protracted songwriting legal disputes. The Tokens' version will peak at number 11, their only top 40 hit in the UK, and reach the top of the Billboard chart. One of their founding members was Neil Sedaka who we've already heard from today. He left the group in 1958.