I wonder were Level 42 inspired by this song when they created their 1986 hit single of the same name!

The Level 42 song was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this on the list.

 

Dunno about level 42, not sure they were old enough to be aware of Lessons In Love (I'm not!) by The allisons!

 

Likewise don;t know the other two records, but I do know the song I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown always does it live, just him and a ukelele, and it's always fab (worth a youtube), he's terrific in concert, a real muso and entertaining, and yet he barely does any of his hits to boot. I had a crush on Pat Boone as a boy, in Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, but thankfully I'd never heard any of his awful records - just Speedy Gonzales, which was great to anyone that liked Warner Brothers Mexican mouse...now banished as a stereotype, presumably cos no Mexicans live in small holes, run super-fast and joyously shout Ariba, Ariba! when a cat comes near.

 

The Wanderer is brilliant. Loved it in 1976 when it was re-issued. I was aware of it before then, but it had never really registered much with me. Dion is still good, I bought a couple of his recent tracks, more like ballad Springsteen these days than pounding pop boy-about-town.

 

 

 

1st - 7th March 1962

 

20. Wonderful Land - The Shadows

One of the best Shadows songs, a big contender for my record of the week but I've gone for something else. It was written by Jerry Lordan who also wrote Apache and will spend eight weeks at number 1.

30. The 'Dr Kildare' Theme - Johnnie Spence

I've never watched Dr Kildare but I do recognise this tune. I like the orchestral arrangement with the sweeping strings.

 

Record of the week : 35. Theme from 'Z Cars' (Johnny Todd) - Johnny Keating

 

It's instrumentals all the way this week. Z Cars was still being shown in the 70s so I know this iconic theme tune very well, or at least the first 50 seconds which is how far it got on TV. It then starts jazzing up before returning to a reprise of the main theme for the last 30 seconds. It's based on a traditional folk song called 'Johnny Todd' from around 1900. Everton FC have also used this music to walk onto the pitch to for many years. The single will peak at number 8.

 

3 iconic tunes there - but Z Cars was too drab for my tastes as a TV show, though like Dr Kildare you couldn't avoid it on the TV. No choice! For my money it's The Shads every time, adore that one, it's a million-seller in my top 900 entirely as an oldie, with no "sales" from my non-charts of the time (still 6 years away!)

 

 

Love The Shadows too - can't go wrong with any of their chart toppers really :wub:

8th - 14th March 1962

 

29. Never Goodbye - Karl Denver

It's only a few weeks since Wimoweh entered the chart and it's still climbing (from 5 to 4) but here is another Karl Denver single. I think it could be explained by the fact that Never Goodbye was entered into A Song For Europe so they've put it out now. It will not be chosen as the UK entry. Karl puts in another great vocal performance but the song itself wasn't special.

37. Twistin' The Night Away - Sam Cooke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSoPeZMHMf4 A lively rhythm and blues song and one of the earliest hit singles to feature the group of session musicians who would become known as the 'Wrecking Crew'. I like this one.

39. Walk With Me My Angel - Don Charles

This has the trademark Joe Meek production running through it and a very good lead vocal by the singer from Hull who was 6 feet 4 inches tall. It will be his only top 40 hit.

 

Record of the week : 28. Dream Baby - Roy Orbison

 

A fairly simple arrangement gives centre stage to Roy's fantastic vocal and the song's memorable chorus. We also have some female backing vocals. This will peak as high as number 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Bad luck for the great Sam Cooke to come up against the timelessly brilliant Roy Orbison - though neither track is their very best, their not-very-best is better than the competition.

15th - 21st March 1962

 

29. Please Don't Ask About Barbara - Bobby Vee

This is slower than the Bobby Vee songs I've heard so far. I liked the production with the guitars, strings and drums but it wasn't as good as the others. The British public agreed, with this only reaching number 29 after his first five singles had all been top 10 hits.

32. Letter Full Of Tears - Billy Fury

The same could be said for this one which only got to number 32 after his last three singles all reached the top 5. As always, it's a great vocal from Billy but not a standout song.

37. Fanlight Fanny - Clinton Ford

A song that goes back to 1935 when it was recorded by George Formby. It's about a nightclub dancer who likes a drink and a bit of shoplifting. The word fanny has been used as slang since the 1830s so there is a bit of double entendre going on here with some of the lyrics. We won't hear from Clinton Ford again until 1967.

 

Record of the week : 34. Town Without Pity - Gene Pitney

 

Before I did some research, I thought that this had a cinematic sound to it and I have now discovered that it was from the film of the same name and was nominated for an Oscar. It's a second hit single for Gene Pitney, who puts in a good vocal performance, peaking at number 32.

 

 

 

Right choice there, Gene Pitney's career about to go into overdrive with some decent start-ups setting up his classics :)

 

Oh that George Formby was a naughty lad! :lol: I've always had my wonders about The Bee Gees otherwise lovely song Fanny Be Tender With My Love - Granted they'd been living in Aus where Fanny was a common name then, but they were also British and would have known t'other meaning. :teresa:

22nd - 28th March 1962

 

24. Hey! Little Girl - Del Shannon

This is a good song but the verse section sounded too similar to Runaway to make it a contender for ROTW. It will peak at number 2.

29. Love Me Warm And Tender - Paul Anka

A decent mid tempo song, I liked the drums and brass instruments on the backing track. This will be his last hit until 1974.

40. Lone Rider - John Leyton

He still has the Joe Meek production and the female backing singers but this one is not as good as his previous three singles and it will go no higher than number 40.

 

Record of the week : 25. Hey! Baby - Bruce Channel

 

Well, this is more familiar to me than I was expecting. It's the original version of the song that DJ Otzi took to number 1 in 2001. I'm not sure if I knew that was a cover, I'm sure it would have been mentioned at the time but if it was, I've forgotten about it. This has a bluesy sound to it with good use of the harmonica. The single will reach number 2 and also top the US chart. Bruce Channel co-wrote the song in 1959 and performed it in concerts for two years before he got round to recording it. It will be six years before his next top 40 hit.

 

Edited March 22, 20223 yr by King Rollo

Hey baby is a great record. Bruce Channel's Keep On was a huge fave of mine when I was 10. DJ Otzi is a candidate for the worst-ever number one, if only for ruining a great song.

Oh yes I was surprised to discover that 'Hey Baby' was a cover - I think I only found that out last year. The cover does bring back childhood memories (Butlins/Haven type discos, being one of the songs they chose for music player toys in Spanish McDonalds :lol: etc.) but I do prefer the original, the harmonica definitely stands out in a good way.

 

'Lone Rider' is pretty Joe Meek-by-numbers with the charging production and haunting additional female vocals (even one of his fellow big-hitters The Tornados are the backing band), so it's up my street, but agreed that it's not quite as good as the previous John Leyton hits.

29th March - 4th April 1962

 

29. What Kind Of Fool Am I? / Gonna Build A Mountain - Sammy Davis Jr

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Two big band standards. He sings them well but it's not my sort of thing. This is his first top 40 hit since 1956.

30. Drums Are My Beat - Sandy Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZCGMP126-4 Another drum based instrumental. Sandy has sadly passed away since his last single, Let There Be Drums, earned my record of the week title. This one isn't as good.

34. Brazilian Love Song (Andorhina Preta) - Nat King Cole

This is much more uptempo than you would usually expect from a Nat King Cole song. It has a South American sound to it with some backing vocals in what I assume to be the Portuguese language.

38. Theme from 'Z Cars' (Johnny Todd) - Norrie Paramor And His Orchestra

Another version of this to hit the chart. This time it's given the marching band treatment. Norrie Paramor was the producer on the Shadows and Cliff Richard records.

 

Record of the week : 25. When My Little Girl Is Smiling - Craig Douglas

 

A pleasant pop song which he sings well. I also like the guitar plucking and the strings on this. The song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and first recorded by The Drifters. That version will chart soon along with a third one so I look forward to hearing them. This version will peak at number 9, giving Craig Douglas his sixth top 10 single.

 

 

cover versions very much a thing back in those days, and any Goffin/King is going to be sheer quality - but The Drifters for me anyday. I prob wouldve gone for Sammy Davis Jr cos we loved Sammy in our house :lol: Mind you we also loved Nat but I dont know that one and What Kind Of Fool is a good song. If you want Sammy in hippie showtune soul jazz groove, I'd suggest this one (I've considered this one from time to time as a worthy BJSC entry guaranteed DNQ :lol:)....

 

 

 

 

Oh yes, that was a good Sammy Davis song. I liked all the vocal harmonies on it. It would pick up some points but, yes, probably a DNQ.

5th - 11th April 1962

 

21. The Maigret Theme - Joe Loss And His Orchestra

This is not a theme tune that I remember hearing before. The programme ran from 1960 to 1963. It's mainly piano and brass instruments, there don't seem to be any strings on this.

24. When My Little Girl Is Smiling - Jimmy Justice

Another version of this song appears just a week later. This one will reach number 9, the same position as the Craig Douglas one. I liked the use of the harpsichord on the intro but overall this is not as good.

28. Young World - Ricky Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSz1WafWmCw A decent mid-tempo ballad. Glen Campbell plays guitar on this one.

39. Her Royal Majesty - James Darren

This is about an ex girlfriend, not the Queen. There's a marching brass band production to keep to the theme of the lyrics.

 

Record of the week : 31. When My Little Girl Is Smiling - The Drifters

 

We now have the original version of this to add to the two others in the chart. As is usually the case, the original is the best. Charlie Thomas sings the lead. As well as backing from the other Drifters, there are also some female backing vocals and a good contribution from the string section. This will go no higher than its new entry position.

 

outrageous that original versions tended not to do as well in the 60's due to availability issues - US acts couldnt just pop over to promote, so UK acts hoovered up the TV spots.

 

Maigret was quite well-known once upon a time, its quite nice, and any track with Glen on Geetar is going to have something to recommend it. As for James Darren, Time Tunnel crush, and Vic Fontaine Deep Space 9 is enough to give it a chance. So I did! Actually it's aching for a drag duet pisstake version....that would be fun :)

12th - 18th April 1962

 

25. The Party's Over - Lonnie Donegan

This was a much slower pace than I'd normally expect from a Lonnie Donegan song. It dragged on a bit too much.

26. Slow Twistin' - Chubby Checker

Another twist themed song from Chubby Checker. This time he has help from the uncredited Dee Dee Sharp. It's not as good as the previous two.

35. It's All Over Now - Shane Fenton and the Fentones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-U3pw7j_b0 Their third top 40 hit. It's not an early version of the Rolling Stones song. It was OK but they won't be getting their second ROTW award.

37. Wonderful World Of The Young - Danny Williams

Another Danny Williams ballad with grandiose strings and backing vocals. His namesake Andy recorded the original version.

 

Record of the week : 29. Speak To Me Pretty - Brenda Lee

 

Nothing really stands out this week but I think this is the best song and there are not too many records with female vocals at this point in time. I liked the saxophone solo coming from the right speaker while the backing vocals were coming from the left one. Brenda is not calling someone pretty, the correct word should be prettily but if only two syllables are required, the correct grammar is often sacrificed. This will go as high as number 3 which will end up as her highest chart position.

 

I'd go with Brenda Lee too, she always had an edge to her vocals that wins me over, and the song's not bad.

 

Amazingly, to me, she is 6 years into her chart career by 1962, and is still only 17 years old! Not even an adult, and is currently 77 years old and has the pleasure of seeing herself chart every christmas with a 60-year-old record... :o

19th - 25th April 1962

 

34. Love Letters - Ketty Lester https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txahSHR2Jb8 Most weeks, this would have won my ROTW award. There's a wonderful vocal from Ketty here and a sparse piano arrangement with some drums and double bass. The original version goes back to 1945. It will be her only top 40 hit, reaching number 4, which was the same chart position attained by Alison Moyet's version in 1987.

38. Everybody's Twisting - Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra comes in with his comments on the Twist craze with his usual big band sound.

40. King Of Clowns - Neil Sedaka

I liked this one. There's plenty going on with the guitar on the left speaker, the backing vocals on the right and the strings and xylophone in the middle along with a good lead vocal from Neil.

 

Record of the week : 31. Nut Rocker - B Bumble and the Stingers

 

This piano based foot tapper is one of my favourite number 1 singles from the first ten years of the chart, taking the melody from part of Tchaikovsky's 1892 ballet The Nutcracker. B Bumble and the Stingers were American session musicians. After the success of Nut Rocker in the UK, they released a few more singles based on classical tunes but had no more chart success until a re-issue reached number 19 in 1972.