TBH Spanish Harlem is almost impossible to ruin, I've loved versions by Ben E King, Mamas & The Papas, Aretha Franklin, and this one is fine too.

 

Old people having a go at young people? They used to say that in Roman times, that young people were surly and rude and never as well behaved as the older generation. People have such short memories, I know my generation was at least as "bad" as ones since (and probably worse) :lol:

 

Not one of Elvis' best, Billie Davis is an ex-Singerpurear BJSC of mine (and just missed the final) with her 1968 track, so this is fine by me, and Shirl is always Shirl...

6th - 12th September 1962

 

17. It'll Be Me - Cliff Richard and The Shadows

An uptempo song from Cliff that will get to number 2. I'm not too familiar with this one, it was OK. Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the original version in 1957.

19. Don't That Beat All - Adam Faith with Johnny Keating and his orchestra

A tenth top 10 single for Adam, I liked the fiddle playing and there's a harp in there too.

40. Teenage Idol - Rick Nelson

A ballad about how lonely life is like for a popstar who is always on the road with no chance of finding that special person. Just looking at his wiki page, I see he had a girlfriend at the time whom he married in 1963 so these lyrics are not autobiographical.

 

Record of the week : 36. Telstar - The Tornados

 

And of course, it has to be this ground breaking instrumental single. There are some vocals at the end but I think we can still count it as an instrumental. Written and produced by Joe Meek, it's that electronic keyboard sound that makes the record much more futuristic compared to others from this era. It will spend five weeks at number 1 and also top the Billboard chart, making the Tornados the first British group to have a number 1 single in the US. Worldwide, it will sell about 5 million copies.

 

I absolutely love 'Telstar'! :wub: :wub: the clavioline sound takes that infectious melody to another dimension, I can't imagine how it must've sounded at the time.

Ricky Nelson knew all about being a teen idol - he'd been the pinup star of his mum and dad's sitcom The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet (I missed the first-run in the 50's but caught it in later decades) from a very young age, along with his brother. Ricky got the music career though.

 

But, yes it's The Tornadoes and Telstar, which wipe the floor with almost any competition in 1962. It sounded like the future - and I agree Jade, it takes it to a new Dimension, for me the only comparable sound I'd heard like that was the Doctor Who theme tune (which I also loved to bits, being spooky-sounding, unearthly, and me obsessed with the show from day one - I've posted school-book reviews of the show and drawings I did when I was 6 :lol: ). My dad bought this single in 1966 when he bought our first record player after returning from serving in Aden, and I played it to death for years. The B side JUngle Fever is also pretty good, and in the same vein as Telstar!

13th - 19th September 1962

 

24. Sheila - Tommy Roe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDWM3bLEB3M The first hit for the American singer, this will reach number 3 and also top the US chart. I liked the drums and the guitar strumming and there's a Buddy Holly influence on his vocal.

34. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly

I mentioned Buddy Holly without noticing that he was up next with another posthumous release. The highlight was the saxophone solo played by the song's writer, King Curtis.

36. Cry Myself To Sleep - Del Shannon

Del's fifth hit and the first one not to reach the top 10. He reaches some very high notes during the song.

38. Rocket Man - The Spotnicks

A second hit for the Swedish guitar group. The first one was my ROTW and I like this one as well. It's based on the Russian folk march "Polyushko-polye". They are still in their spacemen outfits.

39. Sweet Little Sixteen - Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry's cover of the Chuck Berry song from 1958. The best part was the fast paced piano solo. It reminded me of something and I see now that Brian Wilson used the same melody for 'Surfin' USA' and was forced to give away the royalties from that song.

 

Record of the week : 25. The Loco-Motion - Little Eva

 

Like last week, it's an easy decision as another classic enters the chart. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song was intended for Dee Dee Sharp but she passed on it, leaving the way clear for Carole's babysitter, Eva Boyd, who had recorded the demo. It will get to number 2 and will also be one of two versions of the song to be a US number 1, the other one being by Grand Funk Railroad in 1974. Kylie Minogue's version will reach number 3 there and number 2 in the UK.

 

20th - 26th September 1962

 

28. It Started All Over Again - Brenda Lee

This is not as good as the last few chart hits by her. I liked the clarinet solo.

33. Puff - Kenny Lynch

A first appearance for Kenny Lynch but not his first hit which was back in 1960. The scraping string sound on this was interesting. I know him best for his comedy in the 70s.

35. Your Tender Look - Joe Brown and the Bruvvers

A decent song with acoustic guitar and some female backing singers. His last single got to number 2, but like his first three, this one will peak in the thirties.

 

Record of the week : 23. You Don't Know Me - Ray Charles

 

No standout this week but this was the best of the four new entries. Another great vocal from Ray while the strings and double bass were very calming. It's a cover of a 1956 song by Eddy Arnold who co-wrote it with Cindy Walker. It will peak at number 9.

 

Sheila is a great little record, and Tommy Roe would be the first record I ever bought with my own money in 7 years time :) The Locomotion, though, no question its still genius fun and was a hit all over again in 1972.

 

Ray Charles is pure class, and wow at that Kenny Lynch track, never heard that before, I really like it the weirdness and Kenny was a TV fave throughout the 60's and some of the 70s, though more of a comedian general entertainer by then. Oh, and the laptop sound system just went Puff while that was playing, it finally finished it off :lol:

27th September - 3rd October 1962

 

34. Ramblin' Rose - Nat King Cole

I like this one, I think I've heard it before. Reaching number 5, it will be Nat's highest charting single since 1957.

36. A Forever Kind Of Love - Bobby Vee

A good pop song with the highlight being Norrie Paramor's orchestration recorded at the Abbey Road studio.

37. Blue Week-end - Karl Denver

Another remarkable yodelling performance by Karl. I'm not sure if the hyphen in weekend was necessary.

38. Lonely - Mr Acker Bilk with the Leon Young String Chorale

This is the third single put out while Stranger On The Shore continues its long run in the top 40. It has the same combination of clarinet and strings.

 

Record of the week : 24. It Might As Well Rain Until September - Carole King

 

A wonderful song, one of the best so far from 1962. It was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin for Bobby Vee who we've already heard from today but Carole's demo version was so good, the record company decided to release it as a single. While only reaching number 22 in the US, it was a number 3 hit over here. After a few follow-up singles failed to chart, she went back to song writing. Her time as a singer/songwriter will come in the 1970s with a string of hit albums.

 

Utter classic that Carole King song, greatest female songwriter of the 60's bar none, not even close. She did the music, husband Gerry the lyrics. So good it was a hit again in 1972 after the global massive sales of Tapestry and outsold the singles off the follow-up album despite being a decade old. I bought it cos I loved it as a kid and as a teen.

 

Bobby Vee is always good, and Nat King Cole was a pretty well known song back in the day but not so much these days.

 

 

4th - 10th October 1962

 

Record of the week : 40. Devil Woman - Marty Robbins

 

There's only one new entry this week so this one automatically gets the award. Marty Robbins was an American country singer and there is a country tinge to the song but the guitar sounds certainly bring to mind somewhere more tropical. The person in the song has strayed with the devil woman but his wife Mary has forgiven him and taken him back. This is Marty's first top 40 hit since 1960 and it will reach number 5.

 

Mum & dad loved Marty Robbins, so it's nice to see this get a walk-through to record of the week, certainly one of his better tracks

11th - 17th October 1962

 

22. Venus In Blue Jeans - Mark Wynter

Mark Wynter's fifth hit single and his most successful, reaching number 4. The subject of the song is a "teenage goddess from above" and the "eighth wonder of the world". It's a cover of an American hit by Jimmy Clanton although the original was a Bruce Bruno B side.

25. Sherry - The Four Seasons

I know this one well. It's the first hit for the group with Frankie Valli reaching some very high notes. A number 8 hit in the UK and an American number 1.

30. If A Man Answers - Bobby Darin

Another hit for Bobby Darin, this one will miss the top 20. When he rings his girlfriend, he will end the relationship if a man answers the phone. I liked the guitar solo.

37. Send Me The Pillow You Dream On - Johnny Tillotson

A country style ballad. He's no longer with the girl so he wants her pillow as a memory. If you miss out Sherry, we have a trilogy going on here with the lyrics. The original version goes way back to 1949.

 

Record of the week : 21. Let's Dance - Chris Montez

 

This is a great foot tapper. I love the way the drums and the electric organ combine here. It sadly didn't make the top of the chart, spending four weeks at number 2. It will be a top 10 hit again in 1972. It was the first hit single for the American singer whose real name is Ezekiel Montañez.

 

18th - 24th October 1962

 

19. Swiss Maid - Del Shannon

This will go as high as number 2 but I don't think I've heard it before. As there is a Swiss theme, he fits in a bit of yodelling. It's not as good as I was expecting from a Del Shannon single. The song's writer, Roger Miller, recorded the original version in 1961.

35. The Pay Off (Amoi De Payer) - Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen

Another instrumental hit for the group. Unlike the last four, it will fail to make the top 20. The clarinet is prominent here and Dave Jones gets a separate credit on the record.

 

Record of the week : 32. Bobby's Girl - Susan Maughan

 

An easy decision this week with this enduring pop song from the English singer. It's a cover of Marcie Blane's US number 3 hit from the same time. This version will reach the same position on the UK chart and both singers will have no more top 40 singles with Susan's follow-ups charting at 41 and 45. She is now 84 years old and living in Eastbourne.

 

25th - 31st October 1962

 

16. Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield

Frank Ifield's second number 1 single, this will spend five weeks at the top of the chart. Once again, it features some yodelling. I don't see the appeal of this one at all. The song goes back to 1922 but this version is based around Hank Williams' update of it from 1949.

28. Oh, Lonesome Me - Craig Douglas

An energetic country song with plenty going on instrumentally. I quite liked it. The original was by Don Gibson in 1957.

37. Because Of Love - Billy Fury

This song has already been recorded by Elvis but not released yet. It's from his 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' movie which is out in November so it's quite a canny move from Billy Fury's record company to steal a march on him and Billy does sound a lot like Elvis on this one.

38. He Got What He Wanted (But He Lost What He Had) - Little Richard

Little Richard's first hit since 1959. His distinctive vocal style is here but the song itself wasn't great and this will go no higher than 38.

40. Keep Away From Other Girls - Helen Shapiro

Helen has finally turned 16. The song had a decent chorus to it. The single will spend three weeks at number 40. Looking at Jimwatts' helpful thread in the Charts Forum, I see it's the first single to do that. It won't happen again until 1977.

 

Record of the week : 30. No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile - The Everly Brothers

 

No standouts this week so I've chosen this one for the vocal harmonies, the song's melody and the musical arrangement which includes piano, guitars and drums. It will be the brothers' 19th top 40 single, peaking at number 11.

 

Belated appreciation for 'Let's Dance'! The organ on that one is really standout.

 

The vocals on 'Sherry' and 'Lovesick Blues' are both pretty jarring :lol: there are quite a few songs I do enjoy by the Four Seasons at least, but can't get past Frank Ifield’s yodelling at all :kink:

1st - 7th November 1962

 

31. Ever Since You Said Goodbye - Marty Wilde

A decent pop song, I liked the guitar intro. This will be the last of his eleven top 40 singles but he's far from finished. With a charting album in 2020, he has the distinction of UK chart success, either as a singer or a songwriter, across eight consecutive decades.

33. Sun Arise - Rolf Harris

Recorded in 1960 but not released in the UK until now, this is the first of the two George Martin produced singles to enter the top 40 this week. With its Aboriginal sound, it's certainly a bit different. It's his first hit since 1960 and will reach number 3. I heard that after he was arrested, he started singing this song in the police station as he was more comfortable with his stage persona than being himself.

39. Must Be Madison - Joe Loss And His Orchestra

An unremarkable easy listening orchestral tune. We will have to wait another two years for his final hit single.

 

Record of the week : 32. Love Me Do - The Beatles

 

I was expecting this a few weeks ago as my book of hit singles showed it entering the chart on 11th October but I didn't know it spent its first three weeks at 49,46 and 41. The single will go down to 37 next week and then take a further seven weeks to reach its peak position of number 17 so the Beatles didn't exactly take the chart by storm at this stage. Listening to it now, it's the bass guitar as well as the more obvious harmonica than stand out. The 20th anniversary re-issue will take the single to number 4.

 

The Fab Four making a splash in the chart now :cheeseblock: 'Love Me Do' is pretty basic but charming all the same. I agree that the harmonica, played by John, is a standout feature.

ooh crikey a blitz of charts!

 

Love Venus In Blue Jeans (though its dated a lot) as dad had the single and my little brother loved it too (cos he shares the name Mark). Sherry would be my pick from that week I think, Ive seen Frankie Valli and Jersey Boys and it comes over well, but then again so does Chris Montez, a top 3 for me in 1972 when it was a hit again.

 

Oh and there's more! Bobby's Girl was my first-ever pop-song-I'm-mad-on, I couldnt get enough of it aged 4 and 5. I sang along to it quite happily oblivious of the gender. Still do. Susan maughan was a powerhouse vocal, like she was demanding to be bobby's girl, not like weedy Marcy Blane fawning for it.

 

The Everly's get a freebie pass, in a week with not much standing out, and then everything changes the following week. Yes it's an epic week as the fabulous Sun Arise brings ethnic aboriginal sounds to the charts. Still Rolf's 2nd-best record. Marty Wilde almost had another hit in 1968 with the big radio fave Abergavenny, but he had to wait for son Ricky for a next crack at pre-teenypop stardom in 1972 and his oldest daughter Kim to turn 18 for Kids In America and much much more. Ricky & Marty masterminded/wrote Kim's still-fabulous career. Saw her a few weeks ago again. Marty's due again soon too on tour.

 

Oh, yes, that little Scouse combo. Love Me Do. Whatever happened to them? Showed so much promise with this catchy charming debut, and then...nothing much.....

 

 

8th - 14th November 1962

 

27. Love Me Tender - Richard Chamberlain

A dreary, unnecessary cover version. The harmonica was the best bit.

38. Warmed Over Kisses - Brian Hyland

Brian's last two singles both won my ROTW award. This one isn't in the same league. Excluding re-issues, it will be his last top 40 hit and he's still only 19 years old.

39. (Dance With The) Guitar Man - Duane Eddy

I enjoyed this one. There are some vocals by The Rebelettes but they are kept to the right speaker with Duane's guitar in the centre and the drums coming from the left. This will be his fourth top 5 single.

 

Record of the week : 24. The James Bond Theme - The John Barry Orchestra

 

It has to be this one, of course. If you played this to anyone in the world, it's very likely that they would know what it is. It was written by Monty Norman for the first James Bond film, Dr. No, and has been used somewhere in all the subsequent films. John Barry's claims to be the writer of the theme have been dismissed in court. The single will peak at number 13 which is five places lower than Moby's remix in 1997.

 

What a legendary piece of music! I quite enjoy the aforementioned Moby version too :lol: