So here we are in June of 1962. During this month, Brazil won the World Cup, the French Foreign Legion left Algeria, and what may have been the only successful escape in the history of the Alcatraz Federal Penetentiary took place (the three men escaped the prison building and then left the island on a makeshift raft, but it is unclear whether or not they successfully crossed San Franciso Bay to the mainland). But if those guys did survive and eventually acquired a radio, these are the songs they may have heard.
40 - "Mashed Potato Time," Dee Dee Sharp
This Philadelphian, born Dione LaRue, scored a handful of hits in the early 60s, all relating to dance crazes like the one named after a popular tuber-based side dish. On this fun soul number, Sharp claims that the step was invented by "a guy named Sloppy Joe," and suggests three songs suitable for doing it to: The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," The Marvelettes "Please Mr. Postman," and Gary U.S. Bonds' "Dear Lady Twist." And no, I've never tried to do this dance. Can't rule out doing so someday, though.
39 - "Bristol Twistin' Annie," The Dovells
More Philly dancing, this from a group that had scored a hit the previous song about a dance popular in a certain City of Brotherly Love suburb, the "Bristol Stomp." On their third Top 40 hit, they return to Bristol to tell the tale of Annie, who despite having "the shape of Rin Tin Tin," "a face like my Uncle Ben," "hips like Big Bad John," and "legs like Short Sad Sam," is quite a popular girl when she's doing The Twist. An odd little token of the time.
38 - "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman," The BlueBelles (The Starlets)
The credit on this song may be confusing, but there's a reason. See, there was a Chicago girl group called The Starlets, and in 1961, they recorded a song for a local label called "Better Tell Him No." Later that year, after the group performed a show in Philadelphia, the owner of a label there gave them the chance to record a couple of songs, including this R&B metaphor for giving up on romance. "Better Tell Him No," eventually cracked the Top 40 for the Chicago label, so when the Philadelphia label wanted to release their own Starlets recordings, they decided the safest course of action would be to credit it to one of their own groups, The BlueBelles. So the BlueBelles were credited with the hit, which reached #15. In the two years that followed, the group performed on two minor Top 40 hits, but they would have their biggest hit in 1975 with a little song called "Lady Marmalade" under the name Labelle. Another strange pop story.
37 - "The Crowd," Roy Orbison
The golden-throated Texan had one of his lower-charting, but certainly not lesser, hits with another mini pop-opera about how hanging out with his social peers just isn't the same when one particular special someone isn't among them. The man knew how to give voice to heartbroken longing.
36 - "Where Are You," Dinah Washington
Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Washington scored numerous R&B hits throughout the 40s and 50s, and began her best run on the pop charts with the 1959 Top Ten "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes." Her entry here is a version of a song from a 1937 movie musical called Top of The Town. It's not much of a song, but Dinah's cool, jazzy take elevates it. Sadly, it would be her last Top 40, as she would die of a drug overdose in 1963, at age 39.
35 - "Twistin' Matilda," Jimmy Soul
Soul, born James McCleese, had his first hit with this song that isn't some sort of dance-craze take on a certain Australian folk song, but rather a R&B number about how the title lady stole all his money and moved to Las Vegas. There's a bit of a Carribbean flavor to both the arrangement and Soul's vocals, and that would come more to the fore on his next hit, the #1 smash "If You Wanna Be Happy." After that, however, he failed to follow up with more hits, and frustrated by this, he joined the Army. And no, I have no idea if he ever married, and I'm not even going to speculate on his hypothetical wife's appearance.
34 - "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" Dee Dee Sharp
Sharp managed to score two hits singing about the same dance. On this one, she tells her dancing partner that she wants more from their relationship than just having fun on the floor. Romance, apparently, is the "gravy" that will bond them as a couple. It shouldn't make sense, but it does. But even if it didn't, who cares?
33 - "Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)," Richard Chamberlain
In the early 60s, there were not one but two popular TV series about young, idealistic medical professionals. One of them was Dr. Kildare, whose title character was played by Chamberlain, whose good looks made him somewhat of a teen idol. And as he could sing, he was given the chance to record this ballad about wishing for love, which not coincedentally was set to the tune of the theme to his TV show. Chamberlain sings all right, but it's just bland, square pop. He would have only one other Top 40 hit, a cover of "Love Me Tender." I am genuinely afraid to hear that one. I'll skip it.
32 - "Soldier Boy," The Shirelles
The second and last #1 for these ladies was this pledge of fidelity to a young military man, no matter how long he's shipped out for. Simple theme, executed perfectly. And love that twangy guitar solo.
31 - "I'll Never Dance Again," Bobby Rydell
More Philadelphia representation, this time from Rydell, showing up here for the third year in a row with this vaguely tango-ish declaration not to cut a rug with anyone but his beloved. Decent enough teen heartthrob fodder.
30 - "The Wah-Watusi," The Orlons
Guess where this three-woman, one-man vocal combo hailed from? Why Philadelphia, of course. And guess what this song's about? You'd never believe it, but it's about a dance craze that's "made for romance" and is superior to The Twist, The Fly, and The Mashed Potato. John Travolta and Uma Thurman did it to Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell." This song's all right too. But clearly, there are some recurring themes this week.
29 - "Having a Party," Sam Cooke
The Mississippi-born, Chicago-raised soul legend broke through in 1957 with the #1 "You Send Me." He never topped the pop chart after that, but he did pick up 28 more Top 40s. including this celebration of a bash that featured Coke, popcorn, and dancing to good tunes on the radio. 51 years in the future, Sam made me want to join him at this party, which is more than I can say for that cover version Rod Stewart did. Another gem from a true icon who would unfortunately be shot to death two years later.
28 - "Theme from Ben Casey," Valjean
Besides Dr. Kildare, the other big prime time hospital drama in 1962 followed the exploits of a heroic young surgeon. Unlike Richard Chamberlain, however, series star Vince Edwards' singing career didn't amount to anything (though he did try), so the only hit associated with the show was an instrumental version of the theme performed by Oklahoma pianist Valjean Johns (his real name, apparently). And in case you were wondering, Edwards and Chamberlain didn't like each other, and apparently had a nasty confrontation in New York's Central Park in 1964. I think that's kind of cool, really. And in the fight between singles spawned by their shows, Chamberlain's may have charted higher, but I like this one better.
27 - "So This is Love," The Castells
The second of two mid-level Top 40 hits by this California vocal quartet was this square-ass love song. They sound like a tamer version of The Association, and as you may know, I quite dislike The Association. This must be the kind of record America's teenagers quickly put on the turntable to replace a more "objectionable" song just as their parents were coming home from bridge club or wherever parents went back then.
26 - "Johnny Get Angry," Joanie Sommers
Buffalo-born Sommers was mainly known as a singer of jazzy pop standards, but her only major Top 40 single was this teen-friendly trifle on which she laments that her boyfriend doesn't go crazy with rage when she pretends to break up with him or dances with other boys. She'd rather that he acted like "a cave man" and "let (her) know that you're the boss." Some pretty unenlightened sexual politics going on there, but as anyone whose watched Mad Men knows, those were still in full force at the time. And for some reason, there's what sounds like a kazoo solo on this. Okay, but probably best forgotten.
25 - "Teach Me Tonight," George Maharis
When I saw the name, I thought this was the guy who played the leader of the Sharks in the movie of West Side Story. But I came to learn that that was George Chakiris. This is a different actor of Greek ancestry, one who was best known for his role as Buz on the TV show Route 66. At the height of his popularity, he scored his only hit with this cover of a jazz-pop standard that's been recorded dozens of times since it was published in 1953. Maharis does okay with this tune that compares a lovers' rendezvous to a session between a student an a teacher. He's hardly Sinatra, but he's fine. Probably in the low middle of the pack of all the versions ever put to tape.
24 - "I Love You," The Volumes
The only hit for this Detroit vocal group was this nice bit of romantic doo-wop. It definitely sounds like one of the records that influenced The Four Seasons. The lead singer's falsetto on this could be what Frankie Valli aspired to.
23 - "Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)," Chuck Jackson
Pittsburgh-based soul singer Jackson accumulated 14 R&B Top 40s between 1961 and 1975, but only two cracked the pop equivalent. The most successful of the pair was this Burt Bacharach-cowritten ballad about knowing the end of a relationship is near. During my 80s run, we encountered the cover version Ronnie Milsap took to #14 twenty years after this. Ronnie did fine, but the original tops it for genuine, sincere evocation of heartbreak. Great stuff.
22 - "Village of Love," Nathaniel Mayer and The Fabulous Twilights
Detroit's Mayer was 18 when he picked up his only Top 40 hit with this wailing soul invitation for a lover to accompany him to the title burg, which is apparently located in Arkansas. I couldn't find any information about who the Fabulous Twilights were, but I do know that in the 2000s, Mayer had a bit of a career revival, and he had cultivated a new generation of fans until he was unfortunately felled by a series of strokes that led to his death in 2008.
21 - "Walk on the Wild Side ," Jimmy Smith and The Big Band
Smith, a jazz organist from the Philadelphia area (appropriately enough to end this entry), had his only Top 40 hit on this instrumental recording (with a band led by saxophonist Oliver Nelson) of the title song from the film version of Nelson Algren's 1956 novel about the seedy side of New Orleans. The movie is notable for being one of Jane Fonda's first big-screen roles. The song, as performed by Smith and co., is quite interesting, starting off with jingling bells and then going into gritty, bluesy jazz. The kind of thing you put on when you want to feel cool in that swaggering, Rat Pack-ish way.
In Part Two: an extremely protective father, an unlikely gunfigher, and a tune meant to accompany the work of ecdysiasts.
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