1963, concluded.
20 - "Not Me," The Orlons
The fourth of five Top 40s for this Philly quartet is this song about a troublemaker who makes sure not to get into too much trouble, because "I ain't no boxer." I think that's it. Catchy tune, good for twisting, not bad.
19 - "Still," Bill Anderson
Georgia-raised Anderson had ambitions to become a sportswriter, but country music would become his career, and he racked up over 50 Top 40s on the C&W charts, including six #1s. The second of those, and his only major pop hit, was this weepie about not being able to get over a breakup. He sings the choruses and speaks the verses, both in a voice that reveals how he earned the nickname "Whisperin' Bill." Perfect for wallowing drunkenly in heartbreak.
18 - "Fingertips (Part 2)," Little Stevie Wonder
Born Stevland Morris in Saginaw, Michigan, Wonder's blindness did not prevent him from excelling at a number of musical instruments, and his prodigious talents eventually attracted the attention of Motown Records, who signed him when he was just 11. Two years later, a live recording of him performing during one of Motown's all-star revue shows was released as a single, and it was the B-side, on which he added lyrics to what had been an instrumental up to that point, went all the way to #1. The lyrics are inconsequential, but what shines through is Stevie's amazing energy and soul on both his singing and harmonica playing. And the reaction of the crowd just makes it abundantly clear that you're listening to something, and someone, special. The beginning of one of pop's most extraordinary and influential careers.
17 - "Wipe Out," The Surfaris
The only hit by this California quartet was this immortal instrumental inspired by surfers falling off of their boards. From the creepy laugh and call out of the title, to that distinctive drum part, to the extremely earwormy guitar hook, this was destined to never be forgotten. And to think it was originally the B-side of a song called "Surfer Joe."
16 - "My Summer Love," Ruby and the Romantics
Ruby Nash and her male backing quartet originated in Akron, Ohio, and earlier in '63, they topped the charts with debut single "Our Day Will Come." Their follow-up disc, a sultry plea to take a chance on romance during the hottest of the seasons, only made it as high as it is this week, but it's still high quality lovey-dovey pop. They'd only have one more hit right after this, but they kept plugging away until finally breaking up in 1971.
15 - "Pride and Joy," Marvin Gaye
Originally from Washington, D.C., Gaye originally wanted to be an Air Force pilot, but after his stint in the military didn't turn out as he'd planned, he returned home and sang with a couple of vocal groups until an encounter with Berry Gordy resulted in his signing to Motown in 1961. On his second pop Top 40 (and first Top Ten), is a little grittier and piano-boogier than the sound Motown would become known for. A cool little sneak peek at the brilliant career to come.
14 - "On Top of Spaghetti," Tom Glazer and the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus
In 1951, folk group The Weavers had a #2 hit with their version of an Appalachian folk ballad about lost love called "On Top of Old Smoky." Twelve years later, another folkie, Tom Glazer, gathered together a group of children and recorded a parody of that song, with lyrics about a meatball which rolled off the table "when somebody sneezed," eventually rolling out the kitchen door and into the garden, where it planted itself in the ground and later grew into a meatball tree. I'm sure we all learned this one as kids, but raise your hand if you knew it was actually a hit. My hand is down. Anyway, I'm giving this the Uneasy Rider for the week.
13 - "Da Doo Ron Ron," The Crystals
The fifth Top 40 by one of Phil Spector's flagship girl groups was this Wall of Sound powered classic about finding true love with a guy named Bill. This only hit #3, and yet Shaun Cassidy's version was a #1. Where's the justice in that?
12 - "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer," Nat King Cole
The man born Nathaniel Coles first became famous on radio and record with his jazz trio in the late 30s, then became one of the world's most popular and influential singers in the pre-rock era. He would continue to have hits right up until his death from lung cancer in 1965, and this peppy pop tribute to the season of "soda and pretzels and beer," girls in bikinis, and couples making out at the drive-in movies, was his last Top Ten. A bit square, but still evocative of good times, and that voice is always a pleasure to listen to.
11 - "You Can't Sit Down," The Dovells
The last hit for these Philadelphians of "Bristol Stomp" fame was this lyrics-added cover of a 1961 instrumental by The Phil Upchurch Combo. And with that beat, that groove, and those handclaps, the song's title tells the truth. You can almost picture all the shakes and shimmies that were done to this back in the day.
The Top Ten can 'cause they mix it with love and make the world taste good.
10 - "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport," Rolf Harris
Born in Australia in 1930, Harris was a prize-winning painter before moving to England in 1952. There, he began careers in television and music, the latter producing a number of hits in both his native and adopted lands. But his only American hit was this novelty record about a dying livestock owner who, with his last breaths, instructs his friends on what to do with his various animals (and in one verse that was supposedly removed in 1960 but is in all the versions I've found so far, he asks someone to "let me Abos go loose;" i.e., send away his Aborigine servants). In the penultimate verse, he asks one buddy to play his didgeridoo as he shakes off this mortal coil, then in the last one, we learn that his friend Fred had "tanned his hide" as per his very last request. Extremely odd, not just for the words but for the self-invented instrument known as the "wobble board" Harris plays throughout. I've decided to give it an Uneasy Rider as well. And yes, Harris has since said he regrets that one racist verse.
9 - "So Much in Love," The Tymes
This Philly quartet topped the charts with their debut single, this smooth bit of romantic doo-wop. Simple goodness, and much better than All-4-One's 1993 cover. They would have two more Top 40s in '63, then picked up one more in 1974 with "You Little Trustmaker."
8 - "Memphis," Lonnie Mack
Indiana guitarist Mack is credited with inventing the "blues-rock" genre, and you can tell why on his instrumental cover of a 1959 Chuck Berry track. Certainly everyone from the Stones to the Allmans could have, and probably did, draw some inspiration from its distinctive sound.
7 - "Surf City," Jan and Dean
Californians Jan Berry and Dean Torrence had picked up a few hits in the early 50s and late 60s, but it wasn't until they met Brian Wilson and started recording so similar to The Beach Boys that many to this day confuse the two that they had their biggest run of success. The first, and most popular, song from that streak is this Wilson-co-written number about driving in an old Ford station wagon to a mythical burg where the surf is high, the parties are plentiful, and most importantly, there are "two girls for every boy." Another of those evergreen oldies.
6 - "One Fine Day," The Chiffons
This is another girl group that I had thought were produced by Phil Spector but apparently weren't. Their first hit, "He's So Fine, was a Number One, and its follow-up, this Carole King/Gerry Goffin number about eternal romantic optimism, also made the Top Ten. Solid, and proof that King's 1980 cover version was completely unnecessary. It's also a good song to have on in the background if you're a ten-year-old boy serving drinks at a Mafia hideout.
5 - "It's My Party," Lesley Gore
Lesley Sue Goldstein, from Tenafly, New Jersey, was just 16 when her debut single went all the way to the top of the charts. We all know the story of how poor Lesley was betrayed, on her birthday no less, by that bitch Judy, who came strolling in to her party wearing a ring belonging to Lesley's presumed boyfriend Johnny. Fun to sing along to, and significant for being the first major hit produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. Oh, and in case you aren't aware, Gore got the last laugh by winning Johnny back on the follow-up hit "Judy's Turn to Cry."
4 - "Hello Stranger," Barbara Lewis
Lewis, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, had her first hit with this self-penned mood-setter about reunited lovers. From Lewis' lead, to the backup vocals, to the organ, it beats Yvonne Elliman's 1977 cover all ends up. Sexxxay.
3 - "Blue on Blue," Bobby Vinton
The Polish Prince's second Top Ten was this okay heartbreak ballad. He does okay, but he has better songs.
2 - "Sukiyaki," Kyu Sakamoto
Hiroshi Sakamoto, who was nicknamed "Kyu" after the Japanese word for "nine" due to his birth order, was born just three days after the invasion of Pearl Harbor. In his teens, he began a singing career, and in 1963, he scored an American #1 with a song he'd had a hit with at home two years prior. Sung in his native tongue, it's a jazzy pop song about a man trying not to let the world see his tears, although what he is sad about is unclear. The song's original title was “Ue O Muite Aruko” (I Look Up When I Walk), but the people behind its release in English-speaking nations decide to change it to an easier-to-remember name, in this case, the name of a beef dish. Not exactly respectful. Anyway, it's a good song, and I like Sakamoto's wistful whistling.
And the Number One tune in America 50 years ago was...
1 - "Easier Said Than Done," The Essex
This four-man, one-woman vocal group were all Marines stationed in North Carolina when they formed, and their first and biggest hit was this catchy pop number about romantic shyness. All right, but it's another song that falls into the "This went to #1?" category. Anyway, the group picked up one more Top 40 after this, but as you might expect, their military duties wound up stunting their musical career.
I'll be covering a 1964 chart in about three weeks, but there may or may not be a different entry between now and then. Stay tuned.
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