First of all, it has come to my attention that I missed some of the songs I, er, missed from '80-'82. Let's clean that up right now.
July 12, 1980
25 - "The Empire Strikes Back (Medley)," Meco
Meco's second Star Wars-themed hit marked his second and final appearance in the Top 20. The usual discofication of the music, with added sound effects of lasers, lightsabers, Chewbacca, and R2D2. An interesting relic of its time.
34 - "Walks Like a Lady," Journey
The band's third Top 40 is this uncharacteristically jazzy strut with lyrics that are along the same lines as Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman." A cool little detour from big bold rock.
January 10, 1981
24 - "One Step Closer," The Doobie Brothers
The group's last hit with Michael McDonald was this tepid bit of MOR jazz-pop on which he shares lead vocals with saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus. Now that is a fantastic name, and easily the coolest thing I found looking this song up.
August 1, 1981
37 - "Don't Want to Wait Anymore," The Tubes
The first of two Top 40s by these San Francisco new wavers is a ballad about really desperately wanting to have sex with a woman, asking her to imagine them being the last two people on Earth, trapped in a frozen wasteland where they have to "make love to survive." The weirdest thing about it is it sounds much more like an 80s Chicago ballad that a song by the group that gave the world "White Punks on Dope" and "Don't Touch Me There." Oddly charming.
40 - "You're My Girl," Franke and the Knockouts
The middle hit by Mr. Previte and co. is uninspired, uninspiring corporate rock. Background music, at best.
June 12, 1982
10 - "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," Deneice Williams
The second solo hit for this native of Gary, Indiana was this cover of a 1965 R&B hit by The Royalettes. Silky soul about not being able to get over someone, co-produced by Philly soul legend Thom Bell. Good stuff, and I prefer it by a large margin over "Let's Hear It for the Boy."
Now that that's cleared up, let's move ahead.
February 26, 1983
33 - "The Woman in Me," Donna Summer
Donna's post-disco struggles continued with this seductive, breathless, pop ballad. It didn't get any higher than this, but I think it should have. She still sounded good on the radio, trends aside.
35 - "I'm Alive," Neil Diamond
Neil's last Top 40 to date was this pop-rocker that contrasts the harsh realities of life with the good things like flowers and babies, concluding that all in all, it's good to be breathing. Unabashed positivity, and far from an embarrassing way to go out, like his penultimate Top 40, "Heartlight," would have been.
36 - "The Clapping Song," Pia Zadora
One of the biggest punchlines of the early 80s, Zadora was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, and as a child appeared on Broadway and in the B-movie Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. In 1972, at the age of 18, she met 50-year-old Israeli businessman Meshulam Riklis. The couple married five years later, and Riklis then began using his considerable wealth to try and make Zadora an international star. In 1982, he financed her starring debut, Butterfly, which also featured among its cast Orson Welles and Ed McMahon. The movie bombed and was loathed by critics, but Zadora won a Golden Globe award for Best Female Newcomer for her performance. However, most believe that it was Riklis' extensive wining and dining of the Hollwood Foreign Press Asscociation that netted her the prize more than her acting. Shortly after that fiasco, Zadora appeared on the pop charts with this cover of a 1965 novelty hit by Shirley Ellis whose lyrics involve the death by misadventure of an alcoholic goose and a tobacco-abusing monkey, a girl who is denied a doll by her mother because she kissed a member of the military, and of course, clapping. I haven't heard Ellis' version, but as for this one...I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were financial enticements to DJs required to scrape it into the Top 40. I don't know this, of course, but listening to it...not good. Mediocre vocals over mediocre funk. Zadora's film career continued later in this year with The Lonely Lady, but its results were even more disastrous than Butterfly's, and her movie star dreams were dead. She's made some attempts at returns to recording, Broadway, and cabaret in the years since. She still never became a big star. but she divorced Riklis in 1993, and I imagine she's living pretty comfortably. Plus no one can take that Golden Globe away. But she didn't get the People's Global Golden Choice Award, losing out on that one to a real talent: Skip Bittman.
38 - "Tied Up," Olivia Newton-John
ONJ's penultimate Top 40 isn't as kinky as it sounds. It's just lite-funk about trying to figure out where a relationship stands. It's not bad, really. That voice can make me forgive a lot. And it's hard not to like a song with a flute solo.
40 - "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," Night Ranger
The San Francisco hard rock combo's first major hit is a sped-up rocker about not wanting a relationship to be more than physical. Arena-ready guitar soloing and keyboard flourishes abound. Brainless fun.
May 7, 1983
12 - "Even Now," Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Our old friends the Styx of Detroit picked up another of their hits with this okay pop-rocker about a woman who remains his raison d'etre after all this time. He's done better, he's done worse.
15 - "Photograph," Def Leppard
The Sheffield pop-metallers made their American breakthrough with this song about lusting after a celebrity. The video features a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, but singer Joe Elliott has said that he wasn't writing about her specifically. No matter. A fantastic pop song, and the best thing they've done.
16 - "Rio," Duran Duran
The Brit heartthrobs' second American hit was this fluttery synthpop number about a hot lady whose name means "river" in Spanish. I'm not sure she could acually "dance across the Rio Grande," but no big deal. More good good pop from these boys.
22 - "Mornin'," Al Jarreau
The Milwaukee-born jazz singer's second pop hit was this airy number that makes it clear that he's an AM person, as he sings morning greetings to his radio, his bowl of cereal, a bird, a bridge, and the man who shines his shoes. Myself, I've always find it hard to get started before 11, so this song doesn't really jibe with me. But the animated video is kinda cool.
24 - "Welcome to Heartlight," Kenny Loggins
Unlike the similarly-titled Neil Diamond hit, this song has nothing to do with E.T. Rather, it's a pop-rocker about a peaceful, beautiful place. It's okay as Kenny's non-movie songs go, but the slight island accent he affects on this doesn't do much for me.
25 - "It Might Be You," Stephen Bishop
San Diego singer-songwriter Bishop's last Top 40 hit was this ballad about finding love at last that came from Tootsie, the movie where Dustin Hoffman dresses in drag to get a part on a soap opera. That's a movie I'm not so embarrassed to say I saw in a theater. As for the song, though, it's sappy dreck. I'd much rather hear "On and On,"
26 - "Some Kind of Friend," Barry Manilow
The Man(ilow)'s next-to-last Top 40 was this sees him trying to keep up with the times with drum machines and synthesizers on a song about a relationship with a woman who only wants him for his money. I think that's it. Actually, he doesn't embarrass himself, but still, this isn't Barry in his natural habitat.
29 - "Stranger in My House," Ronnie Milsap
The country star's last pop hit was this dark, bluesy tune about suspecting a lover of stepping out on him. Apparently, some country stations didn't play this because the guitar solo sounded "too rock," and that's why it didn't go to #1 on that chart. Their loss, because it's the best thing I've heard from him.
30 - "So Wrong," Patrick Simmons
The once-and-future Doobie Brother had his only American solo hit with this fair bit of funk-pop about starcrossed lovers. The funny thing is, I have no problem imagining Michael McDonald singing this.
35 - "I Couldn't Say No," Robert Ellis Orrall with Carlene Carter
Orrall, a Boston-area singer-songwriter, and Carter, the daughter of country singer June Carter and her first husband, both made their only pop chart appearances with this cool little duet about romantic tribulation. It's kind of new-wave/rootsy power-pop. I like it a lot. Both Orrall and Carter went on to have country hits in the 90s, and in 2006, Orrall co-wrote one song and produced other tracks for the debut album by one Taylor Swift.
39 - "Whirly Girl," Oxo
Angel Ledesma, formerly of the two-hit disco band Foxy, formed a new group in the early 80s, and managed one minor hit with this boisterous pop number about a girl who really gets around ("She's been with the Rolling Stones, on their tours and in their homes.") Fun, frivolous, fantastic.
40 - "Gimme All Your Lovin'," ZZ Top
The first of the band's Eliminator hits was this grinding sex boogie. But of course, it was all about the video. In it, a young man is working at a gas station on a long stretch of desert highway when three hot women pull up in that distinctive red 1933 Ford. After they fill up and get refreshments, they are about to leave when all of a sudden, the band appears, and they toss him a set of keys hooked to a silver "ZZ" keychain. He shows it to the women, and they let him into their car and take him for a ride (read into that what you will). Later, they return to the gas station and let him out. But then we find out that it was all a dream...or was it? When he awakens, he finds the keychain next to him, and then a familiar old car speeds by. So of course, the kid hops in his truck and follows. We never find out if he catches it. And somehow, this is what began ZZ Top's rise to multiplatinum superstardom.
July 9, 1983
36 - "White Wedding," Billy Idol
The U.K. punk-popster's second American hit that's about...well, some kind of nuptial ceremony. But Billy makes it sound so sinister, and the frequent use of the word "shotgun" indicate that it might not be exactly a fairytale romance being celebrated. Even though it only made it as high as its position this week, it's one of his best-remembered hits, and one of his best period.
February 4, 1984
19 - "Wrapped Around Your Finger," The Police
The band's final American hit was this pop-rock tune about how Sting feels he is manipulating the person who thinks he or she is manipulating him. Of course, he's all obtuse and literary about it, but that's Sting. And at this point in time, he was making that work.
22 - "Nobody Told Me," John Lennon
Just over three years after his death, Milk and Honey, an album of recordings that Lennon and Yoko Ono were working on for the follow-up to Double Fantasy, was released. The first single, and biggest hit, from the album was this loose rocker with silly yet possibly profound lyrics. Apparently, this was originally written for Ringo, but in the end, I'm glad it remained John's, and provided a bittersweet coda to his pop career.
29 - "New Moon on Monday," Duran Duran
The Duranies again, this time with a slinky bit of new wave funk. The lyrics are pretty inscrutable, with mentions of lizard mixtures and lonely satellites. But they're pretty irrelevant, because the song grooves along amaziingly. Possibly my favorite song of theirs.
33 - "Nightbird," Stevie Nicks
Stevie's seventh hit without Fleetwood Mac is the kind of airy, floaty pop-rock she's known for. So much so that one imagines that a "Stevie Nicks Song Generator" could have come up with it. That doesn't make it bad, just...typical, I guess.
35 - "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)," Quiet Riot
These guys' second and last Top 40 was this ode to violently moving one's cranium to and fro using the neck. My brother used to do this quite a bit at concerts, and he says yes, it can cause aches and pains afterward. But you must make sacrifices for The Metal. Anyway, okay song, and nice to see they managed a hit without having to cover Slade.
36 - "This Woman," Kenny Rogers
Kenny's last solo pop hit was this Barry Gibb co-written tune on which he tells his ex how good he's got it with his new lover. Barry's backup vocals are instantly recognizable. Not country at all, but a decent enough pop song.
38 - "The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)," Irene Cara
Cara's next-to-last hit was this inspirational dance-popper from D.C. Cab, a movie about Washington taxi drivers that featured Mr. T. and Gary Busey. Neither are very well-remembered, and I can't say that's an injustice of any kind.
March 31, 1984
27 - "New Song," Howard Jones
Jones' first hit was bouncy synthpop tune about looking at the world through different perspectives and "throw(ing) off your mental chains." I don't think many people will still admit to liking his stuff, but I think he was an underrated figure in 80s pop.
31 - "Let's Stay Together," Tina Turner
The seeds for Tina's 80s comeback were first sown when she appeared on a cover of The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" by the British production team B.E.F. This led to a deal with Capitol records for a single, which turned out to be this B.E.F.-produced version of Al Green's 1971 charttopper. Turner gives a powerful performance that didn't make anyone forget Al, but still showed she still had the goods. The single only reached #26 in the U.S., but it was a U.K. Top Ten, and that convinced the label to let her do a whole album. And the rest is history.
June 9, 1984
26 - "Magic," The Cars
The second single from the band's Heartbeat City LP was this summery pop-rocker about the power of love and stuff. Just good catchy stuff, nothing more, nothing less.
31 - "Dance Hall Days," Wang Chung
The second American hit by these Brit New Wavers was this catchy tune that instructs you to take your partner by various body parts and do things to them. I don't think this was meant to start a dance craze. I should hope they weren't looking forward to people grabbing each other's ears and sticking jewelry in each other's facial orifices. Although who knows, maybe they were creepy that way.
32 - "Doctor! Doctor!" Thompson Twins
The unrelated three-person "twins" had their third American hit with this slow burner about how falling in love can feel like a fever. I might actually like this better than "Hold Me Now," "Lies," or anything else they've done. There's a hypnotic quality to it.
33 - "What is Love," Howard Jones
Jones' follow-up to "New Song" was this synthpop track that questions of the nature of romantic love. I probably have it #2 for him behind "No One is to Blame."
35 - "No Way Out," Jefferson Starship
The last hit this band had before dropping the "Jefferson" was this rock tune about trying to get away with straying in a relationship. I think that's it. Actually, it's a good song for them. Don't ask me to explain the video, though. A mustachioed Mickey Thomas enters a weird house where Grace Slick is some kind of bizarre variation of a nun, and then he goes to confession with Father Guido Sarducci, and then another mustachioed guy is lying in bed curling a barbell in front of a dancing Asian woman. It's art, I guess.
37 - "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)," The Icicle Works
This Liverpool band's only major hit is this shimmering, stomping New Wave number that seems to be about how people are looking for direction in life. Regardless, it's one of those songs that's probably better remembered than many bigger hits, and deservedly so.
39 - "Don't Walk Away," Rick Springfield
The third hit from the Hard to Hold soundtrack is this power ballad about trying to convince someone you love them in spite of their faults and failings. It's okay, but the saxophone is more distracting than enhancing. That happened a lot in the 80s.
40 - "Music Time," Styx
The Bob Seger of Chicago's last 80s hit was the lone studio track from their live album Caught in the Act. As I've said before, this is even more of a Devo ripoff than "Mr. Roboto." And the lyrics are just Dennis DeYoung listing off things he likes. And somehow, I like this a lot. Apparently, Tommy Shaw didn't, though. I see his point, but I still think it's cheesily charming.
In Part Three: 1985-1988
Monday, July 29, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Revenge of the 80s - Part One
I told you at the end of the last entry I might take a detour before getting to 1964, and here we are.
You see, even as I've been going off the beaten track, those classic 70s and 80s AT40 shows are still playing, and many of them contain songs I haven't given my thoughts on here as of yet. And because I got to the 80s more recently, there are many more of those uncovered nuggets from those countdowns. I will get to the 70s stuff eventually, but for now, I'm presenting a three-part look back at the stuff I've missed in these last seven months, starting with hits from '80 to '82.
March 1, 1980
38 - "When a Man Loves a Woman," Bette Midler
The first single from the soundtrack to Midler's film debut The Rose was this cover of Percy Sledge's 1966 classic, taken from a scene of her character, Mary Rose Foster, perfoming in concert. Midler's full-throated performance makes it much more clear that the character is based on Janis Joplin than the film's bigger hit title track. Good stuff, and way better than Michael Bolton.
39 - "I Thank You," ZZ Top
The Texas trio's second Top 40 single was this bluesy cover of a 1968 Sam and Dave hit which shows gratiude to a lover who "kisses so good I had to holler for help." It certainly sounds more like the songs that made their name in the 70s then the slicker stuff that made them multiplatinum MTV icons later in this decade.
May 17, 1980
31 - "Let Me Be the Clock," Smokey Robinson
Smokey's followup to "Cruisin'" was this ballad on which he calls himself a "cuckoo," and expresses a desire to be "the pendulum that strikes your chimes." Odd metaphors aside, I'll take it every day of the week over any of his other 80s ballads.
34 - "Gee Whiz," Bernadette Peters
Born Bernadette Lazzara in Queens in 1948, Peters began acting at the age of nine, and by the mid-70s, her curly locks and girlish singing voice had made her a Broadway star. Then she went to Hollywood, where she found success in films like Silent Movie and The Jerk, and in 1980, she released a self-titled album that contained her only pop hit, this cover of a 1960 Top Ten by Memphis soul star Carla Thomas. She tries to tone down her natural showy coo to sound more Linda Ronstadtish, but it manages to squeak through. Still, I always liked her voice for what it is, and this is nice. But I'd probably choose her stagey stuff or her performances as Rita on Animaniacs over this.
35 - "Headed For a Fall," Firefall
The penultimate Top 40 for these Colorado soft rockers is a countryish warning to a party girl that "you can't lose your troubles in the bubbles of your wine." Probably the best of what I've heard from them.
36 - "Starting Over Again," Dolly Parton
Dolly's first hit of the decade was this song about a couple that divorces after a long marriage and the struggles of moving on "when your dreams are all shattered and the kids are all grown." A remarkably mature topic for the pop charts, and it was a shock to learn that it was co-written by none other than Donna Summer. A really good song.
38 - "I Don't Want to Walk Without You," Barry Manilow
Barry kept his hit train rolling with this suitably old-fashioned cover of a 1941 Jule Styne/Frank Loesser song of loneliness. I don't need to hear this again, no siree.
40 - "We Live for Love," Pat Benatar
The rock diva's second Top 40 is a peppy tune about growing passions. She sings in an airier, more ethereal voice than her usual rasp. A cool change of pace.
July 12, 1980
38 - "King of the Hill," Rick Pinette and Oak
This New Hampshire band's only hit was this piano ballad about a guy who likes to brag about his success as he stands "high on Ego Mountain." The guy doesn't get his comeuppance or anything, but still, you get the feeling the Oak boys have a negative outlook on him. Even though he and his band never got huge, apparently Pinette did overindulge in the sex-and-drugs lifestyle, which eventually let him to become a minister. He has a website on which he not only spreads the gospel, he also sells CDs with titles like "Jazz for Jesus" and "TV Theme Songs with a Christian Twist."
January 10, 1981
23 - "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime," The Korgis
This British band's only major hit is this ethereal ballad that reminds me quite a bit of 10cc. Simultaneously needful and uplifting. A forgotten gem.
32 - "I Believe in You," Don Williams
Texan Williams was a country mainstay from 1973 to 1992, a period during which he topped that chart 17 times. His only pop hit was this languid, drawling outlining of his philosophy, which is basically that the world may change, but love and the basics of life are still good and will get you through. Pleasant. That's my best description of it.
37 - "Cold Love," Donna Summer
After getting spacey with "The Wanderer," Summer came out with a straight-ahead rocker in the Pat Benatar vein. There's a little bit of a disco flavor to it, but not enough to be tarred with that brush. A solid tune, but it's not surprising that it wasn't that big a hit.
April 4, 1981
39 - "The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)," Journey
The only studio track from the band's live LP Captured is this mediocre pop-rocker about a breakup. This party couldn't end fast enough for me. But it was right after this that they put out the Escape album and became the true hit machine we all know today.
July 25, 1981
40 - "Give It to Me Baby," Rick James
James' second pop Top 40 was this funky plea for his significant other to provide him with "that sweet funky stuff." Three guesses as to what he was talking about. His usual, reliable libidousness.
August 1, 1981
16 - "Touch Me When We're Dancing," The Carpenters
Karen and Richard's final Top 40 was this romantic ballad about moving slowly in the arms of a lover. Not a great song, but Karen raises the material as usual. And it's nice that their last hit found her in a positive mood, given the way things sadly ended.
24 - "Don't Let Him Go," REO Speedwagon
The third hit from the band's breakthrough Hi Infidelity LP is an upbeat suggestion to a woman not to let a good man get away. I like the energy it has. A good changeup from the ballads they first struck gold with.
32 - "Double Dutch Bus," Frankie Smith
Philadelphia funkster Smith had his one major hit with this rap track that seems to only have a little bit to do with both skipping rope and public transportation. It does, however, feature Smith inserting the syllable "izz" into words, a practice that had a long underground history and was eventually brought to its greatest popularity by Snoop Dogg. Fizzunky stizzuff, tizzoo bizzee shizzure.
33 - "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," Jim Steinman
Okay, I've talked quite a bit on here about my love for Mr. Steinman's compositions and productions, and here we are with the only hit on which he is credited as an artist. This song was originally written for Meat Loaf's follow-up album to Bat Out of Hell, but when it came time to record the record, Meat had lost his voice, so Steinman decided to record it and the other songs he'd composed for that record for a solo album This predictably bombastic track about the power of music features lead vocals by Rory Dodd (the guy who would later sing "Turn around, bright eyes" on Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." It hits all my Steinman sweet spots. A dozen years later, Meat Loaf would finally get his turn at it on Bat Out of Hell II. And I have to say, he did it much better.
January 30, 1982
18 - "Come Go With Me," The Beach Boys
This cover of a 1957 Del-Vikings hit was originally recorded in 1978 at an Iowa university founded by onetime guru-to-the-rock-stars Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but wasn't released as a single until four years later. Not up to their standard, but nice enough. And better than a million "Kokomo"s.
April 17, 1982
35 - "Pop Goes the Movies," Meco
After cracking the charts with disco versions of themes from two Star Wars movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and even The Wizard of Oz, Domenico Monardo eked out one last Top 40 with this medley of film flavorites (misspelling intentional, as a tribute to Seymour Skinner). It begins with the iconic trademark tune of 20th Century Fox, then goes on to incorporate music from Gone With The Wind; The Magnificent Seven; Goldfinger; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; and The Apartment. It just strings them all together, Hooked on Classics-style. Not as interesting as his earlier interpretations. Uninspired.
37 - "Take Off," Bob and Doug McKenzie
And here it is, the point at which my fascination with the Top 40 and my love of SCTV finally truly intersect. Here's the story: after two seasons on Canada's Global Television, SCTV moved to the state-owned CBC, and that network mandated that the show include at least two minutes of "specific Canadian content." This baffled the show's staff, but eventually, they responded by creating a two-minute, tongue-in-cheek weekly segment called "The Great White North" which featured cast members Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as the McKenzie brothers, two toque-clad Canuck stereotypes who sat in front of a map of Canada while drinking beer, cooking back bacon, and having discussions (frequently punctuated by the interjection "eh?") about such topics as doughnuts, snow chains on tires, and how there were too many teams in the NHL these days. Surprisingly, the characters became the breakout stars of the show; first at home, and then in the U.S. after the show was picked up for late-night airing by NBC. This led to Moranis and Thomas being signed to do a McKenzie Brothers comedy album. It mainly featured sketches, but Moranis, a former radio DJ, suggested that they could get more sales and airplay if the record included a song that could be a "hit single." So with the help of songwriters, and the enlistment of Moranis' former elementary schoolmate Geddy Lee of Rush, they created this pop-rock number. Basically, it consists of the brothers' "Coo-loo-coo-coo!" theme, the two of them aruguing about which one of them came up with the idea for the song, and Lee's choruses. Silly fun that cracked the Top 20 in America and helped the album go gold. Eventually, Moranis and Thomas left the show to film a McKenzie movie, the cult hit Strange Brew, and then went on to other, non-hoser-related projects. Beauty, eh?
June 12, 1982
24 - "Without You," Franke and the Knockouts
The third and final hit by these New Jersey footnotes was this unremarkable power ballad. Obscurity followed, though singer Franke Previte would later write the Dirty Dancing hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life. Good for him. Bad for me.
26 - "When It's Over," Loverboy
The second hit from these Canadians biggest album, Get Lucky, was this state-of-the-art hard rocker about waiting for a girl to finally get dumped by the loser she's with so one can catch her on the rebound. I think that's it. About mid-pack in the ranking of their hits.
30 - "When He Shines," Sheena Easton
The Scottish popstress had her third American hit with this ballad about the guy she's mad for, who is, among other contradictions, "sometimes a tramp, sometimes a dude." And for some reason, the way she sings the word "dude" tickles me. The rest of the song isn't much.
32 - "Fantasy," Aldo Nova
This Montrealer, born Aldo Caporuscio, went double-platinum in America with his debut album. Much of that success was presumably powered by this hit, a fun hard rock tune that contains references to prostitution ("give you love if the price is right") and cocaine ("powder pleasure in your nose tonight," punctuated by an exaggerated sniff in case the message was lost on anyone). 80s air-guitar heaven.
35 - "I Don't Know Where to Start," Eddie Rabbitt
Rabbitt's last solo pop Top 40 was this acoustic ballad about going back to an ex's place to collect one's things and wondering where things all went wrong in the process. An understated number, which in its own way is more powerful than some of his showier hits.
38 - "Friends in Love," Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis
The legendary crooner Mathis teamed up with Warwick for his last pop hit to date, this ballad about a relationship losing its Platonicness. Both the song itself and the voices singing it raise it above that similarly-themed Gloria Loring-Carl Anderson duet from '86.
39 - "Murphy's Law," Cheri
The Montreal-based duo of American Rosalind Hunt and Canadian Lyn Cullerier peaked at this very spot with their only hit, a dance-pop ode to the adage that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. In this case, this befalls a guy who loses his house, his car, his girl, and his other girl. The most memorable parts of the song involve sped-up vocals, and they aren't really all that memorable.
July 24, 1982
32 - "If the Love Fits Wear It," Leslie Pearl
Pennsylvanian Pearl had most of her success in music writing both songs for other artists and commercial jingles. Her one hit as an aritst is this inoffensive, inconsequential bit of MOR. A prime example of "waiting-room pop."
35 - "I Found Somebody," Glenn Frey
The former Eagle's first solo hit was this R&Bish track about locating new love when it seemed unlikely. Just okay, but that's enough to make it more appealing to me than a lot of his other stuff.
36 - "Paperlate," Genesis
This band's sixth U.S. Top 40 was this rocker about...I'm really not sure. But it's catchy enough, and Earth, Wind and Fire's horn section add a kick to it. One of their better hits.
37 - "Nice Girls," Eye to Eye
This male/female, British/American duo had their only real hit with this slick bit of jazzy pop about a good girl who wants to go bad but just doesn't have it in her. Listening to it, it's no surprise that it was produced by Gary Katz, the man behind the boards behind all of Steely Dan's classics. A cool little discovery.
38 - "Love Plus One," Haircut One Hundred
The only American hit by these short-lived English New Wavers is this undeniably catchy pop song that makes fantastic uses of -phones bout saxo- and xylo-. Not sure what the lyrics mean, or why singer Nick Heyward is so scared of going down to the lake. Doesn't really matter, though. Just really good music.
39 - "Your Imagination," Daryl Hall and John Oates
The only single this duo released between 1981 and 1984 to miss the U.S. Top Ten was this rocker about a suspicious lover that's darker and more new wave-influenced than the stuff they were charting higher with. I don't really remember this, but I like it quite a bit. It hits similar sonic sweet spots to "Family Man."
In Part Two: 1983-1984.
You see, even as I've been going off the beaten track, those classic 70s and 80s AT40 shows are still playing, and many of them contain songs I haven't given my thoughts on here as of yet. And because I got to the 80s more recently, there are many more of those uncovered nuggets from those countdowns. I will get to the 70s stuff eventually, but for now, I'm presenting a three-part look back at the stuff I've missed in these last seven months, starting with hits from '80 to '82.
March 1, 1980
38 - "When a Man Loves a Woman," Bette Midler
The first single from the soundtrack to Midler's film debut The Rose was this cover of Percy Sledge's 1966 classic, taken from a scene of her character, Mary Rose Foster, perfoming in concert. Midler's full-throated performance makes it much more clear that the character is based on Janis Joplin than the film's bigger hit title track. Good stuff, and way better than Michael Bolton.
39 - "I Thank You," ZZ Top
The Texas trio's second Top 40 single was this bluesy cover of a 1968 Sam and Dave hit which shows gratiude to a lover who "kisses so good I had to holler for help." It certainly sounds more like the songs that made their name in the 70s then the slicker stuff that made them multiplatinum MTV icons later in this decade.
May 17, 1980
31 - "Let Me Be the Clock," Smokey Robinson
Smokey's followup to "Cruisin'" was this ballad on which he calls himself a "cuckoo," and expresses a desire to be "the pendulum that strikes your chimes." Odd metaphors aside, I'll take it every day of the week over any of his other 80s ballads.
34 - "Gee Whiz," Bernadette Peters
Born Bernadette Lazzara in Queens in 1948, Peters began acting at the age of nine, and by the mid-70s, her curly locks and girlish singing voice had made her a Broadway star. Then she went to Hollywood, where she found success in films like Silent Movie and The Jerk, and in 1980, she released a self-titled album that contained her only pop hit, this cover of a 1960 Top Ten by Memphis soul star Carla Thomas. She tries to tone down her natural showy coo to sound more Linda Ronstadtish, but it manages to squeak through. Still, I always liked her voice for what it is, and this is nice. But I'd probably choose her stagey stuff or her performances as Rita on Animaniacs over this.
35 - "Headed For a Fall," Firefall
The penultimate Top 40 for these Colorado soft rockers is a countryish warning to a party girl that "you can't lose your troubles in the bubbles of your wine." Probably the best of what I've heard from them.
36 - "Starting Over Again," Dolly Parton
Dolly's first hit of the decade was this song about a couple that divorces after a long marriage and the struggles of moving on "when your dreams are all shattered and the kids are all grown." A remarkably mature topic for the pop charts, and it was a shock to learn that it was co-written by none other than Donna Summer. A really good song.
38 - "I Don't Want to Walk Without You," Barry Manilow
Barry kept his hit train rolling with this suitably old-fashioned cover of a 1941 Jule Styne/Frank Loesser song of loneliness. I don't need to hear this again, no siree.
40 - "We Live for Love," Pat Benatar
The rock diva's second Top 40 is a peppy tune about growing passions. She sings in an airier, more ethereal voice than her usual rasp. A cool change of pace.
July 12, 1980
38 - "King of the Hill," Rick Pinette and Oak
This New Hampshire band's only hit was this piano ballad about a guy who likes to brag about his success as he stands "high on Ego Mountain." The guy doesn't get his comeuppance or anything, but still, you get the feeling the Oak boys have a negative outlook on him. Even though he and his band never got huge, apparently Pinette did overindulge in the sex-and-drugs lifestyle, which eventually let him to become a minister. He has a website on which he not only spreads the gospel, he also sells CDs with titles like "Jazz for Jesus" and "TV Theme Songs with a Christian Twist."
January 10, 1981
23 - "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime," The Korgis
This British band's only major hit is this ethereal ballad that reminds me quite a bit of 10cc. Simultaneously needful and uplifting. A forgotten gem.
32 - "I Believe in You," Don Williams
Texan Williams was a country mainstay from 1973 to 1992, a period during which he topped that chart 17 times. His only pop hit was this languid, drawling outlining of his philosophy, which is basically that the world may change, but love and the basics of life are still good and will get you through. Pleasant. That's my best description of it.
37 - "Cold Love," Donna Summer
After getting spacey with "The Wanderer," Summer came out with a straight-ahead rocker in the Pat Benatar vein. There's a little bit of a disco flavor to it, but not enough to be tarred with that brush. A solid tune, but it's not surprising that it wasn't that big a hit.
April 4, 1981
39 - "The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)," Journey
The only studio track from the band's live LP Captured is this mediocre pop-rocker about a breakup. This party couldn't end fast enough for me. But it was right after this that they put out the Escape album and became the true hit machine we all know today.
July 25, 1981
40 - "Give It to Me Baby," Rick James
James' second pop Top 40 was this funky plea for his significant other to provide him with "that sweet funky stuff." Three guesses as to what he was talking about. His usual, reliable libidousness.
August 1, 1981
16 - "Touch Me When We're Dancing," The Carpenters
Karen and Richard's final Top 40 was this romantic ballad about moving slowly in the arms of a lover. Not a great song, but Karen raises the material as usual. And it's nice that their last hit found her in a positive mood, given the way things sadly ended.
24 - "Don't Let Him Go," REO Speedwagon
The third hit from the band's breakthrough Hi Infidelity LP is an upbeat suggestion to a woman not to let a good man get away. I like the energy it has. A good changeup from the ballads they first struck gold with.
32 - "Double Dutch Bus," Frankie Smith
Philadelphia funkster Smith had his one major hit with this rap track that seems to only have a little bit to do with both skipping rope and public transportation. It does, however, feature Smith inserting the syllable "izz" into words, a practice that had a long underground history and was eventually brought to its greatest popularity by Snoop Dogg. Fizzunky stizzuff, tizzoo bizzee shizzure.
33 - "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," Jim Steinman
Okay, I've talked quite a bit on here about my love for Mr. Steinman's compositions and productions, and here we are with the only hit on which he is credited as an artist. This song was originally written for Meat Loaf's follow-up album to Bat Out of Hell, but when it came time to record the record, Meat had lost his voice, so Steinman decided to record it and the other songs he'd composed for that record for a solo album This predictably bombastic track about the power of music features lead vocals by Rory Dodd (the guy who would later sing "Turn around, bright eyes" on Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." It hits all my Steinman sweet spots. A dozen years later, Meat Loaf would finally get his turn at it on Bat Out of Hell II. And I have to say, he did it much better.
January 30, 1982
18 - "Come Go With Me," The Beach Boys
This cover of a 1957 Del-Vikings hit was originally recorded in 1978 at an Iowa university founded by onetime guru-to-the-rock-stars Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but wasn't released as a single until four years later. Not up to their standard, but nice enough. And better than a million "Kokomo"s.
April 17, 1982
35 - "Pop Goes the Movies," Meco
After cracking the charts with disco versions of themes from two Star Wars movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and even The Wizard of Oz, Domenico Monardo eked out one last Top 40 with this medley of film flavorites (misspelling intentional, as a tribute to Seymour Skinner). It begins with the iconic trademark tune of 20th Century Fox, then goes on to incorporate music from Gone With The Wind; The Magnificent Seven; Goldfinger; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; and The Apartment. It just strings them all together, Hooked on Classics-style. Not as interesting as his earlier interpretations. Uninspired.
37 - "Take Off," Bob and Doug McKenzie
And here it is, the point at which my fascination with the Top 40 and my love of SCTV finally truly intersect. Here's the story: after two seasons on Canada's Global Television, SCTV moved to the state-owned CBC, and that network mandated that the show include at least two minutes of "specific Canadian content." This baffled the show's staff, but eventually, they responded by creating a two-minute, tongue-in-cheek weekly segment called "The Great White North" which featured cast members Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as the McKenzie brothers, two toque-clad Canuck stereotypes who sat in front of a map of Canada while drinking beer, cooking back bacon, and having discussions (frequently punctuated by the interjection "eh?") about such topics as doughnuts, snow chains on tires, and how there were too many teams in the NHL these days. Surprisingly, the characters became the breakout stars of the show; first at home, and then in the U.S. after the show was picked up for late-night airing by NBC. This led to Moranis and Thomas being signed to do a McKenzie Brothers comedy album. It mainly featured sketches, but Moranis, a former radio DJ, suggested that they could get more sales and airplay if the record included a song that could be a "hit single." So with the help of songwriters, and the enlistment of Moranis' former elementary schoolmate Geddy Lee of Rush, they created this pop-rock number. Basically, it consists of the brothers' "Coo-loo-coo-coo!" theme, the two of them aruguing about which one of them came up with the idea for the song, and Lee's choruses. Silly fun that cracked the Top 20 in America and helped the album go gold. Eventually, Moranis and Thomas left the show to film a McKenzie movie, the cult hit Strange Brew, and then went on to other, non-hoser-related projects. Beauty, eh?
June 12, 1982
24 - "Without You," Franke and the Knockouts
The third and final hit by these New Jersey footnotes was this unremarkable power ballad. Obscurity followed, though singer Franke Previte would later write the Dirty Dancing hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life. Good for him. Bad for me.
26 - "When It's Over," Loverboy
The second hit from these Canadians biggest album, Get Lucky, was this state-of-the-art hard rocker about waiting for a girl to finally get dumped by the loser she's with so one can catch her on the rebound. I think that's it. About mid-pack in the ranking of their hits.
30 - "When He Shines," Sheena Easton
The Scottish popstress had her third American hit with this ballad about the guy she's mad for, who is, among other contradictions, "sometimes a tramp, sometimes a dude." And for some reason, the way she sings the word "dude" tickles me. The rest of the song isn't much.
32 - "Fantasy," Aldo Nova
This Montrealer, born Aldo Caporuscio, went double-platinum in America with his debut album. Much of that success was presumably powered by this hit, a fun hard rock tune that contains references to prostitution ("give you love if the price is right") and cocaine ("powder pleasure in your nose tonight," punctuated by an exaggerated sniff in case the message was lost on anyone). 80s air-guitar heaven.
35 - "I Don't Know Where to Start," Eddie Rabbitt
Rabbitt's last solo pop Top 40 was this acoustic ballad about going back to an ex's place to collect one's things and wondering where things all went wrong in the process. An understated number, which in its own way is more powerful than some of his showier hits.
38 - "Friends in Love," Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis
The legendary crooner Mathis teamed up with Warwick for his last pop hit to date, this ballad about a relationship losing its Platonicness. Both the song itself and the voices singing it raise it above that similarly-themed Gloria Loring-Carl Anderson duet from '86.
39 - "Murphy's Law," Cheri
The Montreal-based duo of American Rosalind Hunt and Canadian Lyn Cullerier peaked at this very spot with their only hit, a dance-pop ode to the adage that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. In this case, this befalls a guy who loses his house, his car, his girl, and his other girl. The most memorable parts of the song involve sped-up vocals, and they aren't really all that memorable.
July 24, 1982
32 - "If the Love Fits Wear It," Leslie Pearl
Pennsylvanian Pearl had most of her success in music writing both songs for other artists and commercial jingles. Her one hit as an aritst is this inoffensive, inconsequential bit of MOR. A prime example of "waiting-room pop."
35 - "I Found Somebody," Glenn Frey
The former Eagle's first solo hit was this R&Bish track about locating new love when it seemed unlikely. Just okay, but that's enough to make it more appealing to me than a lot of his other stuff.
36 - "Paperlate," Genesis
This band's sixth U.S. Top 40 was this rocker about...I'm really not sure. But it's catchy enough, and Earth, Wind and Fire's horn section add a kick to it. One of their better hits.
37 - "Nice Girls," Eye to Eye
This male/female, British/American duo had their only real hit with this slick bit of jazzy pop about a good girl who wants to go bad but just doesn't have it in her. Listening to it, it's no surprise that it was produced by Gary Katz, the man behind the boards behind all of Steely Dan's classics. A cool little discovery.
38 - "Love Plus One," Haircut One Hundred
The only American hit by these short-lived English New Wavers is this undeniably catchy pop song that makes fantastic uses of -phones bout saxo- and xylo-. Not sure what the lyrics mean, or why singer Nick Heyward is so scared of going down to the lake. Doesn't really matter, though. Just really good music.
39 - "Your Imagination," Daryl Hall and John Oates
The only single this duo released between 1981 and 1984 to miss the U.S. Top Ten was this rocker about a suspicious lover that's darker and more new wave-influenced than the stuff they were charting higher with. I don't really remember this, but I like it quite a bit. It hits similar sonic sweet spots to "Family Man."
In Part Two: 1983-1984.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
July 6, 1963 Part Two
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.
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.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
July 6, 1963 Part One
Early July, 1963. The United States Postal Sevice introduces zip codes, the Catholic Church starts allowing cremations, and my Dad turned 17. And on the radio...
40 - "Your Old Standby," Mary Wells
The Motown songstress' sixth Top 40 got no higher than this. Co-written by Smokey Robinson, it's a cool ballad about not wanting to settle for being the person one's beloved turns to after breakups with others. Should have been a bigger hit. But her ultimate reward, a #1 in the form of "My Guy," was just a year away.
39 - "The Good Life," Tony Bennett
Born Anthony Benedetto in 1926, Bennett got his big break in 1949 when Bob Hope saw him open for singer Pearl Bailey and was impressed enough to take the young man on the road with him. This led to a record deal, and Bennett would score 20 Top 40 hits and three #1s between 1951 and 1954. His career cooled a bit after the emergence of rock and roll, but among the thirteen Top 40s he scored between '55 and '65 were his signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," and this ballad about how having success and its trappings can't really mask a broken heart. I think that's it. Anyway, the voice is golden, and both as a singer and as a person, it seems like he deserved the return to the spotlight that began in the 90s and reached a crescendo when he finally topped the album charts for the first time two years ago with Duets II. I don't think there's another singer that's been born whom I'd prefer to welcome me upon my arrival in Capital City.
38 - "Hopeless," Andy Williams
Iowa-born Williams old-school pop crooning powered 27 Top 40 hits between 1956 and 1972, his only #1 being 1957's "Butterfly. This country-tinged loneliness lament is smoothly delivered, but I imagine it would sound better in the hands of someone with a little more character to their voice. Oh, and even though "Moon River" is the song he's best known for, he never released it as a single. Just one of those weird things.
37 - "Without Love (There is Nothing)," Ray Charles
Brother Ray with a slow, orchestrated blues about how you can have success and material riches, but they are meaningless if they cost you someone special. Primo cry-in-your-beer stuff.
36 - "Surfin' U.S.A.," The Beach Boys
The Hawthorne, California combo made up of the three Wilson brothers, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine, scored their second Top 40 and first Top Ten with this ode to waxing up longboards and riding waves near various beaches in California, Hawaii, and even Australia. They borrowed the tune to Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen," but they always credited him, unlike some people. Another oldies staple that hasn't lost its lustre.
35 - "No One," Ray Charles
More Ray, this time in a happier mood, even though the wonderful person he's singing the praises of apparently ended up breaking his heart. For some reason, I think the ideal medium on which to hear this and a lot of his songs of this era is a good old-fashioned jukebox in a slightly seedy bar.
34 - "If My Pillow Could Talk," Connie Francis
Connie keeps up her perfect record of appearances on our 60s lists. The hits were starting to run out, but this R&B-flavored number about crying over lost love is my favorite of the ones we've covered here. Her versatility is quite impressive.
33 - "I Wish I Were a Princess," Little Peggy March
The Philadelphia area was still producing pop stars at this time, and the latest of which was a girl born Margaret Battavio who was just 15 and stood a mere four-foot-nine when she went to #1 in April of this year with "I Will Follow Him." Her follow-up was this song in which she declares that if she acquired her desired position, she would "pass the greatest law in history." Well, one thing's for sure, she's not talking about DOMA. She would only have one more Top 40 in America, but between 1965 and 1980 she'd have 23 of them...in Germany.
32 - "Detroit City," Bobby Bare
The pride of Ironton, Ohio, Bare's first hit was the 1958 #2 "The All American Boy," but due to a mix-up, it was credited to Bill Parsons. Five years later, here he is with the second pop Top 40 (and first counrty Top Ten) he was actually credited for. Co-written by Mel Tillis, who'd go on to have a successful singing career in his own right, it's about a Southern boy who finds life in Motown not as fulfilling as he'd hoped. "By day I make the cars, by night I make the bars," he sings. Solid C&W. And coolest of all, he'd later record some songs by Shel Silverstien, my favorite of these being "The Winner."
31 - "Shut Down," The Beach Boys
The flip side of "Surfin' U.S.A." sees the boys singing about one of their other stock subjects: cars. In this case, their Corvette Stingray, which defeats a rival's Dodge Dart in a drag race. The sax solo on this sounds out of place, but in a good way. Tach it up.
30 - "I Love You Because," Al Martino
Before getting slapped by Brando, the man born Jasper Cini in Philly made his breakthrough in 1952 with the #1 "Here in My Heart." But he'd been out of the Top 40 for ten years before returning with a cover of a 1949 country hit by "Blind Balladeer" Leon Payne. Martino squarely croons this number that pays tribute to a steadfast lover, whom he loves most of all "because you're you." Aw. Professionally performed, but nothing exciting to these ears.
29 - "Come and Get These Memories," Martha and the Vandellas
The Motown trio of Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard had their first Top 40 hit with this Holland-Dozier-Holland number about returning an ex's gifts, which in this case include valentines, a teddy bear, a record of "their song" and a ring. Solid soul, and a good table setter for the smashes to come.
28 - "Just One Look," Doris Troy
Bronx native Troy had just one hit, but it was a pretty good one. Gritty-but-sweet soul about love at first sight. Undeniable. A nust for any sixties dance party. Or for young boys ogling a Pepsi can held by Cindy Crawford.
27 - "First Quarrel," Paul and Paula
Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson were both attending the same college in Texas when they formed a singing duo. In 1962, a local DJ invited them to sing some of their songs in his studio for a cancer benefit. One of those songs, a number in which they played the characters of young lovers "Paul" and "Paula," eventually attacted record label attention and became a million-selling #1. They'd have a few more hits before going their separate ways in 1965, including this one about, well, I think the title gives it away. An insignificant song about an insignificant tiff. But they did start a trend of record companies signing male-female duos, so without them, we may not have had Sonny and Cher.
26 - "18 Yellow Roses," Bobby Darin
The versatile singer scored his eighth Top Ten with this latin-flavored country tune about a man who finds that the titular flowes have been delivered to the special lady he lives with, with a note that says they're from someone who loves her "though you belong to another." The guy is surprised, but eventually decides there's only one thing left to do...meet this boy and find out what his intentions are towards his daughter. Quite a twist, huh? Strange, but certainly not "Butterfly Kisses"-creepy. And Darin apparently went out of his way to make everything about this record sound like Marty Robbins, and fortunately, Robbins was flattered.
25 - "String Along," Ricky Nelson
The TV heartthrob continues his run of hits with this chugging pop-rocker that has a similar theme to "Your Old Standby." Like the guitar solo. This guy was legit.
24 - "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash
The one and only Man in Black had been scoring country smashes since 1955, and once in a while he'd cross over to the pop list with songs like this, this mariachi-flavored comparison of unrequited romance and the torture it can cause. It was co-written by June Carter, who was reportedly inspired by the feelngs she had for her then-married future husband. Apparently, Cash's then-wife claims that this isn't true. She says an intoxicated Johnny wrote the song himself, using "ring of fire" as a euphemism for "vagina." He later gave June a co-writing credit because Carter wasn't doing well financially, according to the first Mrs. Cash. Who knows what's true? But in the end, the song exists, it's fantastic, and that's all that matters.
23 - "Falling," Roy Orbison
Roy again, this time with a gorgeously seductive seduction tango. Not as famous as the single that immediately preceded it (the mighty "In Dreams"), but still, another golden nugget from one of pop's Midases.
22 - "Birdland," Chubby Checker
Another Philadelphia product, the man born Ernest Evans became a huge star in the early 60s with a number of songs about dances, from The Fly to The Pony to the "Limbo Rock," and of course, "The Twist." I'm not sure what's involved in doing the "Birdland," but apparently a lot of people like it, and there's a girl named Susie who's really good at it. Okay, but his other songs are more famous for a reason.
21 - "Harry the Hairy Ape," Ray Stevens
The third hit for the noveltymeister born Harold Ragsdale is about an escaped zoo animal who is discovered by a DJ and becomes a rock star. Decent silliness, powered by Stevens' cartoonish voice and motormouthed delivery. He had his moments. Emphasis on "had."
In Part Two: lost food, marsupial restraint, and a visitor from the East.
40 - "Your Old Standby," Mary Wells
The Motown songstress' sixth Top 40 got no higher than this. Co-written by Smokey Robinson, it's a cool ballad about not wanting to settle for being the person one's beloved turns to after breakups with others. Should have been a bigger hit. But her ultimate reward, a #1 in the form of "My Guy," was just a year away.
39 - "The Good Life," Tony Bennett
Born Anthony Benedetto in 1926, Bennett got his big break in 1949 when Bob Hope saw him open for singer Pearl Bailey and was impressed enough to take the young man on the road with him. This led to a record deal, and Bennett would score 20 Top 40 hits and three #1s between 1951 and 1954. His career cooled a bit after the emergence of rock and roll, but among the thirteen Top 40s he scored between '55 and '65 were his signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," and this ballad about how having success and its trappings can't really mask a broken heart. I think that's it. Anyway, the voice is golden, and both as a singer and as a person, it seems like he deserved the return to the spotlight that began in the 90s and reached a crescendo when he finally topped the album charts for the first time two years ago with Duets II. I don't think there's another singer that's been born whom I'd prefer to welcome me upon my arrival in Capital City.
38 - "Hopeless," Andy Williams
Iowa-born Williams old-school pop crooning powered 27 Top 40 hits between 1956 and 1972, his only #1 being 1957's "Butterfly. This country-tinged loneliness lament is smoothly delivered, but I imagine it would sound better in the hands of someone with a little more character to their voice. Oh, and even though "Moon River" is the song he's best known for, he never released it as a single. Just one of those weird things.
37 - "Without Love (There is Nothing)," Ray Charles
Brother Ray with a slow, orchestrated blues about how you can have success and material riches, but they are meaningless if they cost you someone special. Primo cry-in-your-beer stuff.
36 - "Surfin' U.S.A.," The Beach Boys
The Hawthorne, California combo made up of the three Wilson brothers, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine, scored their second Top 40 and first Top Ten with this ode to waxing up longboards and riding waves near various beaches in California, Hawaii, and even Australia. They borrowed the tune to Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen," but they always credited him, unlike some people. Another oldies staple that hasn't lost its lustre.
35 - "No One," Ray Charles
More Ray, this time in a happier mood, even though the wonderful person he's singing the praises of apparently ended up breaking his heart. For some reason, I think the ideal medium on which to hear this and a lot of his songs of this era is a good old-fashioned jukebox in a slightly seedy bar.
34 - "If My Pillow Could Talk," Connie Francis
Connie keeps up her perfect record of appearances on our 60s lists. The hits were starting to run out, but this R&B-flavored number about crying over lost love is my favorite of the ones we've covered here. Her versatility is quite impressive.
33 - "I Wish I Were a Princess," Little Peggy March
The Philadelphia area was still producing pop stars at this time, and the latest of which was a girl born Margaret Battavio who was just 15 and stood a mere four-foot-nine when she went to #1 in April of this year with "I Will Follow Him." Her follow-up was this song in which she declares that if she acquired her desired position, she would "pass the greatest law in history." Well, one thing's for sure, she's not talking about DOMA. She would only have one more Top 40 in America, but between 1965 and 1980 she'd have 23 of them...in Germany.
32 - "Detroit City," Bobby Bare
The pride of Ironton, Ohio, Bare's first hit was the 1958 #2 "The All American Boy," but due to a mix-up, it was credited to Bill Parsons. Five years later, here he is with the second pop Top 40 (and first counrty Top Ten) he was actually credited for. Co-written by Mel Tillis, who'd go on to have a successful singing career in his own right, it's about a Southern boy who finds life in Motown not as fulfilling as he'd hoped. "By day I make the cars, by night I make the bars," he sings. Solid C&W. And coolest of all, he'd later record some songs by Shel Silverstien, my favorite of these being "The Winner."
31 - "Shut Down," The Beach Boys
The flip side of "Surfin' U.S.A." sees the boys singing about one of their other stock subjects: cars. In this case, their Corvette Stingray, which defeats a rival's Dodge Dart in a drag race. The sax solo on this sounds out of place, but in a good way. Tach it up.
30 - "I Love You Because," Al Martino
Before getting slapped by Brando, the man born Jasper Cini in Philly made his breakthrough in 1952 with the #1 "Here in My Heart." But he'd been out of the Top 40 for ten years before returning with a cover of a 1949 country hit by "Blind Balladeer" Leon Payne. Martino squarely croons this number that pays tribute to a steadfast lover, whom he loves most of all "because you're you." Aw. Professionally performed, but nothing exciting to these ears.
29 - "Come and Get These Memories," Martha and the Vandellas
The Motown trio of Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard had their first Top 40 hit with this Holland-Dozier-Holland number about returning an ex's gifts, which in this case include valentines, a teddy bear, a record of "their song" and a ring. Solid soul, and a good table setter for the smashes to come.
28 - "Just One Look," Doris Troy
Bronx native Troy had just one hit, but it was a pretty good one. Gritty-but-sweet soul about love at first sight. Undeniable. A nust for any sixties dance party. Or for young boys ogling a Pepsi can held by Cindy Crawford.
27 - "First Quarrel," Paul and Paula
Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson were both attending the same college in Texas when they formed a singing duo. In 1962, a local DJ invited them to sing some of their songs in his studio for a cancer benefit. One of those songs, a number in which they played the characters of young lovers "Paul" and "Paula," eventually attacted record label attention and became a million-selling #1. They'd have a few more hits before going their separate ways in 1965, including this one about, well, I think the title gives it away. An insignificant song about an insignificant tiff. But they did start a trend of record companies signing male-female duos, so without them, we may not have had Sonny and Cher.
26 - "18 Yellow Roses," Bobby Darin
The versatile singer scored his eighth Top Ten with this latin-flavored country tune about a man who finds that the titular flowes have been delivered to the special lady he lives with, with a note that says they're from someone who loves her "though you belong to another." The guy is surprised, but eventually decides there's only one thing left to do...meet this boy and find out what his intentions are towards his daughter. Quite a twist, huh? Strange, but certainly not "Butterfly Kisses"-creepy. And Darin apparently went out of his way to make everything about this record sound like Marty Robbins, and fortunately, Robbins was flattered.
25 - "String Along," Ricky Nelson
The TV heartthrob continues his run of hits with this chugging pop-rocker that has a similar theme to "Your Old Standby." Like the guitar solo. This guy was legit.
24 - "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash
The one and only Man in Black had been scoring country smashes since 1955, and once in a while he'd cross over to the pop list with songs like this, this mariachi-flavored comparison of unrequited romance and the torture it can cause. It was co-written by June Carter, who was reportedly inspired by the feelngs she had for her then-married future husband. Apparently, Cash's then-wife claims that this isn't true. She says an intoxicated Johnny wrote the song himself, using "ring of fire" as a euphemism for "vagina." He later gave June a co-writing credit because Carter wasn't doing well financially, according to the first Mrs. Cash. Who knows what's true? But in the end, the song exists, it's fantastic, and that's all that matters.
23 - "Falling," Roy Orbison
Roy again, this time with a gorgeously seductive seduction tango. Not as famous as the single that immediately preceded it (the mighty "In Dreams"), but still, another golden nugget from one of pop's Midases.
22 - "Birdland," Chubby Checker
Another Philadelphia product, the man born Ernest Evans became a huge star in the early 60s with a number of songs about dances, from The Fly to The Pony to the "Limbo Rock," and of course, "The Twist." I'm not sure what's involved in doing the "Birdland," but apparently a lot of people like it, and there's a girl named Susie who's really good at it. Okay, but his other songs are more famous for a reason.
21 - "Harry the Hairy Ape," Ray Stevens
The third hit for the noveltymeister born Harold Ragsdale is about an escaped zoo animal who is discovered by a DJ and becomes a rock star. Decent silliness, powered by Stevens' cartoonish voice and motormouthed delivery. He had his moments. Emphasis on "had."
In Part Two: lost food, marsupial restraint, and a visitor from the East.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
June 23, 1962 Part Two
Putting a cap on 1962.
20 - "Wolverton Mountain," Claude King
Louisianan King had 20 Top 40 country hits, and his only #1 on that chart was also his one major pop hit. It's the tale of a man who is determined to marry a woman whose (lips are sweeter than honey) who lives on a mountain with her father. Unfortunately, that father, a man named Clifton Clowers, is "handy with a gun and a knife," and he knows when a stranger is approaching his property because "the bears and the birds" tell him. In spite of this, the song's narrator is determined to climb that mountain and risk his life for love. Interestingly enough, there was a real Clifton Clowers who lived on a mountain in Arkansas, and his nephew co-wrote this song with King to immortalize him. I'm not sure if he had a daughter, or how he parented her if he did. But I do know that Claude King just passed away in March at the age of 90. R.I.P., you romantic mountaineer you.
19 - "Don't Play That Song (You Lied) Ben E. King
The ex-Drifter picked up another of his early-60s hits with this soulful plea for someone to stop playing the tune that reminds him of an ex-lovers deception. The arrangement is somewhat similar to "Stand By Me," but that doesn't detract from it. Aretha Franklin did a cover of this that we encountered in 1970. I'm not going to choose between the two versions.
18 - "Sharing You," Bobby Vee
Born Robert Velline in Fargo, North Dakota, Vee was only 15 when he and a band he quickly cobbled together were asked to fill in for Buddy Holly at the show in Minnesota that he, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were flying to when their plane crashed. After getting a good reception at that show, Vee got a record deal, and soon afterward began a run of hits that peaked with the 1961 #1 "Take Good Care of My Baby." On this song, Vee gives a typically teen idolly performance on a song about how he's with a girl he knows is two-timing him, but he just can't let her go. It's okay, but there are other songs of his that I know that are better. "Rubber Ball," for instance.
17 - "A Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine," Paul Anka
The Anka-Man was nearing the end of his first run of hits when he charted with this song about that time-honored method of getting over heartbreak: drinking alcohol and listening to sad music. This was better than I expected. The arrangement was pretty peppy, but I still felt the pain. Good stuff.
16 - "Roses are Red (My Love)," Bobby Vinton
The son of a Pittsburgh bandleader, Vinton signed a record deal in 1960 after completing a stint in the army. But his early records didn't sell, and the label was close to dropping him when he recorded a song he found on the company's reject pile about a guy's unsuccessful attempts to win a girl with a version of a cliched poem that apparently dates back to the 16th Century. He took the promotion of the single into his own hands by arranging for the record to be delivered, along with a dozen roses, to hundreds of radio disc jockeys. The result was a song that topped the charts for four weeks and launched The Polish Prince's career. It's not the greatest song, but Bobby sells it, particularly the melancholy on the last verse when he meets his old loves young daughter and tells her mother that boys will be writing love poems in her yearbook someday. Sentimental, but just shy of sappy.
15 - "Follow That Dream," Elvis Presley
And here we start getting into the heart of Elvis' Hollywood period, when he was starring in two to three movies a year and most of his recordings were soundtracks to those films. This fun, short rockabilly shuffle about positivity came from a movie where Elvis fights for his family's right to squat on a piece of land near a highway. Yeah, doesn't sound great to me either. Haven't seen it, don't plan to. But the song's all right.
14 - "Lovers Who Wander," Dion
Bronx native Dion DiMucci first found stardom in the 50s with the doo-wop group The Belmonts, then had even more success after going solo in 1961. He'd go to #1 with "Runaround Sue," and picked up seven more Top Tens, including this song that sounds a lot like that record. Lyrically, this is more along the lines of "Heartbreak Hotel," except the place Dion ends up seems a lot happier. Okay, but you're better off just listening to "Runaround Sue."
13 - "The One Who Really Loves You," Mary Wells
In June of 1961, Wells became the first female solo singer on Motown Records to hit the Pop Top 40 with a song called "I Don't Want to Take a Chance." A year later, she scored her first Top Ten with this single, a calypso-flavored warning to a man not to pay attention to other girls (whom she mentions by name as Susie, Jenny, Millie, and "Silly Lilly"), who are "filling (his) head with jive," and focus all his attention on her, the one who truly cares for him. Honestly, I don't really know any other of Wells' hits besides "My Guy," but this makes me feel like her other songs would be well worth investigating.
12 - "Al Di La," Emilio Pericoli
Italian singer Pericoli had his only American hit with this romantic ballad in his native language, whose title translates to "Beyond." It became popular in America after Pericoli performed it in a movie called Rome Adventure. Nothing special to these ears, but the guy seems like a good singer.
11 - "Snap Your Fingers," Joe Henderson
Henderson, from Gary, Indiana (a town that would become famous in the music world a few years later for a certain family act), had mainly recorded gospel music before hitting the pop Top Ten with this slow groover on which he pledges that he will be there for the woman he loves whenever she gives him the slightest indication that he's welcome. Henderson's voice is deep, cool and smooth, and the jazzy arrangement is a winner. Sadly, he'd only have a couple more minor hits before dying of a heart attack at the very young age of 27. I could have used a few more decades of that voice.
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's the Top Ten.
10 - " Second Hand Love," Connie Francis
Connie's penultimate pop Top Ten was this country ballad about how she's not the preferred choice of her beloved. More crying material, heartbrokenly delivered. At least she got happier on her final Top Ten, "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N."
9 - "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)," The Everly Brothers
Phil and Don's final Top Ten about romancing a girl in a more traditional way "in a modern changing world." This inclueds holding hands at the movies, carving initials in a tree, and sipping ice cream sodas while listening to the jukebox. Old-fashioned, yes, but the usual snappy harmonies and catchy melody from the boys. Dig it.
8 - "Cindy's Birthday," Johnny Crawford
L.A. kid Crawford's showbiz career began in 1955, at the age of 9, when he was the one of the original Mouseketeers on TV's Mickey Mouse Club. Three years later, after being downsized, he moved into the role of Chuck Connors' son on the Western series The Rifleman. Late in that show's run, he began a recording career that spawned four hits, the biggest of which being the first, this teenybopper story about how he has no time for TV, dancing, or even school, because he's busy writing a song for this Cindy on her special day. If you want to imagine what a Justin Bieber song would sound like if he were around 50 years ago, take a listen to this.
7 - "Playboy," The Marvelettes
Six months after giving Motown its first pop #1 with "Please Mr. Postman," these ladies had their second Top Ten with this number about "Runaround Sue"'s male equivalent. There's a cool rasp to singer Gladys Horton's voice on this. A forgotten Motown gem.
6 - "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney
Connecticut native Pitney scored his first Top Ten with this tale of a timid, bookish sort who bests a notorious outlaw in a gunfight. It was inspired by, but not used in, a hit Western that starred John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Lee Marvin. Pitney uses his voice to convey the drama expertly, and I like the violin parts that I can only describe as "Country and Middle Eastern." A clear classic.
5 - "Stranger On the Shore," Mr. Acker Bilk
Born in 1929 with the given name Bernard, Bilk had worked in a cigarette factory, served with the British military in the Middle East, and became a blacksmith before he began to start having success playing the clarinet. In 1961, he wrote and recorded an instrumental called "Jenny," named after his newborn daughter, but after it was retitled and used as the theme for a BBC TV show, it became a massive U.K. hit, and eventually crossed the Atlantic to become the first U.S. charttopper by a British artist in ten years. It's a sleepy tune, evocative of lazy summer nights. I'm sure you've all heard it somewhere sometime. It just...exists. And as you may know, it would take much less than ten years for Britain to have their next American #1.
4 - "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'," Johnny Tillotson
Tillotson, a Floridian who had broken through the previous year with the #2 hit "Poetry in Motion," turned the rare trick of cracking the Top Ten on the pop, country and R&B charts with the same record, this self-penned account of heartbreak. A good weepie, but one that would probably be more effective in the hands of a better singer.
3 - "Palisades Park," Freddy Cannon
Frederick Picarello, Jr. of Lynn, Massachussetts, made his first minor impression on the charts at age 17 when he played guitar on the 1956 #24 pop hit "Ka-Ding-Dong" by The G-Clefs. Three years later, he scored two Top Tens of his own with "Tallahassie Lassie" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." He releases several singles after that, but he wouldn't return to the Top Ten for another three years, when he hit it big again with this song whose sound and lyrics are evocative of an old-school amusement park, what with references to Ferris wheels and Tunnels of Love, as well as a rollercoaster sound effect and an organ riff that brings to mind a stroll through the midway. A cool little oldie, written by none other than game show mastermind/alleged CIA assassin Chuck Barris. I would never dream of gonging this.
2 - "The Stripper," David Rose and His Orchestra
London-born, Chicago-raised composer and bandleader Rose wrote music for radio and television for many years, and had brief marriages to actresses Martha Raye and Judy Garland. But he's probably best known for this instrumental that has accompanied many a bump-and-grind routine since an MGM Records office boy found it among a bunch of unreleased Rose tapes and decided to use it as the B-side for a son called "Ebb Tide." As sometimes happens, the B-side became the hit, and it went to #1. It's a sultry, almost seedy jazz number, and one could certainly picture imagining women removing clothing to its strains even without knowing the title. It's become ingrained in pop culture, but still, the fact that a song with that title was so big back then amazes me, which is why I'm giving it this week's Uneasy Rider.
And the toppermost of the poppermost 51 years ago was...
1 - "I Can't Stop Loving You," Ray Charles
The late legend had his final pop Number One with this cover of a 1958 Don Gibson hit, taken from Ray's smash LP Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. His amazing, heartbreaking performance bridged the gap between C&W and R&B, and considering the tone of the times, this made a statement, intentional or not. The blues are universal, and great music is great music.
Three down, seven to go. See you next time in 1963.
20 - "Wolverton Mountain," Claude King
Louisianan King had 20 Top 40 country hits, and his only #1 on that chart was also his one major pop hit. It's the tale of a man who is determined to marry a woman whose (lips are sweeter than honey) who lives on a mountain with her father. Unfortunately, that father, a man named Clifton Clowers, is "handy with a gun and a knife," and he knows when a stranger is approaching his property because "the bears and the birds" tell him. In spite of this, the song's narrator is determined to climb that mountain and risk his life for love. Interestingly enough, there was a real Clifton Clowers who lived on a mountain in Arkansas, and his nephew co-wrote this song with King to immortalize him. I'm not sure if he had a daughter, or how he parented her if he did. But I do know that Claude King just passed away in March at the age of 90. R.I.P., you romantic mountaineer you.
19 - "Don't Play That Song (You Lied) Ben E. King
The ex-Drifter picked up another of his early-60s hits with this soulful plea for someone to stop playing the tune that reminds him of an ex-lovers deception. The arrangement is somewhat similar to "Stand By Me," but that doesn't detract from it. Aretha Franklin did a cover of this that we encountered in 1970. I'm not going to choose between the two versions.
18 - "Sharing You," Bobby Vee
Born Robert Velline in Fargo, North Dakota, Vee was only 15 when he and a band he quickly cobbled together were asked to fill in for Buddy Holly at the show in Minnesota that he, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were flying to when their plane crashed. After getting a good reception at that show, Vee got a record deal, and soon afterward began a run of hits that peaked with the 1961 #1 "Take Good Care of My Baby." On this song, Vee gives a typically teen idolly performance on a song about how he's with a girl he knows is two-timing him, but he just can't let her go. It's okay, but there are other songs of his that I know that are better. "Rubber Ball," for instance.
17 - "A Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine," Paul Anka
The Anka-Man was nearing the end of his first run of hits when he charted with this song about that time-honored method of getting over heartbreak: drinking alcohol and listening to sad music. This was better than I expected. The arrangement was pretty peppy, but I still felt the pain. Good stuff.
16 - "Roses are Red (My Love)," Bobby Vinton
The son of a Pittsburgh bandleader, Vinton signed a record deal in 1960 after completing a stint in the army. But his early records didn't sell, and the label was close to dropping him when he recorded a song he found on the company's reject pile about a guy's unsuccessful attempts to win a girl with a version of a cliched poem that apparently dates back to the 16th Century. He took the promotion of the single into his own hands by arranging for the record to be delivered, along with a dozen roses, to hundreds of radio disc jockeys. The result was a song that topped the charts for four weeks and launched The Polish Prince's career. It's not the greatest song, but Bobby sells it, particularly the melancholy on the last verse when he meets his old loves young daughter and tells her mother that boys will be writing love poems in her yearbook someday. Sentimental, but just shy of sappy.
15 - "Follow That Dream," Elvis Presley
And here we start getting into the heart of Elvis' Hollywood period, when he was starring in two to three movies a year and most of his recordings were soundtracks to those films. This fun, short rockabilly shuffle about positivity came from a movie where Elvis fights for his family's right to squat on a piece of land near a highway. Yeah, doesn't sound great to me either. Haven't seen it, don't plan to. But the song's all right.
14 - "Lovers Who Wander," Dion
Bronx native Dion DiMucci first found stardom in the 50s with the doo-wop group The Belmonts, then had even more success after going solo in 1961. He'd go to #1 with "Runaround Sue," and picked up seven more Top Tens, including this song that sounds a lot like that record. Lyrically, this is more along the lines of "Heartbreak Hotel," except the place Dion ends up seems a lot happier. Okay, but you're better off just listening to "Runaround Sue."
13 - "The One Who Really Loves You," Mary Wells
In June of 1961, Wells became the first female solo singer on Motown Records to hit the Pop Top 40 with a song called "I Don't Want to Take a Chance." A year later, she scored her first Top Ten with this single, a calypso-flavored warning to a man not to pay attention to other girls (whom she mentions by name as Susie, Jenny, Millie, and "Silly Lilly"), who are "filling (his) head with jive," and focus all his attention on her, the one who truly cares for him. Honestly, I don't really know any other of Wells' hits besides "My Guy," but this makes me feel like her other songs would be well worth investigating.
12 - "Al Di La," Emilio Pericoli
Italian singer Pericoli had his only American hit with this romantic ballad in his native language, whose title translates to "Beyond." It became popular in America after Pericoli performed it in a movie called Rome Adventure. Nothing special to these ears, but the guy seems like a good singer.
11 - "Snap Your Fingers," Joe Henderson
Henderson, from Gary, Indiana (a town that would become famous in the music world a few years later for a certain family act), had mainly recorded gospel music before hitting the pop Top Ten with this slow groover on which he pledges that he will be there for the woman he loves whenever she gives him the slightest indication that he's welcome. Henderson's voice is deep, cool and smooth, and the jazzy arrangement is a winner. Sadly, he'd only have a couple more minor hits before dying of a heart attack at the very young age of 27. I could have used a few more decades of that voice.
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's the Top Ten.
10 - " Second Hand Love," Connie Francis
Connie's penultimate pop Top Ten was this country ballad about how she's not the preferred choice of her beloved. More crying material, heartbrokenly delivered. At least she got happier on her final Top Ten, "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N."
9 - "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)," The Everly Brothers
Phil and Don's final Top Ten about romancing a girl in a more traditional way "in a modern changing world." This inclueds holding hands at the movies, carving initials in a tree, and sipping ice cream sodas while listening to the jukebox. Old-fashioned, yes, but the usual snappy harmonies and catchy melody from the boys. Dig it.
8 - "Cindy's Birthday," Johnny Crawford
L.A. kid Crawford's showbiz career began in 1955, at the age of 9, when he was the one of the original Mouseketeers on TV's Mickey Mouse Club. Three years later, after being downsized, he moved into the role of Chuck Connors' son on the Western series The Rifleman. Late in that show's run, he began a recording career that spawned four hits, the biggest of which being the first, this teenybopper story about how he has no time for TV, dancing, or even school, because he's busy writing a song for this Cindy on her special day. If you want to imagine what a Justin Bieber song would sound like if he were around 50 years ago, take a listen to this.
7 - "Playboy," The Marvelettes
Six months after giving Motown its first pop #1 with "Please Mr. Postman," these ladies had their second Top Ten with this number about "Runaround Sue"'s male equivalent. There's a cool rasp to singer Gladys Horton's voice on this. A forgotten Motown gem.
6 - "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney
Connecticut native Pitney scored his first Top Ten with this tale of a timid, bookish sort who bests a notorious outlaw in a gunfight. It was inspired by, but not used in, a hit Western that starred John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Lee Marvin. Pitney uses his voice to convey the drama expertly, and I like the violin parts that I can only describe as "Country and Middle Eastern." A clear classic.
5 - "Stranger On the Shore," Mr. Acker Bilk
Born in 1929 with the given name Bernard, Bilk had worked in a cigarette factory, served with the British military in the Middle East, and became a blacksmith before he began to start having success playing the clarinet. In 1961, he wrote and recorded an instrumental called "Jenny," named after his newborn daughter, but after it was retitled and used as the theme for a BBC TV show, it became a massive U.K. hit, and eventually crossed the Atlantic to become the first U.S. charttopper by a British artist in ten years. It's a sleepy tune, evocative of lazy summer nights. I'm sure you've all heard it somewhere sometime. It just...exists. And as you may know, it would take much less than ten years for Britain to have their next American #1.
4 - "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'," Johnny Tillotson
Tillotson, a Floridian who had broken through the previous year with the #2 hit "Poetry in Motion," turned the rare trick of cracking the Top Ten on the pop, country and R&B charts with the same record, this self-penned account of heartbreak. A good weepie, but one that would probably be more effective in the hands of a better singer.
3 - "Palisades Park," Freddy Cannon
Frederick Picarello, Jr. of Lynn, Massachussetts, made his first minor impression on the charts at age 17 when he played guitar on the 1956 #24 pop hit "Ka-Ding-Dong" by The G-Clefs. Three years later, he scored two Top Tens of his own with "Tallahassie Lassie" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." He releases several singles after that, but he wouldn't return to the Top Ten for another three years, when he hit it big again with this song whose sound and lyrics are evocative of an old-school amusement park, what with references to Ferris wheels and Tunnels of Love, as well as a rollercoaster sound effect and an organ riff that brings to mind a stroll through the midway. A cool little oldie, written by none other than game show mastermind/alleged CIA assassin Chuck Barris. I would never dream of gonging this.
2 - "The Stripper," David Rose and His Orchestra
London-born, Chicago-raised composer and bandleader Rose wrote music for radio and television for many years, and had brief marriages to actresses Martha Raye and Judy Garland. But he's probably best known for this instrumental that has accompanied many a bump-and-grind routine since an MGM Records office boy found it among a bunch of unreleased Rose tapes and decided to use it as the B-side for a son called "Ebb Tide." As sometimes happens, the B-side became the hit, and it went to #1. It's a sultry, almost seedy jazz number, and one could certainly picture imagining women removing clothing to its strains even without knowing the title. It's become ingrained in pop culture, but still, the fact that a song with that title was so big back then amazes me, which is why I'm giving it this week's Uneasy Rider.
And the toppermost of the poppermost 51 years ago was...
1 - "I Can't Stop Loving You," Ray Charles
The late legend had his final pop Number One with this cover of a 1958 Don Gibson hit, taken from Ray's smash LP Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. His amazing, heartbreaking performance bridged the gap between C&W and R&B, and considering the tone of the times, this made a statement, intentional or not. The blues are universal, and great music is great music.
Three down, seven to go. See you next time in 1963.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
June 23, 1962 Part One
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
May 29, 1961 Part Two
Getting done with '61.
20 - "Barbara Ann," The Regents
The second half opens with yet more doo-wop, courtesy of four guys from the Bronx. This ode to a lady who causes "rockin' and a-reelin," was the biggest of their two hits. Of course, it became even bigger four years later when the Beach Boys took a cover to #2. And I have to say, the later version is the better one.
19 - "Girl of My Best Friend," Ral Donner
Chicagoan Donner (the "Ral" is short for Ralph) had a voice that sounded remarkably like Elvis', so it's perhaps fitting that his first hit was a cover of a track from Elvis' first post-Army LP. If you'd told me this was Elvis himself singing about longing for a buddy's girl, I'd have had no trouble believing it. It's even got Jordanaire-soundalike backup singers. When you listen real close, you can tell it's not The King, but I don't think many of the impersonators that have followed in Donner's wake have nailed the voice better.
18 - "Portrait of My Love," Steve Lawrence
Another hit from Mr. Lawrence, this one about a girl that no one would be able to paint a picture of. And he means that in a good way, because "Anyone who sees her soon forgets the Mona Lisa." Steve's sincere enough, but this still sounds like romantic cheese to me.
17 - "I've Told Every Little Star," Linda Scott
Scott, born in Queens and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, was just 16 when she scored her first and biggest hit, this version of a song written in 1932 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. It's sweet little teen pop about being able to tell anyone about being in love except the person you're actually in love with. If you like a lot of Lesley Gore's hits, you'll like this one too.
16 - "Hello Mary Lou," Ricky Nelson
The son of bandleader Ozzie Nelson and his group's vocalist, Harriet Hilliard Nelson, little Ricky's showbiz debut came at the age of nine, playing himself on his parents' radio sitcom. The show moved to TV in 1952, and in 1957, Ricky began singing on the show, and that became the basis of a successful recording career. The B-side of one of his biggest-selling singles was this chugging rockabilly number about a girl so attractive that he immediately falls in love, or as he puts it, "goodbye, heart." Given his background and his pretty-boy looks, it's easy to dismiss him, but the man clearly had talent and chops. But what of the A-side, you ask? Stay tuned.
15 - "Raindrops," Dee Clark
Arkansan Delectus Clark had his last and biggest pop hit with this ballad about how the water falling from his eyes must be from "a cloud in his head" because "a man ain't supposed to cry." A fantastically written and performed heartbreak song, with the ending howls and thunderclaps providing a stirring coda.
14 - "Moody River," Pat Boone
Ah, Pat Boone, the white-buck-shoe-wearing sanitizer-for-square-America's-protection of many early rock and R&B classics. His very name evokes images of bland conformity and strained repression. But on this, his last #1 hit, he gives a fine, passionate performance on this melodrama about a man who goes to meet his girlfriend under a tree by a river, only to find that she has left behind one of her gloves and a note that told him she'd drowned herself because of her guilt over cheating on him. This is high-quality teen-tragedy pop, and easily the man's best work. It's not nearly enough for me to forgive him being a homophobe and a birther, but it's a better song than I thought he was capable of.
13 - "Stand By Me," Ben E. King
The ex-Drifters soulful declaration of loyalty hit #4 this year, then returned to the Top Ten 25 years later after its use in Rob Reiner's movie about childhood, mortality, and mailbox baseball. I covered it during the 80s run, and there's no more to say except it's brilliant.
12 - "Hello Walls," Faron Young
Louisianan Young was a steady presence on country radio from 1952 to 1978, racking up dozens of Top 40 hits on that chart. But the only time he reached that level on the pop list was with this classic about a man so lonely after his lover leaves him that he starts talking not only to the walls of his home, but the window and the ceiling as well. Also notable is the fact that this was one of the first major successes for its songwriter, a young tunesmith named Willie Nelson, who I just learned turned 80 last month. Wow. It really is funny how time slips away.
11 - "Little Devil," Neil Sedaka
Neil's seventh Top 40 was this peppy pop song about his desire to capture a flirtatious, capricious young lady and "make an angel" of her. And no, I don't think that means he wants to kill her. I should hope not, at least.
Is this the Top Ten? Is this just fantasy?
10 - "Tragedy," The Fleetwoods
This vocal trio from Olympia, Washington were originally named Two Girls and a Guy, because that's what they were. The truth in advertising approach. Eventually they changed it, and shortly afterward, they scored two #1 smashes in 1959 with "Come Softly to Me" and "Mr. Blue." Their third and final Top Ten was this cover of a 1959 hit by Thomas Wayne and the DeLons. It's a wistful take on heartbreak, more resigned than sad. They did what they did well, but at least in this case, it's not for me.
9 - "I Feel So Bad," Elvis Presley
A year after his release from the Army, Elvis was still chugging along with hits like this cover of a 1954 Chuck Willis R&B hit that compares a down mood to "a ballgame on a rainy day." It has a very gritty and authentic bluesy feel. Another Willis hit "C.C. Rider," would later provide Presley with a signature show opener during the 70s.
8 - "A Hundred Pounds of Clay," Gene McDaniels
McDaniels, from Omaha, Nebraska, scored his first and biggest pop hit with this alternative version of how God created Eve: not from one of Adam's ribs, but from a much more earthy substance. Cool little bit of R&B/pop
7 - "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart," Connie Francis
Connie's run of big hits continued with this turn into country. Her natural predisposition for sad songs meant that this weepie fit her like a glove. Later, Debby Boone would score a minor country hit with a cover version. No, I'm not gonna bother tracking that down.
6 - "Runaway," Del Shannon
Michigander Shannon's first and biggest hit was this rock classic about the girl who left him. We all know it. Del's rasp and falsetto "why why why why"s on the chorus were enough to make him an instant legend. And that spacey sound between the two choruses was provided by something called a Musitron, an early version of the synthesizer. A true pop essential.
5 - "Mother-In-Law," Ernie K-Doe
New Orleans native Ernest Kador, Jr. had his only major pop hit with this #1 smash (written by legerndary jazz and blues composer Allen Toussaint) about "the worst person I know" who, inconveniently, is also the woman who gave birth to his wife. All the stereotypes are here: she's meddlesome, she's judgmental, and just all-around evil. Not having had a mother-in-law, I have no basis to go on, but I imagine Mr. K-Doe was being a tad harsh. Still, it's fun, danceable, and irresistable.
4 - "Mama Said," The Shirelles
One of the few 60s girl groups to be associated with neither Motown nor Phil Spector, these four ladies from Passaic, New Jersey scored their third Top Five with this bit of maternal advice that even if things aren't going well today, they will get better at some point. Simple pop-soul, and oh so nice.
3 - "Running Scared," Roy Orbison
Texan Orbison was led to Memphis and Sun Records after meeting Johnny Cash in 1955, and he was part of Elvis' social circle during Presley's rise to megastardom. But it wasn't until the sixties that he started to have major success, and his fourth Top 40 and first #1 came in the form of this operatic ballad about being afraid that if his current lover's old boyfriend returned and wanted to get back with her, she'd say yes. In the end, this does happen, but in a happy twist, the woman decides that she's happy with Roy, thank you very much. That voice is as distinct and gorgeous as always, and contributes greatly to the drama. One of the great singers in pop, period.
2 - "Daddy's Home," Shep and the Limelites
We've come across this song in both the 70s and 80s, in versions by Jermaine Jackson and Cliff Richard, and now we encounter the original, the only hit for these Queens doo-wop practitioners. And yes, of course, it's the best of all. By quite a bit. Rat-a-tat.
And 52 years ago, the big song in the U.S.of A. was...
1 - "Travelln' Man," Ricky Nelson
Ricky's second and final charttopper was this pop-rock ditty about a guy who gets around, both in the sense that he's "made a lot of stops all over the world" and the one where he's romanced "at least one lovely girl" everywhere he's been. The five he mentions here are a "pretty senorita" in Mexico, a "cute little Eskimo" in Alaska, a "sweet Fraulein" in Berlin, a "China doll" in Hong Kong, and a "pretty Polynesian baby" in Waikiki. One would assume there are many more, but then again, maybe not at that point. Ricky was only 21 at the time. Not exactly politically correct, but a sweet little performance by a true talent.
Another break, then on to '62. See you then.
20 - "Barbara Ann," The Regents
The second half opens with yet more doo-wop, courtesy of four guys from the Bronx. This ode to a lady who causes "rockin' and a-reelin," was the biggest of their two hits. Of course, it became even bigger four years later when the Beach Boys took a cover to #2. And I have to say, the later version is the better one.
19 - "Girl of My Best Friend," Ral Donner
Chicagoan Donner (the "Ral" is short for Ralph) had a voice that sounded remarkably like Elvis', so it's perhaps fitting that his first hit was a cover of a track from Elvis' first post-Army LP. If you'd told me this was Elvis himself singing about longing for a buddy's girl, I'd have had no trouble believing it. It's even got Jordanaire-soundalike backup singers. When you listen real close, you can tell it's not The King, but I don't think many of the impersonators that have followed in Donner's wake have nailed the voice better.
18 - "Portrait of My Love," Steve Lawrence
Another hit from Mr. Lawrence, this one about a girl that no one would be able to paint a picture of. And he means that in a good way, because "Anyone who sees her soon forgets the Mona Lisa." Steve's sincere enough, but this still sounds like romantic cheese to me.
17 - "I've Told Every Little Star," Linda Scott
Scott, born in Queens and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, was just 16 when she scored her first and biggest hit, this version of a song written in 1932 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. It's sweet little teen pop about being able to tell anyone about being in love except the person you're actually in love with. If you like a lot of Lesley Gore's hits, you'll like this one too.
16 - "Hello Mary Lou," Ricky Nelson
The son of bandleader Ozzie Nelson and his group's vocalist, Harriet Hilliard Nelson, little Ricky's showbiz debut came at the age of nine, playing himself on his parents' radio sitcom. The show moved to TV in 1952, and in 1957, Ricky began singing on the show, and that became the basis of a successful recording career. The B-side of one of his biggest-selling singles was this chugging rockabilly number about a girl so attractive that he immediately falls in love, or as he puts it, "goodbye, heart." Given his background and his pretty-boy looks, it's easy to dismiss him, but the man clearly had talent and chops. But what of the A-side, you ask? Stay tuned.
15 - "Raindrops," Dee Clark
Arkansan Delectus Clark had his last and biggest pop hit with this ballad about how the water falling from his eyes must be from "a cloud in his head" because "a man ain't supposed to cry." A fantastically written and performed heartbreak song, with the ending howls and thunderclaps providing a stirring coda.
14 - "Moody River," Pat Boone
Ah, Pat Boone, the white-buck-shoe-wearing sanitizer-for-square-America's-protection of many early rock and R&B classics. His very name evokes images of bland conformity and strained repression. But on this, his last #1 hit, he gives a fine, passionate performance on this melodrama about a man who goes to meet his girlfriend under a tree by a river, only to find that she has left behind one of her gloves and a note that told him she'd drowned herself because of her guilt over cheating on him. This is high-quality teen-tragedy pop, and easily the man's best work. It's not nearly enough for me to forgive him being a homophobe and a birther, but it's a better song than I thought he was capable of.
13 - "Stand By Me," Ben E. King
The ex-Drifters soulful declaration of loyalty hit #4 this year, then returned to the Top Ten 25 years later after its use in Rob Reiner's movie about childhood, mortality, and mailbox baseball. I covered it during the 80s run, and there's no more to say except it's brilliant.
12 - "Hello Walls," Faron Young
Louisianan Young was a steady presence on country radio from 1952 to 1978, racking up dozens of Top 40 hits on that chart. But the only time he reached that level on the pop list was with this classic about a man so lonely after his lover leaves him that he starts talking not only to the walls of his home, but the window and the ceiling as well. Also notable is the fact that this was one of the first major successes for its songwriter, a young tunesmith named Willie Nelson, who I just learned turned 80 last month. Wow. It really is funny how time slips away.
11 - "Little Devil," Neil Sedaka
Neil's seventh Top 40 was this peppy pop song about his desire to capture a flirtatious, capricious young lady and "make an angel" of her. And no, I don't think that means he wants to kill her. I should hope not, at least.
Is this the Top Ten? Is this just fantasy?
10 - "Tragedy," The Fleetwoods
This vocal trio from Olympia, Washington were originally named Two Girls and a Guy, because that's what they were. The truth in advertising approach. Eventually they changed it, and shortly afterward, they scored two #1 smashes in 1959 with "Come Softly to Me" and "Mr. Blue." Their third and final Top Ten was this cover of a 1959 hit by Thomas Wayne and the DeLons. It's a wistful take on heartbreak, more resigned than sad. They did what they did well, but at least in this case, it's not for me.
9 - "I Feel So Bad," Elvis Presley
A year after his release from the Army, Elvis was still chugging along with hits like this cover of a 1954 Chuck Willis R&B hit that compares a down mood to "a ballgame on a rainy day." It has a very gritty and authentic bluesy feel. Another Willis hit "C.C. Rider," would later provide Presley with a signature show opener during the 70s.
8 - "A Hundred Pounds of Clay," Gene McDaniels
McDaniels, from Omaha, Nebraska, scored his first and biggest pop hit with this alternative version of how God created Eve: not from one of Adam's ribs, but from a much more earthy substance. Cool little bit of R&B/pop
7 - "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart," Connie Francis
Connie's run of big hits continued with this turn into country. Her natural predisposition for sad songs meant that this weepie fit her like a glove. Later, Debby Boone would score a minor country hit with a cover version. No, I'm not gonna bother tracking that down.
6 - "Runaway," Del Shannon
Michigander Shannon's first and biggest hit was this rock classic about the girl who left him. We all know it. Del's rasp and falsetto "why why why why"s on the chorus were enough to make him an instant legend. And that spacey sound between the two choruses was provided by something called a Musitron, an early version of the synthesizer. A true pop essential.
5 - "Mother-In-Law," Ernie K-Doe
New Orleans native Ernest Kador, Jr. had his only major pop hit with this #1 smash (written by legerndary jazz and blues composer Allen Toussaint) about "the worst person I know" who, inconveniently, is also the woman who gave birth to his wife. All the stereotypes are here: she's meddlesome, she's judgmental, and just all-around evil. Not having had a mother-in-law, I have no basis to go on, but I imagine Mr. K-Doe was being a tad harsh. Still, it's fun, danceable, and irresistable.
4 - "Mama Said," The Shirelles
One of the few 60s girl groups to be associated with neither Motown nor Phil Spector, these four ladies from Passaic, New Jersey scored their third Top Five with this bit of maternal advice that even if things aren't going well today, they will get better at some point. Simple pop-soul, and oh so nice.
3 - "Running Scared," Roy Orbison
Texan Orbison was led to Memphis and Sun Records after meeting Johnny Cash in 1955, and he was part of Elvis' social circle during Presley's rise to megastardom. But it wasn't until the sixties that he started to have major success, and his fourth Top 40 and first #1 came in the form of this operatic ballad about being afraid that if his current lover's old boyfriend returned and wanted to get back with her, she'd say yes. In the end, this does happen, but in a happy twist, the woman decides that she's happy with Roy, thank you very much. That voice is as distinct and gorgeous as always, and contributes greatly to the drama. One of the great singers in pop, period.
2 - "Daddy's Home," Shep and the Limelites
We've come across this song in both the 70s and 80s, in versions by Jermaine Jackson and Cliff Richard, and now we encounter the original, the only hit for these Queens doo-wop practitioners. And yes, of course, it's the best of all. By quite a bit. Rat-a-tat.
And 52 years ago, the big song in the U.S.of A. was...
1 - "Travelln' Man," Ricky Nelson
Ricky's second and final charttopper was this pop-rock ditty about a guy who gets around, both in the sense that he's "made a lot of stops all over the world" and the one where he's romanced "at least one lovely girl" everywhere he's been. The five he mentions here are a "pretty senorita" in Mexico, a "cute little Eskimo" in Alaska, a "sweet Fraulein" in Berlin, a "China doll" in Hong Kong, and a "pretty Polynesian baby" in Waikiki. One would assume there are many more, but then again, maybe not at that point. Ricky was only 21 at the time. Not exactly politically correct, but a sweet little performance by a true talent.
Another break, then on to '62. See you then.
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