Tuesday 30 March 2010

1963 - Walk Like A Man (The Four Seasons)

Walk Like A Man

"Walk Like a Man" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by The Four Seasons. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks in March 1963. The song was the third #1 hit for The Four Seasons.

Cover versions of the song have been recorded by other musicians such as the Mary Jane Girls and Divine.

Lyrics:

Oo-oo... Walk Like A Man...

Oh how you tried to cut me down to size
Telling dirty lies to my friends
But my own father said give her up don't bother
The world isn't coming to an end

(he said just) Walk like a man
Talk like a man
Walk like a man my son
No woman's worth
Crawling on the earth
Just walk like a man my son

Good-bye baby I dont mean maybe
I'm gonna get along somehow
Soon you'll be cryin on account of all your lyin'
Oh yeah just look who's laughing now

(I'm gonna) walk like a man
Fast as I can
Walk like a man from you
I'll tell the world to forget about it girl
And walk like a man from you

Oo.oo.oo

1963 - Hey Paula (Paul & Paula)

Hey Paula

"Hey Paula" is a song recorded by Paul & Paula. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks in February 9, 1963, and also made it to #1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. "Paul" was the song's writer, Ray Hildebrand and "Paula" was Jill Jackson.

It spawned a follow-up top ten hit, "Young Lovers", and a series of other hits for the duo. The song sort of started the fad of boy & girl duet in the 60s.

Lyrics:

Hey, hey Paula, I wanna marry you
Hey, hey Paula, no one else could ever do
I've waited so long for school to be through
Paula, I can't wait no more for you
My love, my love

Hey Paul, I've been waiting for you
Hey, hey, hey Paul, I want to marry you too
If you love me true, if you love me still,
Our love will always be real
My love, my love

True love means planning a life for two
Being together the whole day through
True love means waiting and hoping that soon
Wishes we've made will come true
My love, my love

Hey, hey Paula, I've been waiting for you
Hey, hey Paul, I want to marry you too
True love means planning a life for two
Being together the whole day through
True love means waiting and hoping that soon
Wishes we've made will come true
My love, my love

Friday 26 March 2010

1963 - Diamonds (Jet Harris & Tony Meehan)

Diamonds

"Diamonds" is an instrumental written by Jerry Lordan. It was a #1 hit for 4 weeks (Jan - Feb 1963) in the UK for Jet Harris and Tony Meehan (both are founder members of The Shadows).

The recording also features a young Jimmy Page on acoustic rhythm guitar.

1963 - Go Away Little Girl (Steve Lawrence)

Go Away Little Girl

"Go Away, Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song is notable for making the American Top 20 three times: for Steve Lawrence in 1962 (US #1), for The Happenings in 1966 (US #12), and for Donny Osmond in 1971 (US #1). It is also the first song, and one of only nine songs, to reach US #1 by two different artists.

In late 1962, Steve Lawrence released the original recording of this song. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1963 and remained in the top position for two weeks.

Lyrics:

Go away, little girl
Go away, little girl
I'm not supposed to be alone with you
I know that your lips are sweet
But our lips must never meet
I belong to someone else and I must be true

Go away, little girl
Go away, little girl

It's hurtin' me more each minute that you delay
When you are near me like this
You're much too hard to resist
So, go away, little girl
Before I beg you to stay

Go Away
Please don't stay

It never work out
When you are near me like this
You're much too hard to resist
So, go away, little girl
Call it a day, little girl
Please, go away, little girl, before I beg you to stay

Go Away.

Monday 22 March 2010

1963 - Dance On (The Shadows)

Dance On

"Dance On", written by Valerie & Elaine Murtaugh and Raymond Adams, is an instrumental recorded by the British guitar group, The Shadows.

It went to #1 in the UK chart for 3 weeks in January 1963.

Thursday 18 March 2010

1962 - Return To Sender (Elvis Presley)

Return To Sender

"Return to Sender" is another hit single by Elvis Presley. The song was written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell in 1962.

The song peaked at #1 for 2 weeks (December 1962) on the UK music charts, and #2 on the US Billboard singles chart.

1962 - Big Girls Don't Cry (The Four Seasons)

Big Girls Don't Cry

"Big Girls Don't Cry", written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, is originally recorded by The Four Seasons and it hit the #1 spot for five weeks (November - December 1962).

Lyrics:

Big girls don't cry
Big girls don't cry

Bi-ig girls do-on't cry-yi-yi (they don't cry)
Bi-ig girls do-on't cry-yi-yi (who said they don't cry?)
(My-y girl) said goodbye-yi-yi (my oh my)
My-y girl didn't cry (I wonder why)

(Silly boy) told my girl we had to break up
(Silly boy) hoped that she would call my bluff
(Silly boy) then she said to my surprise
"Big girls don't cry"

Bi-ig girls do-on't cry-yi-yi (they don't cry)
Bi-ig girls do-on't cry-yi-yi (who said they don't cry?)

(May-y-be) I was cru-u-uel ( I was cruel)
Bay-y-be I'm a fool (I'm such a fool)

(Silly girl) "Shame on you" your mama said
(Silly girl) "you're cryin' in bed"
(Silly girl) "Shame on you, you told me lies"
Big girls do cry

Bi-ig girls do-on't cr-y-y (they don't cry)
Bi-ig girls do-on't cr-y-y (that's just an alibi)
Big girls cry
Big girls cry
Big girls cry
Big girls cry

FADE
Big girls cry

Sunday 14 March 2010

1962 - Telstar (The Tornados)

Telstar

"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental performed by UK band, The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band* to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a #1 hit in the UK. It first topped the UK charts for 5 weeks (October - November 1962) and then peaked at the US Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks (Dec '62 - Jan '63).

The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in July 1962. The song was released five weeks later in August. It was written and produced by Joe Meek, and featured a clavioline, a keyboard instrument with a distinctive electronic sound. It estimated to have sold at least five million copies worldwide.

* Up to that point, and since World War II, there had only been 3 UK names that topped the U.S. chart: in May 1962 "Stranger on the Shore" by clarinetist Acker Bilk; the second was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" by Laurie London (1958), whilst the first was "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" by Vera Lynn (1952

1962 - Shes's Not You (Elvis Presley)

She's Not You

King Elvis was back again in the UK Single chart again with "She's Not You", a song written by Jerry Leiber, Jerome Doc Pomus, Mike Stoller. It stayed at the top of the chart for 3 weeks in September 1962.

Lyrics:

Her hair is soft and her eyes are oh so blue
She's all the things a girl should be,
but she's not you.

She knows just how to make me laugh when I feel blue
She's ev'rything a man could want,
but she's not you.

And when we're dancing
It almost feels the same
I've got to stop myself from
Whisp'ring your name

She even kisses me like you used to do.
And it's just breaking my heart
'cause she's not you.

1962 - Sherry (Four Seasons)

Sherry

"Sherry" is a song written by Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by The Four Seasons. It was their first nationally-released single and also their first #1 hit, reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks (September - October 1962).

Lyrics:

Sher-er-rry, Sherry baby
Sher-er-rry, Sherry baby

She-e-e-e-e-e-e-ry ba-a-by (Sherry baby)
She-er-rry, can you come out tonight (Come come, come out toni-i-ight)
She-e-e-e-e-e-e-ry ba-a-by (Sherry baby)
She-er-rry, can you come out tonight

(Why don't you come out) (come out) to my twist party
(Come out) Where the bright moon shines
(Come out) We'll dance the night away
I'm gonna make-a you mi-yi-yi-ine

She-e-e-e-e-e-e-ry ba-a-by (Sherry baby)
She-er-rry, can you come out tonight
(Come come, come out toni-i-ight)
(Come come, come out toni-i-ight)
You-oo-ooh better ask your ma-a-ma (Sherry baby)
Te-ell her everything is all right

(Why don't you come out) (come out) with your red dress on
(Come out) Mmm, you look so fine
(Come out) Move it nice and easy
Girl, you'll make me lose my mi-ind

She-e-e-e-e-e-e-ry ba-a-by (Sherry baby)
She-er-rry, can you come out tonight
(Come come, come out toni-i-ight)
(Come come, come out toni-i-ight)
Sherry, Sherry baby

FADE
Sherry, Sherry baby

1962 - Sheila (Tommy Roe)

Sheila

"Sheila" is a song written and recorded by Tommy Roe with the help of Robert Bosch. The single topped #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks in September 1962.

Lyrics:

Sweet little Sheila, you'll know her if you see her
Blue eyes and a ponytail
Her cheeks are rosy, she looks a little nosey
Man, this little girl is fine

Never knew a girl like-a little Sheila
Her name drives me insane
Sweet little girl, that's my little Sheila
Man, this little girl is fine

Me and Sheila go for a ride
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I feel all funny inside
Then little Sheila whispers in my ear
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you Sheila dear

Sheila said she loved me, she said she'd never leave me
True love will never die
We're so doggone happy just bein' around together
Man, this little girl is fine

Never knew a girl like-a little Sheila
Her name drives me insane
Sweet little girl, that's my little Sheila
Man, this little girl is fine

Me and Sheila go for a ride
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I feel all funny inside
Then little Sheila whispers in my ear
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you Sheila dear

Sheila said she loved me, she said she'd never leave me
True love will never die
We're so doggone happy just bein' around together
Man, this little girl is fine
Oh, this little girl is fine
Yeah, this little girl is fine
Oh, this little girl is fine

Wednesday 10 March 2010

1962 - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Neil Sedaka)

Breaking UP Is Hard To Do

"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka and is considered to be his signature song. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks in August 1962 and was a good hit all over the world.

Originally an uptempo song, Sedaka re-recorded it as a ballad in 1975 and the new version peaked at #8 in February 1976 and went to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart; it was only the second time that an artist made the Billboard Top Ten with two different versions of the same song.

Lyrics:

Don't take your love away from me
Don't you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I'll be blue
'Cause breaking up his hard to do

Remember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we've been through
Breaking up is hard to do

They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know, I know that it's true
Don't say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again

I beg of you, don't say goodbye
Can't we give our love another try
Come on baby, let's start anew
'Cause breaking up is hard to do

1962 - I Remember You (Frank Ifield)

I Remember You

"I Remember You"
is a popular song, written by Victor Schertzinger (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). The song was published in 1941.

Australian singer Frank Ifield recorded the song in a yodeling country-music style in May 1962, and his version went to #1 on the UK Singles Chart for 8 weeks (July - September), #1 on the U.S. "Easy Listening chart" (which would later be re-named the Adult Contemporary chart), and #5 on the U.S. pop chart.

American country singer Slim Whitman, known for his yodeling, later recorded the song in very similar fashion. Other noteworthy artistes who covered the songs are Bobby Vinton, Bette Midler, Diana Krall and Ella Fitzgerald.

Lyrics:

I remember you-oo
You're the one who made
My dreams come true a few kisses ago

I remember you-oo
You're the one who said
"I love you too, yes I do didn't you know?"

I remember too a distant bell
And stars that fell
Like rain out of the blue

When my life is through
And the angels ask me to recall
The thrill of them all
Then I shall tell them I remember you

And I remember too a distant bell
And stars that fell
Like rain out of the blue

When my life is through
And the angels ask me to recall
The thrill of them all
Then i will tell them I remember
Tell them I remember you

Sunday 7 March 2010

1962 - Roses Are Red (Bobby Vinton)

Roses Are Red

"Roses Are Red (My Love)" is a popular song composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans. It was recorded by Bobby Vinton and was his first #1 hit in US in 1962.

It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for 4 weeks (July - August 1962). It only charted at #15 at UK Single chart.

Saturday 6 March 2010

1962 - I Can't Stop Loving You (Ray Charles)

I Can't Stop Loving You

"I Can't Stop Loving You"
is a popular song written and composed by country singer, songwriter and musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it in 1957.

But it was Ray Charles' cover version who brought the song to the top of US Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks in June 1962 and it also hit the #1 spot in UK Single chart for a week in July.

Among the many artistes who have covered the songs are Roy Orbison, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kitty Wells, Conway Twitty, Van Morrison, Ricky Nelson & Connie Francis.

Lyrics:

(I can't stop loving you)
I've made up my mind
To live in memory of the lonesome times

(I can't stop wanting you)
It's useless to say
So I'll just live my life in dreams of yesterday
(Dreams of yesterday)

Those happy hours that we once knew
Tho' long ago, they still make me blue
They say that time heals a broken heart
But time has stood still since we've been apart

(I can't stop loving you)
I've made up my mind
To live in memories of the lonesome times

(I can't stop wanting you)
It's useless to say
So I'll just live my life in dreams of yesterday
(Those happy hours)

Those happy hours
(That we once knew)
That we once knew

(Tho' long ago)
Tho' long ago
(Still make me blue)
Still make me blue

(They say that time)
They say that time
(Heals a broken heart)
Heals a broken heart

(But time has stood still)
Time has stood still
(Since we've been apart)
Since we've been apart

(I can't stop loving you)
I said I made up my mind
To live in memory of the lonesome times

(I can't stop wanting you)
It's useless to say
So I'll just live my life of dreams of yesterday
(Of yesterday)

1962 - Good Luck Charm (Elvis Presley)

Good Luck Charm

"Good Luck Charm", written by Sid Wayne and Ben Weisman, is another early 60s hit song by Elvis Preley.

It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks in April 1962 and weeks later stayed at the UK Charts for 5 weeks from May - June.

Lyrics:

Don't want a four leaf clover
Don't want an old horse shoe
Want your kiss 'cause I just can't miss
With a good luck charm like you

Come on and be my little good luck charm
Uh-huh huh, you sweet delight
I want a good luck charm
a-hanging on my arm
To have, to have, to hold, to hold tonight

Don't want a silver dollar
Rabbit's foot on a string
The happiness in your warm caress
No rabbit's foot can bring

Come on and be my little good luck charm
Uh-huh huh, you sweet delight
I want a good luck charm
a-hanging on my arm
To have, to have, to hold, to hold tonight

If I found a lucky penny
I'd toss it across the bay
Your love is worth all the gold on earth
No wonder that I say

Come on and be my little good luck charm
Uh-huh huh, you sweet delight
I want a good luck charm
a-hanging on my arm
To have, to have, to hold, to hold tonight

Friday 5 March 2010

1962 - Johnny Angel (Shelly Fabares)

Johnny Angel

"Johnny Angel" is a song written by Lyn Duddy and Lee Pockriss and recorded by Shelley Fabares.

It hit #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks in April 1962, during a 15-week run on the chart.

However, Shelley did not consider herself a singer (as Shelly was more an actress). Her career as a singer came to an end within a few years of "Johnny Angel" after she was unable to come up with another Top 20 hit. The song has become an oldies radio airplay favorite.

The Carpenters covered "Johnny Angel" in 1973 as part of a medley of oldies on side two of their album Now and Then.

As quality of Shelly's video is rather poor, here's The Carpenter's version of the song:

Tuesday 2 March 2010

1962 - Wonderful Land (The Shadows)

Wonderful Land

"Wonderful Land" is an instrumental piece, written by Jerry Lordon, which was released as a single by The Shadows in February 1962. It reached the #1 spot in the UK Charts and remained there for next 8 weeks (February - April 1962)!

English musician Mike Oldfield covered "Wonderful Land" on his 1980 QE2 album.

Hank Marvin (of The Shadows) and Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits) also recorded a version of the song in the 1990s.

Monday 1 March 2010

1962 - Let's Twist Again (Chubby Checker)

Let's Twist Again

Cashing in on his hugh success or rather the re-released of "The Twist" in early 1962, Chubby Checker released "Let's Twist Again" and topped the UK single charts for 2 weeks in February and March, 1962.

The song, written by Karl Mann and Dave Appell, 'though thought by many as a variation of the original song "The Twist", it went on to receive the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording.

1962 - The Young Ones (Cliff Richard)

The Young Ones

"The Young Ones", written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, is a single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. It is the title song to the 1961 film "The Young Ones" and its soundtrack album.

The single topped the UK charts for 6 weeks in January - February 1962.