Mom and I finished 1961!!!! the45prof's YouTube channel is super-amazing and wonderful. I highly recommend it! The 1961 Hits Archive--Alphabetically by Song Title.
Overall thoughts on the year: it was good; solidly good. A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER than 1959. (1959 was the last year Mom and I did before this one!)
Billboard Year End Hot 100 Singles of 1961
Billboard List of Hot 100 Number Ones of 1961, 63 songs
Billboard Hot 100 Top-Ten Singles in 1961
Everything Old is New Again
Amor by Ben E. King
At Last by Etta James
Bumble Bee -- B. Bumble and the Stingers; this is a "boogie" version of the classic FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE.
The Charleston by Ernie Fields
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
Dance by the Light of the Moon Olympics
Froggy by Brothers Four
Glory of Love -- Roommates
Heart and Soul; The Cleftones; Heart and Soul by Jan and Dean
I've Told Every Little Star -- Linda Scott
If I Didn't Care -- The Platters
Jambalaya Fats Domino
One Summer Night -- The Diamonds
Pomp & Circumstance the Graduation Song Adrian Kimberly (also worthy of the reject pile)
Theme From Dixie; Duane Eddy
Theme from "Tunes of Glory" Cambridge Strings & Singers
The Way You Look Tonight -- Lettermen
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby -- Bobby Darin
New to Me Artists and Songs
Baby Sitting Boogie - Buzz Clifford (features real babies) I don't know that I love it. But if you love little ones, it's worth one listen at least.
Baby's First Christmas -- Connie Francis. Francis is NOT new, but I usually can't stand her. But this one was cute or cutesy.
Barbara Ann -- The REGENTS. Who knew that there was a version other than the Beach Boys????
Big Bad John -- Jimmy Dean
The Boll Weevil Song -- Brook Benton. This probably isn't his best song, but, I found this 'novelty' song surprisingly charming. (For My Baby) (Think Twice)
Don't Cry Baby -- Etta James
Exodus -- theme from movie -- Ferrante & Teicher
Fool #1 -- Brenda Lee;
Funny How Time Slips Away Jimmy Elledge
Girl of My Best Friend -- Ral Donner -- there was a TREND in 1961 to SING ABOUT BEING IN LOVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND'S GIRL. Jimmy's Girl by Johnny Tillotson
God, Country and My Baby -- Johnny Burnette; military themed;
Good Time Baby by Bobby Rydell; Rydell is usually HARD FOR ME TO TOLERATE but this song makes me happy
Goodbye Cruel World James Darren (He was "Moondoggie" in the Gidget movie)
I Dreamed of Hill Billy Heaven -- Tex Ritter; Mom *made* me listen all the way through. Apparently this was a record her mom had and played all the time.
I'll Be There by Damita Jo is the answer song to Ben E. King's Stand By Me.
Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills by Ray Stevens
Kissing on the Phone by Paul Anka -- I KNOW Paul Anka...but not this more obscure song
More Money for You and Me; COMEDY ROUTINE by The Four Preps
Never on Sunday -- Chordettes
So Long Baby Del Shannon; I don't know why but I love it.
That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On -- Sam Cooke
Turn Around, Look at Me, Glen Campbell
When We Get Married -- Dreamlovers
You Can Have Her -- Roy Hamilton
Classics
Angel Baby by Rosie and the Originals -- I can't help but wonder what she would have sounded like WITHOUT a cold. It reminds me of the Friends episode where Phoebe is trying to stay sick so she "sounds good."
Blue Moon -- The Marcels
(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do by Clarence Henry
Calendar Girl -- Neil Sedaka; in my personal opinion this song epitomizes the original Barbie; by the way 1961 was the year KEN made his appearance; Other Sedaka songs from this year Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen; Little Devil;
Crazy -- Patsy Cline also I Fall To Pieces
Cupid- Sam Cooke I fell in love LOVE with this song when I was in junior high. It was probably my first Sam Cooke song to LOVE and I had no idea WHO sang it--this was the days before the internet.
Daddy's Home Shep & the Limelites; a follow up to his "A Thousand Miles Away..."
Dedicated to the One I Love -- The Shirelles; I believe this is the first year the Shirelles make an appearance?? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this group and have had their greatest hits album for decades. Mama Said; Will You Love Me Tomorrow
I Love How You Love Me -- The Paris Sisters
Let's Twist Again -- Chubby Checker; MY FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE SONG????
THE Lion Sleeps Tonight -- Tokens MY FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE SONG????
Little Sister by Elvis Presley; probably my favorite Elvis?
Moon River -- Henry Mancini
Peanut Butter -- Marathons
Please Mr. Postman -- Marvelettes
Pretty Little Angel Eyes -- Curtis Lee
Rama Lama Ding Dong -- Edsels
Shop Around -- Miracles
Some Kind of Wonderful -- Drifters
Take Good Care of My Baby Bobby Vee
There's A Moon Out Tonight -- Capris
Those Oldies But Goodies Little Caesar & the Romans
Tossin and Turnin by Bobby Lewis
Who Put the Bomp in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp Barry Mann
REJECT PILE
African Waltz by Cannonball Adderley
The Astronaut by "Jose Jimenez" (Bill Dana)
Buzz Buzz A-Diddle It by Freddy Cannon
C'est Si Bon by Conway Twitty; WORST ASSAULT ON THE EARS EVER
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor -- Lonnie Donegan; NOT so bad as the rest; just so very silly
The Fish -- Bobby Rydell
The Fly by Chubby Checker
Little Egypt; The Coasters
Nag -- Halos
Poor Fool -- Ike & Tina Turner
The Switch-a-roo Hank Ballard
© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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