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Post by Dawn on Jul 31, 2003 6:37:08 GMT -5
Today, let's take a look at the songs that were popular 42 years ago. The top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart on July 31, 1961 were:
10. Yellow Bird – Arthur Lyman Group
9. Let’s Twist Again – Chubby Checker
8. Together – Connie Francis
7. Last Night – Mar-Keys
6. Quarter to Three – Gary US Bonds
5. Hats Off to Larry – Del Shannon
4. Dum Dum – Brenda Lee
3. The Boll Weevil Song – Brook Benton
2. I Like It Like That – Chris Kenner
1. Tossin’ and Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis
Any thoughts or memories of these songs?
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Jul 31, 2003 8:52:35 GMT -5
This was that bad "down" period before the first burst of Rock-n-Roll and the British Invasion. And that is evident by this chart.
Don't know 10, 8, 7, 4, 3. I'm surprised I don't know the Connie song. I can't even picture it on my Greatest Hits disc.
I am more familiar with the DC5's version of I Like it Like That, but I am sure I heard this version too.
Tossin' and Turnin' is good, if overplayed.
Let's Twist Again is way overplayed.
Quarter to Three is decent and a favorite of Bruce's.
The highlight here is Del's Hats Off to Larry. What a title. Del was one of the few bright spots of this time period.
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jul 31, 2003 9:42:58 GMT -5
Hey Dawn! Summer of '61!! It was a big summer for me. I had just graduated from high school, and was getting ready for college. So looking at the chart, I am amazed by how weak it really was. Only a few real good ones, but good memories raised some of the others for me. Yellow Bird - A kinda draggy instrumental that I really didn't care for. It reminds me, though, that even back then they were using pop music for commercials. The old Northeast Airlines (later absorbed by Delta) flew a route between Boston and Miami that they called the Yellow Bird, and used this song (with words, even) in their commercial  Let's Twist Again - O.K. The way I remember it, THIS is the song that really got the Twist Craze going. Chubby had covered Hank Ballard's "The Twist" the previous year, but the dance craze really didn't take off until the summer of '61. This song was the catalyst, IMO. Good song. Plenty memories. Together - Eh. Barely remember it. Not one of her greatest. Last Night - A better instrumental than Yellow Bird, but just about average over all. Quarter To Three - This was supposedly recorded impromptu after a scheduled recording session had ended. It kinda sounds it. Not a bad party song, but not great music. Hats Off To Larry - There was still enough falsetto left in Del after Runaway to do it all again. Great song!! R.I.P., Del. Dum Dum - Great memories of driving in my car with this on the radio. Boll Weevil Song - Brook is one of the greatly underappreciated R&B stars of the '50s and '60s. I love how he gets down low in this one. I Like It Like That - Often covered, but I've always preferred the original. Tossin' and Turnin' - Woo Hoo!! All time Top 50! - mainly for the memories, though. |
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Post by Ken on Jul 31, 2003 11:41:06 GMT -5
Tossin' and Turnin' - Great tune! - has always been a big fave.
Let's Twist Again - Go Chubby! along with The Twist - they made him a household name.
Together - I don't recall this one
Last Night - Excellent track!! - love that saxaphone - this never gets played on my oldies station - which is a real shame
Quarter To Three - The song is recorded terribly, but it is a great party record . I have it along with New Orleans on a reissue 45.
Hats Off to Larry - Love Del Shannon - Among his best . RIP
Dum Dum - She had a big voice! - cool tune - very catchy
The Bo -Weevil Song - I've heard this a couple of times but I'm more familiar with Rainy Night in Georgia.
I Like it Like That - I believe I have this on CD . I also love Dave Clark's cover.
Yellow Bird - I had a listen to it and it does sound familiar -but I never knew the name of the song or who recorded it.
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Post by Railyn on Jul 31, 2003 19:04:14 GMT -5
Ok - this one's really pushing the time boundary for me.
10) Not familiar with this one.
9) Eh. Wasn't The Twist sufficient?
8) Not familiar with this one.
7) Not familiar.
6) Again, not familiar.
5) Nope.
4) Nope again.
3) Still nope.
2) I do know this one. I like it.
1) I also know this one, and I do like it. I always think of Animal House.
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Post by Dawn on Aug 3, 2003 7:52:02 GMT -5
This was that bad "down" period before the first burst of Rock-n-Roll and the British Invasion. And that is evident by this chart. Don't know 10, 8, 7, 4, 3. I'm surprised I don't know the Connie song. I can't even picture it on my Greatest Hits disc. I am more familiar with the DC5's version of I Like it Like That, but I am sure I heard this version too. Tossin' and Turnin' is good, if overplayed. Let's Twist Again is way overplayed. Quarter to Three is decent and a favorite of Bruce's. The highlight here is Del's Hats Off to Larry. What a title. Del was one of the few bright spots of this time period. I agree that this wasn't the greatest period for music, although there are a few good tunes here. Like you, I don't think I'm familiar with Connie's song, or Brenda Lee's. 'Hats Off to Larry' is one of my favorite Del Shannon songs. Definitely a classic. |
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Post by Dawn on Aug 3, 2003 7:58:45 GMT -5
Hey Dawn! Summer of '61!! It was a big summer for me. I had just graduated from high school, and was getting ready for college. So looking at the chart, I am amazed by how weak it really was. Only a few real good ones, but good memories raised some of the others for me. Yellow Bird - A kinda draggy instrumental that I really didn't care for. It reminds me, though, that even back then they were using pop music for commercials. The old Northeast Airlines (later absorbed by Delta) flew a route between Boston and Miami that they called the Yellow Bird, and used this song (with words, even) in their commercial Let's Twist Again - O.K. The way I remember it, THIS is the song that really got the Twist Craze going. Chubby had covered Hank Ballard's "The Twist" the previous year, but the dance craze really didn't take off until the summer of '61. This song was the catalyst, IMO. Good song. Plenty memories. Together - Eh. Barely remember it. Not one of her greatest. Last Night - A better instrumental than Yellow Bird, but just about average over all. Quarter To Three - This was supposedly recorded impromptu after a scheduled recording session had ended. It kinda sounds it. Not a bad party song, but not great music. Hats Off To Larry - There was still enough falsetto left in Del after Runaway to do it all again. Great song!! R.I.P., Del. Dum Dum - Great memories of driving in my car with this on the radio. Boll Weevil Song - Brook is one of the greatly underappreciated R&B stars of the '50s and '60s. I love how he gets down low in this one. I Like It Like That - Often covered, but I've always preferred the original. Tossin' and Turnin' - Woo Hoo!! All time Top 50! - mainly for the memories, though. Hey H2! I know what you mean about songs being better because of the memories associated with them. I find myself liking many songs from my childhood and teen years more today than I did at the time, because even the lesser songs take me back to those years. That's interesting about 'Let's Twist Again' - I hadn't known that! I agree with you about Brook. Only a few of his songs receive any airplay these days, and that's a shame. He really was quite talented. |
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Post by Dawn on Aug 3, 2003 8:04:36 GMT -5
Tossin' and Turnin' - Great tune! - has always been a big fave. Let's Twist Again - Go Chubby! along with The Twist - they made him a household name. Together - I don't recall this one Last Night - Excellent track!! - love that saxaphone - this never gets played on my oldies station - which is a real shame Quarter To Three - The song is recorded terribly, but it is a great party record . I have it along with New Orleans on a reissue 45. Hats Off to Larry - Love Del Shannon - Among his best . RIP Dum Dum - She had a big voice! - cool tune - very catchy The Bo -Weevil Song - I've heard this a couple of times but I'm more familiar with Rainy Night in Georgia. I Like it Like That - I believe I have this on CD . I also love Dave Clark's cover. Yellow Bird - I had a listen to it and it does sound familiar -but I never knew the name of the song or who recorded it. You're right about 'Quarter to Three' - the sound quality is just horrible - so muffled. Still, it's a fun party song, and enjoyable to listen to. Like you, I'm more familiar with 'A Rainy Night in Georgia', although 'The Boll Weevil Song' used to get some airplay on an oldies station here back in the early 90's. |
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Post by Dawn on Aug 3, 2003 8:06:50 GMT -5
Ok - this one's really pushing the time boundary for me. 10) Not familiar with this one. 9) Eh. Wasn't The Twist sufficient? 8) Not familiar with this one. 7) Not familiar. 6) Again, not familiar. 5) Nope. 4) Nope again. 3) Still nope. 2) I do know this one. I like it. 1) I also know this one, and I do like it. I always think of Animal House. 'I Like It Like That' and 'Tossin' and Turnin' are both great, classic songs. |
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