1961 in Music

1961 provided a lull in rock music. Although Elvis returned, the pop scene focused on teen idols. However, change was coming. Motown began to move, Bob Dylan was a year away, and the seeds of the British Invasion were planted when The Beatles made their Cavern Club debut.

Motown scored it's first million seller with "Shop Around" and signed The Supremes. The Beach Boys release their initial single. Frank Sinatra starts Reprise Records. Judy Garland performed at Carnegie Hall. Patsy Cline is seriously injured in an auto accident.


Shop Around by The Miracles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM




I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZTk1hdpMs




Judy Garland:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-i2uXjQZHs



#1 Song of 1961:


Stand By Me by Ben E. King:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE

Other important releases:



Runaway by Del Shannon

At Last by Etta James

Crazy by Patsy Cline

Crying by Roy Orbison

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes

Runaround Sue by Dion

The Wanderer by Dion

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles
Other Hits:


Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker

Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley

Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka

Hello Mary Lou By Ricky Nelson

Spanish Harlem by Ben E. King

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens

1960 in music

In the year Kennedy won the White House, Elvis was discharged and hit the charts full steam. Ben E. King went solo. The Beatles make their Hamburg debut. Neil Young forms his first band at age 14.

#1 song:
It's Now Or Never by Elvis Presley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMVscR5YOo



Other classics:

Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Elvis Presley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjnE1WRMKo

Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OlDPqYBLw

Cathy’s Clown by The Everly Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXvKAWiU_cQ

Chain Gang by Sam Cooke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmZdvVnMXCc

El Paso by Marty Robbins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-y3DB0wLh4

Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjq4wYuwgxs

Shop Around by The Miracles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM

Walk, Don’t Run by The Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW21rcHiVU0



Chubby Checker set off a major dance craze:

The Twist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9XuJJXylw



and then this...

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge9Ou3-YyqU

Percy Sledge: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2005

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/percy-sledge/bio/

Official Site: http://psledge.com/

Percy Sledge worked as a hospital orderly during the day and toured on weekends. A friend introduced him to a record producer and Sledge signed a deal.

In 1965, Sledge was laid off and his girlfriend left him.  He wrote his signature song in the aftermath.

When A Man Loves a Woman (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JMwi8LOySo

Warm and Tender Love (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2HOsK5PhK0

It Tears Me Up (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri_aD_6K2Yw

Love Me Tender (1967): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn5K-phiBzo

Cover Me (1967): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lE0oGYXUwY

Take Time to Know Her (1968): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUOkBvxSoHw

I’ll Be Your Everything (1974): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkT1zHHi3-0

“When a Man Loves a Woman” returned with a vengeance in Britain in 1987. It hit #2 on the charts. Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” was #1 at the same time. People must have wondered what year it was.

Santana ft Rob Thomas: Smooth (1999)

Rob Thomas wrote “Smooth for his wife and includes references to Elton John’s “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” and Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem.” Santana provided the guitar riff distinguishing it from other songs. Billboard named it the #1 rock song of the first 50 years of the Hot 100 chart and #22 song overall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXp413NynFk

 

The Drifters: There Goes My Baby (1959)

Before Ben E. King had the smash "Stand By Me", he was a Drifter. "There Goes My Baby" introduced strings to R&B music and represented the next wave of R&B/Soul music that came with the 1960s. I had this song in my head all day yesterday for no apparent reason, so here it is....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noFS4_oEakI

The Soul Stirrers: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

Their career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:
http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-soul-stirrers/bio/

Official Site:
http://soulstirrers.com/

The Soul Stirrers created “Quartet” Gospel, which eventually led to Doo Wop, Soul, and Motown.

They formed in 1935. In 1950, Sam Cooke joined the band. He left in 1957.

Lord, Remember Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ij3HxwmtdQ

Wonderful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjtcOh4hmyE

Stand By Me Father:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioYx-ZgM4Ps

Ben E. King turned “Stand By Me Father” into “Stand By Me.”

The band’s biggest hit:

Jesus Gave Me Water (1951):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slFSzUzI8c8

John Lennon: Stand By Me (1975)

John Lennon recorded a compilation of late 50s and early 60s-era songs that he liked and placed them on his Rock n Roll album. He included a great version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" on the record. The song was his last major hit before going into retirement for five years reaching the Top 20 in America and Canada. Lennon's son, Julian, also recorded a version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_ghOG9JQM

The Drifters: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1988

Their career in links.

Official Site: http://www.thedrifters.co.uk/

Rock Hall Bio:
http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-drifters/bio/

The Drifters formed in 1953 and have existed in some form ever since.

Clyde McPhatter fronted the group at first before going solo. The act has had over 60 lead singers in its existence. Turmoil and turnover defined the group’s early days.

Money Honey (1953):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7FFBVXaOIo

Honey Love (1953):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwWCAVXGe8

Ruby Baby (1956):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv9DfcD53ZE

There Goes My Baby (1959): Ben E. King on lead vocals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HXy9mGPpI

This Magic Moment (1960):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A73f2AzKBAY

Save the Last Dance for Me (1960):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-XQ26KePUQ

Some Kind of Wonderful (1961):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aATtWybSaow

Please Stay (1961):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htNqSGzXebY

Up on the Roof (1962):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F_opWg9_qI

On Broadway (1963):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJFYpVlIyqo

Under the Boardwalk (1964):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UgwrSc-BrU

Kissin’ in the Back Row of the Movies (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOm4DW5l5qQ

There Goes My First Love (1975):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqx2_GPI0vc

You’re More Than a Name in My Little Red Book (1976):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdKq4By5fuo

The group continues to perform to this day.

Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1987

The influential songwriter's career and lives in links.

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/jerry-leiber-and-mike-stoller/bio/

Official Website:
http://www.leiberstoller.com/

They are among the most influential songwriters in history.

Here is a sample of their work:

There Goes My Baby (The Drifters):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noFS4_oEakI

Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_nNNIYTy9g

Kansas City (Wilbert Harrison):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5toLrXoJyQ

Yakety Yak (The Coasters):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtTC3pGBjs4

Stand By Me (Ben E. King):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbg7YoXiKn0

Jailhouse Rock (Elvis):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI

Love Potion No. 9 (The Clovers):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA6wySeeb6I

On Broadway (George Benson):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voNjeUUcdSo

In 2011, American Idol had their contestants cover Leiber and Stoller works. Both men are alive as of July 2011.