1963 in Music

The Beatles begin their domination of the U.K. In response, The Daily Mirror coined the term "Beatlemania." They would launch the British Invasion in 1964. In the states, Bob Dylan releases The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" is deemed indecent because no one can understand it. The Beach Boys had a big year with several notable recordings. On a sad note, Patsy Cline perished in a plane crash.

The #1 song of 1963:
Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs.

Important tracks:
Louie Louie by The Kingsmen
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
Blowin' In The Wind by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys

Other notable songs:
It's My Party by Leslie GoreLs
Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke
Da Doo Ron Ron by The Crystals
Little Deuce Coup by The Beach Boys
Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas
My Boyfriend's Back by The Angels
Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Surf City by The Beach Boys
Little Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys
Walk Like a Man by The Four Seasons
Wipeout by The Safaris

James Jamerson: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/james-jamerson/bio/

James Jamerson played bass on many Motown hits. He performed on 30 #1 hits and over 70 #1 R&B hits. Both totals are the most ever by an artist.

Some of his work:

Shotgun by Jr. Walker and the All Stars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk

I Was Made to Love her by Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYux5-d1Es

Going to a Go-Go by the Temptations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Tfm70dL5s

Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight and the Pips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvwP72FuVg

What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f39Zs0gB87c

Rock the Boat by Hues Corporation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBwsG8ubFw

Jamerson died in 1983 from heart failure and pneumonia at age 47.

 

Martha and the Vandellas: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1995

Rock Hall Bio: 

http://rockhall.com/inductees/martha-and-the-vandellas/bio/

Barry Gordy signed Martha and the Vandellas in 1962. It did not take long for the group to hit it big.

Heat Wave (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCpDMQf5o9s&feature=related

Dancing in the Street (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b5HXZRQFss

Nowhere to Run (1965):

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

I’m Ready for Love (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ZKJjN5IeY

Jimmy Mack (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOu3XZraWg

Honey Chile (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxhO-qZIrJc

Around this time, Gordy began focusing almost exclusively on The Supremes and Diana Ross. As a result, the quality of material sent to the Vandellas suffered. Infighting made the troubles worsen.

Baby Don’t Leave Me (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4UKsuBXJsM

　
Motown moved to Los Angeles and Reeves did not want to go. She negotiated out of Motown Records and signed with MCA. She received critical acclaim for her first solo album, but fell into alcohol abuse. She sobered in 1977 and became a born-again Christian. She served as a Detroit city councilwoman from 2005-2009.

“Dancing in the Streets” was later covered by Van Halen and Mick Jagger and David Bowie.

Van Halen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CAHDI_vkSs

Mick Jagger and David Bowie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y-x2fWKbmo

Holland, Dozier, Holland: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1990

Official Site:

http://www.hollanddozierholland.com/

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/holland-dozier-and-holland/bio/

Holland, Dozier, Holland is one of the greatest songwriting teams in history. They worked at Motown from 1962-1967 and continued as a team until 1974.
Here is a sampling of their hits:

Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2fnYpwrng

Where Did Out Love Go by the Supremes (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzKUoxL11E

Baby Love by the Supremes (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UkIkwy5ZM

I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by the Four Tops (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3bksUSPB4c

Reach Out I’ll Be There by the Four Tops (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnDm3qr1Knk

Baby I Need Your Loving by Johnny Rivers (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfEQwrR5Wc

Band of Gold by Freda Payne (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_65LLafsa9g

This Old Heart of Mine by Rod Stewart with Ronald Isley (1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9eQShsxkj4

867. Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas (1964)

If Motown has a signature song, this is it. "Dancing in the Street" captures a moment and mood of both Motown records and early sixties optimism. For a brief moment, the song was given a political tone as some decided to turn it into a civil rights anthem in the aftermath of several inner city riots. In 1985, David Bowie and Mick Jagger cut a version of the sixties hit for the Live Aid charity concert. The pair performed the song together in 1986 for the Prince's Trust Concert.

Martha and the Vandellas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

David Bowie and Mick Jagger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ