Chapter 17
Ten Years of Hit Songs
In This Chapter
Starting off with the King and other ’50s folk
Enjoying the sounds of the surf
Crossing the waters: Britain comes to the U.S.
Groovin’ in Motown
The 1960s were a decade of amazing creativity in music. The ’60s also saw some of the huge music festivals such as Newport, which showcased folk music, and Woodstock, the most famous (though not the only) rock festival (see Chapter 15 for more on the music and the festivals). In this chapter, we’ve assembled a brief tour through some of the chart-topping artists and hits of the decade. This sampling of number-one songs provides a pretty good snapshot of the pop charts throughout the ’60s. So whether you’re ready to remember some of your old favorites or you’re looking to discover some great music that’s new to you, you can’t go wrong with any of these tunes.
1960
The year was 1960, and Elvis was still the King. Though America had officially entered the 1960s, the pop charts sounded a lot like the ’50s.
Ray Charles: “Georgia on My Mind”
Chubby Checker: “The Twist”
The Drifters: “Save the Last Dance for Me”
Connie Francis: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own”
Brian Hyland: “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini”
Brenda Lee: “I’m Sorry,” “I Want to Be Wanted”
Elvis Presley: “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” “It’s Now or Never,” “Stuck on You”
1961
The year 1961 saw a number of acts hit the top of the charts. Many of them were guys singing about their girls and groups of girls singing about their guys.
Dion: “Runaround Sue”
The Marvelettes: “Please Mr. Postman”
Ricky Nelson: “Travelin’ Man”
Del Shannon: “Runaway”
The Shirelles: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
The Tokens: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Bobby Vee: “Take Good Care of My Baby”
1962
More about guys and gals getting together and breaking up, but America was getting ready to dance, with hits like “Loco-Motion.”
The Crystals: “He’s a Rebel”
Shelley Fabares: “Johnny Angel”
The Four Seasons: “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry”
Little Eva: “Loco-Motion”
Neil Sedaka: “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”
The Shirelles: “Soldier Boy”
Bobby Vinton: “Roses Are Red (My Love)”
1963
The surf sound hit the top of the charts for the first time in ’63.
The Angels: “My Boyfriend’s Back”
The Chiffons: “He’s So Fine”
The Essex: “Easier Said than Done”
Lesley Gore: “It’s My Party”
Jan and Dean: “Surf City”
Bobby Vinton: “Blue Velvet,” “There! I’ve Said It Again”
1964
And then there were the Beatles. Not to be lost in the shuffle, the Supremes also started a run of hits in 1964 that would last throughout the decade.
The Animals: “House of the Rising Sun”
The Beach Boys: “I Get Around”
The Beatles: “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “I Feel Fine,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You”
The Dixie Cups: “Chapel of Love”
Martha and the Vandellas: “Dancing in the Street”
The Righteous Brothers: “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’”
The Supremes: “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Where Did Our Love Go”
1965
In 1965, the surf sound continued, the Byrds scored hits with their pop-friendly take on folk, and the Rolling Stones hit the charts, looking for some satisfaction.
The Beach Boys: “Help Me, Rhonda”
The Beatles: “Eight Days a Week,” “Help!” “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday”
The Byrds: “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”
The McCoys: “Hang On Sloopy”
The Rolling Stones: “Get Off of My Cloud,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Sonny and Cher: “I Got You Babe”
The Supremes: “Back in My Arms Again,” “I Hear a Symphony,” “Stop! In the Name of Love”
1966
In 1966, the Beatles, Supremes, and Rolling Stones continued to score hits. But take a look at some of the other chart-toppers, including a father/daughter combination and a made-for-TV foursome (the Monkees).
Four Tops: “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)”
Tommy James and the Shondells: “Hanky Panky”
The Mamas and the Papas: “Monday, Monday”
The Monkees: “I’m a Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville”
Frank Sinatra: “Strangers in the Night”
Nancy Sinatra: “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”
Percy Sledge: “When a Man Loves a Woman”
The Young Rascals: “Good Lovin’”
1967
After their solo chart-topping efforts in 1966, Nancy and Frank Sinatra decided to team up. And you didn’t think we could go two years without putting the Beatles, Stones, and Supremes on our list, did you?
The Beatles: “All You Need Is Love,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Penny Lane”
The Doors: “Light My Fire”
Aretha Franklin: “Respect”
Bobbie Gentry: “Ode to Billie Joe”
Lulu: “To Sir with Love”
The Rolling Stones: “Ruby Tuesday”
Nancy and Frank Sinatra: “Somethin’ Stupid”
The Supremes: “The Happening,” “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone”
1968
In 1968, more Motown stars hit the top with Marvin and Otis, and Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel had their first number one from the hit movie The Graduate (see Chapter 18 for a complete rundown on this recommended Friday-night rental).
The Beatles: “Hey Jude”
The Doors: “Hello, I Love You”
Marvin Gaye: “I Heard It through the Grapevine”
Tommy James and the Shondells: “Crimson and Clover”
The Rascals: “People Got to Be Free”
Otis Redding: “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay”
Simon and Garfunkel: “Mrs. Robinson”
Sly and the Family Stone: “Everyday People”
1969
Elvis was back in ’69 to close out the decade. And a young kid named Michael Jackson, along with his brothers, shot to the top.
The Beatles: “Come Together,” “Get Back”
The 5th Dimension: “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “In Wedding Bell Blues”
The Jackson 5: “I Want You Back”
Peter, Paul, and Mary: “Leaving on a Jet Plane”
Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds”
The Rolling Stones: “Honky Tonk Woman”
The Temptations: “I Can’t Get Next to You”