Amazingly, some really great singing groups and artists produced only one hit. In this “One Hit Wonder” post, we have initially identified 44 groups or artists (just added 741 more):
32 song playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqptie5CKN1hFWvj5DOqhE8BP0Qsfey27
Bruce Channel, Buffalo Springfield, Caroline Crawford, Debbie Dean, Mark Dinning, Gale Garnett, Astrude Gilberto, Rosie Hamlin (& The Originals), Eddie Holman, Iron Butterfly, Mercy, Curtis Lee, Julie London, Laurie London, Motherload, The Brooklyn Bridge (& Johnny Maestro), The Cascades, The Champs, The Contours, The Crystals, The Exciters, The Gentrys, The Hollywood Argyles, The Human Beinz, The Impalas, The Jamies, The Monotones, The Penguins, The Poni-Tails, The Reflections, The Rip Chords, Ronald & Ruby, Joanie Sommers, The Silhouettes, The String-A-Longs, The Teddy Bears, Doris Troy, Robin Ward, Singing Sammy Ward, Maurice Williams, Kathy Young, Zager and Evans and ? & The Mysterians.
Our recent research has uncovered 336 One Hit Wonders from the 1950s as well as 405 from the 1960s. Our source is: playback.fm (the only free radio web app to listen to recordings dating back to 1900).
Here are the 336 One Hit Wonders from the 1950s:
Adams, Marie I’m Gonna Play the Honky Tonks1952 https://youtu.be/Gc2HoZcFutI
Afterworld A Prison Without Walls1950
Allen, Annisteen Baby I’m Doing It1953
Allison, Gene You Can Make It if You Try1957 https://youtu.be/tP5CggGf2G8
Anderson, Leroy Blue Tango1952
Andrews, Lee & The Hearts Teardrops1957
Anthony, Ray & His Orchestra Peter Gunn1959 https://youtu.be/mLXN_7P95Uo
Archibald Stak-A ‘Lee1950 https://youtu.be/CiWQmKmMzb0
Arden, Toni Too Young 1951
Austin, Sil Slow Walk1956
Barber, Chris (Jazz Band) Petite Fleur1959
Baretto, Marino Jr Arrivederci1959
Barnes, Benny Poor Man’s Riches1956
Barton, Eileen If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d Have Baked You a Cake1950 https://youtu.be/GLLiBdSnHLw
Baxter, Les & His Orchestra Poor People of Paris1956
Bertelmann, Fred Der lachende Vagabund1957
Bieyer, Archie Hernando’s Hideaway1954
Bittencourt, Lana Little Darling1958 https://youtu.be/qRfnFixqcPQ
Blyth, Ann The Loveliest Night of the Year1951
Bowen, Jimmy I’m Sticking with You1957
Boze, Calvin & His All Stars Safronia B1950
Bradshaw, Carolyn Marriage of Mexican Joe1953
Brenston, Jackie Rocket 88 1951
Brokken, Corry Net als toen1957
Brown, Wini Be Anything – Be Mine1952
Bruni, Sergio Surriento d’ ‘e ‘nnammurate1950
Buchanan & Goodman The Flying Saucer1956
Busch, Lou Sambezi1956
Butler, Champ Down Yonder1951
Byrd, Roy & His Blues Jumpers Bald Head1950
Carol, Reno Rote Rosen, rote Lippen, roter Wein1952
Caron, Leslie & Mel Ferrer Hi Lili, Hi Lo1954 https://youtu.be/2NiMl4DOews
Carosone, Renato Maruzzella1956
Carson, Mindy My Foolish Heart1950
Cash, June Carter Juke Box Blues1956 https://youtu.be/SicY3i-djfw
Ceasar, Little Goodbye Baby1952
Charms Heart of Stone1954 https://youtu.be/dlmqDv6p2dM
Church, Eugene Pretty Girls Everywhere1959
Clark, Sanford The Fool1956
Claveau, Andre Cerisier Rose & Pommier Blanc1950
Club Argentina Oh Billy Boy1957
Cody, Betty I Found Out More than You Ever Knew1953
Constantine, Eddie The Little Boy and the Old Man1955
Cooper, Wilma Lee There’s a Big Wheel1959
Cordy, Annie Ballad of Davy Crockett1956 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l-vGL-Mn8tZSsNGcVMAdBkWwlJvZ2PgKo
Cotton, Billy The Petite Waltz1951
Cotton, Billy & His Band In a Golden Coach1953
Culley, Frank After Hours Session1950
Daminio, Joe Forever1959
Das Lukas TrioSei Zufrieden mit dem Heute1957
Day, Bobby Rockin’ Robin1958 https://youtu.be/uLF3YZIjucs
Day, Dennis Mona Lisa1950 https://youtu.be/kNpbIPwRKSM
de Knegt, Joop Ik sta op wacht1957
de Oliveira, Dalva Olhos Verdes1950
De Voght, Jaak Kaspische Zee1956
Dean, Eddie I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven1955
Decker, Diana Poppa Piccolino1953
Denny, Martin Quiet Village1959
Desmond, Johnny Yellow Rose of Texas1955 https://youtu.be/vZjNrb95YRs
Die Sieben Raben Smokie1956
Dies, Werner Schuster Bleib Bei Deinen Leisten1954
Dixon, Willie Walking the Blues1955 https://youtu.be/E6RavtCBdDk
Dobkins, Carl Jr My Heart is a Open Book1959
Dorelli, Johnny Julia1959
Douglass, Craig Only Sixteen1959
Dreamweavers It’s Almost Tomorrow1956
Driftwood, Jimmy The Battle of New Orleans1959
Duff, Arlie You All Come1954
Edwards, Jimmy Love Bug Crawl1958
Evans, Paul Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat1959 https://youtu.be/jWgP0MOUQH4
Fabian Tiger1959 https://youtu.be/yeKZ3Yu0Zkw
Faith, Percy Orchestra The Song from Moulin Rouge1953 https://youtu.be/qXf26Ru2r0o
Fell, Terry Don’t Drop It1954
Ferrer, Jose Woman (Uh-Huh)1954
Fields, Ernie In the Mood1959
Fierro, Aurelio Scapricciatiello1955
Fisher, Herb I’m Yours to Keep1950
Flanagan, Ralph Rag Mop1950
Foley, Betty Old Moon1959
Ford, Emily & The Checkmates What Do You Want to Make Eyes at Me For1959
Ford, Frankie Sea Cruise1959https://youtu.be/0N0UekNR-FY
Forest, Earl Whoopin’ and Hollerin’1953
Francesdo, Silvio Hey, Mr. Banjo1955
Francois, Jacqueline Les Lavandieres du Portugal1955
Freborg, Stan St. George & the Dragonette1953
Freeman, Bobby Do You Want to Dance1958 https://youtu.be/DoPrdafheG4
Freeman, Ernie Raunchy1958
Fritz, JoeI Love You My Darlin’1950
Garlow, Clarence Bon Ton Routa1950
Genter, Shirley Oop Shoop1954 https://youtu.be/lC-FkM89vms
Gerardi, Alcides Antonico1950
Gilkyson, Terry & the Easy Riders Marianne1957
Giraud, Yvette April in Portugal1950
Glenn, Darrell Crying in the Chapel1953
Glenn, Lloyd Chica Boo1951
Godfrey, John Trio Hey Little Girl1951
Golgowsky Quartett Am 30, Mai ist der Weltuntergang1954
Goodwin, Ron Terry’s Theme from Limelight1953
Gordon, Roscoe & His Orchestra Saddle the Cow1952
Gracie, Charlie Butterfly1957
Grammer, Billy Gotta Travel On1959
Grant, Earl The End1958
Grant, Gogi Wayward Wind1956 https://youtu.be/2Ga7OkZRJY4
Green, Larry & His Orchestra Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered1950
Greer, Big John Got You on My Mind1952
Griffith, Andy What It Was, Was Football1954
Grissom, Jimmy Once There Lived a Fool1951
Gross, Felix Love for Christmas1950
Guitar Slim The Things That I Used to Do1954
Hamilton, Russ Rainbow1957
Harris, Thurston Little Bitty Pretty One1957 https://youtu.be/Uekt_tsHjcw
Hawkins, Dale Susie Q1957 https://youtu.be/1TWrFuPtZ18
Hawkins, Ronnie Mary Lou1959
Hawkins, Screamin’ Jay I Put a Spell On You1956
Hayes, Bill Ballad of Davy Crockett1955
Heap, Jimmy Release Me1954
Heimatsanger, Die Kohlerliesel1957
Hendricks, Bobby Itchy Twitchy Feeling1958
Hensch, Friedel Heideroslein1954
Holliday, Michael The Story of My Life1958
Holmes, Leroy The High & The Mighty1954
Hope, Lynn Tenderly1950
Houston, Joe Worry, Worry, Worry1952
Howard, Don Oh Happy Day1952 https://youtu.be/rFE6f10E_2E
Howard, Eddy & His Orchestra Auf Wiedershe’n Sweetheart1952
Hula Hawaiian Orchestra Jim. Johnny & Jonas1955
Hunter, Tab Young Love1957 https://youtu.be/maEdj2qeEnY
Hyman, Dick Mack the Knife1956 https://youtu.be/LNjb2iYLr08
Jacquet, Illinois & His Orchestra Port of Rico1952
Jary, Michael Keine Angst vor grossen Tieren1953
Jenkins, Gus Tricky1956
Jimmy & Johnny If You Don’t Somebody Else Will1954
Johnnie & Joe Over the Mountain, Across the Sea1957
Johns, Bibi Die Gipsy-Band1955
Johnson, Bubber Come Home1955
Johnson, Teddy Beloved, Be Faithful1951
Jones, Grant I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water1951
Justis, Bill Raunchy1957
Justis, Bill & His Orchestra Raunchy1958
Kalin Twins When1958
Karas, Anton Third Man Theme1950
Kari, Sax Orchestra Daughter (That’s Your Red Wagon)1953
Keller, Jerry Here Comes the Summer1959
Kelly, Gene Singin’ in the Rain1952 https://youtu.be/StB2WR4Hwdo
Kid King’s Combo Banana Split1953
Kilima Hawaiians Es hangt ein Pferdehalfter an der Wand1953
King, Earl Those Lonely, Lonely Nights1955
King, Earl “Conelly”Don’t Take It So Hard1955
King, Jewel 3 x 7 = 21 1950
King, Pee Wee & His Golden West Cowboys Backward1954
Kirk, Red Lose Your Blues1950
Knox, Buddy Party Doll1957 https://youtu.be/subQklC5U_g
Lasso, Gloria Etranger Au Paradis1954
Lee, Albert Mama, Come Get Your Baby Boy1953
Lee, Jimmy My Heart’s Desire1952
Leen, Tante Oh Johnny1956
Lemarque, Francis Le Petit Cordonnier1954
Lenoir, J. B. Mama Talk to Your Daughter1955
London, Julie Cry Me a River1955 https://youtu.be/gCGNYJOrebA
London, Laurie He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands1958
Lucas, Buddy & His Band of Tomorrow Diane1952
Luke, Robin Susie Darlin’1958
MacKenzie, Gisele Hard to Get1955
Mangano, Silvana Anna (The Baion)1953
Mann, Gloria Teen Age Prayer1955
Marini, Marino More Than Ever1958
Marlene Lata D’agua1952
Mars, Mitzi I’m Glad1953
Marterie, Ralph Skokiaan1954
Martindale, Wink Deck of Cards1959
McGill, Rollee There Goes That Train1955
McGriff, Edna Heavenly Father1952
McNelley, Big Jay & Band There is Something on My Mind1959
Messner, Bud Slippin’ Around with Jole Blon1950
Micheyl, Mick Un Gamin De Paris1951
Mickey & Sylvia Love is Strange1957 https://youtu.be/iWlZd_Hrg2E
Mitchell, Freddie & His Orchestra Easter Boogie1950
Monroe, Marilyn River of No Return1954 https://youtu.be/MILQU_xcUvk
Montand, Yves Autumn Leaves1950
Monteiro, Doris Mocinho Bonito1957
Moreno, Dario Je Vais Revoir ma Blonde1956
Morgan, Jaye P. That’s All I Want From You1954
Morrow, Buddy Night Train1952 https://youtu.be/l9JMRPPCzBE
Murolo, Roberto Anema E Core1952
Murray, Ruby Softly Softly1955
Nelson, Jimmy “T99″T99 Blues1951
Nervous Norvus Transfusion1956
Ney, Nora Ninguem Me Ama1952
O’Connell, Helen Slow Poke1952
O’Day, Anita Tennessee Waltz1951
Original Casuals So Tough1958
Otis, Johnny & His Orchestra Rockin’ Blues1950
Overbea, Danny Train, Train, Train1953
Owen, Reg Orchestra Manhattan Spiritual1959
Parker, Fess Ballad of Davy Crockett1955
Patience & Prudence Tonight You Belong to Me1956
Peixoto, Cauby Conceicao1956
Phillips, Phil & The Twilights Sea of Love1959
Powell, Bud Un Poco Loco1951
Professor Longhair Tipitina1953
Pryor, Cactus Cry of the Dying Duck in Thunderstorm1950
Rascel, Renato Te voglio bene1954
Red Red Meat Steal Away1950
Reese, Della Don’t You Know1959
Reynolds, Jody Endless Sleep1958
Robert & Johnny We Belong Together1958
Robin, Claude Ave Maria No Morro1955
Robinson, Floyd Makin’ Love1959
Rockingham’s, Lord XI Hoots Mon1958
Ros, Edmundo Melodie D’amour1958
Royal Teens Short Shorts1958
Roza, Lita How Much is that Doggy in the Window1953
Ruby, Sunshine Too Young to Tango1953
Rush, Otis I Can’t Quit You Baby1956
Russell, Ellie Manbo Italiano1954
Sands, Jodie With All My Heart1957
Sands, Tommy Teenage Crush1957
Santos and Johnny Sleep Walk1959 https://youtu.be/co0qrS8wUaQ
Sauer, Wolfgang Cindy, Oh Cindy1957
Sauvage, Catherine Paris Canaille1952
Schoepen, Bobbejean Ik sta op wacht1957
Scholten, Teddy Fen Beetje Meer1959
Sharpe, Ray Linda Lu1959
Shibley, Arkie Hot Rod Race1951
Slay, Emitt Trio My Kind of Woman1953
Smith, Carl Your Name is Beautiful1958
Smith, Huey “Paino” Rocking Pneumonia & The Boggie Woggie1958 https://youtu.be/-WWlwgoAxPE
Smith, Huey “Paino” & The Clowns Don’t You Just Know It1958
Snyder, Bill Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered1950
Sosebee, Tommy Till I Waltz Again with You1953
Standley, Johnny It’s in the Book1952
Stapleton, Cyril Orchestra Blue Star1955
Steele, Tommy Singing the Blues1957
Stevens, Dodie Pink Shoe Laces1959 https://youtu.be/6Oc2hZpJuXI
Stoloff, Morris Moonglow & Theme from Picnic1956
Storm, Gale I Hear You Knockin’1955 https://youtu.be/rQXx1jsj3rE
Sullivan, Gene Please Pass the Biscuits1958
Terry, Al Good Deal, Lucille1954
The Beverly Sisters I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus1953 https://youtu.be/PumBRJFnpCE
The Big Bopper Chantilly Lace1958 https://youtu.be/ERy2KJ61_Xg
The Bobbettes Mr. Lee1957
The Cadets Stranded in the Jungle1956
The Cadillacs Speedo1955
The Champs Tequila1958 https://youtu.be/U_JFLb1IItM
The Cheers Black Demim Trousers1955
The Chipmunks Christmas Don’t Be Late1958
The Chords Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)1954 https://youtu.be/lXh19yDFO84
The Cleftones Little Girls of Mine1956
The Colts Adorable1955
The Coronets Nadine1953
The Counts Darling Dear1954
The Crescendos Oh Julie1958
The Crests 16 Candles1959 https://youtu.be/qeEeyCON2cU
The Crickets You’re Mine1953
The Crows Gee1953
The Danderliers Chop Chop Boom1955
The Danleers One Summer Night1958 https://youtu.be/O5m4mMBIPKE
The Davis Sisters I Forgot More than You’ll Ever Know1953
The De Castro Sisters Teach Me Tonight1954
The El Dorados At My Front Door1955
The Elegants Little Star1958
The Fiestas So Fine1959
The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi Our Father (Which Art in Heaven)1950
The Four Buddies I Will Wait1951
The Four Fellows Soldier Boy1955 https://youtu.be/cfdS13OUJug
The Four Knights I Get So Lonely1954
The G-Clefs Ka-Ding Dong1956
The Gladiolas Little Darlin’1957 https://youtu.be/9IeR_Agn3w0
The Griffin Brothers Hoppin’1951
The Heartbeats A Thousand Miles Away1956
The Hearts Lonely Nights1955
The Hollywood Flames Buzz, Buzz, Buzz1957
The Impalas Sorry, I Ran All the Way Home1959
The Imperials Tears on My Pillow1958 https://youtu.be/x33hBl5HIi0
The Jacks Why Don’t You Write Me1955
The Jive Bombers Bad Boy1957
The Kingston Trio Tom Dooley1958 https://youtu.be/I8grIno58BM
The Marigolds Rollin’ Stone1955
The Mello-Kings Tonite, Tonite1957
The Mello-Moods Where Are You 1952
The Monotones Book of Love1958 https://youtu.be/9Z_rzScV3TM
The Mystics Hushabye1959
The Nutmegs Story Untold1955
The Nutty Squirrels Uh! Oh! Part 2 1959
The Obernkirchen Childrens Choir Happy Wanderer1954
The Pastels Been So Long1958
The Penguins Earth Angel1954 https://youtu.be/-j6OAEOcNCE
The Poni Tails Born Too Late1958 https://youtu.be/p64nDdoniIA
The Quin-Tones Down the Aisle of Love1958
The Rays Silhouettes1957
The Royals Get It1953
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra The Children’s Marching Song1952
The Silhouettes Get a Job1958 https://youtu.be/mHizexVWcVc
The Six Teens A Casual Look1956
The Skyliners Since I Don’t Have You1959
The Spacemen The Clouds1959
The Tarriers The Banana Boat Song1956
The Teddy Bears To Know Him is to Love Him1958 https://youtu.be/DVieaWu0sLg
The Teen Queens Eddie My Love1956
The Treniers Go! Go! Go!1951
The Tune Weavers Happy, Happy Birthday Baby1957
The Turbans When You Dance You Can Really Love1955
The Vibrations Stranded in the Jungle1956
The Vocaleers Is It a Dream1953
The Wailers Tall Cool One1959 https://youtu.be/5AH7cS2KZS8
Thorton, Big Momma Hound Dog1953 https://youtu.be/pam1eUkWfFM
Todd, Art & Dotty Broken Wings1953
Travis & Bob Tell Him No1959 https://youtu.be/fjeBKlSLgt0
Trio de Ouro Ave Maria 1950 https://youtu.be/mLzNMUXp_5Y
Turzy, Jane Sweet Violets1951
Tuttle, Marilyn Never1954
Valli, June Crying in the Chapel1953 https://youtu.be/h8xxo_i4Y9M
Veiga, Jorge Café Socaite1955
Walter, Little & His Night Cats Sad Hours1953
Ward, Joe Nuttin for Christmas1955
Wayne, Bobby Wheel of Fortune1952
Waynes, James Tend to Your Business1951
Weber, Joan Let Me Go Lover1955 https://youtu.be/3sPFGpCfe54
Weir, Frank Happy Wanderer1954
Wetzel, Jean Le Grisbi1954
Whitlock, Billy Hop Scotch Polka1950
Wilcox, David Everywhere1955
Wilcox, Eddie Wheel of Fortune1952
Wiley, Ed Jr. Cry, Cry Baby1950 https://youtu.be/ez6e4mpQnwg
Williams, Billy I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter1957 https://youtu.be/uPE3uaPMkUE
Williams, Joe Every Day I Have the Blues1952
Williamson, Sonny Boy Don’t Start Me Talkin’1955
Wills, Johnie Lee Rag Mop1950
Wilson, Jim Daddy, You Know What1955
Wilson, Jimmy Tin Pan Alley1953 https://youtu.be/9YMGOo4z34Q
Wood, Del Down Yonder1951
Wray, Link Rumble1958
Wright, Johnny Stop the World1958
Young, Victor & His Orchestra The High & The Mighty1954
Zen Whiskys Und Ein Soda Wir Wir Wir Haben Ein Klavier1954
Zilda, Ze da Saca-Rolha1954
Listing of 405 One Hit Wonders from the 1960s:
Acklin, Barbara Love Makes a Woman1968
Adams, Johnny Reconsider Me1969
Akens, Jewel The Birds & The Bees1965
Anderson, Liz Mama Spank1967
Andrews, Ruby Cassanova1967
Ashley, Leon Flower of Love1968
Azzam, Bob Mustapha1960
Backus, Gus Der Mann im Mond1961
Ball, Kenny & His Jazzmen Midnight in Moscow1962
Banks, Darrell Open the Door to Your Heart1966
Barnes, J. J. Baby Please Come Back Home1967
Bartley, Chris The Sweetest Thing This Sound of Heaven1967
Baugh, Phil Country Guitar1965
Beavers, Clyde Here I Am Drunk Again1960
Bendix, Ralf Baby Sittin’ Boogie1961
Berry, Dave This Strange Effect1965
Bilk, Acker Stranger on the Shore1962
Bindi, Umberto II Nostro concerto1960
Birkin, Jane Je T’Aime1969
Black, Cilla You’re My World1964 https://youtu.be/MvEDNqM5STI
Black, Jeanne He’ll Have to Stay1960
Black, Roy Ganz in weiss1966
Bland, Billy Let the Little Girl Dance1960
Blue Cheer Summertime Blues1968 https://youtu.be/o4vIlg4alz8
Bob & Earl Harlem Shuffle1964
Booker, James Gonzo1961
Bowman, Don Chit Akins, Make Me a Star1964
Boyer, Jacqueline Tom Pillibi1960
Bradley, Jan Mama Didn’t Lie1963
Brasseur, Andre Early Bird1965
Brennan, Walter Old Rivers1962
Brown, Buster Fannie Mae1960
Brubeck, Dave Take Five1961 https://youtu.be/ryA6eHZNnXY
Bruhl, Heidi Wir wollen niemals auseinandergehn1960
Bryant, Anita Paper Roses1960 https://youtu.be/BMeSF6Tpt5g
Buck, Gary Happy to Be Unhappy1963
Bull and the Matadors The Funky Judge1968
Burnette, Johnny You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful (and You’re Mine)1960 https://youtu.be/sYT6eRx84GQ
Butler, Billy & The Chanters I Can’t Work No Longer1965
C.O.D.’s Michael1965
Campbell, Jo Ann (I’m the Girl from) Wolverton Mountain1962
Cannibal & The Headhunters Land of 1000 Dances1965
Cannon, Ace Tuff1961
Carr, Vikki It Must Be Him1967 https://youtu.be/C-E8IX61iSs
Cash, Alvin Twine Time1964
Cash, Alvin & The CrawlersTwine Time1965
Castor, Jimmy Hey, Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You1966
Casuals Jesamine1968
Channel, Bruce Hey Baby1962 https://youtu.be/zNiALFHyLH0
Charles, Jimmy A Million to One1960
Christie, Lou Lightnin’ Strikes1966 https://youtu.be/UMskYRWVu9A
Christophe Aline1965
Cinquetti, Gigliola Non Ho L’Eta Per Amarti1964
Clark, Claudine Party Lights1962
Clarke, Tony The Entertainer1965
Classics IV Spooky1968 https://youtu.be/lKBynY99350
Clifford, Buzz Baby Sittin’ Boogie1961
Club Honolulu Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Honolulu Strand bikini1960 https://youtu.be/3l-Bcgv0YXo
Conniff, Ray Somewhere My Love1966 https://youtu.be/1thos17eJ0c
Costa, Don Never on Sunday1960
Couch, Orville Hello Trouble1963
Count Five Psychotic Reaction1966 https://youtu.be/lrsGz6mQuN4
Criss, Sonny And the Beat Goes On1967
Crockett, G. L. It’s a Man Down There1965
Dale & Grace I’m Leaving it All Up to You1963 https://youtu.be/RBhGIH9c4TI
Darren, James Goodbye Cruel World1961
Davies, Dave Death of a Clown1967
Dekker, Desmond & the Aces Israelites1969
DeShannon, Jackie Put a Little Love in Your Heart1969 https://youtu.be/CZ8K1sRibCY
Dick & Dee Dee The Mountain’s High1961
Die Tahiti-Tamoures Wini-Wini1963
Dinning, Mark Teen Angel1960 https://youtu.be/rBmApe-frZY
Dirksen, Senator Everett McKinley Gallant Men1966
Don & Juan What’s Your Name1962
Donaggio, Pinolo che non vivo (senza te)1965
Dorman, Harold Mountain of Love1960
Dove, Ronnie Right or Wrong1964
Dutronc, Jacques Les Playoys1966
Edwards, Bobby You’re the Reason1961
Elliot, Cass Dream a Little Dream of Me1968 https://youtu.be/v8I5vDewcZo
Elliot, Shawn Shame & Scandel in the Family1965
Emery, Ralph Hello Fool1961
Fabares, Shelley Johnny Angel1962 https://youtu.be/lyn7sBLamI4
Fabric, Bent Alley Cat Song1962
Fairport Convention Si tu dois partir1969
Farlowe, Chris Out of Time1966
Feliciano, Jose Light My Fire1968 https://youtu.be/VKt59tQo2SE
Fontana, Jimmy II Mondo1965
Fontana, Wayne & The Mindbenders The Game of Love1965 https://youtu.be/rzh0TAon7Bc
Foxx, Inez & Charlie Mockingbird1963
Francois, Claude J’y Pense et Puis J’oublie1964
Fred, John & His Playboy Band Judy in Disguise1968 https://youtu.be/I0bLoaVFpTQ
Freddie & The Dreamers I’m Telling You Now1965 https://youtu.be/CNguW_pY0NE
Froboess, Conny Zwei kleine Italiener1962
Gall, France Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son1965
Garrick, David Dear Mrs. Applebee1966
George, Barbara I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)1962
Godfrey, Ray The Picture1960
Goodwin, Bill Shoes of a Fool1963
Gorme, Eydie Blame It On the Bossa Nova1963 https://youtu.be/sn4Fly9cOn0
Granata, Rocco Marina1960
Grandpa Jones T For Texas1963
Greaves, R.B. Take a Letter Maria1969 https://youtu.be/DSbXNjsLdRM
Green, Garland Jealous Kind of Fella1969
Greene, Lorne Ringo1964
Hall, Connie Fool Me Once1963
Harris, Richard MacArthur Park1968 https://youtu.be/sD-zTwi3_GU
Harris, Rolf Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport1963
Hawkins, Edwin Singers Oh Happy Day1969 https://youtu.be/KJohGa66FJM
Hawkins, Sam Hold on Baby1965
Head, Roy Treat Her Right1965
Hebb, Bobby Sunny1966
Herold, Ted Moonlight1960
Hill, Jesse Ooh Poo Pah Do1960
Hinton, Joe Funny (How Time Slips Away)1964
Hirt, Al Java1964 https://youtu.be/e1APLQb7L5w
Hodges, Eddie I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door1961
Holiday, Jimmy How Can I Forget1963
Holland, Eddie Jamie1962
Holloway, Brenda Every Little Bit Hurts1964 https://youtu.be/lfBXQhJ8yeM
Hughes, Fred Oo Wee Baby, I Love You1965
Humble Pie Natural Born Bugie1969
Ingmann, Grethe Dansevise1963
Ingmann, Jergen Apache1961
Iron Butterfly In-A-Godda-Da-Vida1968 https://youtu.be/XugIsZbTFy0
Irving, Lonnie Pinball Machine1960
Jackson, Deon Love Makes the World Go Around1966
Jackson, J.J. But It’s Alright1966
Jan & Kjeld Banjo Boy1960
Jay and the Techniques Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie1967 https://youtu.be/jEPSrdA8kbY
John, Mable Your Good Thing (Its About to End)1966
Johnny A. Memphis, Tennessee1964
Jones, Etta Don’t Go to Strangers1960 https://youtu.be/SgNXTPEsbac
Jones, Joe You Talk Too Much1960
Jones, Robert T. Green Onions1962
Kaempfert, Bert Wonderland by Night1960 https://youtu.be/6R5wpe33SmQ
Kaempfert, Bert & His Orchestra Wonderland by Night1961
K-Doe, Ernie Mother-In-Law1961 https://youtu.be/G-_yzi3yhvQ
Kendrick, Nat & The Swans (Do the) Mashed Potatoes1960. https://youtu.be/–1fKgkuNbk
Kenner, Chris I Like It Like That1961
Kilgore, Theola The Love of My Man1963
Knight, Robert Everlasting Love1967 https://youtu.be/kM0aHO-KKl4
Kramer, Billy J., & The Dakotas Little Children1964
Kraus, Peter Sweety1962
Launch, Peter & die Regenpfeifer Das Kommit vom Redern, das dommt vom SegeIn1964
Lavett, Betty My Man – He’s a Lovin Man1963
Lawrence, Steve Go Away Little Girl1963 https://youtu.be/gQvdmIWT0Mg
Leatherwood, Bill The Long Walk1960
Lee, Curtis Pretty Little Angel Eyes1961 https://youtu.be/TK-XP4cCKPk
Lee, Jackie The Duck1965
Lester, Ketty Love Letters1962 https://youtu.be/XJ25rZMUNFQ
Lewis, Gary & The Playboys This Diamond Ring1965 https://youtu.be/xfEdQUxEh9g
Lewis, Ramsey Wade in the Water1966
Leyton, John Johnny Remember Me1961
Lolita Seemann, deine Heimat ist das Meer1960
Long, Frederic Earl “Shorty”Here Comes the Judge1968
Los Bravos Black is Black1966 https://youtu.be/LkgyV_tTQfQ
Los Indios Tabajaras Maria Elena1963 https://youtu.be/y4dljMqW31g
Los Machucambos Pepito1961
Love, Darlene Today I Met The Boy I’m Going to Marry1963 https://youtu.be/vyiMMbUtavs
Lynn, Barbara You’ll Lose a Good Thing1962
Mack, Lonnie Memphis 1963
Makeba, Miriam Pata Pata1967
Malmkvist, Siw Liefeskummer Iohnt sich nicht1964
Mann, Barry Who Put the Bomp1961 https://youtu.be/aumW5e28xic
Mann, Carl Deep Water1967
Manuella Schuld war ner der Bossa Nova1963
March, Peggy I Will Follow Him1963 https://youtu.be/a9PkxeJ4SMM
Marchan, Bobby There’s Something on Your Mind1960
Mardel, Guy N’avoue Jamais1965
Maresca, Ernie Shout Sout (Knock Yourself Out)1962
Masekela, Hugh Grazing in the Grass1968
Mathis, Johnny “Country” Please Talk to My Heart1963 https://youtu.be/dEUNSj7Qbrs
Mayer, Nathaniel Village of Love1962
McCall, Darrell A Stranger Was Here1963
McCall, Tousaint Nothing Takes the Place of You1967
McGriff, Jimmy I’ve Got a Woman1962
McGuire, Barry Eve of Destruction1965 https://youtu.be/_38SWIIKITE
McKenzie, Scott San Francisco1967 https://youtu.be/wuEqAVa3n9k
Mercouri, Maria Amalia “Melina”Never on Sunday, Les enfants du piree 1960
Michelle Se mi vuoi lasciare1963
Mills, Gary Look for a Star1960
Mimms, Garnet Cry Baby1963 https://youtu.be/dCXtKgG1rzA
Mitchell, Willie Soul Serenade1968
Mitchum, Robert Little Old Wine Drinker Me1967
Mo, Billy Ich kauf’ mir lieber einen Tirolerhut1963
Montenegro, Hugo The Good the Bad & the Ugly1968 https://youtu.be/kHfbzoq-grE
Montez, Chris Let’s Dance1962
Moore, Bob Mexico1961
Moore, Bobby & The Rhythm Aces Searching for My Love1966
Morandi, Gianni In ginocchio da te1964
Napoleon XIV They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!1966
Nelson, Bill Certain1965
New Vaudeville Band Winchester Cathedral1966 https://youtu.be/2pdRKBqrH3M
Newman, Thunderclap Something in the Air1969
Nobles, Cliff & Co The Horse1968
Ofarim, Esther & Abi Cinderella Rockefella1968 https://youtu.be/Cvid4plNuok
O’Neal, Coleman Mr. Heartache, Move On1963
Parker, Robert Barefootin’1966 https://youtu.be/2VZakvxRD44
Pascal, Jean-Claude Nous Les Amoureux1961
Pearl, Minnie Giddyup Go – Answer1966 https://youtu.be/ryOKZd365_s
Pericoli, Emilio Al Di La1962
Perrin, Pierre Un Clair de Lune a Maubeuge1962
Petersen, Paul My Dad1962
Phillips, Charlie I Guess I’ll Never Learn1962
Pickett, Bobby “Boris” & The Crypt Kickers The Monster Mash1962 https://youtu.be/bRLML36HnzU
Polnareff, Michel Love Me, Please Love Me1966
Pullins, Leroy I’m a Nut1966
Purify, James & Bobby I’m Your Puppet1966 https://youtu.be/rYyCdHUJfb4
Ray, James If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody1961
Reid, Clarence Nobody But You Babe1969
Renis, Tony Quando, Quando, Quando1962
Reno and Smiley Don’t Let Your Sweet Love Die1961
Reno, Jack Repeat After Me1967
Riddle, Allan The Moon is Crying1960
Robinson, Roscoe That’s Enough1966
Rogers, Julie The Wedding1964
Roland W. Monja1968
Ronny Oh My Darling Caroline1964
Rosie & The Originals Angle Baby1960 https://youtu.be/62i4-WAHePc
Ross, Jackie Selfish One1964
Rosso, Nini II Silenzio1965
Roy C Shotgun Wedding1966
Ruby and the Romantics Our Day Will Come1963 https://youtu.be/i6FpsXojEoQ
Rush, Merrilee Angel of the Morning1968 https://youtu.be/stngGiMrn5U
Ryan, Charlie Hot Rod Lincoln1960
Sadler, Barry Ballad of the Green Berets1966 https://youtu.be/BugBwt2ESpo
Santamaria, Mongo Watermelon Man1963 https://youtu.be/s7PNQ_oIYyM
Sarstedt, Peter. Where Do You Go to My Lovely1969
Sceur Sourire Dominique1963 https://youtu.be/wtDR5MwGpXs
Scott, Earl Then a Tear Fell1962
Scott, Freddie Are You Lonely for Me1966
Scott, Linda I’ve Told Every Little Star1961 https://youtu.be/wZYWjYTVPog
Sherman, Allan Hello Muddah Hello Faddah1963
Shondell, Troy This Time1961
Smith, Jack Whistling I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman1967
Smith, Jimmy Walk on the Wild Side1962
Smith, Lou Cruel Love1960
Smith, Ocie Little Green Apples1968
Soul Survivors Expressway to Your Heart1967
Soul, Jimmy If You Wanna Be Happy1963 https://youtu.be/fxUY-99TPRY
Sounds Orchestral Cast Your Fate to the Wind1965 https://youtu.be/IvSosUvU__8
St. Peters, Crispian Pied Piper1966
Staffford, Terry Suspicion1964 https://youtu.be/_DrDq_2ZKQI
Starr, Lucille The French Song1964
Stephens, Ott Robert E. Lee1963
Stevens, Connie Sixteen Reasons1960 https://youtu.be/gATwzVx1lCs
Stewart, Andy A Scottish Soldier (Green Hills of Tyrol)196
Stewart, Vernon. The Way It Feels to Die1963
Strawberry Alarm Clock Incense & Peppermints1967 https://youtu.be/idJzMSKaHaw
Strong, Barrett Money (That’s What I Want)1960 https://youtu.be/bNND0AvhnyQ
Sugar Pie DeSanto I Want to Know1960
Sunny & The Sunliners Talk to Me1963
Swann, Bettye Make Me Yours1967
Taylor, Bobby Does Your Mama Know About Me1968
Taylor, Gloria Ann You Got to Pay the Price1969
Taylor, Koko Wang Dang Doodle1966
Temple, Nino & April Stevens Deep Purple1963 https://youtu.be/KkO7_lIt9r0
Tha Valentinos Lookin’ for A Love1962
The Ad Libs The Boy from New York City1965
The Allisons Are You Sure?1961
The Amboy Dukes Journey to the Center of the Mind1968
The Angels My Boyfriend’s Back1963 https://youtu.be/fEfLMod-Wqk
The Ballads God Bless Our Love1968
The Blue Diamonds Ramona1960
The Bobby Fuller Four I Fought the Law1966 https://youtu.be/rZ5v8L08Flg
The Brookln Bridge Worst that Could Happen1969 https://youtu.be/tbNC7a_mdgY
The Brothers Four Greenfields1960 https://youtu.be/OcjuOJooQzo
The Buckinghams Kind of a Drag1967 https://youtu.be/QSqg1NqBKGE
The Capitols Cool Jerk1966https://youtu.be/R73iEOvkr10
The Capris There’s a Moon Out Tonight1961
The Caravelles You Don’t Have to Be a Baby to Cry1963
The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain1963 https://youtu.be/AtEKXIQCwYw
The Chantays Pipeline1963 https://youtu.be/4fc57tYou4U
The Checkmates, Ltd Black Pearl1969
The Contours Do You Love Me?1962 https://youtu.be/uRsoWlYMO-4
The Corsairs Smoky Places1961
The Cyrkle Red Rubber Ball1966 https://youtu.be/rxRfbJvjsN8
The Dixie Drifter Soul Heaven1965
The Duprees You Belong to Me1962 https://youtu.be/fp7dLyRfvGw
The Easybeats Friday on My Mind1967
The Equals Baby Come Back1968 https://youtu.be/NNjbdL70dMMb
The Essex Easier Said Than Done1963 https://youtu.be/TT3ivugR2eY
The Exciters Tell Him1963 https://youtu.be/6ajcWXyDv6A
The Fantastic Four The Whole World is a Stage1967
The Fantastic Johnny C Boogaloo Down Broadway1967
The Fendermen Mule Skinner Blues1960
The Fireballs (Jimmy Gilmer) Sugar Shack1963 https://youtu.be/aJwXbZAoI_A
The Five Americans Western Union1967 https://youtu.be/UJexPMk7pxo
The Flirtations Nothing but a Heartache1969 https://youtu.be/PBrNklk1aUI
The Flying Machine Smile a Little Smile for Me1969 https://youtu.be/QSQEiQaABRM
The Glass House Crumbs off the Table1969
The Happenings See You in September1966 https://youtu.be/LhEg3cds2ck
The Harden Trio Tippy Toeing1966
The Hesitations Born Free1968
The Highwaymen Michael Row the Boat1961 https://youtu.be/Gb_rdc0gR5M
The Holidays I’ll Love You Forever1966
The Hollywood Argyles Alley-opp1960 https://youtu.be/SeU5CjSoRZ8
The Honeycombs Have I the Right1964 https://youtu.be/LAvF6tfMCq8
The Human Beinz Nobody But Me1967 https://youtu.be/f3HpZNE1Z9k
The Ikettes I’m Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)1962
The Intrigues In a Moment1969
The Irish Rovers The Unicorn1968
The Jarmels A Little Bit of Soap1961
The Jaynetts Sally, Go ‘Round the Roses1963
The Jelly Beans I Wanna Love Him So Bad1964
The Jive Five My True Story1961
The Kingpins Ode to Billy Joe1967 https://youtu.be/JLqN7c06lNQ
The Knickerbockers Lies1965 https://youtu.be/_4FsMlzPwT8
The Leaves Hey Joe1966
The Lemon Pipers Green Tambourine 1968 https://youtu.be/o6IEgrQ4lrk
The Marbles Only One Woman1969
The Marcels Blue Moon1961 https://youtu.be/6PZPF1NXnTU
The Mar-Keys Last Night1961
The Marvelows I Do1965
The Masqueaders I Ain’t Got to Love Nobody Else1968
The McCoys Hang on Sloopy1965 https://youtu.be/x8TBs-UZhEI
The Mindbenders A Groovy Kind of Love1966 https://youtu.be/jinZMqbS29M
The Move Flowers in the Rain1967
The Music Explosion Little Bit O’ Soul1967 https://youtu.be/L9D6CWttXSs
The Music Machine Talk Talk1966
The Nashville Teens Tobacco Road1964 https://youtu.be/vKvynim8JHo
The Newbeats Bread & Butter1964
The O’Kaysions Girl Watcher1968 https://youtu.be/Hge_m3vUDB8
The Otis and Carla Band Tramp1967
The Overlanders Michelle1966 https://youtu.be/2egZseGXfTM
The Packers Hole in the Wall1965
The Parliaments I Wanna Testify1967
The Peels Juanita Banana1966
The Poets She Blew a Good Thing1966
The Premiers Farmer John1964
The Radiants Voice Your Choice1965
The Ray Bryant Combo The Madison Time1960
The Reflections Just Like Romeo & Juliet1964 https://youtu.be/vne1U03hqG4
The Regents Barbara Ann1961 https://youtu.be/ZGM6X3SIaiQ
The Rivieras California Sun1964 https://youtu.be/HF1tyjvH9is
The Rockin’ Rebels Wild Weekend1962
The Rocky Fellers Killer Joe1963
The Rooftop Singers Walk Right In1963 https://youtu.be/yDUMImLjYss
The Rose Garden Next Plane to London1967
The Saints One Grain of Sand1961
The Sandpipers Guantanamera1966 https://youtu.be/w_apu3ZZtMA
The Scaffold. Lily the Pink1969
The Sensations Let Me In1962
The Shadows of Knight Gloria1966 https://youtu.be/7xR2dEHNHvg
The Simms Twins Soothe Me1961
The Soul Survivors Expressway1967
The Springfields Silver Threads and Golden Needles1962
The Standells Dirty Water1966
The String-A-Longs Wheels1961 https://youtu.be/G_IPPpVvhx8
The Surfaris Wipe Out1963 https://youtu.be/0hLeQCnTGq8
The Sweet Inspirations Sweet Inspiration1968
The Swingin’ Medallions Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love)1966
The Swinging Blue Jeans Hippy Hippy Shake1964 https://youtu.be/w-DMuIvyJss
The Tams What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)1963 https://youtu.be/dhwkdVYQ0gQ
The Tokens The Lion Sleeps Tonight1961 https://youtu.be/OQlByoPdG6c
The Tornados Telstar1962 https://youtu.be/T1HAeNHxUis
The Toys A Lover’s Concerto1965 https://youtu.be/BCZdMU53Ugo
The Trade Winds New York’s a Lonely Town1965
The Trashmen Surfin’ Bird1963
The Vontastics Day Tripper1966
The Waikikis Hawaiian Tattoo1964
The Walker Brothers The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (anymore)1966 https://youtu.be/ASzhmXCzoWg
The Willis Brothers Give Me 40 Acres1964
The Winstons Color Him Father1969
The Youngbloods Get Together1969 https://youtu.be/NbLt4wnAgho
Theodarakis, Mikis & His Orchestra La Danse De Zorba1965
Thomas, Irma Wish Someone Would Care1964
Thompson, Sue Norman1962
Thunder, Johnny Loop De Loop1962 https://youtu.be/bHCM-CJh_Bs
Tiny Tim Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips with Me1968 https://youtu.be/mpq-pGDgKXw
Toney, Oscar Jr For Your Precious Love1967 https://youtu.be/rF_CMbYU6c0
Troy, Doris Just One Look1963 https://youtu.be/GI3OYR_XM0w
Tucker, Tommy Hi-Heel Sneakers1964
Turner, Spyder Stand by Me1966
Unit 4+2 Concrete & Clay1965
Valance, Ricky Tell Laura I Love Her1960 https://youtu.be/TL4dICC1T10
Vaughn, Frankie Tower of Strength1961
Verne, Larry Mr. Custer1960
Vianello, Edoardo O mio Signore1963
Vilard, Herve Capri C’est Fini1965
Walker, Gloria Talking About My Baby1968
Washington, Baby Only Those in Love1965 https://youtu.be/CftsrjSa3d0
Welch, Lenny Ebb Tide1964 https://youtu.be/2c0TBlaVThs
Wells, Ruby Wright Dern Ya1964
Wendland, Gerhard Tanze mi mir in den Morgen1962
West, Keith Excerpt from a Teenage Opera1967
Weston, Kim Take Me in Your Arms1965
Wheeler, Billy Edd Ode to the Little Brown Shack Out Back1965
White, Tony Joe Polk Salad Annie1969
Williams, Lawton Anywhere There’s People1961
Williams, Mason Classical Gas1968 https://youtu.be/blco_Km9BGA
Williams, Maurice & The Zodiacs Stay1960 https://youtu.be/YbCV_fTyedk
Willis, Hal The Lumberjack1964
Wilson, J. Frank & the Cavaliers The Last Kiss1964
Winter, David Alexandre Oh Lady Mary1969
Winters, Don Too Many Times1961
Wood, Brenton Gimme Little Sign1967
Woods Who Do I Think I Am1965
Woods, Gene The Ballad of Wild River1960
Wright, Johnny Hello Vietnam1965
Young, Kathy A Thousand Stars1960
Young-Holt Unlimited Soulful Strut1968
Yuro, Timi Hurt1961 https://youtu.be/TC5NsmI1sdQ
Zager & Evans In the Year 2525 1969 https://youtu.be/l3yDLvp9le0
Original Artists and Groups:
Photo Credit: psychedelic-rockandroll-blogspot.com
The Human Beinz is an American rock band from Youngstown, Ohio. Originally known as The Human Beingz, the band initially featured John “Dick” Belley (vocals, guitar), Joe “Ting” Markulin (vocals, guitar), Mel Pachuta (vocals, bass), and Gary Coates (drums), later replaced by Mike Tatman. The Beinz started in 1964 as The Premiers, launching their professional career to build a local fan base. In 1966, they changed their name to The Human Beingz because they felt their old name did not fit with the feel of the late 1960s. They recorded covers of songs by Them, The Yardbirds, The Who and Bob Dylan. The group was also the first to record a cover of “Gloria” by Them, which became a hit for The Shadows of Knight, and covered “The Pied Piper”, which later became a hit for Crispian St. Peters. The group signed to Capitol Records in 1967 and at that time Capitol misspelled their name, leaving out the “g”. Capitol’s purported idea was to affiliate the band’s name with the Human Be-In movement of 1967. The Beingz were told it would be changed on the next release if the debut single did not have any success. On 24 August 1967 “Nobody But Me” (https://youtu.be/f3HpZNE1Z9k) (RQ 9) was released and became their only Billboard Top 40 hit, which meant that Capitol would not correct the spelling. “Nobody But Me” (written and first recorded by The Isley Brothers in 1962) peaked at No. 8 in February 1968. The recording’s two 31-fold repetitions of the word “no” fulfill Casey Kasem’s “Book of Records” category of most repetitive word or phrase in a Hot 100 top 10 hit, besting the 26-fold repetition of “I know” in Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine”. An album, Nobody But Me, followed.
Photo credit: deezer
The Elegants was an American doo-wop vocal group, that started in 1958 by Vito Picone, Arthur Venosa, Frank Tardogno, Carman Romano and James Moschello in South Beach, Staten Island, New York. Before their nursery rhyme inspired song, “Little Star” (https://youtu.be/HCPqcJmK8y8) (RQ 10), became a number one hit, the band usually performed informally under the boardwalk by their homes. “Little Star” was the only million seller for the group, and was written by Venosa and Picone. It spent 19 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, earning gold disc status.
Photo credit: Jerry Reuss
The Reflections was the name of a number of musical groups. Perhaps the best known were a blue-eyed soul/doo-wop group from Detroit, Michigan. They had one hit single in 1964 called “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet” (https://youtu.be/sfWwUWkyUAw) (RQ 10) written by Bob Hamilton and Freddie Gorman. The song was produced by Rob Reeco on Golden World Records. The disc reached #6 on the BillboardHot 100 chart and #9 on the Cash Box magazine chart. The record was even more popular in rhythm and blues locations, reaching #3 on that Cashbox chart, and was featured on “American Bandstand” as a “spotlight dance”. A cover version by new wave band Mental As Anything hit #27 on the Australian charts in 1980.
Photo credit: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Penguins were an American doo-wop group of the 1950s and early 1960s, best remembered for their only Top 40 hit, “Earth Angel” (https://youtu.be/-j6OAEOcNCE) (RQ 10), which was one of the first rhythm and blues hits to cross over to the pop charts. The song peaked at #8 on the BillboardHot 100 chart, but had a three-week run at #1 on the R&B chart, later used in the Back to the Future movies. The group’s lead singer (a tenor) was Cleveland Duncan.
Photo credit: tunefind.com
The Poni-Tails were formed in a suburb of Cleveland (Lyndhurst), Ohio, United States, the Poni-Tails – Toni Cistone, Karen Topinka and Patti McCabe (Patricia Ann McCabe, July 6, 1939 – January 17, 1989) – started singing at Brush High School, which they all attended. Tom Ilius, a music publisher, had them signed to a local record label, Point Records, which released their first single, “Your Wild Heart” b/w “Que la Bozena” (the latter of which was written by the group). “Your Wild Heart” (https://youtu.be/DO_rTDx7eao) (RQ 9) was covered by the then-15-year-old Joy Layne and became a nationwide hit. The next release was “Can I Be Sure” on Marc Records, which was not a success; following this release Topinka left the group and was replaced by LaVerne Novak. Soon after this, the group signed to ABC-Paramountand released “Just My Luck to Be Fifteen”, a flop. Following this was “Come on Joey, Dance With Me” b/w “Born Too Late” (https://youtu.be/p64nDdoniIA) (RQ 10). The B-side was the one that caught the attention of radio DJs and became the group’s biggest hit, reaching #11 on the U.S. R&B singles chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. Follow-ups “Seven Minutes In Heaven” (#85 Pop) and “I’ll Be Seeing You” (#87 Pop) fared less well, and the group’s last single, 1960’s “Who, When And Why”, did not chart. ABC-Paramount attempted to sign the group to a further five-year contract, but they turned it down. The members left the music industry and pursued careers in other fields in Ohio. They reunited to play a Cleveland festival, Moon Dog Coronation ball, in 1997. A CD released by Poni Records with 12 tracks credited to the Poni-Tails contains only one Poni-Tails song (“Born Too Late”) and 11 tracks recorded by other groups.
Photo credit: discogs.com
The Rip Chords were an early-1960s American vocal group, originally known as the Opposites, composed of Phil Stewart and Ernie Bringas. The group eventually expanded into four primary voices, adding Columbia producer Terry Melcher and co-producer Bruce Johnston (best known as a member of the Beach Boys). This group came to be associated with the hot-rod and surf genres of that day, although their first single (“Here I Stand”) did not reflect those styles. They recorded for Columbia Records in Hollywood from 1962 to 1965. The group placed five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 , although they only charted: 28, 51, 88 and 96. So, really they fall into the one-hit wonder category for their number-four single: “Hey Little Cobra” (https://youtu.be/oc6FmZCT0Zc).
Photo credit: kathyyoung.com
Kathy Young, a native of Southern California, was born on October 31, 1945 in the Orange County seat, Santa Ana. She rose to stardom in 1960, when producer Jim Lee of Indigo Records chose a Sun Valley-based band, The Innocents, to sing back-up vocals for her on a cover version of The Rivileers’ 1954 recording of “A Thousand Stars” (https://youtu.be/2yesRVy3s98) (RQ 9). Two years earlier Lee had organized The Innocents for an appearance on Wink Martindale’s pop music TV show. In December 1960, two months after her 15th birthday, Kathy Young and The Innocents peaked at No. 6 on the R&B Singles chart, and at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Young’s follow-up, “Happy Birthday Blues”, peaked at No. 30 on the Hot 100 in 1961. Subsequent singles, such as “Magic Is the Night” and “The Great Pretender”, failed to chart in the Top 40. In July 1961 she appeared on DJ Alan Freed’s highly publicized American road show. In 1962 she followed Jim Lee to Monogram Records, recording solo and with Chicano rock singer Chris Montez. Still a teenager, she saw her promising career slowing to a standstill and, in 1964, traveled to London. There she married American singer-songwriter John Maus, aka John Walker, founder of The Walker Brothers. Her marriage to Maus lasted from 1965 to 1968. Kathy returned to the US in 1969, remarrying two years later. Over the next 20 years she raised children and helped manage the family citrus ranch in Central California. Following a move back to Los Angeles in 1994, she began working for a major international company, while also returning to her original passion, music. In the 2000s she performed at numerous rock shows at venues such as the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and New Jersey’s Izod Center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Kathy Young was inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame, presided over by Harvey Robbins. on October 12, 2014. at the North Shore Music Theater, in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Photo credit: discogs
The String-A-Longs were an American instrumental group from Plainview, Texas, United States, known for their hit single, “Wheels” (https://youtu.be/G_IPPpVvhx8) (Which Which RQ 10+) produced by Norman Petty on Warwick Records. The band consisted of Richard Stephens and Jimmy Torres alternating lead guitars, Keith McCormack on rhythm guitar, Aubrey de Cordova, bass guitar and Don Allen, drums. They began recording in Amarillo, Texas, as the Rock’n Rollers, under their first manager Johnny Voss, Keith McCormack’s Uncle. Their first single was on the Ven label. In the later fifties they began recording in Clovis, New Mexico, under Norman Petty as “The Leen Teens” but Petty suggested the name “String-A-Longs”. They had several releases before recording their big hit “Wheels”. “Wheels” was released in December 1960 and hit in 1961. The tune peaked at number 3 on the BillboardHot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard. The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Warwick Records paid few royalties to the band and they declared bankruptcy as they were being sued to avoid paying more. The writers of the song did receive their royalties, including Norman Petty.
Photo credit: Spirit of Metal
Motherlode was a Canadian pop rock groupformed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, “When I Die”, which hit #1 in Canada and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. “When I Die” (https://youtu.be/8MyPSFnyaTQ) (RQ 10+, one of the best technical recordings within my blog!) was produced by Doug Riley and Terry Brown did not make any headway on the radio. A reciprocal deal in the US with Buddah Records made the song a hit reaching Number 18 on the charts. The song sold more than 500,000 copies and it eventually climbed to Number 1 in the Canadian charts.
Photo credit: songbook
Mercy is an American pop group from Florida. The group’s 1969 single “Love (Can Make You Happy)”, written by Jack Sigler, Jr., soared to No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singleschart, and also peaked at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. “Love (Can Make You Happy)” (https://youtu.be/0XBqYvzkPzU) (RQ 8) was released in April and had sold over one million copies by July 15, earning a gold record from the R.I.A.A., although the group did not receive the award until October 2009.
Photo credit: discogs.com
Jackie Ward (born Jacqueline McDonnell, 1941), better known as Robin Ward, is an American singer, regarded as a “one-hit wonder” of 1963 million-selling song “Wonderful Summer” (https://youtu.be/KCRdUB_ASTc) (RQ 8). However, using her real name she was highly accomplished and successful singing in groups. Ward’s voice is heard in U.S. television series, motion pictures, advertisements, and pop records. She is one of the real singers of the hits attributed to The Partridge Family.
Photo credit: YouTube screenshot
“Angel Baby” (1961)
https://youtu.be/bu2dAQ3xb8s
Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqptie5CKN1hFWvj5DOqhE8BP0Qsfey27
Photo credit: popexpresso.com
Bruce Channel performed originally for the radio program Louisiana Hayride and then joined with the harmonica player Delbert McClinton, singing country music. Channel wrote “Hey! Baby” (https://youtu.be/ik9dxkKriV0) (RQ 10) with Margaret Cobb in 1959 and performed the song for two years before recording it for Fort Worth record producer Bill Smith. It was issued originally on Smith’s LeCam label, but as it started to sell well, it was acquired for distribution by Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury. The song went to number one in the US in March 1962 and held that position for three weeks. Besides topping the U. S. popular music charts, it also became number two in the United Kingdom. It sold more than one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. Channel had four more singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Number One Man” (which peaked at number 52), “Come On Baby” (number 98), “Going Back to Louisiana” (number 89), and “Mr. Bus Driver” (number 90), but none of them was as successful as “Hey! Baby”, and he is considered a one-hit wonder.
Photo credit: soulwalking.co.uk
Caroline Crawford (born: 1949) is an American rhythm and blues and disco singer and actress, who recorded as Carolyn Crawford for Motown Records in the early 1960s, and for other labels later in her career.
In 1963, at the age of about 13, she won a talent contest held by Detroit radio station WCHB, the prize for which was a contract with Motown Records. She recorded three singles for the label, an unsuccessful first release of “Forget About Me” (Motown 1050) being followed by “My Smile Is Just a Frown” (https://youtu.be/vGOkUkBU7e4()) (RQ 8) (Motown 1064), written by Smokey Robinson. The record reached # 39 on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart. She also sang backup vocals for some of the Motown artists. Her final record for Motown, “When Someone’s Good To You” (Motown 1070), released in December 1964, failed to chart and her contract was not renewed, although the record later became a favorite among British soul fans.
A few years later, she joined a girl group, Hodges, James, Smith and Crawford, put together in 1972 by William “Mickey” Stevenson. She released two singles with them, “Nobody” and “Let’s Pick Up The Pieces”, before leaving the group (which went on to achieve some success as Hodges, James and Smith. She then joined the group Chapter 8, but left them in 1976 to start a solo career; she was replaced in the group by Anita Baker.
In the late 1970s, and through the early 1980s, she was featured vocalist on several of Hamilton Bohannon’s singles and six of his albums, including his biggest US single hit “Let’s Start the Dance”. She also signed a solo contract with Mercury Records (using the spelling Caroline), and released a single “Coming On Strong” which reached # 66 on the R&B chart at the start of 1979. In addition she released two albums, My Name Is Caroline (1978) and Nice And Soulful (1979), both produced by Bohannon.
In 1989 (using the spelling Carolyn) she joined Ian Levine’s Motorcity project and recorded the album Heartaches, including the single “Timeless” which later became a favourite on the UK Northern soul circuit. She was reported to be still performing (as Caroline Crawford) in Detroit clubs in 2007.
Crawford has also worked as an actress in recent years. She voiced the character of Mrs. Lovat in the 2009 stop-motion film Caraline and appeared in the TV series Leverage.
Several of her earlier recordings, including recordings for Motown which went unreleased at the time, have been included on later compilation albums.
Her best known recording,”My Smile Is Just a Frown” (https://youtu.be/vGOkUkBU7e4) is featured in the UK-Irish drama-documentary Dreams of a Life, released in December 2011.
Photo credit: debbdean.wordpress.com
Reba Jeanette Smith (February 1, 1928 – February 17, 2001), known professionally as Debbie Dean, was an American singer who was the first white solo artist to record for Motown. Debbie was from Corbin, Kentucky. She was the fourth child of Walter B. Smith, a railroad engineer by his wife, Alma, a housewife. Dean recorded as Penny Smith and Debbie Stevens at various labels before arriving at Motown in the early 1960s, and was Motown’s first white female solo recording artist, signed by Berry Gordy.
Unlike most of the early Motown recording artists, she was neither an R&B or blues singer. Her first single at Motown was “Don’t Let Him Shop Around” (https://youtu.be/D-tqAiyE0N8) (1961) (RQ 8) an answer record to the Miracles #1 R&B and #2 pop hit, “Shop Around.” Dean’s perky vocals with a noticeable southern twang barely reached Billboard’s Hot 100 charts with the song.
Subsequent singles were even less successful and at the age of 34 (significantly older than most Motown acts at the time), she was dropped from the label. Several years later, after a meeting with Motown producer/writer Deke Records, Dean rejoined the Motown roster as a writer/singer, and collaborated with Richards (born Dennis Lussier) on songs for the Supremes, Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas, Edwin Starr, and other Motown artists. She later co-wrote and recorded “Why Am I Lovin’ You” (https://youtu.be/SVkqw30ukFM) (RQ 7) on Motown’s V.I.P. label. The song has since become a Northern soul favourite.
1933-1986 (52 years old)
Photo credit: Getty Images
“Teen Angel” (https://youtu.be/IE-AcC53OYY) (RQ 8) is a teenage tragedy song that was written by Jean Dinning and performed by Jean’s brother, Mark Dinning. It went on to become a #1 hit on February 8, 1960. Mark Dinning never recorded another hit song and died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 52, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Strangely enough, the song was included in the soundtrack to the movie American Graffiti, begging the question, “Why didn’t this artist go any further?”
American pop singer Mark Dinning was named Max Edward Dinning at birth and was born on August 17, 1933 in Manchester, Oklahoma. He and his family moved to Kansas and then to a farm near Nashville, Tennessee. Mark was the youngest of nine children and came from a musically-inclined family. His own sisters Ella Lucille (“Lou”), Jean and Virginia (“Ginger”) eventually achieved recognition in their own right as the traditional pop trio The Dinning Sisters. In 1957, he pursued his own music career, signing a record contract from MGM Records which was to him offered by record producer Wesley Rose.
Photo credit: Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
Gale Zoë Garnett (born 17 July 1942) is a New Zealand–born Canadian singer best known in the United States in 1964 for her self-penned, Grammy-winning folk hit: “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine” (https://youtu.be/4ZeRVUUxV_k) (RQ10+) hit. She would qualify for my “One Hit Wonder”singer category. Garnett has since carved out a career as an author and actress.
“The Girl from Ipanema”
Photo Credit: EMI Music Publishing
Astrud Gilberto born Astrud Evangelina Weinert, March 29, 1940) is a Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova singer. She became popular in the 1960s after her performance of the song “The Girl from Ipamema” (https://youtu.be/c5QfXjsoNe4) (RQ 7). Astrud is the daughter of a Brazilian mother and a German father, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. She was raised in Rio de Janeiro. Her father was a language professor and she became fluent in several languages. She married Joao Gilberto in 1959 and had a son, Marcelo Gilberto. She has another son from a second marriage, Gregory Lasorsa. Later she began a relationship with her husband’s musical collaborator, American jazz saxophone player Stan Getz. She emigrated to the United States in 1963, residing in the U.S. from that time. Astrud and João divorced in the mid-1960s. She sang on two tracks on the influential 1963 album Getz/Gilberto featuring João Gilberto, Stan Getz, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, despite having never sung professionally before this recording. The 1964 single version of ”The Girl from Ipanema” taken from the 1963 album, omitted the Portuguese lyrics sung by João Gilberto, and established Astrud Gilberto as a Bossa Nova singer. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.
Photo credit: discogs.com
In 1962, Eddie Holman made his first record, “What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You” on Leopard Records. It was in the Philadelphia soul scene that he began to develop his trademark style. While still in college, he recorded his first minor hit, “This Can’t Be True” (1966-Jan 15), which reached #17 on the Billboard chart. Other songs began to follow: “Am I A Loser From The Start” (1966), “I Love You” (1969), “Don’t Stop Now” (1970), and “Cathy Called” (1970). Holman finally struck personal gold in 1970 with his ballad, “Hey There Lonely Girl” (https://youtu.be/0tSpZnVnSLQ) (RQ 10+) peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart in November 1974. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc from R.I.A.A. in March 1970. Originally, “Hey There Lonely Boy” a Top 30 hit, was recorded in 1963 by Ruby and the Romantics. // British journalist Tony Cummings once wrote, “Eddie Holman’s voice, an astonishing precision instrument which can leap octaves with the speed of mercury and bend notes into shapes unimagined by lesser singers, has assured its possessor a place in soul history.
Photo credit: waybackattack.com
Michael Jack Kirby
Curtis Lee (October 28, 1939 – January 8, 2015) was an American singer of the early 1960s, who twice was one of the beneficiaries of 1961 productions by Phil Spector. His best known hit was: “Pretty Little Angel Eyes” (RQ 9) (US#7) (https://youtu.be/fG_AWUkj8ks). Without Spector’s influence, Lee’s hits dried up. He went into the construction industry with his father in 1969. He died from cancer on January 8, 2015 in Yuma, Arizona, aged 75.
Photo credit: SoundCloud
Julie London (at birth: Peck; September 26, 1926 – October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress whose career spanned more than 40 years. A “torch” singer noted for her sultry, languid contralto vocals, London recorded over thirty albums of pop and jazz standards between 1955 and 1969. Her recording of “Cry Me a River“, a track she introduced on her debut album, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. She sang this song in the movie “The Girl Can’t Help It” in 1956. She was an actress in 24 films. In addition to her musical notice, London was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1974 for her portrayal of nurse Dixie McCall in the television series Emergency!. Her debut single “Cry Me a River” reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1955. In June 1957, it would also peak at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart. “Cry Me a River” (https://youtu.be/gCGNYJOrebA) (RQ 10) became London’s most successful and highest-selling single of her musical career. The single would sell three million copies in total. She did record another 28 songs which only a couple others charted (the highest of which was 110).
Photo credit: Vintage Jukebox
Don’t Stop the Music
June 10, 2019
Laurie London was born in Bethnal Green, East London. At the age of thirteen, whilst a pupil at The Davenant Foundation Grammar School in Whitechapel Road, he made an up-tempo version of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (https://youtu.be/cqb3NSiSwoc) (RQ 9) with the Geoff Love Orchestra for Parlophone Records (45-R4359) which was picked up by its co-owned American sister label Capital Records (F3891). In April 1958, it reached number 1 on Billboard’s “Most Played by Jockeys” chart and remained there for four weeks, but it was to be his only hit record. It was the most successful record by a British male in the 1950s in the United States, topping the chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in 1958.
Photo credit: discogs.com
Joanie Sommers (born Joan Drost, Buffalo, N.Y. February 24, 1941) is an American singer and actress with a career concentrating on jazz, standards and popular material and show-business credits. Once billed as “The Voice of the Sixties”, and associated with top-notch arrangers, songwriters and producers, Sommers’ popular reputation became closely tied to her biggest, yet most uncharacteristic, hit song, “Johnny Get Angry” (https://youtu.be/wcLXs3Np93s) (RQ 10).
Photo credit: AM 880 KIXI – Hubbard Radio
Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen; January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, known to her many fans as “Mama Soul”. Her biggest hit was “Just One Look” (https://youtu.be/GI3OYR_XM0w) (RQ 9) a top 10 hit in 1963. She was also one of the four female back up singers on The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
Photo credit: discogs.com
James T. Woodley (December 21, 1929 – November 20, 1996), who performed as Singin’ Sammy Ward, was an American rhythm and blues singer who recorded for Motown Records and had a R&B hit with “Who’s The Fool” (https://youtu.be/Lf3kZjc4RpQ) (RQ 9) written by Smokey Robinson in 1961. He grew up in the Ensley area of Birmingham, Alabama, before moving to Detroit Michigan, where he was established as a club singer by the late 1950s. He was named “Singin’ Sammy Ward” by Berry Gordy’s wife Raynoma, “Miss Ray”, and first recorded for Motown in 1960, on a duet with Sherri Taylor, “Lover” / “That’s Why I Love You So Much”. He then moved to the Tamla label as a solo singer, and recorded “That Child Is Really Wild”, co-written by Gordy and Robinson. The original B-side, “What Makes You Love Him”, was changed to another song, Robinson’s “Who’s The Fool” (https://youtu.be/Lf3kZjc4RpQ), which became Ward’s only chart success, reaching no. 23 on the Billboard R&B chart in August 1961. The record was only the fourth successful chart hit for Motown. According to record producer Ian Levine, Robinson also wrote “You Really Got a Hold On Me” for Ward, but Gordy insisted that Robinson recorded it himself, with The Miracles.
A bluesy singer who drew comparisons with Bobby Bland, Ward released several more singles on Tamla, including “Big Joe Moe” written by William “ Mickey Stevenson and Brian Holland, and “Someday Pretty Baby” (https://youtu.be/IXJhR_umHGU) featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonics, both in 1962, and then one on the subsidiary Soul label. However, the records were commercial failures, and Ward left Motown, disillusioned by his lack of success compared with others on the label, by the mid-1960s.
“Stay”
https://youtu.be/o1Z_hskvz1M (RQ 9)
Photo Credit: historyforsale.com
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs were an American doo wop vocal group in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Originally the Royal Charms, the band changed its name to the Gladiolas in 1957 and the Excellos in 1958, before finally settling on the Zodiacs in 1959.
18 Groups or Bands:
Photo credit: americandreams.fandom.com
? and the Mysterians (also rendered Question Mark and the Mysterians) are an American garage rock band from Bay City and Saginaw in Michigan who were initially active between 1962 and 1969. Much of the band’s music consisted of electric-driven garage rock and an enigmatic image inspired by the 1957 Japanese science fiction film The Mysterians. In addition, the band’s sound was also marked by raw-resonating lead vocals of “?” (Question Mark, the stage name of Rudy Martín), making Question Mark and the Mysterians one of the earliest groups whose musical style is described as punk rock. Through their music, the group was recognized as a template for similar musical acts to follow.
The band was signed to Pa-Go-Go Records (based in San Antonio, Texas and run by Rudy “Tee” Gonzales) in 1966 and released its first and most acclaimed single, “96 Tears” (https://youtu.be/R7uC5m-IRns) (RQ 9) in the early part of the year. “96 Tears” became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and propelled the group to a 15-month period of national prominence. Their debut album, 96 Tears, followed. Though Question Mark and the Mysterians were unable to replicate their success with their later recordings, and are thus deemed a “one hit wonder”, they did manage to reach the singles charts on five occasions. In 1968, their label, Cameo-Parkway, was shut down for stock manipulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, taking the band’s money and contract with them. Though they disbanded in 1969, the band has regrouped and released additional material over the years. “96 Tears” was listed at number 210 on the 2004 Rolling Stone list the greatest 500 songs of all time.
Photo credit: furious.com
Barry Stoller
Iron Butterfly is an American rock band best known for the 1968 hit “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida“, (https://youtu.be/UIVe-rZBcm4) (RQ 10+) providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy metal music. Formed in San Diego, California, among band members who used to be “arch enemies”, their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members with varying levels of success, with no new recordings since 1975. The band’s seminal 1968 album “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was a best-seller. Iron Butterfly was the first group to receive an In-House platinum album award from Atlantic Records.
Photo credit: Doo-Wop.blog.org
July 16, 2014
Ronald & Ruby were an American interracial pop vocal duo, best known for their 1958 hit single, “Lollipop” (https://youtu.be/VtzWruzNWnU) (RQ 9).
The duo’s members were the black Ronald Gum and the white Beverly “Ruby” Ross; interracial pop groups were unusual at the time, and the group did not appear in public or in major press and television outlets. They had previously worked together as songwriters; among their credits are “Young and Hungry for Love”, “Frankenstein Rock”, “Fat Pat”, “Soul Mates”, “Don’t Come to My Party”, and “The Ghost of Love.” In 1958, they released a single together entitled “Lollipop”. It became a hit in the U.S., reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was covered to greater chart success by both The Chordettes and the Mudlarks. // They released several further singles, including “Love Birds”, none of them hits. Ross continued as a songwriter, recording nearly 200 songs with BMI, including “Candy Man” (for Roy Orbison) and “Judy’s Turn to Cry” (for Lesley Gore).
The Brooklyn Bridge (& Johnny Maestro)
Photo credit: New York Times
Dennis Hevesi – March 26, 2010
The Brooklyn Bridge (& Johnny Maestro) is an American musical group, best known for their 1968 million-selling rendition of Jimmy Webb’s “Worst That Could Happen” (https://youtu.be/kRDRX4Gyq6I) (RQ 10+). The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart. It sold over one and a quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A.
Photo credit: tidal.com
The Cascades got their start in the San Diego, CA area as the band members served in the nearby Navy on the ship USS Jason. Their first band name was called The Silver Strands. Their first and only recording was an instrumental called “Thunder Rhythm.” The group was influenced by the Beach Boys and their use of vocal harmony. After getting out of the Navy, they signed with Valiant Records and soon afterward changed their name to The Cascades (the origin of the name came from using a like-named dishwashing detergent). After another failed attempt on recording a second song “There’s A Reason,” they began thinking about a song they (John Gommoe) wrote while listening to a thunderstorm while aboard their ship. This is the origin of the their one and only million selling record called: “Rhythm of the Rain.” (https://youtu.be/bQstQST1GiM) (RQ 10+). The hit was released in November of 1962. While this song was extremely successful world-wide (reaching a Billboard rating in the U.S. of No3), the group was limited in the future by only singing in local clubs no longer writing new music.
Photo credit: secondhandsongs.com
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental “Tequila” (https://youtu.be/Uyl7GP_VMJY) (RQ 6). The group took their name from the name of Gene Autry’s horse, Champion, and was formed by studio executives at Autry’s Challenge Records to record a B-side for the Dave Burgess single, “Train to Nowhere”. The intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-side, as “Tequila” went to No. 1 in just three weeks, and the band became the first group to go to the top spot with an instrumental that was their first release. The song was recorded at Gikd Star Studios in fall 1957, and in 1959 won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by RIAA.
Photo credit: soulwalking.co.uk
Joe Billingsley (born November 14, 1937) and Billy Gordon founded a singing group called the Blenders in their native Detroit, Michigan in 1959. They completed the group with Billy Hoggs and Billy Rollins, who had responded to an ad placed in the local newspaper by Billingslea. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins), and bass singer Hubert Johnson and changed the name to “The Contours“. In the fall of 1960, the group auditioned for Berry Gordon’s Motown Records. Gordy turned the act down, prompting the group to pay a visit to the home of Johnson’s cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson. Wilson in turn got the Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to a seven-year contract.
Each artist at Motown Records received its own guitarist. Huey Davis was the guitarist assigned to the Contours. The group’s first single, “Whole Lotta Woman,” was released in January 1961 and failed to chart. Within months of its release, Leroy Fair was replaced by Benny Reeves, brother of Martha Reeves. Shortly thereafter, Benny Reeves left to serve in the United States Navy and he was replaced by Sylvester Potts. In 1961 the group’s second single, “The Stretch”, was released and it also failed to chart. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record “Do You Love Me,” (https://youtu.be/LlKRp2KrJuQ) (RQ 9) a composition allegedly originally meant for The Temptations. But, in a 2008 interview for MOJO Magazine, original Contour Joe Billingslea stated that this was not the case. In the article, Billingslea stated to author Phil Alexander that the song’s author, Motown founder Berry Gordy, offered the song to the Contours first, only intending to give The Temptations the song after he saw that the Contours were having trouble with it. However, after practicing the tune again, Gordy gave the nod—and the song—to the Contours.
The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and crossed over to No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
Photo credit: tunefind.com
Summer Crusin’ – 60’s Style
September 10, 2010
The Crystals were based out of New York City. The original group members were: Barbara Alston, Mary Thomas, Delores Kenniebrew, Myma Giraud and Patricia Wright. The were active between 1960-1967. While they recorded at least 14 singles, they really had one great recording “Then He Kissed Me” in 1963 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG88R5SwQRw) (RQ 9). This hit reached a chart rating of 6 in the U.S. and 2 in the UK. While they produced two other hits (“He’s a Rebel” in 1962 and “Da Doo Ron Ron” in 1963), when “Then He Kissed Me” plays on the radio today it simply stands out.
Photo credit: medium.com
Ken Shane – January 31, 2019
Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker, and Sylvia Wilbur formed The Exciters while at high school together in Queens, New York City in 1961. They were originally called the Masterettes, as a sister group to another group called the Masters, and released their first recording, “Follow the Leader”, in early 1962. Wilbur then left the group to be replaced by Penny Carter, and they auditioned for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Penny Carter left, and was replaced by Herb Rooney, a member of the Masters; Reid and Rooney later married.
The group’s name was changed to the Exciters, and their first hit record, arranged by George “Teacho” Wiltshire and produced by Leiber and Stoller for United Artists Records was “Tell Him” (https://youtu.be/G2sH6h0ViDg) (RQ 10+) which reached no. 4 on the U.S. pop chart in early 1963. The song had previously been released unsuccessfully, as “Tell Her”, by Gil Hamilton later known as Johnny Thunder. According to Jason Ankeny at AllMusic, the Exciters’ version of “Tell Him” “…boasted an intensity that signified a sea change in the presentation and perception of femininity in popular music.
Photo credit: passthepaisley.com
The seven-member group of Treadwell High School (Memphis, TN) alumni included Bruce Bowles, Bobby Fisher, Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Neal, Larry Raspberry, and Larry Wall and also with another member, Karry Butler. The youths formed The Gentrys in May 1963 as a rock ‘n’ roll group for local dances, and were very successful playing for high school dates. In September 1964 they won third place in the Mid-South Fair Talent Competition and auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. They soon became the most popular teenage band in the mid-South and in 1964 won the Memphis Battle of the Bands. In December 1964 the group was given a contract by local record label Youngstown Records, and made their first record of “Sometimes”, which was very popular locally in early 1965. After bubbling under the Billboard chart for a week, the Gentrys scored with the million-selling “Keep on Dancing” (https://youtu.be/VeEs6e0FdwU) (RQ 10+) which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.
Photo credit: secondhandsongs.com
The Hollywood Argyles song “Alley Opp” (https://youtu.be/mjvOGqIY0jc) (RQ 8) was first played on WLS radio in Chicago on May 2, 1960 (when they changed their focus from farm programming to rock and roll). It was a true example of a one hit wonder. The Argyles producer for the song was Kim Fowley. The lead singer was Norm Davis. The song sold over a million copies and was awarded a gold disc by RIAA.
Photo credit: discogs.com
The Impalas were an American doo-wop group in the late 1950s, best known for their hit, “Sorry” (https://youtu.be/ufz4-fRCwwo) (RQ 8) The group formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and was composed of lead singer Joe “Speedo” Frazier, Richard Wagner, Lenny Renda and Tony Carlucci. They were a racially integrated group—Frazier was the only black member.
Photo credit: Discogs.com
The Jamies were an American singing group, led by siblings Tom and Serena Jameson (lead vocals), based in Boston. Other members were: Jeanie Roy, Arthur Blair and Sherman Fuller. Tom Jameson died from cancer on July 19, 2009, at the age of 72.
The group’s 1958 single for Epic Records, “Summertime, Summertime,” reached #26 on the U. S, Billboard charts. Both “Summertime” (https://youtu.be/fJ7re_PkPss) (RQ 9) and its b-side, “Searching for You,” are often described as doo-wop, because of their time period and their a capella harmonies. However, both songs may also be described as pop versions of Sacred Harp styles. The group started as church singers or possibly an early example of baroque pop singers.
Photo credit: doo-wop.blogg.org
The Monotones were a six-member American doo-wop vocal group in the 1950s. They are considered a one-hit wonder, as their only hit single was “The Book of Love” (https://youtu.be/qIfuNPbBaaA) (RQ 9) which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top100 in 1958. // The Monotones formed in 1955 when the seven originalo singers, all residents of the Baxter Terrace housing project in Newark, New Jersey began performing covers of popular songs. They were:
- Lead singer Charles Howard Patrick (born September 11, 1938 – September 11, 2020)
- First tenor Warren Davis (born March 1, 1939)
- Second tenor George Malone (January 5, 1940 – October 5, 2007)
- Bass singer Frankie Smith (May 13, 1938 – November 26, 2000)
- Second bass singer John Ryanes (November 16, 1940 – May 30, 1972)
- Batrtone Warren Ryanes (December 14, 1937 – June 16, 1982)
Charles Patrick’s brother James was originally a member, but he left soon after the group’s formation. John Ryanes and Warren Ryanes were also brothers.
They all began singing with the New Hope Baptist Choir, directed by Cissy Houston, who was related to the Patrick brothers. The group launched their career with a 1956 appearance on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour television program, winning first prize for their rendition of The Cadillacs’ “Zoom”. Soon afterwards, Charles Patrick was listening to the radio and heard a Pepsident toothpaste commercial with the line “wonder where the yellow went.” From there he got the idea for the line, “I wonder, wonder, wonder who!, who wrote the book of love”, later working it up into a song with Davis and Malone. In September 1957, they recorded “The Book of Love”, which was released on the Mascot label in December that year. The small record company could not cope with its popularity, and it was reissued on Chess Records’ subsidiary Argo label in February 1958. It became a hit, eventually reaching No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 5 on the pop chart. The record sold over one million copies. It also reached No. 5 in Australia; in the UK, the hit version was a cover version by The Mudlarks.
Photo credit: Rhino Records
January 21, 2014
Buffalo Springfield was a North American (Los Angeles) rock band active from 1966 to 1968 whose most prominent members were Stephen Stills (recorded over 35 million records after Buffalo Springfield broke up), Neil Young (recorded over 75 million records including 22 of which were certified gold or platinum by RIAA), and Richie Furay (he continued to perform with another band called Poco). The other original members were Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin). Distrust in their management was at the heart of why the group was short lived. The group released three albums and several singles during its brief existence, including “For What It’s Worth” (https://youtu.be/gp5JCrSXkJY) (RQ 10+). My personal opinion is that this record is one of the best recordings of all time. They were elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fane in 1997 by Tom Petty.
Photo credit: Schooltime Compositions
Marv Goldberg 2009
The Silhouettes were an American doo wop/R&B group, whose single “Get a Job” (https://youtu.be/SzWkqfQ17Eo) (RQ 4) was a number 1 hit on the Billboard R&B singled chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song’s lyrics. “Get A Job”‘ is included in the soundtracks of the film American Graffiti, Trading Places and Stand By Me. The Silhouettes performed in the 1986 movie Joey.
Following graduation from Fairfax high school in Los Angles, CA, Phil Spector became obsessed with “To Know Him Is To Love Him“, (https://youtu.be/vrwf-sIcr0M) (RQ 9) a song he had written for his group, the The Teddy Bears. After a hasty audition at ERA Records, which offered to finance a studio session, the Teddy Bears – Phil Spector, Marshall Leib, Harvey Goldstein (who left the group early on), lead singer Annette Kleinbard, and last minute recruit, drummer Sandy Nelson – recorded the song at Gold Star Studios at a cost of $75. Released on ERA’s Dore label in August 1958, it took two months before “To Know Him Is to Love Him” began to get airplay.
It went on to become a global hit. The record stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for 23 weeks, in the Top Ten for 11 of those weeks, and commanded the number 1 chart position for three weeks. It also reached number 2 in the UK Singles chart. It sold over two and a half million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. At 19 years old, Spector had written, arranged, played, sung, and produced the best-selling record in the country. Although subsequent releases by the Teddy Bears on the Imperial label were well-recorded soft pop, they did not sell, and within a year of the debut, Spector disbanded the group. Their demise was hastened by Kleinbard being seriously injured in 1960 in a car accident. //Following graduation from Fairfax high school in Los Angles, CA, Phil Spector became obsessed with “To Know Him Is To Love Him“, (https://youtu.be/vrwf-sIcr0M) (RQ 9) a song he had written for his group, the The Teddy Bears. After a hasty audition at ERA Records, which offered to finance a studio session, the Teddy Bears – Phil Spector, Marshall Leib, Harvey Goldstein (who left the group early on), lead singer Annette Kleinbard, and last minute recruit, drummer Sandy Nelson – recorded the song at Gold Star Studios at a cost of $75. Released on ERA’s Dore label in August 1958, it took two months before “To Know Him Is to Love Him” began to get airplay.
It went on to become a global hit. The record stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for 23 weeks, in the Top Ten for 11 of those weeks, and commanded the number 1 chart position for three weeks. It also reached number 2 in the UK Singles chart. It sold over two and a half million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. At 19 years old, Spector had written, arranged, played, sung, and produced the best-selling record in the country. Although subsequent releases by the Teddy Bears on the Imperial label were well-recorded soft pop, they did not sell, and within a year of the debut, Spector disbanded the group. Their demise was hastened by Kleinbard being seriously injured in 1960 in a car accident.
Spector was not the only Teddy Bear who went on to a career after the group broke up. Harvey Goldstein became a certified public accountant. Annette Kleinbard continued to write and record songs, and changed her name to Carol Conners. Among her credits are the Rip Chords hit “Hey Little Cobra”, (https://youtu.be/-rXldHa212I) (RQ 10) and the Academy Awards nominated Rocky theme song, “Gonna Fly Now,” (https://youtu.be/MR6FXpaECY8) (RQ 10+) co-written with Ayn Ribbins. Leib joined the Hollywood Argyles, played guitar on some of Duane Eddy’s records and produced material recorded by the Everly Brothers amongst others.Spector was not the only Teddy Bear who went on to a career after the group broke up. Harvey Goldstein became a certified public accountant. Annette Kleinbard continued to write and record songs, and changed her name to Carol Conners. Among her credits are the Rip Chords hit “Hey Little Cobra”, (https://youtu.be/-rXldHa212I) (RQ 10) and the Academy Awards nominated Rocky theme song, “Gonna Fly Now,” (https://youtu.be/MR6FXpaECY8) (RQ 10+) co-written with Ayn Ribbins. Leib joined the Hollywood Argyles, played guitar on some of Duane Eddy’s records and produced material recorded by the Everly Brothers amongst others.
Zager and Evans was an American rock-pop duo active during the late 1960s and early 1970s, named after its two members, Denny Zager (born 1944, Wymore, Nebraska) and Rick Evans (born 1943, Lincoln, Nebraska, died 2018, Santa Fe, New Mexico). They are best known for their 1969 No. 1 hit single “In the Year 2525” (https://youtu.be/zKQfxi8V5FA) (RQ 10) which earned them one-hit wonder status.
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