This Issue of the Chronicle, we present Part #10 (1961) of our 12-part series of the "History of the Sounds of Modern Music." Our objective is to follow the Sounds made by innovative Humans and their Instruments that have evolved throughout the Centuries of Man-on-Earth.
Part #1 - Early Civilizations Part #2 - Pre Civil War
Part #3 - Civil War and Post Part #4 -New Orleans Scene
Part #5 - The River Boat Era Part #6- The Big Cities
Part #7A(1-2) - Roaring 20s Part #7B - The BIG Band Era
Part #8 - Pre-Rock n Roll Part #9 - The 1950s
Part #10A - 1961 Part #10B - Woodstock Era
Part #11 - The 1970s Part #12 - The 1980s
The Classic Rock Chronicle
I Issue #22-1961 August 5, 2024
Everything Classic Rock... the CRocker's Voice
The Classic Rock Chronicle was created to provide regularly updated Content about the "Goings-on" of the Vast, eclectic, and important Period of Classic Rock from 1964 to 1984... Come along and enjoy the ride, Mates
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History of the “Sounds” of Music Part #1961
The 1960s..."The Road to Woodstock" Evolution of the Sounds of Music
By William W. Nelson
Founder of the Asheville School of Classic Rock
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1961
Introduction
In 1961, the American Music landscape began significant Regional diversification, with distinct Styles emerging across the Country with new Bands and Artists climbing on Board in Pop and R&B:
Southern California saw the birth of Surf Music, characterized by its twangy guitar sounds and beach-inspired themes. This genre would soon be popularized by bands like The Beach Boys.
New York City became the epicenter of two major musical movements. The Girl Group phenomenon took off, featuring vocal ensembles like The Shirelles and The Crystals.
Simultaneously, the Brill Building Sound flourished in New York City, with Professional Songwriters crafting sophisticated Pop Hits. Phil Spector began developing his revolutionary "Wall of Sound" production technique, which would go on to define the sound of many 1960s Pop Records.
Detroit's music scene was energized by Berry Gordy's Tamla/Motown Label, which scored its first number-one hit this year. The label also signed The Supremes, a group that would become one of the most successful Acts of the Decade.
In Memphis, Stax Records began its collaboration with Atlantic Records, giving rise to the distinctive Southern Soul Sound. This Partnership would produce numerous R&B hits and help define the Genre.
These Regional developments collectively reshaped the American Musical Landscape, setting the Stage for the diverse and innovative Sounds that would characterize the rest of the 1960s.
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The Top 1961 Artists and Their Songs
The Shirelles begin a new wave of "Girl Groups" as they top the US charts and hit #4 UK with the single "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" from the Brill Building songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
Queens, New York doo-wop Group The Capris have a surprise #3 US hit with "There's A Moon Out Tonight" which they had recorded almost two years before. The group never had another Chart hit.
Brooklyn, New York singer, and songwriter Neil Sedaka, with lyricist partner Howard Greenfield, keeps on generating hits as their song "Calendar Girl" goes to #4 US. It is their third Top Ten song in the US.
Motown Records first US Top Ten hit when the single "Shop Around" by The Miracles hits #2 Pop and #1 R&B. The song is written by Miracles Singer Smokey Robinson and label founder Berry Gordy Jr.
Memphis Singer Carla Thomas, the daughter of R&B singer Rufus Thomas, hit #5 R&B, and #10 Pop with the song "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)" which she had written at age 15. The Song is the first national exposure for Memphis record label Stax.
Elvis Presley's Single "Surrender" hits #1 in both the US and UK. It is Elvis' twelfth #1 of his Career. The Song goes on to become one of the best-selling Singles of all time.
Philadelphia Singer Chubby Checker follows up on his smash 1960 hit "The Twist" and keeps the Dance hits a-comin' in '61 with "Pony Time" #1, "Let's Twist Again" #8, and "The Fly" #7.
After leaving The Drifters, Ben E. King had his first US Top Ten Solo hit with "Spanish Harlem" written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector. In December he hits even bigger reaching #4 in US with "Stand By Me."
A Doo-Wop reworking of the Rodgers & Hart standard "Blue Moon" goes to #1 in US for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania vocal group The Marcels. The record goes on to sell over a million copies. The group's follow-up single "Heartaches" reaches #7 in US.
California Surfer and Guitarist Dick Dale instrumental "Let's Go Trippin" in published on his Deltone label. The song is a Regional hit in California and goes to #60 Nationally. The Song is considered the first surf rock hit and defines the reverb-heavy Surf Guitar Sound.
Etta James goes to #2 R&B and #47 Pop in the US with her cover of "At Last". Although the song achieved only modest success on the Pop charts, it would become James' Signature Song and is considered a standard today.
New Orleans R&B Singer/Pianist Clarence "Frogman" Henry has a hit single with "I Don't Know Why (But I Do)" which reached #4 US, and #3 UK. Henry had previously hit #3 R&B, and #20 Pop with the novelty song "Ain't Got No Home" in 1956.
Grand Rapids, Michigan Singer, and songwriter Del Shannon had a #1 hit in both the US and UK with his single "Runaway", complete with a Solo featuring an early version of a Synthesizer called the Musitron.
New Orleans R&B Singer Ernie K-Doe tops the US Pop and R&B charts with the song "Mother-In-Law" written and produced by influential New Orleans R&B musician and songwriter Allen Toussaint. The single would be K-Doe's only US Top 40 hit.
"Raindrops" by Chicago, Illinois R&B singer, and Songwriter Dee Clark hits #2 Pop, #3 R&B and became a million-seller. The song is Clark's fifth R&B Top Ten hit, but his first Top Ten hit on the US Pop chart.
"Travellin' Man" is a #1 US, #2 UK hit for 21-year-old teen Idol Ricky Nelson. The song is included on his sixth album which reached #8 in the US. It is Nelson's thirteenth Top Ten single in the US and his second #1 hit single
Norfolk, Virginia singer Gary U.S. Bonds hits #1 US, #7 UK with the single "Quarter to Three" which goes on to sell over a million copies. He would score again in September with "School Is Out" #5 US Pop, #12 R&B.
New Orleans R&B Singer Chris Kenner hits #2 on both the Pop and R&B charts with the single "I Like It Like That", written by Kenner and Allen Toussaint. The song would reach #7 Pop in 1965 when covered by UK band The Dave Clark Five.
Bobby Lewis of Detroit goes to #1 US with the single "Tossin' and Turnin". The song goes on to sell over a million copies. In September 1961 he would reach the US Pop Top Ten again with "One Track Mind".
Gladys Knight & The Pips, a family band from Atlanta scored their first hit with "Every Beat of My Heart" that reached #1 R&B, #3 Pop, and #18 UK. The Group would sign to Motown in 1966 and have fifteen more Top Twenty hits well into the 1970s.
The House Band at Memphis label Stax Records, The Mar-Keys, had a US #3 hit with the Instrumental Single "Last Night". The Stax label was owned the group's tenor sax player Charles "Packy" Axton.
Phil Spector produces Yuma, Arizona Singer, and Songwriter Curtis Lee and the resulting single "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" hits US #7, #47 UK. Spector also produced Lee's second Single "Under The Moon of Love" which peaked at #46 in US Pop.
Wesleyan University Folk Group The Highwaymen have a #1 hit in the US and UK by arranging an African American Work Song "Michael (Row The Boat Ashore". They hit the Top Twenty again the following year with "Cotton Fields".
Fargo, North Dakota Singer Bobby Vee has his first US #1 hit (#3 UK) with the Single "Take Good Care of My Baby" by the Brill Building songwriting team of Goffin and King. He would also reach #2 US, #6 in the UK in Dec. with the Single "Run To Him"
Singer, Songwriter, and Pianist Ray Charles returns to the top of the US Pop and R&B charts (#6 UK) with the single "Hit The Road Jack". It was Charles' second #1 Pop single and seventh #1 on the R&B chart. The song features Vocalist Margie Hendrix.
Connecticut Singer, Songwriter Gene Pitney hits #13 US with the his movie theme from the film "Town Without Pity". Pitney would go on to have ten more US Top Twenty hits, as well as writing several Top Hits for other Artists.
Producer Phil Spector scores again with the debut Single from San Francisco act The Paris Sisters, who reach #5 US with "I Love How You Love Me". The Paris Sisters would hit the charts four more times, but never would match the success of their first Single.
Bronx, New York Singer Dion DiMucci, formerly of Dion & The Belmonts, hits #1 US and #11 UK as a Solo Artist with the single "Runaround Sue" on Laurie Records. DiMucci would chart nine US Top Ten hits as a Solo Artist, but this would be his only US #1 Single.
After releasing his first Album in 1960, French singer Johnny Hallyday topped the European Charts with his cover of "Let's Twist Again". Hallyday would have 38 French Top Ten hits over a remarkably long Career until his final Top Ten hit in 2015.
The Beach Boys, a Group from Hawthorne, California feature Vocal Harmonies on their first Single "Surfin'" (#75 US Pop) which capitalizes on the West Coast's "Surf Craze" and brings them a Regional Hit.
Plainview, Texas Country Singer Jimmy Dean has a #1 US and #2 UK Crossover Hit with the American Folklore Single "Big Bad John". Dean would have seven more US Top Ten Hits, a TV Variety Show, and a successful line of Breakfast Sausages.
Inkster, Michigan Girl Group The Marvelettes bring Detroits' Tamla/Motown record label their first US #1 hit with the single "Please Mr. Postman". The Song also tops the US R&B Chart. The group would have nine US Top 40 hits in the 60's.
Country Singer Patsy Cline continues the Crossover success of "the Nashville sound" with her Owen Bradley-produced Hits "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy", the latter Song was written by the great Willie Nelson.
Brooklyn based Vocal Group The Tokens hit US #1 with their Doo Wop Hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". The South African Folk Song had been Covered by others under various Titles including "Mbube" and "Wimoweh" prior to the Tokens Version.
My Take:
As you can see, the number of new Artists and rejuvenated Ones are showing up on our Charts (Pop and R&B)... 1961 was a year that laid the groundwork for the diverse and innovative sounds that would define the rest of the 1960s, with new Artists, Styles, and production techniques emerging alongside established Stars.
Chart-toppers: The Billboard Hot 100 saw a variety of hits, including "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis, which was the top song of the year. Other major hits included "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline and "Crying" by Roy Orbison.
New artists: 16 acts achieved their first number one song in 1961, including The Shirelles, Del Shannon, Roy Orbison, and The Marvelettes, indicating a fresh wave of talent.
The development of Regional Music Scenes:
Surf music emerged from Southern California
Phil Spector began developing his influential "Wall of Sound" production technique.
Record labels: Berry Gordy's Tamla/Motown label had its first number one hit and signed The Supremes, setting the stage for future success.
Crossover appeal: The music of 1961 showed increasing crossover between pop, R&B, and country, as exemplified by Patsy Cline's success.
You can just start to feel things a Changin' on "Down the Road."
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