History of the “Sounds” of Music Part #1962

The 1960s..."The Road to Woodstock" Evolution of the Sounds of Music

Classic Rock Turntables.com

By William W. Nelson

Founder of the Asheville School of Classic Rock

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1962

Introduction

The Music Scene in 1962 was vibrant and diverse, marked by significant developments across various genres as Sounds were evolving due to equipment upgrades and Innovation is creeping into output.

Elvis Presley gave up touring to focus on Acting... but he still is a recording Phenom!

The Tornados became the first UK group to go to #1 in the US with their instrumental hit Telstar... named for the Sattelite Written and produced by Joe Meek. Considered an early example of "space rock" due to its futuristic sound

The Beatles were rejected by Decca Records but later signed to EMI. Go figure

The Mashed Potato, The Twist, and the Watusi are popular as Dance crazes that continue to sweep the US.

The Greenwich Village Folk Revival continues with Bob Dylan... Peter, Paul, and Mary releasing debut albums.

The Four Seasons score their first #1 Single... "Sherry" written by Bob Gaudio, the Four Seasons' Keyboardist and Tenor Vocalist.

James Brown releases the hit album, "Live At The Apollo."

My Take: The Train has left the Station for Pop and R&B climbing the Hill of Success... hold on tight , Mates

The Top Artists and Songs of 1962...

The Dance Craze Hits continued in '62 with The Twist continuing as Chubby Checkers' "The Twist" went to #1 (#9 UK) again, becoming the only Single to top the Charts in two different runs at it... Joey Dee & The Starlighters' Single "Peppermint Twist" also hit #1 in the US and UK.

West Philadelphia Singer Solomon Burke teams with Producer and Songwriter Bert Berns for his second Top Ten R&B hit with "Cry To Me" #5 R&B, #44 Pop... Burke would be an important transitional figure as R&B evolved into Soul Music in the 60's.

Chicago, Native Gene Chandler hits #1 Pop and R&B in the US with the Single "Duke of Earl"... sells a million 45s in one month. The Song's doo-wop style and Chandler's distinctive Vocals helped it stand out but it was not critically acclaimed.

The Everly Brothers continue their Chart success with their 12th US Top Ten hit "Crying In The Rain" which reached #6 in both the US & UK. They would hit #9 US in October with "That's Old Fashioned (The Way Love Should Be)".... their Country Rock Style combining Elements of Rock, Country, and Pop Music wold influence many Country Artists.

Jacksonville, Texas Singer, and songwriter Bruce Channel hit #1 US, and #2 UK with his Single "Hey Baby" which he had co-written almost two years before. The Song goes on to sell over a million Copies... The song is known for its prominent Harmonica Riff and catchy Chorus. This would be Channel's only Top 40 single making him a "one-hit wonder".

Chicago former Gospel Singer and Songwriter Sam Cooke hits #1 R&B with the single "Twistin' The Night Away" #9 Pop, #6 UK. This is the first of US R&B Top Five hits for Cooke in 1962... "Bring It On Home To Me", "Nothing Can Change This Love", "Cupid", and "That's It - I Quit - I'm Moving On".

Dry Ridge, Kentucky Country Singer Skeeter Davis crosses over to the Pop and R&B Charts with the Song "The End Of The World" #2 Pop, #4 R&B, #2 Country, and #18 UK. The Song is produced by Chet Atkins and features Floyd Cramer on Piano.

Elvis Presley is back on top of the US charts with the single "Good Luck Charm"... written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold. He gives up touring for the next 8 years, to concentrate on his Movie Career. This would be Presley's last #1 hit until 1969.

Television Actress Shelley Fabares of The Donna Reed Show, has a #1 US hit (#37 UK) with the Song "Johnny Angel" which premieres on the TV Show. Backing Vocals on the Track are provided by The Blossoms featuring Darlene Love. The Group, including Love, contributed to Elvis Presley's Gospel Recordings... Love recently provided additional vocals for a compilation of Elvis' Gospel Song titled "Where No One Stands Alone."

My Take: Is the upcoming "British Invasion" affecting their taste for US Pop Tunes?

Roy Orbison hits #4 US and #2 UK with the single "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)". The song is Orbison's 5th US Top Ten hit and sells over a million Copies.

Queens, New York Vocal Group Jay and The Americans have their first US Top Ten hit with the Single "She Cried" which reached #5 US Pop (UK-not Charted). The group would go on to have nine more US Top 40 hits. The Song was originally written by Ted Daryll and Greg Richards, and initially recorded by Ted Daryll in July 1961. There were several Cover Versions of the Song, including ones by The Lettermen, The Shangri-Las (as "He Cried"), and various other Artists.

Philadelphia Singer Dee Dee Sharp takes advantage of the Craze for Dance hits with her #1 R&B, #2 US Pop (not Charted in UK) single "Mashed Potato Time". She would follow with 3 more Top Ten hits in 1962.

Passaic, New Jersey Girl Group The Shirelles return to the top of the US Pop charts with the single "Soldier Boy" which also hits #3 R&B, #23 UK and it sold over a million copies. It is The Shirelles 5th US Top 10 hit.

R&B Artist Ray Charles takes on Country Music with his cover of Don Gibson's Country Hit "I Can't Stop Loving You" and takes it to #1 on the Pop, R&B, and Country Charts. The Song also tops the UK chart.

Lynn, Massachusetts Singer Freddy Cannon goes to US #3, and UK #20 with the song "Pallisades Park"... it is a tribute to the New Jersey Amusement Park complete with Carnival Sound effects. Cannon would have six US Top 40 hits.

Cincinnati Vocal Trio, The Isley Brothers, who had a hit in 1959 with "Shout", hit again with the single "Twist and Shout" #2 R&B, #17 US Pop, and #42 UK. The Song would also be a hit for The Beatles in 1964.

Orchestra Leader David Rose finds himself with a surprise #1 hit with "The Stripper" which he had recorded 4 years earlier. The Song was famously used in a Noxema Shaving Cream Commercial featuring a Swedish model.

Canonsburg, Pennslyvania Singer, and Songwriter Bobby Vinton hits #1 US, #15 UK with the Single "Roses Are Red (My Love)"... composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans. It is Vinton's first Song to Chart and is the first #1 hit for the Epic Records Label, a division of Columbia. Vinton would have a long Career releasing 38 Studio Albums.

Teen Idol Brian Hyland of Queens, NY hits #3 in both the US and UK with his single "Sealed With A Kiss". The Song would go on to sell over a million copies. Hyland had previously hit #1 in 1960 with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini".

After singing Backup on Dee Dee Sharps' hit "Mashed Potato Time" Philadelphia R&B Quartet The Orlons hit #2 Pop, #5 R&B with their Dance hit "The Wah-Watusi" sparking a brief Watusi Dance Craze.

My Take: just like in the 20s, Dance Music overruns those Songs that are more for Listening.

Brill Building Songwriters David Goffin and Carole King write a #1 US, #2 UK Dance hit for their Teenage Babysitter Little Eva. "The Locomotion" would also be a hit in the 70's and 80's for Grand Funk and Kylie Minogue.

Newark, New Jersey Vocal Group The Four Seasons have their first US #1 single "Sherry" (#8 UK). They would follow with three more #1's and fourteen Top Ten hits in the US - matched only by the Beach Boys in the U.S. for records sold from 1962 - '64.

Atlanta, Singer and Songwriter Tommy Roe has his first #1 US single with "Sheila" (#3 UK) a Buddy Holly Style Rockabilly Rave-up.

The Hance hits keep on coming as the Latin Flavored Single "Let's Dance" hits #4 US, #2 UK for Hawthorne, California Singer-Guitarist Chris Montez... the single would sell over a million copies.

My Take: This is a great Song to ask a Girl to Dance for the first time as it is an easy way to move easy...

Booker T and The MG's, Members of the House Band at Memphis' Stax Records, hit #3 US Pop, #1 R&B, and #7 UK with the Instrumental Single "Green Onions". With over a million copies sold the Song is one of the most popular Instrumentals ever.

Detroit Band The Contours score with the Twist Dance Classic "Do You Love Me" #1 R&B, #3 US Pop on Motown's Gordy Label. The Song would hit #1 in the UK a year later when Covered by Brian Poole and The Tremeloes.

New York City Folk revivalists Peter, Paul & Mary have a #1 Debut Album in the US and a Top Ten US Pop single with their cover of Pete Seeger's "If I Had A Hammer". The group would go on to have 5 US Top Ten Singles and Top Ten albums in the 60's.

R&B Veterans James Brown and His Famous Flames record their October 24th concert at Harlem's Apollo Theater. The resulting Album, released in 1963, would reach #2 US (not Charted in UK) and stay on the album charts for over a year. Brown's hits stretch thru his final Top Ten hit in 2015.

It's a graveyard smash as Bobby "Boris" Pickett's spoof of Dance Craze Songs, "Monster Mash" reaches #1 in the US just in time for Halloween. The Song would be a hit again over ten years later in 1973 when it reached #10 US and #3 UK.

The Single "He's A Rebel" produced by Phil Spector and written by Singer-Songwriter Gene Pitney is a #1 US, #19 UK hit. The Song was also recorded by Los Angeles group The Blossoms, but Spector credits the single to New York City Girl Group The Crystals.

Texas R&B Singer Esther Phillips returns to the Charts after a ten-year absence with the #1 US R&B and #8 US Pop hit "Release Me". Written in 1949 and Covered by many Artists, the Song reached UK #1 in 1967 when Covered by Englebert Humperdinck.

Columbia Records releases the first Album "Bob Dylan" from Folk Revivalist and Singer-Songwriter Bob Dylan. The Album Charted #1 US and #17 UK and sold over a million Copies... it would kick off an influential Career that has spanned over five decades and continues today.

East Los Angeles Trumpet Player and Songwriter Herb Alpert has a US Top Ten Hit with his composition "Lonely Bull". Alpert recorded the Song with L.A. session Musicians the "Wrecking Crew" and released it on his own A&M Record Label.

Dick Clark and American Bandstand Influence on America's Music Scene

Dick Clark's American Bandstand had a profound influence on popular music in America from 1956 through 1982. The Show served as a crucial Platform for launching and promoting new Artists, helping to bring Rock and Roll into the mainstream. As a Trendsetter Clark had considerable Power in shaping the 60s Music Scene, with the Show's format of having Teens rate new Songs helping to predict and influence which records would become hits.

Note: Clack was called before Congress to testify but was never indicted???

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My Take: I have to be honest and tell it like it is... In 1962, I formed my first Wannabee Band at the U of Wisconsin playing Gigs from Friday night to Sunday afternoons (Weddings-Birthdays) at the TKE Fraternity House in Madison... to get ideas for Covers, we never, and I mean never, missed the 90-minute Show at 3 pm. Our Setlist was about 20 Songs that we played over a 3+ hour Gig including

"Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)

"Shake, Rattle and Roll" by Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)

"Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard (1955)

"Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley (1956)

"Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry (1956)

"At the Hop" by Danny & the Juniors (1957)

"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley (1957)

"Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)

"Do You Want to Dance" by Bobby Freeman (1958)

"Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry (1958)

"Shout" by The Isley Brothers (1959)

"The Twist" by Chubby Checker (1960) (1962)

"Runaround Sue" by Dion (1961)

"Let's Twist Again" by Chubby Checker (1961)

"The Wanderer" by Dion (1961)

"The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva (1962)

"Mashed Potato Time" by Dee Dee Sharp (1962)

"Do You Love Me" by The Contours (1962)

"Let's Dance" by Chris Montez (1962)

"Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys (1962)

"Twist and Shout" by The Isley Brothers (1962)

"Then He Kissed Me" by the Crystals (1962)

The "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers (1962)

"The Hitch Hike" by Marvin Gay (1962)

Note: By my guess, the Top 3 Songs were: "Roll Over Beethoven", "Let's Dance", and "The Twist" (repeated as first and Last).

All of these Tunes had upbeat Tempos, catchy Melodies, and the ability to get people off their Asses and onto the Dance floor. To get through the night, we presented the Setlist to the TKEs and they could pick 20 Songs for $200 for the 3 hours... we would stay, if asked, for $100 for an hour with callouts from the List. Needless to say, splitting the $300 six ways made us Happy Campers and sometimes the Tip was another $100 and the free Food and Booze put us over the Top (the only Drug was Mary Jane that I brought from the Farm for $5/Dime Bag... the most I sold was 33 in one Night)

Note: During a Break, I played 45s by request... also, when we were Mastering (LOL) a new Song , we would improvise a Riff with the Harmonica or Horn to get us through... unscathed mostly.

Many of the Setlist was mostly associated with specific Dance Crazes of the moment:

The Twist: The Twist remained hugely popular in 1962, with Chubby Checker's version of the song reaching #1 again that year.

The Mashed Potato: This dance was a popular craze in 1962, often performed to songs like Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time".

The Watusi: Inspired by Ray Barretto's 1961 hit "El Watusi," this dance continued to be popular in 1962.

The Pony: Chubby Checker's "Pony Time" inspired this dance, which was still prevalent in 1962.

The Hitch Hike: This dance was inspired by Marvin Gaye's hit of the same name.

The Limbo: The limbo was particularly popular in 1962.

Line Dances: Dances like The Madison were gaining popularity during this time.

The Monster Mash: While the song became associated with Halloween, it was a dance hit in 1962.

Note: I cannot remember any of the use of Cocaine or Speed as the TKEs were the #1 Party Frat and, if they allowed it, their License would be in serious jeopardy!

I did get a request to play some Cliff Richards... he was on the Pat Boone TV Show and one of the Girl's Mother was English. I did find a 45 but cannot remember the name... it was a mediocre Pop song. Well, I agree, that he was the first Rockers fro across the Pond.

My Take on 1962...

Well, for a 16-year-old, I was pretty taken aback by the "Haul" each weekend (the Summer was a Gold Mine) and I was the least frivolous with my Loot... the Band Boys spent their fortune on Outfits (3 per Gig and never repeated during the Weekend... mt biggest investment on Clothes was my James Dean Brown Leather Jacket).

My first Car was a 53 Surburban (for hauling stuff)... my second was a 57 Chevy Impala "Vert" 284 with a 4:11 rear end (a Chick Magnet). A few Banditos dropped out of School to try making it full-time and went to Vegas (complete failure). They came back begging to get back in, but I had to replace them... it actually worked out best for the long run.

None of us were overwhelmed by the amount of time spent practicing during the week (no more than 3 hours a day)... because we truly knew this was not a Hobby and felt "on top-O-the-World" with enough energy to make it all happen. I had a part-time job at My Aunt's Record Shop cleaning in the am and sorting Records used in the Listening Booths (12)... needless to say, my collection of 45s was now in a Chest fitted in the Burb.

We could feel it coming... but where was it going, nobody had a clue what was going on in Liverpool. for XMAS I got a bootleg copy of a 45 from England "Love Me Do" by a Band called the Beatles. I played it on our New Year's Eve Gig at 2am... the boys were so,so but the Chicks loved it... all I heard was, "Who the Fuck are they!"

The Beatles Arrive on the Music Scene... forever!

In March 1956, John Lennon, aged 16, and a few of his Friends from Quarry Bank High School played in a Skiffle Band called the Quarrymen.

After meeting John in July 1957, Paul McCartney joined the Band as a Rhythm Guitarist and invited his Friend George Harrison to watch the Band perform. George then auditioned, but John thought that he was too young, however, after several months of persistence, he was enlisted as their Lead Guitarist.

The group made an amateur recording in 1958, performing Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and "In Spite of All the Danger," a Song written by McCartney and Harrison. As they moved towards rock and roll, several original members left, leaving just Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison.

The group performed under various names, including Johnny and the Moondogs and Japage 3, before returning to the Quarrymen name in 1959. By January 1959, John’s Friends from School had left, and he began studying at Liverpool College of Art. The three guitarists, John, Paul, and George, were playing under the names Johnny and the Moondogs and Japage 3... playing Rock and Roll Covers whenever they could find a Drummer.

Stuart Sutcliffe, an art college friend of John and band member, suggested that the band name should be Beatals, as a tribute to Buddy Holly and the Crickets. They used this name until May of 1959, when they went to the Silver Beetles, the Silver Beatles, and then in August, shortened to simply The Beatles.

In August 1960, they hired Pete Best as their drummer. They played residencies in Hamburg, Germany, particularly in the red-light district. They returned and became increasingly popular in Liverpool as part of the "Merseybeat Scene" where they regularly performed at The Cavern Club. Brian Epstein became their manager in 1962 after seeing them perform there.

George Martin signed them to EMI's Parlophone label in 1962 after being turned down by Decca Records. Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as drummer in August 1962 Their first single "Love Me Do" was released in October 1962, reaching #17 on the UK charts. "Please Please Me" became their first big hit in early 1963.

They were inspired by American rock and roll artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly. On October 6, 1962, The Beatles launched their Music Career with the U.K. release of their debut Single, “Love Me Do,” which peaked at #17 on the U.K. charts. A 1984 re-release of the track later peaked at #4.

The song, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, wasn’t released in the United States until April 1963 but became an instant Hit, landing at #1, the first of The Beatles’ 20 #1 Songs. It was recorded more than once, using different Drummers other than original Beatles Drummer Pete Best... the U.K. version featured Ringo Starr on Drums, while the U.S. single featured Alan White.

Note: To be continued in 1963...

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