Post a song all slushy and romantic from the 1960s

you know the sort of thing - songs like The Shadow Of Your Smile that seemed to appear on dozens of albums back then - movie soundtracks etc...

I'll start.

Phil Spector owns this thread.

One song I can think of that he didn't produce for the Shirelles, Soldier Boy.

I still love this song like it cam out yesterday.

r6 Luther Dixon produced the Shirelles for Florence Greenberg's Scepter Records.

Phil Spector produced the Ronettes, the Crystals, Darlene Love, the Righteous Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner, and others for his own label, Philles Records.

I agree with you though, r6, that Phil Spector owns this thread. Here's my favorite by the Crystals, "Then He Kissed Me":

"We'll make 'em turn their heads, everywhere we go..."

R6 I said one he didn't, but he did produce a few hits with the Shirelles lead singer too, (maybe with the whole group? ), but Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow being the most recognizable. Although it was common for him to hop around and use singers when he should've been using someone else's voice.

There was an episodic series on him and his music on Showtime (or Starz, it's called Spector so not hard to find). It's crazy how much amazing music that odd little man created.

Technically in the top 10 bc not all posts have links to songs.

I had ‘the tingles’ for another boy and this song expressed most of what I felt. It was innocent, we were both almost teens.

“Hello, Young Lovers.” I was singing this around the house last night.

The Look of Love, Dusty Springfield

Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell

One Less Bell To Answer

I would call this one more of a wistful song, but it fits the genre

A lot of showtunes from the pre-Hair era could count, but let's go with this one.

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Never My Love, The Association

Love Can Make You Happy, Mercy

OP, that song was written and became popular in 1934. Well before the 1960s. It is a standard from the Great American Songbook.

Teach Me Tonight, Dinah Washington

"Only Love Can Break a Heart," Gene Pitney

[quote]OP, that song was written and became popular in 1934. Well before the 1960s. It is a standard from the Great American Songbook.

But it's a very 60s recording.

like this one >

I love every one of these songs.

I'm approaching sixty years old, for reference, lol.

Midnight Cowboy Theme, Ferrante & Teicher

Close To You, Carpenters (technically released in early 1970, but close enough)

Sometimes a song can feel lush without words.

This is not the sort of song you'd expect from the Monkees. I guess that's why they never released it.

A lot of people don't seem to get it and they're posting upbeat pop songs and R&B type stuff. How is r 37's "slushy and romantic" for instance?

Going Out of My Head

Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66

Slushy and romantic is a feeling, I guess. But the way I intepreted the question was easy listening/middle of the road pop-type stuff.

r40 that's hilarious! They're SO bad and so nervous. I thought they were quite a famous act back then.

Another Spector submission:

Nancy Wilson at her lush, romantic best.

"Strangers in the Night," Mrs. Miller

Great idea for a thread, OP! Here's my contribution:

[quote] [R48], try this for size >

Yes, OP, Peggy Lee has many slushy romantic classics!

OP, for the record, Tony Bennett's recording of Ray Noble's standard 'The Very Thought Of You' may be from the 1960s but the tune itself goes back to the 1930s.

I love a good 1960s "Beat Ballad"! FYI, a "Beat Ballad" is a romantic ballad that's usually (but not always) heavily orchestrated with strings and a hard/substantial drum beat.

One of my personal favorites is Mary Wells' 'Never Never Leave Me'. This song is from her 20th Century Fox Records period in 1965, which immediately followed her Motown stint. I love this recording and the big-sounding arrangement has a Henry Mancini flair to it.

Long John Blues, Dinah Washington

yes Burt and Dionne did put out some real clangers from time to time ⤵️

clanger /ˈklaŋə/ Learn to pronounce nounINFORMAL•BRITISH [bold]an absurd or embarrassing blunder.[/bold]

When I fall in love, it will be forever.....

just a passing breeze, filled with memories...

This IS the sixties and what the op asked for…this song is timeless

The general public isn't aware that Nichelle "Lt. Uhura" Nichols was also a singer with a unique vocal style. Her Late 60s recording of the standard 'A Sunday Kind Of Love' with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra is a personal favorite. Lush, Slushy & Romantic.

Lenny Welch..... schmaltzy and gorgeous 1963

The best version - lovely!

Yesterday, when I was hopeless romantic.......

JFC, could you all at least post the NAME of the song so the same one isn’t posted a dozen times??

r75 What song was posted a dozen times, you pantload?

I don't think there's been a single double post.

No Beatles? Unbelievable.

Paul Revere & The Raiders

Michele (O'Malley of The Ballroom, Sagittarius)

I don't know why, but I've always HATED Unchained Melody.

With a slushy and romantic passion, of course.

[quote]R17 One Less Bell To Answer

I’ve never understood this - unless he was in a nursing home she worked in and now he’s moved… and won’t be ringing his bell for assistance anymore.

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons

Emitt Rhodes / Merry-Go-Round

[bold](Theme from) Valley of the Dolls[/bold], 1967. Classic Dionne Warwick. Written by Dory & André Previn.

Despite being a huge hit, the Academy did not nominate it for Best Song. They found "The Bare Necessities" and "Talk to the Animals" (the eventual winner) more deserving of that honor. smh

Bobby Solo, molto lussureggiante!

[quote]I don't know why, but I've always HATED Unchained Melody.

I agree. It's ghastly.

r131 everyone and their mama taking a pottery class, maybe?

"I Got You, Babe" - Sonny & Cher

"Children and Flowers" - the Critters (starts at 0:34)

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow

Jet Screamer ft. George Jetson on drums

"Bus Stop" - the Hollies (one of the romantic-est songs in any decade)

Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts

The Association, “Cherish”

This is a movie/soundtrack favorite:

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles

Tommy James & The Shondells

"Don't Worry, Baby" - the Beach Boys

Ray Conniff & The Singers

j. frank wilson & the cavaliers

CHAPEL OF LOVE - The Dixie Cups

"It Might as Well Rain Until September."

Annette Funicello & Frankie Avalon

Yusuf Islam formerly Cat Stevens

Robert Goulet's signature song from the 1960 Broadway musical, Camelot: "If Ever I Would Leave You."

Fritz - That's Alright / A Dream Away

Connie Stevens, singing to a man with a hideously oversized forehead -- "Sixteen Reasons"

Before I gaze at you again

Slushy, romantic - probably one of the worst songs of the 60s.

Clodagh Rodgers -- "Goodnight, Midnight"

Dig the dancing chicks!

How is that slushy and romantic, R262? - you really aren't getting it - just turning this into your personal "favorite hits of the '60s" thread.

Brenda Arnau

r264 define slushy - if you ask a teen of the age, they perhaps thought it was the most romantic song of all time... I could assume that you wanted nothing but poodle skirt songs of the 50s. Something that belies to the children about how innocent yesteryear was.

or perhaps consider another site where you can control the posts, stomp your feet and scream it's my house, my rules, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

But you could ignore me and the majority of posts will disappear. Most people just do that. . . complaints such as yours tend to invite other trolls. But feel free to join my anti-fan club and pepper with it insults about wasting too much time on your precious, precious thread.. that's the usual standard.

Brenda Arnau

r264 btw, my favorites are mostly the psychedelic shit that all starts to sound the same and goes a little gonzo... or groove and rock with a world flavor beat. But then I'd just be posting song after song by the same artists. So, I've been trying to keep it up to separate groups, separate people and keeping it relevant to those that make the charts (somewhere) to sate those that are annoyed for those of us that got out once in a while. and saw less known bands

not 60s but fuck it what do I care now

Ringo Starr & Paul McCartney

Slushy like your mother's underwear, OP?

Apparently.

Junior Walker & the All-Stars

Marvin Gaye with Tammi Terrel

James & Bobby Purify (rubber band cover)

Jackie Trent & Tony Hatch

Over 225 posts--most of this thread--are all posted by the same poster.

Honey, take some Paxil to control that OCD.

[quote]Over 225 posts--most of this thread--are all posted by the same poster.

He does this in all the "post a song" threads, usually going for the most obscure songs. At least I've heard of a quarter or more of his selections in this thread.

r338 And most people keep posting the same song. Would you prefer if I did that? Is there something else you'd like to address? Or would you rather offer a thank you for making up for your laziness or ineptitude.

Actually, r339, I have no objection to multiple posts of the same song. I think of multiple posts as votes. That single-mention-per-thread nonsense is someone else's obsession. Maybe yours.

r342 I'd rather just post these random little songs of a generation that likely did one too many drugs to remember them all, wasting my day in this meaningless thread on this empty site as I've stated above, they can ignore me and most of the posts will disappear along with their stress about all the things they cannot control hopefully. Nothing is stopping any of you from taking over...

Gary Lewis & The Playboys

r342 You all can go one step further and flag all my posts to balance out the potential karma I've been accruing which is probably part of a conspiracy to counter my trolling and then launch a protest to get rid of music here... which likely borders on piracy with the new passages of law targeting free streaming sites, becoming another napster and let's not forget the rise of the religious reich sparking even agnostic hausfraus into the fray, another tipper gore should be out crying about all the alleged gay or other things in music.

The Seekers (but written by Tom Springfield)

Little Anthony & The Imperials

Dino Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche

Dickey Lee

[quote] This was written by psychologist Dr. Milton "Mitt" Addington and recorded as a single (TCF Hall 102) by Dickey Lee. The song was inspired by a story that ran in a Memphis newspaper in 1964, written by a 15-year-old girl named Cathie Harmon. Dr. Addington credited her and shared his royalties from the song with her.

[quote] The original article by Cathie Harmon was possibly inspired by the legend of Resurrection Mary, described as a shy young woman with very cold hands. A number of young men reportedly encountered her at dance parties in Chicago beginning in the 1930s. Escorted or given a ride home, she typically asks to be dropped off at Resurrection Cemetery on Archer Avenue, where she vanishes, asking her escort not to follow her. In 1939 a man named Jerry Palus met her at the Liberty Grove dance hall and she told him her actual home address; going there the following day, he found an older woman who verified that she had had such a daughter, who had died many years before. Her picture was identical to the girl Jerry had escorted to the graveyard.

[quote] they can ignore me

Done.

June Christy - just in time

[quote] This song bears such a strong resemblance to The Beatles' "She Loves You" and "From Me to You" that disk jockeys in New York took to calling the artist "Bobby Veetle" when they played this song. That was, however, the point: Vee even covered those song on the album, which was his attempt to emulate the British invasion sound.

"Really Sayin' Somethin'" shoulda been a hit.

Gene Pitney

[quote] Gene Pitney, who was already an international star, got to know The Rolling Stones through their manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones had only just started their recording career and so far had only released covers of R&B & Blues numbers. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had barely begun writing at all, but when Pitney heard one of their earliest efforts, "My Only Girl," which had been recorded (though not released) by the English folk/rock artist George Bean, he decided to cover it. Pitney changed the title to "That Girl Belongs To Yesterday" and made it the first ever Jagger/Richards song to enter the US Hot 100 and the first ever commercial UK hit for a Jagger/Richards composition. It was also the first time an American artist had covered a Jagger/Richards song

Oh. r338 Judy, please suck up to Miss Landers on another thread. Some of us adore this thread of dear OP.

[quote] On page 11 of the February 1, 1964 edition of Billboard appears a full page advertisement for "The Boy With The Beatle Hair" by The Swans with the prophecy "Sounds like a giant!" It reached #85 and like The Swans was never heard of again.

Every song on Love's Forever Changes album belongs.

Dave Berry - The Crying Game

[quote] Boy George recorded this as the theme song to the 1992 film of the same name, starring Jaye Davidson. Stephen Woolley, who produced the movie, suggested Boy George to sing the title song. Woolley had worked with the Pet Shop Boys on an earlier film called Scandal, and asked them to produce the soundtrack. Neil Tennant of the group loved how George did the title song - he thought the Culture Club frontman sounded like Roy Orbison on the track. His version was markedly different from the original, as Boy George sang it in a much higher register.

diane renay

[quote] Co-written by Bob Crewe and Larry Santos, "Unbelievable Guy" was released as the B-side of one-hit wonder Diane Renay's "Navy Blue," in which Crewe also had a hand.

Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas

[quote] John Lennon wrote "Bad To Me" in 1963 when he was in Spain. Along with "I Call Your Name," he wrote it for Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, whom Brian Epstein had signed along with The Beatles. Released with "I Call Your Name" as the B-side, it was a huge hit in the UK, going to #1 to follow their first hit, a cover of The Beatles' "Do You Want To Know A Secret."

Bobby Vinton

[quote] After the success of his song "Blue on Blue" (#3 in mid-1963), Vinton decided to record an album of "Blue" songs ("Blue Moon," "Blue Hawaii," "Am I Blue," etc). As he was picking up sheet music in Nashville, Vinton received a gift from publisher Al Gallico: a copy of "Blue Velvet," which in 1951 was the last major hit for Tony Bennett. The song fit very well with Vinton's project, as every song on the album had "Blue" in the title.

Wayne Newton - Danke Schoen

[quote] The music was written by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert, with lyrics by Kurt Schwaback and Milt Gabler. Kaempfert first recorded the song in 1962, for his album Living It Up!.

[quote] It was Wayne Newton's version that made the song famous, reaching #13 on the Billboard chart in 1963. Newton became a very popular singer in Las Vegas casinos and nightclubs.

Peggy March

[quote] March was 15 plus a month and 13 days old when the song hit #1, making her the youngest female singer ever to top the Hot 100 (Brenda Lee was six months older when she went to #1 with "I'm Sorry"). Born Margaret Battavio, she took the stage name March after the month she was born. Her producers christened her "little" because she was about 4'10" at the time.

[quote] Her follow-up singles were just minor hits, but March dropped the "little" and evolved to become an actress and songwriter. She co-wrote "When The Rain Begins To Fall" by Jermaine Jackson and "Manuel Goodbye" by Audrey Landers, which both did well in Europe.

Gerry & The Pacemakers

[quote] The Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers were the first two acts to sign with Brian Epstein, and for a time the two bands had their own private battle at the top of the UK charts. The Pacemakers' Mitch Murray-penned "How Do You Do It?" spent three weeks at the summit in April 1963, to be replaced at the peak position by The Beatles' first chart-topper, "From Me to You." Seven weeks later the Gerry Marsden-fronted band knocked the Fab Four off #1 with "I Like It."

Barbara Lewis

[quote] This was Lewis' first hit single and biggest hit. Along with this song, she wrote all the material for her debut album of the same name; during the early sixties, it was somewhat rare for a female singer to write her own material, especially for an entire album. The backup vocals were provided by the Chicago-based R&B male group The Dells.

[quote] In 1977, a version by Yvonne Elliman reached US #15 and UK #26.

Connie Francis

[quote] Written by Howie Greenfield and Neil Sedaka, this was the title song from the movie of the same name starring George Hamilton.

[quote] Thanks to Rich Podolsky's book Don Kirshner: The Man with the Golden Ear, the full story of this song can now be told:

[quote] Producer/director Joe Pasternak came to this film from an acclaimed career, starting with an Oscar nomination for "Best Picture" for his 1936 Three Smart Girls, also a musical comedy with Deanna Durbin. But he didn't want to accept female lead Connie Francis' recommendation of Howie Greenfield and Neil Sedaka. He had a song-writing team from Brooklyn. Pasternak grumbled when Francis assured him that Sedaka and Greenfield were the ones who had written hits for her previously, so he gave them a week to produce results.

[quote] When Greenfield was told of the project, he was less than thrilled. In his phone call with Connie Francis, he said, "What kind of stupid title is that? Who can write a song with a title like 'Where The Boys Are'?"

[quote] In 1960, there was neither the Internet, nor FAX machines, nor Federal Express, so when Greenfield and Sedaka wrote the song, they had a friend who was an airline stewardess deliver it to Francis in Fort Lauderdale. They actually cut two demo versions of songs, and let Pasternak pick the one he liked better.

[quote] Producers Al Nevins and Don Kirshner, of Aldon Music, had Greenfield and Sedaka under contract to them at the time of "Where The Boys Are." Since this was the first time a song of theirs had made it into a film, Kirshner thought that they deserved a screen credit, too. So, against Nevins' better council (not wanting to jinx the gig), Kirshner boldly picked up the phone and spoke with producer Pasternak. This is why the credits at the end of the film, listing the songs, read "Words by Howard Greenfield, Music by Neil Sedaka, Courtesy Nevins-Kirshner."

The Tymes

[quote] The Tymes were a vocal group from Philadelphia comprised of George Williams, George Hilliard, Al "Ceasar" Berry, Norman Burnett and Donald Banks. "So Much In Love" was the first song they ever recorded.

[quote] The group was called The Latineers in 1963 when they entered a talent show that earned them an audition with Billy Jackson at Cameo-Parkway Records. Jackson liked what he heard and brought the group in to record a single. The Latineers had been working on a song they called "As We Strolled Along" - Jackson reworked it a bit and changed the title to "So Much In Love," and that was the song they recorded.

[quote] Cameo founder Bernie Lowe suggested they become The Tymes, and in short order they went from singing "As We Strolled Along" on street corners as The Latineers to touring with Dick Clark's Cavalcade of Stars as The Tymes with their hit single "So Much In Love." The Tymes' specialized in lighthearted, buoyant songs; their second single was "Wonderful! Wonderful!," which made #7 in the US, and in 1974 they had a #1 UK hit with another uplifting song, "Ms. Grace."

[quote] Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles recorded this for the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His version reached #59 in the US that same year. A version by Art Garfunkel reached #11 on the US Adult Contemporary chart in 1988.

[quote] "Louie Louie" was written by an R&B singer named Richard Berry in 1955. With his group The Pharaohs, he was also the first to record the song; it got some airplay in some cities in the Western US when it was released in 1957. Various garage bands heard it and started covering the song until it became a phenomenon with the Kingsmen's 1963 version. While much of the song's notoriety comes from the indecipherable lyrics, in Berry's original version the words are quite clear. The song is about a sailor who spends three days traveling to Jamaica to see his girl. [quote] Dwight Rounds, author of The Year The Music Died, 1964-1972, writes: The words to "Louie Louie" are almost impossible to understand, and are rumored to be obscene. No question that this added significantly to the sales of the single. There was probably a leak somewhere that the lyrics were obscene; otherwise no one would have realized it. This was the most ingenious marketing scheme ever. The FBI tried to track down Richard Berry, The Kingsmen, and various record company executives. They were never able to determine the actual lyrics used. The Kingsmen insisted they said nothing lewd, despite the obvious mistake at the end of the instrumental, where Jack Ely started to sing the last verse one bar too soon, and can be heard yelling something in the background. Ely also said that he sang far away from the microphone, which caused the fuzzy sound, and that the notoriety was initiated by the record company.

[quote] The FBI launched an extensive investigation into this song after Indiana governor Matthew Welsh declared it "pornographic" in early 1964 and asked the Indiana Broadcasters Association to ban it. The investigation spanned offices in several states, with technicians listening to the song at different speeds trying to discern any obscene lyrics. None were found; the FBI eventually figured out what happened when they contacted the FCC. The report details this correspondence:

[quote] "She explained that for approximately two years her company has been receiving unfounded complaints concerning the recording of 'Louie Louie.' She advised that to the best of her knowledge, the trouble was started by an unidentified college student, who made up a series of obscene verses for 'Louie Louie' and then sold them to fellow students. It is her opinion that a person can take any 45 RPM recording and reduce its speed to 33 RPM and imagine obscene words, depending upon the imagination of the listener."

The Crystals

[quote] Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote this song. They were inspired to write it after their babysitter Little Eva told them about her relationship with an abusive boyfriend who beat her almost on a regular basis. When they asked her why she tolerated the abuse, she answered that it symbolized how much he loved her.

[quote] The subject matter of the song made it a commercial failure. It was disliked by the public, and radio stations denied the song airplay. The Crystals hated the song as well. Why Phil Spector convinced them to record it and then tried to release it as a single remains a mystery today.

[quote] La La Brooks of The Crystals recalled to Mojo magazine in a 2011 interview: "It is an overlooked song and misinterpreted. That was weird for us. We were thrown aback by the song. I'm a teenager at the time. Barbara (Alston, fellow Crystal) was a little uneasy doing it. And I was trying to figure out the song and why Phil would record something like this. Barbara was so turned off because she was singing the lyrics and can't feel anything. So in the studio Phil was telling her, 'Don't be so relaxed on it.'"

Steve Lawrence

[quote] #1 on both the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts in America, "Go Away Little Girl" was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was their follow-up hit to "Take Good Care Of My Baby," and was originally intended for Bobby Vee. Aldon music producer Don Kirshner, upon hearing the piece, immediately thought of Steve Lawrence and gave it to him instead of Vee.

[quote] Steve Lawrence, better known as one-half of an act billed as "Steve and Eydie" with his wife Eydie Gorme, had a respectable career with several charting hits from 1957 to 1964. He even shared a stage with the likes of Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews, and also had an acting career. And finally, he won awards including one Tony, two Emmys, and a New York Drama Critics' Circle. So why isn't he better known today? Because of this song. You can track the story through the charts: he was hitting in the Top 10 consistently, then this song became his #1, and after that, he would only chart in the mid-20s and 30s.

[quote] A negative article in the New York Times sparked a controversy, where a columnist believed the song was referring to an under age girl and derided it as "sick." Songwriter Gerry Goffin even had Times reporters coming to him with sneers asking, "So you like to molest little girls, eh?" A similar controversy would break out over the song "Young Girl" in 1968, which just goes to show that moral guardians continue to have far dirtier minds than the songwriters they're supposed to be protecting us from.

To get the stench of r386 out of the thread:

r388 Ah, better out of sight, out of mind... just ignore her cries.

Fontella Bass

r389 neglected:

[quote] Fontella Bass sang with gospel groups from the age of 6 before switching to R&B when she was a teenager. She eventually auditioned for Chess Records and landed a recording contract. This original composition penned by Bass with Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith was her most successful single, though "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (a duet with Bobby McClure) and "Recovery" were also Top 40 hits on the Hot 100.

[quote] Bass revealed to The New York Times in 1989 that her call-and-response vocals for this song weren't intentional. She recalled, "When we were recording that, I forgot some of the words. Back then, you didn't stop while the tape was running, and I remembered from the church what to do if you forget the words. I sang, 'Ummm, ummm, ummm,' and it worked out just fine."

[quote] Despite co-penning the song, Bass initially did not get a writing credit. It took over 20 years and much litigation before she was given her due share of the songwriting and the royalties.

Paul Petersen

[quote] This was written by Roy Alfred and Wally Gold. Gold also co-wrote the hit "It's My Party" recorded by Lesley Gore.

[quote] Paul Petersen appeared at age 8 as a Mouseketeer on Disney's TV show, The Mickey Mouse Club. But he gained greater fame as a teenage heartthrob appearing as son "Jeff" on The Donna Reed Show, an ABC family sitcom airing between 1958 and 1966. The show featured Donna Reed as his mom ("Donna Stone"), Carl Betz as his make-believe-doctor dad ("Dr. Alex Stone"), and Shelley Fabares who played his sister ("Mary Stone").

[quote] When the show's producer, Tony Owen, (Donna Reed's real husband), said to Petersen, "You're going to be singing on TV," Petersen said, "Great! I hope I can be as successful as Ricky Nelson. "Rick was singing on his show and getting all the girls. I wanted to have my share," Petersen added.

Jerry Butler

[quote] This was originally recorded by The Isley Brothers as "Are You Lonely?" but their version wasn't released for almost 40 years. The song was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, and was apparently promised to Dionne Warwick, who was furious when Bacharach and David reneged on their word and gave it to Jerry Butler.

[quote] Warwick did, however, include her demo version on her debut album, Presenting Dionne Warwick. She also released a live rendition as a single from her 1970 album Very Dionne. That version, featuring a slower arrangement, went to #37 on the Hot 100.

[quote] Several other artists recorded this, including Cilla Black, The Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, Glen Campbell, Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, and Ronan Keating. Cissy Houston - aunt to Dionne Warwick, mother to Whitney Houston, and former backing singer for Bacharach - included a version on her 1977 self-titled album. Her version opens with a spoken-word passage before launching into a dramatic, string-laden treatment.

The Drifters - Up On The Roof

[quote] This song was written by the then husband-and-wife team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and the lead vocalist was Rudy Lewis. Carole King recorded a solo version of this on her 1970 album Writer.

[quote] Released late that year, became a major hit in early 1963, reaching number 5 on the U.S. pop singles chart and number 4 on the U.S. R&B singles chart.

[quote] In the UK this was not a hit but a cover version by Kenny Lynch reached #10.

[quote] Laura Nyro sang a slowed-down rendition for her 1970 album, Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. Although many artists (Three Dog Night, The 5th Dimension, Barbra Streisand) had hits with Nyro's soulful tunes, her Goffin/King cover was her sole chart hit as an artist, peaking at #92 on the Hot 100.

Bobby "Blue" Bland

[quote] One of Bobby Bland's most popular singles, this #2 R&B hit finds the singer desperate for some loving. In between blasts of horns and percussion, he begs his girl to "turn on her love light."

[quote] The tune was written by R&B trumpeter Joe Scott, who also came up with the lively arrangement. He shares credit with Duke Records' owner and producer Don Robey aka Deadric Malone. It was Robey who paired Bland with Scott - a partnership that proved fruitful. "In the early days Joe Scott selected all my material, the stories he knew I could tell," Bland explained to Melody Maker in 1974. "He also wrote all the lyrics and the charts for the band."

[quote] Several other artists have recorded this, including The Grateful Dead, Van Morrison's band Them, Lonnie Mack, The Rascals, Tom Jones, Edgar Winter's White Trash, Bob Seger, Conway Twitty, and Jeff Beck. Grand Funk Railroad's Don Brewer and Mark Farner also recorded this as "Love Lights" before forming the band. That version is included on the 1974 GFR album, Monumental Funk. Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman performed this in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000.

Helen Shapiro

[quote] In the early 1960s Helen Shapiro was England's top selling female artist, and this was her biggest selling single. She was 14-years-old when she recorded this.

[quote] Ironically, Shapiro never wanted to record this as she felt it sounded too corny and old-fashioned to appeal to her fans. Shapiro says in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "I was brought up on blues and jazz and I thought Walkin' Back To Happiness was corny - all that 'woop-bah-oh-yea-yeah.' I still don't like the song but everyone goes mad for it so I've been proved wrong. That kind of rhythm was not my scene and I didn't really want to do it. I preferred the B-side, Kiss And Run, which was written by Norrie Paramour."

[quote] This was a UK chart topper and it also spent one week at #100 in the US chart - Shapiro's only chart entry in Billboard top 100

Rosie & the Originals - Angel Baby

[quote] Rosie Hamlin wrote this when she was 14 years old. It began as a poem about a boyfriend, and was based on "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" by The Penguins. Rosie had some experience as a singer with a local band, getting the job by telling them she was 16.

[quote] In a 1969 interview, John Lennon named Rosie as one of his favorite vocalists. He covered "Angel Baby" for his Rock & Roll album, but it wasn't released until 1986 on Menlove Avenue.

[quote] In 1960 Loretta Lynn signed her first record contract with Zero Records, which released her debut single, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." This song was its B-side.

[quote] This was the first song Loretta Lynn ever wrote. She recalled to Mojo: "My husband was fishing and I was sitting way up in the top of a tree with my line in the water and I started singing (sings) 'Whispering Sea rolling by!'"

[quote] Co-written by Ralph Ruvin, Bob Halfin, Harold Irving and Johnny Sheridan, "You're A Pink Toothbrush" is one novelty song Max Bygraves was pleased to have recorded.

[quote] In his autobiography he wrote: "Sometimes in my stage act I'll announce a request for this song. If I hear a ripple go through the audience I'll add, 'Don't knock it, folks. That song has sold over three million. Not records - toothbrushes.'"

Strangest Helen Shapiro song:

Jackie Wilson

[quote] The melody of this song, which was written by John Lehman and Herb Miller, was based on Camille Saint-Saens' (1877) French opera Samson et Delila, specifically the aria entitled: "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" (My heart opens itself to your voice, aka Softly Awakes My Heart)

[quote] While Wilson is better known for "Lonely Teardrops" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher," "Night" was his biggest chart hit in the United States, and his only certified Gold Single.

[quote] This was the first hit song written by Tony Hatch, who would go on to become a top songwriter, composing Petula Clark's hits. Using the pseudonym "Mark Anthony," he wrote the first version of this song as "Follow a Star" for use in a 1959 film of the same name starring the British comedian Norman Wisdom. The song wasn't used in the film, but the following year, re-worked as "Look For a Star," it was recorded by a young singer named Gary Mills and used in the movie Circus of Horrors, a film about a plastic surgeon who repairs deformities in exchange for service in his deranged circus

[quote] When this song appeared in the movie Circus of Horrors, there was no version of it available in America, so Liberty Records set out to make one... quickly. Producer Snuff Garrett was assigned to the task. At the time, he was working with a vocal group called the Statues, but he needed just one singer on "Look For a Star." Group member Buzz Cason was chosen to record it; they cut the track in Nashville on a Saturday with the top session musicians, including bass player Bob Moore, drummer Buddy Harman and piano player Floyd Cramer.

At the session, Liberty head Si Waronker spoke with Garrett about what to call Cason. Since the British singer was Gary Mills, they named Cason "Gary Miles." In our interview with Cason, he said: "It was a plagiaristic thing that you would never get away with in today's world, but they certainly did and it did fairly well for us. I wrote the B-side, 'Wishing Well,' a little ole song I had."

[quote] In the summer of 1960, four different versions of this song were on the US Hot 100 at the same time, since various labels were all rush recording it. The Gary Miles version was the most successful, peaking at #16. An instrumental by Billy Vaughn made #19, and a US release of the Gary Mills version on Imperial Records made #26. The other charting version was by Deane Hawley, who made #29. Hawley's only other chart appearance would be "Pocketful Of Rainbows," which came in at #93.

[quote] This was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930. Carmichael was an actor, performer, and popular songwriter - some of his other compositions include "Stardust" and "Winter Moon." Gorrell was a banker living in New York City, and he wrote the lyrics.

[quote] It's possible that this was written about a woman, not the state. Carmichael and Gorrell didn't live in Georgia, but Carmichael did have a sister named Georgia.

[quote] This was a #10 hit for a jazz saxophone player named Frankie Trumbauer in 1931. Many artists have recorded it over the years, including Louis Armstrong, James Brown (a Georgia native), Django Reinhardt, and Willie Nelson. Charles' version is by far the most famous.

[quote] Five different versions of this song have made the US Hot 100. Here the four that came after Charles' recording:

[quote] Righteous Brothers (#62, 1966)

[quote] Georgia Pines Candymen (#81, 1967)

[quote] Wes Montgomery (#91, 1968)

[quote] Willie Nelson (#84, 1978)

[quote] Michael Bolton (#36, 1990)

Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle sings The Impossible Dream

Ben E. King

[quote] "Stand by Me" is a song originally performed in 1961 by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King and written by him, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. W. Alexander called "Stand by Me Father," recorded by the Soul Stirrers with Johnnie Taylor singing lead. The third line of the second verse of the former work derives from Psalm 46:2c/3c.

[quote] It was featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film of the same name, and a corresponding music video, featuring King along with actors River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton, was released to promote the film. It was also featured in a 1987 European commercial of Levi's 501 jeans, contributing to greater success in Europe. In 2012, its royalties were estimated to have topped $22.8 million (£17 million), making it the sixth highest-earning song as of its era.

The Friends Of Distinction - Going In Circles

[quote] Going in Circles" is a song written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree, and originally performed by The Friends of Distinction on their 1969 album Grazin', reaching number 15 on the U.S. Hot 100, and number three on the R&B chart.[3] The song has since been covered numerous times by other artists, including Isaac Hayes and Luther Vandross. In addition, the song's co-composer, Jerry Peters released his own version of the tune on his 1972 solo album Blueprint for Discovery. The Friends of Distinction's original version is an R.I.A.A. Certified Million-Seller.[4]

[quote] "Baby Take Me in Your Arms" is a 1968 song composed by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod.

[quote] The most famous recording of the song was by Jefferson in late 1969. Jefferson's version became a Top 40 pop and adult contemporary hit during the winter of 1970 in the U.S. and Canada. Although the artist, Geoffrey Turton, is British and the LP was released in the UK, the single was not. "Baby Take Me in Your Arms" went to No. 12 on WABC-AM in New York City

Jimmy Ruffin

[quote] "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" is a hit single recorded by Jimmy Ruffin and released on Motown Records' Soul label in the summer of 1966.

Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

[quote] "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" is the debut single by Edison Lighthouse. The song reached the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending 31 January 1970, where it remained for a total of five weeks.[4] It also became the first number one single of the 1970s (not counting Rolf Harris's "Two Little Boys" which was a holdover from 1969). "Love Grows" entered the UK top 40 at No. 12 on 24 January 1970[5] – an unusually high new entry for a debut act

[quote] "I Walk Alone" is a song written by Herbert Wilson.[1] and recorded by American country music artist, Eddy Arnold and was the B-side of his 78 rpm single "Did You See My Daddy Over There" (1945),[2] and later for his compilation album Eddy Arnold Sings Them Again (1960).

James Darren "Goodbye, Cruel World"

[quote] "Goodbye Cruel World" is a song written by Gloria Shayne, which was most famously recorded by James Darren in 1961. According to disc jockeys at the time the song was released, the calliope-like riff used in the song based on the "Entrance of the Gladiators" theme, was a synthesized recording of a woman's voice rather than a musical instrument.

[quote] Darren, playing pop idol "Kip Dennis", performed the song on a late 1961 episode of The Donna Reed Show. (He had previously played a different character in a 1959 episode of the sitcom). The song's lyrics were changed to "join the Army" instead of "join the circus" to reflect his character's reason to exit the show as Shelley Fabares' "love interest" ala Elvis' zeitgeist Army stint.

[quote] Darren was born in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of Philadelphia, on June 8, 1936. He is of Italian descent. He would also occasionally sing although he later said "I wasn't really a singer. I was a kid in Philly whose dad would take him to bars and nightclubs and I would get up and sing two songs." Darren was third billed in the surf film, Gidget (1959), starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson, playing Moondoggie, essentially the film's leading man. He also sang the title track.

Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - Sugar Shack

Vikki Carr - It Must Be Him (1967)

[quote] "It Must Be Him" is a popular song with music written by Gilbert Bécaud, originally with French lyrics by Maurice Vidalin and recorded by Bécaud as "Seul Sur Son Étoile". The English version recorded by Vikki Carr was a hit around the world, reaching No. 3 in the United States, No. 2 in the UK, and No. 1 in Australia.

[quote] The single peaked at number two in the United Kingdom, spent three weeks at number one in Australia and went to number thirteen in Ireland. Carr went on to record it in Spanish and Italian, as well. The original English recording of the song was featured in the 1987 Norman Jewison film Moonstruck.

Bev Harrell - What Am I Doing Here With You

[quote] Beverley Anne Harrell, OAM (born 24 October 1946) is an Australian pop singer and musical theatre actress, most famous for her 1966 Australian hit "What Am I Doing Here with You?".

[quote] She sang for the 5AD children's radio show Kangaroos on Parade at the age of six. She appeared on Australia's Amateur Hour at the age of nine, coming second. At the age of twelve she came second on the radio/television show Swallow's Juniors; she also toured with the Mickey Mouse Club when they were in Australia, along with Lucky Starr.

[quote] 1965, while working as a secretary, she began performing with local bands such as the Harts and the Vibrants, before briefly joining the Clefs; she was managed by her best friend Darryl Sambell (who would later go on to manage a young John Farnham and later Ron Tremaine. She signed with the EMI record label and became a regular on television shows such as Bandstand, Kommotion, and Uptight.

[quote] Her first single, released in late 1966 under EMI's HMV imprint, "What Am I Doing Here with You?" written by P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri, was a cover version of Johnny Rivers's album track from In Action (1964). Her version, which was paired with the B-side "You Really Didn't Mean It", peaked at #13 on the Go-Set National Top 40 in 1967 and #1 in her native Adelaide. The success of the single led to her winning the Major Broadcasting Network's 1966 award for Best Female Recording Artist. Shortly after the release of the single, she began performing as a support act for such artists as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Winifred Atwell, the Rolling Stones, and Roy Orbison

The Fleetwoods - Come Softly To Me (59)

[quote] Originally "Come Softly," the title of this song was changed because Dolphin (later Dolton) Records owner Bob Reisdorff feared that AM radio DJs would think it to be too suggestive. He was being extra-cautious, Dolphin Records was formed by the Seattle DJ for the sole purpose of distributing Fleetwoods records.

[quote] This song started when Fleetwoods members Gary Troxel and Gretchen Christopher were waiting for a lift home from high school by her mother. Troxel started humming "Dum dum, domby doo wha..." and Gretchen noticed that it was the same chord progression that she used in a song that she had just finished writing, "Come Softly." She asked him to slow his tempo, then sang her song atop Troxel's humming. They took it to Gretchen's singing partner Barbara Ellis, who liked it, and the trio formed Two Girls and a Guy. Bob Reisdorff suggested that the trio change their name to a more "commercial" one. Since all three of the teenagers had the same telephone exchange - FLeetwood - they accepted Reisdorff's idea of calling themselves the Fleetwoods.

The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil

"Johnny Angel" - Shelley Fabares

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