|
|
'Shivers down the backbone....'
|
|
Rockin' Rollin' Diaries
December '56 to '62
The charts in UK and USA, the releases and other important eventsDECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Slim Willet - 1 December, 1919 (Victor , TX)
Died 1 July 1966, Abilene, TX
Sandy Nelson - 1 December, 1938 (Santa Monica, CA)
Ferlin Husky - 3 December, 1925 (near Flat River, MO)
Andy Williams - 3 December, 1928 (Wall Lake, Iowa)
Nik Venet - 3 December, 1936 (Baltimore, MD)
Died 2 January, 1998, Los Angeles, CA
Jody Reynolds - 3 December, 1938 (Denver, CO)
Freddy Cannon - 4 December, 1940 (Lynn, MA)
Sonny Boy Williamson # 2 (Rice Miller) - 5 December, 1899
(Glendora, MS). Died 25 May, 1965, Helena, AK
Alvin "Red" Tyler - 5 December, 1925 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 3 April, 1998, New Orleans
Little Richard - 5 December, 1932 (Macon, GA)
Steve Alaimo - 6 December, 1940 (Rochester, NY)
Louis Prima - 7 December, 1911 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 24 August, 1978, New Orleans
Boyd Bennett - 7 December, 1924 (Muscle Shoals, AL)
Floyd Tillman - 8 December, 1914 (Ryan, OK)
Dick Glasser - 8 December, 1933 (Canton, OH)
Died 10 July, 2000, Thousand Oaks, CA
Jerry Butler - 8 December, 1939 (Sunflower, MS)
Jessie Hill - 9 December, 1932 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 17 September, 1996, New Orleans
David Houston - 9 December, 1938 (Bossier City, LA)
Died 30 November, 1993, Bossier City
Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones) - 10 December, 1926 (Greenwood, MS)
Died 7 February, 1959, New York City, NY
Perez Prado - 11 December, 1916 (Mantanzas, Cuba)
Died 14 September, 1989, Mexico City, Mexico
Big Mama Thornton - 11 December, 1926 (Montgomery, AL)
Died 25 July, 1984, Los Angeles, CA
Brenda Lee - 11 December, 1944 (Lithonia, GA)
Frank Sinatra - 12 December, 1915 (Hoboken, NJ)
Died 14 May, 1998, Los Angeles, CA
Connie Francis - 12 December, 1938 (Newark, NJ)
Wayne Walker - 13 December, 1925 (Quapaw, OK)
Died 2 January 1979
Spike Jones - 14 December, 1911 (Long Beach, CA)
Died 1 May, 1965, Los Angeles, CA
Charlie Rich - 14 December, 1932 (Colt, AK)
Died 25 July, 1995, Hammond, LA
Johnny Moore (Drifters) - 14 December, 1934 (Selma, AL)
Died 30 December, 1998, London, England
Alan Freed - 15 December, 1926 (Johnstown, PA)
Died 20 January, 1965, Palm Springs, CA
Jesse Belvin - 15 December, 1932 (San Antonio, TX)
Died 6 February, 1960, Hope, AK
Clarence Ford - 16 December, 1929 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 9 August, 1994, New Orleans
Karl Denver - 16 December, 1931 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Died 21 December, 1998, Manchester, England
Johnny Olenn - 16 December, 1936 (San Antonio, TX)
Tommy Steele - 17 December, 1936 (Bermondsey, London, England)
Art Neville - 17 December, 1937 (New Orleans, LA)
James Booker - 17 December, 1939 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 8 November, 1983, New Orleans
Pee Wee Crayton - 18 December, 1914 (Rockdale, TX)
Died 25 June, 1985, Los Angeles, CA
Guitar Junior (Lee Baker) - 18 December, 1933 (near Dubuisson, LA)
Charlie Ryan - 19 December, 1915 (Graceville, MN)
Professor Longhair - 19 December, 1918 (Bogalusa, LA)
Died 30 January, 1980, New Orleans, LA
Little Jimmy Dickens - 19 December, 1920 (Bolt, West VA)
Terry Dene - 20 December, 1938 (London, England)
Cousin Joe (Pleasant Joseph) - 21 December, 1907 (Wallace, LA)
Died 2 October, 1989, New Orleans, LA
Panama Francis - 21 December, 1918 (Miami, FL)
Billy "the Kid" Emerson - 21 December, 1929 (Tarpon Springs, FL)
Hawkshaw Hawkins - 22 December, 1921 (Huntingdon, West VA)
Died 5 March, 1963, near Camden, TN
Buddy Harman - 23 December, 1928 (Nashville, TN)
Harold Dorman - 23 December, 1931 (Sledge, MS)
Died 8 October, 1988
Little Esther (Esther Phillips) - 23 December, 1935 (Galveston, TX)
Died 7 August, 1984, Carson, CA
Johnny Kidd - 23 December, 1939 (Willesden, London, England)
Died 7 October, 1966, near Bury, Lancashire, England
Dave Bartholomew - 24 December, 1920 (Edgard, LA)
Lee Dorsey - 24 December, 1926 (New Orleans, LA)
Died 1 December, 1986, New Orleans
Cab Calloway - 25 December, 1907 (Rochester, NY)
Died 18 November, 1994, Hockessin, DE
Chris Kenner - 25 December, 1929 (Kenner, LA)
Died 25 January, 1977, New Orleans, LA
Phil Spector - 26 December, 1940 (Bronx, NYC)
Johnny Otis - 28 December, 1921 (Vallejo, CA)
Leonard "Chick" Carbo (Spiders) - 28 December, 1927
(New Orleans). Died 18 August, 1998
Dorsey Burnette - 28 December, 1932 (Memphis, TN)
Died 19 August, 1979, Canogan Park, CA
Young Jessie - 28 December, 1936 (Lincoln Manor, TX)
Matt "Guitar" Murphy - 29 December, 1927 (Sunflower, MS)
Edwin Bruce - 29 December, 1940 (Keiser, AK)
Bobby Comstock - 29 December, 1941 (Ithaca, NY)
Bo Diddley - 30 December, 1928 (McComb, MS)
Del Shannon - 30 December, 1939 (Coopersville, MI)
Died 8 February, 1990, Santa Clarita, CA
Rex Allen - 31 December, 1922 (Willcox, AR)
Died 17 December, 1999, Tucson, AR
Alvis Wayne - 31 December, 1937 (Puduka, TX)
December 1956
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Just Walking In The Rain - Johnny Ray
2. Woman In Love - Frankie Laine
3. Green Door - Frankie Vaughan
4. My Prayer - Platters
5. Rip It Up - Little Richard
6. St Theresa Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan
7. More - Perry Como
8. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
9. Blue Moon (EP) - Elvis Presley
10. When Mexico Gave Up The Rhumba - Mitchell Torok
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
2. Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell
3. Green Door - Jim Lowe
4. Just Walking In The Rain - Johnny Ray
5. True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
6. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
7. Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
8. Honky Tonk - Bill Doggett
9. Hey, Jealous Lover - Frank Sinatra
10. Friendly Persuasion/Chains Of Love - Pat Boone
Some UK single 45 releases:
Love Me Tender/Anyway You Want Me - Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender (EP) - (Poor Boy; We’re Gonna Move; Let Me; Love Me Tender)
I’m Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky - Slim Whitman
Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O - Vipers
Ka Ding Dong - G-Clefs
Share/The ABC’s Of Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele
I Feel Good - Shirley & Lee
The Wilder Your Heart Beats - Jim Reeves
The Charge Of The Light Brigade - Rosanne June
Jingle Bells - Julius LaRosa
That Certain Feeling - Pearl Bailey
Ain’t She Sweet - Mr Ford & Mr Good-Bones
Important events:
Bill Haley tops NME readers’ poll for "World’s Outstanding Musical Personality", drawing almost twice as many votes as his nearest rival, Elvis Presley. Dickie Valentine came third. Outstanding British Female Singer: Alma Cogan
Mitchell Torok, currently in the Top 10 with "When Mexico Gave Up The Rumba", is due to tour the UK next year.
"Lonnie Donegan’s Showcase" LP enters the UK Top 30 best sellers list. Donegan is due to return to the US very soon (maybe accompanying a coast to coast tour by the Harlem Globetrotters) - the reciprocal group to tour the UK will be Bill Haley & His Comets
Pat Boone, currently on the charts with "Friendly Persuasion" arrives for a lightning seven-date tour.
Two films opening in London this month: "Love Me Tender" and "Shake Rattle and Rock"
Elvis drops into the Sun Studio in Memphis on 4th and finishes up jamming with Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. Was Johnny Cash there? The session will later find fame as the "Million Dollar Quartet" sessions.
Alan Freed’s film "Rock, Rock, Rock" opens in the US.
Other events - let’s get things in perspective here <g> (maybe everyone would like to flag up their own birthdays/other significant dates at the appropriate time?):
The last Anglo-French land and naval forces withdraw from the Suez area via Port Said.
17-year old Judy Grinham of Neasden wins a gold medal in the women’s 100 metres backstroke event at the Melbourne Olympics
December 1957
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Mary’s Boy Child - Harry Belafonte
2. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
3. I Love You Baby - Paul Anka
4. Be My Girl - Jim Dale
5. Party - Elvis Presley
6. Ma He’s Making Eyes At Me - Johnny Otis
7. Remember You’re Mine - Pat Boone
8. Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me - Elvis Presley
9. Alone - Petula Clark
10. That’ll Be The Day - Crickets
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice - Elvis Presley
2. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
3. You Send Me/Summertime - Sam Cooke
4. Silhouettes - Rays
5. Be-Bop Baby/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - Ricky Nelson
6. April Love - Pat Boone
7. Chances Are/The Twelfth Of Never - Johnny Mathis
8. My Special Angel - Bobby Helms
9. Raunchy- Bill Justis
10. Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris
Toronto top ten:
1. Raunchy....Bill Justis
2. You send me..Sam Cooke
3. The story of my life..Marty Robbins
4. I'm Available..Margie Reyburn
5. Great Balls of Fire...Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Silhouettes...The Rays
7. Kisses Sweeter than Wine..Jimmy Rodgers.
8. Till.............Roger Williams.
9. April Love.......Pat Boone
10. At the Hop....Danny and the Juniors.
Some UK single 45 releases (and a few albums):
King Kong - Big T Tyler
Glad All Over - Carl Perkins
Little Bitty Pretty One - Bobby Day
Great Balls Of Fire/Mean Woman Blues - Jerry Lee Lewis
Oh Boy/Not Fade Away - Buddy Holly
Could This Be Magic - Dubs
Keep-A-Knockin’ - Little Richard
Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry
Just Born - Jim Dale
This Is Fats Domino (LP)
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine - Jimmie Rodgers/Frankie Vaughan
Rock And Cry - Clyde McPhatter
The Joker - The Hilltoppers
Hot Ginger - Bill Doggett
Do What You Did - Thurston Harris
Humpty Dumpty Heart - Lavern Baker
26 Miles- Four Preps
Please Don’t Tell Me - Jodie Sands
Six Five Special LP - Film Soundtrack
Happy Guitar - Tommy Steele
Raunchy - Billy Vaughan Orchestra
Raunchy - Ernie Freeman
Party Time - Alma Cogan
Cool Baby - Charlie Gracie
Dance To The Bop - Gene Vincent
Bop Me Daddy (10" LP) - Plas Johnson
I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus - Terry Lightfoot
Glad All Over - Carl Perkins
Uh Huh Man - Sonny James
Pink Sweater Angel/Texas Tambourine - Johnnie Ray
My Special Angel - Bobby Helms/Malcolm Vaughan
Footprints In The Snow - Johnny Duncan
White Christmas - Pat Boone
Important events:
NME critic Derek Johnson reviews this recent release (currently shooting up the charts) as follows:
"the strange collection of noises, ranging from gargling to an outboard motor, was obviously Stan Freburg indulging in one of his satires"
The review is of "Reet Petite" by dynamic newcomer Jackie Wilson
With "I Love You Baby" a chart hit, Paul Anka arrives in Britain for a 16-date tour; backing him will be the John Barry Seven
Following Little Richard’s retirement from the music industry, Specialty records are pinning their hopes on the equally wild Larry Williams - currently scoring with "Bony Moronie".
The latest dance craze to make a hit across the Atlantic is "The Stroll", sparked by a song of the same name.
Del-Fi records incorporated in Holywood
Other events:
Failure of the American satellite rocket to get off the ground in Florida leads to heavy selling in missile shares on Wall Street
Lewisham rail disaster kills 92
Russian and UK governments agree to regular air services between London and Moscow via Copenhagen. The carriers will be BEA and Aeroflot.
Eric Coates, British composer, dies aged 71
Crowds storm the pitch at Windsor Park, Belfast as Northern Ireland draw 2-2 with Italy
Queen’s Christmas message broadcast on TV for the first time.
December 1958
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham’s XI
2. It’s Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
3. It’s All In The Game - Tommy Edwards
4. Tom Dooley - Lonnie Donegan
5. Bird Dog - Everly Brothers
6. A Certain Smile - Johnny Mathis
7. More Than Ever - Malcolm Vaughan
8. Come Prima/Volare - Marino Marini
9. Come On Let’s Go - Tommy Steele
10. High Class Baby - Cliff Richard
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. To Know Him Is To Love Him - Teddy Bears
2. Tom Dooley - Kingston Trio
3. It’s Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
4. Beep Beep - Playmates
5. One Night - Elvis Presley
6. Topsy Part 2 - Cozy Cole
7. Lonesome Town - Ricky Nelson
8. Problems - Everly Brothers
9. I Got Stung - Elvis Presley
10. It’s All In The Game - Tommy Edwards
Some UK single 45 releases:
Say Mama - Gene Vincent
Sweet Little Rock & Roller - Chuck Berry
Heartbeat/Well, All Right - Buddy Holly
Cannonball - Duane Eddy
Geraldine/With Your Love - Jack Scott
Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson
Hurtin’ Inside - Brook Benton
Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2 - Ray Charles
The Worrying Kind - Tommy Sands
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Platters
Baby Face/I’ll Never Let You Go - Little Richard
Itchy Twitchy Feeling - Bobby Hendricks
Chicka Chicka honey - Robin Luke
Green Chri$tma$ - Stan Freburg
Man Of The West - Julie London
You Always Hurt The One You Love - Connie Francis
Beep Beep - Playmates
My Heart Cries For You - Guy Mitchell
Cha Cha Momma Brown - Martinas
The Virgin Mary Had One Son - Jo March
Tom Thumb’s Tune - Patience & Prudence
The Chipmunk Song - Chipmunks
Thank Heaven For Little Girls - King Brothers
Trumpet Cha-Cha-Cha - Danny Davis Orchestra
Cimarron - Billy Vaughan Orchestra
LP: Sinatra For The Lonely
Important events:
"His violent hip-swinging was revolting - hardly the kind of performance any parent could wish their children to see" writes "The Alley Cat" in New Musical Express of Cliff Richard’s TV appearance on Jack Good’s "Oh Boy". "If we are expected to believe that Cliff was acting naturally, then consideration for medical treatment may be advisable. While firmly believing he can become a top star and enjoy a lengthy career, it will only be accomplished by dispensing with short-sighted vulgar antics" - rock on!
Watch out for Neil Sedaka, RCA’s new 19 year old star, who, with New York pal Howard Greenfield, has composed his debut [RCA] single - "The Diary".
Buddy Holly has moved from Texas to New York and is breaking away from The Crickets and manager Norman Petty.
The Playmates have re-recorded their US hit "Beep Beep", with new lyrics to avoid a BBC ban on the words Cadillac and Nash Rambler.
Other events:
So many motorists went for sight-seeing drives along the new Preston by-pass (the UK’s first stretch of motorway) yesterday that a queue of vehicles one and a half miles long formed at the northern end in the afternoon (December 7)
General De Gaulle elected the first President of France’s Fifth Republic by an overwhelming majority, beating M. Marrane (Communist) and M. Chatelet (Radical-Socialist)
Beautiful Thames-side Maisonettes at Richmond Bridge available from £2950 pounds sterling (c/w built-in refrigerator)
Mr Marples, The Postmaster General, invites The Queen to the Bristol telephone exchange to dial the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Mr Johnson-Gilbert, to inaugurate the first stage of subscriber trunk dialling (STD) in Britain. She is later presented with the phone. (how very strange)
Princess Margaret presents the Duff Cooper Prize (a cheque for £150) to Mr John Betjeman for his collected poems at the home of Lady Jones (Enid Bagnold)
December 1959
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. What Do You Want - Adam Faith
2. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? - Emile Ford
3. Travellin’ Light - Cliff Richard
4. Oh Carol - Neil Sedaka
5. Red River Rock - Johnny & The Hurricanes
6. Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
7. Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat - The Avons
8. Teen Beat - Sandy Nelson
9. Put Your Head On My Shoulder - Paul Anka
10. Til I Kissed You - Everly BrothersUS Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
2. Don’t You Know - Della Reese
3. Mr Blue - Fleetwoods
4. Heartaches By The Number - Guy Mitchell
5. In The Mood - Ernie Fields
6. So Many Ways - Brook Benton
7. Put Your Head On My Shoulder - Paul Anka
8. We Got Love - Bobby Rydell
9. Be My Guest - Fats Domino
10. Seven Little Girls - Paul Evans & The CurlsSome UK single 45 releases:
Pretend - Carl Mann
Wild Cat - Gene Vincent
Be My Guest - Fats Domino
I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos
Let’s Try Again - Clyde McPhatter
Liza Jane - Dale Hawkins
When You Ask About Love - Crickets
Some Kind-A Earthquake - Duane Eddy
My Christmas Prayer - Billy Fury
My Secret - Platters
Talk That Talk - Jackie Wilson
Rosaleena - Conway Twitty
Big Noise From Winetka/Drum Party - Sandy Nelson
You Got What It Takes- Marv Johnson
The Big Hurt - Toni Fisher
Saturday Dance/Lonesome Fella - Shadows
El Paso - Marty Robbins
Big Iron - Marty Robbins
I’m Movin’ On - Ray Charles
Reveille Rock - Johnny & The Hurricanes
Reveille Rock - Don Lang
Riverboat - Faron Young
I’m Ready If You’re Willing - Johnny Horton
If I Give My Heart To You - Kitty Kallen
Too Young - Bill Forbes
Tres Chic - The Sheiks
In The Mood - Bob Miller
Starry Eyed - Michael Holliday (my Mum liked him)
Starry Eyed - Gary Stites
Starry Eyed - Duffy Power
The Little Drummer Boy - Eric Jay
It Might Have Been - Joe London
Summer Set - Acker Bilk
The Village Of St Bernadette - Rosemary June
The Village Of St Bernadette - Andy Williams
Nuttin’ For Christmas - Kenny & Corky
Mexicali Rose - Teresa Brewer
Dear Someone - Johnny Restivo
Sure Fire Love - Jaye Sisters
Ave Maria - Perry Como
Marina - Gary Miller
On The Beach - Playmates
Old Shep - Ralph De MarcoImportant events:
Wearing a red-and-black sweater and jet-black trousers, Gene Vincent thrilled a capacity audience on his British debut at London’s Tooting Granada. He closed the first half of the all-rock show with a sensational performance that put him way above the rest of the artists in stagecraft and showmanship.
In spite of an old leg injury which has left him slightly lame, Vincent performed miracles with the mike stand - hoisting it above his head, twirling it around, and swinging his leg over it. Add a peculiar half-crouching stance, and his act - climaxing with the famous "Be-Bop-a-Lula" - was as exciting to watch as it was to hear.
As well as appearing on TV’s "Boy Meets Girls", Gene will be playing at least ten weeks of stage dates around Britain.
**************************
After almost three years, the Everly Brothers are considering leaving Cadence for either RCA or the about-to-be-established Warner Brothers label.
Chuck Berry is charged with transporting a minor, an Apache Indian girl, over a State line for immoral purposes. Berry’s defence is that he hired her as a hat-check girl at his night club, unaware of her age and, in any case, fired her as soon as he suspected her of prostitution. Berry will be effectively removed from the music scene for five years.
Elvis Presley’s former bass player now leads Bill Black’s Combo - heading for the US Top 20 with "Smokie".
Marty Wilde has married Joyce Baker, one of the Vernon Girls, whom he first met on "Oh Boy!" 18 months ago
Other events:
Twelve nations, including Russia, sign a treaty to preserve the Antarctic for peaceful exploration for at least 30 years. The continent of five million square miles will be kept free of military bases.
Archbishop Makarios is elected as first President of the Republic of Cyprus. In his victory speech, the Archbishop pays tribute to the Eoka guerilla fighters and their leader, Colonel Grivas.
"Ben-Hur" opens to rave reviews as the audiences thrill to the climactic chariot race. The film stars Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd and Jack Hawkins.
*******************************
Billboard Hot 100 climbers'n'shakers w/e Dec 14 195993 Ebb Tide -Bobby Freeman
89 How About That- Dee Clark
86 Teach Me Tiger - April Stevens
85 Lucky Devil -Carl Dobkins Jnr
74 Go Jimmy Go - Jimmy Clanton
65 A Year Ago Tonight- The Crests
40 I`m Moving On - Ray Charles
33 True Love, True Love - The Drifters
23 I Wanna Be Loved - Ricky Nelson
16 Hound Dog Man- Fabian
11 El Paso - Marty Robbins
5 Why - Frankie Avalon
4 In The Mood - Ernie Fields
3 Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
2 Mr Blue - The Fleetwoods
1 Heartaches By The Number - Guy Mitchell
December 1960
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. It’s Now Or Never - Elvis Presley
2. Save The Last Dance For Me - Drifters
3. Man Of Mystery/The Stranger - Shadows
4. Strawberry Fair - Tony Newley
5. Goodness Gracious Me - Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren
6. Rocking Goose - Johnny & The Hurricanes
7. My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own - Connie Francis
8. I Love You - Cliff Richard
9. As Long As He Needs Me - Shirley Bassey
10. Little Donkey - Nina & Frederick
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Elvis Presley
2. Last Date - Floyd Cramer
3. Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
4. Poetry In Motion - Johnny Tillotson
5. A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young & The Innocents
6. New Orleans - U.S. Bonds
7. North To Alaska - Johnny Horton
8. Alone At Last - Jackie Wilson
9. Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go- Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
10. Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Some UK single 45 releases:
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate - Olympics
Bumble Bee - LaVern Baker
My Girl Josephine/Natural Born Lover - Fats Domino
He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler
Good Morning Blues - Dee Dee Ford
Lonely Teenager/Little Miss Blue - Dion
A Thousand Stars - Billy Fury
A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young & The Innocents
Like Strangers/Leave My Woman Alone - Everly Brothers
Why, Why, Bye, Bye - Bob Luman
Patsy - Jack Scott
Chariot - Rhet Stoller
Strawberry Blonde- Frank D’Rone
Have Mercy Baby - Bobbettes
Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
Just Like That - Robins
You’re Sixteen - Johnny Burnette
Hush Hush - Jimmy Reed
Am I Losing You? - Jim Reeves
Don’t Go To Strangers - Andy Williams
Gun Totin’ Critter Called Jack - Hollywood Argyles
Corrine, Corrina - Ray Peterson
New Orleans - Gary U.S. Bonds
Doll House - Donnie Brooks
Doll House - King Brothers
Come Rain Or Come Shine - Ray Charles
Virgin Mary - Lonnie Donegan
Bonanza/Maverick - Johnny Gregory Orchestra
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Chipmunks
Wonderland By Night - Anita Bryant
Somebody - Jayne Morgan
Onward Christian Soldiers - Harry Simeone Chorale
Important events:
Elvis’ current UK hit "It’s Now Or Never" sells one million copies in the UK alone in just six weeks - beating the previous record set by Harry Belafonte’s "Mary’s Boy child" in 1957.
"G.I.Blues" is currently grossing $190,000 nightly in 22 prestigious US movie houses.
Station WNTA DJ Clay Cole has replaced disgraced Alan Freed, following the latter’s conviction on payola charges, to host Brooklyn Paramount Theatre’s "Christmas Rock’n’Roll Show" which features Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Dion, Neil Sedaka, Bo Diddley and The Drifters
Bobby Darin has married movie actress Sandra Dee.
Cliff Richard & The Shadows have begun a six-month London Palladium variety season.
In a bid to be taken seriously, Adam Faith has appeared on Britain’s most controversial interview programme, BBC-TV’s "Face To Face". For 30 minutes, host John Freeman subjects Faith to a relentless and probing cross-examination. Faith comes through his trial-by-combat with flying colours.
MGM have purchased Norman Granz’s Clef/Verve jazz label for $2.5 million.
Motown’s Mary Wells makes her R&B chart debut with "Bye Bye Baby", and on Dec 31, The Miracles’ "Shop Around" is released.
In Liverpool, The Beatles play a "Welcome Home" concert for their hometown fans after returning from Germany.
December 1961
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee
2. His Latest Flame/Little Sister - Elvis Presley
3. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
4. Tower Of Strength - Frankie Vaughan
5. Moon River - Danny Rivers
6. The Time Has Come - Adam Faith
7. Walkin’ Back To Happiness - Helen Shapiro
8. Take Five - Dave Brubeck
9. The Savage- Shadows
10. I’ll Get By - Shirley Bassey
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
2. Runaround Sue - Dion
3. Please Mr Postman - Marvelettes
4. Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren
5. Fool No 1 - Brenda lee
6. Bristol Stomp - Dovells
7. Heartaches - Marcels
8. Tower Of Strength - Gene McDaniels
9. Crazy - Patsy Cline
10. This Time - Troy Shondell
Some UK single 45 releases:
Hey Memphis/Voodoo Voodoo - LaVern Baker
Joy, Joy, Joy - Little Richard
Undying Love/Stockin’s’n’Shoes - Eddie Cochran
The Avenger - Duane Eddy
Look At Me/Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues - Buddy Holly
Tennessee Flat-Top Box - Johnny Cash
Please Mr Postman - Marvelettes
Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night - Kenny Dino
Blue Moon/Wailin’ - The Ventures
Let There Be Drums - Sandy Nelson
My Prayer - Tony Williams
Multiplication - Bobby Darin
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tokens
Town Without Pity - Gene Pitney
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby - Aretha Franklin
Big Big World - Johnny Burnette
Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka
Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & The Starlighters
Peppermint Twist - Danny Peppermint & The Jumping Jacks
Till The Following Night - Screaming Lord Sutch
Language Of Love - John D Loudermilk
Language Of Love - King Brothers
Walk On By - Leroy Van Dyke
Twist-her - Bill Black’s Combo
Twistle - Troy & The T-Birds
Son, This Is She - John Leyton
Three Eyed Man - Buddy Knox
Spanish Twist - Bill Haley & His Comets
Me And My Shadow - Morecambe & Wise
Run To Him - Bobby Vee
Tonight - Eddie Fisher
Maria - Roger Williams
Baby’s First Christmas - Connie Francis
Bell Bell Boogie - Laurie Johnson
Twistin’ The Mood - Joe Loss Orchestra
New Saturday Jump - Humphrey Lyttleton
Twist My Wrist - Jess Conrad
Piccolo Song - Benny Hill
There Goes That Song Again - Gary Miller
Treasure Island - Gary Mills
Tell Us Not To Love - Joy & Dave
Important events:
Decca announce that former Shadow, Tony Meehan, who quit the group on September 30th, has joined the company in a two-fold capacity. Apart from pursuing a career as a solo artist, Meehan is also a new addition to Decca’s A&R department, where his duties will be to discover and develop potential hit makers for the label
The Beatles agree to Brian Epstein becoming their manager, and he sets about arranging an audition for them with Decca in London.
On December 8th, the Wilsons and friends’ first single "Surfin’" is
released on Colpix and credited to The Beach Boys, a name chosen for them by record-distributor Russ Regan. The song is written by Brian Wilson and cousin Mike Love. On December 31st the group plays their first concert using the new name at the Ritchie Valens Memorial Concert in Long Beach
Chubby Checker, on the U.S. charts for a record 23 consecutive weeks, describes how he devised the Twist dance: "One day, my lower half twisted one way and my upper half twisted the other….right to the rhythm of the song." With regard to the dance steps, Checker revealed: "I pretended I was putting out a cigarette with both feet."
Johnny Halliday has topped almost every European chart with his French language version of "Let’s Twist Again".
Chubby Checker and Chris Barber have teamed up to tape a UK-TV Special "Trad With A Twist"
In London, a double bill of "Twist Around The Clock" and "Gidget Goes
Hawaiian" opens on New Year’s Eve at the New Victoria, where the Lionel Blair Dancers are booked to demonstrate The Twist live on stage, daily at 5.30 and 9.10 pm.
Cliff Richard & The Shadows’ latest film "The Young Ones" has been
premiered in London to rave reviews.
"I want to avoid having bad rock’n’roll records associated with my new Reprise label and the policy will be, in the main, to concentrate on quality performers. That’s why I’ve signed personalities like Sammy Davis Jr." - Francis Albert Sinatra
December 1962
UK Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield
2. Swiss Maid - Del Shannon
3. Bobby’s Girl - Susan Maughan
4. Let’s Dance - Chris Montez
5. Devil Woman - Marty Robbins
6. Dance With The Guitar Man - Duane Eddy
7. Venus In Blue Jeans - Mark Wynter
8. Sun Arise - Rolf Harris
9. Telstar - Tornadoes
10. Loco-Motion - Little Eva
US Top Ten (first week of the month):
1. Big Girls Don’t Cry - The Four Seasons
2. Return To Sender - Elvis Presley
3. Bobby’s Girl - Marcie Blaine
4. Don’t Hang Up - Orlons
5. Ride! - Dee Dee Sharp
6. The Lonely Bull - Tijuana Brass
7. Telstar - Tornadoes
8. Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker
9. All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
10. Release Me - Little Esther
Some UK single 45 releases:
Anna - Arthur Alexander
Love Came To Me - Dion
Ruby Ann - Marty Robbins
Happy Holiday - Shells
My Own True Love - Duprees
Big Girls Don’t Cry - Four Seasons
Dance On! - Shadows
Joey’s Song - Bill Black’s Combo
Echo - The Emotions
Your Cheatin’ Heart - Ray Charles
Release Me - Little Esther Phillips
Loop De Loop - Johnny Thunder
Aladdin - Bobby Curtola
Rumors - Johnny Crawford
Spanish Lace - Gene McDaniels
Island Of Dreams - Springfields
That’s Life (That’s Tough) - Gabriel & The Angels
The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard
I Can’t Help It - Johnny Tillotson
A Taste Of Honey - Acker Bilk
Comin’ Home Baby - Mel Torme
I’m Gonna Be Warm This Christmas - Connie Francis
Baby Take A Bow - Adam Faith
The Alley Cat Song - David Thorne
Lonely - Robert Earl
Funny All Over - Vernons Girls
Go Away Little Girl - Mark Wynter
Pastures Of Plenty - Karl Denver
Dear Lonely Hearts - Nat King Cole
Up On The Roof - Julie Grant
Important events:
Billy Fury’s backing group, The Tornadoes, finish the year by becoming the first British group to top the American chart, with the Joe Meek produced "Telstar" - a tribute to the telecommunications satellite launched the previous summer. It had previously spent five weeks on top of the UK chart.
D.J. Alan Freed has gone on trial in New York on payola charges. He admits that on two specific dates in 1958 he had been paid a total of $2,700 for playing certain records on his New York radio show. Freed is fined $300 and given six months’ probation.
"Kinematograph Weekly" has named Cliff Richard as the year’s most successful UK box office movie star.
"Return To Sender" has given Elvis Presley his 50th entry in the NME singles charts - an unprecedented achievement which is unlikely to be equalled in the foreseeable future.
The Tamla-Motown Rock & Roll Show has booked into New York’s Apollo Theatre for a 10-day Christmas season; artists appearing: The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, The Contours, Mary Wells.
The logical successor to the late, lamented Ritchie Valens, is how 17-year old Chris Montez is being hailed. "Let’s Dance", with its piping-hot organ, thunderbolt drums and Montez’s nasal invitation to hit the floor in style, carries on where Valens "C’mon Let’s Go" left off.
The Beatles are doing their last stint in Hamburg. The Rolling Stones, impressed by his amplifier, hire Bill Wyman as their bassist.
