Each week William and I will select two top hits from the charts starting with 1960 for two weeks followed by 1961 etc..through to 1985. We will also include some of the notable events in those years for the up and coming stars who were centre stage at the time.
We will be sharing the music of the 1960s until the end of May before moving on to the 1970s. Participate in the spin-off shows and share your memories of the music of the 60s. An opportunity to share your work and here are the details: The Breakfast Show 2021
Welcome to our show and we are excited to share decades of music with you in 2021. Here is my second selection of top 1961 hits which I hope you will enjoy. William.
News Event: October 18th “West Side Story”, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, the film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical, starring Natalie Wood, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1962)
Bobby Lewis – Tossin’ and turnin’
‘Tossin’ and turnin’ ‘ hit #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts on July 10, 1961 where it spent seven consecutive weeks. Billboard ranked the song as the 27th biggest song of all time in 2008. It was also featured on the soundtrack in 1978 of the film ‘Animal House’.
News Event: December 11th Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” album goes #1 & stays #1 for 20 wks
The Miracles – Shop Around
‘Shop Around’, penned by lead singer Smokey Robinson, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, and was placed by Rolling Stone at #500 on their list of The Greatest Songs of All Time.
News Event: December 13th “The Young Ones” directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring Cliff Richard, Robert Morley and Carole Gray premieres in London
Now time for my picks from 1961 and these are tracks that dominated my teenage years and are still on my playlists today
The Everly Brothers- Walk Right Back
“Walk Right Back” is a 1961 song by Sonny Curtis that was recorded by The Everly Brothers, and went to No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Overseas, the song went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks. Originally it was the B-side, then it was changed to the A-side.
News Event: December 18th Britain’s EMI Records originally rejects the Beatles
Ricky Nelson – Hello Mary Lou
“Hello Mary Lou” is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney first recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960, and later by Ricky Nelson in 1961.
Nelson’s version, issued as a double A-side with his No. 1 hit “Travelin’ Man”, (Imperial 5741), reached No. 9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961. In the United Kingdom, where it was released as a double A-side with “Travelin’ Man”, it reached No. 2. It was also a hit in much of Europe, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at No. 1. In New Zealand, the song reached No. 4.
Additional sources: On This Day – Music – Hits of the 60s: Sixties City – Wikipedia
Your Hosts for The Breakfast Show
William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.
His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.
While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.
Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson
Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.
She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.
Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin
Thank you very much for joining us today and we would love you to join us in the spin off shows where we share your memories of the 1960s and your favourite music.. please read how you can take part: The Breakfast Show 2021
Next week 1962 Part One.. we hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 24th – 30th January 2021 – 1960s music, America, Book Reviews, pH balance, Anti-Aging and funnies | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
Tossin’ and Turnin’ is on my playlist! This is one song where I imagined being one of the back-up singers with “Do, do, do-do-do.” And Smokey! I had no idea there was a female in The Miracles. It’s Smokey who has the high voice. Is that his wife? I still remember going to the movies to see West Side Story. I had to beg my parents- heaven forbid, the movie had gangs in New York. Thanks for another wonderful episode. Looking forward to 1962!
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Fantastic Jennie and I loved West Side Story.. wept buckets and would sing the tracks endlessly.. I am sure William will know the answer to the Smokey Robinson question… hugsxx
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I am embarrassed to admit, William, that I’ve never heard Shop around before. It is a great song. It is interesting how the beat of this music is so different from the current music.
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No need to be embarrassed Robbie.. there are millions of songs I have never heard of.. way before your time anyway.. Glad you enjoyed… I like the stripped back music of the 60s and 70s before they became too enhanced in the studio.. xx
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As Sally said so well, no need to feel embarrassed. There are so many songs out there, one can’t have heard them all. As a musician, I have oftentimes been asked to sing a song (which was a hit) that I had never heard. The music from the 60s was a lot more “laid back” than that of today, but today’s music finds its roots there. So glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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I like ‘laid back’ William
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So do I, Robbie. That’s my nature. Hugs
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Fun stuff! I’m familiar with your song picks Sal, but not with William’s ‘Tossin’ and turnin’. Better shop around I recall in a later version. I can’t recall by who, but I so want to say Captain and Tenille? LOL. Loving this series! Hugs ❤
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Thanks Debby…most of these songs were covered in later decades..no point in wasting good material..glad you are enjoying…♥♥
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Lol so true. I’m getting an education too, lol ❤
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♥♥
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Ah Debby, thank you for my education, you are so right, Captain and Tenille did do a cover of Shop Around, as did The Spinners. I never knew either. Thanks for enlightening me. Hugs
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“Better Shop Around” was by The Miracles, Debby, another childhood 60s song that I loved. Glad you are enjoying the series. Hugs
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Thanks for the education William 🙂 x
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You bet. Hugs
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I’ll join you in 1963…
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Great, good to hear. Looking forward to it. Thanks. Hugs
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Great see you in a couple of weeks Jemima..x
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Loving The Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson, I remember my parents and my sister playing these songs back in the day. I love the song “The Young Ones”, I vaguely remember seeing the film as a little girl and the song stuck with me. Those were the days in the school holidays when there were always Cliff or Elvis films on TV during the day.
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Glad to hear that, Dawn. So happy you enjoyed. Hugs
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I agree Dawn and loved Summer Holiday too.. I always wanted a converted bus to travel around in after that.. still do.. hugs
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Groovin’ to the tunes! Having a good time here.
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Great to hear Annette.. thank you …♥♥
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Grooving’ along with you, I am, Annette. Hugs
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An awesome selection. I think you know I love the Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson was another favourite. A great trip down memory lane, thanks!!
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Fantastic Darlene and see you on Saturday for the Guest Special..hugsx
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Many thanks, Darlene. So glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Hugs
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Thank you for another great songs, William and Sally! Need them for distracting too, because: Twitter has “first time ever on me” blocked my Account. Yesterday i had retweeted a posting with a notice about Covid19, and a warning about the first vaccine against can cause autism. OK, you are not allowed informing people for own rethinking problems. 😉 Michael
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So sorry you had problems with your Twitter account, Michael. I hope that it will all work out for the best. Hope our music will help brighten your day. All the best to you.
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Dont worry, William! I am guilty for this, because i had not noticed their new sensibility, and maybe they cant reach the source of the reblogged posting. I am happy getting distraction with your music, Willam. Thats best, and on midnight i am back on Twitter.;-)
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Sorry to hear that Michael and they are ultra sensitive about it at the moment and I guess the ‘bots’ have been programmed to find anything with those keywords.. You would probably find yourself blocked for talking about Corona Beer! hope it is resolved soon…hugsx
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Thats true, Sally! I dont regret, but it shows how our news system depends on the “big ones”. I can celebrate my first blocking, for 12 hours. Lol
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Street Cred Michael..lol..xx
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Wow, this has brightened my day…I needed this(immo) today…One of my fav Ricky Nelson tracks is Poor Little Fool…xx
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Thank you, Carol. Ricky Nelson brings back many memories. Glad we brightened your day. Hugs
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Thanks Carol…hope the rest of the day goes well…hugsx
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Thank you but there is a very short answer…two letters Hugs xx
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♥♥
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Amazing collection and wonderful smiles! Thank you, Sally. 💗
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Thanks for smiling along with us, Gwen. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Great thanks Gwen…♥
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You guys hit on all cylinders today. My sophomore year in college and all these songs were part of life back then.
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What a great detailed memory you have, John. I’m impressed. Happy you enjoyed. All the best.
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😁
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Fantastic John… just what we like to hear..hugsx
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😊
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Those were some great songs, Sally.
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Glad you enjoyed, Jacqui. Hugs
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Glad you enjoyed our picks Jacqui..xx
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This was fun!! (I have that Grease soundtrack album.)
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Thanks. Glad to hear that, Liz. The Grease album is great. Hugs
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Fantastic tracks… always brings back memories…xx
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