Rock The Jukebox - Oldies Music Trivia

You Were On My Mind (1965)

2012-02-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

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By: We Five, a 1960s folk rock quintet based in San Francisco, California.

They originally consisted of Michael Stewart, Beverly Bivens, Jerry Burgan, Peter Fullerton and Bob Jones.

Michael Stewart (born April 19, 1945, died November 13, 2002) was the founder of the group, and was the brother of John Stewart of the Kingston Trio (and the writer of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer".)

In 1965, We Five were signed to A&M Records, owned by Herb Alpbert, in response to the folk rock music trend. Their first album featured, as the title track, a re-arrangement (by Stewart) of an Ian and Sylvia song: "You Were on My Mind".

In February 1966 this song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Performance By A Vocal Group. Later that same year, after their second album, Make Someone Happy, lead singer Beverly Bivens left the group.

Michael Stewart later went on to produce Billy Joel's 1973 album Piano Man.

Chart position: #3 (US), #1 (US Easy Listening).

The Top Ten Songs: September 25, 1965 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Eve of Destruction" (Barry McGuire)
"Hang On Sloopy" (McCoys)
"You Were On My Mind" (We Five)
"Catch Us If You Can" (Dave Clarke Five)
"Help!" (Beatles)
"The 'In' Crowd" (Ramsey Lewis Trio)
"Like a Rolling Stone" (Bob Dylan)
"It Ain't Me Babe" (Turtle)
"Heart Full of Soul" (Yardbirds)
"Laugh At Me" (Sonny)

Written by: Sylvia Tyson (born Sylvia Fricker September 19, 1940 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada).

Tyson is a musician, performer, singer-songwriter and broadcaster. From 1959 to 1974, she was half of the popular folk duo Ian & Sylvia with former husband Ian Tyson.

Also by: Crispian St. Peters (born April 5, 1939, died June 8, 2010), whose version reached #2 (UK) in 1966. His biggest US hit was "The Pied Piper".

Originally by: Ian and Sylvia, on their 1964 album Northern Journey.

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Rockin' Robin (1958) (1972)

2012-02-08T02:47:00.000-05:00

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By: Bobby Day (born, ironically, Robert James Byrd on July 1, 1928 in Ft. Worth, Texas, died of cancer July 27, 1990.)

Day’s songwriting efforts include "Over & Over", which was later a #1 hit for the Dave Clark Five in 1965, and "Little Bitty Pretty One", which was a hit for Day, Thurston Harris, Clyde McPhatter, and the Jackson 5.

Day's first solo hit, "Little Bitty Pretty One", competed with Harris' version, which was much more successful. However, Day was approached by songwriter and Class Records owner Leon René with a song: "Rockin' Robin".

Again, Thurston Harris saw an opportunity to compete with Day, when he found out Day's next single was to be "Over and Over" (with "Rockin' Robin" as the B-side). Harris recorded his own version of "Over and Over"!

Knowing that Harris had a bigger label promoting him, the decision was made to flip the A- and B-sides so that they would not compete. But the contest wasn't even close: Harris' single fell off the charts after a week, while Day's reached the #2 spot after 11 weeks.

Day's backing band on "Rockin' Robin" was his group the Satellites. The piccolo solo was played by veteran woodwind musician Plas Johnson, who also played the lead tenor saxophone on "The Pink Panther Theme" (Henry Mancini).

"Rockin' Robin" was featured in the 1984 film Stand by Me.

Chart position: #2 (US), #1 (US R&B), released in 1958.

It was kept from #1 by "It's All In The Game" (Tommy Edwards).

Written by: Leon René (born Feb 6, 1902 in Covington, Louisiana, died May 30, 1982 in Los Angeles, CA), credited to "Jimmy Thomas".

The song was inspired by a mockingbird whose singing pestered René. René's wife, Jenny "Jimmy" Thomas, receives the songwriting credit.

René also wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" and "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano", both of which were popular songs, and were featured in many Looney Tunes cartoons in the 1940s and 1950s.

Also by: Michael Jackson, at the age of 14. It was his second single as a solo artist (and, like Day's version, also reached #2, US, 1972).

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Daddy's Home (1961) (1972)

2012-02-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

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By: Shep and the Limelites.

Shep and the Limelites was formed by James "Shep" Sheppard, Charles Baskerville, and Clarence Bassett in 1960 in Queens, New York. Initially, they were called Shane Sheppard and the Limelites, but quickly became known as Shep and the Limelites.

All of the members had been in previous groups when they formed: Shep in the Heartbeats (notable for "A Thousand Miles Away"), Baskerville in the Videos, and Bassett in the Five Sharps.

Shep and the Limelites recorded "Daddy's Home" on February 1, 1961. Their subsequent hits included "What Did Daddy Do" and "Our Anniversary".

Chart position: #2 (US).

It was kept from the #1 spot by "Travelin' Man" (Ricky Nelson).

The Top Ten Songs: May 29, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Travelin' Man" (Ricky Nelson)
"Daddy's Home" (Shep and the Limelites)
"Running Scared" (Roy Orbison)
"Mama Said" (Shirelles)
"Mother-in-Law" (Ernie K-Doe)
"Runaway" (Del Shannon)
"Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart" (Connie Francis)
"One Hundred Pounds Of Clay" (Gene McDaniels)
"I Feel So Bad" (Elvis Presley)
"Tragedy" (Fleetwoods)

Written by: James "Shep" Sheppard.

Sheppard wrote "Daddy's Home" as an answer song to another song Shep wrote and recorded with his original group, the Heartbeats, "A Thousand Miles Away". Kahl Music, publisher of "A Thousand Miles Away", sued Keel Music, publisher of "Daddy's Home", for copyright violation. Keel eventually lost, and this led to the end of the Limelites, and the members professionally went their seperate ways.

Shep and the Limelites reunited in 1970, but it was short lived: Shep Sheppard was found dead in his car January 24, 1970, in Long Island, New York. Charles Baskerville died January 18, 1998 in New York city, New York. Clarence Bassett died in 2005.

Also by: Jermaine Jackson (of The Jackson Five), whose version reached #9 (US, 1972).

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You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (1966) (1970)

2012-02-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

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By: Dusty Springfield (born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien April 16, 1939 in London, England, died of breast cancer March 2, 1999.)

Dusty Springfield was one of the most successful British female performers of the 1960s. She had 18 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 from 1964 to 1970.

The song proved so popular in the US that Springfield's 1965 album Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty was released there with a slightly different track listing, and titled after the hit single.

In 2004, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" was rankled #491 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #4 (US), #1 (UK), #8 (US Adult Contemporary).

This was Dusty's only #1 UK hit.

It was preceded at #1 in the UK by "Somebody Help Me" (the Spencer Davis Group) and succeeded by "Pretty Flamingo" (Manfred Mann).

The Top Ten Songs: July 16, 1966 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Hanky Panky" (Tommy James and the Shondells)
"Wild Thing" (Troggs)
"Red Rubber Ball" (Cyrkle)
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" (Dusty Springfield)
"Paperback Writer" (Beatles)
"Strangers In The Night" (Frank Sinatra)
"Along Comes Mary" (Association)
"Little Girl" (Syndicate of Sound)
"Lil' Red Riding Hood" (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs)
"Hungry" (Paul Revere and the Raiders)

Written by: Pino Donaggio, Vito Pallavicini, Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell.

"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" is an English version of an Italian song called "Io che non vivo (senza te)", or "I, who can't live (without you)"), written by Pino Donaggio and Vito Pallavicini.

Dusty Springfield heard it at the 1965 Sanremo Festival, where it was performed by Donaggio himself and his team partner Jody Miller. Dusty presented it to Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell, who wrote the English lyrics for the song.

Also by: Elvis Presley, whose version reached #11 (US) and #1 (US Adult Contemporary).

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Where the Boys Are (1960)

2012-02-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

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By: Connie Francis (born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey.)

Connie Francis is the prototype for the female pop singer of today, and still challenges Madonna as the biggest-selling female recording artist of all time.

"Where the Boys Are" was one of many Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield compositions Francis recorded during her career (others included "Stupid Cupid" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool".) It gained wide exposure in the 1960 motion picture Where the Boys Are. Francis had a role in the film and sang the title song in the film.

"Where the Boys Are" was recorded by Connie Francis on October 18, 1960 in a New York City recording session with Stan Applebaum arranging and conducting.

Francis recorded this, along with many other of her songs, in as many as nine languages. This includes English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Japanese.

Chart position: #4 (US), #5 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: March 20, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Surrender" (Elvis Presley)
"Pony Time" (Chubby Checker)
"Don't Worry (Like All the Other Times)" (Marty Robbins)
"Where the Boys Are" (Connie Francis)
"Dedicated to the One I Love" (Shirelles)
"Apache" (Jorgen Ingmann)
"Wheels" (String-A-Longs)
"Ebony Eyes" (Everly Brothers)
"Walk Right Back" (Everly Brothers)
"Baby Sittin' Boogie" (Buzz Clifford)

Written by: Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) and lyricist Howard Greenfield (born March 15, 1936, died March 4, 1986.)

Sedaka and Greenfield also wrote "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (which was a #1 hit for Tony Christie when reissued in 2005), "Stupid Cupid", "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Calender Girl", etc.

In 1952, sixteen year old Greenfield and 13 year old Sedaka, both lived in the same apartment building in Brooklyn. However, they didn't know of each other until Greenfield's mother had a chance meeting with the young Sedaka, suggesting to the young pianist that "You should meet my son; he writes great lyrics." The rest is history.

Sedaka and Greenfield wrote two potential title songs for the film, but producer Joe Pasternak passed over the song Francis and the songwriting duo preferred in favor of a lush '50s style movie theme.

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Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (1967)

2012-02-07T08:19:00.000-05:00

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By: The Casinos, a nine-member doo-wop group formed in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio, led by lead singer Gene Hughes.

"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" was their first single after being signed to Fraternity Records. It was their first hit after forming nine years before.

Their follow up single (written by Don Everly), "It's All Over Now", hit #65 in the US.

Gene Hughes later became a country music promoter, and died at age 67 on February 3, 2008, following a car accident.

Chart position: #6 (US), #28 (UK).

It was the Casinos' only Top 40 pop hit.

The Top Ten Songs: March 11, 1967 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Love is Here and Now You're Gone" (Supremes)
"Ruby Tuesday" (Rolling Stones)
"Baby, I Need Your Lovin'" (Johnny Rivers)
"Kind of a Drag" (Buckinghams)
"Penny Lane" (Beatles)
"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (Casinos)
"Sock It to Me-Baby!" (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels)
"Happy Together" (Turtles)
"My Cup Runneth Over" (Ed Ames)
"Dedicated to the One I Love" (Mamas and the Papas)

Written by: John D. Loudermilk (born March 31, 1934 in Durham, North Carolina).

Loudermilk also wrote such songs as "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" (George Hamilton IV, #1 US, 1956), "Sittin' In The Balcony" (Eddie Cochran's first Top 20 hit, 1957), "Waterloo" (Stonewall Jackson, #4 US, #1 US Country), "Ebony Eyes" (The Everly Brothers, #8 US, #1 UK, 1961), "Tobacco Road" (The Nashville Teens, #14 US, #6 UK, 1964), and "Indian Reservation" (the Raiders, formally known as Paul Revere and the Raiders, #1 US).

In 1976, Loudermilk was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Also by: Eddy Arnold, whose version reached #1 (US Country) and #84 (US) in 1968; Neal McCoy, whose version reached #4 (US Country) in 1996.

Originally by: Don Cherry (born January 11, 1924) in 1962. Cherry's biggest hit was "Band of Gold" (#5 US, 1955), and was voice of the "Mr. Clean" commercials in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a top ranked golfer in the 1960 US Open, ranking in the Top Five behind winner Arnold Palmer.

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That'll Be The Day (1957) (1958)

2012-02-03T23:50:00.000-05:00

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By: Buddy Holly (and the Crickets.)

Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley September 7, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas, and died at the age of 22 in a plane crash February 3, 1959, in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Buddy Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at #13 on their list of the Greatest Rock And Roll Artists Of All Time.

On February 8, 1956, Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records that mistakenly dropped the "e" from his last name (Holley). When "That'll Be The Day" was first recorded July 22, 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee, Decca producer Owen Bradley thought it was of poor quality. He insisted that Holly sing it above his normal range while playing it very slow.

When Holly and The Crickets (rhythm guitarist Niki Sullivan, bassist Larry Welborn and drummer Jerry Allison) re-recorded it February 25, 1957, in producer Norman Petty's Clovis, New Mexico, studios, a few changes were made: the song's key was lowered from D to A (to better suit Holly's guitar intro and solo, and vocal range), and backing vocals were added by Sullivan, June Clark, and Gary and Ramona Tollett.

When the new version of "That'll Be The Day" (credited to the Crickets and released on Brunswick Records) became a hit, Decca attempted to capitalize on it by releasing the earlier version.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "That'll Be The Day" at #39 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Don McLean's 1972 song "American Pie", about the history of rock and roll music, talks about "the day the music died," referring to the plane crash that killed Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. McLean based the phrase "This'll be the day that I die" on Holly's "That'll be the day when I die" lyric.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (UK).

It was preceded at #1 in the US by "Diana" (Paul Anka) and succeeded by "Mary's Boy Child" (Harry Belafonte).

The Top Ten Songs: September 23, 1957 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"That'll Be The Day" (Buddy Holly and the Crickets)
"Tammy" (Debbie Reynolds)
"Diana" (Paul Anka)
"Honeycomb" (Jimmie Rodgers)
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (Jerry Lee Lewis)
"Teddy Bear"/"Loving You" (Elvis Presley)
"Mr. Lee" (Bobbettes)
"Rainbow" (Russ Hamilton)
"In The Middle Of An Island" (Tony Bennett)
"Remember You're Mine"/"There's A Gold Mine In The Sky" (Pat Boone)

Written by: Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and producer Norman Petty.

Though Petty was not involved in writing the song, he was given a composing credit. Holly and Allison went to see the John Ford-directed Western film The Searchers, starring John Wayne, in June of 1956. In the film, Wayne frequently said, "That'll be the day!" The phrase stuck with Holly. Soon after, he and Allison wrote the song, marking the first time they wrote together.

Also by: The Quarrymen, who recorded it in 1958 at Percy Phillips' Kensington Custom Service, an electrical goods shop in Liverpool, England. It was their first recording, costing them about $2. They later became better known as the Beatles.

Paul McCartney owns the only known original copy, which ranked at #2 on a list of the 25 Most Valuable Recordings of All Time. It was finally released on the collection Anthology 1 in 1995.

Interestingly, Paul McCartney has owned the publishing rights to the Buddy Holly song catalogue since 1979, after purchasing them from Norman Petty.

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It's My Party (1963)

2012-02-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

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By: Lesley Gore (born Lesley Sue Goldstein May 2, 1946 in New York City.)

The song's chorus, "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to", became a part of American pop cultural language as a phrase used to describe being utterly humiliated and miserable during an event that is supposed to be a happy occasion.

In March 1963, Phil Spector went to the music publishing firm owned by friend Aaron Schroeder. The staff included Wally Gold, co-writer of Elvis Presley's then biggest hit ever, "It's Now or Never". Spector knew that firm was reliable for good songs, so he visited often.

That day, Phil heard a demo of a song that Wally had written with John Gluck and Herb Weiner: "It’s My Party". Phil Spector wanted to record it, which excited Shroeder.

What they didn't know what that someone else had already chosen the song for her first record: 16-year old Lesley Gore.

In February, a month before, Quincy Jones, who had discovered her and became her producer, and would later produce albums for Michael Jackson, brought her the song, among 200 to 300 other demos to Lesley’s family home in Tenafly, New Jersey. They both agreed on "It’s My Party", and it was recorded by the end of March 1963.

Gore's label found out that Spector was also recording "It’s My Party" by coincidence. Quincy Jones was in Paris, France, and ran into Phil Spector, who, not knowing that Jones had recorded the song, told Jones about his recording of "It’s My Party"

Because of that, Lesley's version was rush-released, and became a hit. Spector's unfinished masterpiece was never released, and Phil never came to Shroeder's publishing firm again.

The song was featured in the 1990 film Problem Child.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (US R&B), #9 (UK).

It was #1 for two weeks in June 1963. It was preceded at #1 by "If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul) and succeeded by "Sukiyaki" (Kyu Sakamoto).

It stayed at #1 on the R&B charts for three weeks. It was preceded at #1 on the R&B charts by "Another Saturday Night" (Same Cooke) and was succeeded by "Hello Stranger" (Barbara Lewis).

The Top Ten Songs: July 8, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
"Sukiyaki" (Kyu Sakamoto)
"Da Doo Ron Ron" (Crystals)
"I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
"You Can't Sit Down" (Dovells)
"Two Faces Have I" (Lou Christie)
"If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul)
"Still" (Bill Anderson)
"Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (Nat King Cole)
"Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys)

Written by: Wally Gold, John Gluck and Herb Weiner.

Also by: Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin, whose version was a UK number one hit single for four weeks in 1981; Bryan Ferry; the Chiffons; the Paris Sisters; Brenda Lee.

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Da Doo Ron Ron (1963) (1977)

2012-02-03T00:29:00.000-05:00

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By: The Crystals, a girl group produced by Phil Spector (born Harvey Phillip Spector December 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York.)

The Crystals' previous singles, "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love," were not actually recorded by any of the Crystals, but by the Blossoms (with Blossom member Darlene Love on lead vocal). However, as the owner of the Crystals' name and, Phil Spector had the right to record anything and label it as "The Crystals".

For "Da Doo Ron Ron" Spector had Love record the lead vocal in Los Angeles, CA. Love had received session fees for her previous work with Spector, but after singing on this, she asked to be signed to an artist's contract. In response, Spector erased Love's vocal and flew in the Crystals' actual lead singer Dolores "LaLa" Brooks from New York to record the lead vocal.

When this was recorded in 1963, Dolores "LaLa" Brooks was only 15 years old. The backup vocals were provided by the Blossoms, Darlene Love, Cher, and (legend has it) Sonny Bono. Bono was a record producer and songwriter at the time and knew Phil Spector.

"Da Doo Ron Ron" features Spector's signature "Wall Of Sound" production, with lavish orchestration including cello, oboe and sleigh bells. A perfect example of what Spector called "little symphonies for the kids."

John Lennon modeled his 16th-note rhythm guitar playing on the Beatles' "All My Loving" on "Da Doo Ron Ron".

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Da Doo Ron Ron" at #114 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #3 (US), #5 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: July 8, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
"Sukiyaki" (Kyu Sakamoto)
"Da Doo Ron Ron" (Crystals)
"I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
"You Can't Sit Down" (Dovells)
"Two Faces Have I" (Lou Christie)
"If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul)
"Still" (Bill Anderson)
"Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (Nat King Cole)
"Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys)

Written by: Jeff Barry (born Joel Adelberg April 3, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York,) Ellie Greenwich (born Eleanor Louise Greenwich October 23, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York,) and Phil Spector.

The refrain of "Da Doo Ron Ron" came from nonsense syllables they stuck in as space filler.

The husband-and-wife team of Barry and Greenwich were one of the most successful songwriting duos of the 1960s, writing/co-writing such songs as "Baby I Love You", "Be My Baby", "Chapel Of Love", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Hanky Panky", "I Can Hear Music", "Leader of the Pack", "Maybe I Know", "Montego Bay", "Then He Kissed Me", "River Deep, Mountain High", and many more.

Also by: Shaun Cassidy (son of actress Shirley Jones and half-brother of David Cassidy.) His version reached #1 (US, 1977). He was only 19 at the time, and it was his very first single.

It was also recorded by the Carpenters; Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas; Jack Nitzsche; The Raindrops; The Searchers.

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Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)

2012-02-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

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By: The Beach Boys, formed in 1961 by Brian Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California); his brothers, Dennis Wilson (born December 4, 1944, died December 28, 1983) and Carl Wilson (born December 21, 1946, died February 6, 1998); their cousin Mike Love (born March 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, California), and friend Alan Jardine (born September 3, 1942 in Lima, Ohio).

The Beach Boys are one the most influential groups in rock and pop music history, with 36 US Top 40 hits (including four #1 singles) and many million-selling albums

"Surfin’ U.S.A." was written by Brian to the tune of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". It was released as a single and it also appeared on the 1963 album of the same name. The B-side of the single was "Shut Down". The song features Mike Love on lead vocals.

According to Brian, the song was also influenced by Chubby Checker's "Twistin' U.S.A.".

Wilson was aided by his then-girlfriend Judy Bowles' little brother Jimmy, who came up with the list of sixteen surfing spots included in the song.

Chart position: #3 (US), #34 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: May 25, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul)
"I Will Follow Him" (Little Peggy March)
"Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys)
"Foolish Little Girl" (Shirelles)
"I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
"Losing You" (Brenda Lee)
"Two Faces Have I" (Lou Christie)
"Take These Chains From My Heart" (Ray Charles)
"It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
"Another Saturday Night" (Sam Cooke)

Written by: Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry.

When the song was released in 1963, the original pressing listed Brian Wilson as the sole composer of the song.

As soon as the song became a hit, Chuck Berry claimed the melody was his (which was true, as it was a copy of "Sweet Little Sixteen".) However, Brian’s father, Murry Wilson, gave Berry the copyright without ever informing his son. Brian Wilson didn't know, for more than twenty-five years, that Murry also gave away Brian’s lyric royalties, which clearly weren't Berry's.

Despite there being tensions over the incident at the time, Chuck Berry later claimed that he actually liked the song. Carl Wilson later said the Beach Boys ran into Berry while on tour in Copenhagen, and told the Beach Boys that he loved "Surfin' USA".

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Tossin' And Turnin' (1961)

2012-02-02T16:42:00.000-05:00

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By: Bobby Lewis (born February 17, 1933 in Indianapolis, Indiana.)

Bobby Lewis was raised in an orphanage, where he learned to play the piano at 5 years old. He was adopted when he was 12, and moved to Detroit, Michigan. Lewis began performing in the 1950s and appeared at the Apollo Theatre in New York City in 1960.

After a series of unsuccessful auditions, Bobby Lewis visited Beltone Records in Manhattan. Ritchie Adams, lead singer of the Fireflies, was working there as a songwriter, and recognized Lewis from the Apollo Theatre, as Adams had performed there the very same night Lewis had. He suggested Lewis record "Tossin' And Turnin'," a song he had written with Malou Rene.

On the original hit single version, the track begins with Lewis singing "I couldn't sleep at all last night," and it appears this way on most oldies compilations. However, on some releases the song has a prelude, where Lewis sings "Baby...Baby...you did something to me," followed by a musical cue into the first verse.

Chart position: #1 (US).

It sold over 3 million copies, and was Billboard's Hot 100 #1 single of the year.

It was #1 in the US for 7 weeks in July and August 1961. It was preceded by "Quarter to Three" (Gary U.S. Bonds) and succeeded by "Wooden Heart" (Joe Dowell).

It was #1 on the R&B chart for 10 weeks in a row.

The Top Ten Songs: July 31, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Tossin' And Turnin'" (Bobby Lewis)
"I Like It Like That" (Chris Kenner)
"Boll Weevil Song" (Brook Benton)
"Dum Dum" (Brenda Lee)
"Hats Off To Larry" (Del Shannon)
"Quarter To Three" (Gary U.S. Bonds)
"Last Night" (Mar-Keys)
"Together" (Connie Francis)
"Let's Twist Again" (Chubby Checker)
"Yellow Bird" (Arthur Lyman)

Written by: Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene.

Ritchie Adams is credited as co-writer of the theme for the 1960s television show The Banana Splits ("The Tra-La-La Song".)

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Lipstick on Your Collar (1959)

2012-02-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

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By: Connie Francis (born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey.)

Connie Francis is the prototype for the female pop singer of today, and still challenges Madonna as the biggest-selling female recording artist of all time.

"Lipstick on Your Collar" was recorded April 15, 1959 at the Metropolitan Studio in New York City, New York. Francis was only 20 years old at the time. It was produced and conducted by Ray Ellis. Veteran guitarist George Barnes contributed the guitar solo.

Connie Francis is known for recording her songs in different languages. She sang in over thirteen languages, including English, Greek, German, Swedish, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish, Japanese, Latin and Hawaiian.

That all began with "Lipstick on Your Collar", which she also recorded in German (as "Lippenstift Am Jacket"), which reached #131 in Germany in April 1960. It was the success of the German version of that caused Francis to begin recording versions of her subsequent singles in other languages.

Chart position: #5 (US), in July 1959, #3 (UK).

The flip-side was "Frankie" (#9, US), which made it the most successful double-sided single of Francis' career.

"Lipstick on Your Collar" was the first uptempo Francis single to reach the US Top Ten. It was also Francis' first Top Ten hit in Australia at #4.

Chart position: July 13, 1959 (US Billboard Top 100).

"The Battle of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton)
"Lonely Boy" (Paul Anka)
"Personality" (Lloyd Price)
"Waterloo" (Stonewall Jackson)
"Lipstick on Your Collar" (Connie Francis)
"Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin)
"Tiger" (Fabian)
"Tallahassee Lassie" (Freddy Cannon)
"My Heart Is an Open Book" (Carl Dobkins, Jr.)
"Quiet Village" (Les Baxter)

Written by: George Goehring (music) and Edna Lewis (lyrics.)

George Goehring also composed the music for "Half Heaven Half Heartache", which was a #12 (US) hit for Gene Pitney in 1962.

Edna Lewis also co-wrote "Judy's Turn to Cry" with Beverly "Ruby" Ross, which was a #5 (US) hit for Lesley Gore in 1963.

Lipstick is known to have been used around 5000 years ago in ancient Babylon, when semi-precious jewels were crushed and applied to the lips.

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Dream a Little Dream of Me (1968)

2012-02-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

By: The Mamas and the Papas, which consisted of Denny Doherty (born November 29, 1940, died of kidney failure following surgery January 19, 2007,) "Mama" Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen September 19, 1941, died in sleep of a heart attack July 29, 1974,) John Phillips (born August 30, 1935, died of heart failure March 18, 2001,) and Michelle Phillips (born June 4, 1944, the only living member.)

The group was formed in 1965 after their previous groups (The Mugwumps, The New Journeymen) failed. They immediately hit it big with their first single, "California Dreamin'," and altogether had 15 charting singles. In 1998, they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Michelle Phillips met songwriter Fabian Andre when she was 6 years old in Mexico City, Mexico. In an interview, she remembered him as always "singing, playing and drinking at the piano".

In 1968, when the Mamas and the Papas were rehearsing in the studio, they learned that Andre had died in a fall down an elevator shaft 8 years earlier, on March 30, 1960. As they were discussing his death, Michelle remembered his most famous song, "Dream a Little Dream of Me", and the group asked Cass Elliot to sing it.

It fit Elliot's style of singing, as her dream had been to perform on Broadway. She once auditioned for a part that went to Barbra Streisand, and she aspired for a singing and acting career like Streisand's. It was even credited to Mama Cass with the Mamas and the Papas.

The group disbanded in 1968, the same year "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was released. For the next 6 years, it was a mainstay in Elliot's live performances. She sang it for the last time on July 27, 1974, to a sold out crowd at London's Palladium. She died two days later at the age of 32.

Chart position: #12 (US), #2 (US Easy Listening), #11 (UK).

It sold over 7 millions copies worldwide.

Written by: Fabian Andre (born January 8, 1910, died March 30, 1960,) Wilbur Schwandt and Gus Kahn (lyrics) in 1931.

Kahn also wrote lyrics for such songs as "Makin' Whoopie", "Ain't We Got Fun", and "It Had To Be You".

Also by: Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald; Zooey Deschanel; Doris Day; Michael Bublé.

Originally by: Ozzie Nelson (star of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and father of Ricky Nelson) and his Orchestra with vocal by Nelson on February 16, 1931 for Brunswick Records.

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California Sun (1964)

2012-01-31T23:23:00.000-05:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

By: The Rivieras.

The Rivieras were formed in South Bend, Indiana by singer and guitarist Marty Fortson, guitarist Joe Pennell, keyboardist Otto Nuss, bassist Doug Gean, and drummer Paul Dennert. The group's manager Bill Dobson sang and played keyboards.

The Rivieras recorded "California Sun" in Chicago, Illinois with Marty Fortson on lead vocal. It was a cover of an R&B hit by New Orleans-based singer Joe Jones (who also recorded the Top Five hit "You Talk Too Much").

The Rivieras sped it up, placed emphasis upon electric organ and electric guitar (whereas the Joe Jones version featured a brass/horn section) and changed some of the lyrics (one line had been "They twist, like this/They shimmy, now don't you hear me?")

Joe Pennell and Marty Fortson left the band after recording "California Sun" (before it became a hit) and joined the National Service. Fortson later said that he heard the song on Armed Forces Radio while in Vietnam.

None of the Rivieras, nor Joe Jones, nor the song's writers, were from California!

Chart position: #5 (US).

The Top Ten Songs: February 29, 1964 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"I Want To Hold Your Hand" (Beatles)
"She Loves You" (Beatles)
"Dawn (Go Away)" (Four Seasons)
"Java" (Al Hirt)
"California Sun" (Rivieras)
"Please Please Me" (Beatles)
"You Don't Own Me" (Lesley Gore)
"Navy Blue" (Diane Renay)
"Stop and Think It Over" (Dale & Grace)
"Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" (Major Lance)

Written by: Henry Glover (born May 21, 1921 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, died Apr 07, 1991 in St. Albans, New York) and Morris Levy (born Aug 27, 1927 in The Bronx, NY, died May 21, 1990 in Ghent, New York.)

Henry Glover also wrote "The Peppermint Twist" (Joey Dee & The Starlighters, #1 US).

Morris Levy owned the company that published "California Sun", and is said to be the first to begin the practice of receiving songwriting credits on his acts' releases, which allowed him to collect more money.

At one point, after befriending DJ Alan Freed, Levy copyrighted the term "rock & roll," collecting money from the use of it, even by Freed himself, who had coined it.

Morris Levy also sued John Lennon for infringement of a lyric from a Chuck Berry song that he owned, "You Can't Catch Me", used in the Beatles song "Come Together". Lennon agreed to record an oldies album, "Rock And Roll", using three of Levy's copyrights.

Morris Levy was eventually convicted of extortion in 1986.

Originally by: Joe Jones, whose version peaked at #89 in 1961.

Also by: Willis Jackson (1962), Ricardo Ray Orchestra (1968), Ola & the Janglers (1970), The Ramones (1977), Dick Dale (1994).

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Sukiyaki (Ue o muite aruko) (1963)

2012-01-31T23:10:00.000-05:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

By: Kyu Sakamoto (born Hisashi Oshima on December 10, 1941 in Kawasaki, Japan, died August 12, 1985).

Kyu Sakamoto was a Japanese singer and actor best known internationally for his recording of "Ue wo muite arukō", more commonly known as "Sukiyaki", which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies worldwide.

Sakamoto was the ninth child of a Toko restaurant owner. His nickname of Kyu, meaning 'nine', is an alternate reading of the kanji (the Japanese pictorial writing system) for his given name of Hisashi.

Kyu started singing in jazz clubs while still a high school student, and eventual dropped out of school to pursue singing. In 1959, at the age of eighteen, Kyu signed with a talent company in Tokyo looking for a "boy-next-door" type. He was signed to a recording contract with Toshiba Records.

By 1963, Sakamoto was very popular in Japan, having had 15 singles and eight albums that were best-sellers there. He had also appeared in ten movies and was on seven different weekly TV shows and two radio shows.

The real title of the song is "Ue O Muite Aruko", which translates "I Look Up When I Walk". Louis Benjamin, the head of Britain's Pye records, brought the song to English jazz musician Kenny Ball after hearing the song while in Japan on business in 1962. Since British DJs were not likely going to pronounce the real title correctly, Pye records released the single under the Japanese name "Sukiyaki", a Japanese dish consisting of thin beef strips cooked with onions, greens and soy sauce. A Newsweek music critic pointed out at the time that this was like releasing "Moon River" in Japan with the title "Beef Stew".

American DJ Rich Osborne of station KORD in Pasco, Washington, got a copy of Kyu Sakamoto's original version and played it on his show. Listeners began requesting the song, and the station started playing it regularly. Soon after Capitol Records picked up distribution rights and released it under its British title of "Sukiyaki". It became the second song sung in a foreign language to top the Hot 100 (the other was "Volare" by Domenico Modugno.)

Sadly, Kyu Sakamoto died on-board Japan Airlines Flight 123, which killed over 500 people when it crashed into a mountain outside of Tokyo on August 12, 1985. Found among the wreckage of this plane was a "goodbye note" addressed to his wife that Kyu had time to write knowing what would be his fate in moments. He was 43 years old.

Chart position: #1 (US, three weeks), #6 (UK).

"Sukiyaki" remains the only Japanese-language song to hit #1 in the United States. It was also the first Japanese-language song to appear on the UK charts.

It sold over one million copies in the US.

The Top Ten Songs: June 15, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Sukiyaki" (Kyu Sakamoto)
"It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
"You Can't Sit Down" (Dovells)
"Da Doo Ron Ron" (Crystals)
"I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
"Blue on Blue" (Bobby Vinton)
"Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (Nat King Cole)
"Still" (Bill Anderson)
"Hello Stranger" (Barbara Lewis)
"18 Yellow Roses" (Bobby Darin)

Written by: Hachidai Nakamura (music) and Rokusuke Ei (lyrics).

The lyrics were inspired by Rokusuke Ei's breakup with actress Meiko Nakamura.

They translate into English as: "I look up when I walk, so the tears won't fall, remembering those happy spring days, but tonight I'm all alone. I look up when I walk, counting the stars with tearful eyes, remembering those happy summer days, but tonight I'm all alone. Happiness lies beyond the clouds, happiness lies above the sky. I look up when I walk, so the tears won't fall, though my heart is filled with sorrow, for tonight I'm all alone. Remembering those happy autumn days, but tonight I'm all alone. Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars, sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon. I look up when I walk, so the tears won't fall, though my heart is filled with sorrow, for tonight I'm all alone."

Also by: Country singer Clyde Beavers, whose English-translated version, titled "My First Lonely Night", reached #21 (US Country); A Taste of Honey, whose version, also with English lyrics but different from Beavers' version, reached #3 in 1981; a cappella group 4 P.M., whose version reached #8 in 1994.

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The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) (1964) (1990)

2012-01-31T03:42:00.000-05:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

By: Betty Everett (born November 23, 1939 in Greenwood, Mississippi, died August 19, 2001 in Beloit, Wisconsin.)

Betty Everett first began playing the piano and singing at church at 9 years old. In 1957, she moved to Chicago to pursue a music career, recording for various small labels before being discovered by Calvin Carter, the A&R director for Vee-Jay Records, which signed Everett in 1963.

Her first Vee-Jay single that year was "You're No Good", which only reached #51. It later became a #1 hit for Linda Ronstadt.

Her next single was a song she did not want to record it, feeling that it was silly and childish. "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" became her biggest hit.

In 2000, Everett made her last public performance on the PBS television special Doo Wop 51. She died in her home on August 19, 2001 at 61 years old.

Chart position: #6 (US), #1 (US R&B), #34 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: April 18, 1964 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Can't Buy Me Love" (Beatles)
"Twist and Shout" (Beatles)
"Suspicion" (Terry Stafford)
"Hello Dolly!" (Louis Armstrong)
"Do You Want To Know A Secret" (Beatles)
"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" (Betty Everett)
"Glad All Over" (Dave Clark Five)
"She Loves You" (Beatles)
"Don't Let The Rain Come Down" (The Serendipity Singers)
"Dead Man's Curve" (Jan & Dean)

Written by: Rudy Clark.

Clark also wrote such songs as "Good Lovin'" (The Young Rascals, #1 US in 1966,) "Everybody Plays the Fool" (the Main Ingredient, a Top 5 hit in 1972,) and "I've Got My Mind Set On You" (George Harrison, #1 US in 1987.)

Also by: Cher, whose 1990 version was a Top 40 hit in the US, and reached #1 in the UK, Austria, Ireland, Norway, and Poland. It sold over 6 million copies worldwide. It was featured in the film Mermaids.

Originally by: Merry Clayton, recorded in 1963 when she was only 15 years old.

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Glen Campbell diagnosed with Alzheimer's

2011-06-22T20:47:00.000-04:00

From the Associated Press:

Country music legend Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and plans to put out his final album this summer.

Campbell's representative Bobbie Gale made the announcement Wednesday. The disease is in its early stages.

The 75-year-old's wife Kim also talked to People magazine and said they wanted to go public with his illness because they wanted fans to know if he has trouble onstage.

Campbell's CD "Ghost on the Canvas" is scheduled for release Aug. 30. He also is to go on "The Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour."

The Country Music Hall of Famer had pop and country hits with "Gentle on My Mind," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and perhaps his most famous song, "Rhinestone Cowboy." He also had his own TV show on CBS.

Wichita Lineman (1968)

2011-06-22T20:34:00.003-04:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

By: Glen Campbell. (born April 22, 1936 in Delight, Arkansas.)

Glen Campbell is a Grammy Award-winning and twice Golden Globe-nominated American country pop singer and actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a television variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.

In 1968 Campbell was an in-demand session guitarist who played on hit recordings by artists such as Elvis Presley, the Monkees, the Mamas And The Papas, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Jan And Dean, the Righteous Brothers and the Beach Boys.

Campbell played the solo on a six-string electric bass. Producer Al De Lory did the string arrangement to mimic the sound of Morse code.

Glen Campbell once said, "['Wichita Lineman' is] not strictly a country song, although a lot of people think of it as such. But its chord progression is different . . . It's certainly not a country progression."

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192.

Chart position: #3 (US), #1 (US Country), #1 (US Easy Listening), #7 (UK).

Written by: Jimmy Webb (born August 15, 1946 in Elk City, Oklahoma). He also wrote such hits as "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Galveston" and "MacArthur Park". He is the only artist to have ever received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration.

"Wichita Lineman" was a follow-up to Campbell's previous hit "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". It took approximately two hours to write.

In a 2005 Times interview, Jimmy Webb said, "A song like 'Wichita Lineman' suggests the plains, the receding horizon, the loneliness of the lineman who's up this pole in the middle of nowhere. That's an actual image that I saw one day. I was driving along and saw this guy high up on a telegraph pole and I wondered to myself, '. . . I wonder who he's talking to and what he's talking about.' There's a kind of tenacity, a blue collar nobility to what he was doing . . . [Billy Joel] said what that song says is that inside any normal Joe you might see on the street there could be great thoughts and aspirations and just because a guy is working at some menial job it doesn't mean that inside of him there's not some great passion or great dream."

My two cents: One of the greatest songs ever written, performed, recorded, period. How can I describe it? You have to hear it for yourself to know why I feel this way. It's the entire package, the whole of the song, rather than any individual part.

Obviously, Glen's voice and his delivery of the story is great. He puts forth a lot of emotion and a genuine sense that he is the Wichita Lineman. The orchestration is pitch-perfect, the bass guitar solo, the lyrics, the...everything!

And to think that Glen Campbell has yet to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. On this song alone, he's a shoe in! What do you think? This inquiring mind wants to know...

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Clarence Clemons of Springsteen's E Street Band Dies

2011-06-18T22:18:00.000-04:00

From CBS News:

Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen's longtime saxophone player and a legend in the music industry, died Saturday from complications following a stroke he suffered about a week ago.

Clemons' sax has been one of the most defining elements of the E Street Band's sound. He has suffered from numerous ailments over the last few years. He had double knee surgery and even had to perform from a wheelchair at one point.

But his health seemed to be improving. Just last month, he performed with Lady Gaga on the season finale of "American Idol."

Clemons scored a Top 20 hit in 1985 with the song "You're a Friend of Mine," a duet with Jackson Browne that appears on Clemons' album "Hero." Clemons was 69 years old.

The Newark Star-Ledger reports that: "Springsteen's oft-told story of his initial meeting with Clemons felt Biblical: with a lightning storm raging outside, the Big Man tore the door off an Asbury Park club, strode onstage, and made magic. Springsteen would later immortalize this meeting in "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out," a song on "Born to Run."

Clemons was born in Norfolk, Va., to a Baptist minister who had no love for rock 'n' roll, The Star-Ledger reports. However, he got a saxophone at age 9, and when a car accident ruined his budding football career after college, he dedicated himself to music.

Soldier Boy (1962)

2011-06-18T16:19:00.003-04:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

Download MP3s from Amazon.com:

The Shirelles - Soldier Boy (MP3)

By: The Shirelles, formed in 1958 by high school friends Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Addie "Micki" Harris, and Beverly Lee in Passaic, New Jersey.

They were the first girl group to have a #1 US hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other songs by The Shirelles became hits when covered by British groups: "Sha La La" was an international hit when covered by Manfred Mann, "Boys" was covered by the Beatles (with Ringo Starr singing lead,) and "Baby It's You" (with John Lennon singing lead) on their album Please Please Me.

In 1996, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them #76 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Chart position: #1 (US).

It was #1 in the US for 3 weeks in May 1962. It was preceded by "Good Luck Charm" (Elvis Presley) and succeeded by "Stranger on the Shore" (Mr. Acker Bilk).

The Top Ten Songs: May 12, 1962 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Soldier Boy" (Shirelles)
"Mashed Potato Time" (Dee Dee Sharp)
"Stranger On The Shore" (Mr. Acker Bilk)
"Johnny Angel" (Shelley Fabares)
"Good Luck Charm" (Elvis Presley)
"She Cried" (Jay and the Americans)
"Old Rivers" (Walter Brennan)
"Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out" (Ernie Maresca)
"Dear Twist Lady" (Gary U.S. Bonds)
"Shout" (Joey Dee and the Starliters)

Written by: Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg.

Dixon and Greenberg wrote or co-wrote such songs for the Shirelles as "Boys" and "Mama Said", as well as other hits such as "Sixteen Candles" (Crests,) "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" (Gene McDaniels,) "Big Boss Man" (Jimmy Reed,) and "Doncha' Think It's Time" (Elvis Presley).

Also by: Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (1965).

Download MP3s from Amazon.com:

The Shirelles - Soldier Boy (MP3)

Want to submit facts and trivia about this song? Leave a comment!

The Top Ten Mail Songs

2011-06-14T23:04:00.013-04:00

Once upon a time, there was no Twitter, no Facebook, no smartphones, no laptops, no internet, no computers, no typewriters, no people...wait, that's too far back in time! Long-distance personal communication through the written word is about as timeless as communication itself. Perhaps the strong connection we have to such communication is what makes love letters so special and junk mail so annoying.

The world of mail is so full of chain letters, letters of resignation, pen pals, stamp collectors, and so on, we just have to do a list of the Top Ten Mail Songs. Neither snow nor rain nor heat no gloom of night can keep us from this appointed round!

As always the songs are organized by how well each has done on the various charts, although this time we slightly bend that rule on this list. I'll say it again: If you don't see your favorite (and that's bound to happen, by the sheer number of great mail songs,) be sure to leave a comment. Who knows, your letter could be the next entry!

So let's not waste time licking stamps and dropping letters. Let's go! Oh, and we promise there's nothing liquid, fragile, perishable or hazardous within this list. So let's go!

10. P.S. I Love You

This early Beatles tune is 100% mail-related. Come to think, they had another song that could arguably occupy this spot, but I argue that "From Me to You" is only 70% mail-related. And for that matter, "Paperback Writer", while in letter form, is merely 40% mail-related. (Note: if you want a detailed argument, send us a letter about it.) "P.S. I Love You" reached #10 in the US in 1962.

I'll be coming home again to you, love
Until the day I do, love
P.S. I love you
You, you, you

9. Love Letters

Born Revoyda Frierson, Ketty Lester is best known for this hit song which, like the previous song, was released in 1962. It's a brilliant, slow-burning ballad, and it was recorded by many before her (Dick Haymes, Nat King Cole) and after her (Elvis Presley, Diana Krall). It reached the Top 5 of the charts in both the United States (#5) and the United Kingdom (#4).

Love letters straight from your heart
Keep us so near while apart
I'm not alone in the night
When I can have all the love you write

8. A Dear John Letter

Some of you might listen to this and say, "This is country!" But you know what? Once upon a time, music was music was music. In other words, if it was good, people bought it. The late Ferlin Husky performed the sad recitation of a Korean soldier, while the tune was sung by Jean Shepard. It was the first post-World War II record by a woman country artist to sell more than a million copies. It reached #4 in the US in 1953. It's a heart breaker, for sure.

Dear John, Oh, how I hate to write
Dear John, I must let you know tonight
That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn
And tonight I wed another, Dear John.

7. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter

This is a classic number written by Fred E. Ahlert and Joe Young, and was originally made a hit by pianist Fats Waller in 1935. In 1957, Billy Williams had a #3 US hit with the song. The record sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Sadly, he later lost his voice due to complications from diabetes. But he sure sounded good (and still sounds good) on this record!

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
And make believe it came from you
I'm gonna write words oh so sweet
They're gonna knock me off my feet
A lotta kisses on the bottom
I'll be glad I got 'em

6. Sealed With a Kiss

Brian Hyland had his second-biggest hit with this song, a plaintive goodbye song that gets better with age. It was also recorded by Bobby Vinton and Gary Lewis and the Playboys, but none charted quite as high (on the charts of the day and on the hearts of the day) as Hyland's. By the way, his biggest hit was "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini". But that's another list, another day. "Sealed With a Kiss" charted at #3 in both the US and the UK in 1962, which apparently was a boom year for letter-writing.

Though we've got to say good-bye
For the summer
Darling, I promise you this
I'll send you all my love
Everyday in a letter
Sealed with a kiss

5. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)

It's time for a little bit of soul. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" was the first single Stevie Wonder produced on his own. And the rest, they say, is musical history. It was also Wonder's first Grammy nominated song. And interestingly, the song title came from Stevie's mother Lula, who exclaimed the words after listening to her son working on the song's melody. It reached #3 in the US in 1970.

Like a fool I went and stayed too long
Now I'm wondering if your love's still strong
Ooh, baby, here I am,
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!

4. Take a Letter Maria

I used to think this song was sung by Sam Cooke. Turns out I was wrong. But it turns out that R.B. Greaves is Sam Cooke's nephew. So I guess that makes up for it. But make no mistake that R.B. was talented in his own right. He wrote this song, and it was recorded by Stevie Wonder and Tom Jones before he recorded it himself in 1969. By 1970, sales of his version of "Take a Letter Maria" were over 2.5 million. No letter-writing campaign was required.

Take a letter Maria
Address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer
Got to start a new life

3. Return to Sender

Classic, despite the fact that Elvis recorded this for the film Girls! Girls! Girls! Sorry, I don't mean any offense by saying it's "classic, despite". Even Elvis himself knew his movies were by no means stellar. Anyway, this song is definitely of its era. What exactly is a zone? Is it like The Twilight Zone? Because I used to like that show. Either way, a great song with great singing by Elvis and great saxophone playing by Boots Randolph, it reached #2 in the US and #1 in the UK in 1962 (a good year for the mail).

Return to sender,
Address unknown
No such number,
No such zone.

2. The Letter

Do you believe that Alex Chilton was only 16 years old when he originally sang "The Letter"? Or that his voice didn't normally sound like that? I'm sure you did, but I didn't. Chilton and the Box Tops recorded this in 1967, and it became a #1 hit in the US and a #5 in the UK. But it also charted high in many countries the world over. Plus, it's just likely the most awesome letter-related song there is. Well, almost, since it does sit at #2 on this list.

Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane,
Ain't got time to take a fast train,
Lonely days are gone,
I'm-a goin' home,
My baby just-a wrote me a letter

And now, as we come to the end of this love letter to songs about the mail, it's time to reveal the number one mail song. If you don't agree, then you can treat me like a mailman and give me the sack. Get it? Give me the...oh, I know, that's corny. The top mail song is...!

1. Please Mr. Postman

But of course! "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes was the first #1 US hit for Tamla/Motown Records, which paved the way for future R&B acts of the 1960s and beyond. It also reached #2 in the UK.

That's all we have to say about that. Unless you want to hear a joke:

Two mailmen were ending their routes for the day when one of them saw the other stomp on a snail. "Why on earth did you step on that snail?" asked his co-worker. "'Cause that same snail has been following me all day!"

Yeah. I shouldn't quit my day job.

Wait! Oh yes, wait a minute, Mister Postman
Wait! Wait, Mister Postman
Please, Mister Postman, look and see
Is there’s a letter in your bag for me
Cause it’s been a mighty long time
Since I`ve heard from this boyfriend of mine

And just for fun, here's an honorable P.S. that was a #3 hit in 1963 for Allan Sherman...

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah

Do you agree with this list? Have any suggestions for honorable mentions? I can think of a few myself, but I want you to decide.

Check out all of the lists here at Rock The Jukebox:

And stay tuned for our next list: The Top Ten Lonely Songs!

Please Mister Postman (1961) (1975)

2011-06-14T09:32:00.000-04:00

Click the YouTube video below to listen:

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By: The Marvelettes.

The Marvelettes were the first successful Motown girl group. They paved the way for such girl groups as the Supremes and Martha And The Vandellas. Other hits of theirs include "Beechwood 4-5789", "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "Don't Mess With Bill", and "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game".

In April 1961 the Marvelettes (then known as The Marvels) auditioned for Berry Gordy's Tamla/Motown label. Marvels member Georgia Dobbins wanted an original song for their audition. She got a song from her friend William Garrett which she then reworked, keeping only the title: "Please Mr. Postman". Dobbins left the group after the audition and was replaced.

Berry Gordy then renamed the group the Marvelettes and hired Brian Holland and Robert Bateman (along with Freddie Gorman) to rework the song yet again.

The lead on "Please Mr. Postman" was sung by lead singer Gladys Horton (born May 30, 1945 in Gainesville, Florida, died January 26, 2011 in Sherman Oaks, California).

The drums were played by Marvin Gaye (born April 2, 1939, died April 1, 1984). He was only 22 at the time and trying to break into the music business. Gaye later gained international fame as a solo artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (US R&B).

The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" was Motown's first #1 single.

It was #1 in the US for the week of December 11, 1961. It was preceded at #1 by "Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean) and succeeded by "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (The Tokens).

The Top Ten Songs: December 11, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

"Please Mr. Postman" (Marvelettes)
"Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean)
"Goodbye Cruel World" (James Darren)
"The Twist" (Chubby Checker)
"Walk On By" (Leroy Van Dyke)
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Tokens)
"Run To Him" (Bobby Vee)
"Tonight" (Ferrante and Teicher)
"Let There Be Drums" (Sandy Nelson)
"Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" (Neil Sedaka)

Written by: Robert Bateman, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Brian Holland and Freddie Gorman.

Freddie Gorman was an actual postman. His mail route included Detroit, Michigan public housing where members of The Supremes lived.

Also by: The Beatles, whose version appeared on their 1963 album With The Beatles. It had advance orders of more than 500,000 and sold another 500,000 by September 1965. That made it the second album to sell a million copies in the UK (the first being the South Pacific soundtrack.) It stayed at the #1 for 21 weeks. It displaced their debut album Please Please Me. Therefore the Beatles occupied the top spot for 51 consecutive weeks.

The Carpenters' version of "Please Mr. Postman" (featuring Karen Carpenter on vocals and drums) was their biggest hit ever worldwide. It reached #1 in the US, Australia, Germany, Japan and several other countries. It also reached #2 in the UK and Canada.

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Charlie Louvin, Country Singer, Dies at 83

2011-01-26T22:37:00.001-05:00

Charlie Louvin, Country Singer, Dies at 83
By Helena Zhu
Epoch Times Staff

Charlie Louvin, who formed the country music duo The Louvin Brothers with his older brother, Ira Louvin, died at age 83 on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at his home in Wartrace, Tenn.

Louvin died due to complications from pancreatic cancer, which he was diagnosed with in July 2010, according to The Associated Press and CBS.

Even though he underwent an unsuccessful surgery to remove the tumor, he still scheduled performances and released an album, The Battles Rage On in November.

"I'm not afraid of dying," Louvin told The Associated Press a few days after the diagnosis. "We're all going to do that. And I've had 83 years of almost uninterrupted good health, so I know that's not by accident. So I've been blessed that long, and I could use a couple more."

Louvin was admitted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 for the works he produced with his brother since the 1940s, including "I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby", "When I Stop Dreaming", "Cash on the Barrel Head", "Hoping That You’re Hoping", and "You’re Running Wild".

The brothers broke up in 1963, two years before Ira Louvin died in a car accident in Williamsburg. Mo.

Following his separation with his brother, Louvin still recorded regularly, putting out hits such as "I Don’t Love You Anymore" (1964), "See the Big Man Cry" (1965), and "The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)" (1967).

Ring of Fire (1963)

2011-01-23T23:23:00.001-05:00

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By: Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash February 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas, died of complications from diabetes September 12, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee.) He was named J. R. because his parents could only agree on his initials, not a particular name. He adopted John R. Cash as his legal name when he joined the US Air Force as a radio operator.

The Man in Black is considered one of the most influential and important American musicians of all time, known for his distinctive voice and famous introduction: "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." Cash sold over 50 million records in his nearly 50 year career.

As Cash's popularity grew in the early 1960s, he drank heavily and became addicted to amphetamines (to stay awake during tours) and barbiturates (to fall asleep). Cash shared an apartment with fellow singer Waylon Jennings, who was also addicted to amphetamines. Friends joked about his erratic behavior, ignoring the signs of his escalating drug problem.

Though he kept having country hits, he hadn't had a US Top 20 hit since 1958's "Big River". He recorded "Ring of Fire" on March 25, 1963. He added the somewhat incongruous mariachi horn arrangement himself. (He later said that the horn part came to him in a dream.)

It was released that year on the album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash, despite not being solely a "greatest hits" album. Six of the songs on that album became Top 20 US Country hit singles, with "Ring of Fire" achieving the biggest success on both the Country and Pop charts.

He caused a literal "ring of fire" two years later in June 1965, while camping at Los Padres National Forest in California, when a defective exhaust on Cash's trailer caused a fire that destroyed over 500 acres of forest, the foliage of three nearby mountains, and killed 49 endangered condors. He was sued by the federal government. (He paid them $82,000 in a settlement.) When the judge asked Cash why he did it, Cash said, "I didn't do it, my truck did, and it's dead, so you can't question it."

Chart position: #17 (US), #1 (US Country).

It was #1 on the US Country chart for 7 weeks in July, August, and September 1963. It was preceded at #1 by "Act Naturally" (Buck Owens) and succeeded by "Abilene" (George Hamilton IV).

The Top Ten Songs: September 7, 1963 (US Billboard Hot Country Singles).

"Ring of Fire" (Johnny Cash)
"Abilene" (George Hamilton IV)
"Talk Back Tremblin' Lips" (Ernest Ashworth)
"Six Days On the Road" (Dave Dudley)
"Guilty" (Jim Reeves)
"Detroit City" (Bobby Bare)
"You Comb Her Hair" (George Jones)
"Act Naturally" (Buck Owens)
"Sands of Gold" (Webb Pierce)
"Tips of My Fingers" (Roy Clark)

Written by: June Carter, later June Carter Cash (born June 23, 1929, died May 15, 2003) and Merle Kilgore (born August 9, 1934, died February 6, 2005.)

June was born into The Carter Family (her mother was Maybelle Carter,) a pioneering country music group, becoming a performing member in 1939. In 1950, the family became part of the Grand Ole Opry, along with accompanying guitarist Chet Atkins, where they befriended Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, to whom they were distantly related, and Johnny Cash. She also wrote such songs as "I'm a Worried Man", "If Today Were Yesterday", and "The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea".

The song was written by June (who later married Johnny Cash,) describe Carter's struggle with her love for Cash as she dealt with his alcoholism and drug addiction, hence, the Ring of Fire. (Johnny later said that June saved his life by helping him to get off of drugs.)

Merle Kilgore also wrote such songs as "Wolverton Mountain", "Johnny Reb", and "The Folk Singer".

Originally by: Anita Carter, June Carter Cash's sister, as "(Love's) Ring of Fire", in 1962.

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An Open Letter From the Late Sweet Inspiration Myrna Smith's Son

2011-01-07T16:08:00.001-05:00

This was written by Martin Smith, son of Myrna Smith of the Sweet Inspirations. She passed away on December 24, 2010:

To all the fans of my mother Myrna Smith,

I wanted to give you all a great big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all that you did for my mother. Not only when she was ill, but all the support you gave her during the years of touring, as well as, listening and purchasing her music. Many of you followed her closely and she loved you for that.

My mother was a wonderful lady. My life with her will never be forgotten. I have watched my mom from day one of her time with Elvis and the people from Graceland, showing many people what a great entertainer should project. My mom, although had friends by her side all the way to the end, always understood our special relationship. I will always love and respect my mother for who she is and what she became. Her grandson had the opportunity to sit with his Grandmother long before she became too ill and shared with her his aspirations to follow her entertainment footsteps.

Thank you all for the respect while the family was grieving and we appreciate your well wishes and condolences. I have included the memorial information below and would love to hear from you or see you there.

For people who cannot make it to the memorial, we will be taking all emails and posting them at the memorial for people to read. We may even read a few there.

Sincerely,

Martin Smith

Myrna's Memorial:

First Christian Church of North Hollywood
4390 Colfax Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91604
818-763-8218
(please send flowers directly to the church)

Please RSVP at myrnasmemorial at hotmail dot com.

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00PM
Date: 1/29/2010

Refreshment will follow.

We appreciate the fans that had done so much for Myrna and a special thank you to Carole Drexler who has been a valuable friend of the family.