1961- A Standout Year

by Pat Jacobs

One of the reasons I consider this year a standout is for the amazing, sheer array of talent and great music that came out.

Besides Ben E. King, The Shirelles, Gene Pitney, and Gene McDaniels, notable debuts were:

Bob Dylan, The Crystals, Judy Collins, Adam Wade, Faron Young, Timi Yuro, The Marvelettes, Gladys Knight and the Pips (known as The Pips at this time), Ray Stevens, Del Shannon, The Angels, Maxine Brown James Darren, Joey Dee and the Starliters, Dick and Dee Dee, Sue Thompson, James Ray, Linda Scott, The Dovells, Barbara George, The Impressions, Chuck Jackson, The Jive Five, Chris Kenner, The Lettermen, Bobby Lewis, The Jarmels, Little Caesar and the Romans, John D. Loudermilk, Johnny Maestro (former Crests lead singer), Barry Mann, The Marcels, The Mar-Keys, The Belmonts (without Dion), Lee Dorsey, The Miracles, Hayley Mills (singing debut) ,Tony Orlando, The Paris Sisters, Shep and the Limelites, The Spinners, Carla Thomas, The Tokens, The Vibrations, Solomon Burke, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, The Highwaymen, and The Smothers Brothers.

The Marcels, one of the all-time great vocal groups, were named for a popular hair style of the time. They were also one of the first integrated groups, but became an all-black one after "Heartaches." Led by Cornelius Harp, with Fred Johnson as that distinctive bass voice, the group had a no. 1 smash, "Blue Moon," followed by their second Top 10 (no. 7) hit "Heartaches". I also like their version of "Melancholy Baby".

Shep and the Limelites had the no. 2 smash "Daddy's Home", which was an answer record to "A Thousand Miles Away" (A Top 10 R + B hit in Dec. 1956-early 1957) by The Heartbeats, which was the same group, in a sense. James "Shep" Sheppard remained lead singer and changed personnel as needed.

Mary Wells had her first Top 40 hit, "I Don't Want To Take A Chance" (no. 33).

The Coasters had their last Top 40 hit, "Little Egypt" (no. 23).

"What I'd Say" (no.30) was the last top 40 hit for Jerry Lee Lewis until 1972.

Maxine Brown made her top 40 debut with "All In My Mind" (no.19). Her second hit was "Funny" (no.25).

Chuck Jackson's first Top 40 hit, "I Don't Want To Cry" (co-written by him: it went to no. 36),
established him as a rising star, more so on the R + B charts than pop. The former Del-Vikings member went on to have several R + B hits, such as "Hand It Over", "Tell Him I'm Not Home"(1963), "Beg Me"(1964), "Something You Got", with Maxine Brown, and "I Wake Up Crying". But the following year, 1962, he would record what I consider his masterpiece. And a timeless classic.

Ray Stevens debuted with "Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills" (no. 35). (Bet you can't say this real fast!)

Joey Dee and The Starliters' no. 1 smash, "Peppermint Twist" (Dec. 1961), was inspired by New York's Peppermint Lounge.

Adam Wade had three Top 10s in his debut year: "Take Good Care Of Her" (no.7), "The Writing On The Wall" (no.5), and "As If I Didn't Know" (no. 10).

The Dreamlovers had their first (and only) Top 10 hit, "When We Get Married", but they may be better known, or better heard as, the backup vocals for Chubby Checker's "The Twist".

Sue Thompson's first top 40 hit "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" was a no. 5 smash.

"I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" was a Top 20 hit (no. 12) for 14-year-old Eddie Hodges.

"Gypsy Woman" was the first top 40 hit (no. 20) for The Impressions. It was written by group member and lead singer Curtis Mayfield.

14 or 15-year-old (accounts vary) acting sensation Hayley Mills (for you newbies, she was the Hilary Duff of her day) had a no. 8 smash hit "Let's Get Together" from the film The Parent Trap.

Tony Orlando had his 1st Top 40 hits with "Halfway To Paradise" (no. 39) and "Bless You" (no. 15).

Del Shannon's (born Charles Westover) no. 1 smash was "Runaway". His no. 5 follow-up was "Hats Off To Larry", and he also had the Top 30 hit "So Long Baby" (no. 28).

The Chordettes had their last top 40 hit with "Never On Sunday" ( no. 13).

The Spinners had their first Top 40 hit, "That's What Girls Are Made For" (no. 27).

Hank Ballard and The Midnighters had their last top 40 hit, "The Switch-A-Roo" (no. 26).

Aretha Franklin had her first Top 40 hit with "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" (no. 37).

"It's Gonna Work Out Fine" was the first Top 20 hit for Ike and Tina Turner (no. 14). This would be their biggest 60s hit.

Carla Thomas, the daughter of legendary DJ and recording star Rufus Thomas, had a Top 10 smash, "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)" at no. 10.

The Diamonds' last top 40 hit was "One Summer Night' (no. 22).

The McGuire Sisters' (Phyllis, Dorothy, and Christine) last top 40 hit was "Just For Old Time's Sake" (no. 20).

"Tonight I Fell In Love" (no. 15) was the first Top 40 hit for The Tokens, followed by their no. 1, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". (This may be derived from a South African folk song; Miriam Makeba's repertoire would include "Wimoweh" , as she called it.) The group went on to produce other acts throughout the decade, such as The Chiffons and The Happenings. And later, Token
Hank Medress teamed up with Dave Appell to produce Tony Orlando and Dawn.

The Vibrations ("The Watusi", no. 25) also recorded as The Jayhawks and The Marathons, who had the Top 20 hit "Peanut Butter" (at no.20!).

Linda Scott "I've Told Every Little Star" (a no.3 smash), "Don't Bet Money Honey" (no. 9), and "I Don't Know Why" (no. 12).

Johnny Tillotson had a no. 7 smash, "Without You".

In late Dec. 1960-early 1961, "Shop Around" was a no. 2 smash for The Miracles, Motown's first successful group.

Continue to Part 2

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