1961- A Standout Year Part 3

by Pat Jacobs

Other popular hits of 1961 were:

1. Tossin' And Turnin', Bobby Lewis
2. I Fall To Pieces, Patsy Cline
3. Michael (Row The Boat Ashore), Highwaymen
4. Cryin', Roy Orbison
5. Runaway, Del Shannon
6. My True Story, Jive Five
7. Pony Time, Chubby Checker
8. Wheels, String-a-longs
9. Raindrops, Dee Clark
10. Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn), Joe Dowell
11. Calcutta, Lawrence Welk
12. Take Good Care Of My Baby, Bobby Vee
13. Running Scared, Roy Orbison
14. Dedicated To The One I Love, The Shirelles
15. Last Night, Mar-keys
16. (Will You Love Me) Tomorrow, Shirelles
17. Exodus, Ferrante & Teicher
18. Where The Boys Are, Connie Francis
19. Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles
20. Sad Movies (Make Me Cry), Sue Thompson
21. Mother-In-Law, Ernie K-Doe
22. Bristol Stomp, Dovells
23. Travelin' Man, Ricky Nelson
24. Shop Around, Miracles
25. The Boll Weevil Song, Brook Benton
26. A Hundred Pounds Of Clay, Gene Mcdaniels
27. The Mountain's High, Dick & Deedee
28. Don't Worry, Marty Robbins
29. On The Rebound, Floyd Cramer
30. Portrait Op My Love, Steve Lawrence
31. Quarter To Three, Gary
32. Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp), Barry Mann
33. Calendar Girl, Neil Sedaka
34. I Like It Like That, Chris Kenner
35. Apache, Jorgen Lngmann
36. Don't Bet Money Honey, Linda Scott
37. Without You, Johnny Tillotson
38. Wings Of A Dove, Ferlin Husky
39. Little Sister, Elvis Presley
40. Blue Moon, Marcels
41. Daddy's Home, Shep & The Limelites
42. This Time, Troy Shondell
43. I Don't Know Why But I Do, Clarence "Frog Man" Henry
44. Asia Minor, Kokomo
45. Hello Walls, Faron Young
46. Runaround Sue, Dion
47. Yellow Bird, Arthur Lyman
48. Hurt, Timi Yuro
49. Hello Mary Lou, Ricky Nelson
50. There's A Moon Out Tonight, Capris
51. Surrender, Elvis Presley
52. I Love How You Love Me, Paris Sisters
53. Ya Ya, Lee Dorsey
54. School Is Out, Gary U.S. Bonds
55. Mexico, Bob Moore
56. You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It), Ral Donner
57. Walk Right Back, Everly Brothers
58. The Way You Look Tonight, Lettermen
59. Moody River, Pat Boone
60. One Mint Julep, Ray Charles
61. Take Good Care Of Her, Adam Wade
62. Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes), Carla Thomas
63. Stand By Me, Ben E. King
64. Spanish Harlem, Ben E. King
65. It's Gonna Work Out Fine, Ike & Tina Turner
66. Baby Blue, Echoes
67. Baby Sittin' Boogie, Buzz Clifford
68. Hats Off To Larry, Del Shannon
69. Those Oldies But Goodies, Caesar & The Romans
70. The Fly, Chubby Checker
71. (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame, Elvis Presley
72. Wonderland By Night, Bert Kaempfert & His Orch.
73. Bless You, Tony Orlando
74. I've Told Every Little Star, Linda Scott
75. One Track Mind, Bobby Lewis
76. Angel Baby, Rosie & The Originals
77. Pretty Little Angel Eyes, Curtis Lee
78. Think Twice, Brook Benton
79. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On The Bedpost Overnight), Lonnie Donegan
80. Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart, Connie Francis
81. Mama Said, Shirelles
82. Let The Four Winds Blow, Fats Domino
83. The Writing On The Wall, Adam Wade
84. My Kind Of Girl, Matt Monroe
85. Tonight My Love, Tonight, Paul Anka
86. Big Bad John, Jimmy Dean
87. Good Time Baby, Bobby Rydell
88. San Antonio Rose, Floyd Cramer
89. Rubber Ball, Bobby Vee
90. Missing You, Ray Peterson
91. Dum Dum, Brenda Lee
92. I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door, Eddie Hodges
93. You Can Depend On Me, Brenda Lee
94. Let's Twist Again, Chubby Checker
95. Take Five, Dave Brubeck
96. Are You Lonesome Tonight, Elvis Presley
97. Sea Of Heartbreak, Don Gibson
98. More Money For You And Me Medley, Four Preps
99. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby, Bobby Darin
100. Please Stay, Drifters

Adults were still the predominant market for albums; the year's best sellers included:

"Wonderland By Night"-Bert Kaempfert the "Exodus" soundtrack "Music From "Exodus" and Other Great Themes"-Mantovani "Camelot"-Original Cast "Calcutta" and "Yellow Bird"-Lawrence Welk "Great Motion Picture Themes"-Various Artists "Make Way", "Goin' Places", and "The Kingston Trio Closes Up"-Kingston Trio "All The Way" and "Ring-A-Ding-Ding"-Frank Sinatra "Stars For A Summer Night"-Various Artists "Carnival"-Original Cast "Never On Sunday" soundtrack "Something For Everybody" and "G.I. Blues"-Elvis Presley "Exodus To Jazz"-Eddie Harris "Judy At Carnegie Hall"-Judy Garland "Portrait Of Johnny"-Johnny Mathis "Jump Up Calypso" and "Belafonte At Carnegie Hall"_Harry Belafonte "Jose Jimenez At 'The Hungry I'"-Bill Dana "Time Out"-Dave Brubeck "Breakfast At Tiffany's"-Henry Mancini "The Sound Of Music"-Original Cast "Knockers Up"-Rusty Warren "Sing Along With Mitch" and TV Sing Along With Mitch"-Mitch Miller "Tonight In Person"-The Limeliters "Encore Of Golden Hits"-The Platters
"West Side Story"-Original Cast

Another reason that 1961's a standout for me: Many significant things happened or were happening (social, national, and international), some of which would reverberate throughout the decade and change history.

Outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower breaks off diplomatic ties with Cuba.

New President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address became noted for the phrase: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

The Federal Communications Commission approved stereo FM.

By now, sit-ins in over 100 cities succeed in desegregating many restaurants, hotels, etc.

The first U.S. troops arrive in South Vietnam. The Bay of Pigs disaster occurred.

The Berlin Wall was built, dividing East and West.

500 more "special advisers" are sent to Vietnam.

Four U.S. airliners are hijacked. (In 1961?)

There's a new administration in town! And the nation is captivated by the new, youthful, handsome, and energetic president (the public wasn't aware of JFK's health problems then or the other things that went on; a few reporters did know, but there wasn't the frenzy to tell and publicize everything, like today) his beautiful, glamorous, young wife and their two adorable children.

The U.S. and Russia put astronauts into orbit.

The minimum wage was raised from $1 to $1.15 per hour for the next two years, then to 1.25.

The Freedom Riders were attacked by vicious southern mobs in their effort to desegregate.

Congress authorizes JFK to call 250,000 reservists to active jury for up to a year.

JFK created the Peace Corps.

The Jackie Kennedy look began catching on with adult women; pillbox hat, very pointed toes on shoes, very slender heels, hair length just below the ears-curled or bouffant, skirt a little below the knee, and waistline sheath.

It only took television 10 years to reach 34 million homes. (It took 62 years for electric wiring, 80 years for the telephone, 49 for the car, and 47 for the electric washer.)

Ray Kroc, of the McDonald's hamburger franchise, buys out the original owners (The McDonald Brothers) and begins expansion. Let there be hamburgers!

Polio's virtually extinct, while measles, whooping cough, and typhoid now cause few deaths.

Folk music flourishes on college campuses.

Teen fashion trends are suspenders and low-slung pants, decorated sneakers, and white Levis and pastel jeans are introduced by Levi Strauss. Long straight hair is starting to catch on, due in part to Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul, and Mary). She couldn't get her straight hair to curl to create the bouffant teased styles of the day, hence.......

Teen fads include bed pushing marathons. Skateboarding begins in California; it's called Sidewalk Surfing at this time. The yo-yo returns; trampolines and coloring books are hot, as is the rocking chair (due to JFK).

45s (single records) cost 89 cents.

The first successful manned space flight was made by American Virgil Grissom.

The electric toothbrush debuts.

In-flight movies start (TWA)

Intra-uterine contraceptive device introduced

The first live telecast of a Presidential news conference (JFK)

First powdered coffee creamer (Coffee-Mate)

First cheap ballpoint pens (19 cents, from BiC)

First disposable diapers (Pampers)

Rose Bowl winners were Washington, who also won in 1960. The Sugar Bowl, Mississippi (also 1960 winners)

NCAA Basketball championship winners were Cincinnati. (1960 winner was Ohio State).

World Series winners were the New York Yankees. (The Pittsburgh Pirates were the 1960 winners.)

Academy Award (Oscar) winners were Maximilian Schell"Judgement At Neurumberg"; Sophia Loren, Best Actress-"Two Women". (1960 winners were Burt Lancaster"Elmer Gantry" and Elizabeth Taylor- "Butterfield 8".

Ann-Margaret made her movie debut in "Pocketful Of Miracles."

Miss Michigan, Nancy Fleming, became Miss America 1961.

John F. Kennedy was TIME's Man of the Year.

Top films included West Side Story, Blue Hawaii, Where The Boys Are, Breakfast At Tiffany's, and La Dolce Vita.

On TV, doctor shows were starting to take over, but westerns still held their ground, for now. New shows included Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Chubby Checker does the Twist on Ed Sullivan. (his show!) The Kennedy inaugural gets the biggest TV audience of the year.

Bestselling books include The Agony and the Ectasy by Irving Stone, The New English Bible: The New Testament, and Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger.

Book sales more than double. Harold Robbins first appearance on the bestseller list is The Carpetbaggers. The long-banned Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller is published here, but still censored in many areas.

Marvel Comics introduces Amazing Adventures and The Fantastic Four. The four are: Reed Richards-changes into the rubberlike Mr. Fantastic; Benjamin Grimm-changes into The Thing: "It's clobberin' time!" Sue Storm-changes into The Invisible Girl; and her brother, Johnny-changes into The Human Torch. Richards later married Sue Storm.

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