Spotlight On..... The Shirelles

by Pat Jacobs

The Shirelles - Bar none, they were THE group of 1961and its most history making; their impact, sound, and influence is still felt today; they will forever be timeless.

It all started in Passiac, New Jersey, where four young women started singing together in high school in 1958, calling themselves The Popquellos.

Original members Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Beverly Lee, Addie "Micki" Harris, and Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner, then Jackson) won a local school competition with a self-written song, "I Met Him On A Sunday." Mary Jane Greenberg, who attended the same high school, was very impressed and suggested that the group audition for her mother.

They did.

And they were then signed to the small Tiara Records label, owned by Florence Greenberg.
The group decided on a name change, first to the Honeytones, then finally to The Shirelles.
In the spring of 1958, they recorded their contest entry. The record sold well; Greenberg leased it to Decca and "I Met Him On A Sunday" went to no. 49 on the Billboard pop charts.

A very encouraged Greenberg then created a new label, Scepter, (1959) and signed the Shirelles to it. She also hired songwriter/producer Luther Dixon to work with the group. Their next record was a remake of The Five Royales' 1957 song, "Dedicated To The One I Love." The song only went to no. 83 (1959). The following year marked the group's first Top 40 hit (no.39), " Tonight's The Night", written by group member Owens and Luther Dixon. (Did you know that The Chiffons had a version of this? It only went to no. 76.)

Dixon then suggested that the group should record a song, "Tomorrow", by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The Shirelles didn't like the song at all. Dixon and King then put together a new musical arrangement, making the tune more upbeat. With the new changes in place, the group agreed to do it. The reworked song was also retitled as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". And
rock-and-roll history was made.

Besides launching the careers of King, Goffin, Greenberg, and Dixon, the Shirelles were now "on the map". The song went to no.1 in mid-December 1960-early 1961. The quartet became the first female group to have a no.1 hit in the rock era.

"Dedicated To The One I Love" was reissued and became a no. 3 smash, followed by "Mama Said", which went to no 4. "Big John", also from 1961, became a Top 30 hit (no. 21). In the spring of the year, the group embarked on a successful U.S. tour. They were so popular that even the B-sides of their hits were getting some airplay, such as " The Things I Want To
Hear" and "Blue Holiday." I'm not sure if "What A Sweet Thing That Was" and "A Thing Of The Past" were B-sides or not. But they were popular!

And the hits kept coming; (The group went on to rack up a total of 12 Top 40 hits, 6 in the Top 10.) "Baby It's You", written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David (Hal David's brother) became their next smash (no.8). This was actually released in late '61, making the Top 10 in January 1962.

The Shirelles became rock-and-roll queens, for the time being. Elvis Presley continued his reign as the King with his 16th(!) no. 1, "Surrender." (Upon his return from the Army, he racked up three no. 1s in 1960 alone!) "Lonely Man" and "Flaming Star" were Top 40 hits, but "I Feel So Bad" returned him to the Top 10 (no.5).

The double-sided hit "Little Sister"/"(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" was also a Top 10 smash, hitting at no. 5 and no. 4, respectively. He finished out the year with another double-sided hit, "Can't Help Falling In Love" (no.2)/" Rock-A-Hula Baby" (no. 23) from the film "Blue Hawaii."

Brenda Lee had another great year, with all Top 10s: "Emotions" was a no. 7 smash in Jan., "You Can Depend On Me" made no. 6 in April, while "Dum Dum (written by Jackie De Shannon) hit no. 4 in June. Her biggest hit of the year was " Fool No.1" (no.3 in Oct.), but another classic was on the way.

Ray Charles also had all Top 10s: "One Mint Julep", an instrumental, was a no. 8 smash, "Hit The Road Jack" became no. 1 (!) and "Unchain My Heart" charted at no. 9. Bobby Vee followed up his 1960 success with the no.1 "Take Good Care Of My Baby" in late Aug. And "Run To Him" raced up to no. 2 in late Nov.

Dance king Chubby Checker was red-hot, as "Pony Time" hit no. 1 in Jan. "Dance The Mess Around" was a Top 30 hit (no. 24 in May), but he returned to the Top 10 with "Let's Twist Again (Like We Did Last Summer)" (no. 8), "The Fly" (no. 7), and capped off the year with another no.1, "The Twist", a re-entry of his no.1 1960 hit!

The Drifters had four Top 40 hits, further adding to their already classic repertoire: "I Count The Tears" (no.17- this song was released in late 1960, reaching its position on New Year's Eve, so this could also be included in 1961. I believe this was also Ben E. King's last song with the group.), followed by "Some Kind Of Wonderful", which only made no. 32! (This should have placed higher, don't you think?). "Please Stay" and "Sweets For My Sweet" were both Top 20 hits, no. 14 and no. 16, respectively.

Connie Francis was still on a roll. "Where The Boys Are" released in late 1960, became a no. 4 smash in Jan. 1961. "Breakin In A Brand New Broken Heart" was a no.7 hit, "Together" hit at no. 6. "(He's My) Dreamboat" was a Top 20 hit (no.14), while "When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart)" returned her to the Top 10 (at no. 10!) at year's end.

Former Drifters lead singer Ben E. King made a fantastic solo debut. The exquisite "Spanish Harlem" was a Top 10 hit (at no.10 also; it should have been a no.1). "Stand By Me" was a no.4 smash (This should have been a no.1, too), while "Amor" made the Top 20 (no.18).

Roy Orbison had another no. 1 smash with "Running Scared" in late April. He also had a double-sided hit, "Crying", a no. 2 smash (Aug. 28) backed by "Candy Man", a no. 25 hit (early October entry). Dion (Di Muci or DiMucci), formerly of Dion and The Belmonts, had his first no. 1 hit, "Runaround Sue" and a double-sided hit, "The Wanderer (no. 2) The Majestic" (no.36).

Released in late 1960, "Calendar Girl" was a no.4 smash by early 1961 for Neil Sedaka. His follow-up, "Little Devil" went to no.11, but "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" returned him to the Top 10 (no.6). The Fleetwoods returned to the top 10 with "Tragedy" (at no. 10!) and the top 40 hit " (He's) The Great Imposter" (no. 30).

A pair of Genes had a notable debut.

Gene McDaniels (backed by The Johnny Mann Singers), had a no.3 smash with "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay". His follow-up, "A Tear", was a Top 40 hit (no.31), and he returned to the Top 10 with "Tower Of Strength" (no.5). Gene Pitney's first Top 40 hit , "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" peaked at no. 39, while "Town Without Pity" went to no. 13 in December 1961. (I always thought this was a much bigger hit.) On the former song, Mr. Pitney did all of his own overdubbing and played all the instruments!

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