They were the best of times: they were the worst of times …
SONG TITLE ARTIST WEEKS @ 1 WHEN?
|
Poetry in Motion |
Johnny Tillotson |
2 |
12 Jan |
|
Are you lonesome tonight? |
Elvis Presley |
4 |
26 Jan |
|
Sailor |
Petula Clarke |
1 |
23 Feb |
|
Walk Right Back |
Everly Brothers |
3 |
2 Mar |
|
Wooden Heart |
Elvis |
6 |
23 Mar |
|
Blue Moon |
The Marcels |
2 |
1 May |
|
On the Rebound |
Floyd Cramer |
1 |
18 May |
|
You’re driving me crazy |
Temperence Seven |
1 |
25 May |
|
Surrender |
Elvis |
4 |
1 June |
|
Runaway |
Del Shannon |
3 |
29 June |
|
Temptation |
Everly Bros |
2 |
20 July |
|
Well I ask you |
|
1 |
3 Aug |
|
You don’t know |
Helen Shapiro |
3 |
10 Aug |
|
Johnny Remember Me |
John Leyton |
4 |
31 Aug |
|
Climb Every Mountain |
Shirley Bassey |
1 |
21 Sept |
|
Kon Tiki |
Shadows |
1 |
5 Oct |
|
Michael, row the boat ashore |
The Highwaymen |
1 |
12 Oct |
We had nothing! There was rampant unemployment and great poverty. But we had music. And what music!
Just to list the Number One Hits of 1961 brings so many memories flooding back. The memories will vary between individuals, so we’ll stick to the songs and the artists, in our comments here.
Every song here, you could sing along with! Every word is clear. Every tune is catchy. There were the old timers from the 50’s, like the Everlys, the Marcels, even Elvis, whose boom time was just happening!
There were hark-backs to a former age, Floyd Cramer’s tinkling ivories reminding us of the Winifred Atwell days – and the Temperance Seven of the age of Trad jazz. Imagine any more modern group boasting of its ‘temperance’!
There was room for all the exciting new, young voices, like Del Shannon (one of my own favourites), Helen Shapiro, John Leyton and Eden Kane.
Even for the gospel folk of the Highwaymen, at the top spot too! And for the song from the stage show, with Shirley Bassey rendering Climb Every Mountain.
Petula Clarke’s Sailor is even yet a great cabaret favourite. And the Shadows were out-selling their leader Cliff Richard.
The Beatles and the Stones hadn’t yet been heard of.
AHH! If only we could go back ….
And spare ourselves all our former mistakes ….