Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)

[threespires]

No need to remove any songs, I was just querying what we had agreed on.


So I was right? A playlist of 5 songs which can, but don't necessarily have to be, from the 5 albums that a writer may or may not want to call out as being the most significant of the year.

I think in the early 60s, albums as we know them, weren't really a thing.

I think they were more so in some genres than others. If you look at the best selling albums in the UK in 1960 there's a real mixed bag, you've got musicals like Oklahoma, trad pop stars like Sinatra, Mario Lanza singing Caruso (which my Dad liked) even comedy stuff like Hancock and Tom Lehrer all mixing it with Elvis and the Everleys.

I could be wrong but I think the best selling album in the US was The Sound of Music soundtrack. Not sure if that was in both the mono and stereo charts, which were separate!

 

[mrbelfry]

I think they were more so in some genres than others. If you look at the best selling albums in the UK in 1960 there's a real mixed bag, you've got musicals like Oklahoma, trad pop stars like Sinatra, Mario Lanza singing Caruso (which my Dad liked) even comedy stuff like Hancock and Tom Lehrer all mixing it with Elvis and the Everleys.

I could be wrong but I think the best selling album in the US was The Sound of Music soundtrack. Not sure if that was in both the mono and stereo charts, which were separate!

I also read that singles weren't included on albums.

 

[threespires]

Carol King is a particular favourite of mine, as an artist and human being. A totally lovely lady.

If you've not watched Aretha Franklin's performance of Natural Woman when Carole King is inducted into the Kennedy Center Honours, have a watch. It's brilliant and King is beside herself with it and the Obamas are having a good time too!

 

[RobMCFC]

I think they were more so in some genres than others. If you look at the best selling albums in the UK in 1960 there's a real mixed bag, you've got musicals like Oklahoma, trad pop stars like Sinatra, Mario Lanza singing Caruso (which my Dad liked) even comedy stuff like Hancock and Tom Lehrer all mixing it with Elvis and the Everleys.

I could be wrong but I think the best selling album in the US was The Sound of Music soundtrack. Not sure if that was in both the mono and stereo charts, which were separate!

Like I said, not albums as we know them. Yes, soundtrack album have always been a thing, and I accept that certain genres like jazz were thriving, but I'm talking about mainstream albums of artistic statement, where most of the tracks were written by the artist in question.

 

[threespires]

I also read that singles weren't included on albums.

Apparently so, fairly uncommon to include them until the late 60s. I suspect the economics of it played a part, singles less risky endeavour unless/until you were completely established?

One or two bands had the clout (commercially and artistically) to continue to release singles independently of albums even when it had become common to put them on.

 

[Saddleworth2]

If you've not watched Aretha Franklin's performance of Natural Woman when Carole King is inducted into the Kennedy Center Honours, have a watch. It's brilliant and King is beside herself with it and the Obamas are having a good time too!

seen it a number of times mate. Totally brilliant.

 

[OB1]

Barrett Strong: “Money (That’s What I Want)”.

 

[mrbelfry]

Asking because I don't really know. Where the proto motown songs like Money and Will You Still Love Me popular in the UK before bands like the Beatles covered them?

 

[threespires]

Asking because I don't really know. Where the proto motown songs like Money and Will You Still Love Me popular in the UK before bands like the Beatles covered them?

I'm no expert but I think though they were released over here they weren't massive hits at that point. Even in the US I think their early releases did very well in the R&B charts but tended to be top 20/30 rather top 10. The exception was Shop Around which was their biggest early seller. The Shirelles were #1 but I don't think they were on a Motown label? To your point re. The Beatles, Motown's very early impact was probably as much on other artistis as it was the charts. Hopefully someone who's a Motown aficiando will come along to provide some info.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

No need to remove any songs, I was just querying what we had agreed on.

Agreed here too, just having a laugh at the leftovers sake on my end for @mrbelfry.

So I was right? A playlist of 5 songs which can, but don't necessarily have to be, from the 5 albums that a writer may or may not want to call out as being the most significant of the year.

I figured I'd go back to page 1 and your own spelled out ground rules so I could really have you second guessing yourself today. ;-) I know the "Rob on a prior day" had this all worked out, so there really was no need to look any further than where it all began.

And adding this one in was good too:

1. When a playlist is open for nominations, It's probably best if people nominate one song initially and then another later in the week if the playlist isn't too long. This is not me being awkward, it's just to keep things manageable.

 

[RobMCFC]

Agreed here too, just having a laugh at the leftovers sake on my end for @mrbelfry.

I figured I'd go back to page 1 and your own spelled out ground rules so I could really have you second guessing yourself today. ;-) I know the "Rob on a prior day" had this all worked out, so there really was no need to look any further than where it all began.

And adding this one in was good too:

1. When a playlist is open for nominations, It's probably best if people nominate one song initially and then another later in the week if the playlist isn't too long. This is not me being awkward, it's just to keep things manageable.

I think this thread is taking on a life of its own now and we’ll probably just go with the will of the people.

IIRC, I may have added those ground rules after we’d been running a bit. @Saddleworth2 reminds me that we’d agreed on a “Maximum of 10”, so I’m happy to go with that as guidance.

As for more than none nomination a day by any one person, as long as the playlists don’t get to a stupid length, I’m OK with that.

 

[cyan]

Even though it was released in 1958 the No 1 album through most of 1960 was South Pacific, - so should a song like "I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair." be on the playlist - or has it's year gone?

 

[mrbelfry]

Even though it was released in 1958 the No 1 album through most of 1960 was South Pacific, - so should a song like "I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair." be on the playlist - or has it's year gone?

Probably needs an adjudication from Rob

 

[RobMCFC]

Probably needs an adjudication from Rob

I'm happy for it to go in. If the album and song were popular in 1960, and it hasn't been mentioned before, it's reasonable to include it now.

Also, for future reference, it's reasonable for the person "in charge" for the week to make this type of decision (but thanks for asking anyway).

 

[mrbelfry]

Even though it was released in 1958 the No 1 album through most of 1960 was South Pacific, - so should a song like "I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair." be on the playlist - or has it's year gone?

I've added it but not sure I have the right version - let me know if it's a different version you had in mind

 

[threespires]

My big sister was eleven years older than me which means some of the artists and songs of the early 60s I am more familiar with than might otherwise be the case. Though she liked a bit of psychedelia she was mostly into pop and soul in her younger days. She passed away a couple of years ago and I miss her a lot but amongst other things I have the ability to singalong to random artists from before I was born to remember her by. Fronted by a Blue Moon Cup semi-finalist ,albeit he went solo pretty soon after this...

Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters

(a song which is more literal than it might first seem)

 

[Saddleworth2]

On the subject of musicals, one of the greatest had its debut in 1960. It has particular relevance for me as my school performed it in 1970. I starred as an Orphan.
I knew all of the songs and fancied Nancy, played by a six former like mad. Whilst food glorious food was my song. I will choose ‘As long as he needs me’ in tribute to whatever her name was.

As long as he needs me (torch song from Oliver) - anyone really but the original stage version was by Georgia Brown.

 

[OB1]

Just finished a listen to the latest playlist in its current state.

And, it is another fine playlist. What strikes me with this one though is how politically incorrect some of the tracks are. I know almost all the tracks on this playlist but "Japanese Banana" was new to me - my life is now complete.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Let's bring back Brenda Lee for her biggest hit.

Thank you below, wiki... (too many fun facts not to mention)

In 1960, Lee recorded her signature song. However, the record initially was withheld for months before its release due to concern that the 15-year-old Lee would not understand what she was singing about in the love song.

The song became one of the biggest hits of 1960, reaching the #1 chart position in the US and #12 in the UK. It was her first gold single and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Even though it was not released as a country song, it was among the first big hits to use what was to become the Nashville sound – a string orchestra and legato harmonized background vocals. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was finally noticed in its third release a few months later, and sales snowballed; the song remains a perennial favorite each December and is the record with which she is most identified by contemporary audiences.

"I'm Sorry" - Brenda Lee

(hmm, "The Nashville Sound", sounds like a great title for a future album...)

 

[threespires]

Just finished a listen to the latest playlist in its current state.

And, it is another fine playlist. What strikes me with this one though is how politically incorrect some of the tracks are. I know almost all the tracks on this playlist but "Japanese Banana" was new to me - my life is now complete.

I was going to say only in America would you get something like that, but then I remembered a certain pair of porcine puppets! Sadly, Pinky and Perky's particularly moving version of Tom Dooley was 1959 so cannot be included here.