Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1961 (pg 62)

[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.