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

[mrbelfry]

Just to make sure Jazz is properly represented on the playlist (it was a dominant genre in 1960).

Moanin' - Charles Mingus

Is this from an advert or something?

 

[threespires]

Just to make sure Jazz is properly represented on the playlist (it was a dominant genre in 1960).

Moanin' - Charles Mingus

It was. Glad you've chosen a Mingus track as I feel he was one of many I short changed in the jazz intro.

As has already been mentioned when it came to albums rock/pop was very much in it's infancy and jazz had a few decades head start and once it moved beyond the big hand era, the album format was pretty much a necessity for many jazz artists. The format also gave the freedom to experiment in a way that stars of other genres wouldn't do for a while yet.

To put it in context, 1960s Sketches of Spain was already the 32nd album of Miles Davis's career! He'd been experimenting for years and this divisive album was no different, being one the earlier nods to fusion/world music. The famous interpretation of Rodriguez's concerto is too long for the playlist (and lacks the visual allure of Tara Fitzgerald's version years later!) but this track is short enough...

Will 'o the wisp - Miles Davis.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Is this from an advert or something?

From a 1960 album mate.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

I'll add a doo-wop song that Jackson Browne later borrowed for his 1977 live album to re-introduce for the rock crowds then, but was originated here.

Wiki assist here:
Doo-wop is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including NY, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, DC, and LA.

It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as "doo-wop") is a common characteristic of these songs.

This band originated in South Carolina, but recorded in Nashville for the shortest recording ever to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States coming in at 1:36.

"Stay" - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

Maurice passed away this year at 86 back in August. His contributions to music were recognized with inductions into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, affirming his status as a pioneer of R&B.

 

[threespires]

Learning a lot through this thread... such as Ricky Valance wasn't American he was Welsh (first Welsh singer to have a UK #1, eat your heart out Tom & Shirley). He was a one hit wonder who did nothing in the US as the song had already been a hit in the US earlier in the year for Ray Peterson. If you listen it's blindingly obvious at various points he's Welsh, doh!

Tell Laura I Love Her - Ricky Valance

and yes the Brit version is better:-)

 

[mrbelfry]

36 songs have made it into the playlist for 1960 and surprisingly no one has yet nominated Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. I personally thought this would be a slim year particularly with some big years coming up in the 60's but I am impressed with how listenable the playlist is. Here are some thoughts feel free to share your own.

Best Surprise:
Moanin by Mingus. I'm not a jazz fan but this was straightforward enough for me to catch and vibe along to. Effortlessly cool.

Most Timeless:
At Last by Etta James. Feels like it could have been recorded at any time in the previous 30 years but still sounds incredible. The vocal is perfect and the piano keeps it moving subtly forwards.

Most aged:
Some strong contenders but Japanese Banana should definitely be considered haram by today's standards. What's more surprising however is that there is a version of Goodness Gracious Me from just over 10 years ago with Rowan Atkinson doing the comedy accent.

Best song that will be covered in later years:
Some strong songs that have subsequently been covered by other artists. I'm going to pick I'm Shakin by Jack White

Song to get everyone dancing:
The Twist by Chubby Checker. Always very danceable.

 

[threespires]

36 songs have made it into the playlist for 1960 and surprisingly no one has yet nominated Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. I personally thought this would be a slim year particularly with some big years coming up in the 60's but I am impressed with how listenable the playlist is. Here are some thoughts feel free to share your own.

Best Surprise:
Moanin by Mingus. I'm not a jazz fan but this was straightforward enough for me to catch and vibe along to. Effortlessly cool.

Most Timeless:
At Last by Etta James. Feels like it could have been recorded at any time in the previous 30 years but still sounds incredible. The vocal is perfect and the piano keeps it moving subtly forwards.

Most aged:
Some strong contenders but Japanese Banana should definitely be considered haram by today's standards. What's more surprising however is that there is a version of Goodness Gracious Me from just over 10 years ago with Rowan Atkinson doing the comedy accent.

Best song that will be covered in later years:
Some strong songs that have subsequently been covered by other artists. I'm going to pick I'm Shakin by Jack White

Song to get everyone dancing:
The Twist by Chubby Checker. Always very danceable.

Beyond the Sea was nominated on the pop playlist which is why I suspect no one nominated it here? I wonder if it spanned 59/60 or I just failed to provide sufficient oversight on that list.

Edit: It was hit (#6) in Oct/Nov '59 in the US and a hit (#8) in the UK in early '60. I imagine we'll have a fair few like that along the way.

 

[mrbelfry]

Beyond the Sea was nominated on the pop playlist which is why I suspect no one nominated it here? I wonder if it spanned 59/60 or I just failed to provide sufficient oversight on that list.

Edit: It was hit (#6) in Oct/Nov '59 in the US and a hit (#8) in the UK in early '60. I imagine we'll have a fair few like that along the way.

Ah my bad. Thanks for clarifying

 

[threespires]

Ah my bad. Thanks for clarifying

Great song though. Some other good versions over the years, especially of the original La Mer.

At the moment in the timeline lots of songs get their UK release after they've become popular in the US. I assume as we go through the 60s that'll change somewhat and in some cases reverse.

 

[RobMCFC]

36 songs have made it into the playlist for 1960 and surprisingly no one has yet nominated Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. I personally thought this would be a slim year particularly with some big years coming up in the 60's but I am impressed with how listenable the playlist is. Here are some thoughts feel free to share your own.

Best Surprise:
Moanin by Mingus. I'm not a jazz fan but this was straightforward enough for me to catch and vibe along to. Effortlessly cool.

Most Timeless:
At Last by Etta James. Feels like it could have been recorded at any time in the previous 30 years but still sounds incredible. The vocal is perfect and the piano keeps it moving subtly forwards.

Most aged:
Some strong contenders but Japanese Banana should definitely be considered haram by today's standards. What's more surprising however is that there is a version of Goodness Gracious Me from just over 10 years ago with Rowan Atkinson doing the comedy accent.

Best song that will be covered in later years:
Some strong songs that have subsequently been covered by other artists. I'm going to pick I'm Shakin by Jack White

Song to get everyone dancing:
The Twist by Chubby Checker. Always very danceable.

Yes, I enjoyed the Charles Mingus track as well. It’s one of those names that I’ve seen before, but for all I knew, he could have been a politician, a magician or a news anchor!

Also “I Fought The Law” by The Crickets, which I enjoyed more than the later version by some English band :)