Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1962 (pg 69)

[cyan]

Whilst 1961 still had a very late 50’s feel to it - that initial write up really makes 1962 sound like the beginning of much that we will come to associate with the 60’s - Beatles - BeachBoys - Dylan - Stax. Groups who wrote their own songs and would eventually produce their own sound as well.

But I’m going to stick to politics and the response of folk music. I think it’s hard for those of us were unborn or too young to know what was going on to realise the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis - there was a real fear that the world was launching back into war and a war like nothing that had gone before. The relief when both sides backed down was palatable - and it led to a different way of viewing life that we will come to associate the sixties. So who was responsding - well Seeger of course, Joan Baez is emerging, Dylan we have already. But in looking around I was surprised to find a song that would become a Christmas standard was written as a direct response to Cuban Missile Crisis and released with an initial pressing of 250,000 copies which sold out within the week.

Do you hear what I hear? - Harry Simeone Chorale.

 

[threespires]

Whilst 1961 still had a very late 50’s feel to it - that initial write up really makes 1962 sound like the beginning of much that we will come to associate with the 60’s - Beatles - BeachBoys - Dylan - Stax. Groups who wrote their own songs and would eventually produce their own sound as well.

But I’m going to stick to politics and the response of folk music. I think it’s hard for those of us were unborn or too young to know what was going on to realise the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis - there was a real fear that the world was launching back into war and a war like nothing that had gone before. The relief when both sides backed down was palatable - and it led to a different way of viewing life that we will come to associate the sixties. So who was responsding - well Seeger of course, Joan Baez is emerging, Dylan we have already. But in looking around I was surprised to find a song that would become a Christmas standard was written as a direct response to Cuban Missile Crisis and released with an initial pressing of 250,000 copies which sold out within the week.

Do you hear what I hear? - Harry Simeone Chorale.

Everyday is a school day, I had no idea that was the genesis of Do You Hear What I Hear, top info.

I always remember my chemistry teacher at school telling us about the Cuban missile crisis. He claimed that the atmosphere at the football on the Saturday, the day the deal was being brokered though people wouldn't know this, was subdued and that he and his mates had stood there thinking this might be the last football game they ever saw.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Fantastic write up Rob, and definitely worth the wait as hopefully a sober read on this today is even more appreciated by the masses! ;-)

The posts afterwards on the other city connections both musically and politically are a great backstory for exploring this pivotal year in the 1960s.

I'll go for originality on this song written (by Phil Medley and Bert Berns) and recorded (by The Top Notes, using a Latin-tinged R&B sound) in 1961, but first achieved commercial success in 1962 by The Isley Brothers.

Berns produced this version with a new arrangement infused the tune with more "gospel-fired soul passion" in NYC at Atlantic Studios.

The real master trick of this rearrangement was a new bridge consisting solely of four ascending sung notes, the tempo becoming more emphatic and dramatic, ending in exultant sustained whooping before a "shake it up baby" led the Isleys back into the verse. You can hear that starting at 1:26 into the song. Groups that followed that recorded this song, including the Beatles the year after, would use this same arrangement to continued chart topping success.

"Twist And Shout" - The Isley Brothers

 

[threespires]

Sneaky late entry for 1961. Given that Country and Folk were covered in the intro this might be out of place but here goes. 61 saw Joan Baez release her Joan Baez Vol 2 album with an old traditional 'murder' song included. The Banks of the Old Ohio.

Just spotted this and will add into the 61 playlist. Love a good murder ballad!

 

[KS55]

Hard not to like that one tbf, agreed!

I suppose I just mean I wouldn’t seek out to play anything pre 62 and don’t own any pre-62 music myself.

Check out Buddy Holly, a major influence on modern popular music.

 

[mancity111]

Anyone heard of Ray Ragsdale?

Well don't worry after 67 years in the music business fusing comedy , country and pop IMO better than most if not anybody else who tried this difficult assignment with 51 albums to his name for starters this comic genius more than deserves his place in the songwriters hall of fame way beyond a novelty performer that some dismiss him as.

Still not sure , well maybe you might know him by his stage name Ray Stevens.

So for a change of pace and some extremely clever lighthearted music set to rather serious and controversial subject matter that only Ray Stevens could pull off without upsetting to many woke folk I nominate:

Ahab the Arab.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Anyone heard of Ray Ragsdale?

Well don't worry after 67 years in the music business fusing comedy , country and pop IMO better than most if not anybody else who tried this difficult assignment with 51 albums to his name for starters this comic genius more than deserves his place in the songwriters hall of fame way beyond a novelty performer that some dismiss him as.

Still not sure , well maybe you might know him by his stage name Ray Stevens.

So for a change of pace and some extremely clever lighthearted music set to rather serious and controversial subject matter that only Ray Stevens could pull off without upsetting to many woke folk I nominate:

Ahab the Arab.

I noticed that in the billboard 100 for 62. Looking forward to listening to it.

 

[threespires]

Whilst 1961 still had a very late 50’s feel to it - that initial write up really makes 1962 sound like the beginning of much that we will come to associate with the 60’s - Beatles - BeachBoys - Dylan - Stax. Groups who wrote their own songs and would eventually produce their own sound as well.

But I’m going to stick to politics and the response of folk music. I think it’s hard for those of us were unborn or too young to know what was going on to realise the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis - there was a real fear that the world was launching back into war and a war like nothing that had gone before. The relief when both sides backed down was palatable - and it led to a different way of viewing life that we will come to associate the sixties. So who was responsding - well Seeger of course, Joan Baez is emerging, Dylan we have already. But in looking around I was surprised to find a song that would become a Christmas standard was written as a direct response to Cuban Missile Crisis and released with an initial pressing of 250,000 copies which sold out within the week.

Do you hear what I hear? - Harry Simeone Chorale.

I knew I'd heard the name Harry Simeone before but couldn't work out where so I had look it up and it's another Christmas connection. A few years back I found that The Little Drummer Boy, which I had assumed was more traditional, was first recorded by the Von Trapp family in the early 50s as the Carol of the Drums. Harry Simeone was given it in the 60s (and got a co-writing credit for changing the title to The Little Drummer Boy!) and had a hit with it which was the first time most people would have heard it.

 

[threespires]

Anyone heard of Ray Ragsdale?

Well don't worry after 67 years in the music business fusing comedy , country and pop IMO better than most if not anybody else who tried this difficult assignment with 51 albums to his name for starters this comic genius more than deserves his place in the songwriters hall of fame way beyond a novelty performer that some dismiss him as.

Still not sure , well maybe you might know him by his stage name Ray Stevens.

So for a change of pace and some extremely clever lighthearted music set to rather serious and controversial subject matter that only Ray Stevens could pull off without upsetting to many woke folk I nominate:

Ahab the Arab.

Same bloke who had a big hit in the UK with The Streak in the 70s I think?

 

[mancity111]

I noticed that in the billboard 100 for 62. Looking forward to listening to it.

I didn't recall that it was and am a little surprised by that but I have played it many times when looking for a pick me up.

It was never going to go down in history as a classic but Ray Stevens had covered many bases prior to Weird Al attempting to carry his mantle to some degree.