Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1963.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1963, the Beatles release their debut album Please Please Me, 70,000 marchers protest against nuclear weapons in London, 16 year old Pauline Reade becomes the first victim of the Moors Murders, the Great Train Robbery takes place in Buckinghamshire, rioters burn down the British Embassy in Jakarta to protest against the formation of Malaysia, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announces his resignation after 7 years in office on the grounds of ill health, Alec Douglas-Home replaces Macmillan and becomes Prime Minister, the Dartford Tunnel opens, the first episode of Doctor Who is aired, Kenya gains independence from the UK, Zanzibar gains independence from he UK, the launch of the lava lamp takes place, Alcatraz Penitentiary closes, Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, the Profumo scandal results in resignations from he cabinet caused by war minister John Profumo having an affair with Christine Wheeler who was also involved with a Soviet Navy officer, Hurricane Flora kills 6,000 people on Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, the Klu Klax Klan dynamite a baptist church in Alabama killing 4 young girls, a tsunami in Bangladesh kills 22,000 people, Martin Luther King delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech.

On 22nd November both authors C.S.Lewis and Aldous Huxley die, but their deaths are overshadowed by the assassination of American President John F Kennedy who was shot dead whilst being driven through Dallas, Lyndon Baines Johnson is sworn in as president on Air Force One, 2 days later night club owner Jack Ruby shoots dead the president’s suspected assassinator Lee Harvey Oswald live on TV.

The films the Birds, Cleopatra, the Great Escape, Tom Jones, From Russia With Love, the Pink Panther and Billy Liar are released.

Another year from the 60s, another corker. This week features several of my all time favourite musicians. Here’s my favourite tunes from 1963, in no particular order.

1. I Only Want To be With You by Dusty Springfield

2. Surfin’ USA by the Beach Boys

3. She Loves You by the Beatles

4. Da Doo Ron Ron by the Crystals

5. It’s My Party by Lesley Gore

6. Wipe Out by Surfaris

7. Can I Get a Witness by Marvin Gaye

8. Tell Him by Billie Davis

9. Be My Baby by the Ronettes

10. Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan

Dusty and Bob are close seconds, but this week my favourite is Be My Baby by The Ronnettes. Don’t forget to let me know, which one is yours below.

See you next week for 1964!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1962.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1962, Ipswich Town win the Football League First Division title, the last trolleybuses run in London, the UK’s first legal casino opens in Brighton, The Beatles play their first session at Abbey Road Studios, a heavy smog develops over London, the Rolling Stones make their debut at the Marquee Club, London, Jamaica gains independence, Trinidad and Tobago also gains independence, the Beatles first single Love Me Do is released, Uganda gains independence, the world’s first successful hip replacement takes place at a hospital in Wigan, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, Marilyn Monroe sings Happy Birthday to JFK, James Meredith became the first black student to enrol at the University of Mississippi despite protests becoming a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, Marilyn Monroe dies of an overdose at the age of 36, Algeria gains independence and the films Lawrence of Arabia, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, To Kill a Mockingbird, Cape Fear and the first James Bond film Dr No are released. 

So, the 60s just seems to be getting stronger with each passing year. I’m really starting to think I was born in the wrong decade. I’m also very aware that this week’s playlist looks a tad like the Dirty Dancing soundtrack (okay there’s just 3 songs that featured in the film are in this week’s list). Spotify playlist at the end as always.

1. Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs

2. Big Girls Don’t Cry by Four Seasons

3. Love Me Do by the Beatles

4. Do You Love Me? by the Contours

5. Let’s Twist Again by Chubby Checker

6. My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone

7. The Locomotion by Little Eva

8. Let There Be Love by Nat King Cole

9. These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding

10. What Now My Love by Shirley Bassey

Oh get lost, as if I can pick a favourite out of this lot. These Arms of Mine is beautiful, Let’s Twist Again is a brilliant perfect pop tune, then there’s Nina, the Beatles and Nat King Cole not to mention Green Onions which has got to be the coolest track ever. Fine, ok…I’ve thought long and hard and my favourite this week is Nina followed closely by Otis and Chubby. Are you more decisive than me? If so, which is your favourite?

See you next week for 1963!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1961.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1961, the farthing ceases to be legal tender, the Beatles perform at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time, Sierra Leone gains independence from the UK, betting shops become legal, the act of suicide is decriminalised, the first Mothercare store is opened, police arrest over 1,300 people during a CND rally in London, a volcanic eruption on the South Atlantic British territory Tristan de Cunha causes the entire island population to be evacuated and rehomed in…Surrey, the first edition of Private Eye is published, birth control pills first become available on the NHS, the border between East and West Germany closes and the construction of the Berlin Wall starts, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space, US Cuban exiles and the CIA attempts and fails to overthrow Fidel Castro, John F Kennedy is inaugurated as the new US President, the USSR tests the largest nuclear bomb ever and America is instructed to build bomb shelters by Kennedy, South Africa becomes an independent republic and the films Breakfast at Tiffany’s, West Side Story, The Misfits, The Parent Trap and Babes in Toyland are all released. 

What a year! I love 1961 for music, lots of strong choices. Here they are, in no particular order. Spotify playlist at the end as per.

1. At Last by Etta James

2. Will You Love Me Tomorrow by the Shirelles

3. Blue Moon by the Marcels

4. Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

5. September in the Rain by Dinah Washington

6. Runaway by Del Shannon

7. Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee

8. Save the Last Dance For Me by the Drifters

9. Cupid by Sam Cooke

10. Moon River (Choral Version) by Henry Mancini

While At Last is a stunner, it’s Ray Charles that’s my favourite this week. Let me know below, which one is yours.

See you next week for 1962!