Daddy's Home (1961) (1972)

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By: Shep and the Limelites.

Shep and the Limelites was formed by James "Shep" Sheppard, Charles Baskerville, and Clarence Bassett in 1960 in Queens, New York. Initially, they were called Shane Sheppard and the Limelites, but quickly became known as Shep and the Limelites.

All of the members had been in previous groups when they formed: Shep in the Heartbeats (notable for "A Thousand Miles Away"), Baskerville in the Videos, and Bassett in the Five Sharps.

Shep and the Limelites recorded "Daddy's Home" on February 1, 1961. Their subsequent hits included "What Did Daddy Do" and "Our Anniversary".

Chart position: #2 (US).

It was kept from the #1 spot by "Travelin' Man" (Ricky Nelson).

The Top Ten Songs: May 29, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Travelin' Man" (Ricky Nelson)
2.  "Daddy's Home" (Shep and the Limelites)
3. "Running Scared" (Roy Orbison)
4. "Mama Said" (Shirelles)
5. "Mother-in-Law" (Ernie K-Doe)
6. "Runaway" (Del Shannon)
7. "Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart" (Connie Francis)
8. "One Hundred Pounds Of Clay" (Gene McDaniels)
9. "I Feel So Bad" (Elvis Presley)
10. "Tragedy" (Fleetwoods)

Written by: James "Shep" Sheppard.

Sheppard wrote "Daddy's Home" as an answer song to another song Shep wrote and recorded with his original group, the Heartbeats, "A Thousand Miles Away". Kahl Music, publisher of "A Thousand Miles Away", sued Keel Music, publisher of "Daddy's Home", for copyright violation. Keel eventually lost, and this led to the end of the Limelites, and the members professionally went their seperate ways.

Shep and the Limelites reunited in 1970, but it was short lived: Shep Sheppard was found dead in his car January 24, 1970, in Long Island, New York. Charles Baskerville died January 18, 1998 in New York city, New York. Clarence Bassett died in 2005.



Also by: Jermaine Jackson (of The Jackson Five), whose version reached #9 (US, 1972).


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Tossin' And Turnin' (1961)

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By: Bobby Lewis (born February 17, 1933 in Indianapolis, Indiana.)

Bobby Lewis was raised in an orphanage, where he learned to play the piano at 5 years old. He was adopted when he was 12, and moved to Detroit, Michigan. Lewis began performing in the 1950s and appeared at the Apollo Theatre in New York City in 1960.

After a series of unsuccessful auditions, Bobby Lewis visited Beltone Records in Manhattan. Ritchie Adams, lead singer of the Fireflies, was working there as a songwriter, and recognized Lewis from the Apollo Theatre, as Adams had performed there the very same night Lewis had. He suggested Lewis record "Tossin' And Turnin'," a song he had written with Malou Rene.

On the original hit single version, the track begins with Lewis singing "I couldn't sleep at all last night," and it appears this way on most oldies compilations. However, on some releases the song has a prelude, where Lewis sings "Baby...Baby...you did something to me," followed by a musical cue into the first verse.

Chart position: #1 (US).

It sold over 3 million copies, and was Billboard's Hot 100 #1 single of the year.

It was #1 in the US for 7 weeks in July and August 1961. It was preceded by "Quarter to Three" (Gary U.S. Bonds) and succeeded by "Wooden Heart" (Joe Dowell).

It was #1 on the R&B chart for 10 weeks in a row.

The Top Ten Songs: July 31, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Tossin' And Turnin'" (Bobby Lewis)
2. "I Like It Like That" (Chris Kenner)
3. "Boll Weevil Song" (Brook Benton)
4. "Dum Dum" (Brenda Lee)
5. "Hats Off To Larry" (Del Shannon)
6. "Quarter To Three" (Gary U.S. Bonds)
7. "Last Night" (Mar-Keys)
8. "Together" (Connie Francis)
9. "Let's Twist Again" (Chubby Checker)
10. "Yellow Bird" (Arthur Lyman)

Written by: Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene.

Ritchie Adams is credited as co-writer of the theme for the 1960s television show The Banana Splits ("The Tra-La-La Song".)

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Please Mister Postman (1961) (1975)

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• The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (MP3)
• The Carpenters - Please Mr. Postman (MP3)

By: The Marvelettes.

The Marvelettes were the first successful Motown girl group. They paved the way for such girl groups as the Supremes and Martha And The Vandellas. Other hits of theirs include "Beechwood 4-5789", "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "Don't Mess With Bill", and "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game".

In April 1961 the Marvelettes (then known as The Marvels) auditioned for Berry Gordy's Tamla/Motown label. Marvels member Georgia Dobbins wanted an original song for their audition. She got a song from her friend William Garrett which she then reworked, keeping only the title: "Please Mr. Postman". Dobbins left the group after the audition and was replaced.

Berry Gordy then renamed the group the Marvelettes and hired Brian Holland and Robert Bateman (along with Freddie Gorman) to rework the song yet again.

The lead on "Please Mr. Postman" was sung by lead singer Gladys Horton (born May 30, 1945 in Gainesville, Florida, died January 26, 2011 in Sherman Oaks, California).

The drums were played by Marvin Gaye (born April 2, 1939, died April 1, 1984). He was only 22 at the time and trying to break into the music business. Gaye later gained international fame as a solo artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (US R&B).

The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" was Motown's first #1 single.

It was #1 in the US for the week of December 11, 1961. It was preceded at #1 by "Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean) and succeeded by "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (The Tokens).

The Top Ten Songs: December 11, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Please Mr. Postman" (Marvelettes)
2. "Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean)
3. "Goodbye Cruel World" (James Darren)
4. "The Twist" (Chubby Checker)
5. "Walk On By" (Leroy Van Dyke)
6. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Tokens)
7. "Run To Him" (Bobby Vee)
8. "Tonight" (Ferrante and Teicher)
9. "Let There Be Drums" (Sandy Nelson)
10. "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" (Neil Sedaka)

Written by: Robert Bateman, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Brian Holland and Freddie Gorman.

Freddie Gorman was an actual postman. His mail route included Detroit, Michigan public housing where members of The Supremes lived.

Also by: The Beatles, whose version appeared on their 1963 album With The Beatles. It had advance orders of more than 500,000 and sold another 500,000 by September 1965. That made it the second album to sell a million copies in the UK (the first being the South Pacific soundtrack.) It stayed at the #1 for 21 weeks. It displaced their debut album Please Please Me. Therefore the Beatles occupied the top spot for 51 consecutive weeks.



The Carpenters' version of "Please Mr. Postman" (featuring Karen Carpenter on vocals and drums) was their biggest hit ever worldwide. It reached #1 in the US, Australia, Germany, Japan and several other countries. It also reached #2 in the UK and Canada.

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• The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (MP3)
• The Carpenters - Please Mr. Postman (MP3)

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Hello Mary Lou (1961)

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• Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou (MP3)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Hello Mary Lou (MP3)

By: Ricky Nelson (born Eric Hilliard Nelson May 8, 1940, died in a plane crash December 31, 1985).

Ricky Nelson was one of America's first "teen idols". He was the youngest son of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson. With brother David Nelson, the family starred in the long-running radio and TV series The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet for a combined 22 years on the air (though on the first five years of the radio show, the sons were played by actors.)

From 1957 to 1962, Ricky had 30 top 40 hits, more than any other artist at the time, save Elvis Presley (53) and Pat Boone (38).

In 1987 Ricky Nelson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The guitar solo was performed by James Burton (born August 21, 1939 in Minden, Louisiana.)

At 14 years old, James Burton was hired as part the staff band for the Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport. Burton later joined Ricky Nelson and played lead guitar for most of his major hits between 1958 and 1965.

In 1965 Bob Dylan wanted to hire Burton for his first "electric" touring band, but Burton was under contract to the television program Shindig!.

Chart position: #9 (US), #2 (UK).

It spent 14 weeks at #1 in Norway.

The Top Ten Songs: May 22, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Mother-in-Law" (Ernie K-Doe)
2. "Runaway" (Del Shannon)
3. "Daddy's Home" (Shep and the Limelites)
4. "One Hundred Pounds of Clay" (Gene McDaniels)
5. "Travelin' Man" (Ricky Nelson)
6. "Mama Said" (Shirelles)
7. "Running Scared" (Roy Orbison)
8. "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" (Connie Francis)
9. "Hello Mary Lou" (Ricky Nelson)
10. "I've Told Every Little Star" (Linda Scott)

Written by: Gene Pitney (born February 17, 1940, died April 5, 2006) and Cayet Mangiaracina.

Gene Pitney charted more than 20 Top 40 singles in the 1960s. In 2002, Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pitney also wrote such songs as "Today's Teardrops", "Town Without Pity", "He's A Rebel", and "Rubber Ball".



"Hello Mary Lou" was very similar to a song written in 1954 by Cayet Mangiaracina titled "Merry, Merry Lou" for New Orleans-based group the Sparks.

A few years later Cayet left New Orleans to study for the Dominican priesthood. The Sparks won a battle-of-the-bands contest in New Orleans and won a recording session in New York City with Decca Records. One of the songs they recorded was "Merry, Merry Lou", which was released in 1957.

Artists such as Bill Haley and the Comets and Sam Cooke recorded their own versions (as "Mary, Mary Lou".) Then in 1961, Ricky Nelson released "Hello Mary Lou", written by Gene Pitney.

Because the song was so similar to "Merry, Merry Lou", Decca Records filed suit and won, and Father Mangiaracina was given co-authorship. Royalties from the song went to his mother until her death in 1988. They are now forwarded to the Dominicans' Southern province.

Also by: Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in 1972 on their final album Mardi Gras.

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• Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou (MP3)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Hello Mary Lou (MP3)

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Last Night (1961)

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• The Mar-Keys - Last Night (MP3)

By: The Mar-Keys.

The Mar-Keys, formed in 1958, were an American studio session band for the Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax label in the 1960s. As the first house band for the label, their backing music formed the foundation for the early 1960s Stax sound.

Its members later formed other prominent Memphis studio session groups, including the Memphis Horns, the Packers, and Booker T. and the M.G.'s.

"Last Night" was a part of the very first album released on the Stax label.

Chart position: #3 (US). It sold over 1 million copies.

The Top Ten Songs: August 14, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Tossin' and Turnin'" (Bobby Lewis)
2. "I Like It Like That" (Chris Kenner) 
3. "Last Night" (Mar-Keys)
4. "Dum Dum" (Brenda Lee)
5. "Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)" (Joe Dowell)
6. "Michael" (Highwaymen)
7. "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (Curtis Lee)
8. "Let's Twist Again" (Chubby Checker)
9. "Together" (Connie Francis)
10. "School is Out" (Gary U.S. Bonds)

Written by: Charles "Packy" Axton, Gilbert Caple, Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman, Floyd Newman and Jerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith.

"Smoochy" Smith played the organ on "Last Night".

Chips Moman was a producer on hits for such artists as Elvis Presley, the Box Tops, Dusty Springfield, and many more. His songwriting credits include "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" and "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)". As a teenager, Moman played in the road bands of Johnny Burnette and Gene Vincent.

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• The Mar-Keys - Last Night (MP3)

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Candy Man (1961)

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• Roy Orbison - Candy Man (MP3)

By: Roy Orbison (born April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas, died of a heart attack December 6, 1988 in Hendersonville, Tennessee.)

In 2004, Orbison ranked #37 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Between 1960 and 1965, Orbison had 15 Top 40 hits.

Orbison's performance of "Candy Man" in the 1988 concert special Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night featured Elvis Costello on harmonica.

Chart position: #25 (US). "Candy Man" was the B-side of "Crying" (#2, US).

Written by: Fred Neil (born March 16, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, died July 7, 2001, in Key West, Florida) and Beverly "Ruby" Ross.

Fred Neil also wrote "Everybody's Talkin'" (#6 US for Harry Nilsson in 1969.) Jimmy Buffett once called Neil "one of my heroes."

Ross also wrote or co-wrote "Dim, Dim the Lights," "Judy's Turn to Cry" (the sequel to Lesley Gore's "It’s My Party") and "Lollipop."

Harmonica played by: Charlie McCoy (born March 28, 1941, in Oak Hill, West Virginia, raised in Miami, Florida.)

Charlie McCoy recorded with many artists, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Paul Simon. McCoy worked as music director for 19 years on the television show Hee Haw.

Also by: Dion; The Hollies; Waylon Jennings; Bobby Vee; The Ventures.

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• Roy Orbison - Candy Man (MP3)

Take Good Care Of My Baby (1961)

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• Bobby Vee - Take Good Care Of My Baby (MP3)

By: Bobby Vee (born Robert Thomas Velline April 30, 1943 in Fargo, North Dakota).

Bobby Vee also had hits with "Devil or Angel", "More Than I Can Say", "Run to Him", "Rubber Ball", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" and "Come Back When You Grow Up".

On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper were killed in an airplane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa while traveling to form a Winter Dance Part in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Bobby Vee, only 15 years old at the time, and the Shadows, a quickly-assembled backing band, filled in for Buddy Holly in Moorhead. Their performance there was a success, eventually leading to the start of Bobby Vee's career.

Chart position: #1 (US).

"Take Good Care of My Baby" was Vee's only #1 hit.

It was #1 in the US for 3 weeks in September and October 1961, preceded at #1 by "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" (the Highwaymen) and succeeded by "Hit the Road Jack" (Ray Charles).

Written by: Gerry Goffin (born February 11, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) and Carole King (born Carole Klein February 9, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York).

The husband-and-wife duo of Goffin and King also wrote hits such as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "One Fine Day", "The Loco-Motion", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Porpoise Song", "Up on the Roof", "Chains", "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "I'm Into Something Good" and "Go Away Little Girl".

In 1990, Goffin and King were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category for their songwriting achievements.

King's 1971 album Tapestry stayed on the album charts for more than 5 years, selling over 10 million copies in the US, and close to 22 million copies worldwide.

Also by: The Beatles, at their unsuccessful January 1, 1962 audition for Decca Records, with George Harrison on lead vocals. At that audition, the band was infamously told that guitar groups were "on their way out."

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• Bobby Vee - Take Good Care Of My Baby (MP3)

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Blue Moon (1961)

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• The Marcels - Blue Moon (MP3)
• Elvis Presley - Blue Moon (MP3)
• Frank Sinatra - Blue Moon (MP3)

By: The Marcels.

The Marcels were formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Richard F. Knauss, Fred Johnson, Gene J. Bricker, Ron Mundy, and lead vocalist Cornelius Harp. They named themselves after the hairstyle then worn by Harp.

The group recorded several covers for demo tapes in New York, a last minute addition being "Blue Moon." They took the doo-wop arrangement (including the opening bass singing) from "Zoom" by The Cadillacs. It was recorded in two takes.

Many purists were shocked, including composer Richard Rogers, who hated it so much that he submitted full-page advertisements urging people not to buy it.

The Marcels' "Blue Moon" is featured in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (US R&B), #1 (UK).

It was #1 in the US for three weeks in April 1961. It was preceded at #1 by "Surrender" (Elvis Presley) and succeeded by "Runaway" (Del Shannon).

The Top Ten Songs: April 17, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Blue Moon" (Marcels)
2. "Runaway" (Del Shannon)
3. "Mother-In-Law" (Ernie K. Doe)
4. "On The Rebound" (Floyd Cramer)
5. "But I Do" (Clarence "Frogman" Henry)
6. "Apache" (Jorgen Ingmann)
7. "Dedicated To The One I Love" (Shirelles)
8. "Asia Minor" (Kokomo)
9. "One Hundred Pounds Of Clay" (Gene McDaniels)
10. "Surrender" (Elvis Presley)

Written by: Richard Rodgers (born June 28, 1902, died December 30, 1979) and lyricist Lorenz Hart (born May 2, 1895, died November 22, 1943.)

Rodgers and Hart also wrote such songs as "Isn't It Romantic?," "My Romance", "My Funny Valentine", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "With a Song in My Heart", "Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered", and "I Could Write A Book".

Rodgers and Hart originally wrote the song as "Prayer (Oh Lord, Make Me a Movie Star)" for actress Jean Harlow to sing in the 1934 MGM film Hollywood Party, but it was never used.

Hart kept revising the tune with new lyrics, such as "It's Just That Kind Of Play" and "The Bad In Every Man", but neither became hits.

Jack Robbins, the head of MGM's publishing company, told Hart that the song needed a punchier title and more romantic lyrics. Hart was at first reluctant to write yet another lyric, but the ultimate result was: "Blue moon/you saw me standing alone/without a dream in my heart/without a love of my own."

It was based on the idiom "once in a blue moon," which refers to something that almost never happens.

Also by: Too many to mention! A small selection of artists includes Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Django Reinhardt.

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• The Marcels - Blue Moon (MP3)
• Elvis Presley - Blue Moon (MP3)
• Frank Sinatra - Blue Moon (MP3)

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Can't Help Falling In Love (1961) (1993)

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• Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love (MP3)
• UB40 - (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You (MP3)

By: Elvis Presley (born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, died August 16, 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee.)

Called the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis is generally considered to be the most important, iconic entertainer of the 20th Century. He has sold over one billion records worldwide, more than anyone in record industry history. He has had 150 albums and singles certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum, 149 charting songs in the US, 114 of which were Top 40 hits, 40 of which were Top 10 hits, and 18 #1 hits. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #3 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" was featured in Elvis' eighth movie, Blue Hawaii. According to songwriter George Weiss, the movie producers and Elvis' associates didn't like the song when they heard the demo. However, Elvis insisted on recording it for the movie. It was completed in 29 takes.

Elvis’ most successful album, the Blue Hawaii soundtrack album spent 79 weeks on the US pop album chart, 20 of those weeks at #1. The album sold over half a million copies in the first three months of its release. It took just three days to record the 14 songs featured on it.

In 1968, Presley first performed a new live treatment of the song in his '68 Comeback Special. He used the song to close most of his live concerts, including his last in June 1977 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "Can't Help Falling in Love" at #394 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #2 (US).

It was kept from #1 in February 1961 by "The Peppermint Twist" (Joey Dee and the Starlighters.)

The Top Ten Songs: February 3, 1962 (US).

1. "The Peppermint Twist" (Joey Dee and the Starliters) 
2. "Can't Help Falling In Love" (Elvis Presley)
3. "The Twist" (Chubby Checker)
4. "Norman" (Sue Thompson)
5. "I Know" (Barbara George)
6. "The Wanderer" (Dion)
7. "Duke Of Earl" (Gene Chandler)
8. "Baby It's You" (Shirelles)
9. "Break It To Me Gently" (Brenda Lee)
10. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Tokens)
    

Written by: George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore.

George David Weiss also wrote such songs as "Surrender", "Too Close for Comfort", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", "Lullaby of Birdland", "That Sunday, That Summer" and "What A Wonderful World".

It was based on the French ballad "Plaisir D'amour" by Jean-Paul Egide Martini.



Also by: UB40, whose version was at #1 (US) for 7 weeks and also reached #1 in the UK in 1993. It also reached #1 in Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden.

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• Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love (MP3)
• UB40 - (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You (MP3)

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