Snowbird (1969)

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• Anne Murray - Snowbird (MP3)

By: Anne Murray (born Morna Anne Murray June 20, 1945 in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada.)

Murray recorded "Snowbird" after watching its composer, Gene Maclellan, perform it on Canadian TV. It became her first hit.

In 1999, BMI ranked "Snowbird" at #53 on their list of the Top 100 Songs of the Century (based on American radio and television airplay).

In 2002 Anne Murray was ranked #24 in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.

In 2007 Anne Murray recorded "Snowbird" as a duet with Sarah Brightman, who is one of the biggest selling classical female singers of all time.

Chart position: #8 (US, in 1970), #10 (US Country), #1 (US Adult Contemporary, five weeks,) #23 (UK).

It was preceded at #1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart by "I Just Can't Help Believing" (B.J. Thomas) and succeeded by "We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters).

Written by: Gene MacLellan (born 1938, died January 19, 1995).

A fellow Canadian, Gene MacLellan did not begin writing songs until 1968. "Snowbird" was only the second composition he wrote. It was written in 25 minutes. Other songs he wrote include "Put Your Hand in the Hand" (which was a #2 US hit for Ocean in 1970,) "The Call", "Pages of Time" and "Thorn in My Shoe".

Also by: Ferrante & Teicher, Perry Como, Gene MacLellan, Lynn Anderson, Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra, Elvis Presley (who was said to have considered Anne Murray to be his favorite female singer,) Chet Atkins, Loretta Lynn, Hank Snow, Bing Crosby & Count Basie and his Orchestra, Billie Jo Spears, Percy Faith, Doc & Merle Watson, Lawrence Welk and Burl Ives.

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• Anne Murray - Snowbird (MP3)

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Suspicious Minds (1969)

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• Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds (MP3)
• Dwight Yoakam - Suspicious Minds (MP3)

By: Elvis Presley (born Elvis Aron Presley 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 Magazine ranked him #3 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

On January 13, 1969, Presley entered American Sound Studio in Memphis, the first time he had recorded in his hometown since 1956. During that time, producer Chips Moman brought "Suspicious Minds" to Presley, who immediately fell in love with it.

It was recorded between 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM in the morning. During his 1969 Memphis sessions, he also recorded such hits as "In The Ghetto", "Kentucky Rain" and "Don’t Cry Daddy".

He first performed the song live at the Las Vegas Hilton on July 31, 1969.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Suspicious Minds" at #91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #1 (US), #2 (UK).

It was #1 in the US for one week in November 1969. It was preceded at #1 in the US by "I Can't Get Next to You" (Temptations) and succeeded by "Wedding Bell Blues" (Fifth Dimension.)

Widely regarded as the single that jump-started Elvis' career, as it was his first #1 hit in 7 years. It was Elvis' eighteenth US #1 single, and would be his final US #1 single during his lifetime.

The Top Five Songs November 1, 1969 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Suspicious Minds" (Elvis Presley)
2. "Wedding Bell Blues" (Fifth Dimension)
3. "Sugar, Sugar" (Archies)
4. "I Can't Get Next to You" (Temptations)
5. "Baby It's You" (Smith)
   

Written by: Mark James.

James also wrote/co-wrote such songs as "The Eyes Of A New York Woman", "Hooked On A Feeling" (both hits for B.J. Thomas), "Always On My Mind", "Raised On Rock", "Moody Blue", and more.

Tensions arose between Elvis and his manager Colonel Parker when James refused to give him a cut of the publishing royalties. Parker was determined to hold out, but Elvis' love of the song ultimately won out, knowing he could make it a hit. It had flopped the previous year for James.

Also by: Dwight Yoakam, for the 1992 film Honeymoon in Vegas, which featured covers of Elvis Presley songs performed by many contemporary artists. The movie was notable for featuring the Flying Elvises (a group of skydiving Elvis impersonators).

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• Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds (MP3)
• Dwight Yoakam - Suspicious Minds (MP3) 

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At the Hop (1957) (1969)

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• Danny And The Juniors - At The Hop (MP3)
• Sha Na Na - At The Hop (MP3)

By: Danny and the Juniors, formed in 1955 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Danny Rapp, Dave White, Frank Maffei and Joe Terranova.

"At the Hop" was their biggest hit, though they also had a Top 20 hit with their follow-up "Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay". Danny And The Juniors eventually split in 1963.

Chart position: #1 (US), #3 (UK).

It was #1 in the US for 7 weeks in January and February 1958.

It was the #1 Best Seller in Stores for 5 weeks and #1 Most Played by Jockeys for 3 weeks in January and February 1958. It sold over two million copies worldwide.

It was preceded at #1 in the US by "April Love" (Pat Boone) and succeeded by "Get a Job" (The Silhouettes.)

The Top Ten Songs: February 3, 1958 (US Billboard Top 100).

1. "At the Hop" (Danny and the Juniors)
2. "Sugartime" (McGuire Sisters)
3. "April Love" (Pat Boone)
4. "Raunchy" (Bill Justis)
5. "Get a Job" (Silhouettes)
6. "Peggy Sue" (Buddy Holly)
7. "The Stroll" (Diamonds)
8. "Sail Along Silvery Moon" (Billy Vaughn)
9. "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (Jimmie Rodgers)
10. "All the Way" (Frank Sinatra)
    

Written by: Arthur Singer, John L. Medora, and Dave White.

Medora discovered White and his group, the Juvenaires (who later changed their name to Danny And The Juniors), singing on a street corner.

Their songwriting collaboration also produced "Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay", "1-2-3" (Len Barry, #2 US, #3 UK) and "You Don't Own Me" (Lesley Gore, #2 US).

Medora and White had written and recorded a demo called "Do The Bop", which was sent to local DJs. One of those DJs was Dick Clark (who had just gone national with his show American Bandstand.)

Clark suggested that the term "bop" was out of fashion. The song was changed, and the group re-recorded the song. After 13 takes to get it right, "At The Hop" was sent to Clark, who loved it, but didn't have any immediate openings for them to perform it.

However, Little Anthony and the Imperials canceled their appearance, and Clark asked Danny and the Juniors to be their replacements, causing the record to take off, selling 7,000 copies in week in Philadelphia alone.



Also by: Sha Na Na, which was co-founded by Lenny Baker, who played saxophone with Danny And The Juniors.

Sha Na Na was a relatively unknown doo-wop cover group until they performed "At The Hop" at the Woodstock Music festival in 1969, launching their career and leading to thzeir own TV show.

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• Danny And The Juniors - At The Hop (MP3)
• Sha Na Na - At The Hop (MP3)
  

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Someday We'll Be Together (1969)

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• Diana  Ross and the Supremes - Someday We'll Be Together (MP3)

By: Diana Ross and the Supremes, formed in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan by Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. Not only were they Motown's most successful girl group, they were the most successful African-American group of the 1960s, recording 12 American number-one hits between 1964 and 1969.

"Someday We'll Be Together" was originally released on the Tri-Phi label in 1961 by Johnny Bristol and Jackey Beavers, as Johnny and Jackey. It was somewhat successful in the Midwest, but did not draw much attention elsewhere. Later in the 1960s, Tri-Phi was purchased by Motown Records, and "Someday We'll Be Together" became part of Motown's publishing catalog.

In 1969, Bristol produced an recorded the instrumental and backing vocal track for a version of "Someday We'll Be Together" to be recorded by Junior Walker and the All-Stars, famous for "Shotgun" and "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)".

When Berry Gordy heard it, he thought that "Someday We'll Be Together" would be perfect as Diana Ross's first solo single, as she would soon be leaving the Supremes.

Initially Diana was unable to get a vocal take to Bristol's liking, so he decided to coach her by singing along with Ross. On the first take, Bristol's vocal were accidentally recorded, but Bristol and arranger Wade Marcus liked the results, and so Johnny's voice is heard on the final take.

In the end, the song was credited to "Diana Ross and the Supremes," even though Diana Ross is the only Supreme on the record.

Chart position: #1 (US), #13 (UK).

It was the last #1 hit by the Supremes, as well as the last #1 hit of the 1960s decade.

It was #1 for 1 week in the US in December 1969. It was preceded at #1 by "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (Peter, Paul and Mary) and succeeded by "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (B. J. Thomas).

Written by: Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua.

My two cents: Just one word: wow. A few things I've always like about this song are just little things, but they certainly add to what makes it not only one of the great oldies songs, but what makes it one of my favorites.

The opening cellos are incredible. It sets the tone perfectly for the song, and catches your ear immediately. Perhaps you've heard them elsewhere sampled by other artists, such as on Janet Jackson's 1993 hit "If".

Also, the use of the diminished 7th chord just before the chorus is hair-raisingly good. What I mean by that is that it adds the right amount of tension and build in anticipation of the chorus and its hopeful message: "Just remember, someday, we'll be together!"

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• Diana  Ross and the Supremes - Someday We'll Be Together (MP3)

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