The Yearly GELT's TOP 1960-1964

1964

Artist of the year : The Beatles

That’s it, the Beatlemania that raged for a year in England arrived in the United States. Leading the so called British Invasion, John, Paul, George and Ringo land in New York in February right in the middle of an uproarious crowd. While all their 45 rpm top the charts, they are becoming a real worldwide social trend. The Fab Four are everywhere, on theater stages, concert halls, TV shows, in movies, on magazine covers and of course in records stores where millions fans are jostling to get their albums. Everybody sings their songs, everyone wants to look like them, play guitar like them, dress like them and have their hairstyle. Following their example, a stack of new bands thrives in recording studios confirming a generational enthusiasm for a new style of music ready to take the power.

#	Artist	Title	CT	VIDEO
1	Simon & Garfunkel	The Sound Of Silence (Paul Simon)
2	The Searchers	Needles And Pins (Jack Nitzsche/Sonny Bonno)
3	The Beatles	Do You Want To Know A Secret (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
4	The Beach Boys	I Get Around (Brian Wilson/Mike Love)
5	The Animals	The House Of The Rising Sun (Georgia Turner/Bert Martin)
6	The Beatles	Can't Buy Me Love (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
7	The Supremes	Where Did Our Love Go (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier)
8	The Righteous Brothers	You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (Barry Mann/Phil Spector/Cynthia Weil)
9	Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz	The Girl From Ipanema (Antonio Carlos Jobim/Vinicius De Moraes/Norman Gimbel)
10	The Zombies	She's Not There (Rod Argent)
11	J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers	Last Kiss (Wayne Cochran)
12	Barbra Streisand	People (Jule Styne/Bob Merrill)
13	The Beatles	Hard Day's Night (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
14	Roy Orbison	Oh, Pretty Woman Roy Orbison/Bill Dees
15	The Supremes	Baby Love (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier)
16	Peter & Gordon	A World Without Love (Paul McCartney)
17	Dionne Warwick	Walk On By (Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
18	The Shangri-Las	Leader Of The Pack (Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich)
19	The Dave Clark Five	Because (Dave Clark)
20	Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons	Dawn (Go Away) (Sandy Linzer/Bob Gaudio)
21	The Kinks	You Really Got Me (Ray Davies)
22	The Beatles	I Feel Fine (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
23	Little Anthony & The Imperials	Goin' Out Of My Head (Teddy Randazzo/Eddy Weinstein)
24	Johnny Rivers	Memphis (Chuck Berry)
25	Mary Wells	My Guy (Smokey Robinson)
26	Gerry & The Pacemakers	Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (Gerry Marsden)
27	Bobby Vinton	Mr Lonely (Bobby Vinton/Gene Allan)
28	France Gall	Laisse Tomber Les Filles (Serge Gainsbourg/Davis Boyer)
29	The Rolling Stones	It's All Over Now (Bobby Womack/Shirley Womack)
30	Terry Stafford	Suspicion (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
31	Them	Gloria (Van Morrison)
32	Dionne Warwick	Anyone Who Had A Heart (Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
33	The Moody Blues	Go Now (Larry Banks/Milton Bennett)
34	Chad & Jeremy	A Summer Song (David Stuart/Keith Noble)
35	Petula Clark	Downtown (Tony Hatch)
36	Ronny & The Daytonas	Little G.T.O. (John Wilkin)
37	Bobby Goldsboro	See The Funny Little Clown (Bernard Michel)
38	The Dave Clark Five	Can't You See That She's Mine (Dave Clark/Mike Smith)
39	The Beatles	She's A Woman (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
40	Marianne Faithful	As Tears Go By (Mick Jagger/Keith Richard)

1963

Artist of the year : The Ronettes

This year marks the beginning of the meteoric progress of The Beatles and what has been called the British Invasion at a time when music was for decades outplayed by American singers and bands.  But even though the Fab Four shaked the heart of millions hysteric fans, the track that still now conveys the same emotion stays however Be My Baby performed by the Ronettes, the sexy female trio produced by Phil Spector.

Consisting of Ronnie Bennett, her sister Estelle and cousin Nedra Talley, the girls band already flirted with the Top 100 for 2 years but the release of Be My Baby was to make them in a few months true worldwide stars. With their long dark hair and fine mixed-race looking,  the popularity ratings of The Ronettes skyrocketted at the end of the year to the point to compete with The Beatles with whom they will also tour shortly afterwards.

#	Artist	Title	CT	VIDEO
1	The Cascades	Rhythm Of The Rain (John Claude Gummoe)
2	The Beatles	She Loves You (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
3	The Beach Boys	Surfin' USA (Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson)
4	The Ronettes	Be My Baby (Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenfield)
5	Peter, Paul & Mary	Blowin' In the Wind (Bob Dylan)
6	Little Peggy March	I Will Follow Him (Franck Pourcel/Paul Mauriat/Norman Gimbel)
7	The Kingsmen	Louie Louie (Richard Berry)
8	Martha & The Vandellas	Heatwave (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier)
9	Barbara Lewis	Hello Stranger (Barbara Lewis)
10	Elvis Presley	Bossa Nova Baby (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
11	Skeeter Davis	To The End Of The World (Arthur Kent/Sylvia Dee)
12	The Beatles	I Want To Hold Your Hand (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
13	The Drifters	On Broadway (Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil)
14	The Crystals	Da Doo Ron Ron (Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich)
15	Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs	Sugar Shack (Kimmy McCormack/Jimmy Torres)
16	The Beatles	Twist And Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Berns)
17	Lesley Gore	It's My Party (John Gluck/Wally Gold:Herb Wiener)
18	Freddie Scott	Hey Girl (Gery Goffin/Carole King)
19	Dion	Drip Drop (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
20	The Beatles	From Me To You (John Lennon./Paul Mc Cartney)
21	Ruby & The Romantics	Our Day Will Come (Bob Hilliard/Mort Garson)
22	Mary Wells	Two Lovers (Smokey Robinson)
23	The Essex	Easier Said Than Done (Larry Huff/William Linton)
24	Steve Lawrence	Go Away Little Girl (Gerry Goffin/Carole King)
25	The Beatles	Please Please Me (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
26	The Shirelles	Foolish Little Girl (Helen Miller/Howard Greenfield)
27	Bobby Vinton	Blue Velvet (Bernie Wayne/Lee Morris)
28	Peter, Paul & Mary	Puff The Magic Dragon (Leonard Lipton/Peter Yarrow)
29	Marvin Gaye	Can I Get A Witness (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier)
30	The Chiffons	He's So Fine (Ronald Mack)
31	Elvis Presley	Devil In Disguise (Benie Baum/Bill Giant/Florence Kaye)
32	Jan & Dean	Surf City (Jan Berry/Brian Wilson)
33	Lenny Welch	Since I Fell For You (Buddy Johnson)
34	Roy Orbison	Mean Woman Blues (Claude Demetrius)
35	Shirley Bassey	I (Who Have Nothing) (Jerry Leiber/Moke Stoller)
36	Andy Williams	Can't Get Used To Losing You (Jerome "Doc" Pomus/Mort Shuman)
37	The Jaynetts	Sally, Go'Round The Roses (Zell Sanders/Lona Spector)
38	Kyu Sakamoto	Sukiyaki (Rokosuke Hei/Hashidai Nakamura)
39	Rick Nelson	String Along (Bobby Dole/Jimmy Duncan)
40	The Impressions	It's All Right (Curtis Mayfield)

1962

Artist of the year : Dion

Born Dio DiMucci, it is with the Belmonts that he started at the end of the 50's a brilliant career. In January 1959, he was part of the fatal tour where the plane carrying Buddy Holly and Richie Valens crashed at Clear Lake (Iowa) but had by chance chosen not to go with them for lack of money to pay the flight. He released  a few months later with his band Teenager In Love, a single propelling him soon at the top of the charts, in which he asserted his own rythmic sound. This first national hit was followed with Where or When, a  track marking a peak. After dissensions within the group and a stay in hospital for heroin addiction, Dion decided however in 1960 to go on a solo career. In 1961, he topped the charts with Runaround Sue, selling over a million copies. He confirmed in spring, 1962 his star status with the release of The Wanderer, resuming with the same success rhythmic recipes typical of his musical personality. Dion remains over the years one of the most iconic singers of the hinge between the 50's and 60's with a string of hits since become anthems of the rock'n roll era.

#	Artist	Title	CT	VIDEO
1	The Kingston Trio	Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Pete Seeger/Joe Hickerson)
2	Ricky Nelson	Teenage Idol (Jack Lewis)
3	Dion	The Wanderer (Ernie Maresca)
4	Dee Dee Sharp	Mashed Potato Time (Bernie Lowe/Kal Mann)
5	Sam Cooke	Twistin' The Night Away (Sam Cooke)
6	Little Eva	The Loco-Motion (Gerry Goffin/Carole King)
7	Ray Charles	I Can't Stop Loving You (Don Gibson)
8	Bryan Hyland	Sealed With A Kiss (Gary Geld/Peter Udell)
9	Shelley Fabares	Johnny Angel (Lyn Dudy/Lee Pockriss)
10	Elvis Presley	Good Luck Charm (Wally Gold/Aaron Schroeder)
11	Chubby Checker & Dee Dee Sharp	Slow Twistin' (Kal Mann)
12	The Drifters	Up On The Roof (Gerry Goffin/Carole King)
13	Sandra Dee & Bobby Darin	Dream Lover (Bobby Darin)
14	Joanie Somers	Johnny Get Angry (Hal David/Sherman Edwards)
15	Jay & The Americans	She Cried (Ted Darrill/Greg Richards)
16	Elvis Presley	Can't Help Falling In Love (Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George David Weiss)
17	The Shirelles	Soldier Boy (Luther Dixon/Florence Greenberg)
18	The Isley Brothers	Twist And Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Berns)
19	Chris Montez	Let's Dance (Jim Lee)
20	The Beach Boys	Surfin' Safari (Brian Wilson/Mike Love)
21	Roy Orbison	Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) (Cindy Walker)
22	The Beatles	Love Me Do (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
23	Neil Sedaka	Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield)
24	Marcie Blane	Bobby's Girl (Henry Hoffman/Gary Klein)
25	The Orlons	Wah-Watusi (Barry Mann/Dave Appel)
26	The Everly Brothers	Crying In The Rain (Howard Greenfield/Carole King)
27	Pat Boone	Speedy Gonzales (David Hill/Buddy Kaye/Ethel Lee)
28	Ben E. King	Don't Play That Song (Ahmet Ertegun/Betty Nelson)
29	Freddy Cannon	Palisades Park (Chuck Barris)
30	Tommy Roe	Sheila (Tommy Roe/Robert Bosch)
31	Johnny Crawford	Cindy's Birthday (Jeff Hooven/Hal Winn)
32	Connie Francis	Don't Break That Loves You (Benny Davis/Ted Murry)
33	Cliff Richard	The Young Ones (Sid Tepper/Roy C. Bennett)
34	Barbara George	I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) (Barbara George)
35	Petula Clark	Chariot (Franck Pourcel/Paul Mauriat/Jacques Plante)
36	Ketty Lester	Love Letters (Victor Young/Edward Heyman)
37	The Highwaymen	Cotton Fields (Leadbelly)
38	Peter, Paul & Mary	If I Had A Hammer (Pete Seeger/Lee Hays)
39	Helen Shapiro	Tell Me What He Said (Jeff Barry)
40	The Exciters	Tell Him (Bert Berns)

 

1961

Artist of the Year : Ben E. King

Each year brings its batch of hits and although most fell into oblivion with time,  some have never aged at all. This is the case of Stand By Me, a track even considered as one of the songs of the century. Composed by the hit making songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it was inspired by a gospel written in the early twentieth century and refreshed shortly before by Sam Cooke. The Rhythm & Blues rendition released by former Drifter Ben E. King is truly the perfect blend. Covered more than 400 times by the greatest singers from John Lennon to Lady Gaga, he never seems to go beyond.

« …(King)’s is surrounded by a superb, subtle arrangement, where the majestic orchestra doesn't sweep in until the bridge where it cleverly disguises a key change. Best of all, "Stand By Me" played like a love song, but it wasn't. It was a testament to friendship, one of the best of its kind in pop history. Perhaps that's why it was also one of the most endearing songs of the rock era. King's peerless original was never matched and it won the hearts of many generations of listeners….” (Stephen Thomas Erlewine – Allmusic.com)

#	Artist	Title	CT	VIDEO
1	Ben E. King	Stand By Me (Ben E. King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
2	Del Shannon	Runaway (Del Shannon/Max Crook)
3	Ray Charles	Unchain My Heart (Bobby Sharp)
4	Patsy Cline	I Fall To Pieces (Hank Cochran/Arlan Howard)
5	Elvis Presley	Little Sister (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
6	Connie Francis	Where The Boys Are (Neil Sedake/Howard Greenfield)
7	Dion & The Belmonts	Runaround Sue (Ernie Maresca)
8	Chubby Checker	Let's Twist Again (Kal Mann/Dave Appell)
9	Roy Orbison	Crying (Roy Orbison/Joe Melson)
10	The Paris Sisters	I Love You How You Love Me (Barry Mann/Larry Kolber)
11	Ricky Nelson	Travelin' Man (Jerry Fuller)
12	The Regents	Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert)
13	Ray Charles	Hit The Road Jack (Percy Mayfield)
14	Elvis Presley	Surrender (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
15	The Dovells	The Bristol Stomp (Kal Mann/Dave Appell)
16	The Everly Brothers	Walk Right Back (Sonny Curtis)
17	The Marvelettes	Please, Mr Postman (Georgia Dobbins/William Garrett)
18	The Highwaymen	Michael (Row The Boat Ashore) (Traditional)
19	Sue Thompson	Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) (John D. Loudermilk)
20	Steve Lawrence	Portrait Of My Love (Cyril Ornadel/Norman Newell)
21	Timi Yuro	I'm So Hurt (Cat Ballou)
22	Neil Sedaka	One Way Ticket (Jack Keller/Hank Hunter)
23	Brenda Lee	Dum Dum (Jackie DeShannon/Sharon Sheeley)
24	Gene Pitney	Town Without Pity (Dimitri Tiomkin/Ned Washington)
25	Barry Mann	Who Put The Bomb (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) (Barry Mann/Gerry Goffin)
26	Linda Scott	Don't Bet Money Honey (Linda Scott)
27	Faron Young	Hello Walls (Willie Nelson)
28	Clarence "Fogman" Henry	I Don't Know Why But I Do (Paul Gayten/Bobby Charles)
29	John Leyton &The Outlaws	Johnny Remember Me (Geoff Goddard)
30	Gene McDaniels	A Hundred Pounds Of Clay (Kay Rogers/Luther Dixon/Bob Elgin)
31	Ricky Nelson	Hello Mary Lou (Gene Pitney/Cayet Mangiaracina)
32	Dee Clark	Raindrops (Dee Clark)
33	Gary U.S. Bonds	Quarter To Three (Frank Guida/Gary Anderson/Gene Barge/Joseph Royster)
34	The Lettermen	The Way You Look Tonight (Dorothy Fields/Jerome Kern)
35	Bobby Vee	Take Good Care Of My Baby (Carole King/Gerry Goffin)
36	The Marcels	Blue Moon (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers)
37	Dick & Deedee	The Mountain's High (Dick St John/Deedee Sperling)
38	Jimmy Dean	Big Bad John (Jimmy Dean)
39	The Tokens	The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda)
40	Joey Dee & The Starliters	Peppermint Twist (Joey Dee/Henry Glover)

1960

While most hits that marked year 1960 were forgotten for a long time, remains the outstanding rendition of Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles, a native son. The song was not among the best sellers of the year but as it was already a jazz standard since its was written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930, it became thanks to Ray Charles's magic a hit of the universal heritage. The thing was nevertheless not easy when segregation still raged in the Southern States. Having badly received that the musician refused, on behalf of the ban on black people, their invitation to play in concert halls reserved for whites, the authorities of Georgia prohibited him in retaliation coming into the State. It was not until 1979 that the government apologizes to the artist and adopts Georgia On My Mind as State Song.

Artist of the year : Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

Recognizable by his eyepatch, Johnny Kidd had certainly only a short career but no artist of the early 60s was certainly as influential as him on British rock music that would wash over the world a few years later. It’s while mainly taking inspiration from Bo Diddley that he releases Shakin ' All Over, a forerunner title variant from rockabilly, propelling  him # 1 UK in August 1960. He doesn’t enter the US charts but his song will be further covered many times and even if Johnny Kidd would no more manage to achieve such music feat, Shakin' All Over belongs for good to the legend of rock n' roll.

#	Artist	Title	CT	VIDEO
1	Ray Charles	Georgia On My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael/Stuart Gorrell)
2	Frankie Avalon	Why ? (Robert "Bob" Marcuccci/Peter De Angelis)
3	Elvis Presley	It's Now Or Never (Aaron Schroeder/Wally Gold/Eduardo Di Capua)
4	Brenda Lee	I'm Sorry (Dub Albriton/Ronnie Self)
5	The Brothers Four	Greenfields (Frank Miller/Richard Dehr/Terry Gilkyson)
6	Dion & The Belmonts	Where Or When (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers)
7	Chubby Cecker	The Twist (Hank Ballard)
8	The Everly Brothers	Let It Be Me (Gilbert Bécaud/Pierre Delanoë/Mann Curtis)
9	The Hollywood Argyles	Alley Oop (Dallas Frazier)
10	Paul Anka	Puppy Love (Paul Anka)
11	Toni Fisher	The Big Hurt (Wayne Shanklin)
12	The Platters	Harbor Lights (Hugh Williams/Jimmy Kennedy)
13	Roy Orbison	Only The Lonely (Roy Orbison/Joe Melson)
14	The Shirelles	Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Gerry Goffin/Carole King)
15	The Everly Brothers	Cathy's Clown (Don Everly/Phil Everly)
16	Sam Cooke	Wonderful World (Sam Cooke/Herb Alpert/Lou Adler)
17	The Drifters	Save The Last Dance For Me (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
18	Johnny Kidd & The Pirates	Shakin' All Over (Johnny Kidd)
19	Elvis Presley	Stuck On You (J. Leslie McFarland/Aaron Schroeder)
20	Johnny Burnette	You're Sixteen (Robert B. Sherman/Richard M. Sherman)
21	Connie Stevens	Sixteen Reasons (Bill Post/Doree Post)
22	Ben E. King	Spanish Harlem (Jerry Leiber/Phil Spector)
23	Elvis Presley	Are You Lonesome Tonight (Lou Handman/Roy Turk)
24	Bobby Darin	Beyond The Sea (Charles Trenet/Albert Lasry)
25	Etta James	At Last (Mack Gordon/Harry Warren)
26	The Drifters	This Magic Moment (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
27	Bobby Rydell	Volare (Domenico Modugno/Franco Migliacci)
28	Marty Robbins	El Paso (Marty Robbins)
29	Steve Lawrence	Pretty Blue Eyes (Bobby Weinstein/Teddy Randazzo)
30	Jack Scott	What In The World's Come Over You (Jack Scott)
31	Sam Cooke	Chain Gang (Sam Cooke)
32	Melina Mercouri	Ta Paidia Nou Piraia (Manos Hadjidakis/Jacques Larue)
33	Jimmy Jones	Handy Man (Jimmy Jones/Otis Blackwell)
34	Gary U.S. Bonds	New Orleans (Gary U.S. Bonds)
35	Jimmy Clanton	Go Jimmy Go (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman)
36	Brook Benton & Dinah Washington	Baby (You've Got What It Takes) (Clyde Otis/Murray Stein/Brook Benton)
37	Brenda Lee	I Want To Be Wanted (Kim Gannon/Pino Spotti/Alberto Testa)
38	The Miracles	Shop Around (Smokey Robinson/Berry Gordy)
39	Johnny Tillotson	Poetry In Motion (Paul Kaufman/Mike Anthony)
40	Neil Sedaka	Stairway To Heaven (Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield)