Thirty of her finest
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Throwback Thursday: 1960
Look at some of the names who had hits in 1960: Elvis Presley, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, Ella Fitzgerald, The Everly Bros., Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, The Drifters, Ike & Tina Turner, Dion, Jackie Wilson, Bobby Darin, Chubby Checker, Brenda Lee. It’s like the radio only played superstars. Here are 30 of that year’s best:
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Throwback Thursday: 1961
The years between 1958 and 1963 are often thought of as a sleepy time for rock and roll, a quiet time between the genre’s initial burst onto the charts and the onslaught of the British Invasion. However, lots of great records were charting during those years. Check out this playlist of thirty hits from 1961 for proof.
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Throwback Thursday: 1966
This week I’m reviving a feature I used to do on Tunes du Jour – Throwback Thursday, with each week focusing on a different year in the rock and roll era. This week we’ll listen to the music of 1966. Some notable events:
- The Mamas & the Papas had their first hit with “California Dreamin’.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- Simon & Garfunkel had their first top 40/top 10/#1 single in the US with “The Sounds of Silence.” The duo had actually broken up already and were unaware that their record label released a version of their 1964 acoustic recording on which electric guitar and drums were added.
- Bob Dylan released his game-changing album Blonde On Blonde, a staple of greatest albums of all-time lists since.
- ? and the Mysterians released their debut single, “96 Tears.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- Producer Phil Spector released what he considered to be his best work – Ike & Tina’s Turner “River Deep – Mountain High.” In actuality, Ike had nothing to do with the recording. Though a hit in the UK and several European countries, the single stalled at #88 in the US, leading Spector to retire for two years and produce far less frequently following that.
- Percy Sledge released his debut single, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- The Beatles performed their last official concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
- The Supremes scored two more #1 pop singles plus another two that went top ten. During their career the group would have 12 #1s and 20 top tens. Many more hits followed for the trio’s usual lead singer, Diana Ross. Perhaps you’ve heard of her.
- New York City’s WOR became the first FM radio station in the US with a rock format.
- “Good Vibrations.” Where do I start?
Here are thirty of the year’s best:
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-27-20)
Inspired by the December 27 birthday of Paramore’s Hayley Williams; the December 26 birthdays of The Shins/Broken Bells’ James Mercer, Uncle Tupelo’s Jay Farrar, The Hues Corporation’s Fleming Williams, and producer Phil Spector; and Boxing Day.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-17-20)
Inspired by the season and the December 17 birthdays of The Temptations’ Eddie Kendricks, Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Bananarama’s Sara Dallin, The Emotions’ Wanda Hutchinson, Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth,The Meters’ Art Neville, and Dave Dee.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (11-5-20)
Inspired by the November 5 birthdays of Art Garfunkel, Ryan Adams, Ike Turner, Herman’s Hermits’ Peter Noone, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, Gram Parsons, Bryan Adams, Inner City’s Paris Grey, Loleatta Holloway, A Flock of Seagulls’ Mike Score and Dominatrix’s Dominique Davalos; and the November 4 birthdays of Squeeze’s Chris Difford, Diddy/Puff Daddy, Fat Boys’ Kool Rock-Ski, and Frances Faye.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (10-14-20)
Inspired by the October 14 birthdays of Cliff Richard, Usher, The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward, The Chicks’ Natalie Maines, All Saints’ Shaznay Lewis, Boney M’s Marcia Barrett, Thomas Dolby, Nazareth’s Dan McCafferty, Robert Parker, Bill Justis and Karyn White.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (9-5-20)
Inspired by the September 5 birthdays of Queen‘s Freddie Mercury, En Vogue’s Terry Ellis, Loudon Wainwright III, Inner City’s Kevin Saunderson, and Al Stewart.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (8-16-20)
Inspired by the anniversary of the passings of Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin; the August 16 birthdays of Madonna, Kool & the Gang’s James “JT” Taylor, Young Thug, Al Hibbler, Eydie Gorme, Barbara George, Court Yard Hounds’ Emily Robison, Ketty Lester, Sheila, and Joe Sealy; and the August 15 birthdays of Deee-Lite’s Lady Miss Kier, The The’s Matt Johnson, The Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston, Bobby Helms, Bobby Caldwell, and Nipsey Hussle.