1960
This dirty, primitive, fuzzed-up slice of vintage RnB from comes from four smooth-looking black fellows called The Dyna-Sores.
For some musicians, a tragic death elevates a mediocre career to legendary status. But it didn’t work out that way for Cowboy Copas.
Tina Turner’s career might never have got started if a backing singer had not failed to turn up for a recording session of this song in 1960.
I only really know Donnie Elbert for his trio of hits in 1972, when he hit the UK charts with versions of Where Did Our Love Go, I Can’t Help Myself and the Northern Soul classic A Little Piece Of Leather. This slow-burning soul number from way back in 1960 is a very different affair – though Donnie’s remarkable falsetto remains in place.
When it comes to emotionally intense vocal performances, you don’t need to look much further than James Brown singing The Bells.
The Shirelles were still in their teens, fresh out of Passaic High School in New Jersey, when they became the first black girl group to top the US charts in 1960. (more…)
Rosemary Clooney, perhaps better known now as George Clooney’s aunt, brings back the Latin vibe of Sway, previously popularised by Dean Martin.
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This song is an important piece of pop history. Emile Ford was the first black Briton to sell a millon copies of a single. Almost as historically, it topped the charts on my second birthday.