1962: The Year In Music

1962 – the first Bond film, “Dr. No”, was released. The Cuban Missile Crisis shocked the world. Scientists announced the discovery of anti-matter. And the music scene kept chugging along.

Same rules as always – I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums from each year, before giving my final thoughts for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Soldier Boy (The Shirelles)

I don’t like the simple instrumentation and how The Shirelles seem allergic to vocal harmony, so “Soldier Boy” doesn’t do it for me.

9 – The Twist (Chubby Checker)

“The Twist” charted on 1960’s list, so I guess it must have charted again?

It’s a fun song and Chubby Checker sells it well, but it’s not going to be my favourite hit song of 1962 for obvious reasons.

8 – Let Me In (The Sensations)

A strange reggae-infused hit, “Let Me In” has a charm but it’s not for me.

7 – The Loco-Motion (Little Eva)

It’s a little tacky, but I can’t deny that “The Loco-Motion” is a classic. I believe it started a dance craze too, so that’s something.

6 – Johnny Angel (Shelley Fabares)

A run-of-the-mill Doo-Wop song, but I quite like the harmonies and key changes that “Johnny Angel” boasts.

5 – The Stripper (David Rose)

I know “The Stripper” for its use in that famous Morecombe & Wise breakfast sketch, so I completely forgot that it was an instrumental hit in its own right.

Credit to David Rose and his orchestra – in terms of evoking the subject matter, they couldn’t have done much better.

4 – Roses Are Red (My Love) (Bobby Vinton)

I would’ve liked to see “Blue Velvet” or “Sealed With A Kiss” on this list instead, but Bobby Vinton’s “Roses Are Red (My Love)” isn’t too shabby either.

3 – Mashed Potato Time (Dee Dee Sharp)

I guess Dee Dee Sharp saw the success of songs like “The Twist” and “The Loco-Motion” and wanted to make a dance-centric song of her own, so the natural solution would be a song about mashed potatoes. Right?

It’s a poor attempt at jumping on the dance trend, with uninspired song structure and lyrics. But hey, it ranked third on the popular hits so the public must’ve eaten it up.

2 – I Can’t Stop Loving You (Ray Charles)

Those opening harmonies are great, and Ray Charles’ vocals on the rest of the track are superb. Finally, a good song!

1 – Stranger on the Shore (Acker Bilk)

I wasn’t expecting an instrumental track to be 1962’s most popular, but it’s actually alright.

The orchestration is really lovely, and Bilk’s clarinet playing is quite soothing.

FAVOURITE – “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (Ray Charles)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Mashed Potato Time” (Dee Dee Sharp)

Is it just me, or were these hit songs really weak? 1960 and 1961 may have been outdated by today’s standards, sure, but I can’t believe these were the ten most popular tracks of the year. Hopefully 1963 will be better …

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Le Temps De L’amour (Francoise Hardy)

“Le Temps De L’amour” is French through and through – the orchestration is laid-back and seductive, and Hardy’s vocals are emotive even in a foreign language.

9 – Running Scared (Roy Orbison)

I wasn’t familiar with “Running Scared” until today, but I like it.

Roy Orbison was doing things that other artists wouldn’t dream off, and those crescendoing drum and string stabs are a unique listening experience. The final thirty seconds are an amazing climax to the album.

8 – My Foolish Heart (Billy Evans Trio)

I was wondering when we were going to get our first Jazz song on this list.

“My Foolish Heart” may be a bit simple compared to other Jazz songs of the era, but the piano playing is really lovely.

7 – Spoonful (Howlin’ Wolf)

A classic Blues track through and through.

Howlin’ Wolf’s vocals are … unique to say the least, but they work well with the dirty guitar riffs.

6 – Hog Callin’ Blues (Charles Mingus)

Charles Mingus was one of the definitive artists of 1961, but his presence isn’t as ground-breaking here.

“Hog Callin’ Blues” chugs along nicely and has some great performances, but it isn’t necessarily a personal favourite.

5 – Desafinado (Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd)

This version is lovely, but I much prefer the Getz / Gilberto vocal version of “Desafinado”. Maybe it’ll appear on 1964’s list …

4 – Waltz For Debby (Take 2) (Billy Evans Trio)

Another Bill Evans Trio song in this top ten, and “Waltz For Debby” is much more charismatic than the prior.

The Jazz shuffle is full of energy, and the piano and double bass have some excellent solos.

3 – Crying (Roy Orbison)

“Crying” made the Billboard Top 10 for 1961, but since the album didn’t release until 1962 the website I use for research registers it as a 1962 song … so just consider it the album version, I guess?

I’ve mentioned how much I like it before – Orbison’s high-pitched vocals by the end never fail to give me goosebumps.

2 – Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

I have no idea how “Stand By Me” didn’t make the popular hits list – it’s a certified classic!

King’s lyrics and vocals are as powerful as they are catchy, and the energetic – albeit simple – bass and strings work well.

1 – Green Onions (Booker T. & The M.G.’s)

Another instrumental track topping one of these lists! But in the case of “Green Onions”, this track is a well-known hit.

The central riff is iconic, the electric organ and guitar solos are so cool, and the whole thing has a really slick sheen to it.

BEST SONG OF 1962 – “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Go (Dexter Gordon)

There’s been a lot of Blues and Jazz on these highest-rated album lists, so “Go” by Dexter Gordon doesn’t really stand out anymore.

4 – Coltrane “Live” At The Village Vanguard (John Coltrane)

John Coltrane’s style of music has always been a favourite of mine, so the fact he and his band sound so tight live is nothing to be scoffed at.

3 – Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music (Ray Charles)

Ray Charles is one of music history’s great singer-pianist-songwriters, and “Modern Sounds in Country And Western Music” is his magnum opus.

Every song here is really lovely, but individual tracks like “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “You Don’t Know Me” stand out. Plus it’s a double album!

2 – Howlin’ Wolf (Howlin’ Wolf)

Howlin’ Wolf provides some of the rawest, realest Blues you’re ever likely to hear.

Tracks like “Spoonful” have become classics over time, and others like “Little Red Rooster” and “Wang Dang Doodle” have a nice groove.

1 – Waltz For Debby (Bill Evans Trio)

The piano-centric Jazz present on “Waltz For Debby” is one of my favourite musical styles so far – Bill Evans crushed it!

The whole album is wonderful, but the first two tracks in particular are the true stand-outs.

BEST ALBUM OF 1962 – “Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music” (Ray Charles)

Final Thoughts

Quite a disappointing year on the whole. The popular and highest-rated songs were way more mundane than before, and the albums didn’t do it for me. Easily the worst year so far.

Overall Grade: D-

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: