1963: THE TOP 100 SONGS. This post: #100-1. A new countdown begins tomorrow.

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1963

THE 100 GREATEST SONGS

-MXCLXIII-

1963 was the year that the Profumo Scandal rocked the British Cabinet; Pope John XXIII died; Tito became “President For Life”; Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech; a “hot line” was established between Washington & Moscow; Kenya achieved its independence and the world was shocked by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The suspect Lee Harvey Oswald was killed 2 days later. Cinemagoers bought tickets to see films like ‘The Great Escape’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Irma La Douce’ and ‘From Russia With Love’. Sidney Poitier became the first person of colour to win an Oscar for a leading role (in ‘Lilies Of the Field’).

During the tumultuous year, the music industry too experienced a radical shake-up. 1963 was a year of change- audiences discovered Barbra Streisand, Little Stevie Wonder and a group from Liverpool whose impact on popular culture is still reverberating today: The Beatles. Here are 100 songs representing the best of the music released during that year. 

1

BE MY BABY

The Ronettes

Phil Spector was a genius in the recording studio. He created his sublime Wall Of Sound and applied it to many pop nuggets. As well as producing “Be My Baby”, he co-wrote the song with Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. The recording is still cherished as a landmark girl group track. Ronnie Bennett executes the song with a unique attitude. She sings the verses with a coquettish “come hither”, yet equally innocent persuasion. The single reached #2 in America and #4 in the UK. 

2

SHE LOVES YOU

The Beatles

The Beatles stood out for not only possessing sharp instincts in songcraft, but for writing the bulk of the material recorded. This was still a rarity in pop music. As was the custom between Paul McCartney and John Lennon, they shared songwriting credits on “She Loves You”. The single reached #1 in America, Britain, Canada, many European countries and New Zealand. 

3

(LOVE IS LIKE A) HEAT WAVE

Martha & The Vandellas

Motown was starting to score hits with acts such as Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes and Martha & The Vandellas in 1963. The latter was easily the leading girl group on the label, to be eclipsed by The Supremes in 1964. “Heat Wave” is one of the best Motown releases. It was written by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland. The latter two also handled production. On the Billboard Soul Chart, it stayed on top for four weeks. The disc peaked at #4 Pop in America.

 

4

FALLING

Roy Orbison

Another example of The Big O’s skill as a vocalist, drawing from opera, pop and rock to deliver one of the most thrilling songs of the year. Roy Orbison penned the song himself. It was a Top 10 hit in Britain, the U.S. and Australia. 

5

I SAW HER STANDING THERE

The Beatles

“I Saw Her Standing There” was an irresistible song that helped propel The Beatles to superstardom. It was the opening track on the group’s first UK LP ‘Please Please Me’ and American debut album ‘Introducing… The Beatles’. This was also the B-side to the band’s major hit single “I Want To Hold Your Hand”. Peaking at #14 in the U.S. in its own right, the disc also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, Denmark and New Zealand. 

6

IN DREAMS

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison’s lyrics for “In Dreams” describe a man lost in his love for a woman. As the song continues, we realise that the couple are only together in his dreams. In reality, she has left him. Orbison injects drama and emotion into this gem with his operatic approach to rock music. The single was a #1 hit in Australia and made the Top 10 in America, Britain and Canada. 

 

7

RING OF FIRE

Johnny Cash

Country titan Johnny Cash knew what he was doing when he approached covering “Ring Of Fire”. The song was co-written by June Carter, who later became his wife. Cash’s take added an essential and contrasting difference to the original version by his future sister-in-law Anita Carter: mariachi horns. His interpretation topped Billboard’s Country Chart and reached #17 Pop. 

 

8

TWIST AND SHOUT

The Beatles

The Isley Brothers had scored a hit with “Twist And Shout” in 1962. A remake by The Beatles was included on the UK band’s debut album ‘Please Please Me’. The Fab Four’s version was produced by George Martin. In America, the single peaked at #2. This cover version was revived in 1986 due to its inclusion in the film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. A re-issue of The Beatles’ remake reached #23 in the U.S.

9

IT’S MY PARTY

Lesley Gore

This single is significant because it was the first #1 single produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. It was Lesley Gore’s debut single and is still regarded as one of the standout pop recordings by female artists in the 1960s.

 

10

YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

Gerry & The Pacemakers

Gerry & The Pacemakers, a group from Liverpool, England reinvented a song from the 1945 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “Carousel” so effectively that its remake remains a timeless anthem to this day. The single ruled the UK chart for a month and also reached #1 in Australia and New Zealand. George Martin, who also produced that other Liverpudlian band- The Beatles- helmed this recording.

 

11 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee

12 MONEY (THAT’S WHAT I WANT) The Beatles

13 WALK LIKE A MAN The Four Seasons

14 THEN HE KISSED ME The Crystals

15 LOVER, COME BACK TO ME Barbra Streisand

16 CAN I GET A WITNESS Marvin Gaye

17 DA DOO RON RON The Crystals

18 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles

19 BUSTED Ray Charles

20 I WILL FOLLOW HIM Little Peggy March

 

21 ONE FINE DAY The Chiffons

22 PRIDE AND JOY Marvin Gaye

23 GET HIM The Exciters

24 (YOU’RE THE) DEVIL IN DISGUISE Elvis Presley

25 I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU Dusty Springfield

26 DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET The Beatles

27 RHYTHM OF THE RAIN The Cascades

28 PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN The Beatles

29 BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND Bob Dylan

30 LITTLE DEUCE COUPE The Beach Boys

 

31 TILL THERE WAS YOU The Beatles

32 HE’S GOT THE POWER The Exciters

33 SURF CITY Jan & Dean   

34 BLUE BAYOU Roy Orbison

35 PLEASE PLEASE ME The Beatles

36 CRY ME A RIVER Barbra Streisand

37 MOVE BABY MOVE Johnny O’Keefe

38 JUDY’S TURN TO CRY Lesley Gore

39 FINGERTIPS (Part 2) Stevie Wonder

40 HE’S SO FINE The Chiffons

 

41 ALL MY LOVING The Beatles

42 MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK The Angels

43 SUMMER HOLIDAY Cliff Richard

44 ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT Sam Cooke

45 A FORCE DE PRIER Nana Mouskouri

46 MOCKINGBIRD Inez & Charlie Foxx

47 NOT RESPONSIBLE Helen Shapiro

48 WALKING THE DOG Rufus Thomas     

49 YOU’RE NO GOOD Betty Everett

50 SURFIN’ U.S.A. The Beach Boys

 

51 LOCKING UP MY HEART The Marvelettes

52 HITCH HIKE Marvin Gaye

53 GLAD ALL OVER Dave Clark Five   

54 COME TO THE SUPERMARKET (IN OLD PEKING)

Barbra Streisand

55 IT WON’T BE LONG The Beatles

56 TWENTY FOUR HOURS FROM TULSA Gene Pitney

57 LOUIE LOUIE The Kingsmen   

58 DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY The Exciters

59 SO MUCH IN LOVE The Tymes

    60 OUR DAY WILL COME Ruby & The Romantics

 

61 IN MY ROOM The Beach Boys

    62 DEEP PURPLE Nino Tempo & April Stevens

63 I WANNA BE YOUR MAN The Beatles

64 EASIER SAID THAN DONE The Essex

65 THERE’S A PLACE The Beatles

66 PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON Peter, Paul & Mary

    67 HOW DO YOU DO IT? Gerry & The Pacemakers

68 I (WHO HAVE NOTHING) Shirley Bassey

69 DEVIL IN HER HEART The Beatles

70 COME AND GET THESE MEMORIES

Martha & The Vandellas

 

71 LUCKY LIPS Cliff Richard

72 THE END OF THE WORLD Skeeter Davis

73 MASTERS OF WAR Bob Dylan

74 SUGAR SHACK Freddie Gilmer & The Fireballs

75 T’EN VA PAS Esther Ofarim

   76 TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART Ray Charles

     77 DANCE ON Kathy Kirby

    78 WIPE OUT The Surfaris 

79 UNO PER TUTTE Emilio Pericolli

80 CRY BABY Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters

 

81 I LIKE IT Gerry & The Pacemakers

     82 LITTLE TOWN FLIRT Del Shannon

83 SUKIYAKI Kyu Sakamoto

84 PIPELINE The Chantays

    85 NO TRESPASSING Helen Shapiro

86 IT’S ALL RIGHT The Impressions

87 DON’T SAY NOTHING BAD ABOUT MY BABY The Cookies

88 LET’S LIMBO SOME MORE Chubby Checker

89 SECRET LOVE Kathy Kirby

90 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Matt Monro

 

91 ALL ALONE AM I Brenda Lee

92 HALF HEAVEN- HALF HEARTACHE Gene Pitney

93 DO THE BIRD Dee Dee Sharp

94 YOU’LL NEVER CHERISH A LOVE SO TRUE Johnny O’Keefe

95 DOMINIQUE The Singing Nun

96 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU Andy Williams

 97 DO YOU LOVE ME? Brian Poole & The Tremeloes

98 SHE’S A FOOL Lesley Gore

99 THOSE LAZY-HAZY-CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER Nat King Cole

100 55 DAYS AT PEKING Rob E.G.

 

 

Check out the playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/512uVzpWtLAslTGBF9gw1k?si=c0d6ee7316eb41d5