6 of the 60s: 1/9/13...

It's been a month (between my 2012 recap and holiday slowdown) since my last 6 of the 60s, but it's time again for another half-dozen from the 60s, and we're back to 1961, the year the United States severed ties with Cuba.

Jimmy Dean - "Big Bad John"
from the album Big Bad John and Other Fabulous Songs and Tales (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

The future sausage king had his big Grammy-winning country spoken-word hit with this original B-side written about a "hell of a man" (which was neutered for being too racy for radio).

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The Mar-Keys - "Last Night"from the album Last Night (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

The "house band" for Stax Records gets their own time in the limelight with this rollicking number that's three minutes of horn and keyboard instrumental paradise.

The Paris Sisters - "I Love How You Love Me"
from the EP All Through The Night (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

The million-seller from the San Franciscan siblings was one of Phil Spector's first successes, but his cinematic soundscape was born fully complete.

Henry Mancini - "Moon River"
from the album Breakfast At Tiffany's (Original Soundtrack) (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11

Before Andy Williams made it his signature song, co-writer Mancini scored a Grammy and an Oscar for this classic theme from the Audrey Hepburn film.

 Elvis Presley - "Flaming Star"
from the EP Flaming Star (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14

Elvis would have been 78 yesterday, and this record had a promo tie-in with the Singer sewing machine company, from a movie that was his best acting performance.

The Vibrations - "The Watusi"
from the album Watusi! (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25

This record marked the third moniker the Los Angeleno soul group had scored top-40 hits with - before this they were the Jayhawks and the Marathons. They also recorded one of the early versions of "Hang On Sloopy".

Well that does it for this flashback. I'll be back tomorrow with 7 more from 1971 and 8 from 1981. But tonight it's what's going on Down Under (besides the incredible heat).