6 of the 60s: 4/24/13 (1964)...

We're up to this week's flashback to rock & roll's golden era, and this week I've got a half-dozen more nuggets from 1964, the year the Beatles occupied the entire Top 5 of Billboard's pop chart for a week in April....It's time to break out the Kleenex....

Bobby Vinton - "Mr. Lonely"
from the album Mr. Lonely (1964)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Bobby Vinton & Gene Allan

The third-best blue-eyed falsetto of the early 60s behind Valli and Orbison, Vinton's last #1 hit showed a depth that was only hinted at his start.

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Gerry & The Pacemakers - "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying"
from the album Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (1964)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriter: Gerry Marsden

George Martin worked his magic on this mature "getting over it" song that had an interesting Latin-style backbeat.

Roy Orbison - "It's Over"
from the album More Of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits (1964)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9
Songwriters: Roy Oribson, Bill Dees

Roy's sublime falsetto carried the heartbreak of this second-person missive, like a friend smacking you in the face with the truth.

Brenda Holloway - "Every Little Bit Hurts"
from the album Every Little Bit Hurts (1964)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13
Songwriter: Ed Cobb

One of Motown's early stars had a mournful, pleading moment with this soulful hit that sounds plucked out of Carole King's wheelhouse.

The Animals - "I'm Crying"
from the album The Animals On Tour (1965)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19
Songwriters: Eric Burdon, Alan Price

Damn, Eric didn't sound heartbroken, he sounded downright defiant in this rocker of a breakup number.

Gloria Lynne - "I Wish You Love"
from the album Gloria, Marty & Strings (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28
Songwriters: Charles Trenet, Lee Wilson (translation)

The Harlem-born jazz vocalist stays classy even at her lowest moment with this revamped French tune from the 40s. Sweet and yet so damn tear-inducing.

That's a wrap for this (sad) little trip to the 60s...I'll return tomorrow with 7 more from 1974 and 8 from 1984 (to lift the mood)...