6 of the 60s: 7/23/14 (1960)

Humpday 60s flashback time is back, and this week I'm serving up a half-dozen more nuggets from 1960, the year that a US Air Force plane was shot down over Murmansk, Russia.

Brian Hyland - "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"
from the album The Bashful Blond (1961)
Billboard Hot 100 peak; #1
Songwriters: Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance

The summer novelty tune about a bashful girl would have nothing these days on the thong-donning Jersey Girls.

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Bobby Rydell - "Volare"
from the album Bobby Sings, Bobby Swings (1960)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Domenico Modugno, Mitchell Parrish

The Philly teen idol brought Eurovision to the young set as he covered this Italian Grammy-winner to prove his suave cred.

The Platters - "Harbor Lights"
from the album Reflections (1960)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriters: Jimmy Kennedy, Hugh Williams

The last top-10 pop hit for the groundbreaking African-American vocal group was a cover of a standard from 1937 recorded successfully before by Bing Crosby.

Johnny & The Hurricanes - "Beatnik Fly"
from the album The Big Sound of Johnny & The Hurricanes (1960)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15
Songwriters: Tom King, Ira Mack


The instrumental rock band from Toledo remade the former slave folk song into a party jam for the beach. For realz.

Brook Benton - "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread)"
from the album Songs I Love To Sing (1960)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #24
Songwriters: Rube Bloom, Johnny Mercer

The soul troubadour took this 40's hit and covered it with his smooth, smooth voice.

Monty Kelly - "Summer Set"
from the album Summer Set (1960)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #30
Songwriter: Acker Bilk

I can picture this being played on Don Draper's stereo as he woos whatever dame he's got there.

Tomorrow I'll have seven more from 1970 and 8 from 1980..