6 of the 60s: 10/17/12...

Hey folks, it's time for another delve into the 60s with a half-dozen more nuggets from 1962, the year that saw the debut of The Incredible Hulk in the comics.

Shelley Fabares - "Johnny Angel"
from the album Shelley! (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

Before there was Hannah Montana and Victoria Justice, TV stars were co-opted for pop records just the same. In this case, Shelley Fabares from The Donna Reed Show got herself a #1 hit, albeit a 10x classier one with backup vocals from Darlene Love to boot.

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The Crystals - "He's A Rebel"
from the album He's A Rebel (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

Phil Spector was the bad boy to this group, subbing in Darlene Love and the Blossoms for the "true" Crystals, who were unavailable to record this before a competing record company put out their version. Still another reason Gene Pitney was the best songwriter of the early 60s.


James Darren - "Her Royal Majesty"
from the album Teenage Triangle (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6

Before he was on TJ Hooker, James Darren was a TV pop idol like Fabares, this time on the Gidget show. This is one of Carole King's first writing successes.


Billy Vaughn - "A Swingin' Safari" 
from the album A Swingin' Safari (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13

The frolicking instrumental heard on Mad Men was the original theme song for The Match Game (by Bert Kaempfert).


Elvis Presley - "Rock A Hula Baby"
from the album Blue Hawaii (Soundtrack) (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #23

The absolute campiest Elvis you're ever gonna get, from my favorite Presley movie. He's quite in on the joke by now that he'll never be a serious actor, so he's like "just fuck it all"...


Etta James - "Something's Got A Hold On Me"
from the album Etta James (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37

If you just know the riff from Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" (or rather Avicii's "Levels"), you need to Etta tear through the real thing.

That does it for this installment...tomorrow I'll be bringing out 7 from 1972 and 8 from 1982. But tonight I'll bring you the latest from Australia...Cheers!