6 of the 60s: 10/2/13 (1963)...

Hey gang, I'm ready with another half-dozen nuggets from the 60s, and this week I'm back to 1963, the year Nigeria becomes an independent republic...(as always I've included links to buy anything on CD or MP3)...

Jimmy Soul - "If You Wanna Be Happy"
from the album If You Wanna Be Happy (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Carmela Guida, Frank Guida, Joseph Royster

This outrageously misogynist song was even worse in the song that inspired it, "Ugly Woman".

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Trini Lopez - "If I Had A Hammer"
from the album Trini Lopez at PJ's (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
Songwriters: Lee Hays, Pete Seeger

The Dallas native had the second top-10 version of this song on his live album from the year. The song originally was performed at a Communist Party gathering.

Inez Foxx with Charlie Foxx - "Mockingbird"
from the album Mockingbird (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7
Songwriters: Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx

The brother/sister team from North Carolina had the most infectious call and answer single of the year with this rework of an old lullaby called "Hush Little Baby".

Rufus Thomas - "Walking The Dog"
from the album Walking The Dog (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriter: Rufus Thomas

This soul nugget from the father of soul singer Carla was eventually covered by the Rolling Stones on their debut album...

Ray Barretto - "El Watusi"
from the album Charanga Moderna (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #17
Songwriter: Ray Barretto

The New York percussionist of Puerto Rican heritage played with the best of the bands before striking out on his own on this exotic little number.

The Four Seasons - "New Mexican Rose"
from the album Ain't That A Shame & 11 Others (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36
Songwriters: Charlie Calello, Bob Crewe

The co-writer of this weird little record, Calello would eventually join the group as bassist.

That's it for today's 60s flashback...I'll be back tomorrow with 7 more from 1973 and 8 from 1983.