6 of the 60s: 12/11/13 (1963)...

It's time to serve up another half-dozen nuggets from the 60s, and this week's I'm back to 1963, the year of the start of the Warren Commission that investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy. 

(As usual I've included links to buy anything if possible)

The Village Stompers - "Washington Square"
from the album Washington Square (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriters: Bob Goldstein, David Shire

The eclectic Greenwich Village band that combined folk music and Dixieland strings and brass had a big hit with this song that made the runner-up spot the week JFK was shot.

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Barbara Lewis - "Hello Stranger"
from the album Hello Stranger (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
Songwriter: Barbara Lewis

One of the most sublime of the early-60s soul records, the Michigan singer wrote this #1 soul hit and employed the Dells to sing backup.

Ned Miller - "From A Jack To A King"
from the album From A Jack To A King (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6
Songwriter: Ned Miller

This record was one of the few country records that became a big hit "across the pond" in Great Britain....

The Crystals - "He's Sure The Boy I Love"
from the album He's A Rebel (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11
Songwriters: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Darlene Love "Milli Vanilli'd" the vocals on this followup to their #1 "He's A Rebel" (also sung by Love)...

Connie Francis - "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter"
from the album I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18
Songwriters: Mark Barkan, Hank Hunter

This fireside-friendly seasonsal pop track was redone in 2008 by British singer Gabrielle Cilmi, making the top-40 in the UK....

Johnny Mathis - "Every Step Of The Way"
from the album I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #30
Songwriters: Robert Allen, Al Stillman

I'll close this out with a song of devotion and perseverance from the iconic vocalist.