6 of the 60s: 3/5/14 (1962)...

"Hump Day" 60s flashback time is here, and this week I'm back to 1962, the year the first Kmart opened in Garden City outside of Detroit, Michigan. Grab those blue light specials!

Little Eva - "The Loco-Motion"
from the album Lllllloco-motion (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Gerry Goffin, Carole King

The songwriting team's babysitter was rewarded in spades with a #1 hit supposedly inspired by her dancing with the kids. Sadly, she also inspired their domestic violence song "He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)".

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


The Sensations - "Let Me In"
from the album Let Me In/Music Music Music (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriter: Yvonne Baker

One of the less common female-led doo-wop groups, this quartet from Philly had their biggest hit written by their singer Yvonne Baker.

Ernie Maresca - "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)"
from the album Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6
Songwriters: Ernie Maresca, Thomas Bogdany

The Bronx native who wrote a chunk of Dion's biggest hits had his moment in the sun with this solo number.

Chubby Checker - "Popeye The Hitchhiker"
from the album All The Hits For Your Dancin' Party (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriters: Dave Appell, Kal Mann

The twistin' king paid his homage to the spinach-eating strongman with this tie-in to the fad dance the Hitch-hike, which didn't take off as well (though even Marvin Gaye got in on the action)...

Joey Dee and the Starliters - "What Kind Of Love Is This"
from the album Two Tickets To Paris (Original Soundtrack) (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18
Songwriter: Johnny Nash

The band's song from their second featured movie role, which starred Gary Crosby, now better known as the son who wrote the tell-all about his father Bing's abuse.

Sandy Nelson - "Drums Are My Beat"
from the album Drums Are My Beat (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #29
Songwriter: Sandy Nelson

The title track to the top ten album from the renown early-rock drummer.

I'll be back tomorrow with 7 more from 1972 and 8 from 1982..