6 of the 60s: 8/27/14 (1963)

6 of the 60s is back after a two-week vacation, with a half-dozen more nuggets from 1963, the year of the Great Train Robbery in England, memorialized on film in Phil Collins' Buster in the late 80s....

Lesley Gore - "It's My Party"
from the album I'll Cry If I Want To (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: John Gluck, Wally Gold, Herb Weiner

One of legendary producer Quincy Jones' first big pop successes, "It's My Party" almost came out as a Wall Of Sound production for Phil Spector's Crystals. In 2006, Gore would come out of the closet as a lesbian in an interview.

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The Exciters - "Tell Him"
from the album The Exciters (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriter: Bert Russell

The vocal quartet from Queens featured married couple Brenda Reid and Herb Rooney, who would eventually perform as a duo. This song always reminds me of its placement in The Big Chill.

Paul & Paula - "Young Lovers"
from the album Sing For Young Lovers (1962)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6
Songwriters: Ray Hildebrand, Jill Jackson

The duo (actually Ray and Jill) wrote this follow-up to their titular debut #1 hit together.

Robin Ward - "Wonderful Summer"
from the album Wonderful Summer (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14
Songwriters: Perry Botkin Jr, Gil Garfield

This session singer from Hawaii had her one moment in the sun with this seasonal treat, then went back to singing themes for TV and movies.

Bobby Rydell - "Wildwood Days"
from the album Wild (Wood) Days (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #17
Songwriters: Dave Appell, Kal Mann

Back when the beach resort was one of the hippest places in the country to catch the latest stars, teen idol Rydell made his own record hyping the town.

Little Peggy March - "I Wish I Were A Princess"
from the album I Will Follow Him (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #32
Songwriters: Luigi Creatore, Hugo Perretti, George David Weiss

Her second top-40 hit after her debut #1 "I Will Follow Him", the teenage singer was embezzled by her first manager, but she found a husband in her second one.