6 of the 60s: 11/11/14 (1963)...

It's time for this week's 60s trip, and this time out I've got a half-dozen more nuggets from 1963, the year the Areceibo giant radio telescope opens in Puerto Rico.

The Chiffons - "He's So Fine"
from the album He's So Fine (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Ronnie Mack

The Tokens, who recorded the #1 hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", produced and played on this girl-group classic from the quartet from the Bronx.

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The Crystals - "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)"
from the album The Crystals Sing The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
Songwriters: Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector

A perfect counterpoint to the Chiffons' "doo-lang doo-lang doo-lang", this Wall Of Sound gem is a novelty and a masterpiece at the same time.

Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans - "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah"
from the album Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriters: Ray Gilbert, Allie Wrubel

This somewhat "dark" cover of the Disney song from Song Of The South was actually a spotlight for Darlene Love, who went on to much bigger success than "Bob B Soxx" aka Bobby Sheen...

The Orlons - "Not Me"
from the album Not Me (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12
Songwriters: Gary Anderson, Frank Guida

The Philadelphia girl-group's fourth top-20 pop hit from as many albums had a strange husky voice providing the titular tag.

The Ran-Dells - "The Martian Hop"
from the single (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriter: Robert Rappaport, John Sprit

This doo-wop group from South Jersey (Villas to be exact) didn't even get enough traction from this novelty to record a full album.

The Pixies Three - "Birthday Party"
from the album Party With The Pixies Three (1963)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #40
Songwriters: John Madeira, David White

The girl-group from central Pennsylvania put out a dance-novelty single called "The Hootch". Oopsies.

I'll be back tomorrow with seven more gems from 1973...