It’s June 1963, and we’re going on a musical nostalgia-ride with Benjamin…  What was your favourite song of June 1963?  

The late, great Buddy Holly is back in the UK charts for the second time this year with Bo Diddley, three months after Brown Eyed Handsome Man.

The first single by Manfred Mann, Why Should We Not, an instrumental, was released in the UK, but with little success, so they enlisted vocal support from a certain Paul Pond. Changing his name to Paul Jones he became the vocalist during the group’s heyday. Their ’60’s hits included Do Wah Diddy Diddy; Hi Lili Hi Lo; Hubble Bubble Toil And Trouble; Come Tomorrow; 5-4-3-2-1; If You Gotta Go, Go Now; You Gave Me Somebody To Love; Oh No Not My Baby; Pretty Flamingo; Sha La La; and There’s No Living Without Your Loving.

On the 4^th the BBC in the UK, broadcast the first of a series of shows entitled Pop go The Beatles, which ran for 15 weeks, featuring eight or nine songs performed live by The Beatles, as well as a special guest star on each show.

On the 7^th The Rolling Stones made their debut TV appearance on Thank your Lucky Stars. They performed Come On which was released as a single the previous week. Meanwhile, Melody Maker Magazine reports that The Rolling Stones tour of America was disastrous.

Marvin Gaye with Pride And Joy enters the charts in the USA on the way to his first top-ten hit.

On the 29^th the first Beatles song enters the USA charts. Del Shannon hits the USA Hot 100 at number 77 with his cover version of Lennon & McCartney’s, From Me To You. It’s some recompense for all the years of British cover versions of American hits.

The Beatles were not the only phenomenon of 1963 – girl groups were now pumping out the hits. Before the girl groups there were groups of girls like The Andrews Sisters, The Beverly Sisters, The Chordettes, and The McGuire Sisters to name a few. The new phase of teenage angst, with adorable, heartbroken-but-loyal lyrics was started by a five-piece New York-based group The Chantels back in 1958 with Maybe. This style was carried on by The Shirelles recording of the powerful Dedicated To The One I Love, then the Gerry Goffin & Carole King classic Will You Love Me Tomorrow. The teenagers were left in no doubt about the erotic opening line: “Tonight you’re mine…completely”. Detroit’s Tamla Motown label then produced The Marvelettes who took Please Mr Postman to # 1in the USA, their other hits included Don’t Mess With Bill, Playboy, When You’re Young And In Love, Strange I Know, Someday, Someway and Twistin’ Postman.

Goffin& King then provided The Cookies with the hits Chains and Don’t Say Nothing Bad About My Baby as well as two smash hits for The Chiffons: One Fine Day and He’s So Fine. But the Svengali who provided 1963 with the girl group phenomenon was the so called Tycoon of Teen, Phil Spector, who introduced us to The Wall of Sound – more about him in later episodes.

The top ten for June 1963 in the USA:

1. It’s My Party – Lesley Gore
2. Sukiyaki – Kyu Sakamoto
3. Do Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals
4. I Love You Because – Al Martino
5. You Can’t Sit Down – The Dovells
6. Two Faces Have I – Lou Christie
7. If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul
8. Still – Bill Anderson
9. Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer – Nat ‘King’ Cole
10. Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys

The number ones in Australia for June 1963:
1^st 8^th 15^thTamoure – Bill Justis
22^nd 29^tIt’s My Party – Lesley Gore

In the UK:
1^st 8^th 15^thFrom Me To You – The Beatles
22^nd 29^thI Like It – Gerry & The Pacemakers

In the USA:
1^st 8^thIt’s My Party – Lesley Gore
15^th 22^nd 29^th Sukiyaki – Kyu Sakamoto

Listen to number one hit It’s my party below! 

What were your favourite songs from June in 1963? Tell us in the comments below…