Nostalgia

The best of May 1963

May 30, 2014

Rising fast on the charts world-wide is Lesley Gore’s It’s My Party, a song that raises teenage petulance to a new level art form. The song topped the charts in the USA and Australia, and peaked at number nine in the UK.

It’s My Party was first recorded by Helen Shapiro for her Helen in Nashville album in February 1963. Helen said: “Right from the first time we heard this song we thought we were going to sock them between the eyes with that one, back home”. But again Helen’s management blew it when they did not advance the release of the track and by the time the album was released in October it was considered a cover version. Lesley Gore went on to record her own answer to the song with Judy’s Turn To Cry and in 1964 a classic piece of feminist pop You Don’t Own Me, followed by Maybe I Know.

The once out-lawed Jerry Lee Lewis returns to the UK for a tour with Gene Vincent.

On the 3^rd Andrew ‘Loog’ Oldham and Andrew Easton sign The Rolling Stones to a management contract and a week later, The Stones with old friend Ian Stewart assisting, make their first recordings. They recorded Chuck Berry’s Come On, and Willie Dixon’s I Want To Be Loved, at The Olympic Studio in South London.

Bob Dylan refused to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show on the 11^th. He was told he would not be allowed to perform his song Talking John Birch Society Blues, because it allegedly put down the austere American Society.

The scaremongering had started, declaring, “Dylan’s protest songs were Kremlin inspired propaganda designed to brainwash the youth of the western world.” Talk about hypocrisy!

On the 12^th in California, USA, the first Monterey Folk Festival took place. Among the artists performing were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, The Weavers, and Peter, Paul & Mary.

On the 21^st Little Stevie Wonder records his first album The Twelve Year Old Genius at the Tamla Motown studio in Detroit, USA. Who cares if he has been 13 for eight days? Fingertips from the album reaches number one on both pop and rhythm and blues charts in the USA. But he would have to wait another 21 years for his first number one in the UK and Australia with I Just Called To Say I Love You.

Stevie Wonder out-stayed most of the artists he shared the charts with in 1963, his longevity is put down to the songs he writes from the heart. His debut hit was followed by Uptight (1965), Blowin’ In The Wind (1966), A Place In The Sun (1966), I Was Made To Love Her (1967), Shoo-be-doo-be-doo-da-day (1968), For Once In My Life (1969), Yesterme, Yesteryou, Yesterday (1969), My Cherie Amour (1969), Heaven Help Us All (1970) and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (1970).

He is still making hit records to this day including many collaborations with top artists like Paul McCartney – Ebony and Ivory in 1982, Elton John – I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues in 1983, USA for Africa – We Are The World in 1985, The Eurythmics – There Must Be An Angel Pplaying With My Heart in 1985, Dionne Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight – That’s What Friends Are For in 1985, Michael Jackson – Just Good Friends in 1987, and Julio Iglesias – My Love in 1988.

The top ten in Australia for May 1963: