Best Songs: 1963

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by oneofthesenames, Jul 27, 2021.

  1. oneofthesenames

    oneofthesenames Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston
    My buddy and I have a podcast where we're trying to determine the greatest songs ever, going year by year (link). We're now in 1963, and it's as if the quality and quantity just ballooned. Or, is it that we just have been a victim of critic lists for so long?

    Our list of 12 top songs from the year (rock and rock-adjacent) include:

    "Surfin' USA," The Beach Boys
    "Twist and Shout," The Beatles
    "Louie Louie," The Kingsmen
    "Fingertips Pts. 1/2 (Live)," Stevie Wonder
    "Heat Wave," Martha and the Vandellas
    "Be My Baby," The Ronettes
    "Blowin' in the Wind," Bob Dylan
    "She Loves You," The Beatles
    "In My Room," The Beach Boys
    "It's All Right," The Impressions
    "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," Darlene Love
    "I Want to Hold Your Hand," The Beatles

    We left so many off our list (we try to judge on the merits of popularity, impact, and influence more than just "do we like this song") and wonder if anyone thought something else should be here. Some on the outside included "Then He Kissed Me," "Walk Like a Man," "Act Naturally," "Another Saturday Night" ... the list was pretty large.
     
    Hermes, Fred1, Bevok and 2 others like this.
  2. Exotiki

    Exotiki The Future Ain’t What It Use To Be

    Location:
    Canada
    Although it didn’t do terrible well as a single upon initial release, I would argue Little Saint Nick has actually become more popular than In My Room.
     
  3. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    ' Sukiyaki ' by Kyu Sakamoto, a rare instance of a non-English song hitting #1 on the Billboard Top 40 charts. Catchy and beautiful.

    And don't forget ' He's So Fine ' by The Chiffons. George Harrison liked it.

    And! One of the biggest songs of the year: ' Dominque' by The Singing Nun, a very rare instance of a song hitting Number One sung by a nun.
     
    Fred1, MGM, MLutthans and 13 others like this.
  4. OneHandLoose

    OneHandLoose Moxie Drinker

    Location:
    MA, USA
    Couple of ideas

    Wipeout - Surfaris
    My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels
    Up On the Roof - Drifters
    Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul & Mary
     
  5. Crimson Witch

    Crimson Witch Roll across the floor thru the hole & out the door

    Location:
    Lower Michigan
    Dmac99 and oneofthesenames like this.
  6. Russ Gary

    Russ Gary Engineering Legend

    Good year for music.
     
  7. djl25

    djl25 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Rhode island
  8. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA
    Baby Washington-"That's How Heartaches Are Made"

     
  9. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    "Bad To Me" - Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas


     
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  10. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    'Pain in my Heart'

     
    Bob J, john lennonist and Adam9 like this.
  11. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA
    The Jaynetts-"Sally Go 'Round The Roses"

     
  12. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    "I Only Want To Be With You" - Dusty Springfield


     
  13. speedracer

    speedracer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cascadia
    "You're No Good" Dee Dee Warwick (Diane's sister)

    The rhythm section on this sounds like something Tom Waits would do, very angular, stark, and wooden, it is kind of scary.

     
    YardByrd, JDeanB, mlew and 5 others like this.
  14. andy749

    andy749 Senior Member

    "Surfin' Bird"
     
  15. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    "Move Over Darling" - Doris Day


     
    mlew, sound chaser, Mr Sam and 6 others like this.
  16. Two Sheds

    Two Sheds Sha La La La Lee

    I would put 'Please Please Me' (released January 1963) on this list. This song too:

    Gerry and the Pacemakers - 'You'll Never Walk Alone'

     
    goodiesguy, Hermes, Fred1 and 3 others like this.
  17. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA
    Mickey's Monkey-The Miracles

     
    Bob J, danasgoodstuff, Adam9 and 2 others like this.
  18. jbg

    jbg Senior Member

    Location:
    SC
    Here's my top 10...

    Up On the Roof - Drifters
    Cry Baby - Garnett Mimms and the Enchanters
    It's All Right - The Impressions
    Leavin' On Your Mind - Patsy Cline
    (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
    You've Really Got A Hold On Me - The Miracles
    I'm The One Who Loves You - The Impressions
    I Wanna Be Around - Tony Bennett
    Since I Fell For You - Lenny Welch
    In Dreams - Roy Orbison
     
  19. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    What a fantastic song. Shuffling swing with a somewhat creepy vibe.
    Big hit too, peaking at #2. Don't know what song kept it out of the top slot but it surely wasn't as good.
     
  20. John54

    John54 Senior Member

    Location:
    Burlington, ON
    Yes, the first truly great year for popular music!

    Here are most of my favourites, split up in blocks according to my approximate ratings (best at the top):

    Brenda Lee, Losing You
    Dusty Springfield, I Only Want to Be With You
    Roy Orbison, In Dreams
    Baby Washington, That's How Heartaches are Made [never heard this prior to 2016, sadly]
    Lou Christie, Two Faces Have I
    Jackie de Shannon, Needles and Pins
    Cliff Richard, Don't Talk to Him
    Eydie Gorme, Blame It On the Bossa Nova
    Supremes, When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
    Shirley Matthews, Big Town Boy
    Bob and Earl, Harlem Shuffle

    Darlene Love, Today I Met the Boy I'm Gonna Marry
    Crystals, Da Doo Ron Ron
    Dion, Donna Prima Donna
    Inez Foxx, Mockingbird
    Lesley Gore, Judy's Turn to Cry
    Barry & Tamerlanes, I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight
    Paul & Paula, First Day Back at School
    Randy & Rainbows, Denise
    Raindrops, The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget
    Raindrops, That Boy John
    Ran-Dells, Martian Hop
    Del Shannon, Little Town Flirt
    Martha & Vandellas, Heatwave
    Robin Ward, Wonderful Summer
    Exciters, Tell Him
    Beach Boys, Little Deuce Coupe
    Beach Boys, Little Saint Nick
    Beatles, Please Please Me
    Four Seasons, Marlena
    Four Seasons, Connie-O
    Gene Pitney, Mecca
    Peggy March, I Will Follow Him
    Connie Francis, My Best Friend Barbara
    Marketts, Out of Limits
    Ronettes, Be My Baby

    Angels, I Adore Him
    Cascades, Rhythm of the Rain
    Chantays, Pipeline
    Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire
    Lou Christie, The Gypsy Cried
    Crystals, He's Sure the Boy I Love
    Crystals, Then He Kissed Me
    Skeeter Davis, I Can't Stay Mad at You
    Dion, Drip Drop
    Lesley Gore, It's My Party
    Ian & Sylvia, Four Strong Winds
    Jaynetts, Sally Go Round the Roses
    Anita Kerr Singers, Waiting for the Evening Train
    Brenda Lee, My Whole World is Falling Down
    Miracles, Mickey's Monkey
    Del Shannon, Two Kinds of Teardrops
    Nino Tempo & April Stevens, Deep Purple
    Doris Troy, Just One Look
    Beatles, Be True to Your School
    Gerry & Pacemakers, How Do You Do It
    Gerry & Pacemakers, I Like It
    Jimmy Soul, If You Wanna Be Happy
    Beatles, From Me to You
    Four Seasons, New Mexican Rose
    Four Seasons, Walk Like a Man
    Four Seasons, Candy Girl
    Gene Pitney, True Love Never Runs Smooth
    Jan & Dean, Dead Man's Curve
    Orlons, Not Me
    Orlons, Crossfire
    Essex, Walkin' Miracle
    Elvis Presley, Devil in Disguise
    New Christy Minstrels, Green Green
    Dionne Warwick, Don't Make Me Over
    Dionne Warwick, Anyone Who Had a Heart
    Billy J. Kramer & Dakotas, Bad to Me
    Tornadoes, Robot
    Tornadoes, Ice Cream Man
    Misty & Do-Drops, Answer Me My Love [never heard this until a few years ago]
    Garnet Mimms & Enchanters, Cry Baby
    Martha & Vandellas, Come and Get these Memories
    Bobby Curtola, Move Over
    Bobby Rydell, Forget Him
    Little Eva, Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
    Jimmy Gilmer & Fireballs, Sugar Shack

    Caravelles, You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry
    Dakotas, Cruel Sea
    Paul & Paula, Hey Paula
    Gene Pitney, Half Heaven Half Heartache
    Orlons, South Street
    Dixiebelles, Down at Papa Joe's
    Essex, Easier Said Than Done
    Shadows, Guitar Tango
    Searchers, Sweets for My Sweet
    Angels, My Boyfriend's Back
    Duprees, Have You Heard
    Ned Miller, From a Jack to A King

    The following are highly likeable songs from my ongoing "recent discoveries" file -

    Lori Martin, The Home of the Boy I Love
    Marvelettes, As Long As I Know He's Mine
    Darnells, Too Hurt to Cry
    Luvs, We Kiss in the Shadow
    Sandy Selsie, When Jimmy Comes Home
    Bobby Paris, Who Needs You
    Josephine Sunday, Every Little Tear
    Dorothy Berry, You're So Fine
    Dorothy Berry, Crying on My Pillow
    Gloria Melbourne, Don't Let Him
    Lady Luck & the Lullabies, Young Stranger
    Neil Sheppard, In My Imagination
    Garnet Mimms, Tell Me Baby
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2021
    John B Good, Bob J, Damiano54 and 8 others like this.
  21. speedracer

    speedracer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cascadia
    x2 this one deserves to be in the OP list, one of the best somgs ever!
     
  22. oneofthesenames

    oneofthesenames Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston
    Roy Orbison has become such a find for me lately. His stuff is so beautiful and haunting.
     
  23. oneofthesenames

    oneofthesenames Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Houston
    Fantastic list! Looking forward to hearing all these!
     
    John54 likes this.
  24. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
  25. lavalamp3

    lavalamp3 Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Dave Clark 5 - Glad All Over (Nov, ‘63)

     

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