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.
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.
' 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.
Couple of ideas Wipeout - Surfaris My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels Up On the Roof - Drifters Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul & Mary
Why not throw the underdogs a bone or two ? Denise⸻Randy & the Rainbows https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Xy8XLKwec and surely you remember .. Last Prom⸻The Vulcaines
"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.
I would put 'Please Please Me' (released January 1963) on this list. This song too: Gerry and the Pacemakers - 'You'll Never Walk Alone'
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
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.
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
Not a new song in 1963, but if 'Louie Louie' qualifies I guess I can include this Ronnie Hawkins – Who Do You Love (1963, Vinyl)