Every UK #1 Single of the 1960's Discussion Thread

Three steps to heaven
This type of ballad is the kind Eddie did best, instead of the crooner type ballads his debut LP was stuffed with, probably because of his label Liberty. Sadly by the time this came out, Eddie was already dead.

Gene Vincent's version of "Pistol packin' mama" shows his typical style of leaving out a good part of a song's lyrics. My favourite example of this is Gene's take on "Beautiful brown eyes" which is really cryptic and leaves a whole bunch of questions.

 

Eddie Cochran was 21 years old when he died. Unlike most performers at the time, he also wrote or co-wrote the majority of his material, played lead guitar, often also other instruments, and produced. He had already played on a great number of other artists' records too. Here's an interesting site by a Finnish expert presenting a long list of recordings with a "Cochran connection".
Eddie Cochran connection

 

Eddie Cochran - THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN
I like this. For such a young fella when he died he certainly influanced a few people later.
4/5

 

Likes...
1 - NEW - 21 - Cliff Richard And The Shadows - PLEASE DON'T TEASE
1 - NEW - 49 - Brenda Lee - I'M SORRY

 

It should be noted that 'SW' credited with the production on US pressings of "Three Steps To Heaven" was Liberty's founder, Simon (Si) Waronker, who was the namesake for one of David Seville's Chipmunks.

 

Eddie Cochran - Three Steps To Heaven

Just brilliant and like Buddy so talented for one so young and both tragically died in accidents with so much to offer and way too young.

When I first started buying records in 1974, there was a rock and roll revival going on and my first favourite band and first album bought with my own money was Showaddywaddy.

I think it can be said Showaddywaddy had a very strong affinity for music from the '50's and early' 60's. They later had big hits with both Buddy Holly's Heartbeat and Eddie's Three Steps To Heaven. However much love went into those covers, the originals remain untouched.

A few years later I was listening and buying Punk Rock, which I always believed had the spirit and rebellion of the early rockers and thought the Sid Vicious, Sex Pistols singles C'mon Everybody and Something Else, ironically both hits after his early death, brought the connection full circle.

 

#9 of 1960 (#107 in total) - "Good Timin' " by Jimmy Jones
(#1 for 3 weeks - 03 July-21 July 1960)

The UK single:

The US single:

Wikipedia entry

 

Week Ending 07 July 1960

04 - 02 - 01 - Jimmy Jones - GOOD TIMIN'
09 - 01 - 02 - Eddie Cochran - THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN
13 - 07 - 03 - The Everly Brothers - CATHY'S CLOWN
08 - 03 - 04 - Connie Francis - MAMA / ROBOT MAN
03 - 13 - 05 - Tommy Steele - WHAT A MOUTH (WHAT A NORTH AND SOUTH)
02 - 21 - 06 - Cliff Richard And The Shadows - PLEASE DON'T TEASE
07 - 04 - 07 - Tommy Bruce And The Bruisers - AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
04 - 14 - 08 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - DOWN YONDER
17 - 09 - 09 - Jimmy Jones - HANDY MAN
04 - 15 - 10 - Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - SHAKIN' ALL OVER
05 - 10 - 11 - Michael Cox - ANGELA JONES
12 - 05 - 12 - Johnny Preston - CRADLE OF LOVE
11 - 18 - 13 - Duane Eddy - SHAZAM!
07 - 06 - 14 - Lonnie Donegan - I WANNA GO HOME (THE WRECK OF THE JOHN "B")
02 - 08 - 15 - Adam Faith - JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME / MADE YOU
13 - 17 - 16 - Neil Sedaka - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
15 - 25 - 17 - Brenda Lee - SWEET NOTHIN'S
10 - 11 - 18 - Connie Stevens - SIXTEEN REASONS
04 - 22 - 19 - Frank Sinatra - RIVER, STAY 'WAY FROM MY DOOR
15 - 12 - 20 - Jim Reeves - HE'LL HAVE TO GO
03 - 30 - 21 - Teresa Brewer - HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
04 - 16 - 22 - Gene Vincent - PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA
07 - 38 - 23 - Bob Azzam And His Orchestra - MUSTAPHA
07 - 19 - 24 - Billy Fury With The Four Jays - THAT'S LOVE
1 - NEW - 25 - Ken Dodd - LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
07 - 27 - 26 - Emile Ford And The Checkmates - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSIN' 'TIL YOU TRY
08 - 20 - 27 - Billy Bland - LET THE LITTLE GIRL DANCE
08 - 28 - 28 - Russ Conway - LUCKY FIVE
08 - 24 - 29 - Freddy Cannon - THE URGE
1 - NEW - 30 - The Kaye Sisters - PAPER ROSES
12 - 23 - 31 - Steve Lawrence - FOOTSTEPS
1 - NEW - 32 - Sam Cooke - WONDERFUL WORLD
08 - 35 - 33 - The Fabulous Flee-Rekkers - GREEN JEANS
19 - 41 - 34 - Percy Faith And His Orchestra - THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"
07 - 31 - 35 - Buddy Holly - TRUE LOVE WAYS
05 - 37 - 36 - Sammy Masters - ROCKIN' RED WING
07 - 26 - 37 - Nat King Cole - THAT'S YOU
14 - 47 - 38 - Elvis Presley - STUCK ON YOU
02 - RE - 39 - The Beverley Sisters - GREEN FIELDS
02 - RE - 40 - The Brothers Four - GREENFIELDS
17 - 42 - 41 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - BEATNIK FLY
02 - 49 - 42 - Brenda Lee - I'M SORRY
13 - 43 - 43 - Adam Faith - SOMEONE ELSE'S BABY
1 - NEW - 44 - Garry Mills - LOOK FOR A STAR
1 - NEW - 45 - Buddy Greco - THE LADY IS A TRAMP
1 - NEW - 46 - Brian Hyland - ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKADOT BIKINI
03 - 48 - 47 - Jeanne Black - HE'LL HAVE TO STAY
1 - NEW - 48 - Ricky Nelson - YOUNG EMOTIONS
1 - NEW - 49 - The Avons - WE'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE
02 - 50 - 50 - Kenny Lynch - MOUNTAIN OF LOVE


Week Ending 14 July 1960

05 - 01 - 01 - Jimmy Jones - GOOD TIMIN'
03 - 06 - 02 - Cliff Richard And The Shadows - PLEASE DON'T TEASE
09 - 04 - 03 - Connie Francis - MAMA / ROBOT MAN
08 - 07 - 04 - Tommy Bruce And The Bruisers - AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
10 - 02 - 05 - Eddie Cochran - THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN
03 - 15 - 06 - Adam Faith - JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME / MADE YOU
06 - 11 - 07 - Michael Cox - ANGELA JONES
04 - 05 - 08 - Tommy Steele - WHAT A MOUTH (WHAT A NORTH AND SOUTH)
11 - 18 - 09 - Connie Stevens - SIXTEEN REASONS
05 - 10 - 10 - Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - SHAKIN' ALL OVER
14 - 03 - 11 - The Everly Brothers - CATHY'S CLOWN
18 - 09 - 12 - Jimmy Jones - HANDY MAN
05 - 08 - 13 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - DOWN YONDER
08 - 14 - 14 - Lonnie Donegan - I WANNA GO HOME (THE WRECK OF THE JOHN "B")
05 - 22 - 15 - Gene Vincent - PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA
16 - 17 - 16 - Brenda Lee - SWEET NOTHIN'S
13 - 12 - 17 - Johnny Preston - CRADLE OF LOVE
05 - 19 - 18 - Frank Sinatra - RIVER, STAY 'WAY FROM MY DOOR
08 - 24 - 19 - Billy Fury With The Four Jays - THAT'S LOVE
03 - 42 - 20 - Brenda Lee - I'M SORRY
08 - 26 - 21 - Emile Ford And The Checkmates - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSIN' 'TIL YOU TRY
16 - 20 - 22 - Jim Reeves - HE'LL HAVE TO GO
14 - 16 - 23 - Neil Sedaka - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
03 - RE - 24 - Anita Bryant - PAPER ROSES
12 - 13 - 25 - Duane Eddy - SHAZAM!
13 - 31 - 26 - Steve Lawrence - FOOTSTEPS
04 - 21 - 27 - Teresa Brewer - HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
02 - 25 - 28 - Ken Dodd - LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
03 - 39 - 29 - The Beverley Sisters - GREEN FIELDS
08 - 37 - 30 - Nat King Cole - THAT'S YOU
02 - 46 - 31 - Brian Hyland - ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKADOT BIKINI
08 - 23 - 32 - Bob Azzam And His Orchestra - MUSTAPHA
03 - 50 - 33 - Kenny Lynch - MOUNTAIN OF LOVE
02 - RE - 34 - Bobby Darin - BILL BAILEY WON'T YOU PLEASE COME HOME
09 - 27 - 35 - Billy Bland - LET THE LITTLE GIRL DANCE
1 - NEW - 36 - The Everly Brothers - WHEN WILL I BE LOVED
02 - 32 - 37 - Sam Cooke - WONDERFUL WORLD
09 - 33 - 38 - The Fabulous Flee-Rekkers - GREEN JEANS
1 - NEW - 39 - Anthony Newley - IF SHE SHOULD COME TO YOU (LA MONTANA)
02 - 44 - 40 - Garry Mills - LOOK FOR A STAR
20 - 34 - 41 - Percy Faith And His Orchestra - THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"
02 - 30 - 42 - The Kaye Sisters - PAPER ROSES
09 - 29 - 43 - Freddy Cannon - THE URGE
04 - 47 - 44 - Jeanne Black - HE'LL HAVE TO STAY
02 - 45 - 45 - Buddy Greco - THE LADY IS A TRAMP
03 - RE - 46 - Pat Boone - WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU
07 - RE - 47 - The Four Preps - GOT A GIRL
09 - 28 - 48 - Russ Conway - LUCKY FIVE
1 - NEW - 49 - John Barry And His Orchestra - NEVER LET GO
18 - 41 - 50 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - BEATNIK FLY


Week Ending 21 July 1960

06 - 01 - 01 - Jimmy Jones - GOOD TIMIN'
04 - 02 - 02 - Cliff Richard And The Shadows - PLEASE DON'T TEASE
09 - 04 - 03 - Tommy Bruce And The Bruisers - AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
06 - 10 - 04 - Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - SHAKIN' ALL OVER
04 - 06 - 05 - Adam Faith - JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME / MADE YOU
05 - 08 - 06 - Tommy Steele - WHAT A MOUTH (WHAT A NORTH AND SOUTH)
10 - 03 - 07 - Connie Francis - MAMA / ROBOT MAN
11 - 05 - 08 - Eddie Cochran - THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN
09 - 14 - 09 - Lonnie Donegan - I WANNA GO HOME (THE WRECK OF THE JOHN "B")
07 - 07 - 10 - Michael Cox - ANGELA JONES
03 - 31 - 11 - Brian Hyland - ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKADOT BIKINI
02 - 36 - 12 - The Everly Brothers - WHEN WILL I BE LOVED
04 - 20 - 13 - Brenda Lee - I'M SORRY
03 - 40 - 14 - Garry Mills - LOOK FOR A STAR
02 - 39 - 15 - Anthony Newley - IF SHE SHOULD COME TO YOU (LA MONTANA)
03 - 28 - 16 - Ken Dodd - LOVE IS LIKE A VIOLIN
19 - 12 - 17 - Jimmy Jones - HANDY MAN
06 - 15 - 18 - Gene Vincent - PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA
15 - 11 - 19 - The Everly Brothers - CATHY'S CLOWN
06 - 13 - 20 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - DOWN YONDER
17 - 16 - 21 - Brenda Lee - SWEET NOTHIN'S
17 - 22 - 22 - Jim Reeves - HE'LL HAVE TO GO
03 - 42 - 23 - The Kaye Sisters - PAPER ROSES
06 - 18 - 24 - Frank Sinatra - RIVER, STAY 'WAY FROM MY DOOR
09 - 19 - 25 - Billy Fury With The Four Jays - THAT'S LOVE
03 - 45 - 26 - Buddy Greco - THE LADY IS A TRAMP
03 - 37 - 27 - Sam Cooke - WONDERFUL WORLD
1 - NEW - 28 - Duane Eddy - BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG
05 - 27 - 29 - Teresa Brewer - HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
14 - 17 - 30 - Johnny Preston - CRADLE OF LOVE
1 - NEW - 31 - Rolf Harris - TIE ME KANGAROO DOWN SPORT
10 - 38 - 32 - The Fabulous Flee-Rekkers - GREEN JEANS
1 - NEW - 33 - Hollywood Argyles - ALLEY-OOP
13 - 25 - 34 - Duane Eddy - SHAZAM!
1 - NEW - 35 - The Shadows - APACHE
1 - NEW - 36 - Jan And Kjeld - BANJO BOY
15 - 23 - 37 - Neil Sedaka - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
09 - 21 - 38 - Emile Ford And The Checkmates - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSIN' 'TIL YOU TRY
1 - NEW - 39 - Jane Morgan - ROMANTICA
21 - 41 - 40 - Percy Faith And His Orchestra - THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"
18 - 43 - 41 - Freddy Cannon - THE URGE
19 - 50 - 42 - Johnny And The Hurricanes - BEATNIK FLY
1 - NEW - 43 - Conway Twitty - IS A BLUE BIRD BLUE
09 - 32 - 44 - Bob Azzam And His Orchestra - MUSTAPHA
02 - RE - 45 - The Avons - WE'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE
10 - 35 - 46 - Billy Bland - LET THE LITTLE GIRL DANCE
1 - NEW - 47 - George Formby - HAPPY GO LUCKY ME / BANJO BOY
04 - 24 - 48 - Anita Bryant - PAPER ROSES
1 - NEW - 49 - Fats Domino - WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS
1 - NEW - 50 - Jimmy Clanton - ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT

 

As to what'd be in my collection from this stretch (with some 'newies' among them highlighted accordingly) . . .

On two labels. First . . .

. . . and then . . .

(The Leader ish's the one I have.)

 

Now, for the rest of the fresh lot . . .

 

(When this charted in the U.S., it was a via a wholly different version on another label, in a few years' time . . . )

(Needless to say, it's the 1963 re-recording in my collection, not the 1960 original.)

 

Good timin'
Hadn't heard this one before. So that's where Del Shannon got his thing. Brilliant!

The Everly Brothers - When will I be loved
So simple yet wonderful.

Brian Hyland - Itsy bitsy etc.
Must have been a huge hit here, as it's still often on the radio, especially the translated version. Love it! Sounds very 60s already.

 

Theirs is much preferable, I.M.H.O., to a cover nearly a decade and a half later from someone who would come to be called the "Queen of Covers."

 

Oh, and I'd meant to peg "Good Timin' " as the 103d #1 song overall in the "Official"[sic] canon. Unfortunately, the time ran out before I could correct it.

 

Jimmy Jones - GOOD TIMIN'
Was Rob Halford influanced by this toon....???
3/5

 

Likes...
1 - NEW - 30 - The Kaye Sisters - PAPER ROSES
1 - NEW - 32 - Sam Cooke - WONDERFUL WORLD
1 - NEW - 36 - The Everly Brothers - WHEN WILL I BE LOVED
1 - NEW - 35 - The Shadows - APACHE

 

I do like Linda's covers!!

 

Jimmy Jones - Good Timin'

Not heard this before - not bad at all.