1962 is a weird year in music. “The Twist” comes back early in the year, and some jazz musicians bring Brazilian bossa nova to America around the holidays. In between, it’s a whole lot of everything on the charts with some impressive leaps forward.
Among our 1962 nominees are three instrumentals, two songs from arguably the first true effort at a cohesive album, and recordings by self-contained groups that could sing and play instruments. You’ve definitely heard of them both.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1962, plus tunes from 1961, ’60, ’59, ’58, ’57, and ’55, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on July 23 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1961 nominees:
- “You Don’t Know Me” as performed by Ray Charles
- Written by Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold; recorded February 1962; released April 1962
- “I Can’t Stop Loving You” as performed by Ray Charles
- Written by Don Gibson; recorded February 1962; April 1962
- “Miserlou” as performed by Dick Dale
- Written by Nick Roubanis, Fred Wise, Milton Leeds and Chaim Tauber; recorded March 1962; released April 1962
- “The Loco-Motion” as performed by Little Eva
- Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King; recorded late 1961; released June 1962
- “Do You Love Me” as performed by The Contours
- Written by Berry Gordy Jr.; recorded June 1962; released June 1962
- “If I Had a Hammer” as performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
- Written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays; recorded early 1962; released July 1962
- “Sherry” as performed by The Four Seasons
- Written by Bob Gaudio; recorded July 1962; released August 1962
- “Telstar” as performed by The Tornados
- Written by Joe Meek; recorded July 1962; released August 1962
- “He’s a Rebel” as credited to by The Crystals
- Written by Gene Pitney; recorded July 1962; released August 1962
- “Green Onions” as performed by Booker T. & the M.G.’s
- Written by Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Lewie Steinberg and Al Jackson Jr.; recorded early 1962; released May and August 1962
- “Love Me Do” as performed by The Beatles
- Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; recorded September 1962; released October 1962
- “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” as performed by The Miracles
- Written by Smokey Robinson; recorded October 1962; released November 1962
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on July 25, 2021, for our discussion on 1963.