Yes, we both love the Beatles. So for this bonus episode of Hall of Songs, we take some time to talk about our favorite artist: the four mop-tops from Liverpool.
Among the questions we answer: How we became fans of the group, our favorite (and least favorite) songs, how we listen to them today, and what we like most about their respective solo careers.
By the way … have you voted yet? Here is the current list of nominees:
Scroll down to vote! Then come back on Aug. 8, 2021, for our episode on 1964. Then, we’ll start voting for the 10th class of the Hall of Songs.
Welcome to Season Two of Hall of Songs. And welcome to an explosion of creativity.
This is the year when music changes throughout the world. Early rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues gets pushed aside for an even louder, more exciting sound. Whether it’s impeccable studio polish or, finally, really good young musicians who sing and write their own tunes, what comes out from the radio speakers is truly wondrous.
Of course, you’ll hear the Beatles in this episode, as 1963 marks the first year of their dominance (though most of it is spent in Britain). We’ll also hear from the Beach Boys, the Wall of Sound, and Motown, along with a young folk musician whose lyricism sets a high bar.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1963, plus tunes from 1962, 61, ’60, ’59, ’57, and ’55, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on August 6 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1963 nominees:
“Surfin’ USA” as performed by The Beach Boys
Written by Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry; recorded January 1963; released March 1963
“Twist and Shout” as performed by The Beatles
Written by Bert Berns and Phil Medley; recorded February 1963; released March 1963
“Louie Louie” as performed by The Kingsmen
Written by Richard Berry; recorded April 1963; released May 1963
“Fingertips – Parts 1/2 (Live)” as performed by Stevie Wonder
Written by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby; recorded May 1963; released May 1963
“Heat Wave” as performed by Martha and the Vandellas
Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland; recorded June 1963; released July 1963
“Be My Baby” as performed by The Ronettes
Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector; recorded July 1963; released August 1963
“Blowin’ in the Wind” as performed by Bob Dylan
Written by Bob Dylan; recorded July 1962; released August 1963
“She Loves You” as performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; recorded July 1963; released August 1963
“In My Room” as credited to by The Beach Boys
Written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher; recorded July 1963; released October 1963
“It’s All Right” as performed by The Impressions
Written by Curtis Mayfield; recorded summer 1963; released October 1963
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” as performed by Darlene Love
Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector; recorded September 1963; released November 1963
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” as performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; recorded October 1963; released November 1963
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 August 8, 2021, for our discussion on 1964.
We’ve nominated four songs from 1959 to ’62 for the Hall of Songs. They join the ballot starting with the ninth round of voting, which follows our 1963 episode.
The songs are “Think” by James Brown and the Famous Flames, “Turn On Your Lovelight” by Bobby Bland, “Up on the Roof” by the Drifters” and “She Thinks I Still Care” by George Jones.
After discussing the four nominees, we chat more about the period between ’58 and ’62, primarily the impact of the Nashville sound and advances in recording. We take extra time to talk about Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, and the Drifters.
Here’s the current list of nominees:
Come back on July 25, 2021, for our episode on 1963. Then, we’ll start voting for the ninth class of the Hall of Songs.
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.
One decade down, and Hall of Songs has seen a lot of Elvis Presley. So for this bonus episode, we chatted with Justin Gausman, co-host of TCBCast, the popular Elvis fan podcast, about the man, the myth … the King?
The illuminating conversation touches on perspectives and opinions of Elvis’ career and story, the songs of his that we’ve nominated for the Hall of Songs, and what 1960s and ’70s Elvis songs we should consider going forward.
By the way … have you voted yet? Here is the current list of nominees:
Scroll down to vote! Then come back on July 11, 2021, for our episode on 1962. Then, we’ll start voting for the eighth class of the Hall of Songs.
It’s 1961 and we’re twisting again on Hall of Songs! OK, “Let’s Twist Again” is not one of our 12 nominees from this year, BUT we talk about dance crazes before hopping into the new songs on the ballot.
We get to know some new artists for this episode, including Patsy Cline, Del Shannon, Dion, Dick Dale, and Howlin’ Wolf. Plus, we hear once again from established stars like Roy Orbison and Ben E. Keith (formerly of the Drifters), and the newly discharged Elvis Presley. And we travel back to Motown to find a girl group bursting onto the scene with an exciting song about the U.S. mail.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1961, plus tunes from 1960, ’59, ’58, ’57, and ’55, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on July 9 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1961 nominees:
“I Fall to Pieces” as performed by Patsy Cline
Written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard; recorded November 1960; released January 1961
“Runaway” as performed by Del Shannon
Written by Del Shannon and Max Crook; recorded January 1961; February 1961
“Running Scared” as performed by Roy Orbison
Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson; recorded February 1961; released March 1961
“Stand By Me” as performed by Ben E. Keith
Written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller; recorded October 1960; released April 1961
“Back Door Man” as performed by Howlin’ Wolf
Written by Willie Dixon; recorded June 1960; released spring 1961
“Crying” as performed by Roy Orbison
Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson; recorded June 1961; released July 1961
“Please Mr. Postman” as performed by The Marvelettes
Written by Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland, and Robert Bateman; recorded April 1961; released August 1961
“Let’s Go Trippin'” as performed by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones
Written by Dick Dale; recorded summer 1961; released September 1961
“Runaround Sue” as performed by Dion
Written by Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca; recorded summer 1961; released September 1961
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” as performed by Elvis Presley
Written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss; recorded March 1961; released October 1961
“Crazy” as performed by Patsy Cline
Written by Willie Nelson; recorded August 1961; released October 1961
“The Wanderer” as performed by Dion
Written by Ernie Maresca; recorded October 1961; released November 1961
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 11, 2021, for our discussion on 1962.
These are the 12 numbers from 1960 that we feel merit possible inclusion in our song hall of fame. We’re talking the most popular track in modern history, indelible treats that combine orchestral sweetness and polished rhythm and blues, and even some tunes you may consider standards.
For this episode we visit the Brill Building in New York City and Hitsville USA in Detroit. We also hear more examples of the burgeoning Nashville Sound. And yes, the seeds of the pop-rock explosion yet to come are sown. Some cool songs await you in this episode.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1960, plus tunes from 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, and 1955, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back in 12 days to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1959 nominees:
“This Magic Moment” as performed by The Drifters
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman; recorded December 1959; released January 1960
“Cathy’s Clown” as performed by The Everly Brothers
Written by Don Everly; recorded March 1960; released April 1960
“Wonderful World” as performed by Sam Cooke
Written by Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, and Sam Cooke; recorded March 1959; released April 1960
“Only the Lonely” as performed by Roy Orbison
Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson; recorded spring 1960; released May 1960
“Walk, Don’t Run” as performed by The Ventures
Written by Johnny Smith; recorded spring 1960; released June 1960
“The Twist” as performed by Chubby Checker
Written by Hank Ballard; recorded spring 1960; released June 1960
“Chain Gang” as performed by Sam Cooke
Written by Sam Cooke and Charles Cook Jr.; recorded January 1960; released July 1960
“Save the Last Dance For Me” as performed by The Drifters
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman; recorded spring 1960; released August 1960
“Georgia on My Mind” as performed by Ray Charles
Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell; recorded May 1960; released September 1960
“Shop Around” as performed by The Miracles
Written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy; recorded summer 1960; released September 1960
“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” as performed by The Shirelles
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King; recorded fall 1960; released November 1960
“At Last” as performed by Etta James
Written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren; recorded fall 1960; released November 1960
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 June 27, 2021, for our discussion on 1961.
With the hybrid genre of rock and roll fully established as the sound of young America, 1959 is a year when new sounds allow popular music to take massive leaps forward. For example, shot out of a cannon are massive tracks like “What’d I Say,” “Money,” and “Shout,” which herald rhythm and blues as not simply the sound of Black America, but the sound of the future.
1959 is also the year country music begins its great struggle to define itself. The Nashville Sound with its strings, heavenly background vocals, and polished production is about to break through; meanwhile, listeners this year get two different looks at country: “El Paso” showcases a throwback, Western story-song style, and “White Lightning” is a much more modern take on hillbilly drinking. These songs set the stage for the future of white rural music.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1959, plus tunes from 1958, 1957, 1956, and 1955, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back in 12 days to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1959 nominees:
“Peter Gunn” as performed by Ray Anthony
Written by Henry Mancini; recorded January 1959; released January 1959
“White Lightning” as performed by George Jones
Written by J.P. Richardson; recorded December 1958; released February 1959
“Come Softly to Me” as performed by The Fleetwoods
Written by Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel; recorded fall 1958; released February 1959
“Dream Lover” as performed by Bobby Darin
Written by Bobby Darin; recorded March 1959; released April 1959
“I Only Have Eyes For You” as performed by The Flamingos
Written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren; recorded October 1958; released April 1959
“There Goes My Baby” as performed by The Drifters
Written by Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson, and George Treadwell; recorded March 1959; released April 1959
“What’d I Say” as performed by Ray Charles
Written by Ray Charles; recorded February 1959; released June 1959
“Shout” as performed by The Isley Brothers
Written by O’Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley; recorded July 1959; released August 1959
“Money (That’s What I Want)” as performed by Barrett Strong
Written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy; recorded summer 1959; released August 1959
“Mack the Knife” as performed by Bobby Darin
Written by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Marc Blitzstein; recorded December 1958; released August 1959
“El Paso” as performed by Marty Robbins
Written by Marty Robbins; recorded April 1959; released October 1959
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 June 13, 2021, for our discussion on 1960.
We’ve added three songs to our Hall of Songs nominee list.
Those songs are “Twenty Flight Rock” by Eddie Cochran (1957), “Don’t Let Go” by Roy Hamilton (1958), and “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters (1958). In this episode we discuss those songs as we let them enter the voting process starting with the fifth class (May 30, 2021). We also talk about the voting so far, how we feel about the tunes in the Hall of Songs, and what performances have surprised us so far.
Here is the current list of nominees:
Come back on May 30, 2021, for our episode on 1959. Then, we’ll start voting for the fifth class of the Hall of Songs.
By 1958, it’s clear that teenagers have the power to set trends in America, and the biggest trend is the musical style known largely as rock and roll. From established artists like Little Richard and Chuck Berry to newcomers like Eddie Cochran and Link Wray, rock and roll is king, and the sound is now pushing into previously uncharted territory. The results are some of our 12 nominees from this year for the Hall of Songs.
Our nominees from this year include quintessential rock and roll classics like “Johnny B. Goode” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” plus crossover smashes like Jackie Wilson’s “Lonely Teardrops” and Lloyd Price’s “Stagger Lee.” Elsewhere, there were innovations in guitar and production with songs like “Rumble” and “Rebel-Rouser.”
While American listeners bought all the rock and roll they could handle, a gaggle of D-list songwriters attempted to get a piece of the pie with novelty songs that sounded like the hottest hits of the day.
But while the novelty songs try to take advantage of the popular new style of music, the songs throughout our 1958 nomination list actually show how the genres are splitting into their own subgenres. It’s clearly a time when popular music is branching out into new and interesting territories. Listen to our newest episode to get a sense of that period.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1958, plus tunes from 1957, 1956, and 1955, are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back in 12 days to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1958 nominees:
“Good Golly, Miss Molly” as performed by Little Richard
Written by John Marascalco and Robert Blackwell; recorded October 1956; released January 1958
“Tequila” as performed by The Champs
Written by Chuck Rio; recorded December 1957; released January 1958
“Rumble” as performed by Link Wray
Written by Milt Grant and Link Wray; recorded January 1958; released March 1958
“Johnny B. Goode” as performed by Chuck Berry
Written by Chuck Berry; recorded January 1958; released March 1958
“All I Have to Do is Dream” as performed by The Everly Brothers
Written by Boudleaux Bryant; recorded March 1958; released April 1958
“Rebel-‘Rouser” as performed by Duane Eddy
Written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood; recorded spring 1958; released May 1958
“Summertime Blues” as performed by Eddie Cochran
Written by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capeheart; recorded March 1958; released July 1958
“It’s Only Make Believe” as performed by Conway Twitty
Written by Conway Twitty and Jack Nance; recorded May 1958; released July 1958
“La Bamba” as performed by Ritchie Valens
Written by Ritchie Valens from traditional; recorded summer 1958; released October 1958
“Stagger Lee” as performed by Lloyd Price
Written by Lloyd Price and Harold Logan; recorded September 1958; released November 1958
“Lonely Teardrops” as performed by Jackie Wilson
Written by Berry Gordy, Roquel Davis and Gwendolyn Gordy; recorded summer 1958; released November 1958
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as performed by Brenda Lee
Written by Johnny Marks; recorded October 1958; released December 1958
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 May 30, 2021, for our discussion on 1959.
