Carole King

1962: Our Nominees for 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.

6th Class Results! A Big Class + A Ray Charles Debate for the Golden Vote

It’s the opposite of our last round of voting as multiple songs get inducted into the Hall of Songs! Plus, we discuss whether a certain Ray Charles song should get the Golden Vote, giving it special entrance into the Hall.

Here is the episode:

Okay. Don’t scroll if you want to be spoiled.

…

Alright. Let’s congratulate the following songs on making the Hall of Songs …

Shout / The Isley Brothers – 68% (2nd round)
Will You Love Me Tomorrow / The Shirelles – 68% (1st round)
At Last / Etta James – 68% (1st round) [Golden Vote]
What’d I Say / Ray Charles – 68% (2nd round) [Golden Vote]

Continuing to the next round of voting

Georgia on My Mind / Ray Charles – 56% (1st round)
Only the Lonely / Roy Orbison – 52% (1st round)
The Twist / Chubby Checker – 52% (1st round)
Tutti Frutti / Little Richard – 48% (6th round)
Wonderful World / Sam Cooke – 48% (1st round)
That’ll Be the Day / The Crickets – 44% (4th round)
Mack the Knife / Bobby Darin – 40% (2nd round)
Wake Up Little Susie / The Everly Brothers – 36% (4th round)
La Bamba / Ritchie Valens – 36% (3rd round)

Eliminated from the ballot

Jailhouse Rock / Elvis Presley – 32% (4th round)
I Only Have Eyes For You / The Flamingos – 32% (2nd round)
This Magic Moment / The Drifters – 32% (1st round)
Chain Gang / Sam Cooke – 32% (1st round)
The Great Pretender / The Platters – 28% (6th round)
Hound Dog / Elvis Presley – 28% (5th round)
Roll Over Beethoven / Chuck Berry – 24% (5th round)
Bye Bye Love / The Everly Brothers – 20% (4th round)
Save the Last Dance For Me / The Drifters – 20% (1st round)
Shop Around / The Miracles – 16% (1st round)
Cathy’s Clown / The Everly Brothers – 12% (1st round)
Lonely Teardrops / Jackie Wilson – 8% (3rd round)
There Goes My Baby / The Drifters – 8% (2nd round)
Dream Lover / Bobby Darin – 4% (2nd round)
Walk, Don’t Run / The Ventures – 4% (1st round)

1960: Our Nominees for the Hall of Songs

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.