TODAY : 20 FAVORITE FEMME RECORDS OF....1960
1. A FOOL IN LOVE – IKE & TINA TURNER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNGo-cwll20
The first “Ike & Tina Turner” record proper (tho Tina does appear as “Annie Mae
Bullock” on the Tune Town single in 1958). Tho credited that way Tina is doing
all the heavy lifting here with what passes as the 1960 version of The
Ikettes ably backing her.Ike takes care of the solid instrumental
backing. On the Sue label this charted #27 BBpop and #2 BBr&b. Released
on London in UK but failed to chart
2. AT LAST – ETTA JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZag0E32is0
Magnificent revival of the great old standard first recorded by Glenn
Miller & His Orchestra in 1941 (also a great version!) made more famous
over here since many folk choose it as a wedding song (exactly as my step-daughter did for her nuptials a few years back). Charted #47 BBpop
#2 BBr&b. We got it in UK on Pye International (but not until well into
1961) but it was non-charting
3. WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW – THE SHIRELLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84YVaS8Njc
I’ve yet to have one pass thru my hands but there are early copies of
this out there simply titled “Tomorrow”.However it’s titled--in my book its one of the best girl group records and certainly the Shirelles
greatest. As it is also one of the greatest (and earliest) Goffin & King compositions. Recorded for Scepter it reached #1 BBpop and #2BB r&b. And
just to complete the sequence it reached #3 on UK chart on Top Rank
label in 1961
4. BYE BYE BABY – MARY WELLS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djERhsekPcY
The very first Mary Wells record to be released and the first record on
the actual Motown label to make the charts (#45 BB pop #8 BB r&b) .”Bye
Bye Baby” was also a self composed Mary Wells song. Not released in UK
5. I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU – ETTA JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4_We_kmuVc
The flip side of “At Last” (#2 above) which revives the old Willie Dixon number
first recorded by Muddy Waters (as “Just Make Love To Me”) in 1954. UK release
was the flip of “At Last” too and there was further public interest in
the song too here in UK a few years back when it was used in a popular
Diet Coke TV advert (remember America’s three greatest gifts to the
world – Rock ‘N’ Roll, Mickey Mouse and Coca Cola)
6. I IDOLIZE YOU -IKE & TINA TURNER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eVzqpCNs9c
Tina here relating the latest sprightly episode in the continuing Ike &
Tina love story (that in reality was wayyy too often anything but) with
their latest 45 on Sue (the track will also grace their first Sue LP in
1962). Charted at #82 BBpop and #5 BBr&b
7. TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT – THE SHIRELLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUMefeCTfJM
Classic example of a flipside becoming the most famous side and the best selling
side of the record not to mention being the curtain raiser to their real
smash that will follow this one (see #3 above). A good seller for
Scepter this one peaked at #39 BBpop and #14 BBr&b (not bad considering
the gals had to face a note-for-note cover from another gal group The Chiffons--NOT the “He’s So Fine” gals these were a West Coast outfit who sounded something like this) :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLdluWB0jQ
On London in the UK (The Shirelles that is) but did not chart
8. ALL IN MY MIND – MAXINE BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ep6CfmC9Aw
Not many records from this period come quite as exquisite and beautiful
as this
great debut from Miss Maxine Brown on the very short lived Nomar label
(a NYC label out of the Brill building).Charted #19 BBpop #2 BBr&b. We
got it in UK on London but never charted
9. ANGEL BABY – ROSIE & THE ORIGINALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__XRpRvCIlU
THE famous "soooo bad that it's good" record that just about everyone
seems to LOVE!! (and none more so than John Lennon who named it one of
his fave records of all time on TV). Count me in too!! On the Highland
label it reached #5 on both pop and r&b charts in BB. Now here in the UK
London issued a completely different take of the record which despite
some good airplay still failed to chart.Lennon obviously bought one and
I bought one so that’s halfway to the UK chart 😊
Here’s the version we got
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nOE534rb30
10. TILL THERE WAS YOU – PEGGY LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGJxA-Xyiyk
Complete change of pace now but the Beatle connection is still there---a
tune
from an otherwise dire show “The Music Man”(I watched a few moments of
the movie once—ughh!) but I always liked this song from it. As did Mr
Paul McCartney who managed to get a not bad Beatles recording released
of it. But Peg nails it for me On her 1960 “Latin Ala Lee!” LP.Capitol
here in UK also released it a a single in February 1961
11. A GOOD MAN – IRMA THOMAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkAArS-Ye4o
The insistent and catchy followup to her great “Don’t Mess With My Man”. As with
her earlier record “A Good Man” appears on the Ron label of New Orleans released
circa April 1960. No chart action. No UK release
12. I SHOT MR. LEE – THE BOBBETTES (ATLANTIC VERSION)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5qgWP6PflI
Rare case here of the same song sequelling the same original record
released in
TWO different versions on two different labels. Having left Atlantic the
label that gave the group a huge hit with their earlier “Mr Lee”--the
girl group signed with Triple-X label who rushed out a sequel “I Shot Mr Lee” apparently unaware that the girls had left an unissued different
version of the song with Atlantic. When the obvious next move happened
the Bobbettes found themselves pitted against…um..The Bobbettes on their former label. On the charts the
Triple-X version won reaching #52 BBpop. But on the turntable that
REALLY counts—mine—the Atlantic version was way out in front. Both
versions appeared in UK – the Atlantic on London the Triple-X on Pye International. Neither charted, For reference here is the Triple-X
version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6qStEbd8bY
13. THAT’S ALL YOU GOTTA DO – BRENDA LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaXOvrHVwCQ
The rockin’ uptempo side of Brenda’s first #1 single “I’m Sorry”.Recorded on the
first day of a 3 day session series at Bradley Studio in Nashville where Brenda’s session guys include the familiar Hank Garland (gtr) Grady
Martin (gtr) Harold Bradley (bs gtr) Bob Moore (bass) Buddy Harman (dms)
Floyd Cramer (pno) Boots Randolph (sax) + Anita Kerr Singers. Tracks
recorded are “That’s All You Gotta Do” and “I Want To Be Wanted”.The former reaches #6 BBpop and #19 as the flip of her #1 Decca smash “I’m Sorry”. On Brunswick in UK but the side here did not chart
14. TODAY I SING THE BLUES – ARETHA FRANKLIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8B4lE6698
Backed by the Ray Bryant Combo and produced by John Hammond the eighteen
year old Aretha arrives at Columbia Records and releases her first
recording for them “Today I Sing The Blues” signallng the start of a sparkling career and a host of truly dynamite recordings over the years.
The record charts on the BBr&b chart at #10.On Fontana in UK but no
chart action
15. MANY TEARS AGO – CONNIE FRANCIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYhANiQId84
Connie could make a good record when she really tried and “Many Tears
Ago” was
one of her best. Recorded 18 October 1960 in NYC with an orchestra
helmed by
Stan Applebaum as well as “Many Tears Ago” the session also produces
future hits “Where The Boys Are” and “Breakin’ In A Brand New Broken Heart”.The vibrant
“Many Tears Ago” (on MGM in both US and UK) charts at #7 BBpop and at
#12
on the UK chart
16. WEE WE WILLIES – BRENDA LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZHJ29RWuM
Sprightly little number by La Brenda that featured on her 1960 album
simply
titled “Brenda” on Decca (US) and Brunswick (UK). I don’t know about the US
but this one certainly NEVER got BBC airplay here (the phrase “Wee Wee Willies” in UK slang could be construed to mean….um….well below average size human
male appendages) . The track was recorded at Brenda’s 28 March 1960
session at Bradley Studio,Nashville which also produced “Dynamite” and a “new” version of “Jambalaya”
17. BUMBLE BEE – LaVERN BAKER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDf1tQAObgc
LaVern here comes up with a really good version of the song on Atlantic originally recorded by The Tads (but unreleased) taking it to #46BBpop
but the song will do better still later in the hands of The Searchers
when it will reach #21 in 1965.
Here’s that original Tads recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgCYg3xhacU
18. I’M SORRY – BRENDA LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyzS_zSpTiE
Recorded at the morning session at Bradley Studio, Nashville 28 March
1960 featuring all the usual suspects backing her.Songs recorded at this session are “Just A Little”,“Build A Big Fence”,”Be My Love Again” and
what will prove to be her first #1 hit for Decca—“I’m Sorry”. The song will also register on the BBr&b chart at #4.On Brunswick in UK it
reaches #10.
19. GEE WHIZ – CARLA THOMAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FrnRGjn4jU
Tho it was a big hit on Atlantic reaching #10BBpop and #5BBr&b “Gee
Whiz”
by Carla Thomas started life on the Satellite label in Memphis until
Atlantic Records took over distribution of the record when it started
selling big. It was released in UK on London but didn’t chart
20. SERENATA – SARAH VAUGHAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weua6Kf4_Ps
Okay all strings-haters look away now!! While her earlier “Broken
Hearted
Melody” remains easily my favorite Sarah Vaughan record one of the
earliest
things she did after jumping ship from Mercury to Roulette was the
beautiful
“Serenata” with a heavy string backing. Its been one of my favorites by
her
for ages for which I make absolutely no apologies. Charted #82 BBpop.
Released in UK on Columbia but did not chart
BUBBLING UNDER
21, WHO WOULDN’T LOVE A MAN LIKE THAT – MABLE JOHN
22. BOYS – THE SHIRELLES
23. WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS – BRENDA LEE
24. ROBOT MAN – CONNIE FRANCIS
25. PLEASE COME BACK – BETTIE EVERETT & DAYLIGHTERS
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