The 1961 Landscape

[Limehouse]

That truly is a great Ray Charles song, "You don't know me" Limehouse.

Just a slight correction here, in that the song wasn't released in the UK until late August 1962, entering the charts in mid-September. I remember that summer of '62 very well. I was in junior school and there were absolutely loads of great songs around such as Bobby Darin's "Things" and Ray Charles's immortal classic "I can't stop loving you", which was descending the charts just as "You don't know me" was entering the charts.

One of my favourite songs ever entered the charts on August 23rd 1962, exactly 12 months after the A6 murder. This song is magical.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiZ3KKZe26A

Hi SH,

Thanks for the correction. Funny you should mention 'Things' by Bobby Darin as I have a very clear memory of being a very small child at home with my mum, before I even started school, and hearing that song on the radio. It stopped me in my tracks. I don't know why, but it just moved me greatly. It's one of those songs I like enormously, but for some reason, it's so difficult to listen to. Of course, there was a great deal more to Darin that just a crooner. He was a civil rights activist and great friend of folk singer Tim Hardin, who wrote 'If I were a Carpenter'. Drin himself recorded a really moving version of that song. He sadly died far too young - aged about 37 I think.

That Jimmy Justice song sure brings a tear to my eye. It was one of my brother's great favourites. He was about 11 or 12 at the time I think.

It was, indeed, an extraordinary period in time. Politically volatile (as now!) but culturally dynamic and exciting (not as now).

Kind regards,

Julie

[GUT]

Just to be clear, Things was also '62.

I think that's what SH meant.

[Graham]

I heard Helen Shapiro's "Walkin' Back To Happiness" (October 1961)a few days ago, and that brought back some not-altogether warm memories of school and church youth-clubs. She's still singing, too.

How innocent everything was back then, until in my case I heard Bob Dylan for the first time and it all changed overnight for me.

Graham

[Sherlock Houses]

How innocent everything was back then, until in my case I heard Bob Dylan for the first time and it all changed overnight for me.

So true. The times 'they were a changing' for a lot of people post-1961/62.
Hard to believe that the immortal Dylan is 74 next month.

Incidentally I hope your TKR went well Graham, I had mine just over a year ago.

[Robert]

I tend to associate pieces of music with what was going on in my life at the time, so here's three :

Sailor by Petula Clark - measles
I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles - mumps
Have I The Right? by the Honeycombs - chicken pox

[Graham]

Hi SH,

Yes, the Age Of Innocence came to a fairly abrupt end in the early 1960's, and although some might disagree I think as a result the world became a better place. Fifty-plus years on, I still listen to Dylan's early stuff as well as his later recordings.

My TKR went well, and thanks for asking. Nine weeks on, I'm walking fine without sticks, and driving comfortably. I get days when it goes 'tight', but usually the exercises ease that.

Graham

[Beowulf]

Very atmospheric and nostalgic song from Gerry there.
The song title may read "Ferry cross the Mersey" but it sounds much more like "Fairy", though I've yet to spot one on the River Mersey.

Laughing about 'fairy', yes and interesting to read there were no ferry's on that Mersey!

Robert, have you ever considered turning on the tv when sick, instead? Lol!

This one IS from 1961:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JfS90u-1g8

[Robert]

Looking at the cast list, I saw the name of Buddy Ebsen and, further down, "Miss Beverley Hills." I hope the breakfast wasn't possum stew.

[Robert]

Beowulf, for TV I remember :

The Good Old Days - toothache
Mary Poppins - sciatica

[Beowulf]

Robert,

Lol!


Here! This early sixties song is from me to you. It has a few diseases in it in case you feel like reminiscing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzErh_s62Wk

[Robert]

Ha, that was a good one!

[GUT]

Robert,

Lol!


Here! This early sixties song is from me to you. It has a few diseases in it in case you feel like reminiscing



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzErh_s62Wk

But maybe this bloke can make you better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYgOlqinH7A

[GUT]

But maybe this bloke can make you better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYgOlqinH7A

Or a dose of Medicinal Compound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x8D4T--0v4

[Sherlock Houses]

But maybe this bloke can make you better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYgOlqinH7A

What I find truly incomprehensible is how this has managed to accumulate 29 million hits.

[GUT]

What I find truly incomprehensible is how this has managed to accumulate 29 million hits.

Just realised that wasn't the best version, but it was catchy at a time, novelty songs were, to say the least, HUGE.