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What are your top 10 favorite oldies songs?

G

GridLeakBias

Here is a challenge for 50s/60s R&R enthusiasts.

Can you name your absolute 10 most favorite vocals from the oldies era? From this I mean, the tunes which cause you to stop what you’re doing in order to listen and recall when you first heard it or danced to it or … just memories.

I tried, but failed - there are just too many and I can’t narrow them down to 10. I was able to get my list of favorites down to 25, but I still have many which are high on my list of rock ‘n’ roll favorites. But for this exercise, let’s limit the list to 25.

That said, here are my top 25 picks, in no particular order. (Your picks, as mine, must be R&R, R&B or Doo-wop vocals - no pop, jazz, country or instrumentals - and fall within the 50s/early 60s era.)

Speedo – The Cadillacs
The Stroll – The Diamonds
Short Shorts – The Royal Teens
Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters
Little Star – The Elegants

Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) – The Impalas
Let The Little Girl Dance – Bobby Bland
Do You Wanna Dance – Bobby Freeman
Party Doll – Buddy Knox
Where or When – Dion and the Belmonts

For Your Love – Ed Townsend
Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent
I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
In The Still Of The Nite – The Five Satins
Just A Dream – Jimmy Clanton

For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler
Just Because – Lloyd Price
There’s A Moon Out Tonight – The Capris
Kansas City – Wilbert Harrison
Baby Talk – Jan and Dean

Could This Be Magic – The Dukes
Close Your Eyes – The Five Keys
Summertime Summertime – The Jamies
Remember When – The Platters
You Cheated – The Shields
 
great Idea...............maybe you can compile and publish the top 100 radio-info countdown.

I am so bubblegum.......what the heck here goes.....

1. Don't Worry Baby - B Boys
2. Angel Baby - Rosie and the Originals
3. Night Has 1,000 Eyes - Bobby Vee
4. Earth Angel - Peguins
5. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procul Harum
6. Concrete and Clay - Unit Four Plus Two
7. If I Fell - Beatles
8. I Should Have Known Better - Beatles
9. It's All Over Now - Stones
10. Surfer Girl - B Boys
11. Run To him - Bobby Vee
12. Sharing You - Bobby Vee
13. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
14. Go Now - Moody Blues
15. Devil May Be - The Dovers
16. Have You No Heart - Calvanes
17. Lonely Weekend - Billy and the Essentials
18. Just To Be With You - Passions
19. Love Came To Me - Dion
20. Worst That could Happen - Broklyn Bridge
21. This Guys In Love With you - Herb Alpert
22. God only Knows - B Boys
23. Positivley 4th St - Dylan
24. Witchita Lineman - Glen Campbell
25. Hearts Desire - Manhattan Transfer
26. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - The King

I could do 1,000, but it's someone else's turn.
 
1--Going Out of My Head--Little Anthony & Imperials
2--Up On The Roof--Drifters
3--Try Too Hard--Dave Clark Five
4--There's Something About You--Four Tops
5--Singing The Blues--Guy Mitchell (first record I ever bought)
6--Ruby Baby--Dion
7--Little Deuce Coupe--Beach Boys
8--Hound Dog--Elvis
9--Last Time--Rolling Stones
10--Come and Get These Memories--Martha & Vandellas
11--Hello Mary Lou--Rick Nelson
12--I Saw Her Standing There--Beatles
13--He's A Rebel--Crystals
14--On Broadway--The Drifters
15--Help Me Rhonda--Beach Boys
16--I Got Stung--Elvis
17--Believe What You Say--Rick Nelson
18--Sweet Little Sixteen--Chuck Berry
19--You're The Keeper of My Heart--Faye Adams
20--You Keep Me Hanging On--Supremes
 
Ooooooops gotta keep it 50's/60's

revision:

25. Hearts Desire- replace Mahattan Transfer with the original by the "Avalons"
 
hornet61 said:
2. Angel Baby - Rosie and the Originals
Click to expand...
Did you know that Rosie resides just 20 miles south of you, just a mile or two from Bo Diddley’s one time home?

Also, she recorded a Spanish version of her hit – have you heard it? BB has this version in his library and plays it upon request.
 
Two great lists added so far, and what I attempted to prove has so far been proven, i.e., while we’re all on the same page as far as R&R goes, individual tastes vary tremendously.

With three posts there are no duplicates.

Oldies PD’s, take note.
 
1. Colour My World - Chicago
2. In My Life - Beatles
3. A Summer Place - Percy Faith
4. All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
5. Where Or When - Dion & The Belmonts
6. Born Too Late - Pony Tails
7. California Dreamin' - Mama's & Papa's
8. Come Go With Me - Dell Vikings
9. Donna - Ritchie Valens
10. Lady Jane - Rolling Stones
11. Hello, Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
12. Hey Little Girl - Syndicate Of Sound
13. Hushabye - Dion & The Belmonts
14. Image Of A Girl - Safari's
15. Little Star - Elegants
16. Love Letters In The Sand - Pat Boone
17. Valley High - Lettermen
18. Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney
19. Red Rubber Ball - The Cyrkle
20. The Last Leaf - Cascades
21. San Francisco - Scott McKenzie
22. Shy Girl - Cascades
23. Sixteen Reasons - Connie Stevens
24. Sloop John B - Beach Boys
25. The End - Earl Grant

25 isn't enough!!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
 
landtuna said:
1. Colour My World - Chicago
2. In My Life - Beatles
3. A Summer Place - Percy Faith
4. All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
5. Where Or When - Dion & The Belmonts
6. Born Too Late - Pony Tails
7. California Dreamin' - Mama's & Papa's
8. Come Go With Me - Dell Vikings
9. Donna - Ritchie Valens
10. Lady Jane - Rolling Stones
11. Hello, Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
12. Hey Little Girl - Syndicate Of Sound
13. Hushabye - Dion & The Belmonts
14. Image Of A Girl - Safari's
15. Little Star - Elegants
16. Love Letters In The Sand - Pat Boone
17. Valley High - Lettermen
18. Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney
19. Red Rubber Ball - The Cyrkle
20. The Last Leaf - Cascades
21. San Francisco - Scott McKenzie
22. Shy Girl - Cascades
23. Sixteen Reasons - Connie Stevens
24. Sloop John B - Beach Boys
25. The End - Earl Grant

25 isn't enough!!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Click to expand...

"The Last Leaf" is a great song & you rarely hear it.
 
Some great stuff listed so far, here's mine-

1. Twenty Flight Rock- Eddie Cochran
2. Honey, Don't!- Carl Perkins
3. Ling Ting Tong- The Five Keys
4. You're No Good- Dee Dee Warwick
5. Can I Get A Witness- Marvin Gaye
6. Good Rockin' Tonight- Elvis Presley
7. Bye Bye Love- Everly Brothers
8. There Is Something On Your Mind- Bobby Marchan
9. Time Is On My Side- Kai Winding (on trombone- vocals by Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy Houston, if my information is correct).
10. Walking To New Orleans- Fats Domino
11. Rave On- Buddy Holly
12. White Lightning- George Jones
13. Little White House- Len Barry
14. Friday On My Mind- Easybeats (I have the mono 45 version, which flat out kills the stereo LP one)
15. A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)- Marty Robbins
16. Shoppin' For Clothes- The Coasters
17. Who's That Lady- The Isley Brothers (the early 60s version, not the later 60s remake they did)
18. Stagger Lee- Lloyd Price
19. Give Him A Great Big Kiss- The Shangri Las
20. Little Town Flirt- Del Shannon
21. She Loves You- The Beatles
22. It's Only Make Believe- Conway Twitty
23. Please Love Me Forever- Tommy Edwards
24. Yesterday's Gone- Chad And Jeremy
25. More Than I Can Say- Bobby Vee
 
from lowtide
9. Time Is On My Side- Kai Winding (on trombone- vocals by Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy Houston, if my information is correct).

Time Is On My Side ...I believe Is Irma Thomas. Or at least, that the only American (Rolling Stones)version I've heard. You might be right?
 
Time Is On My Side .... was Indeed recorded by Kai Winding....please disregard my previous comments, I learned something new ,thank You.
 
radioman148 said:
This is such a good thread. Anybody interested in listing your favorite instrumentals of the 50s & 60s?
Click to expand...

Apache - Jorgen Ingmann
Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's
Hawaii Five-O - Ventures
Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
Music Box Dancer - Frank Mills
Nashville Skyline Rag - Bob Dylan
No Matter What Shape - T-bones
Nut Rocker - B. Bumble & Stingers
Pipeline - Chantay's
Quiet Village - Martin Denny
Riders In The Sky - Lawarence Welk
Sail Along Silv'ry Moon - Billy Vaughn
Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny
Telstar - The Ventures
Tequila - Champs
The Wedge - Dick Dale
Walk Don't Run - The Ventures
Wheels - String-A-Longs
Wipe Out - Surfaris

Oops! A few more than 10. :eek:
 
My favorite instrumentals of the 50s & 60s:

Rumble--Link Wray
So Rare--Jimmy Dorsey
Wiggle Wobble--Les Cooper & Soul Rockers
Route 66 Theme--Nelson Riddle
Green Onions--Booker T & MGs
Raunchy--Bill Justice
Because They're Young--Duane Eddy
Our Winter Love--Bill Purcell
Wild Weekend--Rockin Rebels
Washington Square--Village Stompers
Wipeout--Surfaris
Apache--Jordan Ingmann
Soul Coaxing--Raymond LeFevre
A Taste of Honey--Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Cha Hua Hua--The Pets
Teenage Hayride--Tender Slim
Walk Don't Run--Ventures
Last Night--Mar Keys
Dance With the Guitar Man--Duane Eddy
Theme From A Summer Place--Percy Faith
 
radioman148 said:
This is such a good thread. Anybody interested in listing your favorite instrumentals of the 50s & 60s?
Click to expand...
You beat me to the punch radioman, Instrumentals was going to be my next catagory after the vocals ran it's course.

But why wait? List vocals on one list and instrumentals on another.

I'm short on time right now, will post my list soon. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Instrumentals, you say?

Beatnik Fly - Johnny & The Hurricanes
Woo Hoo - The Rock-a-Teens
Truck Stop - Jerry Smith
Because They're Young - Duane Eddy & The Rebels
The Madison Time - The Ray Bryant Combo

Ghost Riders In The Sky - The Ramrods
A Swingin' Safari - Billy Vaughn (Did you ever listen to that simultaneously with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", by The Tokens?)
Out of Limits - The Marketts
Harlem Nocturne - The Viscounts (AKA The Mike Hammer Theme)
Bumble Boogie - B. Bumble & The Stingers
 
As in vocals, I can’t narrow my instrumental picks down to 10, so here are my top 25 in no particular order.

Rumble – Link Wray
Cannon Ball – Duane Eddy
Raunchy – Ernie Freeman (I like this version more than the Bill Justis recording)
Time Is Tight – Booker T and the MGs
Tequila – The Champs

Topsy, Pts I/II – Cozy Cole
Hide Away – Freddy King
Guitar Boogie Shuffle – The Virtues
Honky-Tonk, Pts I & II – Bill Doggett
Matchbox – Carl Perkins

Midnight In Moscow – Kenny Ball
Washington Square – The Village Stompers
Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny
Maria Elena – Los Indios Tabajaras
Saints Rock and Roll – Bill Haley

Walk Don’t Run – The Ventures
Apache – Jordan Ingman
Harlem Nocturne – The Viscounts
Last Date – Floyd Cramer
Red River Rock – Johnnie and the Hurricanes

Wonderland By Night – Bert Kaemfert
Yakety Sax – Boots Randolph
Detour – Duane Eddy
Slow Walk – Sil Austin
Ram-Bunk-Shus – Bill Doggett
 
In no particular order after the first one....

Walk Don't Run-Ventures
Perfidia-Ventures
Wiggle Wobble-Les Cooper
Because They're Young-Duane Eddy
Rawhide-Link Wray & His Men

Tall Cool One-Wailers
Green Onions-Booker T & MG's
In The Mood-Ernie Fields
Swingin' Sweethearts-Ron Goodwin
Like Long Hair-Paul Revere & Raiders

Take 5 Dave Brubeck
Slick-Herb Alpert
Hip-Hug-er- Booker T & MGs
James Bond Theme John Barry
Rock-A-Conga-Applejacks

Percolator-Billy Joe/Checkmates
Big Chief-Professor Longhair
One Mint Julep-Ray Charles
Up A Lazy River-Si Zenter
Meet Mr. Callahan-Les Paul

Peter Gunn Theme-Henry Mancini
Dartel Stomp-Mustangs
Mexico-Bob Moore
Baby Elephant Walk-Henry Mancini
Wade In The Water-Ramsey Lewis

Rudy's Rock-Bill Haley
Soul Twist-King Curtis
Cotton Candy-Al Hirt
Goin' Home-Floyd Cramer
Topsy-Cozy Cole
 
radioman148 said:
This is such a good thread. Anybody interested in listing your favorite instrumentals of the 50s & 60s?
Click to expand...

Delicado--Percy Faith
Carioca--Les Paul
Third Man Theme--Anton Karas
Blue Tango--Leroy Anderson
Seagrams--Viceroys
Midnighter--Champs
Miserlou--Dick Dale
Church Key--Revels
Bumble Bee Twist--Ventures
Caravan--Esquire Boys
 
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