Number two this week after being number one for the past two weeks. Truly a one hit wonder outside Japan, Kyu Sakamoto scored in a big way with the release of "Sukiyaki". The record went to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks. In the UK it made the top ten competing with a top ten instrumental version by Kenny Ball.
In Australia the record reached number two, denied the top spot by Jan and Dean's "Surf City". No other releases by Kyu Sakamoto fared well in charts outside Japan except for a tune in late 1963 titled "China Nights" which entered the top sixty in the USA and Australia then slid back down.
2. "Blue on Blue"
Answer: Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton was on a roll; having had a number one in 1962 with "Roses are Red" he topped the charts again with "Blue on Blue" in 1963. The record made number three on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, its highest position. It was number one on the Australian charts. The record did not chart in the UK, however the song was recorded by many British artists.
3. "Hello Stranger"
Answer: Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis had her biggest hit in 1963 when her own composition, "Hello Stranger" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Barbara had two more top twenty hits in 1965, "Baby I'm Yours" and "Make Me Your Baby". Barbara recorded into the 1970s then retired.
4. "It's My Party"
Answer: Lesley Gore
At just sixteen years of age and a number one with her first release, Lesley Gore hit the jackpot with "It's My Party" which spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The record made the top ten in the UK and hit number one in Australia. In the USA and Australia Lesley had two more top five hits in 1963, "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "She's A Fool".
It's My Party" was originally recorded by Helen Shapiro on her album "Helen in Nashville" early in 1963. On this week's top ten it was on its way down occupying position five.
5. "One Fine Day"
Answer: The Chiffons
Coming in at number six, "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons.
The Chiffons were one of the many girl groups that were around in the sixties, their recording of "He's So Fine" went to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The record made the top thirty in Australia and got as high number fifteen on the UK charts.
6. "Surf City"
Answer: Jan and Dean
At number seven this week, "Surf City" had been a number one hit for Jan and Dean. Their recording of this song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK the record was a top thirty although it is fair to say that surfing music was not big in the UK. In Australia the song was at number one for three weeks with a cover version by local group, the Delltones, making the top ten.
In Sydney Surf City was the name chosen by the owners of the closed Kings Cross movie theatre, who opened it as a dance hall for the many surf music groups around at the time such as the Atlantics and the Denvermen. I saw the Chantays at that venue. In early 1964 with popularity of instrumental style groups on the wane, the beat groups moved in. Surf City was where Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs and Ray Brown & The Whispers came to prominence.
7. "Memphis"
Answer: Lonnie Mack
Number eight on this weeks top ten was "Memphis" by well known guitarist, Lonnie Mack. The song was an instrumental reworking of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee".
A top ten in Australia and number 47 in the UK.
8. "So Much in Love"
Answer: The Tymes
At number nine on its way to the top, The Tymes with "So Much in Love". The record made number one in August 1963. The record was a top twenty in the UK where they finally cracked the number one spot in 1974 with "Ms Grace" which hardly charted in the USA. Later in 1963, The Tymes made the Hot 100 top ten with a revival of my favourite Johnny Mathis song "Wonderful, Wonderful". Sadly this great R & B group did not chart in Australia with any release but a number of their songs were covered by Australian artists.
9. "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"
Answer: Rolf Harris
"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" was written and recorded by Rolf Harris in 1960. The song was intended as a comedy but has become part of Australian culture. The song was number one for three weeks in mid 1960 on the Australian charts. The song was a top ten for Rolf in the UK and initially did not chart in the USA.
In 1963 a re-recorded version, with a culturally incorrect verse omitted, climbed as high as number three on the Billboard Hot 100. This week however it comes in at number ten.
10. "Easier Said Than Done"
Answer: The Essex
Number one this week, the catchy, "Easier Said Than Done", released as the b-side of their first single "Are You Going My Way", became a number one hit first time out for The Essex. The Essex were active members of the US Marines at the time of their first release which made it difficult to promote records or make personal appearances. "Easier Said Than Done" made the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, number five in Australia, but only managed to make number forty on the UK chart.
They followed this with "A Walking Miracle" a song in a similar vein to "Easier Said Than Done" which made the top twenty in both the USA and Australia.
The full top ten for the week June 30 - July 06 1963 is
1. Easier Said Than Done - The Essex
2. Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto
3. Blue on Blue - Bobby Vinton
4. Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis
5. It's My Party - Lesley Gore
6. One Fine Day - The Chiffons
7. Surf City - Jan and Dean
8. Memphis - Lonnie Mack
9. So Much In love - The Tymes
10. Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport - Rolf Harris
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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