Number One Hits of 1960 - Part Three Quiz

Answer: Jimmy Jones

In part one of this series it was mentioned that Jimmy Jones had two Number Two records on the Hot 100.
"Handy Man" was the first of these Number Twos in the US, Number Three in the UK and Number One in Australia. The song "Handy Man" resurfaced in 1964 as a top twenty hit in Australia and the USA for Del Shannon. It was a bigger hit for James Taylor in 1977 making the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian charts. Jimmy Jones, despite two million selling records and some very good recordings, never made the pop charts again.

Answer: Elvis Presley

"It's Now or Never" was based on the old Italian folksong, "O Sole mio". With new lyrics by Aaron Schroder and Wally Gold, the song was recorded by Elvis Presley on 4 April 1960 and released as a single in July and became Elvis Presley's biggest seller. The record topped the Billboard Hot 100, the UK Top 50 and the Australian charts. It also topped the charts in Canada, New Zealand and a number of European charts. It naturally was the biggest hit of 1960.

Answer: Ricky Valance

"Tell Laura I Love Her", was written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh. Originally recorded by and a hit for Ray Peterson in 1960. it reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later that same year, the song was recorded and released by Ricky Valance in the United Kingdom, where it went all the way to the number one spot on the UK Chart.

The Ray Petersen version made the top ten in Australia, but the Ricky Valance version did not chart.

Answer: Cliff Richard and The Shadows

Bruce Welch of the Shadows and his musician friend Pete Chester wrote "Please Don't Tease". The record became the third UK number one hit for Cliff Richard and The Shadows. "Please Don't Tease" was number one in both Australia and New Zealand in 1960. Sadly, with little or no airplay in the USA the song did not chart. Cliff Richard and the Shadows were the most popular band in the UK, Australia and Europe from 1959 through 1963, which of course heralded the arrival of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. If only for the inspiration Cliff and the Shadows provided young musicians of the early sixties, they are worthy of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: Bill Haley & His Comets

"Joey's Song" reached number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100; the song did make number one in Australia for eight weeks from December 1959 through the end of January 1960. Although the famous "Rock Around the Clock" was successfully re-released in 1964 and 1974, "Joey's Song" was the last of their hits.

The record did not chart in the UK. Oddly, for all of the group's pioneering records and being cited as the instigators of Rock 'n' Roll, Australia is the only country where Bill Haley and His Comets had two number one hits.

Answer: Adam Faith

"Poor Me" was a UK number one hit for Adam Faith during March 1960. The record was released when his previous single, "What Do You Want?" (a number one hit in late 1959), was still at number two in the UK Chart. Adam Faith had 14 records in the UK charts between December 1959 and the end of 1962. Ten of these releases made the top ten.

When the pop groups took over the charts in 1963 Adam started to favour acting and appeared in a couple of movies in the mid 1960s. Good performances followed, especially the highly regarded mini series "Budgie", in which he played the title character.

Answer: Eddie Cochran

"Three Steps to Heaven" was recorded in early 1960 by Eddie Cochran with help from Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison of the Crickets. Released in March 1960 and re-released in May, shortly after his death in a car accident, "Three Steps To Heaven" went to number one in the UK. Sadly the record did not chart in the USA, his home country. The flipside of the record, "Cut Across Shorty" made the top twenty in Australia.

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, made number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: The Ventures

The Ventures hit the big time with their version of the Johnny Smith-written "Walk Don't Run". Their recording has reportedly sold over two million copies and the group is credited with all time sales in excess of 100 million. The recording went to Number one in Australia, number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK chart.

Answer: Emile Ford and the Checkmates

Originally recorded in the early part of the twentieth century, the song, "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?", was used in the 1945 move "Nob Hill" starring George Raft and Joan Bennett. Again, in 1945, it was used in the Betty Hutton film "Incendiary Blonde", where she played the legendary singer/actress, Texas Guinan.

In late 1959, Caribbean-born Emile Ford with his band The Checkmates recorded the song. Their rock styled with a little doo wop rendition stayed on the UK charts for 17 weeks, six of those at number one.

This record was the last UK number one of the 1950s and the first of the 1960s. The record also hit number one in Australia.