That Was The Year That Was: Pop Music 1960 Quiz

Answer: Michael Holliday

"Starry Eyed" was written by Earl Shuman/Mort Garson. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for Michael Holliday in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

Michael Holliday was born Norman Alexander Milne in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, in 1928. In the '40s he won an amateur talent contest "New Voices of Merseyside", at the Locarno Ballroom in West Derby Road, Liverpool. Later that decade when a seaman in the merchant navy and in the USA, he won another talent contest at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York. In 1954 Holliday wrote to the BBC asking for an audition. He got an audition in 1955 and then made his first TV appearance on "The Centre Show" in July 1955. Norrie Paramor, then head of A&R for EMI's Columbia record label, saw his performance and signed him to a recording contract.

He had three Top 20 hits in 1956 then in 1958 his first number one hit "The Story Of My Life". "Stairway Of Love" peaked at number three in 1958 and then his last Top 20 entry came when "Starry Eyed" reached number one in 1960. He had always suffered from stage fright and had a mental breakdown in 1961. He died from an accidental drug overdose in 1963 just as fellow Liverpudlians Gerry & The Pacemakers were having their third UK number one hit "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Answer: Running Bear

"Running Bear" was written by J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper). It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Johnny Preston in 1960. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart the sane year.

So called "Death" records or "Splatter Platters" were very popular in the late '50s & early '60s. Besides the ones given as alternative answers for this question there were "Black Denim Trousers", The Cheers (1955), "Endless Sleep", Jody Reynolds (1958), "Tom Dooley", The Kingston Trio (1958), "Ebony Eyes", The Everly Brothers (1961), "Johnny Remember Me", John Leyton (1961), "Moody River" Pat Boone (1961), "The Prom", Del Shannon (1961), "Dead Man's Curve", Jan & Dean (1964), "Terry", Twinkle (1964), "Leader Of The Pack", The Shangri-Lars (1964) and "Ode To Billie Joe", Bobby Gentry (1967).

Perhaps the most famous "Splatter Platter" may have been "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis Presley (1956). It was written in 1955, by Mae Boren Axton/Tommy Durden and may have been based on a report supposedly published in The Miami Herald about a man who had destroyed all his identity papers and jumped to his death from a hotel window. He left a suicide note with the single line, "I walk a lonely street". An alternative story is an article in Rolling Stone magazine in 2016 suggesting that the story was about petty criminal Alvin Krolik. His marriage had failed and he wrote a partial autobiography which included the line "This is the story of a person who walked a lonely street". Krolik's story received publicity after he was shot and killed in an attempted robbery in El Paso, Texas. On August 25, 1955, the El Paso Times reported Krolik's death under the headline "Story Of Person Who Walked Lonely Street".

Answer: $1,000,000

The Everly Brothers left the Cadence record label after securing a $1,000,000 record deal with Warner Bros. It was to be paid over ten years. Compare that to what some no-talents get these days.

On the Billboard Hot 100 The Everly Brothers had three number one hits on the Cadence record label, "Wake Up Little Susie" (1957), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (1958) and "Bird Dog" (1958). On the Warner Bros. record label they had one number one hit, "Cathy's Clown" (1960).

On the UK singles chart The Everly Brothers had one double A-Sided number one hit on the Cadence/London record label, "All I Have To Do Is Dream"/"Claudette" (1958). On the Warner Bros. record label they had three number one hits, "Cathy's Clown" (1960), "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes" (1961) and "Temptation" (1961).

They had six Top Ten hits on the Warner Bros. record label on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart between 1960 and 1965. They almost had another number one hit in 1965 on the UK singles chart but "The Price Of Love" stalled at number two. It did not chart in the US. I suppose Warner Bros. got their money's worth.

Answer: G. I. Blues

The album is "G. I. Blues", the song is "Wooden Heart" written by Bert Kaempfert/Kay Twomey/Fred Wise/Ben Weisman. It is based on the German folk song "Muss i denn" by Friedrich Silcher. It was number one for six weeks on the UK singles chart for Elvis Presley in 1961. In the US it was released as the B-Side of "Blue Christmas" in 1964 and the B-Side of "Puppet On A String" in 1965.

The "G. I. Blues" album was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1960 in the categories Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast from a Motion Picture or Television and Best Vocal Performance Album, Male. It was number one on the Billboard album chart and the UK album chart in 1961.

"Wooden Heart" was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Joe Dowell in 1961. It did not chart in the UK. It was his only Top 20 entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: My Old Man's A Dustman

"My Old Man's A Dustman" was written by Lonnie Donegan/Peter Buchanan/Beverly Thorn (Leslie Bricusse). It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Lonnie Donegan in 1960. It did not chart in the US. It was recorded live at the Gaumont cinema in Doncaster, England.

Lonnie Donegan, known as the King of Skiffle, was probably the first recording superstar in the UK. After he left the Chris Barber jazz band in 1954, he had more than 25 hits on the UK singles chart between 1956 and 1962, (some re-entered the chart). This included 17 Top Ten hits, three of which made it to number one.

Before there were E. P. or album charts an E. P. named "Skiffle Session" made it to number 20 and an album named "Lonnie Donegan Showcase" made it to number 26 on the UK singles chart because of the sales figures. Long before the British invasion Lonnie Donegan had two Top Ten hits on the Billboard pop chart with "Rock Island Line" (number eight in 1956) and "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On The Bedpost Over Night)" (number five in 1961).

Answer: Why

"Why" was written by Bob Marcucci/Peter de Angelis. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Anthony Newley in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

Anthony Newley played the Artful Dodger in the 1948 movie "Oliver Twist" which starred Alec Guinness as Fagin and Robert Newton as Bill Sykes. His pop music career began with the song "I've Waited So Long", it was featured in the 1959 movie "Idol On Parade" in which Newley starred as a pop singer called up for his national service in the army. "I've Waited So Long" peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1959, it was also one of the tracks on an E. P. from the movie which peaked at number 13 on the UK singles chart in 1959. Neither the single or the E. P. charted in the US.

The original version of "Why" was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Frankie Avalon in 1959. It peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Answer: The Crickets

The second posthumous UK number one hit "Three Steps To Heaven" was written by Bob Cochran/Eddie Cochran. It peaked at number one on the UK singles chart on 23 June 1960 and held the top spot for two weeks nearly three months after Eddie Cochran's death on the 17 April 1960 following a car crash in the UK. In the US it did not make the Billboard Hot 100.

Cochran was backed by Sonny Curtis on guitar and Jerry Allison on drums. They had been members of the Crickets with Buddy Holly. After Holly's death The Crickets continued to have hits on the UK singles chart in the '60s. Their biggest hit was "Don't Ever Change" which peaked at number five in 1962. Strange but true, after Buddy Holly's death The Crickets did not have any hits in the US.

The first posthumous UK number one hit "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was written by Paul Anka. It peaked at number one on the UK singles chart on the 24 April 1959 and held the top spot for three weeks nearly three months after Buddy Holly's death in a plane crash on the 3 February 1959. They both continued to have further posthumous hits on the UK singles chart in the '60s; Eddie Cochran's biggest posthumous hit was "Weekend" which peaked at number 15 in 1961 and Buddy Holly's biggest posthumous hit was "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" which peaked at number three in 1963. They both returned to the UK singles chart in 1988 when Eddie Cochran had a number 14 hit with the re-release of "C'mon Everybody" and Buddy Holly had a number 65 hit with the re-release of "True Love Ways".

Answer: Adam Faith

"What Do You Want" was written by Les Vandyke (aka, Johnny Worth). It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Adam Faith in 1959. It did not chart in the US.

For its third week at number one it shared the top spot for one week with "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For" by Emile Ford and The Checkmates. Adam Faith went on to have 16 Top 20 and 11 Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart which included the two number one hits, "What Do You Want" (1959) and "Poor Me" (1960).

The Bobby Vee version of "What Do You Want" just crept into the Billboard Hot 100 at number 93 in 1960 and did not chart in the UK. This followed his first chart single "Suzie Baby" which peaked a bit higher on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77 in 1959. It did not chart in the UK. He went on to have ten Top 20 and six Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included the number one hit "Take Good Care Of My Baby" in 1961.

Answer: Connie Francis/Brenda Lee

Connie Francis had two number one hits this year. The first was "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the UK singles chart. The second was "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own" which was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK singles chart.

Brenda Lee had two number one hits this year. The first was "I'm Sorry" which was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the UK singles chart. The second was "I Want To Be Wanted" which was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 31 on the UK singles chart.

Debbie Reynolds had a number one hit for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Tammy" in 1957, it peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year. Shelley Fabares had a number one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Johnny Angel" in 1962, it peaked at number 41 on the UK singles chart the same year. Lesley Gore had a number one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "It's My Party" in 1963, it peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart the same year. Mary Wells had a number one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "My Guy" in 1964, it peaked at number five on the UK singles chart the same year. Little Eva had a number one hit for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 with "The Loco-Motion" in 1962, it peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year. Little Peggy March had a number one hit for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I Will Follow Him" in 1963. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Cathy/Laura

"Cathy's Clown" was written by Don Everly/Phil Everly. It was number one for seven weeks on the UK singles chart for The Everly Brothers in 1960. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"Tell Laura I Love Her" was written by Jeff Barry/Ben Raleigh. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Ricky Valance in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

The original version of "Tell Laura I Love Her" by Ray Peterson peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. RCA records decided not to release it in the UK, probably because they knew it would be banned by the BBC (along with other "Death" records) who had a monopoly on radio broadcasting at the time. However EMI records found a Welsh singer named David Spencer, he changed his named to Ricky Valance, it was released on the Columbia label and he had his 15 minutes of fame. The BBC did ban the record but teenagers tuned into Radio Luxembourg and it zoomed to the top of the chart. Unfortunately for Ricky Valance, he never troubled the UK singles chart again.

Answer: Scotland

The Silver Beetles competed with other groups, in auditions for the job of backing singer Billy Fury on a tour of the UK or Johnny Gentle on a tour of Scotland. Billy Fury and his manager Larry Parnes were so underwhelmed by bass player Stuart Sutcliffe's performance that The Silver Beetles got neither job.

However, sometime later Larry Parnes got in touch with the then manager of The Silver Beetles, Allan Williams. He wanted them to back singer Johnny Gentle (John Askew) on a tour of Scotland. The Silver Beetles got the job because they were the only ones that would take the job at such short notice.

They were billed as Johnny Gentle and His Group and although they were very unrehearsed, Gentle and The Silver Beetles got on fine. John Lennon even contributed to a song Gentle was writing, "I've Just Fallen For Someone". Johnny Gentle never had any hits on the UK chart, so it goes to show that even with John Lennon's help some people can't catch a break.

This is the link to the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ept_REJHGWg). It was released on the Parlophone record label (The Beatles' future record label) in 1962 under the name Darren Young (Johnny Gentle) as written by John Askew (Johnny Gentle).

Answer: Because They're Young

"Because They're Young" was written by Aaron Schroeder/Don Costa/Wally Gold. It was a number four hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Duane Eddy in 1960. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

The movie "Because They're Young" starred Tuesday Weld, Michael Callan, Dick Clark, Doug McClure, Duane Eddy and James Darren. The classroom and campus scenes were filmed at Hoover High School in Glendale, California, most of which was demolished and replaced in the '60s.

The Duane Eddy version of "Because They're Young" was not in the movie although "Shazam" by Duane Eddy and The Rebels was featured. James Darren released a vocal version of "Because They're Young" but it did not chart in the US, it peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart in 1960.

Answer: United States Army

Sgt. Elvis Aron Presley, serial number 53310761, was a member of the United States Army. The navy had offered to create a special company called the Elvis Presley Company, which would be made up of men from Memphis and Presley's closest friends. He was also offered the chance to perform in Las Vegas and have his own private quarters. The army offered him the chance to tour the world visiting army bases, boosting morale and encouraging other young men to enlist.

The story goes that Elvis's manager Col. Tom Parker had turned down these offers because he and Elvis would not make any money performing concerts for the armed forces. It seems that Elvis was not too pleased having to serve as a ordinary soldier. It was while in the army in 1958 that Elvis's mother Gladys died, which some say that he never recovered from. The following year having shipped out to Germany he met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu, who was 14 years old at the time.

Answer: Please Don't Tease

"Please Don't Tease" was written by Pete Chester/Bruce Welch. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Cliff Richard and The Shadows in 1960. It did not chart in the US. It was recorded at Abbey Road studios and chosen for release by a panel of teenagers put together by Cliff Richard's record company. "Nine Times Out Of Ten" was the second choice and was released as the next single.

"Please Don't Tease" was the third UK number one hit in 12 months for Cliff Richard and The Shadows. A month later The Shadows had their own UK number one hit. Four months later Cliff Richard and The Shadows were back at number one with "I Love You", the first time they had replaced Elvis at number one. Cliff Richard went on to become the only singer to have UK number one hits in five different decades of the 20th century, the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. The Shadows went on the have five UK number one instrumental hits and become the most successful instrumental group on the UK singles chart in the 20th century.

Answer: The Shadows

"Apache" was written by Jerry Lordan and it was number one for five weeks on the UK singles chart for The Shadows in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

Bert Weedon was born Herbert Maurice William Weedon in East Ham, London, England, in 1920. He died following a long illness in 2012 aged 91. He began learning classical guitar aged 12 and after turning professional led a number of small groups and played solo in the '30s. He later performed with jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, jazz pianist George Shearing and with various big bands and orchestras such as Ted Heath's and Mantovani's. In the '50s & '60s he played as an accompanist to visiting American singers such as Nat King Cole, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. He also played as a session musician on many British Rock and Roll records by singers such as Adam Faith, Billy Fury and Tommy Steele.

He was the first British guitarist to have a hit record on the UK singles Chart when "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" peaked at number ten in 1959. In early 1960 he recorded "Apache" but it remained unreleased until The Shadows' version was released. Bert Weeden's version of "Apache" entered the UK singles chart a week after The Shadows' version but stalled at number 24. His legacy was his best-selling guitar tutorial guide, "Play in a Day". It was first published in 1957 and has sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies. It was of its time and might appear ancient today but it was an influence on many leading British musicians.

Eric Clapton said in the Telegraph newspaper "I wouldn't have felt the urge to press on without the tips and encouragement Bert's book gives you. I've never met a player of any consequence that doesn't say the same thing". On the BBC Brian May said "There's not a guitarist in Britain from my generation who doesn't owe him a great debt of gratitude". Paul McCartney said in the Guardian newspaper "George and I went through the Bert Weedon books and learned D and A together".