That Was The Year That Was: Pop Music 1961 Quiz

Answer: Calcutta

"Calcutta" was written by Heino Gaze. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra in 1961. It did not chart in the UK.

Accordionist/bandleader Lawrence Welk was born in Strasburg, North Dakota, USA, in 1903. He had a musical variety TV show from 1955 to 1971. New episodes were syndicated from 1971 to 1982. He and his orchestra had many hits on the Billboard Hot 100 but "Calcutta" was his biggest hit by far and his only number one hit. He also charted 42 albums between 1956 and 1972. He died of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California, USA, in 1992 aged 89.

Answer: Helen Shapiro

Helen Shapiro was born in Bethnal Green, London, England, in 1946. In 1961 aged 14 and still at school, she had a number three hit on the UK singles chart with "Don't Treat Me Like A Child". By the time she was 15 she had topped the UK singles chart twice with "You Don't Know" (1961) and "Walkin' Back To Happiness" (1961). By the time she was 16 she had her last two Top 10 hits with "Tell Me What He Said", number two in 1962 and "Little Miss Lonely", number eight in 1962.

In 1963 she headlined a UK tour with The Beatles who were fifth on the bill but apart from a few minor hits in 1963 and 1964, her chart career was over at 17 years of age. What may have lengthened her career was the song "Misery" written by Lennon/McCarthy. While on that tour they offered the song to Shapiro's producer Norrie Paramor but he turned it down without even telling her. With her bouffant hairdo and deep voice she fell out of favour very quickly while singers of a similar age such as Lulu and Sandie Shaw were just getting started.

Answer: Del Shannon

Six months before The Beatles hit the Billboard Hot 100, Del Shannon took "From Me To You" written by Lennon/McCartney into the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number 77 in 1963 but was not released as a single in the UK.

His only number one hit was "Runaway" it was written by Del Shannon/Max Crook. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Del Shannon in 1961. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

Between 1961 and 1965 Del Shannon had three Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 but on the UK singles chart he had eight Top Ten hits during the same period. He joined a group of US artists who had more Top Ten hits in the UK than in their homeland such as, Buddy Holly & The Crickets (with Buddy Holly and by themselves), Eddie Cochran and Duane Eddy.

Del Shannon's only charted album in the US was "Runaway with Del Shannon"; a vinyl stereo version in mint condition is now worth over $1,000.

Answer: Tower Of Strength

"Tower Of Strength" was written by Burt Bacharach/Bob Hilliard. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Frankie Vaughan in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

Frankie Vaughan was born Frank Ableson in Liverpool, England, in 1928. He had his first hit in 1954 when "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" peaked at number 11 on the UK singles chart. Between 1954 and 1968 he had 11 Top Ten hits which included the two number one hits, "The Garden Of Eden" (1957) and "Tower Of Strength" (1961). Most of his hits were covers of American hits as was the practice in the '50s.

"Tower Of Strength" was the last number one hit in the UK by a singer from Liverpool until Gerry and The Pacemakers hit the top with "How Do You Do It" in 1963. It was like the old guard handing over to the new guard.

Answer: Pat Boone

"Moody River" was written by Gary D. Bruce. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Pat Boone in 1961. It peaked at number 18 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Direct descendant of frontiersman Daniel Boone and father of singer Debby Boone, Pat Boone had his first Billboard hit in 1955 when "Two Hearts" peaked at number 16. His six number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 were. "Ain't That A Shame" (1955), "I Almost Lost My Mind" (1956), "Don't Forbid Me" (1957), "Love Letters In The Sand" (1957), "April Love" (1957) and "Moody River" (1961).

His last Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Speedy Gonzales" which peaked at number six in 1962. Voice artist the late Mel Blanc supplied the voice of Speedy Gonzales on the record.

Answer: You're Driving Me Crazy

"You're Driving Me Crazy" was written by Walter Donaldson. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for The Temperance Seven in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

The group was formed by three founder members, Paul McDowell (vocalist, who originally played trombone), Philip Harrison (who originally played banjo) and Brian Innes (drums). The group eventually became a nine-piece ensemble and although they were serious musicians they had a light-hearted and humorous performing style. The record was produced by George Martin, the future Beatles' guru, and it gave him his first UK number one hit as a producer.

Answer: Shirley Bassey

Dame Shirley Bassey was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, in 1937. Between 1957 and 1973 she had 12 Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart. This included the two number one hits "As I Love You" (1959) and the double A-Side "Reach For The Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (1961).

In 1959 she became the first Welsh singer to have a UK number one hit. She has sung three of the James Bond movie themes, "Goldfinger" (1964) starring Sean Connery, "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) starring Sean Connery and "Moonraker" (1979) starring Roger Moore.

Her connections mentioned in the question are: She was born in Cardiff, she sang the theme tunes to James Bond movies starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore, she released a version of the George Harrison song "Something", she featured on "History Repeating" by The Propellerheads and she was sampled by Kanye West on his single "Diamonds From Sierra Leone", which she was not pleased about, having never being approached by him or his record company.

Answer: Pony

"Pony Time" was written by Don Covay/John Berry. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Chubby Checker in 1961. It peaked at number 27 on the UK singles chart the same year.

"The Twist" (1960 & 1962) and "Pony Time" were his only US number one hits. Between 1960 and 1964 he had 15 Top 20 hits of which eight made the Top Ten. He returned to the Top 20 in 1988 when featured on "The Twist (Yo, Twist!)" by The Fat Boys which peaked at number 16.

When the writer and singer of the original version of "The Twist", Hank Ballard, heard it on the radio he thought it was his version and that it had made the number one spot. I imagine that he must have been a bit disappointed to find out it was a close copy by Chubby Checker. I think the song writing royalties made up for that, especially as it hit the top in two separate years.

Answer: Rick Nelson

Ricky Nelson decided to drop the y from his Christian name and become the grown up Rick Nelson.

As Ricky Nelson he had 19 Top 20 hits between 1957 and 1961. This included 14 Top Ten hits of which two were number one hits, "Poor Little Fool" (1958) and "Travelin' Man (1961). The hits continued as Rick Nelson with four Top Ten hits between 1962 and 1964, "Young World" (1962), "Teen Age Idol" (1962), "It's Up To You" (1963) and "For You" (1964).

In 1963 he had signed a 20 year recording contract with Decca Records but after some initial success he only had a number of minor hits, due in no doubt to the onslaught of Beatlemania and the British invasion. He did make the Billboard Top Ten once again in 1972 when "Garden Party" peaked at number six.

Answer: Sausages

"Big Bad John" was written by Roy Acuff/Jimmy Dean. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Jimmy Dean in 1961. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

Although "Big Bad John" was part of the very popular death records genre of the time, it wasn't the usual teenage drama. It was about a giant of a man who gives his life to save other men at the bottom of a coal mine.

Jimmy Dean was a country music singer, television host, actor, and businessman. With his brother Don he founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company in 1969, it was sold in 1984 to Consolidated Foods, later to become the Sara Lee Corporation. In 1971 he played Willard Whyte (a Howard Hughes type character) in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever" starring Sean Connery.

Answer: Stand By Me

"Stand By Me" was written by Ben E. King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Ben E. King in 1961. It peaked at number 27 on the UK singles chart the same year.

In 1986 the song was used as the theme song for the movie "Stand By Me" starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Richard Dreyfuss and Kiefer Sutherland. Re-entering the music charts, "Stand By Me" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart in 1987.

In a strange coincidence, at number two on the UK singles chart at the time, was "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge. This song had appeared in a Levi's jeans commercial. It was the only time that two recordings more than 20 years old had occupied the top two positions on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Breakfast At Tiffany's

"Moon River" was written by Jonny Mercer/Henry Mancini. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for Danny Williams in 1961/62. It did not chart in the US.

The song was featured in the 1961 movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's but not the version sung by Danny Williams. He became the first South African born singer to top the UK singles chart. Although he only had three Top 20 hits in the UK he was very popular and was known as Britain's Johnny Mathis.

He had one Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when "White On White" peaked at number nine in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Angela Lansbury

The "Blue Hawaii" album spent 20 weeks at number one on the Billboard album chart for Elvis Presley in 1961/62. It was number one for 18 weeks on the UK album chart in 1962.

Elvis Presley, in his eighth movie, played tour guide Chad Gates. Angela Lansbury, who was only nine years older than Elvis at the time, played his mother Sarah Lee Gates.

Mildred Dunnock played Elvis's (Clint Reno's) mother Martha Reno in the 1956 movie "Love Me Tender"

Dolores del Rio played Elvis's (Pacer Burton's) mother Neddy Burton in the 1960 movie "Flaming Star"

Katy Jurado played Elvis's (Joe Lightcloud's) step-mother Annie Lightcloud in the 1968 movie "Stay Away, Joe".

Answer: They had a hit named after a sea going craft that he built.

The connection between The Shadows and Thor Heyerdahl was Kon-Tiki. "Kon-Tiki" was written by Michael Carr. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for The Shadows in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

"Kon-Tiki" was the second of five UK number one hits for The Shadows who were, Jet Harris (bass guitar), Hank Marvin (lead guitar), Tony Meehan (drums) and Bruce Welch (rhythm guitar). Tony Meehan and Jet Harris later left The Shadows and had three Top 10 hits as a duo on the UK singles chart in 1963.

Kon-Tiki was the name of a vessel that Thor Heyerdahl and others built from balsa wood and other native materials. They sailed from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia, in 1947. They arrived at the Tuamotu Islands after a journey of 4,300 nautical miles which took 101 days.

Answer: (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame/Little Sister

"(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame"/"Little Sister" were written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman. It was a double A-Side number one hit for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Elvis Presley in 1961. "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" peaked at number four and "Little Sister" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"It's Now Or Never" was number one for eight weeks on the UK singles chart in 1960 and number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart in 1961 and number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960

"I Feel So Bad" was a double A-Side hit with "Wild In The Country". It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart in 1961. "I Feel So Bad" peaked at number five and "Wild In The Country" peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"Surrender" was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart in 1961 and number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.