The #1 hits of 1963 Part 6 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Searchers

"Sweets for My Sweet" by Merseysiders, The Searchers, made the top spot on the UK chart in August of 1963. The record did not chart in either Australia or the USA. In Australia however "Sweets for My Sweet" was released on an EP with "Sugar and Spice", "Farmer John" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" which sold very respectably. "Sweets for My Sweet" was originally recorded by the Drifters who reached number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been covered by many artists. UK Reggae artist C J Lewis had a top ten hit with the song in 1994.

Answer: Ruby & the Romantics

Ruby and the Romantics have been classed as one hit wonders outside of the USA which is true, "Our Day Will Come" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. After that hit Ruby and the Romantics charted seven more singles through early 1965, the best of them was "My Summer Love" which reached number sixteen on the Hot 100. "Our Day Will Come" made the top twenty in Australia and was a radio favourite; in the UK the song peaked at number 38 and only stayed in the charts for six weeks.

After "Our Day Will Come" the group had no more hits outside of North America.

Answer: Del Shannon

Del Shannon was a prolific chart resident in the early 1960s. His "Little Town Flirt" hit number one in Australia during March of 1963. The record was a top ten hit in the UK and only made number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. It is ironic and a little sad that during their heyday Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney and Del Shannon had more hits and were more popular in the UK and Australia than they were in their own country.

Answer: The Kingsmen

The Kingsmen from Seattle had a massive hit when "Louie Louie" was released in mid 1963. The record reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and held that position for six weeks kept out of the top spot by Bobby Vinton and The Singing Nun. However the song reached number one on the Cashbox and The Music Vendor charts. The record did not chart in Australia and made number twenty six in the UK. The song, written by Richard Berry in 1957, has reportedly been recorded by more than 4000 different artists.

Your author played (poorly) in bands during the sixties and each one played this tune and I can't recall any of the various lead singers singing the same lyrics more than once.

The version by the Kingsmen is credited on the soundtrack of over 40 movies and TV series.

Answer: Andy Williams

"Can't Get Used to Losing You" was a big hit for Andy Williams in 1963. The record reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, number two in the UK and number ten in Australia. "Can't Get Used to Losing You" was Andy's biggest hit in the US and UK after "Butterfly" in 1957 which topped the charts in both countries. In Australia his biggest hit came in 1971 when he topped the chart with "Where Do I Begin" the theme from the movie "Love Story". Andy placed over fifty singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and more than thirty five albums on the Billboard chart.

"Can't Get Used to Losing You" was number one on The Cashbox chart.

Answer: Johnny O'Keefe

"You'll Never Cherish a Love So True" backed with "Move Baby Move" was a double sided number one for the King of Australian Rock 'n' Roll, "The Wild One", Johnny O'Keefe. The record held the top spot for four weeks until it was replaced by "Surf City".
The song "Move Baby Move" was originally recorded by Gil Hamilton aka Johnny Thunder as "Move and Groove" while "You'll Never Cherish a Love So True" was written by Berry Gordy and originally recorded by a group called the Vells. The Vells after some personnel changes became Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

As was the custom at the time cover versions were often almost note for note copies of the original, these two songs are proof of that.

Answer: The Angels

The Angels, one of the many girl groups of the early 1960s, scored their greatest chart success with "My Boyfriend's Back". The record made number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in September 1963. In the UK The Angels had little success, as "My Boyfriend's Back" just slipped into the top fifty; in Australia despite much airplay the record barely dented the chart.

The Angels had a few songs make the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963-64 but no other top ten hits. They became studio backup singers in the mid sixties for many artists including Lou Christie.

Answer: Helen Shapiro

"No Trespassing"/"Not Responsible" was a double sided number one hit for English singer Helen Shapiro in Australia. This record did not chart in her home country or in the USA. Helen had hits in Australia and the UK as a fourteen year old from 1960 onward with records like "Walking Back to Happiness", "Don't Treat Me Like A Child" "Little Miss Lonely" and "Let's Talk About Love". Her big voice was lost in the wave of the newer singers like Dusty Springfield and Sandie Shaw.

Some interesting Trivia on Helen:
On her album, "Helen in Nashville" the songs "No Trespassing" and "Not Responsible" were included along with the first recorded version of "It's My Party" which launched the career of Lesley Gore.

On their first tour of the UK in 1962 The Beatles were a support act for Helen and Lennon and McCartney wrote "Misery" for Helen but the song was rejected by her manager, a fact Helen later confirmed.

Answer: Paul and Paula

"Hey Paula" became a hit for Paul and Paula, actually Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson.
Their record was a million seller topping the Billboard Hot 100 and also the Australian charts.
"Hey Paula" reached number eight in the UK and charted very well all over the world. The boy girl pairing of Paul and Paula is said to have inspired other similar duets: Nino Tempo and April Stevens, Dale and Grace, even Jerry Butler and Betty Everett.
Australian television personalities Ernie Sigley and Denise Drysdale took a version of "Hey Paula" to the number one slot on the Australian charts in 1974.

Answer: The Chiffons

The Chiffons, another of girl groups so popular in the early 1960s, took "He's So Fine" to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in for four weeks in April 1963. The record was a hit in the UK and reached number sixteen while in Australia the song made the top thirty.

The Chiffons had a couple of other top ten hits, "One Fine Day" and "Sweet Talkin' Guy". "He's So Fine" was of course at the centre of the lawsuit against George Harrison claiming he used part of the melody for his 1970 hit "My Sweet Lord".