1. FRANK SINATRA - The "Charirman Of The Board" was his nickname. Had many hits through the 40's and 50's. His biggest hits in the 60's were "It Was A Very Good Year" "That's Life" "Somethin' Stupid" (duet with his daughter Nancy) "Strangers In The Night" and "My Way". He was our mother's favorite.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Somethin' Stupid"
2. NANCY SINATRA - Frank's daughter didn't do too bad for herself in the 60's. Her first hit was "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " in 1966. "How Does That Grab You Darlin'? "Sugar Town" and "Somethin' Stupid" (Duet with dad Frank) . Other mid charted songs were "Jackson" "Lightning's Girl" "Lady Bird" "Love Eyes" and "Some Velvet Morning".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"
3. SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET - Three charted songs in the 60's. "She's About A Mover" "The Rains Came" and "Mendocino". Group was from Texas.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Mendocino"
4. SONNY & CHER - Husband and wife duo had 4 big hits in the 60's. "I Got You Babe" "Baby Don't Go" "Laugh At Me" and "The Beat Goes On". Other mid charted songs were "Just You" "But You're Mine" "What Now My Love" and "Little Man". Would have more hits in the 70's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "The Beat Goes On"
5. SPANKY & OUR GANG - Group from Chicago had several charted songs in the 60's. The biggest were "Sunday Will Never Be The Same" "Lazy Day" and "Like To Get To Know You". Other songs include "Give A Damn" "Sunday Mornin' " and "Makin' Every Minute Count".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Like To Get To Know You"
6. STANDELLS - Garage band from L.A. really only had one big hit with "Dirty Water" in 1966, but also had 2 other songs make the charts that were pretty good. "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" and "Why Pick On Me" also charted. I remember the group was on a "Munsters" episode in 1965, a year before their big hit.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Dirty Water"
7. SRC - The group from Ann Arbor originally known as the 'Scot Richard Case', SRC had their first hit in late 1967 with a cover of the Cream's "I'm So Glad". They released their first of 3 albums on Capitol records "SRC" in 1968. "Black Sheep" was the single released from the album which didn't chart, but got significant FM play in the Detroit area. In 1969, they released "Milestones", their finest work. The label released "Turn Into Love" as the single which didn't chart. However, there were several songs on the album that were better choices. "Checkmate" "Our Little Secret" "No Secret Destination" and "Show Me" were all good songs. Heavy FM airplay went to the instrumental "In The Hall Of The Mountain King/Bolero". Their final album was released in 1970 "Traveler's Tale"
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Checkmate"
PAT'S FAVORITE ALBUM - "Milestones"
8. STEPPENWOLF - Group formed in L.A. in 1967, featuring the distinct voice of John Kay. Had 3 straight top ten hits with "Born To Be Wild" "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Rock Me". Also charted with "It's Never Too Late" and "Move Over". Group would have more hits in the early 70's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Born To Be Wild"
9. RAY STEVENS - Novelty singer from Georgia would have many songs on the charts in the 60's. Biggest hits were "Ahab The Arab" "Harry The Hairy Ape" and "Gitarzan". He have a few serious songs make the charts, such as "Unwind" and "Mr. Businessman". Would have more hits in the 70's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Gitarzan"
10. BARBRA STREISAND - Would have many charted songs in the 60's, most of them from movie musicals she starred in. Her biggest hit was "People" in 1964. Would have many more hits in the 70's and 80's.
11. B.J. THOMAS - Born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas. Singer had many charted songs from 60's into the 70's. His first hit was a remake of the Hank Williams classic "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Then came "Mama" and "Billy And Sue". In 1968 he came back with "Eyes Of A New York Woman" and "Hooked On A Feeling". His biggest hit was late in 1969 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" from the movie "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid". He would have many more charted songs in the 70's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Hooked On A Feeling"
12. SUE THOMPSON - Singer from San Jose had 5 songs charted worth mentioning. First was "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)". "Norman" was her biggest hit. "Paper Tiger" was a hit for her in 1965. Other songs you may remember are "James (Hold The Ladder Steady)" and "Have A Good Time". Became a popular country and western singer in the 70's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Norman"
13. THREE DOG NIGHT - Pop-rock group from L.A. featuring 3 singers. Danny Hutton, Corey Wells and Chuck Negron. Most of their songs were written by other people. 1969 was their breakout year with "Try A Little Tenderness" "One" "Easy To Be Hard" and "Eli's Coming". The hits kept on coming through the early to mid 70's which we will mention later.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Easy To Be Hard"
14. JOHNNY TILLOTSON - Singer from Florida had many hits in the early 60's. "Poetry In Motion" "Without You" "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' " and "Talk Back Trembling Lips". Many mid charted songs included "Jimmy's Girl" "Dreamy Eyes" "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" "I Can't Help It" "Out Of My Mind" "You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" "Worried Guy" "I Rise, I Fall" and "She Understands Me"
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Poetry In Motion"
15. TOKENS - Vocal group from Brooklyn, featured Neil Sedaka as an original member. Sedaka left the group before they had their first charted song in 1961 "Tonight I Fell In Love". Their followup was their biggest hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". They had several more mid-charted songs including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" "Portrait Of My Love" and "He's In Town".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
16. TURTLES - Another great pop group formed in L.A. Featuring singers Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, the group went through numerous personnel changes, Volman and Kaylan the only 2 to be with the group through it's history. Their first hit was "It Ain't Me Babe", a Bob Dylan song. Other big hits were "Let Me Be" "You Baby" "Happy Together" "She'd Rather Be With Me" "You Know What I Mean" "Elenore" and "You Showed Me". Mid charted songs included "Sound Asleep" "The Story Of Rock And Roll" "Can I Get To Know You Better" "You Don't Have To Walk In The Rain" and "Love In The City". Great memories come from their pop songs.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - I Have two- "Happy Together" and "You Showed Me"
17. FRANKIE VALLI - Great lead singer from the 4 Seasons had 6 charted solo songs in the late 60's. His biggest was "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" in 1967. You may remember "The Girl I'll Never Know" "(You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself" and "I Make A Fool Of Myself". He would have many more hits in the 70's and 80's.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"
18. VANILLA FUDGE - Had one big hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On". Other songs by them were "Take Me For A Little While" "Need Love" "Season Of The Witch" and "Shotgun".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
19. BOBBY VEE - Born in North Dakota, he was another hit machine in the early 60's. His biggest hits were "Devil Or Angel" "Rubber Ball" "Take Good Care Of My Baby" "Run To Him" "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" and "Come Back When You Grow Up". Other songs he had were "Please Don't Ask About Barbara" "Beautiful People" "Sharing You" "Punish Her" "Charms" "Stayin' In" and "Hickory, Dick And Doc".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Take Good Care Of My Baby"
20. VENTURES - Premier guitar instrumental group from Seattle. Had 3 big hits "Walk-Don't Run" a remake "Walk -Don't Run '64" and "Hawaii Five-O". Other songs they had were "Perfidia" "Ram-Bunk-Shush" "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" and "Secret Agent Man".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Walk-Don't Run"
21. BOBBY VINTON - Singer from Pennsylvania know as the "Polish Prince". Had many charted songs in the 60's as well. His biggest hits were "Roses Are Red (My Love)" "Blue On Blue" "Blue Velvet" "There! I've Said It Again" "My Heart Belongs To Only You" "Mr. Lonely" "Coming Home Soldier" "Please Love Me Forever" and "I Love How You Love Me". Other songs were "Rain, Rain Go Away" "Over The Mountain" "Tell Me Why" "Clinging Vine" "Long Lonely Nights" "L-O-N-E-L-Y" "Satin Pillows" "Just As Much As Ever" and "The Days Of Sand And Shovels" plus many more mid charted songs.
22. VOGUES - Vocal group from Pennsylvania formed in high school 1960. Big Hits were "You're The One" "Five O' Clock World" "Magic Town" "Turn Around, Look At Me". Mid charted songs are "My Special Angel" "The Land Of Milk And Honey" "Please Mr. Sun" "Till" and "No, Not Much".
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "You're The One"
23. ANDY WILLIAMS - Singer from Iowa started his career singing with his 3 brothers. Went solo in 1952. His 50's hits included "Canadian Sunset" "Baby Doll" "Butterfly" "I Like Your Kind Of Love" "Lips Of Wine" "Are You Sincere" "Promise Me, Love" "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" and "Lonely Street". The 60's brought "The Village Of St. Bernadette" "Can't Get Used To Losing You" "Days Of Wine And Roses" "Hopeless" "A Fool Never Learns" "Dear Heart" "Music To Watch Girls By" and "Happy Heart". Many more mid charted songs as well. Hosted popular TV variety show from 1962 - 1971. Had many great Christmas songs as well. "Moon River" was recorded by him in 1962 but never released as a single. It was the best version of that classic song.
PAT'S FAVORITE SONG - "Moon River"
PAT'S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG - "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"
24. FRANK ZAPPA - How do you describe the music of Frank Zappa? You can't. His is a mixture of blues, jazz fusion, some pop music & doo-wop. 'Avant-Garde' is a term to describe him. He formed the Mothers Of Invention in 1965 and released his first album "Freak Out!" in 1966. I remember the cover and the song "Wowie Zowie". Of course you weren't going to hear anything from Zappa on AM radio. He was too out there for the mainstream media. His music were complex musical compostions that came from his genius musical ear. His lyrics were satirical, lampooning everything from hippies to conservatives. His other album releases in the 60's were "Absolutely Free" "We're Only In It For The Money" (The cover was a lampoon on the Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper' album) "Lumpy Gravy" "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" (A doo-wop album) "Uncle Meat" and "Hots". He would have a minor hit single in the 80's with "Valley Girl" featuring his daughter Moon Unit. A true cult figure if there ever was one in music. I remember he was in a skit at the end of one 'Monkees' episode on TV with Mike Neismith where they traded identities. When I watched it I had no idea then who Frank Zappa was.
PAT'S FAVORITE ALBUM - "Freak Out!"
PAT'S FAVORITE ALBUM CUTS - "Wowie Zowie" "Plastic People" and "Flower Punk"
