I love my best friend ( which is why I would choose this photo of us with my hair looking like I joined a punk rock band) who has been there for me for 37 years since we met in our early 20s. Her birthday is this Sunday and I thought I would do a little musical tribute for her. She was born in 1963 and I went searching to see what were the big hits this week all those years ago.
1. FINGERTIPS BY LITTLE STEVIE WONDER
This is lengthy but I wanted both parts 1 and 2 because it just seemed right to showcase both and it put Stevie Wonder on the map as a Wunderkind in the music industry. This was written by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby and Little Stevie was a mere 13 years old...pretty amazing.
2. BAD TO ME BY BILLY J KRAMER & THE DAKOTAS
I always liked this song and, I bet, my bestie does too....anything 60s music is appealing to be honest and my bestie agrees with me. ..well, we like other eras too. I had no idea it was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney with Lennon wanting this group to sing it.
3. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND BY PETER, PAUL & MARY
I might have showcased this song before...I can’t remember, but I know she loves this song so I have to showcase this from this great singing trio. This was written by the talented, but, might I add, weird, Bob Dylan, it’s a great song.
Bonus...
4. YOURE THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE SUNG BY ELVIS
I always liked this song sung by Elvis, but I like Elvis and I had no idea this song came out this year as I thought it was an earlier hit of this Rock and Roll legend.. it was written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. The song is backed with The Jordanaires who represent the Devil’s voice.
I hope you like the list
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting a picture, dear friend! Yessum, given the way the wind was blowing at that moment, I need to ask: were you at one time a groupie of Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols? :) Happy birthday to your wonderful friend of 37 years! It's so nice of you to pay tribute to her and your friendship this morning.
1963 was a great year in music. It was the year I became keenly interested in following current hits on the radio and collecting and studying the top tunes surveys published by my local top 40 radio station. I know and like all of the songs you posted.
I flipped my lid when I first heard Little Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips." At the time, it was the most exciting new sound on the radio, and it is still one of my favorites.
Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas are a band often overlooked in discussions of The British Invasion, but I remember them well and used to watch them perform on TV music shows like Hullabaloo London. The group has the distinction of being the only act to place both sides of a debut single in the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard chart. They did it with this song, "Bad To Me," backed with "Little Children." As you mentioned, both songs are Lennon/McCartney compositions. Billy J and his band were managed by Brian Epstein, who gained fame as manager of The Beatles.
Whenever I watch or listen to the folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, I get the blues, because Mary Travers died of leukemia in 2009 at the same age I am now. Mrs. Shady is a huge PP&M fan, and we went to see their live show at a Tampa Bay venue in 1990.
Yessum, Elvis had a top 3 hit with "Devil In Disguise" in the summer of 1963, the same weeks "Blowin' In The Wind" charted. They might have rereleased the song this year in remastered form, because the sound quality is brilliant and such a pleasure to hear. I wish all of my Boomer era oldies could be remastered and re-released.
I enjoyed these songs ripped from the soundtrack of my youth. Thanks again for being so kind to your bestie and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!
Yes I might be trying out for that band or I used too much dippity do. My friend is THE best! I like how different all of these songs are
DeleteHey Birgit,
ReplyDeleteThis is whatever music moves you week, as if that really matters, so you should join the 4M party. ;) Happy Birthday to your BFF! I love the picture of you two!! It's a fun capture and one that'll put smiles on your faces when you're too old to stand in the wind. :D Stevie Wonder got an early start in his career. I remember reading this awhile back but forgot it until now. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n' Roll never ever goes out of style. Have a boogietastic week, dearie!
I might try it one day:) you can tell I am not intolooking perfect...hahahaa Elvis rules
DeleteHappy birthday to your friend! Good playlist!
ReplyDeleteI hope she visits my page Glad you like my list
DeleteHappy BDay to your dear friend. We saw Peter, Paul and Mary years ago in concert.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have seen them
DeleteI didn’t recognise the title of the Billy J Kramer song, but knew it as soon as I heard it. (The only one I could actually remember the name AND the tune of was Little Children.) This certainly does sound like early era Beatles.
ReplyDeleteIt does and so I was not surprised who wrote it. I really like this song
DeleteHappy birthday to your best friend and I think you look good as a punker.
ReplyDeletePunker look is cool. Maybe I should dye my hair blue?...nah
DeleteHappy birthday to your friend.
ReplyDeleteI told her:)
DeleteA very Happy Birthday to your best friend, Birgit! Love the punk hair. ☺ I was 8 years old in 1963 and remember these songs. Little Stevie Wonder was a favourite!
ReplyDeleteI was not even in my parents' eye yet:) Stevie was excellent
DeleteHappy birthday to your BFF. Nice tribute to her birth year.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, the only one I knew was Peter, Paul, and Mary, but after listening, I know I have heard the Kramer song, but didn't remember it at all.
LOVE your punk rock look, dear.
I let the wind do the hair talking:) I knew all of these but love Peter, Paul & Mary
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