1961 - The change
"Resembling a cross between a choir boy and a beatnik, Mr Dylan has a cherubic look and a mop of tousled hair.......His clothes may need a bit of tailoring, but when he works his guitar, harmonica or piano and composes songs faster than he can remember them, there is no doubt that he is bursting at the seams with talent."
Review from New York Times - Sep.1961
The Pop Year:
- Alexis Korner forms 'Blues Inc.'
- Frank Sinatra launches his own 'Reprise' label
- Bob Dylan makes his debut in Gerde's Folk City.
- Phil Spector's first release on his own label 'Philles - 'There's No Other'by The Crystals.
- The Beatles sign with Brian Epstein.
- Jackie Wilson shot in New York.
- Tamla Records has first million seller - Shop Around by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.
- Tony Meehan leaves The Shadows.
- Berry Gordy forms Motown label.
Singles:
top
- Elvis Presley - Are you Lonesome Tonight; Wooden Heart; His Latest Flame
- Bobby Vee - Rubber Ball; More than I can Say; Take Good Care of my Baby
- Johnny Horton - North to Alaska
- Johnny Burnette - You're Sixteen
- Petula Clark - Sailor
- Shadows - F.B.I
- Everly Brothers - Ebony Eyes/Walk Right Back
- The Shirelles - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
- Neil Sedaka - Calender Girl
- The Allisons - Are You Sure (second in Eurovision song contest)
- Bobby Darin - Lazy River
- Matt Munro - My Kind of Girl
- Temperence Seven - Your'e Driving Me Crazy; Pasedena
- Lonnie Donegan - Have a Drink on Me
- Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou
- Jerry Lee Lewis - What'd I Say
- Eden Kane - Well I ask You
- Buddy Holly - Baby I don't care
- Del Shannon - Runaway
- John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me
- Sam Cooke - Cupid
- Helen Shapiro - Walking Back to Happiness
- Dion - Runaround Sue
- Dave Brubeck - Take Five
- Frankie Vaughn - Tower of Strength
- Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John
- Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen - Midnight in Moscow
- Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again
- Sandy Nelson - Let There be Drums
- Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren - Bangers and Mash
- Roy Orbison - Cryin'
- Charlie Drake - My Boomerang Won't Come Back
- Hole in the Bucket - Harry Belafonte and Odetta
Albums:
top
- Elvis Presley - GI Blues; His Hand in Mine
- The Shadows - The Shadows
- Cliff Richard - 21 Today; The Young Ones
- Chet Atkins - The Other Chet Atkins
- Karl Denver - Wimoweh
- Temperence Seven - Temperence Seven Plus One
- Frankie Laine - Hell Bent for Leather
- Buddy Holly and the Crickets - That'll be the Day
- Duane Eddy - A Million Dollars Worth of Twang
- More of the Black and White Minstrels
- Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise
- Shirley Bassey - The Fabulous Shirley Bassey
In the news:
top
- Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space
- Bay of pigs - failure of US sponsered invasion of Cuba by anti - communist exiles. USA breaks off diplomatic relations.
- Contreceptive pill becomes available on the NHS
- Black Americans protest in Alabama and Mississippi. 1000 whites attack church where Martin Luthor King is preaching.
- Iraq lays claim to Kuwait - British troops sent to defend against possible attack.
- Britain applies to become member of the Common Market.
- Ban the bomb demonstration in Trafalgar Square ends in violence.
- UN secretary Dag Hammarskjoeld dies in air crash.
- Adolf Eichmann on trial for war crimes against jews.
- Tories introduce law limited right of Commonwealth citizens to live and work in UK
T.V:
Top Ten
- The Avengers
- Morecombe and Wise Show
- Points of View
- Survival
- Ben Casey
- Dr Kildare
- Thank Your Lucky Stars
- Comedy Playhouse
- Cliff! (richard)
- Supercar
top
- Royal Variety Performance
- No Hiding Place
- Sunday Night at the London Palladium
- Coronation Street
- Army Game
- Probation Officer
- Russ Conway Show
- Dickie Henderson Show
- Take Your Pick
- Double Your Money
Films:
- The Young Ones
- A Taste Of Honey
- West Side Story
- The Hustler
- Breakfast At Tiffany's
Books:
- Tropic of Cancer - Henry Miller
- Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
- On the Road - Jack Kerouac
- Soft Machine - William Burroughs
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
- Thunderball - Ian Fleming
- The Carpetbaggers - Harold Robbins