Not only was the presidency of JFK the last tie of innocence in politics, it may have been the last time of innocence in popular music, when there were still no categories in popular music. It was pre-Beatles, pre-psychedelic and even pre-soul, as artists like Sam Cooke were considered “rock and roll “ artists. This 100 song, four disc set shows how, for the last time, popular music united rather than divided, America
Just glancing at the Top Ten of January, 1961 shows the depth and width of popular music. Pop instrumentals such as “ Theme From Spartacus”, Bert Kaempfert’s “Wonderland By Night” and even Lawrence Welk’s “Calcutta” sit comfortably alongside Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight”, doo woppers ‘Rosie and The Originals’ “Angel Baby”, bubble gum pop artist Bobby Vee crooning “Rubber Ball” and R&B band The Miracles (with a young Smokey Robinson) toe tapping out “Shop Around”.
And we’ve still got 90 more tunes!
Raucous rockers in shark skin suits abound, like Gary US Bonds on a foot stomping “New Orleans”, Freddie Cannon belting out “The Muskrat Ramble” and Dion agonizing on “Lonely Teenager”. There’s a plethora of doo wop groups like The Drifters (“I Count The Tears”), The Olympics (“Dance By The Light Of The Moon”), The Platters (“If I Didn’t Care”) and The Drifters (“I Count The Tears”). Black artists who had strong white followings included Fats Domino with “My Girl Josephine”, Jerry Butler as suave as silk on “He Will Break Your Heart” Ray Charles belting out “Them That Got”, Ben E. King swaying on “Spanish Harlem” and Jackie Wilson wailing on “Alone At Last” . Rockabilly with a hint of Elvis include Jimmy Clanton twanging on “What Am I Gonna Do”, Ricky Nelson swinging easy during “Milk Cow Blues”, and Duane Eddy ringing his guitar like a bell on “Pepe”.
Then, there are artists beyond category like Etta James with her transcendental “At Last” and Sam Cook mixing gospel and pop on “Sad Mood”. Was popular music ever this ecumenical again?