• Paul Anka - Puppy Love. Anka's fifth million-seller was written in 1959 and made number 2 in the US charts but only 33 in the UK, where it was a much bigger hit (years later) for Donny Osmond. His next million-seller 'My Home Town' made little impression in Britain.
• Hank Ballard and the Midnighters - The Twist. This fourth million-seller for Hank was written by him in 1958 and caused a dance sensation in 1961 when covered by Chubby Checker. Ballard recorded two more million-sellers before the year was out: Finger Poppin' Time and Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go. 'The Twist' was written to fit a dance step for his group and their act.
• Bill Black and his Combo - White Silver Sands. Second million-seller for this combo -followed by Josephine and Don't Be Cruel, an instrumental version of the song written in 1956 by Elvis Presley and Otis Blackwell.
• Jeanne Black - He'll Have To Stay. Sole million-seller for this rock n' roll singer who came from Mount Baldy, California, and made many appearances on the US TV show 'Hometown Jamboree'.
• The Blue Diamonds - Ramona. First million-seller for this duo of brothers, Rudi and Riem de Wolff. Inspired by the Everly Brothers, they made their first disc in 1959 and were an immediate success. This version of 'Ramona' was the first ever single to sell over 250,000 copies in Holland and over 1 million in Germany when released on the Decca label. The song was originally written in 1928 by L. Wolfe Gilbert (words) and Mabel Wayne (music).
• Brothers Four - Green Fields. Sole million seller for this quartet.
• Charles Brown - Please Come Home for Christmas. Now considered a standard, Brown's version of Gene Redd's song was recorded on 21st September 1960 and finally went gold in 1968. Brown made a number of seasonal recordings including 'Merry Christmas Baby'.
• Heidi Bruhl - Wir Wollen Neimals Auseinandergeh'n. First million-seller for the German born actress-singer.
• Anita Bryant - Paper Roses. First million-seller for the former 'Miss America' who was much in demand on US television. She followed it with two more gold discs: In My Little Corner of the World and Till There Was You.
• Papa Bue and Viking Jazz Band - Schalfe Mein Prinzchen. Sole million-seller for Bue, born Arne Bue Jensen in Copenhagen in 1931.
• Johnny Burnette - Dreamin'. First million seller for the artiste born John Joseph Burnette in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25th, 1934. Johnny started to play guitar at a very young age but may have chosen another career path. He was a Golden Gloves city boxing champion in his home town but in 1955 he formed his own rock n' roll trio with older brother Dorsey and friend Paul Burlison. They first played at a local fairground before landing a spot on TV. Following a tour of South America the trio discovered several record contract offers awaiting them, but only had minor hits after signing for Coral Records. In 1958, Johnny broke up the trio and started writing songs with his brother. After writing three million-sellers for Rick Nelson, Johnny was signed as a recording artiste for Liberty Records. This million-seller was followed by another; You're Sixteen. In early 1964 Johnny formed his own record label but it only had one hit before he was tragically killed in a boating accident at Clear Lake, California, on August 15th, 1964.
• Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind. This second million-seller for Ray was an oldie from 1930, but won him Grammy's for Best Male Vocal Recording 1960 and Best Pop Single Performance 1960.
• Chubby Checker - The Twist. Ernest Evans was born on 3rd October 1941 in Philadelphia, where, after school each night he worked in a chicken market, It was the market's owner, Henry Colt who first heard young Ernie sing, and was so impressed with the youngster's voice that he contacted Cameo-Parkway label owner Kal Mann, who immediately signed Ernest to a long-term contract. His first disc was 'The Class', but it was this million seller, his second recording, that made him into an overnight international star. His 'upbeat' version of Hank Ballard's composition has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and is a contributory factor to Chubby's 15 million plus sales. The name Chubby Checker was given to him when he was in the recording studio cutting his first disc. US DJ Dick Clark's wife, who was visiting at the time, remarked on how much Ernest looked like a young Fats Domino -and came up with Chubby Checker as a joke.
• Perry Como - Delaware. 19th million-seller for Como.
• Sam Cooke - Wonderful World. Third million-seller for Cooke. His fourth was Chain Gang.
• Don Costa - Never On A Sunday. Only million seller for this artiste. From the 1960 movie of the same name. This won the Oscar for Best Film Song of 1960.
• Floyd Cramer - Last Date. - First million-seller for this rythm and blues pianist who featured on Elvis' 'Heartbreak Hotel'.
• Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea. - Fifth million-seller for Darin, the title of which was chosen for his biographical movie many years later.
• Mark Dimming - Tean Angel. Sole million-seller for this artiste.
• Fats Domino - Walkin' To New Orleans b/w Don't Come Knockin'. 23rd million-seller for Fats.
• Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man's A Dustman. The song that gave Lonnie the distinction of being the first British vocalist to enjoy three million-sellers, selling that number in Britain alone. This comedic song about a dustman was adapted from a World War 1 march - 'My old man's a farmer, now what do you think of that? He's wearing khaki trousers and a little gawblimey hat'.
• The Drifters - True Love, True Love b/w Dance With Me and Save The Last Dance For Me. Third million seller which is probably best remembered for the song that was listed second on this double-A sided release. Their fourth million-seller was even more popular with 18 weeks on each of the US and UK bestselling charts.
• Duane Eddy - Because Their Young. Second million-seller for this instrumentalist.
• Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown. Eight million-seller for Don and Phil was their own composition and is a timeless classic.
• Percy Faith and his Orchestra - Theme From 'A Summer Place'. Second million-seller for Faith receiving a Grammy for Record of the Year 1960.
• Ferrante and Teicher - Theme from 'The Apartment' - Exodus (Main Theme). First and second million-sellers from this hugely successful duo who sold over 20 million records worldwide between 1960 and 1970.
• Connie Francis - MAMA b/w Teddyd. Sixth million-seller for Francis who would record her ninth million-seeler before the year was out: Everybody's Somebody's Fool b/w Jealous Of You, My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own and Many Tears Ago.
• Freddy (Quinn) - Unter Freemden Sternen. Fourth million-seeler for this German pop singer.
• Rocco Granata - Marina. A big European success for this Italian writer/recording star.
• Rolf Harris - Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport. Song that started a new craze -the wobble board. Rolf Harris, the son of Welsh parents who had emigrated from their native Cardiff, was born on 30th March, 1930 in Perth, Australia, where he got his first break in a talent show called 'Amateur Hour'. The story goes that in 1958 he was drying an oil painting on an oil heater. The painting got too hot so Rolf picked it up by it's edges and began to wobble it back and forth in order to cool it down. The resounding 'twang' that the board made was, he decided, just the type of sound he wanted for the background of his kangaroo song. After the song rocketed to number one in the Australian charts he was aproached by a Masonite firm to produce more of the boards, and in a short space of time over 55,000 were sold in Australia alone. Rolf moved to the UK in 1952 where he became a popular entertainer, landing his own TV show on BBC television and being awarded an M.B.E. in 1968 followed by an O.B.E. in 1977. As well as one of the countries (adopted) best loved entertainers Rolf Harris is an accomplished artist having recently been commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
• The Hollywood Argyles - Alley-Oop. Sole million-seller for this septet.
• Johnny Horton - North to Alaska. Second million-seller for Horton.
• Brian Hyland - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. This first million-seller for Brian was the biggest novelty hit of the year.
• Jan Kjeld - Banjo Boy. Sole million-seller for this duo.
• Marv Johnson - (You've Got To) Move Two Mountains. Second million-seller for Marv.
• Jimmy Jones - Handy Man. - First million-seller for Jimmy, which he co-wrote with Otis Blackwell. Jones comes from Birmingham, Alabama and followed this gold disc with another: Good Timin.
• Bert Kaempfert - Wonderland By Night. - First million-seller for the German born musician he plays piano, clarinet, sax and accordion as well as being an accomplished composer.
• Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothin's. Second million-seller for 'Little Miss Dynamite'. This was followed a the double-sided gold disc I'm Sorry b/w That's All You Gotta Do.
• Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Fallin' . The top country and western song of 1960 spending 14 weeks at the top of that particular chart.
• Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely. Roy Kelton Orbison was born on 23rd April 1936 in Vernon, Texas. His father, an oil-rig driller taught Roy to play the guitar when he was six years old and he became extremely proficient at it, suggesting that he could become a talented and successful guitarist. But in college his unique vocal talents were discovered by Pat Boone and in 1956 Roy was signed to Sun Records, the label that discovered Elvis Presley. A second million-seller was released in 1960 by Roy; Blue Angel.
• Elvis Presley - Stuck On You b/w Fame and Fortune. A hat-full of million-sellers for 'The King' in 1960 started with his 25th gold disc which reputedly had an advance order of 1,275,077 copies a record-for a record, at that time. It didn't stop there. His next release, the double-a sided It's Now Or Never b/w A Mess of Blues gave him gold discs 26 and 27. How? The biggest hit of his already phenomenal career, written in 1901 under the title 'O Sole Mio' in Italy, reached global sales far exceeding 20 million. Elvis received gold discs in the USA for both titles and gold discs for 'It's Now Or Never' from both Germany and Britain. 'A Mess of Blues' did not appear on the Britsh release -it was replaced by 'Make Me Know It'. Two more gold discs were awarded for his next single Are You Lonesome Tonight? b/w I Gotta Know and following the million-plus selling LP 'G.I. Blues' his next single Wooden Heart gave him his 31st million-selling record.
• Johnny Preston - Running Bear. First million-seller for Preston is the story of an Indian brave who falls in love with a fair maiden from an enemy tribe. It was written in 1959 by J. P. Richardson -better known a 'The Big Bopper'.
• Charlie Rich - Lonely Week-Ends. Self-penned hit for the country and western star.
• Bobby Rydell - Ding-A-Ling. Third million seler for Rydell. His fourth was Volare.
• Jack Scott - What In The World's Come Over You?. Second million-seller for this artiste.
• The Shadows - Apache. First million-seller for Britain's most famous instrumental group of all time whose starting line-up consisted of Hank Marvin (lead guitar), Bruce Welch (rhythm guitar), Jet Harris (guitar) and Tony Meehan (drums). They were the regular backing group for Cliff Richard and this record was their fourth release. Harris and Meehan left the group to become an independent duo and were replaced by John Rostill and Brian Bennett, respectively. The 'Shads' went on to lasting chart success. Harris and Meehan didn't.
• The Shirelles - Dedicated To The One I Love and Tonight's The Night and Will You Love Me Tomorrow. Female quartet comprised of Addie Harris, Shirley Owens, Doris Kenmer and Beverley Lee, all of whom began their musical careers at their high school in Passaic, New Jersey, and were discoverd in 1957 when they won a talent show and the prize of a Decca recording contract. Their first disc was 'I Met Him On Sunday' before they moved to another label, Scepter Records, formed by their manager Florence Greenberg. Their first million-seller was recorded in 1959 whilst the second was cut in late 1960. However, it was their third gold disc, written by one of the USA's most successful songwriting teams, Gerry Goffin and Carole King, that is best remembered as one of the all-time great love songs.
• Ray Smith - Rockin' Little Angel. Sole million-seller for this artiste.
• Connie Stevens - Sixteen Reasons. Second million-seller for Connie but her first as a solo artiste.
• Roland Stone - Something Special. First gold disc for this recording star.
• Johnny Tilotson - Poetry In Motion. First million-seller for Tilotson, born on 20th April, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was already an accomplished performer by the time he entered high school and landed a three-year contract on a TV variety show called 'The Tom Dowdy Show' where he was heard by Lee Rosenburg who arranged for him to have an audition for the Cadence label. They signed him in 1958, but not before he had landed himself two degrees as a graduate of the University of Florida.
• Ike and Tina Turner - A Fool In Love. Ike Turner was born on 4th November, 1938 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and became interested in music at the age of six. Annie Mae Bullock was born on 26th November, 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, where she sang in gospel choirs and talent shows. She met Ike Turner at a local nightclub and asked him if she could sing with him and he said 'OK' but never actually invited her up on stage. By this time Turner had already recorded a rhythm and blues hit: 'Rocket 88' with his own group 'The Kings of Rhythm.' The drummer of this group allegedly had his eye on Annie's sister and one night whilst the group were performing he passed the microphone to her to sing. When she refused, Annie grabbed her opportunity and the rest, as they say, is history. Except it's not that simple. Ike wrote 'A Fool In Love' to record with another singer, but she didn't show up. Annie filled in and ended up changing her name to Tina and marrying Ike Turner in what proved to be a volatile and abusive relationship. But on the long and sometimes violent road to divorce the duo became on of the premier rhythm and blues acts of the 1960s. Their relationship was explored in detail in a Hollywood bio-pic, 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' filmed in 1993.
• Conway Twitty - Lonely Blue Boy. Second million-seller for this artiste.
• Bobby Vee and The Shadows - Devil or Angel and Rubber Ball. First million-seller for Bobby Velline, who was born on 30th April, 1943 in Fargo, North Dakota. The Shadows in question were led by Bobby's elder brother, Bill. Rubber Ball, his second million-seller is the best remembered of these two recordings.
• The Ventures - Walk, Don't Run. First million-seller for The Ventures
• Larry Verne - Mister Custer. Sole million-seller for this artiste.
• Dinah Washington with Brook Benton - Baby (You Got What It Takes). First million-seller for Dinah, second for Brook Benton.
• Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - Stay. First million-seller for this group.
• Jackie Wilson - Night b/w Doggin' Around. Second million-seller for Jackie.

60s GOLDS

1961
1962