• The Allisons - Are You Sure?. Sole million seller for John and Bob who were in not, as their name suggests, brothers. John was John Alford and Bob's surname was Day. They met in London and sang in the same church choir. After being 'discovered' in 1960 they represented Britain in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest finishing a respectable 2nd, with this, their own composition.
• Kenny Ball and his Band - Midnight In Moscow. First million seller for Kenny born on 2nd May 1931 in Ilford, Essex. He gave up his job as a salesman started out on his musical career with Charlie Galbraith's All Star Jazz Band in 1951. At 23 he entered show business full-time making his first big impression at no lesser venue than the Royal Albert Hall, making his TV debut round the same time. He travelled extensively in the early days ending up in the Frankfurt, Germany in 1960 where he was talent spotted by Lonnie Donegan and given a recording contract with Pye Records. Since then, Kenny has toured extensively throughout the world and in 1963 he became the first British jazzman ever to become an honorary citizen of New Orleans.
• Joe Barry - I'm A Fool To Care. Only million seller for Joe.
• Ralf Bendix - Babysittin' Boogie. First million seller for this artist.
• Brook Benton - Boll Weevil Song. Third million seller for Benton.
• Mr Acker Bilk - Stranger On The Shore. First million seller for for Acker Bilk which had the distinction of being the longest runner in the British charts (39 weeks unbroken) until that record was broken in 1966. The single has an interesting history in as much as it was originally called 'Jenny'. Bilk composed the tune himself titling it after one of his children and it was issued in the USA by Atlantic Records on his album 'Sentimental Journey'. Then the BBC stepped in deciding that it was the perfect theme tune to a new children's drama serial they were about to launch called 'Stranger On The Shore'. (See the review at Television Heaven). The track was promptly renamed and issued as a single in the UK. Acker Bilk was born Bernard Stanley Bilk in Somerset on 28th January 1929. The name 'Acker' is a rural name for 'mate'. He was a familiar figure for many years on British TV with his distinctive bowler hat and coloured waistcoat.
• Gary 'U.S.' Bonds - Quarter To Three. First million seller for the star born Gary Anderson on 6th June, 1939, in Jacksonville, Florida, where he began singing in a church choir at the age of 9. In 1952 he formed his own group, The Turks, and turned solo after they disbanded.
• Pat Boone - Moody River. 12th million seller for Pat Boone.
• Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five. Timeless jazz classic recorded in 1959 for the album 'Time Out'. This track, composed by Paul Desmond, is regarded as the first famous jazz tune in 5/4 tempo. It was released as a single in 1961 and resulted in a top 30 placing on both sides of the Atlantic although it was a far bigger hit in Britain where it reached (appropriately), number 5 in the charts and led to the Quartet being named Top Instrumentalist Group for that year. Dave Brubeck was born on December 6th, 1920, in Concord, California.
• Jerry Butler - Moon River. Written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (where it was performed by Audrey Hepburn), this timeless classic received three Grammy Awards and has been recorded by countless artists down the years. This version is allegedly the biggest seller.
• Ray Charles - Hit The Road, Jack. Voted Best Rhythm-and-Blues Recording 1961, this was Ray's third million seller. His fourth, One Mint Julep was also released the same year.
• Chubby Checker - Pony Time / Let's Twist Again / The Fly. Three million sellers for Checker in 1961, the most memorable being 'Let's Twist Again' which is arguably better known and gets more party/disco plays than 'The Twist'. It topped the charts for two weeks in the UK and won an award for the Best Rock n' Roll Recording of 1961.
• Dee Clark - Raindrops. Self penned million seller, released on the Vee Jay label in the US.
• Petula Clark - Romeo. First million seller for the star born Petula Sally Olwen Clark on 15th November, 1932 in West Ewell, Surrey. She was performing on local radio (in Cardiff) by the age of nine and was soon signed up as a major emerging young talent, making no less than 20 movies between the ages of 11 and 18. In 1950 she was also voted the Most Outstanding TV Artist in the UK and signed a recording contract with PYE records in 1955. Her first major seller was 'Sailor' in 1960. She went on to become a major star throughout Europe recording in English, French and German. By 1970 she had sold well over 25 million discs worldwide.
• The Cousins - Kili Watch. First million seller for this quartet of instrumentalists.
• Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound. Second million seller for Floyd
• James Darren - Goodbye Cruel World. - First million seller for the clean-cut Darren, born James Ercolani on 8th June, 1936, in Philadelphia. Apart from a successful recording career, Darren made numerous movie appearances including 'The Guns of Navarone'.
• Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John. - First million seller for this C&W star born on 10th August, 1928 in Texas. The song tells the story of a man with a reputation for being a 'bad 'un' who proves his true character by rescuing men trapped by a mining disaster at the cost of his own life. Jimmy Dean had his own CBS-TV series in the USA in the 1950s.
• Joey Dee and the Starliters - Peppermint Twist. The group began a 12 month+ engagement at New York's famous Peppermint Lounge in 1960. The nightclub was renowned for being the home of twist music and Joey Dee co-wrote this hit with Henry Glover. A chart-topper in the USA but only a minor hit in the UK where it reached number 33.
• Dick and Deedee - The Mountain's High. First million-seller for this duo.
• Dion - Runaround Sue. Second million seller for Dion (this time minus The Belmonts) quickly followed by another million-selling Rock n' Roll classic -The Wanderer.
• Lee Dorsey - Ya Ya. Lee Dorsey was born on 4th December, 1926 in Portland, Oregon, where he trained as a boxer, becoming a contender for the World Lightweight Championship. His career was interrupted by Naval service and on his return to civilian life he was allegedly 'discovered' singing underneath a car while he was repairing it in a garage/automobile shop.
• The Dovells - Bristol Stomp. First million seller for this group.
• Joe Dowell - Wooden Heart. Dowell's version of this Elvis Presley classic also sold a million.
• Jimmy Elledge - Funny (How Time Slips Away). Million seller for this recording of a Willie Nelson composition.
• The Everly Brothers - Walk Right Back b/w Ebony Eyes. 9th million seller for the duo.
• Ferrante and Teicher - Tonight. Piano duet version of the hit song from 'West Side Story'.
• Connie Francis - Where The Boys Are / Together. 10th and 11th million seller for Francis, the former being the title theme of the movie in which she made her acting debut.
• Freddy (Quinn) - La Paloma. Fifth million seller for Freddy.
• Earl Grant - Ebb Tide. This son of a Baptist minister, a former music teacher, was a huge success in the USA where he appeared on TV, in the movies and played numerous nightclubs before having this million seller. He was tragically killed in a car crash in 1970 in New Mexico when his Rolls Royce swerved off the road.
• Buddy Greco - The Lady Is A Tramp. Million-selling hit for this artist with a song written in 1937 by Rodgers and Hart.
• Johnny Hallyday - Let's Twist Again. This 12 million+ disc selling artist had his first gold record with a version of the Chubby Checker hit.
• The Highwaymen - Michael (Row The Boat Ashore). The first million selling record for this vocal quintet was a traditional song which originated from slaves in Georgia, Alabama. The group were all senior honour students at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and came together for the sole purpose of performing at a party. They went over so well that they decided to stay together.
• Chris Kenner - I Like It Like That. First million seller for this artist.
• Gladys Knight and the Pips - Every Beat Of My Heart. Gladys had begun singing in church choirs in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia at the age of four and recieved classical training when seven. She continued as a soloist until 1955 before becoming part of a group. In 1958 the Pips were formed comprising her brother Merald, and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. They were signed by Vee Jay Records for whom they recorded this hit for. They joined Tamla Motown in 1967.
• Bobby Lewis - Tossin' and Turnin'. - First million-seller for Bobby was also the top selling single of 1961 spending seven weeks in the top slot on the USA charts.
• Gene McDaniels - One Hundred Tons of Clay. - First million seller for the Kansas City born musician.
• The Marcels - Blue Moon. This quintet who came from Pittsburgh recorded their version of this Rodgers and Hart composition which was almost unrecognisable from the original. It has sold well over two million and become a timeless classic.
• The Mar-keys - Last Night . Seven staff musicians at Satellite Records (later to become Stax Records) of Memphis formed the Mar-keys and this composition was self-penned.
• The Marvelettes - Please Mister Postman. Female vocal group comprised of lead singer Gladys Horton and Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart and Wanda Young who all performed at their school, Inkster High School in Detroit, where they were discovered by Tamla Records chief Berry Gordy Jr.
• The Miracles - Shop Around. Vocal quintet comprised of Warren Moore, Robert Rogers, Ronald White, Bill 'Smokey' Robinson and his wife Claudette Rogers. Smokey Robinson was the founding member of the group at Northern High School, Detroit and became lead singer. In 1955 Robinson became one of the major figures in the local music scene and met Berry Gordy Jnr., who was writing songs for R & B star Jackie Wilson, and looking for local acts to produce. Gordy took the teenage group under his wing and produced a series of Miracles singles in 1958 and 1959, all of which featured Robinson as composer and lead singer, and leased them to prominent R & B labels; End Records and Chess Records. In 1960, Gordy signed the Miracles to his Tamla Records label. In Tamla's early days, Smokey was involved in almost every part of the company's operations, writing, producing and making his own records, helping in the business of promotion and auditioning many of the young hopefuls. Over the course of his almost 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.
• Bob Moore and his orchestra - Mexico. Sole million seller for this artist.
• Nana Mouskouri - Weisse Rosen Aus Athens (The White Rose of Athens). First gold disc for the Greek star who got her big break when she met Manos Hadjidakis, composer of the hit 'Never On A Sunday'. He promised to write material especially for her and within a year she was established in Greece as a top recording artist.
• Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou b/w Travellin' Man. Ninth million seller for Nelson, the 'A' side was written by Gene Pitney whilst the 'double A' was written by Jerry Fuller.
• Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums. Second million seller for this artist.
• Roy Orbison - Runnin' Scared. Third million seller for the 'Big O' which was quickly followed by numbers four and five: Cryin' b/w Candy Man and I'm Hurtin'.
• Gene Pitney - Town Without Pity. Theme from the film of the same name sung by the talented, versatile and evergreen Pitney who was born in Hartford, Connecticut on 17th February 1941. He took guitar lessons for a year before writing his own material and supplying it to other stars of the day before recording the self-penned 'I Wanna Love My Life Away' on which he produced all seven voices on the recording by means of electronics. His songs have been recorded by some of the top artistes around the world and even into the 1990s he was still topping the pop charts. As well as playing guitar Pitney is also an accomplished pianist and drummer. He has undertaken extensive tours from Australia to England and all points in between and has established fan clubs in almost as many countries.
• Elvis Presley - Surrender. Elvis attained his 37th million selling record (including albums) in 1961 and 'Surrender' was the number 32 in that list. The song was an updated version of a 1911 Italian ballad 'Torna a Sorrento'. The double A sided I Feel So Bad b/w Wild In The Country made gold disc number 32, Little Sister b/w His Latest Flame number 33, Can't Help Falling In Love b/w Rock-A-Hula Baby made both 34 and 35. Both of these were from the movie 'Blue Hawaii' (the sountrack album itself being gold disc number 37).
• Linda Scott - I've Told Every Star. First million seller for this teenage songstress.
• Del Shannon - Runaway. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 30th, 1939, Del Shannon began performing at the age of 14. He was spotted by a DJ after being released from Army service and as a result was given a recording audition. This first million seller was a collaboration between the singer and Max Crook. His second gold record, Hats Off To Larry, was entirely his own work. Both are classic Rock n' Roll tracks that have stood the test of time.
• Helen Shapiro - You Don't Know. Born in the East End of London on 28th September, 1946, Helen started to take singing lessons at the Maurice Berman School of Singing where, one day, it was visited by John Shroeder of EMI who was on the lookout for new talent. He was so impressed with the young 13-year old that he arranged for her to have an audition which resulted in the instant offer of a contract and a record 'Don't Treat Me Like A Child' being especially written for her by Schroeder. She became the discovery of 1961 being voted the number one British Female Singer of the Year for both this year and the next. By now she was 14 and still attending Clapton Girls School in the London borough of Hackney. By the time she was 15 she had appeared in numerous radio and TV shows including a documentary called 'Look At Life'. Her mature voice seemed to belong to a singer who was much older and she continued to be a headliner in the early part of the decade. On her tours she was backed by a number of supporting acts, and on one of these tours was an up-and-coming group called 'The Beatles'. Before the tour had finished they had become the new pop sensations themselves. Years after disappearing from the pop scene Helen returned to the recording studio as a successful jazz singer.
• Tony Sheridan and The Beatles - My Bonnie. A record that may have struggled to have reached a few hundred thousand sales, let alone a million, had it not been for the phenomenal success of the 'backing group'. But a million it did achieve even if it did take a while to go gold. Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity was an ex-art school student from Norwich who had joined the exodus of hopeful up-and-coming British singers and pop groups to Hamburg, Germany where the all-night clubs and bars offered gainful employment for anyone willing to work long hours for little money and a roof over their heads. It was here that Sheridan met The Beatles, who at that time were comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and (drummer) Pete Best. My Bonnie was an updated rhythmic version of a traditional song believed to have been written around 1881 and actually attained sales in Germany, where it was released on the Polydor label, of 100,000 discs. But word reached the Beatles native Liverpool of it's release and one enquiring soul decided to visit his local record store to attain a copy of it. The store's owner said he hadn't heard of it but was happy to order it. The store's owner was called Brian Epstein.
• Troy Shondell - This Time (we're really breaking up). Million seller debut for this artist.
• The String-a-Longs - Wheels. Country and Western instrumental group that went gold with this recording.
• Sue Thompson - Sad Movies (make me cry). First million seller for this recording artist. Her second, which was an even bigger hit was called Norman.
• The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Also known as 'Wimoweh', this became the first gold disc for The Tokens who were originally formed by Neil Sedaka around 1958. Their second gold disc, also recorded in 1961 was called Tonight I Fell In Love.
• Phillip Upchurch Combo - You Can't Sit Down. Sole million seller for this group.
• Leroy Van Dyke - Walk On By. Country and Western hit written by Kendall Hayes and a second million seller for Leroy.
• Billy Vaughan and his orchestra - Wheels. Fourth million seller for Vaughan.
• Bobby Vee - Take Good Care Of My Baby and Run To Him. Third and fourth million sellers for this artist.
• The Ventures - Perfidia. Second million seller for The Ventures.
• Lawrence Welk and his orchestra - Calcutta. First million seller for Welk.
• Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - May I. Second big hit for this group.
• Faron Young - Hello Walls. Born on 25th February, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Faron's father moved the family away from the big city and bought a farm. To while away the hours Faron learned to play the guitar and later on had the opportunity to sing on the 'Louisiana Hayride' on a local radio station that were so impressed that they kept him coming back for two years. Within ten years Faron Young had recorded over 35 albums, appeared on numerous TV shows and in a number of movies.

60s GOLDS

1960
1962