The Tymes’ lead vocalist, the late George Williams, was born on this date in 1935. Two of the group’s hits are on today’s playlist.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 12-5-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the December 5 birthdays of Little Richard, J.J. Cale, Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik, Andy Kim, Keri Hilson, Michel’le, and Pamela Blair; and the December 6 birthdays of R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Dave Brubeck, Ride’s Mike Gardener, Everything But The Girl’s Ben Watt, The Dave Clark Five’s Mike Smith, The Tymes’ George Williams, Willie Hutch, and Jonathan King.
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Throwback Thursday: 1963
The British invaded the United States in 1964. The calm before the storm offered great songs from girl groups, Motown, Bob Dylan and The Singing Nun, plus other songs that have stood the test of time. Here are thirty songs that represent 1963’s music.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-6-20)
Inspired by the season and the December 6 birthdays of R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The Dave Clark Five’s Mike Smith, Jonathan King, The Tymes’ George Williams, Everything But the Girl’s Ben Watt, and Dave Brubeck.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (10-20-20)
Inspired by the October 20 birthdays of Tom Petty, Snoop Dogg, Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, Wanda Jackson, The Tokens’ Jay Siegel, and Eddie Harris.
Throwback Thursday – 1963
The girl group sound was hugely popular on the US pop charts in the early 1960s. The Shirelles, The Crystals, The Chiffons, The Angels, Martha and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, The Exciters, The Orlons, The Cookies, The Murmaids, The Dixie Cups, The Supremes, The Toys, The Shangri-Las, The Jaynetts and others filled the radio with tales of teenage romance, heartbreak and occasionally social commentary. Solo acts such as Lesley Gore and Darlene Love also exemplified the girl group sound.
Described in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry as “the quintessence of the ‘girl group’ aesthetic of the early 1960s,” the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” reached #2 in 1963. The record was produced by Phil Spector, who produced at least 15 top forty girl group songs between 1962 and 1964.
Lead vocals on “Be My Baby” were performed by Ronnie Spector. In fact, the other Ronettes aren’t even on the record. Backup singers included the girlfriend of Phil Spector’s promotion man. That man was Sonny Bono; his girlfriend was Cher. Sonny & Cher would have their first hit as a duo two years later.
This week’s Throwback Thursday playlist spotlights the hits of 1963. Here are twenty of that year’s best, kicking off with the record New Music Express named the second best song of the 1960s (their #1 was The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life”), the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”
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