To my ear, these songs are a lot older than they sound. For perspective, John Kennedy was president when these songs were charting! American culture was a lot more innocent then.

Rock and roll music appeared to be on its way out, with ‘Soul’ music and girl groups filling the void. Of course, that would change significantly once the Beatles’ music reached our shores, but this is what American sounded like ‘before the invasion’.

We’ll have more of this next week, so here is part one of a few choice hits from the summer of ’63;

He’s So Fine – The Chiffons

Can’t Get Used to Losing You – Andy Williams

Hitch Hike – Marvin Gaye

If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul

Pipeline – The Chantays

On Broadway – The Drifters

Watermelon Man – Mongo Santamaria

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals

Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis

Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke

Prisoner of Love – James Brown