Classic Pop Icons

Happy Valentine’s Day from Classic Pop Icons. Today is a good excuse to look back at some of the classic love songs of the 50s and 60s. Enjoy these timeless performances from Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, The Shirelles and The Beatles.

“To Be Loved” - Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson was an outstanding performer with a brilliant voice and impressive stage presence. Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were among his fans. “To Be Loved” was one of nine hit singles composed for Jackie Wilson by Berry Gordy, Jr., Gordy’s sister Gwen and Roquel Davis. Others included the fabulous “Reet Petite” and “Lonely Teardrops.” “To Be Loved” was a top 20 hit in the US and UK.

“True Love Ways” - Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly’s finest ballad was co-written with Norman Petty and recorded with the Ray Ellis orchestra in October 1958. “True Love Ways” was released posthumously on the album “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2″ and was also a hit single in the UK (b/w “Moonbeams” and US (b/w “That Makes it Tough”.)

“Can’t Help Falling In Love” - Elvis Presley

This is one of Elvis Presley’s best loved ballads. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” was recorded for the Blue Hawaii soundtrack in 1961 and has since featured on countless compilations. Many artists have covered this song, including U2 and UB40, but Elvis’ remains the definitive performance. It was later used to close Elvis’ shows throughout the ’70s.

“Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” - The Shirelles

The Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” was one of the truly great pop songs of the early 1960s. It was recorded in 1960 and in 1961 became the first song by an all-girl group to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The Shirelles were Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Beverly Lee and Addie ‘Micki’ Harris.

“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” was one of many classic songs written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, including “Up On the Roof” (the Drifters), “One Fine Day” (the Chiffons), and “I’m Into Something Good” (Herman’s Hermits).

“And I Love Her” - The Beatles

We conclude with a 1964 classic from The Beatles. “And I Love Her” featured in the movie “A Hard Day’s Night” and the soundtrack album for that movie, and was also released as a single (b/w “If I Fell”). The song was written mainly by Paul McCartney, but John Lennon possibly had input on the middle eight. This is a stand out ballad from The Beatles in a period where they were churning out one classic song after another.

On this day in 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) lost their lives in a plane crash on route to a concert in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The performers were a three-week ‘Winter Dance Party’ tour of the Midwest, which had commenced on January 23. The tour conditions were far from ideal, particularly after the heating system in the tour bus broke down. After the show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy Holly chartered a small plane to take him to the next stop on the tour. He was joined on the plane by Valens and Richardson. The plane crashed soon after take off, killing all on board. Dion DiMucci of Dion & The Belmonts, who was the fourth headline performer on the tour, was approached to join the flight as well but declined.

Buddy Holly was one of the true early greats of rock ‘n’ roll. This innovative artist influenced both his contemporaries and later musicians, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan. It’s amazing to think that he was dead within 18 months of hitting it big. We can be thankful that he crammed so much quality work into such a short period.

To mark the anniversary, here’s some tracks to enjoy from Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.

Buddy Holly - True Love Ways

Buddy Holly - Rave On

Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day and Oh Boy

Richie Valens - La Bamba

Richie Valens - Come on Lets Go

Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace

Great purchases