I graduated High School in 61 and we were still listening to them.
"Cathy's Clown" and "When Will I be Loved":1960; last top 10 hit "That's Old Fashioned" 1962, but they probably were better known for their '50's stuff.
I only r
eally got hip to 'em in the '80's, realizing that "Wake Up Little Suzy" segued real good into "After Midnight" .... :biggrin-new:
...and that they were a whole lot closer to Buddy Holly's "rockabilly" style than say, Perry Como or Paul Anka or Neil Sedaka....who I see as " '50's Holdovers" stylistically:
The predecessors of the "Singer/songwriter" thing that revived about 10 years later.
Which reminds me of the whole
"Brill Building" thing:
Sedaka and Neal Diamond were alumni (Neil's another one who deserves "Great Voice" props along with great songwriting skills: "Cracklin' Rosie", "Cherry Cherry", "Shilo", "Solitary Man"), and Mann And Weill:
"We Gotta Get outta this Place"; "On Broadway"; "Walkin' In The Rain"
and Goffin and (Carole) King: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "The Locomotion"; "Pleasant Valley Sunday".
The Monkees trace their lineage straight to the Brill Building thru Don Kirshner who secured the talents of his cohorts for a lot of their material:
"I'm a Believer"
"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)"
"Shades of Gray"
"A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You"
and the above-mentioned "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
NO study of '60's pop music (at least, American pop) can be complete without understanding the significance of the Brill Building.
Other alumni included Bacharach & David, Leiber/Stoller, and Bobby Darin.
Speaking of whom (yes I know he didn't it write it, but);
"Mack the Knife".
Absolutely magnificent.