here i present another programme in the rock and roll years series – this time it’s 1960. if you look at the music of this year there’s not really that much to indicate what was going to happen in the next few years. one interesting thing about the pop music of that year is the incredible shortage of female contributors. in the melody maker top twenty charts for 1960 there are only 10 female artists involved. 2 of those are man, woman duos and one of those duos consists of actors in a film spin-off.
connie francis
the avons
brenda lee
the shirelles
connie stevens
kaye sisters
shirley bassey
sophia loren
nina and frederick
edith piaf
that percentage is incredible really although it’s actually greater than you might think because with the male artists it is the same old names cropping up again and again, with the odd novelty act like the piltdown men creeping in. there are some good songs though and i can recommend watching the show – you might learn something. incidentally if you have been following this series i have now corrected the faulty soundtrack in the 1958.