As the year 1960 came to an end, pop music seemed to be returning back to the days before rock and roll, when pop music was ‘safer’ and almost clinical in its presentation.

Gone were the rough and tumble days of rebellious youth taking over the pop charts. In their place, the major labels reinstalled artists who they could control. Thankfully, a few independent R&B labels kept things interesting, even as the edginess of raw R&B had also been blunted.

As this show proves, there were still some amazing pop records, but their appeal was no longer intended exclusively for the youth market.

Featured tracks include:

Yogi – The Ivy Three

The Twist – Hank Ballard and the Midnighters

A Mess of Blues – Elvis Presley

Mr. Custer – Larry Verne

I Want to Be Wanted – Brenda Lee

Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters

Pineapple Princess – Annette and the Afterbeats

Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles

New Orleans – Gary ‘US’ Bonds

Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Hank Ballard and the Midnighters

Let’s Have a Party – Wanda Jackson

Are You Lonesome Tonight – Elvis Presley

Ol’ Macdonald – Frank Sinatra