Last weekend, I met my parents in Atlantic City to see Dion. Not Celine Dion. But the singer of "A Teenager in Love," "Runaround Sue," "I Wonder Why," "Donna the Prima Donna" (which had my mother doing upper-body aerobics in her seat), and "The Wanderer" (during which my mother actually had the nerve to say, "Here, you can do this," as she simplified her dance moves thinking I wasn’t following her lead because I couldn’t). Dion sounded great, and we had as much fun as we’d had seeing Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka in years past. (To be clear, that’s not sarcasm. I’ve seen Dion, Paul, and Neil. Willingly.)
I can’t be the only one who enjoys hearing the occasional oldie, so list a few of your favorites below. In addition to anything Elvis, anything Otis Redding, and anything on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, I’m a sucker for:
• Conway Twitty’s pop hit, "It’s Only Make Believe"
• The Fleetwoods’ "Come Softly to Me"
• Anything by Sam Cooke (I once wrote in EW that if heaven exists, "You Send Me" is playing there. I stand behind that statement.)
• Billy Ward and the Dominoes’ "Sixty Minute Man"
• Neil Sedaka’s "Oh! Carol" and "Calendar Girl," the latter of which I embed below because you all need to witness Miss August.
• And since I may never have reason to bring it up again, I’d like to say that Mark Dinning’s "Teen Angel" still destroys me. I’m pretty sure it taught me about death. And that I was in grade school when I first saw him sing it, sitting on a stool in a spotlight, on one of my mother’s American Bandstand tapes.
I love all the dirty dancing music too! I have the soundtrack on my ipod. I am only 25 years old, but probably at least half the music on my ipod is at least as old as I am! Glad you like the Oldies too Mandy.
You Send Me was my wedding song. I love it!
Elvis is a regular on my iPod as well.
lesley Gore is a big favorite of mine especially You Don’t Own Me. I grew up listening to oldies music from the 50s and 60s. I love that stuff. Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Anka, Dion and the Belmonts, Big Bopper, Chubby Checker!! Yeah, big fans of all of them!! I have an old soul!! Actually, it’s cause I have parenta that are significantly older than most people my age’s parents so they grew up listening to that music so it was what I heard all my life!!
Miss August rules! Wasn’t sure anything could top Miss July, but SHE DID.
Some of my fave oldies:
Anything written by Cole Porter
You Are my Destiny – Paul Anka
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Andrews Sisters
Party Lights – Claudine Clark
Twist Twist Senora – Gary U.S. Bonds
Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Cryptkickers
Sincerely – McGuire Sisters
Those Magic Changes – Sha Na Na (Grease soundtrack)
I’ll Be Seeing You – anybody kind enough to sing it for me
Be Bob-A Lula by Gene Vincent
Anything by Patsy Cline
Anything by Otis Redding
Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino
Anything by The Everly Brothers
This is fun!
Hank Williams- You’re Cheatin’ Heart
Gerry And The Pacemakers- Ferry Cross The Mersey
Edison Lighthouse-Love Grows ( Where My Rosemary Goes)
Isley Brothers- Shout
Lloyd Price- Stagger Lee
“Rip it Up”/”Good Golly Miss Molly”/”The Girl Can’t Help It” – Little Richard (they all sound the same anyway)
“Mr. Sandman” – The Chordettes
Anything by the Andrews Sisters
“Twistin’ the Night Away” – Sam Cooke
Oooh – totally agree about “You Send Me”. That song still gives me chills. Also, Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” Great stuff.
I love me some good oldies. My mom made sure I grew up with a good dose of them, and my dad made sure I was educated in classic rock – including music that my husband refers to as “80′s butt rock”. Here are a few oldie standouts that always make me smile and dance in my chair/car:
Jerry Lee Lewis, “Great Balls of Fire”
Elvis, “Blue Suede Shoes”
Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me To The Moon”
Johnny Cash, “A Boy Named Sue” (or any other song, for that matter!)
Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”
So many…but to name a few:
The Shangri-Las “Leader of the Pack”; Lesley Gore “It’s my Party”;
Anything by the Beach Boys;
Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode”;
Dion, of course!
Bill Haley & the Comets “Rock around the Clock”;
Bobby Day “Rockin Robin”
Anything by Nat King Cole–the man’s voice was like buttah! And Glenn Miller, too–what a great band. I like sixties music (Dusty Springfield, hippie stuff like CSN&Y, Hendrix), and Dean Martin who was also a total hottie back in the day.
“Maybe Baby”, Buddy Holly
“Bossa Nova Baby”, Elvis Presley
“You Belong to Me”, Patsy Cline
“Cry to Me”, Solomon Burke
“That’s How Strong My Love Is”, Otis Redding
“Stand By Me”, Ben E. King
“Baby I Need Your Lovin’”, Johnny Rivers or the Four Tops
“Memphis, Tennessee”, Johnny Rivers
“Bird Dog”, Everly Brothers
“Baby It’s You”, Shirelles
“This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)”, Isley Brothers
…wow, I could go on for hours…love this topic! I’ve always loved oldies, and I’m now getting some more ideas for my next visit to iTunes.
Electric Light Orchestra’s “Sweet Talking Woman” or “Mr. Blue Sky”. These are turn up the volume, sing along and try not to wreck the car because you are dancing songs.
Sinatra on the iPod and on the jukebox at the local dive bar …
I agree, Rose…Sweet Talking Woman is one of my favourites, and I love ELO!