Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

January 13, 1962 Gene Chandler releases "Duke Of Earl."

January 9, 1962 Sam Cooke releases "Twistin' the Night Away."

November 8, 1961 The Beach Boys release their first single, "Surfin'."

October 5, 1961 The Marcels release "Heartaches."

October 2, 1961 The Crystals release "There's No Other Like My Baby."

July 21, 1961 The Supremes release "Buttered Popcorn," produced by Motown boss Berry Gordy. It sells poorly, and is the last Supremes single with Florence Ballard on lead vocals.

July 5, 1961 Ray Charles releases "Hit The Road Jack" and "Unchain My Heart."

May 19, 1961 The Everly Brothers form their Calliope Records label (its first release is Don performing "Pomp And Circumstance" as "Adrian Kimberly").

April 1, 1961 Rock and roll singer Troy Shondell releases his sole hit, "This Time."

February 5, 1961 Gene Pitney releases "Love My Life Away."

December 5, 1960 Mary Wells releases her debut single, "Bye Bye Baby."

August 1, 1960 Chubby Checker releases "The Twist," starting a dance craze that soon grips the nation.

July 26, 1960 Sam Cooke releases "Chain Gang."

July 12, 1960 Floyd Cramer releases "Last Date."

June 6, 1960 Roy Orbison releases "Only The Lonely," one of the most melancholy hits of the '60s and the first in a string of sad songs he becomes famous for.

April 4, 1960 RCA Victor decides to release all future singles -- starting with its next, Elvis Presley's "Stuck On You" -- in both mono and stereo versions.

March 23, 1960 Elvis Presley releases "Stuck On You" b/w "Fame And Fortune."

August 30, 1959 The Miracles release "Bad Girl."

August 5, 1959 Frankie Avalon releases "Just Ask Your Heart."

July 4, 1959 The Brothers Four release "Greenfields."

June 12, 1959 Chuck Berry releases his third studio album, Chuck Berry Is On Top.

June 12, 1959 Bo Diddley releases Go Bo Diddley.

April 24, 1959 The Drifters release "There Goes My Baby."

April 1, 1959 Freddy Cannon releases "Tallahassee Lassie," which becomes his first hit. The song is later covered by The Rolling Stones.

November 30, 1958 The Crests release "16 Candles."

September 28, 1958 The Teddy Bears release "To Know Him Is To Love Him."

April 24, 1958 Dion & The Belmonts release "I Wonder Why."

March 19, 1958 As Tom and Jerry, Simon & Garfunkel release their third single, a ditty named "Our Song" (BIG 616).

February 19, 1958 The Miracles release "Got a Job."

February 12, 1958 The Monotones release "Book Of Love."