"Hit the Road Jack" is one of the #1 singles in 1961. The song became famous after it was recorded by
Ray Charles with The Raelettes vocalist Margie Hndrix, and eventually became one of Charles' signature songs. This song won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording and is ranked #387 on Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
If you are basketball fan, you probably have heard the song frequently being played after a player is fouled out of the game.
Exodus is a 1960 American epic film on the founding of the modern State of Israel. Its soundtrack album was composed by Ernest Gold and released in 1961. Its theme song has become one of greatest movie theme songs of all time.
Awards:
1961 Oscar - Best Original Score
1961 Grammy Awards - Best Soundtrack Album and Song of the Year
Vocal version by
Andy Williams
Instrumental version by
Ferrante & Teicher (reached #2 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart)
Finally, I should mention the historic significance of the hit song "
Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
This song was originally written by
Carole King and her first husband
Gerry Goffin. It was recorded by American girl group
The Shirelles (notable for their rhythm and blues). The song was released in Nov. 1960 and reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart in Jan. 1961.
It's the first song by a black all-girl group to reach #1 in the United States.
Carole King also recorded her own version of the song in her iconic 1971 album
Tapestry (see my
post #7 in the thread).