KEWB was now the #1 Top 40 station in the Bay Area. KOBY had been the Top 40 pioneer in the Bay Area and now, in a few short weeks, it will become a listening music station. However, competition for KEWB would soon come from a station that had been playing Top 40 music in the Bay Area since 1957. This station would get an influx of radio personalities from the East Coast and by the year 1961 they would be at their peak
January 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Tracy’s Theme” by Spencer Ross, “Beautiful Brown Eyes” by Judy, Johnny & Billy, “What A Night” by The Chippendales, “You’ve Got What It Takes” by Marv Johnson, “Where Or When” by Dion & The Belmonts, “Hully Gully” by The Olympics, “Have Love Will Travel” by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs, “What In The World’s Come Over You” by Jack Scott, “Handy Man” by Jimmy Jones, “Let It Be Me” by The Everly Brothers, “Too Much Tequilla” by The Champs, “Let The Good Times Roll” by Ray Charles, “Lonely Blue Boy” by Conway Twitty, “Teen Angel” by Mark Dinning, “Beyond The Sea” by Bobby Darin, “If You Need Me” by Fats Domino, “I Know It’s True” by James Brown & The Famous Flames, “Time And The River” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “Atlanta” by Bubber Johnson, “Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop” by Little Anthony & The Imperials, “I Can’t Say Goodbye” by The Fireflies, “Eternally” and “You’re My Baby” by Sarah Vaughan, “He’ll Have To Go” by Jim Reeves, “Baby You’ve Got What It Takes” and “I Do” by Brook Benton & Dinah Washington, “Old Payola Roll Blues” by Stan Freberg, “Harbor Lights” by The Platters, “Down By The Station” by The Four Preps, “A Tall Oak Tree” by Dorsey Burnette, “Onward Christian Soldiers” by the Harry Simeone Chorale and “Middlehand Road” by Rusty Richard.
February 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Theme From A Summer Place” by Percy Faith, “Crazy Arms” by Bob Beckham, “Lady Luck” by Lloyd Price, “Bulldog” by The Fireballs, “Beatnik Fly” by Johnny & The Hurricanes, “Skokiaan” by Bill Haley & The Comets, “Wild One” by Bobby Rydell, “Money” by Barrett Strong, “Suddenly” by Nicky DeMatteo, “Time After Time” by Frankie Ford, “Hear Them Bells” by Bobby Darin, “Forever” by The Little Dippers, “Alvin’s Orchestra” by David Seville, “Words” by Pat Boone, “Green Fields” by The Brothers Four, “Outside My Window” by The Fleetwoods, “O Dio Mio” by Annette, “Midnight Special” by Paul Evans, “Mashed Potatoes” by Nat Kendricks & The Swans, “Paradise” by Sammy Turner, “Puppy Love” by Paul Anka, “About This Thing Called Love” by Fabian, “Don’t Fence Me In” by Tommy Edwards, “White Silver Sands” by The Bill Black Combo, “Home from The Hill” by the Kingston Trio, “Am I That Easy To Forget” by Debbie Reynolds, “Clementine” by Bobby Darin and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Ernie Fields.
March 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Teddy” and “Mama” by Connie Francis, “Two Little Birds” by Bob Wilson, “Footsteps” by Steve Lawrence, “This Magic Moment” by The Drifters, “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee, “Sink The Bismark” by Johnny Horton, “Don’t Throw Away All Those Teardrops” by Frankie Avalon, “Summertime” by Santo & Johnny, “Love You So” by Ron Holden, “Lucky Devil” by Carl Dobkins Jr., “Starbright” by Johnny Mathis, “Teenage Sonata” by Sam Cooke, “Angela Jones” by Johnny Ferguson, “Ooh Poo Pah Do” by Jessie Hill, “Mister Lucky” by Henry Mancini, “At My Front Door” by Dee Clark, “Someday” by Della Reese, “You Don’t Know Me” by Lenny Welch, “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins, “Wake Me When It’s Over” by Andy Williams, “Summer Set” by Monty Kelly, “It Could Happen To You” and “The Age Of Miracles” by Dinah Washington and “How Deep Is The Ocean” by Toni Fisher.
April 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Beautiful Obsession” by Sir Chauncey, “Listen My Love” by Rod Lauren, “What Am I Living For” by Conway Twitty, “Let The Little Girl Dance” by Billy Bland, “Sixteen Reasons” by Connie Stevens, “Magic Words” by Margie Rayburn, “You Belong To Me” by Joni James, “Night” by Jackie Wilson, “You’re Singing Our Love Song To Somebody Else” by Jerry Wallace, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” by Jimmie Rodgers, “The Madison Time” by The Ray Bryant Combo, “Welcome New Lovers” by Pat Boone, “Cradle Of Love” by Johnny Preston, “Shazam” by Duane Eddy, “Stuck On You” by Elvis Presley (this song would debut at #5 on April 16, 1960), “I Love The Way You Love” by Marv Johnson, “For Love” by Lloyd Price, “The Madison Time” by Al Brown & His Tunetoppers, “Step By Step” by The Crests, “A Star Is Born” by Mark Dinning, “Oh Little One” and “Burning Bridges” by Jack Scott, “Good Timin” by Jimmy Jones, “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do” by The Flamingos, “Fame And Fortune” by Elvis Presley, “Young Emotions” by Ricky Nelson, “Before I Grow Too Old” by Fats Domino, “Stairway To Heaven” by Neil Sedaka.
“Cathy’s Clown” by The Everly Brothers, “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke, “All I Could Do Was Cry” by Etta James, “Pledging My Love” by Johnny Tillotson, “Another Sleepless Night” by Jimmy Clanton, “When You Wish Upon A Star” by Dion & The Belmonts, “Mountain Of Love” by Harold Dorman and “Pennies From Heaven” by The Skyliners.
May 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Swingin’ School” and “Ding A Ling” by Bobby Rydell, “Sing A Goofy Song” by The Chipmunks, “He’ll Have To Stay” by Jeanne Black (this was a very successful answer record to “He’ll Have To Go”), “Paper Roses” by Anita Bryant, “The Ties That Bind” by Brook Benton, “My Home Town” by Paul Anka, “I Really Don’t Want To Know” by Tommy Edwards, “Theme For Young Lovers” by Percy Faith, “Above And Beyond” by Jerry Fuller, “Little Matador” by The Champs, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” by Connie Francis, “Spunky Onions” by Billy Davis, “Spring Rain” by Pat Boone, “Hey Little One” by Dorsey Burnette, “Happy Go Lucky Me” by Paul Evans, “Ebb Tide” by The Platters, “Train Of Love” by Annette, “Rockin’ Good Way” by Brook Benton & Dinah Washington, “Apple Green” by June Valli, “Bill Bailey” by Bobby Darin, “I’m Sorry” by Brenda Lee, “Down Yonder” by Johnny & The Hurricanes, “River Stay ‘Way From My Door” by Frank Sinatra, “Alley Oop” by The Hollywood Argyles and “Because They’re Young” by Duane Eddy.
June 1960
Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Found Love” by Jimmy Reed, “The Lady Is A Tramp” by Buddy Greco, “Ooh! What A Day!” by Sarah Vaughan, “Comin’ Down With Love” by Mel Gadson, “Mule Skinner Blues” by The Fendermen, “Lonely Winds” by The Drifters, “My Tani” by The Brothers Four, “Banjo Boy” by Jan & Kjeld, “When Will I Be Loved” by The Everly Brothers, “Josephine” by The Bill Black Combo, “Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring” by The Lettermen, “Image Of A Girl” by The Safaris, “Heartbreak” by Little Willie John, “Adventures In Paradise” by Jerry Byrd, “Bad Man’s Blunder” by the Kingston Trio, “Don’t Come Knockin” by Fats Domino, “Stewball” by The Coasters, “Hold Out Your Hand” by Art August, “Where Are You” by Frankie Avalon, “Please Help Me I’m Falling” by Hank Locklin, “Do You Mind?” by Andy Williams, “This Bitter Earth” by Dinah Washington, “Kids” by The Kirby Stone Four, “Question” by Lloyd Price, “Only The Lonely” by Roy Orbison, “Mission Bell” by Donnie Brooks and “Is A Bluebird Blue?” by Conway Twitty. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: The music surveys of KEWB in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California, U.S.A.
