Back in 1962, lots of teenagers managed to get their very first car. They spent quite a bit of time driving to and from school in those classy cars. And naturally, quite a few radio songs from 1962 graced their speakers. For many 60s kids, songs on the radio that they jammed out to during their morning commutes really did form their musical taste for the rest of their lives. Let’s look at just a few songs that you probably loved to hear if you were a teen in 1962 with a brand new car.
“I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Ray Charles from ‘Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music’
Ray Charles famously reimagined a ton of classic country tunes on this record, and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” is one of the most popular selections from that soulful album. Charles’ 1962 version of this country classic is a cover of a Don Gibson song from 1957. And it was a smash hit across the board, reaching No. 1 in the US, UK, Australia, and elsewhere.
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“Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp from ‘It’s Mashed Potato Time’
Teens were obsessed with songs formed around dance routines and trends. Naturally, “Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp was the kind of song that made 60s teens want to pull over their car and “do the mashed potato” on the side of the road. This R&B pop hit made it all the way to No. 1 on both the Hot R&B Sides chart and the Cash Box Top 100 chart in the US. “Mashed Potato Time” was also a No. 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Roses Are Red (My Love)” by Bobby Vinton from ‘Roses Are Red’
“Roses Are Red (My Love)” by Bobby Vinton was one of the most popular songs to drop in 1962. This traditional pop hit came to be by chance, too. Vinton apparently found the song in a reject pile while looking for songs to cover at Epic Records. He recorded it as a slow and dramatic arrangement, complete with an orchestra and vocal choir. “Roses Are Red (My Love)” became Vinton’s very first hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
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UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images) -
IN CONCERT – Airdate: March 1, 1974. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) LINDA RONSTADT -
HOLLYWOOD, CA – 1979: Teens dance to the music at the 1979 Hollywood High School prom held in Hollywood, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
