Author: Margaret Ashworth

This song is so sad. It was written by Ted Daryll and Greg Richards and was a No 5 hit in the US in 1962 for Jay and the Americans. … Continue readingJay and the Americans: She Cried

Craig Douglas took it to No 9 in Britain on March 28. It’s too smooth for me. A week later, on April 4, Jimmy Justice (born James Little in Carshalton … Continue readingJimmy Justice: When My Little Girl is Smiling

This was Faith’s first single with his backing group The Roulettes, who were intended to give him a more ‘Merseybeat’ sound, and it was his last Top Ten hit, reaching … Continue readingAdam Faith: The First Time

Written by Twitty (real name Harold Lloyd Jenkins) and Jack Nance, this topped both the US and UK charts in 1958. Billy Fury did a brilliant cover in 1964 which … Continue readingConway Twitty: It’s Only Make Believe

Written by one of the group members, John Claude Gummoe, this was released in late 1962. In early 1963 it got to No 3 in America and 5 in the … Continue readingThe Cascades: Rhythm of the Rain

This was written by John Madara and David White, co-composers of Danny and the Juniors’ 1958 No 1, At the Hop. Lesley Gore was 17 when she recorded it in 1963, and … Continue readingLesley Gore: You Don’t Own Me

I’ve never quite forgiven Neil Sedaka for this cruel deception – when I woke on my 16th birthday I was as plain as I was the day before – but it’s … Continue readingNeil Sedaka: Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

This may have the most writers of a single song: Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. Released in 1961, it reached No 1 in America, … Continue readingThe Marvelettes: Please Mr Postman