THURSDAY BACKTRACK: Music and news from 60 years ago - week ending 30 December 1961

At #4 this week, Sandy Nelson's 'Let There Be Drums':

Some memorable events (via Wikipedia):

24 December: 'Radio Mecca reported a breakthrough in a move toward democracy in Saudi Arabia, with news that Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud had submitted a proposed new Constitution to King Ibn Saud and his Council of Ministers. The draft, which would have created an elected legislature, was rejected, and three days later, Radio Mecca denied ever broadcasting the news.'

25 December: 'Pope John XXIII issued the papal bull Humanae salutis ("of human salvation") to summon the Second Vatican Council. The announcement surprised everyone, in that the Pope did not consult with advisers beforehand. "Vatican II" would open on October 11, 1962, with participation from Roman Catholic clergy and theologians worldwide.' 

    'The Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, which took place from 1962 to 1965, was one of the most important councils in church history, and it profoundly changed the structures and practices of the church. It sought, in the words of Pope John XXIII, aggiornaménto, “to bring the church up to date,” and many of the council’s decrees did bring the church into the modern world. Although the reforms were welcomed by many, they produced internal disruptions greater than any the church has known since the Protestant Reformation.' https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism/The-church-since-Vatican-II

26 December: 'The Kingdom of Yemen, which had joined Egypt and Syria in March, 1958, to become part of the United Arab Republic, broke ties with the government of Egypt's Gamel Abdel Nasser. The Imam of Yemen had retained his throne while being linked with the UAR under the collective name "United Arab States".'

29 December: 'France's President, Charles de Gaulle, delivered his annual New Year's address on national television and radio, and announced that in the coming year, his listeners "would see the end of French Algeria 'one way or another'" and that with the withdrawal of French Army forces from Africa, 1962 would be "the year the army will be regrouped in Europe". The declaration was a shock to most of the one million French residents of north Africa who had still hoped that their homes would not become part of an Arab Muslim nation; Algeria would be granted its independence seven months later, on July 5.'

30 December: 'Congolese troops captured Albert Kalonji, who had declared the independence of the Congolese province of South Kasai, with himself as President, and later as the King. With South Kasai reconstituted into the Republic of Congo, Kalonji was imprisoned, but would escape on September 7, 1962, making a final, unsuccessful attempt, to set up a new government.'

UK chart hits, week ending 30 December 1961 (tracks in italics have been played in earlier posts)

Some uncertaintty this week; so we refer to Official Charts Dot Com on this occasion

1	Moon River	Danny Williams	HMV
2	Tower Of Strength	Frankie Vaughan	Philips
3	Midnight In Moscow	Kenny Ball	Pye
4	Let There Be Drums	Sandy Nelson	London
5	Johnny Will	Pat Boone	London
6	Stranger On The Shore	Acker Bilk	Columbia
7	Toy Balloons	Russ Conway	Columbia
8	Take Good Care Of My Baby	Bobby Vee	London
9	My Friend The Sea	Petula Clark	Pye
10	Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen	Neil Sedaka	RCA
11	Multiplication	Bobby Darin	London
12	Big Bad John	Jimmy Dean	Philips
13	His Latest Flame / Little Sister	Elvis Presley	RCA
14	So Long Baby	Del Shannon	London
15	I'd Never Find Another You	Billy Fury	Decca
16	Walkin' Back To Happiness	Helen Shapiro	Columbia
17	Don't Bring Lulu	Dorothy Provine	Warner Brothers
18	Mrs Mills Medley	Mrs Mills	Parlophone
19	I'll Get By	Shirley Bassey	Columbia
20	I Understand	The G*Clefs	London