98 Country Classic Bonus – 5 Country Classic Hits from 1960 [VIDEOS]

Good morning Country Classic fans! We’re going to take you back to country music roots on the 98 Country Classic Show on air, online and on your mobile device.

Each Sunday we offer up an online bonus to enjoy after the radio show and today we feature five bonus tracks from 1960.

Here’s what was making the news in 1960:

American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, isshot down over Russia on May 1^st;
John F. Kennedy defeats Richard Nixon in a closely-fought Presidential race;
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” terrifies movie-goers and becomes one of the year’s most successful films;
Ninety-percent of US homes have a television set;
We lose country singer Johnny Horton, killed in car accident. Also, Emily Post and Clark Gable.

In country music, we're listening to Johnny Horton, Bill Anderson, Marty Robbins, Hank Lockin and Ferlin Husky.

Johnny Horton – “Sink the Bismarck”

This song was written by Johnny Horton and Tillman Franks, based on the pursuit and sinking of German battleship Bismarck in May of 1941, during World War II. The song reached number three on the country chart.

In May of 1941 the war had just begun the Germans had the biggest ship that had the biggest guns.

Bill Anderson – “The Tip of my Fingers”

Bill Anderson wrote and originally recorded the “Tips of my Fingers.” This song was a top ten country single hit in 1960. Roy Clark released a version in 1963 reaching number ten on the country chart.

I reached out my arms and I touched you with soft words I whispered your name.

Marty Robbins – “Big Iron”

“Big Iron” is a country ballad by Marty Robbins from the album ‘Gun Fighter Ballads and Trail Songs’ released in February 1960 and topped-out at number five on Billboard's Hot One Hundred Chart. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the top 100 country sings of all-time.

To the town of aqua Fria rode a stranger one fine day.

Hank Locklin – “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”

"Please Help Me, I'm Falling" is song written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair and first recorded by Hank Locklin. The single was Locklin’s most successful recording becoming his second number one hit on the country charts. This smash hit spent fourteen weeks at the top spot and spent nine months on the country chart.

Ferlin Husky – “Wings of a Dove”

“Wings of a Dove,” was written by Bob Ferguson in 1958, most popular when it was recorded by Ferlin Husky. The song was at number one for ten consecutive weeks. It became Husky’s third and final number one on the Country Chart spending nine months on the chart.