Back in the 1960’s, record buyers were mesmerized by a whole string of hit songs performed 

by distinctive combinations of female singers – groups such as The Ronettes, The Shirelles, 

The Chiffons and The Supremes, many of whom were blessed with outstanding lead vocalists.  

There had of course been girl groups in earlier decades but the phenomenon to which I’m referring 

began in the mid-50’s with such R&B records as OOP SHOOP by Shirley Gunter & ‘The Queens’

on Flair in ’54, EDDIE MY LOVE by The Teen Queens on RPM in ’55  and MR. LEE by 

The Bobbettes on Atlantic in ‘57 but the single which really started the ball rolling was 

MAYBE by five New York girls known as The Chantels; their lead singer was Arlene Smith 

who crushed a million hearts with her soaring, impassioned vocal.

 MAYBE was released on End in late ’57 and by early the following year,

 it was a Billboard R&B & Pop chart success. Here’s the record, 

co-written by The Chantels’ producer Richard Barrett:

 https://youtu.be/IePTH1PWzAs

A great number of the glorious rock ‘n’ roll female anthems of the early years were written by 

celebrated songwriting teams, some of whom were based in New York’s fabled Brill Building 

and the nearby location at 1650 Broadway, not to mention Motown’s Hitsville building in Detroit. 

Along with some YouTube links, 

here’s my selective list of just 40 unforgettable examples of 1960’s Girl Group hits. 

Also included are five successful singles by solo artists whose renditions also typified the Girl Group sound…

BABY IT’S YOU 

(Burt Bacharach/Mack David/Barney Williams)

by The Shirelles

Pro: Luther Dixon

Arr: Burt Bacharach

 (Scepter: 1961) 

Lead vocal: Shirley Owens. 

https://youtu.be/3bjtnY45mY8

BABY LOVE 

(Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland)

by The Supremes

Pro: Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier (Motown: 1964) 

Lead vocal: Diana Ross.

 https://youtu.be/CIMRMFDie8g

BE MY BABY

 (Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector) 

by The Ronettes

Pro: Phil Spector

Arr: Jack ‘Specs’ Nitzsche/Eng: Larry Levine 

(Philles: 1963) 

Vocal: Ronnie Spector. 

https://youtu.be/nDnMkctDKqk

CHAINS

 (Gerry Goffin/Carole King) 

by The Cookies

Pro: Gerry Goffin for Nevins-Kirshner

 (Dimension: 1962) 

Lead vocal: Earl-Jean.

 https://youtu.be/YKwWb47hDzg

CHAPEL OF LOVE 

(Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector)

By The Dixie Cups

Pro: Joe Jones, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller/Eng: Brooks Arthur 

(Red Bird: 1964)

 https://youtu.be/NpQ0O5RhkWI

DA DOO RON RON 

(Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector)

by The Crystals

Pro: Phil Spector

Arr: Jack Nitzsche 

(Philles: 1963) 

Lead vocal: La La Brooks.

 https://youtu.be/S-OTd7DXjlo

DANCING IN THE STREET 

(Marvin Gaye/William Stevenson)

by Martha & The Vandellas

Pro: William Stevenson 

(Gordy: 1964)

 https://youtu.be/9KhbM2mqhCQ

DO-WAH-DIDDY

 (Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich)

By The Exciters

Pro: Leiber & Stoller 

(United Artists: 1963) Lead vocal: Brenda Reid.

 https://youtu.be/jz096RXCUO4

 PLEASE MR. POSTMAN 

(Brian Holland/Robert Bateman/Freddie Gorman/William Garrett/Georgia Dobbins)

 by The Marvelettes

Pro: Brianbert (Brian Holland & Robert Bateman) 

(Tamla: 1961)

 Lead vocal: Gladys Horton.

 https://youtu.be/425GpjTSlS4

POPSICLES AND ICICLES 

(David Gates)

by The Murmaids

Pro: Kim Fowley

Arr: Nestor Labonte

Eng: Stan Ross 

(Chattahoochee: 1963) 

Lead vocal: Terry Fischer.

 https://youtu.be/dC5GRbfXyPw

REMEMBER (Walkin’ In The Sand)

 (George Morton)

by The Shangri-Las

Pro: Jeff Barry & Artie Ripp

 (Red Bird: 1964) 

Lead vocal: Mary Weiss.

SALLY, GO ROUND THE ROSES 

(Zell Sanders/Lona Stevens) 

by The Jaynetts

Pro: Abner Spector

Arr & Cond: Artie Butler 

(Tuff: 1963)

https://youtu.be/2PePXnXxRGE

THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (It’s In His Kiss) 

(Rudy Clark) 

by Betty Everett

Pro: Calvin Carter

 (Vee-Jay: 1964)

 https://youtu.be/B4KN6TFhy2I

SOLDIER BOY 

(Luther Dixon/Florence Greenberg) 

by The Shirelles

Pro: Luther Dixon

Arr: Bert Keyes 

(Scepter: 1962)