Manhattan Spiritual, Reg Owen

We’re reliving this week in 1959, along with some strong opinions (and occasional praise) from The Vancouver Sun‘s Mamie Moloney.

It turns out rock’n’roll radio was much more than twanging guitars and pounding drums. The Big Band sound — with a beat — endured during the early rock years, and this record was a big hit with my teenage listeners. From the Top 10 on the CKWX Sensational Sixty this week in 1959… here’s Reg Owen‘s “Manhattan Spiritual”!

Other classic instrumentals that year included “Sleep Walk” by Santo & Johnny, “The Happy Organ” by Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez, “Red River Rock” by Johnny and the Hurricanes, “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” by The Virtues and “Teen Beat” by Sandy Nelson.

How many do you remember?