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Ballad that made Rivers a star hit No. 1

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Today's Morning Edition is from Johnny Rivers with "Poor Side of Town," which was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 50 years ago today.

This was his first and only No. 1 hit and a sharp contrast from the music he was known for. In the early 1960s, Rivers put out a series of popular rock 'n' roll albums that were recorded live at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, but it was this ballad that finally got him a chart topper.

Rivers, who is 74 now, continues to tour. These days his live repertoire leans toward the blues.