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#1 Pop Hits of 1965

Beatles 4; Supremes 3; Stones, Byrds, Hermits 2 each

The #1 Pop Hits of 1965, formally the #1 hits on the Top 100, were right up my sonic alley. In the present tense, I own at least 19 of these 25 songs.

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction—The Rolling Stones (London), four weeks at #1, gold record. It may be the first time I heard the word “hook” in relation to music.

Yesterday – The Beatles (Capitol), four weeks at #1, gold record. I have a few dozen covers of this song.

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) -The Byrds (Columbia), three weeks at #1

Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter – Herman’s Hermits (MGM), three weeks at #1, gold record

I Got You Babe – Sonny and Cher (Atco), three weeks at #1, gold record

Help! – The Beatles (Capitol), three weeks at #1, gold record

I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pe, Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops (Motown), two weeks at #1

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers (Philles), two weeks at #1

Downtown – Petula Clark (Warner), two weeks at #1, gold record

This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis and the Playboys (Liberty), two weeks at #1, gold record. Jerry Lewis’ kid.

Stop! In The Name Of Love – The Supremes (Motown), two weeks at #1

Help Me, Rhonda – The Beach Boys (Capitol), two weeks at #1

Get Off My Cloud – The Rolling Stones (London), two weeks at #1

I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes (Motown), two weeks at #1

I’m Telling You Now – Freddie and The Dreamers (Tower), two weeks at #1

Eight Days A Week – The Beatles (Capitol), two weeks at #1, gold record

A single week at #1

My Girl – The Temptations (Gordy), platinum record. I still love the fact that Smokey wrote both My Guy (Mary Wells) and My Girl

Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys (Bang). Looking for a video, I came across this version; an album cut? It has an extra verse.

Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds (Columbia)

Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire (Dunhill)

Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five (Epic)

Ticket To Ride – The Beatles (Capitol)

I’m Henry VIII, I Am – Herman’s Hermits (MGM), gold record

Game Of Love – Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (Fontana). The lead vocal Fontana’s real name was Glyn Ellis

Back In My Arms – The Supremes (Motown)

The Country Western #1 songs of 1955

A Satisfied Mind

Three different Billboard charts determined the Country Western #1 songs of 1955: most played in jukeboxes, best sellers in stores, and most played by jockeys. Interestingly, at that point, although changed in 1956, it didn’t specify most played country western, et cetera. I presume some discernment on Billboard’s part. This explains the 76 weeks of #1 songs.

From the Country Music Hall of Fame: Webb Pierce, born August 8, 1921, in West Monroe, Louisiana, died February 24, 1991, and was inducted in 2001.

“One of the greatest stars of country music’s honky-tonk heyday, the 1950s, Webb Pierce had thirteen singles top the Billboard charts in those years—more than any of his illustrious contemporaries.

“His loud, nasal, high-pitched, and sometimes slightly off-key delivery on hit after hit marked him as one of the music’s most distinctive singers in an era of great individualists.”

In The Jailhouse Now – Webb Pierce, 21 weeks at #1. I know the song from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou, the version by Tim Blake Nelson and Pat Enright (credited as The Soggy Bottom Boys)

Love, Love, Love – Webb Pierce (Decca), 13 weeks at #1

I Don’t Care– Webb Pierce (Decca) ,12 weeks at #1, co-written by Pierce

Redux

Sixteen Tons – “Tennessee” Ernie Ford, 10 weeks at #1. The only song that also went to number one on the pop charts from this list

Loose Talk (Freddie Hart) – Carl Smith, seven weeks at #1

A Satisfied Mind – Porter Wagner (RCA Victor), four weeks at #1. Red Foley and Jean Shepherd both had Top 5 hits with this song in 1955. But the version I heard on the album 50 Stars! 50 Hits! Of Country Music, which my grandfather McKinley Green, gave me, was by Pete Drake and his Talking Steel Guitar

Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young – Faron Young, three weeks at #1. He died at the age of 64 in 1996

The Cattle Call – Eddy Arnold (RCA Victor), two weeks at #1. I remember this song.

That Do Make Make It Nice – Eddy Arnold (RCA Victor), two weeks at #1

Let Me Go, Lover! – Hank Snow and his Rainbow Ranch Boys (RCA Victor), two weeks at #1

#1 R&B Hits of 1955

The late, great Johnny Ace

Like all the Billboard charts that year, there are three different categories of charts that comprise the #1 R&B hits of 1955: most played jukeboxes, best sellers in stores, and, starting on January 22nd, most played by jockeys, meaning disc jockeys. Thus, 68 weeks of tracks are represented.

Interestingly, four songs and five tracks are the same as on the pop charts, but they’re all done by different artists than what appears on the pop charts. This is at least one explanation for why there were separate pop and R&B/soul charts.

Ain’t That A Shame (Domino-Bartholomew)- Fats Domino (Imperial), 11 weeks at #1. It did get to #10 on the pop charts, but Pat Boone’s (inferior) version topped the pop charts. BTW, Chubby Checker’s pseudonym was modeled after Domino’s.

Maybelline (Berry) – Chuck Berry (Chess), 11 weeks at #1

Pledging My Love (Washington-Robey) Johnny Ace, orchestra conducted by Johnny Otis (Duke), 10 weeks at #1. Young Johnny Ace had died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound on Christmas day 1954.

Only You and You Alone (Buck Ram) – The Platters(Mercury), seven weeks at #1

My Babe (Willie Dixon) – Little Walter and his Jukes (Checker), five weeks at #1

The Wallflower (James-Otis-Ballard) – Etta James with Richard Berry and The Peaches (Modern Records), four weeks at #1. The Wallflower” is pretty much “Roll with Me, Henry” and the less risqué “Dance with Me, Henry” that Georgia Gibbs sang to top the pop charts.

Hands Off (Bowman-McShann) – Jay McShann’s orchestra with Priscilla Bowman (Vee-Jay), three weeks at #1

One of two

Unchained Melody (North-Zaret) – Roy Hamilton (Epic), three weeks at #1, and got to #6 on the pop charts; Lex Baxter had the pop #1

All By Myself (Domino-Bartholemew) -Fats Domino (Imperial), three weeks at #1

Sincerely (Fuqua-Freed) – The Moonglows, two weeks at #1, and got to #20 on the pop charts; the McGuire Sisters hit #1 pop.

Bo Diddley (Ellas Bates McDaniel) – Bo Diddley (Checker), two weeks at #1. Diddly was Bates McDaniel.

All of these hit #1 for a single week:

I’ve Got A Woman (Ray Charles) – Ray Charles and his band (Atlantic)

Unchained Melody (North-Zaret) Al Hibbler, orchestra conducted by Jack Pleis(Decca)- got to #3 on the pop charts

Adorable (Buck Ram)- The Drifters (Atlantic). Ram was also the manager and guiding force of The Platters.

A Fool For You (Ray Charles) -Ray Charles and his band (Atlantic)

Poor Me (A. Domino-P. King) – Fats Domino (Imperial)

Part 2 of the 1935 #1 hits

Rodgers & Hart

Here is Part 2 of the 1935 #1 hits.

“In 1934, two separate top 20 charts began: one for best-selling records (based primarily on the record label charts and Murrells, supplemented by other sources such as Kinkle and Ewan) and one for Your Hit Parade and radio airplay. The latter charts were based solely on radio airplay in 1934 and early 1935. Starting in April of 1935, Your Hit Parade and radio airplay rankings were weighed together for” The Century of Pop Music Charts. Thus, the charts show 77 weeks of #1 hits.

Two weeks at #1

East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) – Tom Coakley, vocals by Carl Ravazza (Victor) From the Princeton Triangle Club’s production “Stags At Bay.”

It’s Easy To Remember – Bing Crosby with George Stoll and his orchestra (Decca), “‘Mississippi’ was one of Crosby’s finest Paramount musicals” and boasted several Rodgers & Hart songs

What’s The Reason (I’m Not Pleasin’ You)? – Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, vocals by Carmen Lombardo (Decca)

Life’s A Song (Let’s Sing It Together) – Ruth Etting (Columbia)

Lullabye of Broadway – Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, vocals by Bob Crosby (Decca) Warren & Dubin tune from “Gold Diggers of 1935”

The Object Of My Affection – Boswell Sisters with Jimmie Grier and his orchestra (Brunswick). This was also a 1934 #1 hit by Jimmie Grier with Pinky Tomlin

Let’s Swing It – Ray Noble and his orchestra, vocals by The Freshman (Victor) from Earl Carroll’s “Sketch Book of 1935”

Red Sails In The Sunset – Bing Crosby with Victor Young and his orchestra (Decca)

A Little Bit Independent – Fats Waller and his Rhythm (Victor)

A single week at #1

On Treasure Island – Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, vocals by Edythe Wright (Victor)

Rhythm Is Our Business – Jimmy Lunsford and his orchestra, vocals by Willie Smith (Decca) Written by Sammy Cahn (his 1st credit) / Jimmie Lunceford / Saul Chaplin

Soon – Bing Crosby withn George Stoll and his orchestra (Decca), another Rodgers & Hart song from “Mississippi”

And Then Some – Ozzie Nelson and his orchestra (Brunswick). Yes, the guy from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Paris In The Spring – Ray Noble and his orchestra, vocals by Al Bowlly (Victor). The title song from a 1935 Paramount movie

#1 hits of 1974: Beatles-adjacent

MSG

Of the #1 hits of 1974 on this half of the charts, quite a few are Beatles-adjacent. All of these songs were all #1 pop for a single week. All went gold except the ones by Stevie Wonder and John Lennon.

You Haven’t Done Nothin’ -Stevie Wonder (Tamla), featuring the Jackson Five. His Beatles connection, besides his great cover of We Can Work It Out, is his appearance on the 1982 Paul McCartney album Tug Of War, performing on What’s That You’re Doing? and Ebony and Ivory.

Nothing From Nothing – Billy Preston (A&M). His Beatles connection was heavy, especially the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. He also played on Abbey Road, several Harrison albums, including the Concert for Bangladesh, and albums for Lennon and Starr. Harrison produced one of his albums and co-produced another. Billy appeared in the Sgt. Pepper movie and sang Get Back.

Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede (EMI). The TV show Ally McBeal may have ruined this song for me with the dancing baby.

Sunshine On My Shoulders – John Denver (RCA Victor). Beatles connection: Here are his Beatles covers on Spotify.

Macca

Band On The Run – Paul McCartney and Wings (Apple). Beatles connection: Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine in Nigeria created Paul’s best-reviewed post-Fab album; this is the title track.

You’re Sixteen – Ringo Starr (Apple). Beatles connection: all three other Beatles appeared on the Ringo album, writing songs for the drummer. On this track, Paul sings a kazoo-like solo. Ringo performed on Lennon and Harrison’s solo tracks.

Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise).

Rock Me Gently – Andy Kim (Capitol). Beatles connection: on the Stars on 45 song from 1981, Sugar Sugar, the Archies hit written by Kim and Jeff Barry, segues into eight Beatles songs.

Angie Baby– Helen Reddy (Capitol). “All This and World War II is a 1976 musical documentary directed by Susan Winslow. It juxtaposes Beatles songs covered by a variety of musicians with World War II newsreel footage and 20th Century Fox films.” Reddy, who was on Capitol, the Beatles’ label during Beatlemania, covered Fool on the Hill.

Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack (Atlantic). Beatles connection: she lived in the Dakota in NYC across the hall from John and Yoko. She recorded a Beatles cover album in 2012.

Cat’s In The Cradle – Harry Chapin (Elektra)

Dark Lady – Cher (MCA). Beatles connection: as Bonnie Jo Mason, Cher released a song called Ringo, I Love You in 1964.

The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace (Mercury) in 1964.

BTO

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Mercury), Beatles connection: Google Randy Bachman and you’ll find out about his knowledge of and appreciation for the Beatles, such as here, here, and here. He was a member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band.

Rock The Boat – The Hues Corporation (RCA Victor)

I Shot The Sheriff – Eric Clapton (RSO). The cover of the Bob Marley song introduced reggae to the American masses. His Beatles connections: his guitar solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, his playing on early Lennon recordings such as Live Peace in Toronto, and his long friendship with George despite him falling in love with George’s wife Patti Boyd and eventually marrying her. Eric was the musical director for the Concert for George in 2002.

Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Barry White (20th Century)

Whatever Gets You Through The Night – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (Apple). This features Elton John on vocals and keyboards. Beatles connection: Elton famously got Lennon to agree to a wager. If the single reached #1 on the charts, JL had to promise to appear with EJ at one of his shows. John showed up at Elton’s 11/28/74 Thanksgiving show at Madison Square Garden. They sang this song, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (soon a #1 hit for EJ, featuring JL), and I Saw Her Standing There. Lennon’s only #1 after this was the posthumous (Just Like) Starting Over.