(THERE’S) ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME - Sandie Shaw (2 weeks)

 

Probably the coolest of the big British 60’s female pop singers, Dusty excepted, Morrissey gave her a new lease of life in the 80’s with my Top 5 fab hits Hand In Glove, Nothing Less Than Brilliant and the Lloyd Cole goodie (Are You Ready To Be) Heartbroken, but it’s her mid-60’s career that is best-remembered, thanks to 3 UK number one hits, starting with this gem of a cover version of the Dionne Warwick/Bacharach/David track. I was 6 when this came out and I love it, and I loved Sandie, and still do. This remains the definitive version, and finally peaked at the top in 2005, 41 years late, but better late than never. As my charts started in 1968 the only one of her 60’s tracks to chart was Monsieur Dupont (at 2) which still leaves great hits like Long Live Love, Girl Don’t Come and even Eurovision winner Puppet On A String uncharted, and at least 2 of them would have hit the top in my hypothetical kiddie charts of the time.

 

COME SEE ABOUT ME - The Supremes (1 week)

 

Despite a string of American Number Ones, the huge girl group of the 60’s only had the One British chart-topper in Baby Love. Motown were firing on all cylinders by the time this one came out. Not one of their most famous hits, it has a more subtle appeal to it than their early singles, Diana Ross’ honey-sweet vocal lead, and a fabulous melody. It took Shakin’ Stevens cover of it, I kid you not, to get me to really notice the brilliant original, and turn a 2007 chart-topper into their second No.1 of 1964. I need to mention Holland-Dozier-Holland here: responsible for most of Motown’s run of great Supremes hits, that wasn’t enough: they also were the backbone of the Four Tops classic period and other assorted Motown acts. More than any other songwriters/producers I think they sum up what made Motown the lasting legacy that it is. Classic!

 

ALL MY LOVING - The Beatles (1 week)

 

2009, a down-load era Number One, but by the time this childhood album-track fave came out (The Beatles were so prolific, famous and talented that album tracks might as well have been hit singles!) the Fabs had already had several Number Ones in the UK charts (million-sellers) and invaded the States comprehensively and famously in a never-to-be equalled entire Top 5, with well over a dozen filling in the Hot 100 singles chart. In these days of charting download album tracks that might not sound impressive, but these were actual vinyl singles that you had to buy in shops! I really don’t see anyone ever duplicating the feat…Meanwhile, The Beatles were all over UK TV as I avidly watched Thank Your Lucky Stars and Jukebox Jury, and even Doctor Who. Two of the first singles we ever had in the house were I Want To Hold Your Hand and Can’t Buy Me Love (along with B side This Boy) and She Loves You was sung by all and sundry. All would have been chart-toppers for little John, but have yet to do the same for old John. This early McCartney melodic ballad has though, and along with And I Love Her, was an indication of what was to come from Macca, melody-man supremeJ

ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART - Cilla Black (1 week)

 

The final 1964 Topper, so far, is from 2012, and is Cilla’s second, and is also yet another Dionne Warwick/Bacaharach/David cover - you can see why she’s still bemused at all the potential chart-toppers she missed out on in the UK. To be fair to Cilla though, this is the definitive version, utterly Over The Top choruses paired with hushed verses, something she did very well on subsequent great singles like the Beatles It’s For You (written for her), Alfie (Bacharach finally recording directly with her) Step Inside Love (McCartney song for her again) and on two Top 5 hits in my 1969 charts Surround Yourself With Sorrow and Conversations. With the move into family TV loveable-personalityism though, her recording career never really sparkled outside the 60’s…Pity!

 

 

 

 

1965  

 

Continuing my chronological list of pre-chart Number Ones (for the years they originally were released or hits, not the years they actually peaked after the event). At last a certain band start to appear regularly, better late than never...

 

YESTERDAY - The Beatles (1 week)

 

The first Beatles oldie to hit Number One was appropriately this, the most recorded song of the twentieth century. Paul McCartney’s deceptively simple wistful ode to lost love struck a chord with everyone. Everyone except the record company, who didn’t release it as a UK single until 1976. It’s unthinkable these days that a standard, and famous song, wouldn’t be allowed to chart in it’s own right, but the Fabs were so prolific and creative by 1965 that they could give away songs to other acts, stick out at least one album a year, and have hit singles not on the albums. Like many Beatles album tracks, others had the hit versions, but none of the millions of covers of Yesterday have bettered this. It came to Macca in a dream. We should all have dreams like that....!

 

WE CAN WORK IT OUT/ DAY TRIPPER - The Beatles (1 week)

 

A twentieth anniversary re-issue took this to the top of my chart, the oldest actual original Beatles single to do it (and their 4th to this point). Yes, Hard Days Night and Help have yet to do it, even though I went to the cinema when the films were new and have great childhood memories: I Feel Fine hasn’t either, even though I loved that record in 1976 when I bought it as an oldie, and nor has Ticket To Ride, a wonderful single complete with all that romping in the snow in the movie Help. Happily, this double A side has: two great tracks for the price of one, the optimistic and melodic Paul We Can Work It Out given an edge by John’s “life can be very short” interjections, and the rockier naughty Day Tripper. It’s about “big” teasers because they couldn’t use the real word on a pop single then. Nowadays it’s obligatory on rap breaks in pop songs.

 

 

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL - Tom Jones (1 week)

 

The song that launched a 50-year career. Tom has drifted in an out of fashion over the decades, and changed styles as is called for to get back in the game: he remains a bit of a singing legend with that manly belter of a voice and a great back catalogue and the old Welsh down-to-earth charm. I can barely recall a time when there wasn’t a Tom Jones releasing records, so much a part of the music scene that he’s been referenced in song himself (The Ballad Of Tom Jones). This catchy song remains his signature theme, and hit the charts all over again in 1987, when it peaked in my charts. Since then, well it’s been in The Simpsons, Friends, Mars Attacks and Edward Scissorhands. Can’t be bad then...! As always, had I been charting back in the day my childhood faves (etc), What’s New Pussycat and Green Green Grass Of Home would be listed as toppers for 1965 and 1966 too...

 

 

STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE - The Supremes (1 week)

 

Third Number One from The Supremes, thanks to a reissued and charting 1989 single in the UK. Holland-Dozier-Holland were getting increasingly sophisticated in their songs and production as they went along, and most of the best were American Number Ones, well on their way to a dozen in total cementing their position as the biggest girl group of all-time. Later acts may have sold more albums, or had more hits, but none had the extended run of huge singles (and albums) to that extent, from 1964 through to 1972, and beyond with Diana Ross. This is a great pop single, constructed beautifully, and the melody and lyrics work well together on that perennial theme: heartbreak. What’s not to love!

 

 

UNCHAINED MELODY - The Righteous Brothers (1 week)

 

One of the most famous songs of the last 70 years, a chart-topper in many decades for many acts, but this remains the definitive version by far. Phil Spector was trying to produce male singers at this time and settled on the great vocal talents of Bobby Hatfield (tenor) and Bill Medley (bass) as the showcase. Out of step from his main productions of the time, this was almost a throwback to the 50’s and really a solo Bobby Hatfield record rather than a duo. Regardless, he gives a fabulous performance and was eventually rewarded with a trans-Atlantic chart-topping mega-hit - in 1990! Thanks to “Ghost” and it’s potters wheel scene, of course. I suggest ignoring all of the other million-selling versions and stick with this one, they just sound wishy-washy in comparison. Sorry!

 

 

YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING - The Righteous Brothers (3 weeks)

 

Talking of Phil Spector and The Righteous Brothers, and Ghost... The 1990 hit of Unchained Melody led to this being re-issued as a follow-up in 1990, and a hit all over again. Not that it hadn’t already been a hit re-issue, it charted in my charts first in 1969, and 1975, and 1988, and then for the fourth decade in a row in 1990, where it peaked and stayed in my charts for several years. I can’t speak highly enough of the perfection of this single, Phil Spector’s perfect moment, with the greatest vocal duo performance of all-time, bar none. It is sublime, the way it builds, Bill Medley’s building low-tones dominating the song until the absolutely epic grand finale, when Bobby Hatfield chimes in screaming at the top of his range to take it to another level. Probably the most purely angst-ridden emotional record ever made, kudos to regular 60’s Brill Building songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Spector, of course, despite his attempts in recent years to blacken his legacy. For my part, I liked the record as a child of the 60’s, grew up with it in the 70’s liking it more, realising in the 80’s that it really was a great record, and by the 90’s it was becoming obvious it was one of the greatest records of all-time. I maintain that opinion, and call as first witness it’s status as the most-played record of all-time on American radio (over 8 million plays). Secondly, I nominate it’s perennial appearance in “Best 100” lists over the last 45 years. Case proven m’lud?

"Anyone Who Had A Heart" - my retro # 1 single from 1964 :wub:

 

In 2013, Cilla Black celebrates her 50th anniversary in the entertainment business. As a prelude to this special year EMI release ‘Completely Cilla: 1963-1973′ – a 5CD set of Cilla’s most prolific work as a singer, containing 139 recordings produced by George Martin and a bonus DVD of rare BBC music performances.

 

My favourite singers from 60s, which were popular in UK : Mary Hopkin, Petula Clark, Cilla Black + Clodagh Rodgers (Her single "Come Back And Shake Me" was realised in 1969)

Edited January 20, 201312 yr by AlexRange

"Anyone Who Had A Heart" - my retro # 1 single from 1964 :wub:

 

In 2013, Cilla Black celebrates her 50th anniversary in the entertainment business. As a prelude to this special year EMI release ‘Completely Cilla: 1963-1973′ – a 5CD set of Cilla’s most prolific work as a singer, containing 139 recordings produced by George Martin and a bonus DVD of rare BBC music performances.

 

My favourite singers from 60s, which were popular in UK : Mary Hopkin, Petula Clark, Cilla Black + Clodagh Rodgers (Her single "Come Back And Shake Me" was realised in 1969)

 

Thanks Alex, yes I may get that cilla package too at some stage:) Clodagh I liked too but she never had a number one, though several "big hits" in my charts. Other 60's girlies I loved with ballads Lulu (To Sir With Love), Sandie Shaw (Girl Don't Come), Lesley Gore (You Dont Own me) and I just bought a DVD of Olivia Newton John in her first 1970 movie "Toomorrow" (it's awful, but I saw it in 1971 and liked a couple of the songs) :)

cheers

john

Thanks Alex, yes I may get that cilla package too at some stage:) Clodagh I liked too but she never had a number one, though several "big hits" in my charts. Other 60's girlies I loved with ballads Lulu (To Sir With Love), Sandie Shaw (Girl Don't Come), Lesley Gore (You Dont Own me) and I just bought a DVD of Olivia Newton John in her first 1970 movie "Toomorrow" (it's awful, but I saw it in 1971 and liked a couple of the songs) :)

It was a good time, when music was real. All these singers were great !!!

 

I have the idea about "100 my favourite artists" and "My favourite UK # 1 singles" in 2 parts (Part 1: Top 100 from ladies, girlbands, mixed groups, duets. Part 2 : Top 100 from males and boybands)

 

Never heard Lesley Gore, but would be listen. ;)

 

P.S. : How I forgot about Nancy Sinatra in my favourites list?

It was a good time, when music was real. All these singers were great !!!

 

I have the idea about "100 my favourite artists" and "My favourite UK # 1 singles" in 2 parts (Part 1: Top 100 from ladies, girlbands, mixed groups, duets. Part 2 : Top 100 from males and boybands)

 

Never heard Lesley Gore, but would be listen. ;)

 

P.S. : How I forgot about Nancy Sinatra in my favourites list?

 

sounds like a good idea Alex, I'd enjoy it:)

 

and how could I forget nancy sinatra too, I absolutely love her 60's stuff, solo and with lee hazelwood! and The Mamas and The Papas:)

 

cheers!

john

 

MY GIRL - The Temptations (1 week)

 

90’s movies made quite a few classic oldies big hits, such as the 1991 movie of the same name that took this to number 2 in the UK in 1992, and 1 in my charts (catching up with the USA where it topped in 1965). Smokey Robinson wrote it, David Ruffin sang lead - my favourite Temptations singer, but they were all great - and this charming soul ballad kicked off a long career of soul, dance and funk hit singles for the band, that included greats like Just My Imagination, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Ball Of Confusion, Can’t Get Next To You, Get Ready and even Supremes duets like I’m Gonna Make You Love Me. Band members went solo (Eddie Kendrick’s Keep On Trucking, David Ruffin’s fab Walk Away From Love) but the hits and quality kept on coming, with sporadic hits over the decades, even though four of the original five have now passed away. Their classic period was written/produced by Norman Whitfield at Motown, I saw them live in the 80’s, and rate them highly - but this is their only chart-topper. Boo!

 

I GOT YOU BABE - Sonny And Cher (1 week)

 

Everyone knows this one. They just do. It’s been in movies (most memorably Groundhog Day, which helped push this chartbound in 1993, when it belatedly hit number one in my charts, 28 years later than it would have been guaranteed to top - I loved this as a child). It’s been covered by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde, Cher has become a timeless diva icon of many a classic pop hit, but this remains the most universal megahit. Sonny Bono wrote it, while a hit songwriter, and had a go with his young wife as a duo. Cher’s deep tones, and Sonny’s growling made an effective combination, but back-peddling to the time, they were really the first beatnick/hippy dressers to hit the big-time, and the married-couple image helped make it family-friendly. In the same way that older generations complain about young-people’s habit of tripping themselves up with trousers hanging below the behind, they in turn were complained about for hanging long hair and outlandishly colourful clothes. Short hair and drab was the norm. Sonny & Cher brightened it all up and kicked off a long career as solo stars, and for a few years as duo. Sadly their other 60’s hits are largely forgotten - The Beat Goes On, Alfie, All I Really Want To Do, Laugh At Me, and best of all the wonderful Little Man, which has a great toon and percussion, and needs rediscovering...

ALMOST THERE - Andy Williams (1 week)

 

This is not his most famous hit, but it’s the engaging crooner’s best one. Andy Williams started having hits in the 50’s and by the 60’s was a variety TV staple, his show introduced The Osmonds to the world, and the Cookie Bear to the delight of kids like me. Always likeable and entertaining, Andy also had one of the great crooner voices, almost effortless in effect, but subtle in appeal. Andy was always popular in the UK, though his tracks prior to this one tended to be bigger US hits, from hereon they were much bigger in the UK. Can’t Get Used To Losing You was his first great record, and Moon River his most famous, but Almost There has a gorgeous melody. Sentimental and beautifully constructed, and hit my top spot in 2001.

 

(I CAN’T GET NO) SATISFACTION - The Rolling Stones (1 week)

 

The great Beatles vs Stones rivalry is comprehensively weighted in favour of the fabs in my eyes, but Mick n Keef had their great moments too. I liked the early hits, but this was the first thing they did that I loved. That riff. That swagger. That frustration. That toon. It’s a rock classic of course, and signalled the serious start of Jagger/Richards as a songwriting rock force. Bubblerock (aka Jonathan King) did a whimsical version that if nothing else showed the song worked outside of a rock setting, but no version will ever be superior to this recording, it has attitude even today. A number one hit everywhere in 1965, it had to wait until 2001 in my charts, but it got there in the end!

I'M ALIVE - The Hollies (1 week)

 

The Hollies were very popular in the UK in the 60’s, but are largely unknown to generations not around then, which is a shame as they had a great run of pop singles for 10 years. Lead singers Alan Clarke and Graham Nash (later of Crosby Stills and...) led the Hollies harmonies specialty, and they had a knack for getting hold of good songs. Not writing their own hits for the most part, I suppose, was the main drawback, but they still sound good to me. This was their first really good chart-topper, not an all-time pop classic maybe, but decent enough catchy harmony guitar pop, and nothing wrong with that. Hit my top spot in 2002.

 

HOMEWARD BOUND - Simon & Garfunkel (2 weeks)

 

The most popular of American folk-rock acts as the 60’s passed into 1970, it’s not hard to see why: Paul Simon songs, and his harmonies with angelically-voiced Art Garfunkel. They managed to be a source of songs for others, have hit singles yet be essentially an album act, not to mention write the soundtrack to a blockbuster movie, The Graduate. Early great songs like The Sounds Of Silence, America, Mrs Robinson and Hazy Shade Of Winter typified poetic intelligent lyrics mixed with great melody and harmony in a folk-rock setting. Their Greatest Hits collections have charted constantly over 40 years, and that gave the excuse for this gem to peak in 2002. Written of all places on a grim British railway station platform, it’s melancholic sweet sense of longing is beautifully touching.

MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF - The Walker Brothers (3 weeks)

 

Burt Bacharach/Hal David and three non-related American singers who were much bigger in the UK with this and subsequent records. Yes, this is yet another of those Dionne Warwick songs that someone else had the big hit with. Poor Dionne. To be fair, both versions are great, but Scott Walker’s manly vocals give it another dimension. That voice. That string section. That melody. Those heartbreaking break-up lyrics. It’’s just wonderful all round really! This was part of a double-A-sided topper in 2003 - and the other side was even better!

SOME OF YOUR LOVIN' - Dusty Springfield (3 weeks)

 

Dusty really set the bar high with this cover of a Carole King ballad. The greatest 60‘s female melody-maker sung by the greatest British female singer. Dusty had started the ball rolling with great album tracks and singles such as Wishin’ And Hoping in the period since her previous Number One, and was very much a staple of British TV by this time, albeit making the hits in the States too. Her gift was interpretation of songs, she had a passion for music that came out in the way she painstakingly constructed the vocals, and her voice is to me unbeatable: soulful, honey-covered and emotional. This gentle, passionate version of the song is the definitive and it’s one to bring tears to the eyes it’s such a perfect and affecting recording. Really!

This thread is back :cheer:

 

Can't say something about the most songs, but "I Got You Babe" is very classic pop song.

I really must listen more music from 60s decade in future, but now my current target is 1982 year :)

This thread is back :cheer:

 

Can't say something about the most songs, but "I Got You Babe" is very classic pop song.

I really must listen more music from 60s decade in future, but now my current target is 1982 year :)

 

Thanks Alex, yes there are some great songs from the 60's, and I'm always interested in your lists, I like waiitng for the Year Summary to comment as I can give an overview. There are always classics in there:)

 

cheers

john

Thanks Alex, yes there are some great songs from the 60's, and I'm always interested in your lists, I like waiitng for the Year Summary to comment as I can give an overview. There are always classics in there:)

Thanks John, 1981 was finished in my thread + There is 1 unique achievement in the start of 1982. :)

YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY - The Beatles (2 weeks)

 

Never an official single, this “Help!” movie and album track is the Fabs 6th chart-topper in age-terms (but like the next two were 21st Century Number Ones in my charts). It’s a great John Lennon angst-ballad, all confused emotions, and has been said to be a reference to the gay private life of manager-friend Brian Epstein at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable. Whatever, it’s an example of John’s tender ballad side (Paul is usually accused of creating those, and not given credit for the edgier tracks which John is expected to have been behind). As for me, I saw “Help!” at the cinema when I was 7 going on 8, and I loved it, and I loved the songs in it - such as this one and its great melody and sad sentiment. In 1976 I was re-acquainted with many earlier classic Beatles singles and album tracks when I got the Beatles 1962-66 Red album for Christmas. Just. Brilliant.

 

I NEED YOU - The Beatles (1 week)

 

If there was ever both a simultaneously lucky and unlucky songwriter/pop star it’s George Harrison. On the one hand he had the good fortune to learn the craft of songwriting by watching and working with two now-legends in Paul McCartney and John Lennon - and on the other hand, how could anyone compete with them, 2 together in one band?! The chances that a 3rd great songwriter would emerge from the same band must be fairly small....! It happened, though. This is the first indication that George had an ear for a tune, and again from “Help!”. Obviously not rated as one of the great Beatles tracks, but it’s engaging and catchy and I like it!

NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN) - The Beatles (1 week)

 

In these music industry days where albums are milked for tracks over a period of years, it’s unthinkable that someone could be so prolific that Singles (and B sides) weren’t necessarily on albums, and that tracks so obviously potential singles were left on albums. It’s even more unthinkable that they would release not one album a year but two (AND do a movie!). “Rubber Soul” is a classic album and it was released bare months after “Help!” and yet it showed a massive leap in sophistication of song, sound and quality. New instruments were being used in pop music by the group, and pop grew along with the Beatles. The times they were-a-changing. This is a marvellous ballad, one of many on the album, such as the UK chart-topper (In an inferior cover version which I nonetheless loved in 1965) Michelle, or gorgeous Girl, the engaging You Won’t See Me, and the sombre In My Life. The Beatles as a creative as well as a commercial phenomenon were well under way...

1966  

 

SWEET TALKING GUY - The Chiffons  (2 weeks)

 

This 60’s harmony-girl-group short-but-bitter-sweet catchy record eventually peaked at 4 in the UK in 1972, but went all the way in my charts, ironically as the lyrics warn young girls not to go all the way with those lying sweet talking guys just trying to...well you know what! A girlie teen anthem at the time, these days it’s much less well known than their other hits, the fabulous Goffin/King “One Fine Day” or the George-Harrison-tune-a-like (copyright infringing My Sweet Lord) He’s So Fine. That’s a shame as it got a fabulous harmony melody going on, but it’s appeal doesn’t have appeared so far to have passed on down the years.

 

I’M GONNA RUN AWAY FROM YOU - Tami Lynn (2 weeks)

 

A Northern Soul classic from 1971, that peaked at 4 in the UK charts (and re-issued again in 1975 when it peaked at 1 in my charts), it actually pre-dated that in the States. The northern soul circuit was big in the UK in the 70’s, based around discovering great obscure American soul records of the 60’s and finding them a new audience, especially in the centre of the scene (Wigan. No, honestly. Wigan!). Tami was a one-hit wonder, but it’s a really good singalong popsoul chugger, great tune!

 

GOOD VIBRATIONS - The Beach Boys (1 week)

 

The greatest American pop band of the 60’s, the 3 Wilson Brothers (Brian, Carl and Dennis), cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine, were a surfer-harmony-group sensation that evolved far beyond their early surfer hits into mid-period pop classics like California Girls, Help Me Rhonda, Little Saint Nick, and Barbara Ann. Creative genius Brian was really taking the competition (Phil Spector and Lennon-McCartney) seriously and trying to outdo them in the period since the Beach Boys first John-chart-topper in 1964 (Don’t Worry Baby). He managed it with this complex, amazing production (co-written with Mike Love, let’s not forget though) and song, an all-time rock classic that hit the top in the UK and the USA in late 1966. It sounded like nothing before, and the harmonies might be doo-wop-based, but were far more like a symphony than a 3 minute-pop-single! It topped my chart as reissued UK hit single to promote the chart-topping hits collection in 1976, and, well, it’s gone on to be timeless. Awesome is an appropriate word for it.

ELEANOR RIGBY - The Beatles (4 weeks)

 

Talking of awesome. This is not so much a Beatles record as a Paul McCartney/George Martin production/arrangement, a string section replacing rock guitars and drums, and it’s just gorgeous and sad. The lyrics are all about loneliness, death and other cheerful stuff, but it’s powerful bitter-sweet stuff, and along with Good Vibrations hit the top spot round the world in late 1966 to signpost the rapid movement of pop music into Art with a capital “A”. I was 8, I loved both sides of this double-A-side single, because 8 is a great age to love Yellow Submarine and it’s brass band noisy catchiness. By 1976 and the Beatles singles re-issue campaign, Eleanor Rigby was the track I adored. As re-issued classics proliferated and threatened to swamp my music charts to the detriment of current hits I was forced to set up an oldies chart for a year till the trend for re-issues died down, both in late 1974 and 1976/1977. Nowadays I just limit numbers of oldies in the chart. In any case this would still have hit number one in any combined chart....

 

GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - The Beatles (2 weeks)

 

A single hit in the States in 1976, but sadly never released in the UK, this Revolver album track was used to promote the “Rock and Roll” album. That was enough for me: got to get you into my charts! Catchy, Motown-y, brassy, it’s not so surprising that Earth Wind & Fire had a UK hit version. Like Eleanor Rigby, a contributing factor towards Revolver being my favourite Beatles album, and arguably their best. With stuff like Here There & Everywhere (a country hit for Emmylou Harris), I’m Only Sleeping (90’s pop hit for Suggs), Good Day Sunshine, Taxman, And Your Bird Can Sing, and the brilliant innovative Tomorrow Never Knows, that’s a convincing argument. Any of them would have been a hit single, and many of them were - for other contemporary covers acts! Fab Fabs.

 

THIS OLD HEART OF MINE (IS WEAK FOR YOU) - The Isley Brothers (1 week)

 

By 1966 the three brothers Isley already had a claim to rock n roll immortality, writing and recording million-seller Shout!, these days known to British ears as Lulu’s iconic UK debut hit cover, and having the first hit version of Twist And Shout, as covered definitively by the Beatles. As they were both chart-toppers as covers, then, it’s only fair the Isley’s should have their own - and it’s even better! This (Tamla) Motown classic was a US 1966 hit, and a big UK 1968 hit, the year I started my charting days (when it didn’t quite get to the top). Re-issued in 1976, it had by then became a nostalgic classic Motown frantic dance fave of mine and I bought and charted it. It’s a great Holland-Dozier-Holland song (having survived two differing hit versions by Rod Stewart, one including Ronald Isley himself), the pace never lets up and Ronald’s impassioned vocals are amazing. Their Motown days were short-lived (more to come..) but that didn’t really matter as their then-10-year career was just getting started!

Good day, John

 

My 1966 highlights :

 

UK charts in this period wasn't very friendly for female singers.

 

Only one name : Kathy Kirby, most her singles weren't in official charts.

I didn't know, that she had so many wonderful songs and some her singles were released in 70s, not only in 60s.

 

The Seekers were maybe the first successful mixed pop group.

Most popular female singers in this year : Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Cher, Sandie Shaw.

 

My song of the year in 1966 : France Gall - Les Succetes

Good day, John

 

My 1966 highlights :

 

UK charts in this period wasn't very friendly for female singers.

 

Only one name : Kathy Kirby, most her singles weren't in official charts.

I didn't know, that she had so many wonderful songs and some her singles were released in 70s, not only in 60s.

 

The Seekers were maybe the first successful mixed pop group.

Most popular female singers in this year : Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Cher, Sandie Shaw.

 

My song of the year in 1966 : France Gall - Les Succetes

 

Thanks Alex, I think you'll like the next No.1 song I do:)

 

Kathy Kirby was my first fave pop star when I was 5 or 6, but not many of her hits are well known, I can only recall Secret Love and Spanish Flea really!

 

The Seekers were great, but they haven't had a re-issue opportunity yet or The Carnival Is Over and Georgy Girl would be contenders, both I loved as a kid.

 

3 of the ladies you mention will have number ones in 1967 and 1968 and 1974 and beyond, and the other 3 could still have more reissued toppers given an opportunity...

 

hints: records that havent yet got to number one but would: Gypsies Tramps & Thieves, Bang Bang (Cher), Long Live Love, Hand In Glove (Sandie), Sugar Town (Nancy) & Sand, Did You Ever, (Nancy & Lee - and one song of theirs the Corrs took to the top), It's For You, Alfie (Cilla and one song Agnetha Faltskog took to the top) and Dusty could have loads of chart-toppers yet like You Dont Have To Say You Love Me, A House Is Not A Home (if its ever released, duet with Burt Bacharach from a TV special), How Can I Be Sure...

 

France Gall I know a little but may look more into her when I get time, thanks:)

 

cheers

john

 

 

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN' - Nancy Sinatra (2 weeks)

 

One of the tracks on an EP re-issue from 1977 that almost made the UK charts, this 1966 worldwide chart-topper is Nancy Sinatra’s ongoing claim to fame. I loved it as a kid and as a teenager, and onwards, it’s quirky, catchy and has attitude, and signalled the start of an awesome duet partnership with songwriter/singer/producer Lee Hazelwood. Lee also guided her solo career, and chipped in to her dad’s recording career (that’ll be iconic crooner Frank, and I may well be alone in much preferring Nancy’s body of work - but I do!). As a solo act Nancy was fabulous, sweet-voiced, attractive and pure 60’s pop dollybird styled. So much so that her career struggled to continue beyond the decade, but as far as I’m concerned this was not her only solo chart-topper....

 

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' - The Mamas & The Papas (17 weeks)

 

By 1977, when it grabbed two weeks at the top, the Mamas & papas had become firm classic 60’s faves of mine via a couple of budget albums I bought in 1974 which collectively made a decent Greatest Hits collection. I particularly loved Mama Cass, and the harmonies and the songs: as time passed, especially the great John Phillips songs! By 1997 this record was an acknowledged classic, so much so that it finally went UK top 10 31 years late (a big American hit, but only a minor UK hit in 1966). On the back of that it (and two other tracks on the CD) had a whopping 15 week-run at the top over the summer. The imagery is wonderful (all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, to set up the premise) and it fitted perfectly in with the hippie-sunshine mood of the times, and Cass Elliot in the vocal mix gave it that extra oomph for the counterpoint male-female group harmonies. That’s not to take away from the lead male vocals either, which are passionate and aggressive. Sheer brilliance.

 

LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE - The Monkees (3 weeks)

 

I loved The Monkees at age 9. I loved the funny TV show, I collected the bubblegum cards, I loved the hit singles, I loved the songs they had on the show, and I loved all four actor/singers/musicians (delete as appropriate). They weren’t supposed to be credible pop stars, but they became just that, two of them writing hit songs for a start. Mike Nesmith was already a musician songwriter, Peter Tork jobbing musician, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, the two former-child actors had the great pop singing voices and acting skills. Add in the best pop songwriters of the time, great production and it’s not so surprising that the manufactured pop group had arrived with a bang. 45 years on and the records still sound fresh and exciting. Clarksville was a Boyce & Hart song that became irresistible with Mickey on lead, some great guitar hooks (albeit session) and a manic tempo and frenzied finale. A new Fab Four for my generation, and the perfect original boyband. This would have obviously hit my top spot in 1967, but had to wait for one of the periodic chart re-issues, this one 1980 as part of an EP.