"Shake" #7 2/27/1965

This was the first posthumous single released by RCA after the passing of Sam Cooke, which happened a few months earlier under very curious circumstances. He was one of those who influenced those who influenced everybody else that came along later. Truly one of the great R&B singers of all time.

Sam Cooke - Shake

"Tell Her No" #6 2/27/1965

Some intricate stuff going on with this record by the Zombies. It's not your standard British Invasion stuff. Love the electric piano by Rod Argent. Oddly, this didn't even crack the Top 40 in the UK.

Zombies - Tell Her No

"Lemon Tree" #20 2/20/1965

Here's one that Peter, Paul and Mary had a hit with in the early 60's, and re-done by Trini Lopez with a touch more electrification. It was later used in a TV ad for Lemon Pledge furniture polish when that came on the market.

Trini Lopez - Lemon Tree

Happy Birthday, George Harrison! "What Is Life" Bonus

George was always my favorite Beatle. Until the latter days of the Fab Four, he was always elbowed out by John and Paul. Their last few albums showed that George could compose some extraordinary stuff. His solo work proved what he was capable of, like this track, which was a Top 10 record in the US but never a single in the UK. Eric Clapton appears, playing...rhythm guitar.

George Harrison - What Is Life

"Heart Of Stone" #19 2/20/1965

Kind of a country-sounding tune from Mick and the boys. I'm not 100% sure where the video is from, but I believe it's the Stones' appearance in the T.A.M.I. show movie, along with James Brown and a boatload of other stars.

Rolling Stones - Heart Of Stone

"Laugh, Laugh" #15 2/20/1965

Lots of American groups took on English-sounding names to ride the coattails of the British Invasion, of which this San Francisco-based band was an example. And who can forget their appearance on "The Fintstones" as the Beau Brummelstones? Produced by Sylvester Stewart, whom we would know in a few years as Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone.

Beau Brummels - Laugh, Laugh

"Twine Time" #14 2/20/1965

I'm a sucker for the instrumentals from back in the day. Done by a group with one of the best band names ever - Alvin Cash and the Crawlers. This record was part of a musical movement in the UK in the 70's and 80's called Northern Soul, featuring lesser-known American R&B tunes. Great stuff.

Alvin Cash and the Crawlers - Twine Time

"The 'In' Crowd" #13 2/20/1965

Definitely an underrated tune from Dobie Gray, who had a hit with "Drift Away" in the 70's and tried his hand at country music years later...sort of a Darius Rucker prototype. An instrumental version of this by the Ramsey Lewis Trio also became a hit about six months later.

Dobie Gray - The 'In' Crowd

"I Go To Pieces" #9 2/20/1965

Another case of a British act releasing an unsuccessful record at home, but yet the same 45 was wildly popular in America. Written by Del Shannon while touring Australia with Peter and Gordon and the Searchers. The group Southern Pacific did quite well on the country charts with an a-cappella version - and they didn't use their instruments, either!

Peter and Gordon - I Go To Pieces

"This Diamond Ring" #1 2/20/1965

Gary Lewis and the Playboys began by auditioning for a gig at Disneyland without dropping his famous dad's name, and wound up playing regularly at the Tomorrowland pavilion. His mom (Jerry's wife) might have pulled a few strings to land a record deal. The skill was lacking, so their producer, Snuff Garrett, went in late at night and re-did the music using LA's famed Wrecking Crew studio musicians (Leon Russell, Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine, etc.) to where the original parts weren't recognizable. All it did was land the group a #1 record.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys - This Diamond Ring

"The Look Of Love" (Lesley Gore) #27 2/13/1965

I swear, this record was coming up anyway, as it peaked at #27 this week in February 1965. I'd forgotten she played Catwoman's sidekick on the over-the-top "Batman" TV show in the 60's. At least a half-dozen different songs had this same title; today's version was written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. The best IMHO was written by Bacharach/David and sung by Dusty Springfield. Audio (but not the video) is from a '65 appearance on Ed Sullivan. RIP, Lesley.

Lesley Gore - The Look Of Love

It's Fat Tuesday, Y'all !!

In honor of the final day of Mardi Gras, Louis (don't call him Louie) Armstrong tells the sisters and brothers, this is Reverend Satchmo gettin' ready to beat out this mellow sermon for you...

Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In (1939)

RIP, Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore began her musical career at age 16 in '62/'63 with four straight Top 5 records - "She's A Fool" was the third of those. Her mentor and producer was Quincy Jones, who produced Michael Jackson at the height of his career in the 80's, before all the weirdness totally set in. Lesley had a doggone decent career, no question.

Lesley Gore - She's A Fool

"Fancy Pants" #47 2/13/1965

Since tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, I thought I'd throw in a few New Orleans-related tunes the next couple of days. Al Hirt played regularly at a joint named Dan's Pier 600, on the corner of Bourbon and St. Louis in the French Quarter. He was an original minority investor in the New Orleans Saints. I could swear this was a TV game show theme - his previous single was the theme to Bill Cullen's "Eye Guess" back in the day.

Al Hirt - Fancy Pants

CSI:NY "Baba O'Riley" Bonus

I caught a rerun of CSI:NY the other day and thought, why not toss in a Who record? Hey, it's my blog! The producers of the CSI franchise obviously are fans of the group, too. The synthesizer underlying the song was lifted from Pete Townshend's nine-minute demo. Keith Moon was the one who suggested the violin part at the end.

 Who - Baba O'Riley

"At The Club" #43 2/13/1965

One from the Drifters, not to be confused with "In Da Club" by Fiddy...er, 50 Cent. This was pretty much the end of the line for their career. What an influence they were on rock and R&B music.

Drifters - At The Club

"Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)" #12 2/13/1965

You know you've succeeded when the Bay City Rollers cover a song of yours. The original by Frankie and the Jersey Boys just missed the Top 10 in '65; the Rollers' version was never released as a single in America, but reached #1 in the UK before they were unleashed over here.

Four Seasons - Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye).

"Somewhere In Your Heart" #32 2/6/1965

This was Francis Albert Sinatra's effort to sound like Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" from '64, with mixed results. Frank even used Dino's arranger on that song, Ernie Freeman, as they both recorded for the Reprise label founded by Ol' Blue Eyes himself.

Frank Sinatra - Somewhere In Your Heart

"Have You Looked Into Your Heart" #24 2/6/1965

A #1 record on the Billboard middle-of-the-road chart that made the Top 25 on the Hot 100. His birth name was Genaro Vitaliano - Jerry Vale kinda rolls off the tongue a little easier. His recording of the National Anthem was used at Yankee Stadium for many years before their games.

Jerry Vale - Have You Looked Into Your Heart

"Mr. Moonlight" Album cut

The Beatles had been working almost nonstop for over two years, what with recording, concerts, TV and radio shows and a movie, too. For those reasons, they were short of songs for their December '64 "Beatles For Sale" UK album. So they reached back to their Hamburg and Cavern Club days in Liverpool for this tune, which a lot of folks say was one of their weakest efforts. The roller rink organ part by Paul is just...odd.

Beatles - Mr. Moonlight

"Let's Lock The Door" #11 2/6/1965

Jay Black of Jay and the Americans has such a great set of pipes. He's still out on the road getting it done. Video is from "Shindig" - check out the model striking some odd poses while the guys sing.

Jay and the Americans - Let's Lock The Door

"All Day And All Of The Night" #7 2/6/1965

Another 60's tune used in TV ads these days - this one sells us yogurt. Like so many records of the era, it borrows liberally from the band's previous hit, in this case "You Really Got Me." And like so many British Invasion records, Jimmy Page allegedly played on this; Ray Davies denies it.

Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' " #1 2/6/1965

BMI says this was the most performed record of the 20th century - and it deserved every last play. There was an unwritten rule that no Top 40 record should run longer than three minutes - short attention span among teenagers, you know. So when Phil Spector refused to edit the song, he had the labels printed with a time of 3:05. By the time radio stations discovered the fib (it ran closer to 4:00), it was already a hit. Sonny Bono was Phil's top lieutenant, and one of the backup singers on this record was...Cher. You know the rest.

Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

"Give Him A Great Big Kiss". #18 1/30/1965

"When I'm in love you best BELIEVE I'm in love L-U-V." What a great intro. White girls with attitude that wasn't all record company hype. The Shangri-Las did a version of "Twist And Shout" as the B-side.

Shangri-Las - Give Him A Great Big Kiss

"I'll Be There" #14 1/30/1965

Originally done by Bobby Darin, this was reportedly the show closer for Gerry and the Pacemakers each time they performed at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club. A Top 15 record on both sides of the Atlantic.

Gerry and the Pacemakers - I'll Be There

"Keep Searchin' " #9 1/30/1965

The last Top 10 record for Del Shannon, who was rumored to join the Traveling Wilburys in the late 80's after Roy Orbison passed away. The other Wilburys (George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne) all loved Del and his music. Unfortunately, he took his own life in 1990.

Del Shannon - Keep Searchin'

The Day The Music Died - Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens was probably the first real Latino rocker. This was actually Ritchie's first single - his next release, "La Bamba" and "Donna" were part of a double A-side, and both did quite well, but "Come On, Let's Go" just missed the Top 40. "American Pie" would've been too easy to go to on this day, so I pulled this one, covered by Los Lobos many years later, who stayed very true to the original.

Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go

It's Groundhog Day! "I Got You Babe"

We'll post this one again later on, as it was #1 for three weeks in August 1965, but it's Groundhog Day. It's Groundhog Day. It's Groundhog Day. It's Groun....well, you know.

Sonny and Cher - I Got You Babe

"How Sweet It Is" #6 1/30/1965

Marvin Gaye started out at Motown as a session drummer, until they found out he could sing, too. This one was re-done by Jr. Walker and the All-Stars a little later, and by James Taylor in the 70's.

Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is