"What's He Doing In My World" #60 6/26/1965

This one reached the lower half of the Hot 100, but it was the 20th #1 country record for Eddy Arnold. It was his first #1 country hit in 10 years, though. Trivia: Eddy's first manager in the '40s was Col. Tom Parker, who then went on to manage an unknown kid from Memphis named Elvis Presley.

Eddy Arnold - What's He Doing In My World

"When A Boy Falls In Love" #52 6/26/1965

Over the next few days we'll explore the lower half of this week's Hot 100 from 1965. Today's tune was another posthumous Sam Cooke release, who died about six months earlier under very mysterious circumstances. It would be the next-to-last charting single for him.

Sam Cooke - When A Boy Falls In Love

"Voodoo Woman" #27 6/26/1965

Bobby Goldsboro grew up in Marianna, FL. His aunt was a florist up the road in Dothan, AL; when she passed away, Bobby's parents moved the family there to take over the shop. He later joined Roy Orbison's band, where they not only toured with the Beatles in the UK, but they had some gigs opening for the Rolling Stones on their first US tour just before he went solo.

Bobby Goldsboro - Voodoo Woman

"Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" #8 6/26/1965

Patti Page was the top-selling female recording artist of the 50's, but her career had tailed off by '58 when rock and roll had established itself. This would be her last big pop hit, then she had some success on the country charts in the early '70s. Today's song was based on the movie of the same name, starring Bette Davis and her eyes. *snickering over here*

Patti Page - Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

"Mr. Tambourine Man" #1 6/26/1965

Continuing yesterday's post, the Byrds recorded this five days after its writer (Bob Dylan) did; their version borrowed heavily from the Beatles, most likely "What You're Doing." They did the vocals, but only Roger McGuinn played his 12-string Rickenbacker on the finished product - the rest was done by L.A.'s famed Wrecking Crew. The Byrds only used Dylan's chorus-second verse-chorus. The video from "Hullabaloo" has some lip-sync issues.

Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

"What You're Doing" Album cut

Boy, does the intro to "Mr. Tambourine Man" ever sound like the main riff of this Beatles VI track. The Fabs released it on Beatles For Sale in the UK on 12/4/1964. Since the cut wasn't released in America until 6/14/65, my spidey sense tells me the Byrds obtained an import and copied the lick. We report, you decide. More tomorrow...

Beatles - What You're Doing

"Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!" Album cut

This track featuring Paul combined two Little Richard tunes; a very different version of "Kansas City" than Wilbert Harrison's '59 hit, and "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!", the b-side of "Good Golly Miss Molly." This was a mainstay of their concerts, one of which was in KC on what was to be an off day after a show in New Orleans on their '64 tour. Charlie O. Finley (owner of the Kansas City Athletics baseball team) paid the Fab Four a then unheard-of sum of $150,000 for the show. Money talks.

Beatles - Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!

"(Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You" #32 6/19/1965

Here's a Top 10 adult contemporary hit that made the Top 40 for Dean Martin, the King of Cool. His TV show in the 60's was legendary. Let's just say Dino ran a pretty loose ship. His celebrity roasts were even more outrageous for the times.

Dean Martin - (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You

"Nothing Can Stop Me" #18 6/19/1965

Today's selection was performed by The Duke of Earl, Gene Chandler, and was written by Curtis Mayfield. This was Gene's last Top 40 record until "Groovy Situation" in 1970.

Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me

"Before And After" #17 6/19/1965

The last US Top 20 hit for Chad and Jeremy was written by Van McCoy, as in "The Hustle" Van McCoy. I don't remember this one from back in the day, but that's just me.

Chad and Jeremy - Before And After

"Last Chance To Turn Around" #13 6/19/1965

People think this Gene Pitney song is titled "Last Exit To Brooklyn" - maybe they didn't want Hubert Selby, author of the book with that title, to sue them or something. It was co-written by Victor Millrose, who also co-wrote "This Girl Is A Woman Now" later in the 60's for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.

Gene Pitney - Last Chance To Turn Around

"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" #1 6/19/1965

The first #1 for the Four Tops, and yet another of the 25 #1's written at Motown by the amazing songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. This was one of those rare records that reached #1, dropped down for a time and then regained the top spot.

Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

Happy Birthday, Paul McCartney!

And he's still out on the road even today. Such an amazing book of songs to choose from...this is from his first solo album, and yet the studio version was never released as a single. A live version from the Wings Over America tour was a single and did quite well.

Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed

"Words Of Love" Album cut

50 years ago this week, Capitol released "Beatles VI" which had no real equivalent in Britain, as the US album was cobbled together from four sources. This track was from the December '64 UK "Beatles For Sale" LP and was a nod to Buddy Holly (one of their major influences). Buddy originally recorded this song in 1957.

Beatles - Words Of Love

"Concrete And Clay" (Unit 4 + 2) #28 6/12/1965

Recently we featured a cover version of this, recorded by Eddie Rambeau and rushed onto the US market by Four Seasons producer Bob Crewe. Here's the original, which reached #1 over there by a British group that had four members then added two more (duh!). Russ Ballard later joined the band, then helped form Argent a few years later.

Unit 4 + 2 - Concrete And Clay

"Engine Engine #9" #7 6/12/1965

A #2 country hit that made the pop Top 10 for Roger Miller, this was the follow-up to "King Of The Road." He would go on to host a TV show on NBC (it only lasted for 13 weeks) and eventually write and star in a Tony award-winning Broadway musical, "Big River." Not bad for a child of the Depression from Oklahoma.

Roger Miller - Engine Engine #9

"Crying In The Chapel" #3 6/12/1965

Back from vacation - who missed me? Elvis loved to sing gospel music. He recorded this a few months after being discharged from the Army in 1960, but RCA didn't release it until Easter of 1965, whereupon it soon reached #1 on the adult contemporary charts as well as making the rock Top 5.

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!!!

This feature will be on vacation through 6/13 and shall return 6/14. Enjoy!

"Back In My Arms Again" #1 6/12/1965

The fifth of five number ones in a row (and fifth of twelve overall) for the Supremes. Another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition - those guys hardly ever missed. I think this video is from "Hullabaloo" in May of '65.

Supremes - Back In My Arms Again

"Concrete And Clay" (Eddie Rambeau) #35 6/5/1965

Sorry for the late post today - we've been traveling since 5 AM. Here's another case of multiple versions of a song charting at the same time. The version which was the bigger hit will show up very soon. Bob Crewe (the Four Seasons' producer) heard this on a trip to London and had Eddie Rambeau, one of his artists, record the song.

Eddie Rambeau - Concrete And Clay

"Three O'Clock In The Morning" #33 6/5/1965

This one (written in 1919) is believed to be the first million seller...of sheet music. Dozens have recorded today's song. Our version here is by German trumpeter and bandleader Bert Kaempfert, who may be considered notorious for being the first to employ the Beatles for a recording session.

Bert Kaempfert - Three O'Clock In The Morning

"L-O-N-E-L-Y" #22 6/5/1965

The third of four straight singles from Bobby Vinton with the word "lonely" in the title, beginning with the former #1 "Mr. Lonely." He found a style, and it worked.

Bobby Vinton - L-O-N-E-L-Y

"You Were Made For Me" #21 6/5/1965

The B-side of this single ("Do The Freddie" was the A-side over here) by Freddie and the Dreamers had been a Top 5 record in the UK almost 18 months earlier. This 45 was their last American hit.

Freddie and the Dreamers - You Were Made For Me

"Do The Freddie" #18 6/5/1965

Today we feature both sides of a US single by the manic Freddie Garrity and the Dreamers. Their UK career had tailed off, but they cashed in on the American fascination with anything British, like this dance craze record. Chubby Checker had a unrelated record with the same title a week or two earlier.

Freddie and the Dreamers - Do The Freddie

"True Love Ways" #14 6/5/1965

Peter and Gordon's remake of the Buddy Holly classic, from what turned out to be Buddy's final recording session prior to The Day The Music Died. Mickey Gilley also had a hit with his remake on the country side in 1980.

Peter and Gordon - True Love Ways

"Queen Of The House" #12 6/5/1965

Jody Miller's answer record to "King Of The Road" by Roger Miller (no relation). She would have a fair amount of success on the country charts in the early 70's. An outfit named Scopitone made a very primitive form of video jukebox in the 60's which would normally be placed in restaurant booths and so forth, of which today's song was one of those films.

Jody Miller - Queen Of The House

"Just A Little" #8 6/5/1965

We'll be on vacation all next week. Since this feature will be offline June 7-13, we shall double up the rest of this week. Like the previous hit from San Francisco's Beau Brummels, it was produced by Sylvester Stewart, the future Sly of the Family Stone. This was pretty much it for these guys. Nice harmony here!

Beau Brummels - Just A Little

"Wooly Bully" #2 6/5/1965

My wife Susan remembers skating to this at the roller rink back in the day. It and "Louie, Louie" may be tied for being the sloppiest records ever in rock. But this one had the most recognizable sax solo in rock history until "Baker Street" years later. They called Domingo Samudio "Sam The Sham" because he sorta faked his way thru playing organ on stage. His band (the Pharaohs) would arrive at the gigs in a hearse, and they were dressed like King Tut. Words fail me after that.

Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs - Wooly Bully