"Keep On Dancing" #4 10/30/1965

A one-hit wonder straight outta Memphis that was so short the producer tacked the song's intro onto the end, just to make it two minutes long. The lead singer (but not on their one hit) was pro wrestling's Jimmy Hart - yes, The Mouth Of The South was in a rock band first. Today's clip is a montage of dance scenes from 60's sitcoms.

Gentrys - Keep On Dancing

"A Lover's Concerto" #2 10/30/1965

A true rarity - a pop record based on Bach's Minuet in G Major, except this is in 4/4 time and Bach did it in 3/4 time. The Toys were a girl group from the Jamaica section of Queens, NYC who recorded for a label owned by Bob Crewe, the Four Seasons' producer.

Toys - A Lover's Concerto

"Hello Vietnam" #1 Country 10/23/1965

The pop charts reflected an anti-war sentiment all throughout the 60's, which fed into an anti-troop sentiment as well. Hopefully we've learned from that. The country charts had a very different take. This one from Johnny Wright, married to legend Kitty Wells, was included on the "Full Metal Jacket" soundtrack.

Johnny Wright - Hello Vietnam

"Autumn Leaves '65" #92 10/23/1965

One of the standards from the Great American Songbook, this has been recorded many, many times. Surprisingly, Roger Williams still has the only piano instrumental to ever reach #1 on the pop charts. He re-did it in '65 but I can't find that anywhere on YouTube, so here's his 1955 version.

Roger Williams - Autumn Leaves '65

"Early Morning Rain" #91 10/23/1965

Recorded by dozens ranging from Bob Dylan to Elvis to Jerry Reed, this composition helped put Gordon Lightfoot on the map as a songwriter. It wasn't that big of a chart record for Peter, Paul and Mary, but it became one of their signature tunes.

Peter, Paul and Mary - Early Morning Rain

"I Live For The Sun" #51 10/23/1965

It's well documented how Murry Wilson was incredibly domineering and psychologically abusive toward his sons Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson - so much that the Beach Boys fired him as their manager. Murry then hired a total ripoff group called the Sunrays, right down to them wearing striped shirts on stage. Their one "hit" didn't even crack the Top 50.

Sunrays - I Live For The Sun

"Act Naturally" #47 10/23/1965

A country #1 by Buck Owens in '63, it was the intended A-side of the current Beatles single with Ringo's vocals, but radio stations flipped it over and "Yesterday" became the hit. Written by Moorhead, Mississippi's Johnny Russell, who also did "Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer" in the 70's and wrote "Let's Fall To Pieces Together" for George Strait in the 80's.

Beatles - Act Naturally

"Cara-Lin" #39 10/23/1965

As mentioned here previously, these guys wanted to release "Hang On Sloopy" as their next single, but that honor (and a #1 record) went to their hired group, the McCoys. This became the next chart record instead. One of the Strangeloves went on to produce Marshall Crenshaw's first album.

Strangeloves - Cara-Lin

"Liar Liar" #12 10/23/1965

The easiest thing to do in show business is to make a hit record. The hardest is to come up with a second hit and beyond. Tom Hanks made a movie about that. We give you the Castaways from Minneapolis, who never had that second hit after this one. The video today is sooooo 60's.

Castaways - Liar Liar

"What Color (Is A Man)" #38 10/16/1965

More social commentary in song, this time from Bobby Vinton. He was one of the first non-country music performers to headline in Branson, Missouri. The theory behind opening a theater in Branson was why beat your brains out going on the road constantly, when the fans could come to you?

Bobby Vinton - What Color (Is A Man)

"The Dawn Of Correction" #36 10/16/1965

The patriotic answer record to "Eve Of Destruction" was done by the Spokesmen, made up of two songwriters and a DJ from one of the great Top 40 stations ever, WIBG ("Wibbage") in Philadelphia. The others wrote hits such as "1-2-3," "You Don't Own Me" and "At The Hop." Quite the resume.

Spokesman - The Dawn Of Correction

"Home Of The Brave" #25 10/16/1965

We'll delve into some socially conscious 60's music over the next few days. This one by Jody Miller dealt with a high schooler sent home from class because he didn't conform. Jody had a great deal of success in the country field in the 70's, and eventually got into Christian music.

Jody Miller - Home Of The Brave

"Mohair Sam" #21 10/16/1965

Charlie Rich started out in the late 50's as a session musician at Sun Records in Memphis and made a few records back then. He became one of the biggest stars in country music in the 70's with nine chart-toppers, as well as a Top 40 #1 with "The Most Beautiful Girl."

Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam

"Do You Believe In Magic" #9 10/16/1965

It's like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll. The first hit for the Lovin' Spoonful had an electrified autoharp, played by lead vocalist John Sebastian. They matched Gary Lewis and the Playboys in that their first seven singles all made the Top 10 - remember, the first three Beatles singles released in America all flopped in '63.

Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic

"Just A Little Bit Better" #7 10/16/1965

Herman's Hermits had six US singles chart in 1965, and at #7 this was the lowest ranked of the lot. The others all made the Top 5, with two of them reaching the top. Pretty amazing run there for Peter Noone and the blokes.

Herman's Hermits - Just A Little Bit Better

"Treat Her Right" #2 10/16/1965

An early example of blue-eyed soul by Roy Head, from southwest Texas. I couldn't find a suitable quality video that showed off his moves, but trust me, the dude could almost dance like James Brown. He was all over the stage. Produced by swamp music legend Huey Meaux.

Roy Head and the Traits - Treat Her Right

"Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl" #55 10/9/1965

The Sixties saw quite the cultural upheaval. People were shocked, shocked (!!) the Beatles and Stones had hair that TOUCHED THEIR COLLARS! The Barbarians, rockers from Cape Cod, had the whole long haired look along with pirate outfits and poofy Seinfeld-type pirate shirts...and yet they put out this very reactionary record. Amazing.

Barbarians - Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl

"Kansas City Star" #31 10/9/1965

A Top 10 country tune from the somewhat squirrely Roger Miller about a kiddie TV star in Kansas City who resisted the lure of moving up to a bigger gig...in Omaha. He was capable of more meaningful material, but hey, you need a little goofiness once in a while.

Roger Miller - Kansas City Star

"Ride Away" #25 10/9/1965

Whoever is in charge of picking music for the Geico ads is a genius. This was Roy Orbison's first release after changing record labels. He would have a couple more 45's that just reached the Top 40, and other than a Top 10 country duet with Emmylou Harris, that was it, until "You Got It" in '88.

Roy Orbison - Ride Away

"Just You" #20 10/9/1965

It seemed to be a thing in the 60's that once an act succeeded, their label would flood the market with more and more of their product. Sonny and Cher had two singles in the Top 20 this week, "Baby Don't Go" plus today's selection.

Sonny and Cher - Just You

"Some Enchanted Evening" #13 10/9/1965

Here's Jay and the Americans with one from the famous 1949 musical "South Pacific," a #1 hit that year for Perry Como. It's been recorded by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan. A song for the ages, no matter who sings it.

Jay and the Americans - Some Enchanted Evening

"I'm Yours" #11 10/9/1965

Other than movie soundtracks, from '64-'68 Elvis hardly recorded any new material. Sometimes the songs in the films were even recycled, like this one from his flick "Tickle Me" originally recorded in 1961 and first appearing on his "Pot Luck" LP in 1962. It still just missed the Top 10.

Elvis Presley - I'm Yours

"Baby Don't Go" #8 10/9/1965

Here's one that was originally released in the fall of 1964, and totally bombed (except in L.A.) but when Sonny and Cher broke through with "I Got You Babe," this was re-released and made the Top 10. Trivia: They billed themselves early on as Caesar and Cleo. Ackkkk.

Sonny and Cher - Baby Don't Go

"You've Got Your Troubles" #7 10/9/1965

The first hit from the Fortunes was heard extensively on legendary offshore English pirate station Radio Caroline. Whenever the ship needed supplies or other assistance, the DJ would play this record to signal their onshore pals to send out some help. Radio is a wonderful medium. It was Top 10 on both sides of the pond.

Fortunes - You've Got Your Troubles

"The 'In' Crowd" #5 10/9/1965

The Ramsey Lewis Trio appeared in '65 at the Bohemian Caverns jazz club in Washington, DC. Supposedly, they had never played the song before, but by request they learned the Dobie Gray version off a jukebox during a break. A very impromptu recording that made the Top 5.

Ramsey Lewis Trio - The "In" Crowd

"Yesterday" #1 10/9/1965

The Guinness Book of World Records said with over 2,200 known versions, this was the most recorded song of the 20th century - and it was the intended B-side of the 45! Consideration was given to issue this as a Paul McCartney solo record, since he and a string quartet were the only performers. Their manager, Brian Epstein, nixed that idea - it would be the Beatles or nothing on the label.

Beatles - Yesterday

"3rd Man Theme" #47 10/2/1965

If you've ever seen the classic flick "The Third Man" starring Orson Welles, you recognize the very distinctive music score, performed on a zither. Herb Alpert adapted the theme for himself and the Tijuana Brass with this interesting arrangement.

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - 3rd Man Theme

"With These Hands" #27 10/2/1965

Tom Jones was in a bit of a dilemma regarding his career by 1965. His management couldn't decide whether he should do up-tempo stuff or if he was a crooner. This one has a pre-Beatles British light pop arrangement, and was a UK Top 20 record.

Tom Jones - With These Hands

"Agent Double-0 Soul" #21 10/2/1965

The first chart record for Edwin Starr just missed the pop music Top 20 but was a Top 10 R&B hit. The song's title tried to capitalize on the James Bond-type secret agent fad of the day. So did "Get Smart" but it was funnier.

Edwin Starr - Agent Double-0 Soul

"Hang On Sloopy" #1 10/2/1965

One of the weirder stories behind a chart topper. The Strangeloves (actually three writer/producers) needed a follow-up to "I Want Candy" and laid down the basic tracks to their version of "My Girl Sloopy" mentioned here last week. They found out the Dave Clark Five was planning to do the same arrangement as their next single. The Strangeloves weren't available to rush-release the song, so they hired an unknown band from Indiana, Rick and the Raiders, to finish the record. To summarize, the band became the McCoys, their first 45 hit #1, their front man Rick Zehringer changed his name to Rick Derringer, and a definitive 60's record came to pass. The second verse was cut from the single - I used the unedited version.

McCoys - Hang On Sloopy

"I'm A Happy Man" #36 9/25/1965

The Jive Five started out as a doo-wop group and had a huge hit in '61 with "My True Story." They reinvented themselves as a R&B outfit when doo-wop faded away. This was their last Top 40 record.

Jive Five - I'm A Happy Man