"Backstage" #25 5/28/1966

This was the 15th Top 40 record for Gene Pitney. He would see further success in England and Australia, but would only rack up one more Top 40 entry in the States. Gene was one of the few American acts to chart before and after the British Invasion. I'm pretty sure today's video is from "Where The Action Is" with a voiceover intro from Dick Clark.

Gene Pitney - Backstage

"Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" #9 5/28/1966

The Motown songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote 25 Top 10 songs for the label, including ten #1's for the Supremes alone. This wasn't one of them, only getting to #9 on the pop charts. That's still an amazing feat, perhaps rivaled only by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in the 60's. Motown could crank out the hits, that's for sure.

Supremes - Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart

"A Groovy Kind Of Love" #2 5/28/1966

An early use of the word "groovy" by the Mindbenders. These Manchester guys scored a #1 in '65 with Wayne Fontana out front on "The Game Of Love." Soon, Wayne would walk off the stage in the middle of a show and quit the band. The others pressed on, but this was their sole US Top 40 effort afterward. A later version of the group morphed into 10cc in the 70's. Phil Collins had a major solo hit with a slowed-down remake in the late 80's.

Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind Of Love

"When A Man Loves A Woman" #1 5/28/1966

A record that defined the 60's - and we weren't even supposed to hear this version. A former hospital orderly, Percy Sledge made the record for a small label in his home area of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Atlantic Records bought his contract and readied the song for national distribution, asking only that the horn part at the end be re-done as it was slightly out of tune. They complied, but due to a tape mixup the original version was actually released, off-key horns and all. He had a few more hits but this song alone got Percy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Michael Bolton covered it in the 90's.

Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman

"I'm Alive" Bonus

The first UK #1 for the Hollies from the summer of 1965, this didn't even crack the Billboard Hot 100 in America. It "bubbled under" (I love that term). Kind of surprising, since it holds up really well against anything else those guys ever put out in the States in the 60's.

Hollies - I'm Alive

"Everybody" (Bonus) #3 12/7/1963

As promised yesterday, we deliver a tune from late '63 by Tommy Roe. Earlier that year, he and Chris Montez headlined a concert tour of the UK. One of the opening acts was a little group from Liverpool with a couple of hits calling themselves the Beatles. After a few gigs, Tommy and Chris realized they needed to let the Fab Four close the shows. A few months later John, Paul, George and Ringo returned the favor by having Tommy open their first-ever US concert in Washington, DC.

Tommy Roe - Everybody

A word of explanation...

In November 2013 I started posting songs on Facebook as a look back at pop music from 50 years prior. I tried to cover the time frame after the JFK assassination and before the Beatles came here in late 1963 and early '64. By August 2014 it morphed into this daily blog. In order to synch the blog with FB, I unintentionally left out a bunch of really good songs. Since the pop charts from 1966 were a little slow at the time, I'll occasionally pull out a few of those '63 and '64 records, as well as featuring some British #1's that either did nothing in America or weren't even released here. Tune in tomorrow!

"Louie Louie" #97 5/21/1966

For some inexplicable reason, this was reissued two and one-half years after its original run to #2 in late '63/early '64. This time around, it didn't do nearly as well. Big deal. It gives me a reason to pull out a classic of rock. Urban legend says the Kingsmen recorded it in a cramped Portland, Oregon radio station production studio over a single microphone dangling from the ceiling. (Paul Revere and the Raiders used the same facility to record their version the next day.) Lead singer Jack Ely had to tilt his head back and shout to be heard...plus he was wearing braces, and copious amounts of adult beverages were supposedly being consumed. That explains the garbled lyrics. There's a glaring mistake after the guitar solo where Jack came back in too soon and stopped himself. Some would say the whole record was a glaring mistake. So what!!

Kingsmen - Louie Louie

"The 'A' Team" #28 5/21/1966

The patriotic followup to the patriotic "The Ballad Of The Green Berets" for Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. Shortly after this record, he began writing military themed novels and eventually got involved in paramilitary training in Guatemala. This record sort of inspired the title for the 80's TV show about a group of soldiers of fortune. I pity the fool that didn't watch.

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler - The 'A' Team

"Eight Miles High" #14 5/21/1966

Recently we featured "Kicks" by Paul Revere and the Raiders, one of the first anti-drug rock songs. Today we present an opposing view from the Byrds. With its psychedelic crescendoes, the song is pretty much the audio equivalent of catching a buzz, and for that reason many radio stations wouldn't play it. The band claimed the song was about a plane trip (almost eight miles high) to London to open for the Rolling Stones. David Crosby of the Byrds was very dismissive of the Raiders record. Wonder why.

Byrds - Eight Miles High

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" #13 5/21/1966

The Walker Brothers were the British Invasion in reverse - three Americans who went to England and had far greater success over there with two UK #1's, including this one. They would only have one more Top 40 record here. BTW, they weren't brothers and none were named Walker (a stage name they adopted).  Written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe, this was first done by the Four Seasons, but credited as a Frankie Valli "solo" single that flopped.

Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore

"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" #2 5/21/1966

No, the title isn't "Everybody Must Get Stoned." Bob Dylan swore this wasn't a drug song, even though nobody seems to remember where the title came from, which didn't appear anywhere in the lyrics. His songs tended to be sort of abstract, anyway. Perhaps I was too young at the time, but it took me years to come around on Dylan. These days I can appreciate his brilliance. Today's clip is mislabeled, by the way.

Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

"Elvira" #72 5/14/1966

The Oak Ridge Boys turned this into a signature song of theirs in the 80's. Here's the original from Nashville songwriter Dallas Frazier. He wrote country classics like "If My Heart Had Windows" for George Jones, "All I Have To Offer You Is Me" for Charley Pride and "Beneath Still Waters" for Emmylou Harris, plus "Alley Oop," an early rock novelty record for the Hollywood Argyles. Dallas got out of music in the late 80's and is now a minister.

Dallas Frazier - Elvira

"Distant Drums" #45 5/14/1966

Next week, this would become another posthumous #1 on the country charts for Jim Reeves. Later in the year it topped the British pop charts for five weeks. This was originally a B-side for Roy Orbison, although Roy made it a Top 5 in Australia. Jim cut a demo of the song as a personal favor to the writer, Cindy Walker, never intending it for release. RCA had a copy in their archives and added an orchestral arrangement to the demo and issued it after Jim's passing.

Jim Reeves - Distant Drums

"Love's Made A Fool Of You" #26 5/14/1966

Like their previous hit, the Bobby Fuller Four put out another song originally released by the post-Buddy Holly version of the Crickets. The difference here was that Buddy co-wrote this in '58 and had cut a demo to give the song to the Everly Brothers...but The Day The Music Died intervened. Bobby would meet his own untimely end in July of '66, and this would be it for these guys. A personal fave.

Bobby Fuller Four - Love's Made A Fool Of You

"Shapes Of Things" #11 5/14/1966

Music critic Richie Unterberger of the Allmusic website said this was arguably the first psychedelic pop record. The otherworldly guitar solo by Jeff Beck contained a very early use of feedback and was considered groundbreaking. This Top 5 UK single cemented the Yardbirds as being one of the most influential groups of the 60's, and certainly shaped the thing called rock and roll.

Yardbirds - Shapes Of Things

"Message To Michael" #8 5/14/1966

We give you the first Top 10 from Dionne Warwick since "Walk On By" in 1964. Also written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, they originally discouraged Dionne from doing this song, saying it wasn't suited for her voice. She persisted, although they weren't comfortable with it. Didn't stop Burt and Hal from cashing those royalty checks. The music tracks were recorded in L.A., shipped to Paris (where she was on a concert tour of Europe) and her vocal was overdubbed.

Dionne Warwick - Message To Michael

"How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?" #7 5/14/1966

If there was ever a record that adhered to the time-honored device of making the followup sound almost exactly like the previous hit, it was this one. Since today's tune also made the Top 10 for Nancy Sinatra, the ruse worked very well in this instance. She appeared in Playboy in the 90's. When she told her dad about it, Frank asked Nancy how much she was being paid, then said, "Double it."

Nancy Sinatra - How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?

"Kicks" #4 5/14/1966

Perhaps the first rock record with a strong anti-drug message to become a hit, it was first offered to the Animals by the writers, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Lead singer Eric Burdon turned it down, so they gave the song to Paul Revere and the Raiders. This came along just after "Eight Miles High" and a year or so prior to "Lucy In The Sky (With Diamonds)" and "White Rabbit," drug anthems all. Barry and Cynthia composed the song to point out the path a friend was on would only lead to a bad ending. Hal Blaine of the Wrecking Crew was the drummer on this track.

Paul Revere and the Raiders - Kicks

"Till The End Of The Day" #50 5/7/1966

To me, the Kinks seemed underappreciated in America. In the 60's alone they had twelve Top 10 singles in the UK, but just seven that even made the Top 40 here. This wasn't one. No matter. This one sounded vaguely like the Who's "I Can't Explain" which itself sounded a lot like the Kinks and "You Really Got Me."

Kinks - Till The End Of The Day

"I Can't Let Go" #42 5/7/1966

The Hollies, from Manchester, were part of the British Invasion's second wave. This was their tenth Top 20 record in England, but they were yet to have a breakthrough US hit. Their next release would change all that. Their producer was Ron Richards, who was behind the glass instead of George Martin when the Beatles recorded "Love Me Do." They were label mates at Parlophone over there, but on different labels in America. It's a business...

Hollies - I Can't Let Go

"Try Too Hard" #12 5/7/1966

This would prove to be the next to last Top 20 effort for the Dave Clark Five. They made 18 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, more than any other British act. After the band broke up, Dave Clark successfully got into producing London stage shows. Lead vocalist and keyboardist Mike Smith died in 2008 from complications of injuries after a fall at his home in Spain.

Dave Clark Five - Try Too Hard

"Gloria" (Shadows of Knight) #10 5/7/1966

Every garage band in the 60's HAD to learn two songs - "Louie Louie" and this one by the Shadows of Knight, from the Chicago suburbs. The reason their version of "Gloria" got radio airplay and the original by Them (Van Morrison's group) didn't was these guys changed a single line, from "come up to my room" to "she calls out my name." Remember, you couldn't imply anything sexual back then. It became their only hit and reached #1 in Chicagoland on Top 40 powerhouses WLS and WCFL. Lead vocalist Jimy Sohns recently had a stroke, but is recovering nicely and hopes to get back on the road.

Shadows of Knight - Gloria

"Leaning On The Lamp Post" #9 5/7/1966

The last of nine straight Top 10 US singles for Herman's Hermits, this number was originally done in a 1930's movie by popular English actor/singer George Formby. His performance style was admired by many, including Peter Noone and the blokes, who did the song in their movie "Hold On!" in which the band played astronauts. George Harrison was also a big fan of Mr. Formby.

Herman's Hermits - Leaning On The Lamp Post

"Sloop John B" #3 5/7/1966

From the "Pet Sounds" LP, we give you the Beach Boys take on a Kingston Trio tune from 1958, itself based on a Jamaican folk song. The Wrecking Crew provided the music as they almost always did by now, with The Beach Boys generally only doing the vocals. The video (in the 60's they were called promotional films) was shot in Brian Wilson's pool and was recreated in "Love and Mercy." Definitely a personal favorite.

Beach Boys - Sloop John B

"Monday, Monday" #1 5/7/1966

The Mamas and the Papas had seven Top 10 hits (of which this was the second), but this was their only #1 record. Who knew that eventually Mama Cass would be gone, that Papa John would get weird and leave us as well, that Denny would be gone, too, and that Michelle would wind up on "Knots Landing"? The video today is from "The Hollywood Palace."

Mamas and the Papas - Monday, Monday

"If I Needed Someone" Album cut

This one from the UK "Rubber Soul" album (and from "Yesterday...And Today" in the States) was the only George Harrison composition the Beatles ever performed in concert. The jangly guitar was a tip of the cap to the Byrds, who took George's sound from "What You're Doing" and ran with it on "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Kind of a mutual admiration society.

Beatles - If I Needed Someone

"Drive My Car" Album cut

Today and tomorrow we'll feature tracks from the British version of "Rubber Soul" that Capitol held back from US release for over six months, to put on an album that never existed in the UK. Paul played bass, piano, and the lead guitar solo here. I don't like using them, but the only clean original versions of many Beatles songs out on YouTube are from the Rock Band video game. This one is based on their legendary Budokan shows in Tokyo, where Cheap Trick did their famous live album.

Bestles - Drive My Car

"Caroline, No" #32 4/30/1966

An unusual record in that it was originally released as a Brian Wilson solo single, but later appeared on the "Pet Sounds" LP and was credited to the Beach Boys. Same song. That album helped usher in a period where the Beatles and the Beach Boys were one-upping each other. From "Rubber Soul" to "Pet Sounds," "Revolver," "Smile" (the greatest album never released) and "Sgt. Pepper" these two bands kept pushing the other to be ever more creative.

Brian Wilson - Caroline, No

"Frankie And Johnny" #25 4/30/1966

Here's the title track from the current Elvis movie about the oft-told tale of love, intrigue and jealousy on a Mississippi River gambling boat. His co-star was Donna Douglas - yep, Elly May Clampett was in a flick with the King. It definitely adhered to the formula that most all of his movies had at the time. The critics universally panned this effort.

Elvis Presley - Frankie And Johnny

"Together Again" #19 4/30/1966

As mentioned here before, most black folks wanted nothing to do with country music, especially in the 60's. Ray Charles embraced the genre by putting his own soulful spin on the twangiest country songs possible, like this Buck Owens tune. It was just one of many musical styles that influenced Ray, and we all were better off for that.

Ray Charles - Together Again

"Rhapsody In The Rain" #16 4/30/1966

It was a surprise this single did as well as it did for Lou Christie. Some subjects, such as veiled references to the back seat boogie, were still off limits to a number of radio programmers in 1966. More than a few stations wouldn't touch the record, yet it still made the Top 20. Now, of course, pretty much anything goes. Like Petula said, it's a sign of the times...

Lou Christie - Rhapsody In The Rain