"The Barracuda" #59 5/1/1965

The follow-up to "Twine Time" from Alvin Cash and the Crawlers. Alvin went to the same St. Louis high school as Tina Turner, Billy Davis Jr. of the Fifth Dimension, and Luther Ingram. Must have been something in the water.

Alvin Cash and the Crawlers - The Barracuda

"Truly, Truly True" #54 5/1/1965

Brenda Lee scored a Top 10 adult contemporary hit with our selection today, yet it didn't even crack the Top 50 on the rock charts. Definitely a lush arrangement on this one.

Brenda Lee - Truly, Truly True

"Got To Get You Off My Mind" #22 5/1/1965

An R&B #1 that was Solomon Burke's biggest Top 40 hit. He was a pretty busy dude - minister at age 12, signed his first record deal at 15, and had studied to be a mortician. He owned a number of funeral homes and was quite the entrepreneur. Mr. Burke was married four times and had 14 kids starting when he was 14, so yeah, I suppose he needed to work pretty hard.

Solomon Burke - Got To Get You Off My Mind

"The Last Time" #9 5/1/1965

Mick and the boys do it again! We give you the Stones' third #1 in England and a Top 10 on this side of the pond. Their next single would do even better over here - that's what I say (hint, hint). I believe today's video is from the BBC's "Top Of The Pops."

Rolling Stones - The Last Time

"I Know A Place" #3 5/1/1965

The follow-up to "Downtown" for Petula Clark. She'd already had several show biz careers (radio, movies and singing) at home, but would have bigger recording success in the US than England - it's not unusual. (There's a little hint at another tune coming up in this space soon.) The line "a cellar full of noise" is a nod to the Beatles and their days at the Cavern Club.

Petula Clark - I Know A Place

RIP, Ben E. King

Ben only sang lead on a few of the Drifters hits, but boy, were those some timeless tunes. This one is my fave.

Drifters - I Count The Tears

"Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" #1 5/1/1965

The British Invasion is alive and well. Here's the first #1 record in America for Herman's Hermits, which oddly was never issued as a single in their native UK. These days, lead singer Peter Noone hosts a 60's-based weekend show on satellite radio and still does concert tours.

Herman's Hermits - Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter