"Wishin' And Hopin' " #6 8/1/1964 Bonus

The first US Top 10 for Dusty Springfield from August '64 was originally a B-side for Dionne Warwick. Like so many of Dionne's songs, it was a Burt Bacharach/Hal David tune. Burt and Hal strongly encouraged Dusty to release this as a single. I think everyone was happy she did...except Ms. Warwick.

"Winchester Cathedral" #1 12/3/1966

One of the most unusual one-hit wonders ever on the Billboard pop chart, this song was the brainchild of Geoff Stephens and was issued under the name of the New Vaudeville Band. It definitely has an American vaudeville/British music hall vibe, and is one of the few pop records to prominently feature a bassoon. It purposely had a Rudy Vallee 1920's style vocal delivery. Rudy later recorded this himself. Geoff got the idea while looking at a picture of the real Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, England.

"The Mexican Shuffle" #85 7/18/1964 Bonus

A Top 20 easy listening tune from July '64 by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, it became the music used for a series of TV commercials selling chewing gum, retitled "The Teaberry Shuffle." My dad worked for another company with the same corporate parent as the gum folks. As a kid I really did like the product. The ad music was kind of incidental to me, but then, I was 8 years old.

"Not Fade Away" #48 7/18/1964 Bonus

This remake of a Buddy Holly classic was the first UK Top 10 for the Rolling Stones, and also their first charting record in America from July of 1964. What set this one apart was the Bo Diddley beat and arrangement, definitely radical for the times as done by a bunch of white kids from England.

"Alone" #28 7/18/1964 Bonus

One of the few songs from the '60s that featured a whistling refrain. This one, from the summer of 1964, was the last Top 40 record by the Four Seasons on the late, lamented Vee-Jay label. The group had already signed elsewhere due to a royalty dispute, yet Vee-Jay continued to milk their previously recorded material.

"Good Times" #11 7/18/1964 Bonus

Sam Cooke had a #1 R&B record with this one from July 1964. A remake by Dan Seals also reached #1 on the country charts in 1990. Goes to show that a great song can cross all the boundaries.

"Keep On Pushing" #10 7/18/1964 Bonus

From July 1964, an anthem of the civil rights movement by the Impressions. Front man Curtis Mayfield knew he'd need to keep the message low-key but still powerful to get any kind of airplay. It took on a whole new meaning to keep striving when Curtis became wheelchair-bound after a stage accident in 1990. He was certainly one of the most admired people in soul music of the 60's.