"Buckaroo" #60 12/25/1965

We close out 1965 with this week's #1 country tune by Buck Owens and his backing group, the Buckaroos, which made a small dent on the pop charts. It features the sparkling guitar work of the late Don Rich. To my knowledge, this is still the last instrumental to reach #1 on the country charts.

Buck Owens - Buckaroo

"Let's Get Together" #31 12/25/1965

Today's tune was first done by a folk group, the Kingston Trio, in '64. With a slightly altered title and arrangement, it became a Top 5 hit for the Youngbloods in the summer of '69. (Hey, there's an idea for a song title.) This would be the second and last Top 40 record for We Five.

We Five - Let's Get Together

"Puppet On A String" #14 12/25/1965

Elvis had a new movie out at this time but no songs from "Harum Scarum" were deemed single-worthy. They decided to release this track from almost a year earlier. The original master tape sped up at the end; The King almost sounded like he was inhaling helium before it was corrected in the 90's.

Elvis Presley - Puppet On A String

"Don't Think Twice" #12 12/25/1965

The Four Seasons had difficulty recording this Bob Dylan song, so to lighten the mood Frankie Valli started singing it way over the top. The other guys, tongues firmly planted in cheeks, joined in - and it worked. It was released under the assumed name of The Wonder Who? so as not to offend the empty suits at their label.

The Wonder Who? - Don't Think Twice

"Fever" #7 12/25/1965

Peggy Lee had the first hit with this in 1958; Elvis had a very good remake as well in 1960. Today's tune is the McCoys version, with a slightly different arrangement that sounded suspiciously like their previous "Hang On Sloopy." Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!!

McCoys - Fever

"Make The World Go Away" #6 12/25/1965

A textbook "Nashville Sound" record from Eddy Arnold that reached #1 on the country charts. Originally done by Ray Price, it's been covered by everyone from Elvis to Donny and Marie Osmond. This helped define the more pop-sounding "countrypolitan" music in the 60's and 70's.

Eddy Arnold - Make The World Go Away

"Over And Over" #1 12/25/1965

Hope y'all are having a fantastic Christmas - we sure are! This one from the Dave Clark Five held down the #1 spot on Christmas Day of 1965, with a remake of the B-side of "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day from '58. It was the DC5's only chart-topper in America.

Dave Clark Five - Over And Over