UK Singles Chart: 1965

Now we reach the mid point of the 60s and the charts are still being dominated by the Beatles who reach number one with all three of their single releases this year, "Ticket To Ride", "Help!" and "Daytripper/ We Can Work It Out". Other bands from the Mersey Beat scene wouldn't fare so well this year, with the Searchers being the only other group from Liverpool to score a top 10 this year with "Goodbye My Love" reaching number 4. The Searchers would last one more year in charts, but this year would spell the end for most of the Mersey Beat bands, most notably Gerry & the Pacemakers whose final hit "Walk Hand In Hand" would reach number 29.

There was however another Liverpudlian who would enjoy a successful year in the charts. This was comedian Ken Dodd who had the highest selling record of the year with "Tears". He also had a number 3 with "The River".

Matching the Beatles achievement of a clean sweep of number ones this year was the Rolling Stones with "The Last Time", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Get Off Of My Cloud". These were also the first Rolling Stones number ones composed by Jagger/Richards. It would make them the fifth act to score 5 of more number ones equalling the Shadows.

Both Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard would score a number one this year, Elvis with "Crying in the Chapel" and Cliff with "The Minute You're Gone". The Shadows, whilst not reaching the top, were still having hits this year including their first two vocal hits, "Mary Anne" and "Don't Make My Baby Blue".

So by this point, the five acts with the most number ones were Elvis Presley(15), Beatles(9), Cliff Richard(8), Rolling Stones(5), and the Shadows(5). Elvis three hits this year bringing his total number of hits to 55.

Of the 24 number one hits of the year, a remarkable 10 of them were acts making their chart debuts. First up was Georgie Fame with "Yeh Yeh" which was released late 1964 but reached number one at the start of 1965. Then also released in late 1964 was the Moody Blues knocking this off number one with "Go Now".

In February we have the song "You've Lost That Lovin Feeling" at number one and number two in the charts. The number two version was Cilla Black and the number one version was debutants the Righteous Brothers. The latter also released Unchained Melody this year which surprisingly only reached number 14.

The Seekers became the first Australian act to top the charts with their debut "I'll Never Find Another You" and would score another number one later in the year with "The Carnival Is Over".

We then see Tom Jones make his chart debut at number one with "It's Not Unusual". He would have a further three hits this year, but none of them would reach the top ten.

The number ones "Concrete & Clay" by Unit 4+2, "King Of the Road" by Roger Miller and "Where Are You Now" are also number ones from chart debutants. Whilst all three acts had further hits, none of them would have another hit reach the top 10.

The Byrds would reach number one with their debut, the Bob Dylan penned "Mr Tambourine Man". This was leading the way for the folk rock scene which was making its presence in the charts this year.

As well as the Byrds, the year saw the chart debut of Bob Dylan himself with "Times They Are a Changin" and we would also see "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "Maggies Farm", "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Positively 4th Street".

We also see the debut of Johnny Cash with his cover of the Dylan song "It Ain't Me Babe". Also making their debut was Joan Baez with "We Shall Overcome". She herself would do Dylan covers with "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" and "Farwell Angelina".

From the UK we see the debut of Donovan with "Catch The Wind". There is also the only chart hit for the Silkie with the Lennon/McCartney penned "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", a song John Lennon said he wrote during his Bob Dylan phase.

Representing the pop side of the folk scene we have Sonny & Cher reaching number one with their debut "I Got You Babe". A week after this was released, both singers released their debut solo hits, Sonny with "Laugh At Me" and Cher with "All I Really Wanna Do" with both songs reaching number 9, and all three songs being in the top 10 at one point.

This was also the year what's described as the mod revival. First we have the Who making their debut with "I Can't Explain" and also the year they released "My Generation". Also making their debut was the Small Faces with "Whatcha Gonna Do About It".

There is also the debut of the Yardbirds who had a trio of hits penned by future 10cc member Graham Gouldman. These were "For Your Love", "Heart Full Of Soul" and "Evil Hearted You".

We also see the rise of soul music from America in the charts. Having made its official debut the previous year, Motown added the Four Tops to the list of acts having a UK hit, with "I Can't Help Myself".

We also see the song "My Girl" enter the charts for the first time, but not by the Temptations. They didn't manage to reach the top 40 when they released it this year, but it would give Otis Redding his chart debut with his version.

Although he had been going for a long time, James Brown would make his debut this year with "Papas Got a Brand New Bag". Wilson Pickett also made his debut with "In the Midnight Hour".

For the first time since 1954 we have no Frankie Vaughan in the charts. The act now holding the longest streak of hits every year is Elvis Presley, who made his debut in 1956 and had a hit every year since.

From the early 50s acts, we have Petula Clark still active and also Ronnie Hilton who would have his final hit this year with "A Windmill In Old Amsterdam". Other acts from the 50s making their final chart appearances this year were Peter Seller, Connie Francis and Adam Faith.

So 1965 was the year where music was evolving and branching out into different areas, where music got both heavier and more mellow. What would survive into 1966 and what new things will 1966 bring? Find out in a couple of weeks.

Deacon Blue @ Royal Festival Hall

This week I went to see Deacon Blue for the second time in my life. Having seen them before and knowing they have a new album out, I knew this wouldn't strictly be a novelty trip back to the 80s. However, I along with most others were there mainly for the 80s and early 90s hits.

Beginning the gig with a couple of newer songs, they got the crowd standing up on the third song "Your Town". The crowd really got going though when they played "Chocolate Girl" but with a bit of a difference, they incorporated the Human Leagues "Human" in the middle and it worked quite seamlessly.

The highlight came when they played "Real Gone Kid" which is my personal favourite which they did an extended version of, and quite frankly they could have carried it on even longer and I wouldn't tire of it. This was followed by their debut non charting single "Loaded" where the crowd was all singing along.

There was a bit of a lull after this, Ricky Ross started talking about the refugees, something which will always divide opinion. A few songs later he started telling a story about beggars in Glasgow which he did take some time to tell. Everyone was sat down at this point, but then he concluded the story by saying Glasgow is different on a Friday as its wages day. This inevitable got the whole crowd stood up as they started to play "Wages Day".

When encore time came, they played a new track followed by "When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)". Then they did "Dignity" but got the crowd to sing the bulk of it. This was then followed by a questionable medley of cover songs, some people were starting to leave at this point. the medley though led to "Twist and Shout" which is one of my favourites of theirs.

Encore number 2 followed where they finished with an acoustic version of Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby".

They now have more albums since they reformed in 1999 than they did prior to their split in 1994, but ultimately its the old ones which get the crowd going.

Elton Johns Number 1s

Question: What was Elton Johns first UK number 1?

Even if you have closely followed Elton Johns chart career, you may find that question difficult to answer.

A few years ago, I was at a music quiz in a bar in Corfu. The quizmaster would play something on the piano and ask a related question afterwards. For one particular question he said that when he asked it the previous year, nobody got the correct answer. The question was what was the first number 1 for the person who did the following song he was about to play on the piano, that person being Elton John.

The answer I gave was "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", but this according to the quizmaster was incorrect because it was a duet with Kiki Dee so therefore didn't count. Had I finished 1 point behind the winner I would have been very unhappy, but fortunately I didn't. The answer was "Sacrifice", and nobody got it that year either, in my opinion because he didn't ask the question properly, had he said solo I would have got it correct. But then again, is "Sacrifice" actually the correct answer? this was a double a side with "Healing Hands" so really the correct answer would be "Sacrifice/Healing Hands". Whether he would have accepted "Healing Hands" as an answer I do not know.

What is quite interesting is that "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was re released as a duet with RuPaul in 1994, and the rest of his number ones were basically re releases of older tracks.

He first released "Healing Hands" and "Sacrifice" separately in 1989, both of which didn't make the top 40 reaching 45 and 55 respectively. In 1990 he made number 1 by releasing both tracks as a double a side.

Then in 1991 he reached number 1 with George Michael with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" which was originally released as a solo record in 1974 reaching number 16.

Next up was "Candle In The Wind 1997" which had been released twice before reaching number 11 in 1974 and  number 5 in 1988. As we all know though, the original was about Marilyn Monroe and he changed the lyrics in 1997 for Princess Diana. It was a double a side with "Something About The Way You Look Tonight".

In 2002, boy band of the moment Blue covered "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" which originally reached number 11 in 1976. They had Elton John do guest vocals on the track therefore giving him his 5th number one.

The next number 1 came in 2003 with "Are You Ready For Love". This was originally released in 1979 and missed the top 40 reaching number 42. The 2003 re release was a remixed version by Ashley Beedle and released on Fatboy Slims Southern Fried Records.

His 7th and final number 1 came in 2005 when his song "Indian Sunset" was sampled on 2Pacs "Ghetto Gospel". Elton John probably didn't have much involvement in that release, but still its credited as an Elton John number one, plus 2Pac had been dead for 9 years by this point therefore not having input to the actual release himself.

Record of the Year 1964: The Ronettes - Do I Love You

Think of The Ronettes, you'd probably think "Be My Baby" or to a lesser extent "Baby I Love You". Both good songs, but not as good as the lesser know "Do I Love You".

This would be the final and lowest charting top 40 singles from The Ronettes, reaching number 5. The two hits mentioned above were their only other two top 40 singles.

Yet their brief chart career is quite reflective of their actual career. Despite being together from 1959-1967, they only released one studio album which contained all 3 of their UK hits.

Its quite appropriate to keep this post short as well and let you listen to the tune.

UK Singles Chart: 1964

So after a long break, the year by year chart analysis is back.

By 1964 Beatlemania was in full swing. The Beatles would release three singles this year, "Can't Buy Me Love", "A Hard Days Night" and "I Feel Fine" which all reached number 1. Polydor records also cashed in by releasing "Ain't She Sweet" which reached number 29.

More bands from the Mersey beat scene also came around this year. There was the Mojos who debuted with "Everything's Alright" in March. They would have a further two hits before the end of the year and would not return to the charts again. Then there was the Dennisons who had their only top 40 hit with "Walking the Dog" in May. The bands drummer Clive Hornby would later on become best known for playing Jack Sugden in Emmerdale. Then in October after Tony Jackson left the Searchers, he would form a new band called Tony Jackson and the Vibrations who would have their only hit with "Bye Bye Baby".

Outside of Liverpool there were several other notable debutants. In January we saw the debut of Manfred Mann with "5-4-3-2-1". They would reach number one with their third release "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in August.

March saw the debut of the Applejacks with "Tell Me When". They would have a further two hits before the end of the year and would not return to the charts again. Also in March was the debut of Peter and Gordon who debuted with the Lennon/McCartney penned "A World Without Love" which would reach number one the following month. This was followed up in June with "Nobody I Know", also by Lennon/McCartney which reached number 10.

April saw the debut of the Animals with "Baby Can I Take You Home" and would reach number one with their follow up "House of the Rising Sun" in July. May saw the debut of Lulu with her cover of the Isley Brothers "Shout". Also in May came the debut of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders with "Stop Look and Listen". The band featured Eric Stewart who would later go on to form 10CC.

July saw the Honeycombs debut with "Have I the Right" which would reach number one in August. That same month saw the Zombie score their only top 40 hit with "She's Not There" which surprisingly only reached number 12. There was also the debut of the Kinks with "You Really Got Me" which would reach number one in September. Then there was the debut of Herman's Hermits with "I'm Into Something Good" which would knock the Kinks of number one.

October saw the debut of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers with "One Way Love". The same month saw the Pretty Things debut with "Don't Bring Me Down". We also saw Sandie Shaw reach number one with her debut "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me".

From America we see the first official Motown release in the UK Top 40 which was "My Guy" by Mary Wells in May. This would be the only UK hit for Mary Wells. We see the Supremes debut in September with "Where Did Our Love Go". Then November sees Martha & The Vandellas debut with "Dancing In the Street". November sees the first Motown number one with "Baby Love" by the Supremes.

In total there were 23 number ones in 1964, 9 of which came from chart debutants of the year and 9 of which came from chart debutants of the previous year. The remaining number ones came from the Beatles and Roy Orbison, so none of the acts who reached number one this year had any hits in the 50s.

Despite the top of the charts being out with the old in with the new, some of the old guard were still around. From the first year of the charts and after an absence of 5 years we welcome back Louis Armstrong who reached number 4 with "Hello Dolly". Also from the first year of the charts and after a 6 year absence we welcome back Doris Day with "Move Over Darling" reaching number 8. This would be the last we see of Doris Day in the charts, but Louis Armstrong would be back.

We also see the return after a 6 year absence from a 1953 debutant, Dean Martin, who reached number 11 with "Everybody Loves Somebody".

Keeping his run of having hits every year since 1954 is Frankie Vaughan who reached number 18 with "Hello Dolly". This would mark the end of this particular run, but he would return 3 years later. Other 1954 debutants still in the charts this year are Petula Clark and Ronnie Hilton.

Debutants from the 1950s who would bid farewell to the charts this year are Little Richard with "Bama Lama Bama Loo", Buddy Holly with "Love's Made A Fool Of You", The Crickets with "(They Call Her) La Bamba", Ricky Nelson with "For You" and Ella Fitzgerald with her cover of "Can't Buy Me Love".

We see the first official act in the chart from Germany, composer Helmut Zacharias who had his only hit with "Tokyo Melody". We also see the first act from Jamaica, Millie, who had her only two top 40 hits this year with "My Boy Lollypop" and "Sweet William".

Elvis Presley failed to add to his number ones this year, but managed to add 5 to his total number of top 40 hits bring him up to 52. The highest he would reach this year would be number 10, seemingly his popularity was starting to fade with the emergence of the beat scene.

This brings us to the halfway point in the 60s with the charts very much looking like what the 60s are known for after a slow start. Will this continue into 1965? and what else will we see emerge? Find out in a couple of weeks (hopefully!).

Four Tops & Temptations @ The O2

Several years ago, before I lived in London, I was living in a part of the country where you didn't get much in the way of gigs. I found out the Temptations were playing in town, but knowing that the only original member still alive was Otis Williams, the member known for not singing, I initially wasn't interested. However, as it wasn't very often I had bands playing just down the road I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised, it was a very good gig, so much so that I went to see them again a few years later at the O2 with the Four Tops and last week was my third time going to the O2 to see the Four Tops and Temptations.

Support came from the Tavares. I arrived at the O2 around 19:40 to be greeted by airport style security to get in. Once inside, after buying a ludicrously price £5.50 pint of beer which tasted like socks and going some roundabout way to get into the arena itself, I got to my seat around 20:00, just in time to see the Tavares finishing their set. I don't think I can ever recall a support act finishing so early.

After what seemed quite a long wait, the Four Tops came on stage. Given the number of hits they've had, there was never going to be time to hear them all, but I was glad to hear them play "Loco in Acapulco" which was a song I remember coming out as a new song in 1988 and liking it. This was followed up by the excellent "Simple Game", this was definitely the highlight of the evening. They finished with a medley of hits starting with "Reach Out" and ending with "I Can't Help Myself". My only complaint was that the set seemed far too short, it couldn't have lasted any more than 45 minutes.

After another lengthy wait, on came the Temptations. The hit the ground running with "Get Ready" but then went to play some of their lesser known songs and gradually the crowd would start to sit down, clearly this wasn't going down very well. They never really recovered from that despite starting to play some of the hits everyone wanted to hear. What didn't help was that there was too much talking to the audience and not enough singing. We found out that new lead singer Larry Braggs had fell of the stage at a gig in Manchester a couple of days earlier and banged his head, so fair play to him for continuing. They did start to find their stride again, but it wasn't long before they played "My Girl" which you know marks the end of the gig. Again it probably lasted 45 minutes and I was on the tube by 22:30.

So Four Tops were excellent, Temptations a bit disappointing but overall it seemed to be over before you knew it. I'm sure the previous gigs lasted longer.