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.