Monday, February 1, 2010

Birthday Special: The Top Songs when I was Sixteen in 1965


Today is my sixty-first birthday (I know it is hard to believe since I look so freakishly youthful; just kidding.)  My good friend Larry from High School sent me a compilation of some of the top singles (from the Cashbox chart ending February 6, 1965) from when I turned sixteen.  They read like one of those oldies collections not available in stores that you see on the infomercials when you can't sleep, but there are some classics here too.  The themes are the ones you would expect from the big Boomer demographic, love found and lost and lots of sexual tension, but Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come signals that there might have been more going on in America than teen angst.

So I've been sitting here listening to them and getting in touch with my inner sixteen year old, when I was “cute in my mohair suit” (whatever that is).

So here they are:

1. You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ by the Righteous Brothers (which got some new legs from the movie Top Gun)
2. Downtown by Petula Clark
3. The Name Game by Shirley Ellis
4. This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and the Playboys
5. Love Potion #9 by The Searchers
7. All Day and All Night by The Kinks
8. Keep Searchin’ by Del Shannon
9. Shake by Sam Cooke
10. My Girl by the Temptations
11. Let’s Lock the Door by Jay and the Americans.
12. How Sweet it is to be Loved by You by Marvin Gaye
13. I Go to Pieces by Peter and Gordon
14. Come See about Me by the Supremes
15. Give Him a Great Kiss by the Shangi-Las
17. Heart of Stone by the Rolling Stones
18. Bye, Bye Baby by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
20. Look of Love by Leslie Gore
21. Boy from New York City by the Ad Libs
23. Tell Her No by the Zombies
24. The In Crowd by Dobie Gray (later covered by the Mamas and Papas)
25. I Feel Fine by the Beatles
26. Laugh, Laugh by the Beu Brummels
36. You’re Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You  by Dean Martin
40. King of the Road by Roger Miller
54. The Birds and the Bees by Jewel Akens
59. Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey (“The name's Bond, James Bond”)
63. Willow Weep for Me by Chad and Jeremy
69. Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers
76. A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke (Cooke’s haunting prophetic anthem)
77. Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat by Herman’s Hermits

Long ago in a galaxy far away.
Posted by Richard L. Floyd at 6:14 PM
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3 comments:

  1. Jason GoroncyFebruary 1, 2010 at 8:09 PM

    Happy birthday Rick. If it makes you feel better, take a leaf out of Forsyth's journal and 'think in centuries'. Either way, I hope that you have an awesome day.

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  2. Richard L. FloydFebruary 1, 2010 at 9:40 PM

    Thanks, Jason. The “think in centuries” is good advice, akin to C.S. Lewis dictum, “The best books are the old books.” I had a lovely day.

    Rick

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  3. UnknownFebruary 1, 2010 at 10:09 PM

    I have always wondered what a mohair suit was.

    And so glad that Herman's Hermits made an appearance- every compilation should include them!

    Happiest of birthdays yet again!

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