Number One Hits of 1965- Part 5 Quiz

Answer: The Supremes

"I Hear a Symphony" made it the sixth number one for The Supremes on the Billboard Hot 100.
The record was a number thirty nine hit in the UK and a number forty hit in Australia. An acquaintance of mine who was a popular DJ in Melbourne then overseas on Radio Caroline during the 1960s claimed the Supremes did not get enough airplay in the period 1964-1966 outside America, as there was so much local material. Although they were popular lack of airplay meant poor sales and that translated to poor chart success in the UK and Australia.

Answer: The Four Tops

"I Can't Help Myself" (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) was a number one record for The Four Tops on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. They followed with another Billboard top ten a few months later, "It's The Same Old Song". In the UK the record climber to number twenty three on the local chart. In Australia the Four Tops' version had to compete with a couple of local groups who recorded the song, resulting in the record only spending a few weeks at the bottom of the top forty.

Answer: The McCoys

"Hang On Sloopy" was a one hit wonder for The McCoys outside the USA. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK the recording was a top ten hit getting to number five, while in Australia it also reached the top ten peaking at number eight.

The McCoys had another top ten on the Hot 100, "Fever" in late 1965 then continued to release singles through 1968 but with limited chart success. "Hang On Sloopy" had been a top twenty five hit for the Vibrations in 1964 as "My Girl Sloopy".

Answer: The Beach Boys

"Help Me, Rhonda" was the Beach Boys' second number one hit having scored the year before with "I Get Around". "Help Me Rhonda" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1965 displacing The Beatles hit, "Ticket to Ride". The record went to number ten in Australia and number twenty seven on the UK charts. In 1975 a revival of the song by Johnny Rivers went to twenty two on the Billboard Hot 100.

An honourable mention here: While researching this record's performance on the Billboard charts I discovered that "Help Me Rhonda" kept "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in number two slot during the two weeks it topped the chart. Further "Wooly Bully" spent ten weeks in the top ten without rising to number one.

Answer: The Toys

"A Lovers Concerto", a tune adapted from a Bach minuet with lyrics by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, became a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but the Cashbox chart lists it as a number one for The Toys. The record made the charts in Australia and placed at number two for three weeks. In the UK the Toys also enjoyed top ten success peaking at number five.

Answer: Jackie Trent

"Where Are You Now (My Love)" a number one hit for Jackie Trent. The record went to number one in the UK and number thirty in Australia. The record did not chart in the USA. With her collaborator and later husband, Tony Hatch wrote several hits for Petula Clark in the 1960s including, "Downtown", "I Know A Place", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love", and "My Love". Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch will forever be remembered as the writers of the theme song for the long running Australian soap, "Neighbours".

Answer: The Beatles

"Yesterday" was yet another success for The Beatles. The song, primarily a solo by Paul McCartney, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and made it to number two in Australia. "Yesterday" was not released as a single in the UK until 1976 when it became a top ten hit reaching number eight.

The song did make the UK chart in 1965 when a cover by English crooner Matt Monro reached number eight.

Answer: The Walker Brothers

"Make It Easy on Yourself" was a number one hit in the UK for The Walker Brothers. The record made the Australian top forty and languished at the bottom for four weeks then fell away. In the USA "Make It Easy on Yourself" got up to number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100. "Make It Easy on Yourself" was written by the hit making team of Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

The Walker Brothers originated in Los Angeles but enjoyed more success in the UK where they had ten chart hits; two of these got to number one.

Answer: Ray Brown and the Whispers

"Twenty Miles" by Ray Brown and the Whispers was a number one for three weeks on the Australian Chart. Ray Brown and the Whispers had three consecutive number hits in Australia during 1965, "Twenty Miles", "Pride" and "Fool Fool Fool".
All these hits were remakes or covers of originals. "Twenty Miles" was originally recorded by Chubby Checker, "Pride" was originally done by Philadelphia native, Brent Edwards and "Fool, Fool, Fool" was by Joey and the Flips.
Ray Brown and the Whispers had six consecutive top ten hits from 1964-1966.

Answer: The Kinks

"Tired of Waiting for You" was the second number one hit for The Kinks on the UK charts. The record made it to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty four on the Australian chart. The Kinks were on a hot streak; their first three UK charting songs had been "You Really Got Me" number one, "All Day and All of the Night" number two and "Tired of Waiting for You" number one.