The week of December 28, 1965, saw a pair of singles atop the Billboard Hot 100 that typify the musical excellence of the 60s: Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence‘ at #1 and The Beatles’ ‘We Can Work It Out‘ at #2.
In the third spot that week was a song just as enduring and excellent as those two — James Brown’s ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’ This track, Brown’s signature song, was the funk master’s highest-charting single, peaking right here at #3.
Throwing back to the week of December 27, 1955, we find Tennessee Ernie Ford’s ‘Sixteen Tons’ in its fifth week at #1, where it would remain for another three weeks.
At #2 that week was Dean Martin’s ‘Memories Are Made of This,’ which would enjoy its own five-week stint at #1 in early 1956. The song was written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller, a trio of singer-songwriters who performed as The Easy Riders. The Easy Riders sang backup for Martin on this recording.
Like yesterday’s Throwback Weekend song, the #1 hit the week of December 21, 1985, was written for a movie. In this case, the film was White Nights, a Cold War drama starring Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov about a pair of dancers trapped in the Soviet Union.
I vaguely remember the film as a solid piece of mid-80s adult entertainment. I imagine the studio was chasing the success of another music-based drama, 1983’s Flashdance. The film had a decent pedigree, with Taylor Hackford directing and Helen Mirren and Isabella Rossellini in supporting roles.
Throwing back to the week of December 20, 1975, we find KC and the Sunshine Band atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘That’s the Way (I Like It),’ enjoying a return to #1 a month after it first made it.
At #2, a week before it claimed the top spot, was ‘Let’s Do It Again’ by The Staple Singers. This was the second #1 hit for the R&B quintet, following 1972’s ‘I’ll Take You There.’
Throwing back to the week of December 14, 1965, we find The Byrds holding on to the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ At #2, a week before ascending to #1, were English rockers The Dave Clark Five with ‘Over and Over.’
This song was written and first recorded by Robert James Byrd, known professionally as Bobby Day, in 1958. The song reached #41 for Day as the B-side to his #2 hit ‘Rockin’ Robin.’
Meet Me In Montauk 