I mentioned The Impressions a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about Jerry Butler, the third most forgotten artist on the list I’m consulting.
Butler earned that spot based on his solo career. Now he has the dubious honor of appearing on the “forgotten” list twice, as his vocal group The Impressions also made the cut. Butler shared lead vocals with Curtis Mayfield for two years before leaving the band.
Junior Walker was a saxophonist and singer who released a number of hits on the Motown label with his band, Jr. Walker & the All Stars.
The band’s first charting single, ‘Shotgun,’ made it to #4 on the Hot 100 in 1965. Walker wasn’t supposed to sing on the track, but sat in on vocals when the original singer didn’t show up for the session. He assumed the vocal would be re-recorded later, but producer Berry Gordy Jr. decided to go with his performance.
Johnny Rivers seems like a name I should know based on his chart performance. He had 17 Top 40 hits, with nine reaching the Top 10, between 1963 and 1977.
Some of those titles I definitely know, such as ‘Secret Agent Man,’ his theme song for the TV show Danger Man. He also had a bigger hit than the Four Tops with a cover of ‘Baby I Need You Lovin’,’ one I’m sure I’ve heard before.
The top of the Hot 100 was pretty stacked the week of June 29, 1965. At #1 was ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’ by Four Tops, followed by The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.’ Then came The Byrds ‘Mr. Tambourine Man.’
And if that grouping isn’t eclectic (and great) enough for you, there was Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs with their biggest hit, ‘Wooly Bully.’
Throwing back to the week of June 28, 1955, we find two repeats atop the Billboard pop chart: Perez Prado’s ‘Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)’ (enjoying quite a run), and Bill Haley & His Comets’ ‘Rock Around the Clock,’ which I posted a couple of months back to recognize The Comets’ inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In third place is a ballad by Nat King Cole titled ‘A Blossom Fell.’ This song spent 20 weeks on the chart and peaked at #2 in late July.
Meet Me In Montauk 