The Supremes’ ‘Stop! In the Name of Love‘ rules the Billboard Hot 100 the week of March 23, 1965. Right behind it was ‘Can’t You Heat My Heartbeat’ by Herman’s Hermits.
This was the British group’s first appearance in the top ten (and only their third single). Nine of their next eleven releases would repeat the feat, including two that reached #1 (‘Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter‘ and ‘I’m Henry VIII, I Am‘).
The week of March 9, 1965, was stacked with hits. This is one of those weeks when the top three songs are repeats not because they’ve been featured on previous Throwback Weekends, but because they are classic songs I’ve written about for other reasons.
At #1 was a little group called The Beatles, whose ‘Eight Days a Week‘ topped the chart for the first time that week. Right behind it was ‘My Girl‘ by the Temptations. And rounding out the top three was another Motown classic, The Supremes’ ‘Stop! In the Name of Love.’
Imagine living your daily life while those three songs were all new releases.
Gary Lewis & the Playboys topped the Billboard Hot 100 the week of February 23, 1965, with ‘This Diamond Ring.’ It was the song’s second straight week at #1.
This was the band’s first single release, and their only one to reach #1. They were one of only two acts to reach the top ten with their first seven singles (the other was The Lovin’ Spoonful).
It’s nice when Throwback Weekends unearth a bona fide classic that has somehow not appeared on the blog through more than 6,000 posts.
Such is the case with the song that topped the charts the week of Feb, 9, 1965: The Righteous Brothers’ ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.’ This was the song’s second, and last, week at #1 as part of a 16-week stint on the Hot 100.
Petula Clark topped the Billboard Hot 100 the week of January 26, 1965, with ‘Downtown.’ It was the song’s second straight week at #1.
This single was the first U.S. chart-topper for the British singer/actress, and kicked off a phase of her career during which she released 15 consecutive Top 40 hits in the States.
