Billboard's #1 Pop Singles

[I Am A Swede]

I can't hear that song now without thinking of this...

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[Max]

I completely agree that Sonny's voice was far superior to that of Bob Dylan's. I also think that "The Beat Goes On" was the duo's best song.

IMO, Cher's moving eulogy at Sonny's funeral was her finest public moment.

"I Got You Babe" was succeeded at the chart summit by "Help!" by The Beatles, which spent three weeks at number one: the weeks ended 9/4/65, 9/11/65, & 9/18/65.

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According to John Lennon, "Help!" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" were among the most personal records he ever wrote. The former song was written because he was depressed and literally crying out for assistance. In spite of the tune's powerful message, Lennon was not happy about its fast tempo; it made the song sound too commercial for his tastes.

"Help!" was also the title for the second and final Beatles film directed by Richard Lester. According to "The 'Billboard' Book of Number One Hits," the movie's "plot revolved around Ringo, intended victim of a madcap scientist willing to go to any extreme to recover a ring from the drummer's finger. Figuring prominently in the story was the eight-armed God Kali, an ominous figure that helped inspire the double-entendre original title of the film, 'Eight Arms to Hold You.'"

Two more fictional portrayals of the Beatles were made after "Help!": 1967's "Magical Mystery Tour" and an animated 1968 feature titled "Yellow Submarine." Aside from "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!," Lester remains best known for directing "Superman II" (1980) and "Superman III" (1983). (This is beyond the scope of this thread, but considerable evidence indicates that most of the ideas--and even some of the actual footage--of "Superman II" was the work of Richard Donner, who was only credited for directing the first "Superman" film.)

[MissLlanviewPA]

No problem.

It's Slash in particular who hates the song. This is from the song's Wikipedia entry:

Speaking of Sonny and Cher, this is the last time they ever performed "I Got You Babe", in 1988. Very touching.

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[AdelaideCate007]

The number 1 song in Australia from the day I was born in December 1986 (December 15th, 1986 in Perth to be exact!)

John Farnham- You're The Voice

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It went number one in several other countries, but barely made it onto the charts in America. He's huge in Australia (the only person to hit number 1 in five consecutive decades), but I don't think people in America even know who he is.

[DRW50]

I also thought Help was always a little too fast.

Two songs that should have been #1 in 1965 (the latter actually was, in the UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK8iomB8hrE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkeIQ7t_ra0

[alphanguy74]

Yes, Judith Durham's voice is that of an angel, and this is a little known fact, but in the UK, the Seekers outsold the Beatles in the last half of 1965.

[I Am A Swede]

In 1989 British girl group Bananarama teamed up with Lananeeneenoonoo (comedians Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Kathy Burke) and did a cover version of "Help" with the proceeds going to charity. It reached #3 in the U.K.

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[Max]

I love that clip of Sonny & Cher on Letterman.

Bananarama does a better job with "Help!" than the Beatles (although I don't like how they added silly bits of comedy to the recording).

I certainly have never heard of John Farnham.

The first protest song to reach #1 was "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire, which spent one week at the top spot: the week ended 9/25/65.

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Barry McGuire was born in Oklahoma City on October 15, 1937, and moved to Southern California in his early childhood. Prior to attaining success as a solo artist, he was a member of the New Christy Minstrels and was lead vocalist on two of their top 40 hits, "Green, Green" and "Saturday Night." McGuire was also an acquaintance of the Mamas & the Papas, and would later be referenced in their autobiographical single titled "Creeque Alley" (1967).

After Bob Dylan had a #2 hit with "Like a Rolling Stone," protest songs dramatically gained in popularity, and P.F. Sloan was inspired to write "Eve of Destruction." Barry had only cut a rough vocal of Sloan's record, and there was every intention of "refining" the tune at a later date. However, somebody in promotions took the cut over to a local radio station, where demand for the single soared; Dunhill Records (McGuire's record label) was forced to release "Eve of Destruction" as is.

Even with protest songs suddenly becoming en vogue, "Eve of Destruction" was controversial, especially when one considers the fact that a majority of Americans were still in favor of the Vietnam War in late 1965. A number of radio stations banned the song, and a conservative answer record--"Dawn of Correction" by the Spokesmen--reached #36 on the Hot 100.

As a soloist, McGuire was a one-hit wonder (though he later was successful in the Contemporary Christian genre). In 1971, Barry became a born-again Christian, and--for a very long time--refused to perform "Eve of Destruction." When he finally resumed singing the song, he would modernize it for the times. (For instance, "Selma, Alabama" would be replaced with "Columbine, Colorado.")

[DRW50]

That's such a depressing song, although I get the point of it.

Here's an interview with Barry from a few years ago.

http://canadianchristianity.com/bc/bccn/1008/22mcguire.html

He had some good songs with John Phillips and the other Mamas and Papas. He was the first to record California Dreamin' but it didn't make his finished album. The Mamas and Papas sang background on his version, then decided to record it themselves.

There's a great song he did with them called "I Don't Wanna Know", although it doesn't seem to be on Youtube.

This is another song they sang background on, although this version is live, so they aren't in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e68DWol3yr0

[I Am A Swede]

Here's a recording without the comedy.

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[alphanguy74]

Many might not know this, but FIVE members of the new Christy Minstrels went off on their own and found success. Barry MaGuire, of course... and then four other members of the group left to form their own group... Kenny Rogers, Terry Williams, Thelma Lou Camacho, and Mike Settle formed the First Edition, and they had far more hit records than Barry Maguire did, although they never hit number one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkt3NYtkr_I

[alphanguy74]

This is a song that released in August 1965 that never even charted, but I think is a great tune, and should have been a hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkwDmZsRBM

[alphanguy74]

I was mistaken earlier... it was SIX members of The New Christy Minstrels that went on to success outside the group... the sixth was Kim Carnes. After leaving that group, she and her husband Dave Ellington wrote several songs with David Cassidy ("Rock Me, Baby", etc.) and they recorded as a bubblegum group the Sugar Bears in 1970-72, recording songs that would find their way to the backs of cereal boxes. And of course, she had her own mega hits with "More Love" and "Bette Davis Eyes" in the late 70's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suQPjMCHLgk&feature=related

[DRW50]

Was Jennifer Warnes ever with them?

[alphanguy74]

No, she wasn't. But it's amazing that a folk group like that would spawn so many singers that would have more success than the original group. Max mentioned the hit from 1963 that Barry Mcguire sang lead on, and here it is... it's one that I always liked:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWToT-vdU5k