Billboard's #1 Pop Singles

[Max]

The majority of the time, I prefer the Beatles' original tunes as opposed to cover versions; such was the case with "We Can Work It Out." However, I really liked the Finnish cover of "Yesterday" much better than the original, because of its faster pace.

The discussion about Petula Clark provides a great segue into the next number one hit. Though "Downtown" is undoubtedly her signature song, "My Love" also held the peak position for two weeks: the weeks ended 2/5/66 & 2/12/66.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gNjb1COE8ms" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"My Love"--an extraordinarily cheerful song that happens to be my favorite Petula Clark tune--was (partially) composed on a transatlantic flight and was the first single Petula recorded in the United States. According to Wikipedia, "in November 1965 Tony Hatch, on a flight from London to Los Angeles, was putting the finishing touches on his composition 'The Life and Soul of the Party' which he planned to record with Clark in Los Angeles to serve as her next single. In causal conversation with the American sitting next to him Hatch was advised that this song's title would be meaningless to the American public. Hatch then proceeded to write lyrics for a song whose title - 'My Love' - could not conceivably present any comprehension issue; these lyrics were completed on the plane and Hatch wrote the music for 'My Love' soon after landing."

Perhaps as a result of Hollywood exposure, Petula starred in two American films by decade's end: "Finian's Rainbow" (1968) and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969). In the U.K., her first movie occurred all the way back in 1944, with "Medal for the General."

Clark never had another chart-topper after "My Love," but she did score the following ten additional top forty hits:

"A Sign of the Times" (#11, 1966) [i'm surprised this song didn't chart higher.]

"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" (#9, 1966)

"Who Am I" (#21, 1966)

"Color My World" (#16, 1967)

"This Is My Song" (#3, 1967)

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" (#5, 1967)

"The Cat in the Window (The Bird in the Sky)" (#26, 1967)

"The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" (#31, 1967)

"Kiss Me Goodbye" (#15, 1968)

"Don't Give Up" (#37, 1968)

In an inexcusable oversight, Petula Clark has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[DRW50]

Why would "life and soul of the party" not be something Americans would get?

Anyway, My Love is a good song. Petula had many first rate hits in this era. My favorite is Don't Sleep in the Subway. It's amazing that she had such success, considering the climate for women at this time, and her being in her early to mid 30s in this period. I know some say she was accepted because she was "sweet." That was probably part of it, but the songs were perfectly crafted too.

[alphanguy74]

I love most all of Petula's hits. My Love is a great, upbeat number that has hit written all over it. But then again, I think "Life And Soul Of The Party" should have been a single as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcdmID83n7Q

Tony Hatch is one of the best producers ever. Some accuse him of arrangements which are overloaded.. but that just mean it's gonna be GOOD! LOL Sometimes you get singer and producer combination that works like a dream, and this is one of those cases.

[alphanguy74]

Petula's success dropped off rapidly in the US in 1969... but she held on for a bit longer in the UK, her final top 40 over there being in 1971:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPaDe0CDIo

She did pop back in at number 10 in 1988 with a remix of "Downtown" that was done in modern 80's style.. but it was completely vile in every way.

[alphanguy74]

Now as for my favorite of hers, it wasn't a single... but should have been:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAEkTFAdef8

[DRW50]

Thanks for sharing Life and Soul of the Party. I think it's a little empty for a Petula song, doesn't seem to have the fire or bombastic nature of her hits.

[Max]

I honestly have no idea. I also don't know why her popularity subsided as the 60s drew to a close.

One of my favorite songs of 1966 was "Lightnin' Strikes" by Lou Christie, which spent one week at number one: the week ended 2/19/66.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LyRqdzF8swY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"Lightnin'" Lou Christie was born on February 19, 1943 as Lugee Sacco in Glen Willard, PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh). (By an odd coincidence, "Lightnin' Strikes" hit #1 on the exact date of Christie's 23rd birthday.) When he was 15, Lou met his future songwriting partner, a "clairvoyant" named Twyla Herbert (who happened to be twice his age). Before going solo, Christie was a member of two groups: the Crewnecks and Lugee & the Lions.

In early 1963, Lou had his first solo hit with "The Gypsy Cried" (which happens to be the record of his I like the most). The song was originally just a local Pittsburgh favorite, but it peaked nationally at #24 after Roulette Records picked it up from the tiny C&C label. In a decision that was unbeknownst to him, C&C Records picked the name "Lou Christie" out of a list of stage names (prior to the release of "The Gypsy Cried"). Sacco was furious when he found out (as he had wanted to bill himself as just "Lugee"), and has stated that it took him twenty years to get used to the name.

Given that the Four Seasons were at the peak of their popularity, Christie's falsetto no doubt helped him sell records. (However, it would be an unfair knock to say that he was a Frankie Valli rip-off, as Christie actually co-wrote most of his songs; also, he and Valli's "regular" voices were very different.) Just as "The Gypsy Cried" was falling off the chart, Lou would experience an even bigger hit with the #6 "Two Faces Have I." Unfortunately, an induction into the Army soon afterwards seemed to derail his career for good.

Upon being discharged from the Army, Lou met with Twyla and composed "Lightnin' Strikes," a tune reminiscent of his 1963 hits. In spite of this type of music largely falling out of favor with the public in the mid-60s, and in spite of being dropped by Roulette, a new label--MGM--was willing to take a chance on Christie. Eight weeks after debuting at #93 (the week ended 12/25/65), "Lightnin' Strikes" (which featured the backing vocals of several females, including former Angels' lead singer Peggy Santiglia) reached the chart apex.

Christie's follow-up record, "Rhapsody in the Rain," might have performed better than #16 on the pop chart. However, its overt sexual references (about a couple making love in a car) got it banned on several radio stations. Lou's fifth and final top 40 hit, "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" (this time on Buddah Records) peaked at #10 in 1969. It featured the backing vocals of Linda Scott (most famous for her #3 1961 hit, "I've Told Every Little Star") and Ellie Greenwich.

[DRW50]

I'm Gonna Make You Mine is my favorite song of his. Lightnin' Strikes is a little too hysterical and shrill. And what a Zabriskie Point, "edgy" promo clip, complete with the world's worst lip synching. It's very MST3K. And Incredible Hulk.

Please register in order to view this content

[alphanguy74]

"I'm Gonna Make You Mine" is also my favorite of his hits. I just LOVE him. He just makes me swoon, he's so sexy and confident. I got to see him in concert in 1994, and it was WONDERFUL, I'll always remember it, he's just incredibly magnetic in person... his eyes and his lips are what sets him apart, this is a great candid photo that shows how gorgeous he is:

http://0.static.wix.com/media/f6f5f2_964d1bb24bdc33480a20dbcb0a89eb85.jpg_1024

[alphanguy74]

Here he is singing "Lightnin Strikes" live in 1974:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIu7aoC205s

I think his falsetto and regular voice is far more pleasant that Frankie Valli's. He also uses his falsetto less than Valli does. This is one of my favorite peformances of his that shows his great talent as a balladeer:

Please register in order to view this content

[alphanguy74]

Max was right in that "Rhapsody In The Rain" was hurt immensely by the overt sexual lyrics.. the lines about the windshiled wipers saying "Together together together"... was very daring for it's day, although it seems tame by today's standards. He also changed his look in the late 60's, early 70's and made much more overtly sexual album covers, posing completely nude for the gatefold of his album "Paint America Love", and his other 45 picture sleeves at the time, looked remarkably similar to the covers of gay porn magazines of the day.

[alphanguy74]

[DRW50]

Is that a crease or is he happy to see us?

That's a very Gram Parsons type look.

[Max]

All of Christie's hit singles were winners. He deserved to have a lot more than just five top 40 singles.

Here are Lou's other three top 40 hits:

"The Gypsy Cried"

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dYQsbOYHKcA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"Two Faces Have I"

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ulmIyqb6W-8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"Rhapsody in the Rain"

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DdKzdO0ItsE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[alphanguy74]

This one from 1970 was always one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqScGsDmwg4

It didn't chart in the US... but went to number 25 in the UK.