Billboard's #1 Pop Singles

[alphanguy74]

I have to say, I find the song boring, insipd and SO SO SO repetative! Every time it comes on, I turn the station. Tommy James and the Shondells recorded some great songs later in their career, but I'm still mystified by this one, maybe the "Hanky Panky" double entendre was some kind of tittilation factor? I don't know, and can't understand it's appeal. Here's the original by the Raindrops, which is even WORSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxnj_0Gn1Ro

[I Am A Swede]

Wow, that song was seriously bad!!

[alphanguy74]

It was horrible, wasn't it?

Next in line is "Wild Thing" by the Troggs, which was number one for two week, July 30 - August 12, 1966. Their original name was the Troglodytes, but after all members but two left the group, they consolidated themselves with another fellow UK group, and shortened their name to the Troggs.

Three of the Troggs' recordings, "Wild Thing", "With A Girl Like You", and "Love Is All Around", each sold over one million copies and were awarded ^{gold discs.}

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

[I Am A Swede]

It's really not a personal favourite, but at least "Wild Thing" was a vast improvement over "Hanky Panky".

[alphanguy74]

I hate them both. Both are this repetitive, monotone kind of thing that drives me nuts. But then there were many other good songs out around this time, many of which were much more deserving of the #1 spot.

[DRW50]

Wild Thing is one of those songs I can listen to every once in a while, not any more than that. I did like the use in Major League.

[alphanguy74]

Next is "Summer In The City" by the Lovin Spoonful, which was number one for 3 week, August 13 - Septempber 2, 1966.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc0F-fw3tkY

Working with producer Erik Jacobsen, the band released their first single, the Sebastian-penned "Do You Believe in Magic, in August of 1965. Unlike many pop groups of the day (the early Beatles being a notable and influential exception), The Lovin' Spoonful played all the instruments on their records, with the exceptions of the orchestral instruments heard on their soundtrack album You're A Big Boy Now and some later singles. Additionally, aside from a few covers (mostly on their first album) they wrote all their own material.

"Do You Believe In Magic" became a Top Ten hit in the US, and the band followed it up with a series of hit singles and albums throughout 1965 and 1966, all prduced by Jacobsen. The Lovin' Spoonful became known for such folk-flavored pop hits as "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice", and "Daydream", which went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100." Arguably the most successful pop/rock group to have jug band roots, nearly half the songs on their first album were modernized versions of jug band standards. Their popularity revived interest in the form, and many subsequent jug bands cite them as an inspiration. The rest of their albums featured mostly original songs, but their jug band roots showed up again and again, particularly in their big hit "Daydream" and the lesser-known "Money", which featured a typewriter as percussion. They even had a crossover hit, as "Nashville Cats", a number eight pop hit, reached the country charts. Other hits were "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind" (another #2 hit), and "Younger Girl". Their only song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was the harder-edged "Summer in the City", an indelible part of the soundtrack for the summer of 1966.

[quartermainefan]

They were great and this is a great song.

[alphanguy74]

It's a song that is very urgent, and I felt a very edgy sound for it's time. They had alot of really good songs, my favorite of all their hits was this one:

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[DRW50]

I like Summer in the CIty (although it's a little fast), just heard it too much. The best part is the "de de de de da da" part.

[alphanguy74]

The Lovin Spoonful lost 2 members, John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky in 1968, and recruited 2 new ones, while lead vocals were taken over by drummer Joe Butler. They never had much success with this lineup, but the records were pretty good:

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[alphanguy74]

Next we have "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan, which was number one for one week, September 3 - September 10, 1966.

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Donovan began playing guitar at 14 and by age 18 had signed a publishing and management contract. His first single, "Catch the Wind" was released after his third appearance on British TV. It quickly shot to #4 and sold more than 200,000. His looks and his folk rock style drew comparisons to Bob Dylan. In fact, the two toured together after meeting in 1965. By the time his third album was released in 1966, he had morphed into a practitioner of the fledgling Psychadelic rock genre.

Donovan's fall from the pinnacle was much more gradual than his meteoric rise. Throughout the 70s, as progressive, punk and hard rock replaced Psych and folk rock in commercial favor, but Donovan continued to play the laid back hippie. By 1974 his albums were barely making it onto the charts, and by 1977 they were failing to chart at all.

[alphanguy74]

Next we have "You Can't Hurry Love" which is the sixth number one by The Supremes, which was number one for two weeks, September 10 - September 23, 1966. This song has been embroiled in a bit of behind the scene controversy. Martha Reeves had recorded what would later become her top 10 hit "Ready For Love", and Diana heard it, loved it, and decided The Supremes should have a song like that. So she used her pull with Berry Gordy (whom she was sleeping with at this point) to have Martha's song pushed back and then a copycat song written for The Supremes. And this is the product.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDBYOkB45r0

You can see the strong similarities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HlEt4XJVFA

[I Am A Swede]

They definitely sound very similar. I think that "You Can't Hurry Love" is better though.

[Max]

Alphanguy, thanks a lot for continuing this thread. One of the reasons why I probably won't continue this thread is because I am just too busy studying for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test). (This test is needed to get into business school.) But if you (or someone else) wants to continue the thread, feel free to do so. (The list of songs is hardly top secret, since it can be found on Wikipedia.)

If I do change my mind and choose to continue this thread (because no one else feels like doing it), all I would do is simply post the songs and state the duration and the specific weeks that each song spent in the peak position. It was just too time consuming to give the lengthy summaries about each song and artist.