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THE BEST 10 SONGS OF 1965?
Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey
The welsh songbird had previously reached the UK pop summit with the double-A- side ‘I Reach For The Stars’ and ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’. However, her singing career is best remembered for her association with the James Bond movie themes. The prime example is ‘Goldfinger’ which briefly invaded the US Top 10. This film is frequently cited as arguably the best 007 movie, and one could easily presume that Bassey’s outstanding vocals were the ideal curtain-raiser for the subsequent action.
In My Life by The Beatles
As the Beatles started to mature into performers of a more sophisticated pop, as exemplified on their ‘Rubber Soul’ album, so John Lennon himself penned a love song which was a far cry from the jolly, uptempo material of the Mersey sound. ‘In My Life’ is presumably a tribute to his first wife, Cynthia, but it is also a gentle, sentimental look back at the people and places who had shaped Lennon’s upbringing.
Make It Easy On Yourself by The Walker Brothers
They weren’t brothers, and none of them was actually called Walker, but this trio stepped forth to deliver vocal performances which found favour with the British record-buying public. Here, the guys were reminding a jilted lover that breaking up is so very hard to do. This wasn’t exactly a happy-go-lucky 45, but this melodrama nevertheless deservedly climbed to the top of the tree in the UK singles chart.
Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds
Session musicians were drafted in for this recording and only Jim McGuinn actually played his guitar on this memorable track. Even though the Byrds were merely relegated to harmonies on this smash hit, they were greatly encouraged by its favourable reception. Bob Dylan couldn’t complain either, as here was the first prominent occasion when others dipped into his repertoire and reaped the benefits. The Byrds would continue to do justice to a number of Dylan tunes.
My Generation by The Who
This became one of the great anthems for the emerging mods’ movement, as young folk turned onto Pete Townshend’s lyrics which correctly observed that there was a yawning generation gap between the mod upstarts and their war-hardened parents. This song is notable for Roger Daltrey’s deliberate stuttering and Keith Moon’s characteristically energetic drum sound. The disenfranchised youth may have been largely inarticulate, but here Townshend was acting as their spokesperson.
Stop! In The Name Of Love by The Supremes
The Supremes had a hugely successful 1965 as they cemented their position as the world’s best girl group. ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’ ranks among their very best recordings and was one of five successive Number One singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Diana, Florence, and Mary had come a long way since their inner-city origins, and now they were the flagship act for Detroit’s highly influential Tamla Motown record company.
Tears by Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd was an unlikely chart-topper, but his tear-jerker was actually one of the biggest-selling singles in the UK in 1965. This year witnessed a number of sad songs which proved surprisingly popular with record-buyers, such as ‘Go Now’, ‘The Minute You’re Gone’, and ‘The Carnival Is Over’. However it was the toothy comedian Dodd who emerged with the most successful of them all. He was sufficiently tickled pink by ‘Tears’ to issue a follow-up entitled ‘The River’.
Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley built upon the foundations of the outstanding ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ with an impressive attempt at the ‘fifties ballad ‘Unchained Melody’. The musical accompaniment was suitably tremendous as the ‘brothers’ found themselves back in the US Top 10. It took the UK a further quarter of a century to appreciate this item when it was belatedly rewarded with a British Number One.
Where Are You Now My Love by Jackie Trent
Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Sandie Shaw, and Dusty Springfield were all reminders that the hit parade was not just a playground for young males. However, perhaps the best British-made single in 1965 from a female artist was this offering. Jackie Trent is ably assisted by a piano as she pines for a lost love. More big-selling singles should have followed.
You’re So Good To Me by The Beach Boys
In the previous year, Brian Wilson quit touring to concentrate on composing and recording new material. This peculiar decision paid dividends as the Beach Boys’ leading songwriter started to branch out with tunes that were on a superior level to most of the other stuff floating on planet pop. ‘You’re So Good To Me’, a prime cut from the ‘Summer Days (And Summer Nights)’ album is one such shining example. Here again, the group’s harmonies excel themselves, inspired by the Four Freshmen. The Beach Boys were in some respects the prototype boy band.
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