* NM retro singles charts - 1965 *

[Earl Purple]

The top 2 are way above everything else and moderately close together. They are also the top 2 singles of the decade so far.

Although this is the only single so far to have spent 7 weeks at #1, it is not the #1 of the year (on points):

2 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

[Earl Purple]

1 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers

There is much discussion as to who was the best producer, George Martin or Phil Spector, and maybe over all we can't say for certain one or the other, but in a battle in early 1965 there was one clear winner...

Andrew "Loog" Oldham who managed the Rolling Stones heard this version whilst in the USA and decided to "promote" it in the UK, getting the Righteous Brothers to come to the UK and perform it, as well as putting a big ad in the newspaper, and it duly beat the George Martin produced version sung by Cilla Black, which I hope was more for it being far superior than any other reason.

To make it fair battle you'd have to let George Martin produce the Righteous Brothers singing it and Phil Spector produce a Cilla Black version, and see if they end up any better.

In any case, this is just such a wonderful piece of work.

The songwriters, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, of course gained from both versions. Their other big hits of the year would be Gene Pitney's "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love" and Jody Miller's "Home Of The Brave", perhaps the latter of those being one who could lyrically challenge Bob Dylan, being a bit more political rather than a love song.

Interesting that with Oldham's involvement on the promotion of this song, it means we have a loose Rolling Stones connection with all of the top 3, with them performing on the #3, and covering the #2 later in their career (as well as their name sort-of being part of the title).

[Deleted]

Twinkle - Lonely Singing Doll (English version of France Gall's "Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son")

[Good Old Days]

I didn't know that your birthday is so close with mine. I was born almost 18 years (without one day) after you.

Duran Duran song "Is There Something I Should Know?" was UK # 1 on that week, allSTARS* will release a cover version as part of a double-A-side with their own track "Things That Go Bump In The Night" (UK # 12 in September 2001) and of course big # 1 hit in my chart like three other their singles.

Eurovision 1965 was carried out on 20th March, so my retro # 1 single on a date of your birth must be something from these three songs : Luxembourgish winning entry, Kathy Kirby - I Belong, Twinkle's English language cover of France Gall hit under a title "Lonely Singing Doll".