My top ten July 1965

I'm dipping back 50 years again today with a look at my personal top ten, as recorded at the time on July 8th, 1965. This was a great year for music and there are some memorable tracks in the list (which actually runs to 12 records, as there were three at joint number 10). Here they are.
1. The Ovations - It's Wonderful To Be In Love. US Goldwax 113. When I first heard this on one of the pirate stations I thought I was listening to an unreleased track by Sam Cooke. The name of the artist

wasn't mentioned but one listen was enough to put it at number one in my top ten. It was only a day or two later that I discovered that it was in fact The Ovations and that the singer I was listening to was Louis Williams. The 45 wasn't released in the UK so it was impossible to buy a copy at the time. But it turned me on to the great Goldwax label and the wondrous stuff produced by Quinton Claunch.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7TmrbFIrGQ
2. Sam The Sham & the Pharaohs - Wooly Bully. MGM 1269. I reckon it's impossible not to jump around to this brilliant record by Tex Mex artist Domingo 'Sam' Samudio. Dressed in Arab robes and turbans, the band produced some of the best rock and roll records of the late sixties, and this was their first and probably their best.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcguLZaMelE
3. The Impressions - Woman's Got Soul. HMV 1429. This was yet another great slice of soul by the Impressions, but although it was written by Curtis Mayfield, it was first recorded by Jerry Butler in 1963.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEc-0r5QS5Q
4. Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself. Tamla Motown 515. By mid 1965 the Motown sound was well established, but despite this, the fourth Tops release in the UK, despite being a US number one only got as high as 23 in the UK. Levi Stubbs in superb vocal form.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXavZYeXEc0
5. Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me. Stateside 426. Eugene Dixon (Gene's real name) recorded Duke Of Earl as a member of the Dukays but when it was released on Veejay it was credited to Gene Chandler. After a move to Constellation Gene recorded some classic soul records in the sixties and went on to enjoy disco success in the seventies. This was one of his very best.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx4KPE5iWlI
6. The Anglos - Incense. Brit 004/ Fontana 589. This was released on the short-lived Brit label, the Fontana label and, a few years later, on Island. But just who were the Anglos? No one seems to know for sure. It's an extremely soulful American sounding 45 which has been linked to Steve Winwood, but I'm pretty sure this is a US original and there have been numerous online discussions trying to pin it down. Best guess seems to be that it was issued originally on the US Orbit label.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObuFeLN5-I
7. The Beach Boys - Help Me Rhonda. Capitol 15392. This one needs no introduction. Just a great record.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Te_lCF69Aw

8. Major Lance - Pride And Joy. Columbia 7609. Just why EMI decided to release this cover of Marvin Gaye's 1963 hit I'm not sure. But it's a great version, by one of soul music's greatest vocalists.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CstRAS-voo
9. The Marvelows - I Do. HMV 1433. This is another great soul/doowop record that slipped below the radar at the time. It was recorded by a Chicago soul group for ABC but was their only UK release. Wonderful record in my opinion. They later recorded as the Mighty Marvelows.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiMtoIZOq0U
10= Bobby Goldsboro - Voodoo Woman. United Artists 1091. Bobby Goldsboro is best remembered for his tearjerking Honey, but prior to that he made some good blue eyed soul records, including this one. Well worth a listen.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFiSKBa7s-o
10= Solomon Burke - Tonight's The Night. Atlantic 4030. Another superb record by the King of Rock and Soul, with a great B side as well - Maggie's Farm.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KUE1zgUIak    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWvJOCbsosE
10= Otis Redding - Mr Pitiful. Atlantic 4024. Still hanging on in my chart after two months, this was Otis at his very best.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG8ebaTvU80