Personal top ten - January to December 1965: the final batch

In 1965 great records continued to be released at a rapid rate but many soul and blues classics were ignored by the general public, with few becoming hits. Access to this music had become much greater as a result of the emergence of the pirate radio station with more airplay for American gems sitting alongside the standard top 40 fare. Radio Caroline, Radio Atlanta, 'Wonderful Radio London' and Radio 390, where Mike Raven hosted a regular blues show, were my stations of choice at various times. This, the final batch of personal top tens, reflects the store of great music which had become available.
List 369 had the Righteous Brothers at number one with Sam Cooke's 'Shake' entering at number two. At the time I was unaware of its B side which later became the anthem of the Civil Rights movement.There was also  a new entry by Marvin Gaye. List 370 sees the arrival of Joe Tex's 'Hold What You Got' which became my highest scoring record of the year, plus new entries by Shirley Ellis, Del Shannon and the Shangri-Las. The Impressions had a new entry in list 371 and Alvin Cash and the Crawlers entered in list 372.

List 373 had new entries by Nina Simone, the Kingsmen and Dobie Gray, and list 384 saw the entry of a future number one by Bobby Bland and others by James Brown and the Ab-Libs. The Temptations' 'My Girl' entered in list 375 on its way to number one and there was a new one by Martha and the Vandellas. List 376 had new Chess label entries by the Radiants (which eventually reached number one) and Jackie Ross.

For once my top ten matched the regular charts in list 377 with the entry of Roger Miller's 'King of the Road' which reached number one, plus an entry by Little Anthony and the Imperials. Bobby Goldsboro and the Beach Boys had new entries in list 378 and in list 379 there were duets by Anna King and Bobby Byrd and Bobby McClure and Fontella Bass. List 380 had new ones by the Supremes and the Temptations.

April saw the entry of a future number one by the Impressions ('People Get Ready') in list 381 plus a new one by Maxine Brown. In list 382 there were new entries by Solomon Burke and Shirley Ellis and list 382 had the latest by Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke and a re-entry by Maxine Brown. There were four new entries in list 384 - by Fats Domino, the Miracles, Wilbert Harrison and Little Milton.

Otis Redding's 'Mr Pitiful' entered in list 385 on its way to number one and there was a new entry by the Ikettes. List 386 had new entries by the Everly Brothers and Tony Clarke, and list 387 had new records by Johnny Cash, Little Milton and the Supremes. List 388 had new ones by Bobby Goldsboro, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs and Gene Pitney.

In list 389 there was a future number one by the Four Tops plus new ones by Jan and Dean and Maxine Brown and Chuck Jackson. List 390 had a new entry by Otis Redding, 'I've Been Loving You Too Long', while his previous release was still at number two. List 391 had both sides of the new Solomon Burke record enter, plus a re-entry by Sam and Sham, and in list 392 there were new entries by Gene Chandler and the Anglos.

 The influence of the pirate stations came to the fore in list 392 when the Ovations' 'It's Wonderful To Be In Love' entered at number one. I thought it was Sam Cooke initially but the Goldwax single by Louis Williams and co was never released in the UK. There were also new ones by the Impressions, Major Lance and the Marvelows. List 394 had Otis Redding's B side (or A side) 'Respect' enter along with one by Junior Walker. List 395 had a future number one by Wilson Pickett ('In The Midnight Hour') enter, plus new ones by James Brown and the Four Tops. There were four new ones in list 396 - by Nine Simone, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley.

There was a new one by the Beach Boys in 397 plus one by the Temptations and one by Maxine Brown. List 398 had new entries by Freddie Cannon, Joe Williams (a now forgotten classic) and Chuck Jackson, and list 399 had new entries by Arthur Prysock (which made it to number one) Joe Tex and the Tams.The 400th edition had a new entries by Roy Head, heading for number one, and Solomon Burke.

There were new entries by Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson in list 401 and new ones by Bessie Banks and Bobby Darin in list 402. Len Barry, on his way to number one, entered in list 403 as did Ben E King, and in list 404 there were new ones by Bobby Bland and Jan and Dean's 'I Found A Girl' (misnamed in the chart).

And so we move to the last four personal top tens, taking us, just, into December, 1965. By this time I was beginning to get review copies of singles as a trainee journalist on the Croydon Advertiser and no longer had time for my lists. List 405 had Otis Redding's version of 'My Girl' enter and that song became the only one to reach number one by two different artists. There were also new entries by Fontella Bass, an old recording by Wilson Pickett and Jackie Wilson. List 406 had new ones by Wilson Pickett and the Temptations and list 407 had new ones by O V Wright and the Four Seasons. The final list, number 408 on December 1st, 1965, had five new entries. These were by Willie Mitchell, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, Marvin Gaye, the Mad Lads and the Miracles. A great top ten (actually 11) to finish with.

Robert Finley at Bush Hall, London

It's taken a long time for Robert Finley to find success as a musician. Now in his mid sixties, he has recorded two albums and his show last night at the Bush Hall in London confirmed that he has a gravelly, soulful voice and a varied range of material. But fame has come late in life as, after having toured with an army band when he was younger, he returned home to Bernice, Louisiana, and became a carpenter for many years. He was discovered by the Music Makers Relief Foundation, a non-profit organisation and has become a regular at blues festivals in the States.

A tall, bearded man wearing a leather hat and waistcoat he came across as much more of a soul singer than a bluesman. I remember seeing him at the Blues and Barbecue Festival in New Orleans last year and wasn't over impressed, but his new album, 'Goin' Platinum', produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, has given him a wider range of songs and this was an enjoyable and varied set. He began with two songs from his first album, 'Age Don't Mean A Thing' - 'I Just Want To Tell You' and the title track, before putting down his guitar and launching into some numbers from his new material, all of them written by Auerbach with help from such luminaries as John Prine. 'Medicine Woman' came across strongly, as did 'Empty Arms' but his next song, 'Holy Wine' was really remarkable as his voice went into a higher register on a powerful  and dramatic song. He lightened the mood with 'You Make Me Want To Dance' with nods to Al Green and Jerry Butler and some shimmying around the stage, and then turned to some blues, really the only bit of true blues in his entire set. The next song, Bread's 'Make It With You', from his first album, was a bit of a let down, but 'Snake In My Grass', a funky song from the same album, was one of the strongest songs of the night. His final number, 'Let Me Stay the Night' from 'Goin' Platinum' really rocked and he drew a good response from a fair sized crowd. I would have liked to have seen him with a full band (his backing consisted of just keyboards and drums) but it was an entertaining set from a man who is clearly enjoying his new found success.

Personal top ten - April 1964 to January 1965

This is the penultimate set of my personal top tens covering a period when great records continued to be released on an almost daily basis. I was coming up for my A levels ahead of leaving school and the frequency of my lists slowed down, often resulting in 11 or 12 records occupying the top ten, with several tied at the number 10 position. The year saw the rapid growth of Motown, the continuation of the R and B boom and the rise of surf and drag records. A great time for music in fact.
In list 329 Betty Everett was at number one and there was a new entry by Roy Orbison, which only made it to number nine, and the latest from Chuck Berry. List 330 saw the entry of Mary Wells' 'My Guy' on its way to number one, and new ones by Marvin Gaye and Inez Foxx (on Sue). List 331 had great new entries by the Impressions and the Temptations, and in 332 there were new entries by Bo Diddley and Irma Thomas ('Wish Someone Would Care').

List 333 had a new entry by Tommy Tucker and 334 had new ones by John Lee Hooker and the Reflections. There was a future number one by Little Richard, his last big hit on Specialty, in 335, and list 336 had new entries by Jackie De Shannon, on her way to number one, and the Contours.

Jimmy Witherspoon had a new entry in list 337 as did Tony Orlando (I'd forgotten that one), while Arthur Alexander entered in 338 with 'Black Night' (not as spelt in my list) as well as Carl Perkins. There was a smash hit entry in 339 by the Beach Boys and another by Brenda Holloway., and there were new ones in list 340 by Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye and Elvis.

List 341 had both sides of the latest Sam Cooke record, with 'Good Times' becoming yet another number one for him. List 342 saw a sudden burst of new entries by Inez (and Charlie) Foxx -three in all - plus one by the Everly Brothers. List 343 had new ones by the Jelly Beans and the Impressions, and the Crystals, Dionne Warwick and Tony Clarke had new entries in 344.

In list 345 there were new entries by the Ronettes, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Roger Miller, and there were new ones in 346 by John Lee Hooker, Bobby Freeman, Sugar Pie DeSanto, the Drifters and Bo Diddley. Earl Jean came straight in at number one in list 347, a new one by Chuck Berry came in at number two and there was a first new entry for Bobby Bland, plus others by Jan and Dean and the Four Seasons.After a two week break the charts continued to be fast moving - and over full - in list 348 with a number one entry by the Supremes ('Where Did Our Love Go') and new ones by the Newbeats and the Miracles.

On to list 349 and there were new entries by Roy Orbison ('Pretty Woman') and Jackie Ross. The Four Tops entered in list 350 with a future number one and Gene Chandler also had a new entry. List 351 saw loads of new entries: by Major Lance, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Little Walter and Betty Everett and Jerry Butler, and there was a new one by Ronnie and the Daytonas in list 352.

Things quietened down slightly as we moved into October with just one new entry in 353, by the Shangri-Las, but there were plenty of great new entries in list 354, by the Impressions, the Supremes, Sam Cooke, Lou Johnson and Don Covay The Sam Cooke B side entered in list 355, as did the Beach Boys' 'When I Grow Up' which went on to number one. Another huge record entered in list 356 - 'Dancing In the Street' by Martha and the Vandellas and one by the Ronettes.

List 357 had a new entry by the Tokens and there was a re-entry by James Brown in 358. List 359 had new ones by the Hondells and Jan and Dean and, with Martha and the Vandellas now at number one, new entries by the Ronettes, Chuck Jackson and Jackie De Shannon in list 360.

Another Motown number one entered in list 361 in the form of the Velvelettes' 'Needle In A Haystack' plus new entries by Marvin Gaye and the Everly Brothers. List 362 had new ones by the Beach Boys, the Four Seasons and a future number one by Maxine Brown. List 363 had a new entry by Bobby Parker, a Christmas oldie by Elvis, and the Larks. List 364 had new entries by the Miracles and Little Anthony and the Imperials. Sam Cooke had been shot dead a few days before.

The last batch of lists  in this set saw new entries by Betty Everett, James Brown and Jan and Dean in list 363, and a new one by Bobby Bland in 366 as we moved into 1965. A future number one by the Righteous Brothers entered in 367 and the Shangri-Las also had a new entry. Finally, in list 368, there were new ones by Mary Wells, the Supremes and the Marvelettes.

Personal top ten - September 1963 to April 1964

By September, 1963, the airwaves were buzzing with so many great records that it was impossible to squeeze them all into my personal top ten. Every week there was yet another classic released which still sounds great today. The tragedy was that few of these actually made into the official UK top ten. Still, I, and a few others, knew there was great music to be heard.
List 289, for example saw the new Crystals record come straight in at number one, while the Angels' 'My Boyfriend's Back' came in at number 3, with the latest Sam Cooke release also entering. List 290 had Major Lance's 'Monkey Time' entering. List 291 had new ones by Roy Orbison, Bobby Comstock and Bobby Vinton, and 292 had 'Pretty Thing' by Bo Diddley and 'Mickey's Monkey' by the Miracles entering.

In list 295 there were new entries by Dion and both sides of a Chuck Berry classic. 294 had the flip side of Roy Orbison's latest enter; the Jaynetts had a new entry in list 295 and list 296 saw the first entry, a future number one, by the Ronettes, and others by Ray Charles and the Everly Brothers.

There were some great new entries in list 297 by the Drifters, Jan and Dean and Little Eva. List 298 saw new ones by the Chiffons, the Cookies and Fats Domino. List 299 had new entries by Nino Tempo and April Stevens and Dee Dee Sharp. Number 300 had a future number one by Rufus Thomas, a new entry by Del Shannon (now somewhat in decline) and a re-entry by Ray Charles.

Into November now and there were new entries by the Shirelles and Sunny and the Sunglows in list 301. 302 had new entries by Dion, Dale and Grace, Big Dee Irwin and the Impressions. There was a new one by Mary Wells in 303 and in list 304 there were new entries by Bo Diddley and Gene Pitney.

December now and list 305 had new entries by Chuck Berry ('Run Rudolph Run' on its way to number one) and Darlene Love. There was a new one by Sam Cooke in 306 and a new one by Major Lance in 307. List 308 had a Christmas record by Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva and an obscurity by the Lockets ('Don't Cha Know' - a copy of which I've yet to find).

Christmas 1963 saw Chuck Berry at number one and a new entry by the Miracles in list 309. The New Year (1964) saw brilliant records by the Ronettes, Marvin Gaye and the Four Pennies (US version) in 310. The Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie' crashed in to list 311 on its way to number one, also a new one by Nino Tempo and April Stevens. List 312 had new ones by Jan and Dean, the Shirelles, Jerry Butler and a first entry for the Supremes.

There was a new entry by the Cookies in 313 and probably the last new entry by a British artist with Georgie Fame's 'Do The Dog' (Rufus's version not having been released in the UK). Major Lance and the Exciters had new entries in list 314; Dionne Warwick and the Impressions were new in list 315 and in 316 Chuck Berry's 'Nadine' came in at number one while the Tams also had a new entry.

In list 317 there was a new one by the Crystals ('I Wonder') which didn't do much in the UK charts for some reason and a new one by Bo Diddley. List 318 had new entries by Sam Cooke, Freddie Cannon, Roy Orbison and Fats Domino, and there was a new one by Gene Pitney in 319. Tommy Tucker (on his way to number one) and the Rivieras had new ones in list 320.

There was a new one by Big Dee Irwin in 321 and by the Beach Boys in list 322. For some reason an old Gary (US) Bonds record ('New Orleans') also entered that week. Maybe it was re-released, List 323 had new ones by Dion and Jerry Lee Lewis, with its B side entering in list 324.

The final batch sees Dionne Warwick's 'Walk On By' enter on its way to number one in list 325, along with new ones by the Everly Brothers and the Four Seasons. Betty Everett's 'Shoop Shoop Song' entered in 326 on its way to number one and Lazy Lester's 'I'm A Lover Not A Fighter' also entered. Terry Stafford had a new entry in 327 and list 328 saw new entries by the Shirelles, Jan and Dean, the Miracles and Major Lance.

Personal top ten - February to August 1963

I've started so I'll finish, and apologies for the difficulty in reading my personal top tens of the period. Too much use of colour pencil still I'm afraid. This set of lists marks the growth of the girl group sound and the start of the boom which saw R and B and blues artists gain a new prominence in the UK.
The first list, number 245, has the Crystals at number one and new entries by Dionne Warwick and Bobby Darin. List 246 has new entries by Roy Orbison (a future number one) and Dion ('Sandy' - also a number one, plus one by the Rockin' Rebels. List 247 has new ones by Little Eva, Gene McDaniels and Steve Alaimo, and 248 has a new entry by the Exciters and the B side by Little Eva.

List 249 has some old school rock and roll by Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly plus a new one from Patsy Cline; list 250 has new entries by Bobby Rydell and Skeeter Davis. The Miracles enter list 251 with a future number one, 'You Really Got A Hold On Me', and a new one by the Four Seasons. List 252 has new entries by Jackie Wilson ('Baby Workout'), the Everly Brothers, Johnny Burnette and Bob B Soxx and the Blue Jeans.

There was more girl group stuff in 253 with a new entry by the Chiffons which became a number one ('He's So Fine') and a new one by the Orlons in list 254. Bobby Comstock and Chuck Jackson had new entries in 255, while there were new ones by Dee Dee Sharp, the Drifters and Ben E King in list 256.

Gene Pitney and Brian Hyland had new ones in list 257; and there were new entries by Del Shannon, the Cookies and a re-entry by Ben E King in 258. There was a new (old) one by Eddie Cochran on the third anniversary of his death in 259 and a future number one by Jimmy Soul in 260.

List 261 had new entries by the Shirelles and Brook Benton, and there were new ones by Dion and the Rocky Fellers in 262. Sam Cooke had another number one enter in 263 and there was a new one by Bobby Rydell, and list 264 had new entries by Jerry Lee Lewis, Freddie Cannon and Ronnie Hawkins.

List 265 had new ones from the Dovells and Neil Sedaka; list 266 a new one by the Dartells ('Hot Pastrami'). Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Lesley Gore (a future number one) and Maxine Brown had new ones in 267; while 268 had a re-entry by James Ray and a new one by the Rockin' Rebels.

List 269 saw the entry of another number one by the Crystals ('Da Doo Ron Ron') and new ones by the Everly Brothers and the Count Victors. Buddy Holly and the Four Seasons had new ones in 270; the Piltdown Men, Chubby Checker and Rick Nelson in 271; and a re-entry by the Rockin' Rebels and one by Dionne Warwick in 272.

List 273 had the first of many entries by the Beach Boys and one by Bobby Vinton; 274 had a new one by Jackie Wilson and Linda Hopkins; list 275 saw Chess records arrive with Bo Diddley's first entry plus one by the Rivingtons, whilst Elvis had a new one in 276.

There were new entries by Chuck Berry (a future number one), the Chiffons, Freddie Cannon and the Exciters in list 277. The Essex had a future number one enter in 278; Bob B Soxx and the Blue Jeans and Jimmy Reed entered in list 279, and the Five Du-Tones and Dee Dee Sharp entered in 280.

Dion and John Lee Hooker had new entries in list 281; the Surfaris had a new one in 282; the Orlons, Little Stevie Wonder and Jan and Dean (a future number one) entered in 283, and the Shirelles had a new entry in list 284.

This is the last lot in the current batch and there were new entries by Del Shannon, Lonnie Mack and Gene Pitney in list 285. List 286 had new entries by Jackie Wilson, Peter Paul and Mary, Doris Troy, Bobby Bare and a re-entry by Little Stevie Wonder in 286. The Four Seasons and Joey Dee's 'Dance Dance Dance' (not the Beach Boys) entered in 287 and there were new records by Freddie Scott, Freddie Cannon, the Isley Brothers and Fats Domino bringing us to the end of August.

Personal top ten - August 1962 to February 1963

The latter part of 1962 featured the beginnings of the British beat era, the rise of the girl group sound and the emergence of Phil Spector as a major force. There were plenty of other good pop records around as well.
List 201 had Benny Spellman and Brian Hyland at joint number one, a re-entry by Connie Francis and a new entry by the Lafayettes. Number 202 had a re-entry by David Rose and list 203 had a stack of new entries - by Del Shannon, Little Eva, Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, a Sam Cooke B side which was one of his best, James Darren and Duane Eddy. In 204 there were new entries for Dion, Buddy Knox, Paul Anka and Lonnie Donegan.

Tommy Roe's 'Sheila' was a new entry in list 205, along with ones by Freddie Cannon, Joe Brown and Gene Vincent. There was a new entry by Johnny Burnette in 206 on its way to number one and in 207 there were new entries by Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee and Jimmy Jones. List 208 had B sides by Buddy Holly and Brenda Lee.

In list 209 there were new ones from Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles and Hank Lochlin. List 210 had two big new entries by Chris Montez (a future number one) and Carole King and one by Dave (Baby) Cortez. List 211 had entries by the Shirelles, Gene McDaniels and Bobby Darin, and number 212 had new ones by Johnny Tillotson, Booker T and the MGs ('Green Onions') and a re-entry.

Number 213 had an entry at number one by Little Richard and one by Gene Pitney; 214 had new ones by Del Shannon and Joey Dee. List 215 had a new one by Sam Cooke which was the biggest scorer of the year ('Nothing Can Change This Love'), new ones by Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers and a future number one by the Crystals. List 216 saw the arrival of the Four Seasons.

List 217 saw new entries by Brian Hyland and a Chubby Checker B side. The A side ('Limbo Rock') entered in 218, as did records by Bobby Rydell, the Dovells and Johnny and the Hurricanes. There was also an entry at number 10 by the Beatles ('Love Me Do'). This was the first and only time that a British beat group record made it into my top ten. 219 had a re-entry by Chubby Checker and 220 had a new one by Fats Domino.

There were new entries by Neil Sedaka, Bobby Darin, the Sherrys and the Contours in list 221 and in 222 new ones by Duane Eddy and Gary (US) Bonds. There were new ones by the Drifters (a future number one), Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee in 223 and by the Shirelles, Freddie Cannon, Elvis, Chuck Jackson and Dee Dee Sharp in 224.

These ones are hard to read I'm afraid but the basic info is that Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney and Tommy Roe had new ones in 225; Johnny Burnette and the Belmonts in 226; Little Eva, a re-entry by Roy Orbison and the Routers in 227 and Dion, Gene McDaniels and Johnny Tillotson in 228.

Dion reached number one in 229 and there were new entries by the Orlons and the Tijuana Brass; the Cookies and the Tokens had new ones in 230; Lloyd Price, Ray Charles and Connie Francis had new entries in 231; and Johnny Crawford in 232.

Moving into 1963 there was a new entry by Bob B Soxx & the Blue Jeans in 233 and one by Brook Benton. In 234 there were new ones by Rick Nelson, Barry Mann and the Ventures; Del Shannon, Chris Montez, Brenda Lee and Gary (US) Bonds had new ones in 235 and in 236 there were new entries by Tony Orlando and Clarence Henry.

List 237 had a new entry by the Four Seasons; 238 new ones by the Rooftop Singers, Dion, the Exciters and Bobby Vinton; 239 new entries by the Shirelles, Gabriel and the Angels and Gene Pitney; and 240 a future number one by the Crystals.

Finally in this batch there was a new one by Sam Cooke in 241; by Bobby Vee and Floyd Cramer in 242; by Freddie Cannon and Joe Brown in 243, and by Johnny Horton, Neil Sedaka and Billy Fury in list 244.