Rewind to ’65: The Sounds of Top 40 AM Radio!
By Ralph Graves
Wednesday, April 9 at 8:00 am we go back 60 years to recapture the excitement of Top 40 AM Radio. I’ll be presenting some of the top 100 hits of the year.
In last year’s Rock Marathon I focused on 1964 — the year of the British Invasion. By 1965, the invasion had become an occupying army. The Beatles had five songs in the Top 100. The Rolling Stones were close behind, as were the Dave Clark Five, the Animals, and the Yardbirds.
Brit Pop takes hold
American audiences also had a taste for Brit Pop. Herman’s Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Peter and Gordon were happy to oblige. And Brit singers like Petula Clark and Tom Jones had crossover appeal with older audiences.
The sound of success
Top 40 radio was big business. Today radio playlists are narrowly focused. Songs are selected by focus groups and market research. In 1965, record sales and requests determined airplay (with some help from labels’ A&R).
The British sound was hot, but there was still space on the charts for other genres. Folk music was waning, but We Five, Glenn Yarborough, The Fortunes, and — of course — Bob Dylan.
Surf’s still up!
Beach music was on the rise. The Beach Boys were the only surf group to make the top 100. But the Hondells, Jan and Dean, and others had airplay in 1965.
Country stays the course
Country artists in 1965 didn’t embrace the new sound. The few that charted did so on their own terms. Patti Page and Roy Head had hits, and Roger Miller reached #12 with “King of the Road.”
Not just for teens
And Top 40 radio hadn’t completely become the medium of the young. Middle-aged parents enduring their child’s car radio choices occasionally found relief. Bert Kaempfert’s “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” peaked at #32. And easy-listening instrumentals from Horst Jankowski and the Sounds Orchestra also proved popular.
Motown and more
Motown was a major force on the charts. The Four Tops, the Supremes, The Miracles, and Martha and Vandellas hit the airways in 1965. And non-Motown soul artists were right there with them: James Brown, Sam Cooke, Shirley Ellis, and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
Garage Bands rock the scene
The mid-sixties was the era of garage bands. Teenagers across America took over the family garage to form bands and rock out. They were inspired more by the Animals and the Rolling Stones than the Beatles. Many were good enough to play high school dances. Some became regional acts. And a few charted — The Kingsmen, the McCoys, and the Strangeloves.
A glimpse into the future
And 1965’s Top 100 had a hint of things to come. The Summer of Love was still two years away. But the first sunshine pop hits debuted: “I Got You Babe” (Sonny and Cher), “Do You Believe in Magic” (Loving Spoonful), and “Mr. Tambourine Man” (Byrds).
Vintage sounds from ’65
And we’ll sweeten the pot with some vintage ads that may take you back — or surprise you. Who knew Stan Getz and Astrid Gilberto sang a jingle for toothpaste? Or that Glen Yarborough wrote a ballad to Folger’s Coffee?
You’ll hear it all Wednesday, April 9 from 8:00 am – 10:00 am. It’s all part of the WTJU Rock Marathon fund drive, so tune in, turn up, and throw in some support!
