Okay, many are marking (as an annual exercise) this week in February 1964 when the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, then played their first U.S. concert in hipster Washington, D.C., while holding on to #1 on the charts with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” So I thought it would be fun to check out what else was near the top of the Billboard charts that week—you know, what the Fab Four allegedly saved us from. See some samples below after the usual political cartoons. If you have not, please subscribe—it’s still free!
Early February, 1964
Yes, there was plenty of schlock on the charts, including the balladry of Bobby Vinton, Andy Williams, Jack Jones and Sammy Davis Jr.; gimmicks like “Surfin’ Bird”; the predictable (e.g. Jan & Dean’s “Drag City”) and whatever the hell was “Dominique” by the Singing Nun. But there were also the varied classics below. (Some regular hitmakers, such as Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, and most of the Motowners, were between singles.)
#2 Lesley Gore, “You Don’t Own Me”
#6 The Kingsmen, “Louie Louie”
#9 Dionne Warwick, “Anyone Who Had a Heart”
#12 The Impressions, “Talking About My Baby”
#24 The Ronettes, “Baby I Love You”
#26 Lenny Welch, “Since I Fell for You”
#31 Martha & the Vandellas, “Quicksand”
#38 The Rivieras, “California Sun” (don’t miss video)
Bubbling Under: (King) Sam Cooke, “Good News’
….and (Queen) Dusty Springfield, “I Only Want to Be With You”
Otis Redding, “Pain In My Heart”
You've reawaken a ten-year-old to the scores of 1964.
Hey, don't knock "Surfin' Bird." Everybody knows that bird is a word.