One Hit Wonders of the UK

Dodie West – Goin’ Out Of My Head 01/1965

Jimmy Radcliffe – Long After Tonight Is Over 02/1965

Sue Thompson – Paper Tiger 01/1965

Doris Troy – Whatcha Going To Do About It 11/1964

Goldie And The Gingerbreads – Can’t You Hear My Heart Beat 03/1965

Dobie Gray – The ‘In’ Crowd 03/1965

Keely Smith – You’re Breaking My Heart 03/1965

Jewel Akens – The Birds 03/1965

Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song 05/1965

Burt Bacharach – Trains And Boats And Planes 05/1965

Sir Douglas Quintet – She’s About A Mover 06/1965

Dudley Moore with Peter Cook – Goodbye-ee 06/1965

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs – Wolly Bully 06/1965

Charles Dickens – That’s The Way Love Goes 07/1965

Horst Jankowski – Walk In The Black Forest 08/1965

Marcello Minerbi – Zorba’s Dance 07/1965

Nini Rosso – Il Silenzio 09/1965

The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy 09/1965

Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction 09/1965

The Sorrows – Take A Heart 09/1965

Silkie – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away 09/1965

Hedgehoppers Anonymous – It’s Good News Week 10/1965

Billy Joe Royal – Down In The Boondocks 10/1965

Lance Percival – Shame And Scandal In The Family 11/1965

P.F. Sloan – Sins Of The Family 11/1965

Roy Head – Treat Her Right 11/1965

Bert Kaempfert – Bye Bye Blues 12/1965

Listen to: Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs – Wolly Bully

The Sorrows – Take A Heart

Lance Percival – Shame And Scandal In The Family

Latter half of the decade now and we’re getting a bit silly. Shirley Ellis’ “The Clapping Song” is almost a childish playground ditty but her delivery really sells it. “Wolly Bully” is a goofy little garage rock tune with tongue firmly in cheek. And let’s not forget Lance Percival’s cover of “Shame And Scandal In The Family” (perhaps the whitest man to do so) with the help of George Martin, yes that George Martin, behind the desk. The only other tune from this year I would suggest is The Sorrows, a sort of precursor to groups like The Doors. I get a feeling that “Take A Heart” was a year or two ahead of it’s time? This would have been hotcakes in ’67.