Freddie and the Dreamers take over the top spot in their fifth week on the chart.
Considered to be a "novelty act" by some, Peter Noone has told me several times over the years what a serious and dedicated performer Freddie Garrity was, loved by his countrymen.
The Supremes dip a notch to #2, as do Herman's Hermits with their latest US chart hit, "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat." Also decorating The Top Ten this week of British persuasion are Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, up a rousing eleven places with "Game Of Love" (there seems to be little doubt as to where THIS one is headed), Petula Clark, up sixteen spots of her own with "I Know A Place," the follow-up to her chart-topping hit "Downtown," and Shirley Bassey, who falls to #10 with her dynamic reading of the theme from the film "Goldfinger."
Other British Acts to be found in The Top 20 include The Beatles, The Kinks (up 9 with "Tired Of Waiting For You"), The Moody Blues, also on the rise with their first US chart hit, "Go Now," and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
If the British chart dominance wasn't quite what it was a year earlier, it wasn't off by much ...
Also charting in April of 1965 were Chad and Jeremy, The Animals, The Rolling Stones (up 21 spots to #27 with "The Last Time"), The Seekers (up 30 places with "I'll Never Find Another You"), The Dave Clark Five, Sounds Orchestral, Marianne Faithfull, Sandie Shaw, John Barry, The Who, Georgie Fame, as well as multiple entries by The Searchers and the aforementioned Herman's Hermits (whose remake of the old Rays' hit "Silhouettes" skyrockets 50 places this week!), Freddie and the Dreamers (they've got another hit at #53) and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Tom Jones premiers this week with his first US hit "It's Not Unusual" at #94 and The Zombies are new at #100 with their latest, "She's Coming Home." That's a full 27% of this week's Top 100 Hits belonging to British artists.
US Acts making big moves this week include Marvin Gaye (up 19 places with "I'll Be Doggone"), "Ooh Baby Baby" by The Miracles, another Motown smash that moves up 23 spots to #38, "Crazy Downtown" by song parodist Allan Sherman and Gary Lewis and the Playboys, who have TWO songs on the countdown ... one on the way up ("Count Me In," up 39 spots) and one on the way down (their former #1 Hit "This Diamond Ring," which falls to #47 in its 13th week on the chart.)
Meanwhile, one of my favorite mid-'60's tunes premiers this week at #63 ... "She's About A Mover" by The Sir Douglas Quintet who, despite their very British-sounding name, actually hail from San Antonio, Texas!
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
4/5/65 – At the 37th Academy Awards, “My Fair Lady” (best film), Rex Harrison (best actor for “My Fair Lady”) and Julie Andrews (best actress for Mary Poppins) are the big winners
