In 1965, Billboard published a chart ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in rhythm and blues (R&B) and related African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. [1] The chart returned in the issue of Billboard dated January 30, 1965, having not been published since the issue dated November 23, 1963. No official explanation has ever been given as to why Billboard ceased producing R&B charts. Chart historian Joel Whitburn has contended that "there was so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop singles (Hot 100) charts that Billboard considered the charts to be too similar". [2] It was published under the title Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles through the issue dated May 29 and Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles thereafter; during the year, 13 different singles topped the chart.
When the R&B chart returned from its hiatus, the first number one was "My Girl" by the Temptations, which held the top spot for six consecutive weeks. The song was one of several of the year's chart-toppers to be released under the Motown label and its subsidiaries; [3] Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and the Four Tops also reached number one in 1965 with singles released under the Detroit-based label. Motown, founded by Berry Gordy Jr in 1959, had released its first million-selling single two years later, [4] [5] and would go on to become one of the most successful and influential labels of the 20th century and bring unprecedented levels of mainstream success to Black music. [6] [7]
The Four Tops had the year's longest-running number one, spending nine consecutive weeks atop the chart with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)". James Brown was the act with the highest total number of weeks atop the chart during the year; he spent eight weeks at number one between August and October with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (Part 1)" and a further four weeks at number one with "I Got You (I Feel Good)", which reached number one in the issue of Billboard dated December 4 and stayed there for the remainder of the year. Brown, nicknamed "the Godfather of Soul", is regarded as one of the most influential Black musicians of all time and one of the most successful acts in the history of Billboard's R&B singles chart, with more than 100 of his songs having entered the listing. [8] [9] Gaye was the only other act to achieve more than one R&B number one in 1965, but both "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" spent just a single week in the top spot.
Indicates best-charting R&B single of 1965 [10] |
"Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes from their second studio album, Where Did Our Love Go. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964.
"My Girl" is a soul music song recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) record label. Written and produced by the Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, it became the Temptations' first U.S. number 1 single, and is currently their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing "My Girl" was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was included on the Temptations 1965 album The Temptations Sing Smokey. In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant".
"Money (That's What I Want)" is a rhythm and blues song written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, which was the first hit record for Gordy's Motown enterprise. Barrett Strong recorded it in 1959 as a single for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. Many artists later recorded the tune, including the Beatles in 1963 and the Flying Lizards in 1979.
"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 No. 1 single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Top Pop Singles chart for two weeks in 1969, from October 18 to October 25, replacing "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies and replaced by "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley. The single was also a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Top R&B Singles for five weeks, from October 4 to November 1, replacing "Oh, What a Night" by the Dells, and replaced by another Motown song, "Baby I'm For Real" by the Originals.
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" is a 1965 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.
"The 'In' Crowd" is a 1964 song written by Billy Page and arranged by his brother Gene and originally performed by Dobie Gray on his album Dobie Gray Sings for "In" Crowders That Go "Go-Go". It appeared on an episode of Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember, featuring in the last week of November 1964, the month Gray's rendition was released.
"Forever Came Today" is a 1967 song written and produced by the Motown collective of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and was first made into a hit as a single for Diana Ross & the Supremes in early 1968. A disco version of the song was released as a single seven years later by Motown group the Jackson 5.
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by Billboard. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 positions but was shortened to 50 positions in October 2012.
"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" is a song written by the premier Motown songwriting/production team of the 1960s Holland–Dozier–Holland. The first hit recording was sung by Kim Weston in 1965. It was most popular in 1975 when it was recorded by the Doobie Brothers.