1963: Playin' My Records, Keep Dancing All Night

 6 — The Rooftop Singers: "Walk Right In"

 2 — Paul & Paula: "Hey Paula"

 3 — The Cascades: "Rhythm of the Rain"

 7 — The Four Seasons: "Walk Like a Man"

 9 — Skeeter Davis: "The End of the World"

 6 — The Chiffons: "He's So Fine"

 5 — Little Peggy March: "I Will Follow Him"

 7 — Cliff Richard and The Shadows: "Summer Holiday" / "Dancing Shoes"

 8 — Lesley Gore: "It's My Party"

 6 — Richie Knight and the Mid-Knights: "Charlena"

 7 — Jackie DeShannon: "Needles and Pins"

 3 — Elvis Presley: "(You're the) Devil in Disguise"

 6 — Doris Troy: "Just One Look"

 4 — Inez Foxx: "Mockingbird"

 6 — Bobby Vinton: "Blue Velvet"

 6 — Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs: "Sugar Shack"

 2 — Cliff Richard: "It's All in the Game"

 3 — The Singing Nun: "Dominique"

 9 — The Kingsmen: "Louie Louie"

When I was a little boy, we just had a small black and white TV. Then we got a colour TV when I was around four and I quickly realized that there were still shows like The Three Stooges and The Little Rascals that still looked old and grey. Why was everything from a long time ago in black and white while almost everything now is in colour? I came to the only sensible conclusion a child with my brain could come up with: because the whole world was in black and white until colour was finally invented.

1963 feels like the last fully black and white year. Actually, I'm quite sure that almost everything from the year after was as colourless as ever but the dullness seemed to be fading away. To be fair, dullness didn't swamp the entire world of pop in '63 either, just far too much of it. It was just that '64 had this massive act called The Beatles. (As many people already know, they were also a pretty big deal a year earlier but North Americans weren't listening either because they didn't care or they hadn't been given the opportunity)

'63 seems like a grim year but it's not all bad. In fact, it's pretty much average. (In the previous year end round up, I gave average scores; this year's is a 5.53, which puts it right in the middle of the pack) The problem is, even some of the good songs — "Summer Holiday", "Needles and Pins", "Sugar Shack" — are pretty throwaway. Beyond the trio of "The End of the World", "It's My Party" and "Louie Louie", there isn't much here to get excited about. A handful of times over the last couple weeks I found myself at a loss. "What could I possibly have to say about bloody "Dominique"?" I asked myself just a few days ago. Turns out, not a whole hell of a lot!

'64 has The Beatles providing the first real challenge to the Elvis hegemony, as well as the first the Canadian number ones for both The Beach Boys and Supremes. But, as always, not everything that went to the top proved to be nearly as sturdy. Nevertheless, it's a significant year, not the least of which because it marks the changeover from the CHUM to RPM as Canada's national singles chart. The days of number ones staying on top for five, six or seven weeks are numbered — it's just about time for a whole slew of one and dones to step up!