Only in Canada, Eh?: Number Ones Exclusive to Canada

I originally had the idea to blog the Canadian number ones back in around 2018 when I was searching for a longterm music writing project to work on. I ended up settling on VER HITS: The Smash Hits Singles of the Fortnight instead largely because there was no one else who would have been silly enough to do it. This proved a correct prediction, what I failed to reckon with was that there would also be very few interested in reading it.

The main problem I kept coming back to with number ones in Canada was my suspicion that they'd be too damn similar to chart toppers on the Hot 100 in the United States — and that ground has already been covered by Tom Breihan over at Stereogum. Nevertheless as my interest began to wane after six years writing about Britain's top pop mag of the eighties, I kept thinking about something more connected to my homeland. All I had to do was start looking them up and I found enough discrepancies between the Canadian and US charts to make it worthwhile.

The following is a list of CHUM or RPM number ones that failed to do likewise in both the US and UK. This means that there are still a few more that went to number one both north of the border and on the other side of the Atlantic but which came up short down south. For example, Elvis Presley's marvelous double A-side "Little Sister" / "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" was a well-deserved number one smash in Canada and back in the old country while only peaking at number four down in the States. As you can see, the number of Canada-only chart toppers seems to be going up as this blog progresses through the sixties. This is mainly down to the obscene total of number one hits at the start of the RPM era but it's important to keep in mind that this could just as easily have opened the door for the big hits from elsewhere. The fact that Jay and the Americans kept racking up number ones while Canadians passed on The Four Tops and Temptations doesn't say anything particularly great about RPM's charts — and, indeed, the tastes of Canadian listeners — but it was the reality.

This list will be updated from time to time. Look for the likes of Bob Dylan, The Who, Electric Light Orchestra, The B52's, and Tracy Chapman as future Canada-exclusive number one acts. Also, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Kiss because my peeps are far from perfect.

~~~~~

1957

Jimmy Dorsey with Orchestra and Chorus: "So Rare"

The Bobbettes: "Mr. Lee"

Bobby Helms: "My Special Angel"

The Rays: "Silhouettes"

Bill Justis: "Raunchy"

1958

Billy Vaughn: "Sail Along Silvery Moon"

The Chantels: "Maybe"

Chuck Berry: "Sweet Little Sixteen"

The Chordettes: "Lollipop"

Elvis Presley: "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck"

Bobby Freeman: "Do You Want to Dance"

Jack Scott: "My True Love"

The Everly Brothers: "Bird Dog" / "Devoted to You"

Robin Luke: "Susie Darlin'"

1959

Ritchie Valens: "Donna" / "La Bamba"

David Seville & The Chipmunks: "Alvin's Harmonica"

Travis & Bob: "Tell Him No"

Phil Phillips with The Twilights: "Sea of Love"

Ivo Robić: "Morgen"

1960

Jimmy Clanton: "Go, Jimmy, Go"

Jim Reeves: "He'll Have to Go"

Johnny & The Hurricanes: "Beatnik Fly"

Johnny Horton: "Sink the Bismark"

The Browns: "The Old Lamplighter"

Anita Bryant: "Paper Roses"

Jeanne Black: "He'll Have to Stay"

Hank Locklin: "Please Help Me, I'm Falling"

The Ventures: "Walk — Don't Run"

Jimmie Rodgers: "The Wreck of the John B"

Bob Luman: "Let's Think About Living"

Lolita: "Sailor (Your Home Is the Sea)"

Johnny Horton: "North to Alaska"

1961

Neil Sedaka: "Calendar Girl"

Andy Stewart: "A Scottish Soldier"

Andy Stewart: "Donald, Where's Your Troosers?"

Jørgen Ingmann: "Apache"

Del Shannon: "Hats Off to Larry"

Eddie Hodges: "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door"

Barry Mann: "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)"

Fred Darian: "Johnny Willow"

Bobby Edwards: "You're the Reason"

Leroy Van Dyke: "Walk on By"

James Darren: "Goodbye Cruel World"

1962

Charlie Drake: "My Boomerang Won't Come Back"

Ernie Maresca: "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)"

Claude King: "Wolverton Mountain"

Brian Hyland: "Sealed with a Kiss"

Eddie Hodges: "Girls, Girls, Girls"

Ned Miller: "From a Jack to a King"

1963

The Cascades: "Rhythm of the Rain"

Skeeter Davis: "The End of the World"

Richie Knight and the Midnights: "Charlena"

Jackie DeShannon: "Needles and Pins"

Doris Troy: "Just One Look"

Inex Foxx: "Mockingbird"

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

The Kingsmen: "Louie Louie"

1964

The Beatles: "All My Loving" / "This Boy"

The Dave Clark Five: "Bits and Pieces"

Gerry and the Pacemakers: "I'm the One"

Johnny Rivers: "Memphis"

Jan and Dean: "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)"

The Newbeats: "Bread and Butter"

The Four Seasons: "Save It for Me"

The Beach Boys: "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)"

Elvis Presley: "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby"

Jay and the Americans: "Come a Little Bit Closer"

1965

Little Anthony and the Imperials: "Goin' Out of My Head"

Gerry and the Pacemakers: "I'll Be There"

Jay and the Americans: "Let's Lock the Door"

The Kingsmen: "The Jolly Green Giant"

The Four Seasons: "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)"

Guess Who? (aka Chad Allan and the Expressions): "Shakin' All Over"

Petula Clark: "I Know a Place"

Herman's Hermits: "Silhouettes"

Eddie Rambeau: "Concrete and Clay"

The Yardbirds: "For Your Love"

Bobby Vinton: "L-O-N-E-L-Y"

Herman's Hermits: "Wonderful World"

Jay and the Americans: "Cara Mia"

Johnny Rivers: "The Seventh Son"

Jackie DeShannon: "What the World Needs Now"

Tom Jones: "What's New Pussycat?"

Billy Joe Royal: "Down in the Boondocks"

Gary Lewis and the Playboys: "Save Your Heart for Me"

Eddie Rambeau: "My Name Is Mud"

The Fortunes: "You've Got Your Troubles"

Roy Orbison: "Ride Away"

Sonny: "Laugh at Me"

Sonny and Cher: "Baby Don't Go"

Billy Joe Royal: "I Knew You When"

Bob Dylan: "Positively 4th Street"

Little Caesar and the Consuls: "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"

The Wonder Who?: "Don't Think Twice"