1965: Hear the Birds Above Singing Once Again

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

 9 — The Supremes: "Come See About Me"

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

 9 — The Righteous Brothers: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"

 5 — Petula Clark: "Downtown"

 9 — Jay and the Americas: "Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key)"

 2 — The Kingsmen: "The Jolly Green Giant"

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

 5 — Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames: "Yeh Yeh"

 8 — The Beatles: "Eight Days a Week"

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

 6 — Petula Clark: "I Know a Place"

 4 — Herman's Hermits: "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"

 4 — Freddie and the Dreamers: "I'm Telling You Now"

 3 — Herman's Hermits: "Silhouettes"

7 / 4 — Unit 4+2: "Concrete and Clay" / Eddie Rambeau: "Concrete and Clay"

10 — The Beatles: "Ticket to Ride"

 6 — The Beach Boys: "Help Me, Rhonda"

 5 — The Supremes: "Back in My Arms Again"

 8 — The Yardbirds: "For Your Love"

 1 — Bobby Vinton: "L-O-N-E-L-Y"

 4 — Herman's Hermits: "Wonderful World"

 6 — Jay and the Americans: "Cara Mia"

 6 — Johnny Rivers: "The Seventh Son"

 7 — Jackie DeShannon: "What the World Needs Now"

 4 — Tom Jones: "What's New Pussycat?"

 5 — Billy Joe Royal: "Down in the Boondocks"

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

 5 — Sonny and Cher: "I Got You Babe"

 9 — The Beatles: "Help!"

 6 — Eddie Rambeau: "My Name Is Mud"

 5 — Barry McGuire: "Eve of Destruction"

 6 — The Fortunes: "You've Got Your Troubles"

 7 — Roy Orbison: "Ride Away"

 2 — Sonny: "Laugh at Me"

 4 — Sonny and Cher: "Baby Don't Go"

 9 — The Toys: "A Lover's Concerto"

 6 — Billy Joe Royal: "I Knew You When"

 9 — Bob Dylan: "Positively 4th Street"

 4 — The Rolling Stones: "Get Off of My Cloud"

 7 — The Walker Brothers: "Make It Easy on Yourself"

 4 — Little Caesar and the Consuls: "You Really Got a Hold on Me"

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

 6 — The Dave Clark Five: "Over and Over"

I began blogging about the Canadian number ones on May 10, 2025 and am now only just finishing it off as August is beginning to wind down. During this time, I turned forty-eight, South Korea, the country I reside in, elected a new president and Ozzy Osbourne passed away — and I'm sure a few other things happened as well but I'm fucked if I can remember any of them.

Getting through all forty-four chart toppers has been a grind. I had initially intended to try to get through them all by the end of June but that proved to be way too optimistic. I had a houseguest, a ten day English camp I was working at and trips to Jeju Island and Thailand but the interruptions weren't the toughest part. Rather, it was the slog of getting through so many mediocre singles: Herman's Hermits, Freddie and the Dreamers, Barry McGuire, Sonny and Cher — and, worse yet, Sonny Bono on his own.

Obviously there are some excellent selections present. This is, after-all, the first year covered in which two chart toppers got full marks. (Plus, an additional six came just shy of getting a 10) This being a crowded year, however, the overall quality proved to be all over the place. Naturally, any chance for some consistently good singles wasn't aided by all the fantastic 45's that the Canadian public chose to spurn. Sorry, I know this is a point I have belaboured for the better part of four months (come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I have even managed to belabour all my apologies for belabouring the point) but I feel it is worth mentioning one more time. "My Girl", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "Mr. Tambourine Man", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Yesterday", "Like a Rolling Stone", "Turn! Turn! Turn!": all could have easily increased the average score and made my (unpaid) job of reviewing Canadian number ones just that less tedious. (Incidentally, this year's average score is a 5.67 which is actually a bit higher than I had been expecting)

Not that 1966 will be any better. There will be a nice selection of classics but with forty-six number ones there's a good chance I'll be sifting through plenty of detritus as well. But hey, that's all part of what I signed on for!