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Plethora of Pop’s Rate-A-Record
A Heart Full of Red-Rosed Soul
1965 tells us no, no, no, no no no no no no no
In the year Malcolm X was assassinated, the record charts were bursting with bands and artists who would also take our measure, show us who we were and weren’t, and prepare us for the harder years to come when Civil Rights measures would be enacted and then would set off other acts of violence and misery, aka,
“The world is treating me ba-a-a-d, Misery.”
On the Pop charts, at least according to Billboard Magazine, the #1 song of the year was this one:
I think we can forgive the outfits, though maybe not the “outfit.” As novelty songs go, it’s fun, easy to groove to, and maybe should rate a cool 70, but that’s up to you guys (35–98 is your range).
But stop it. As Pop history goes, why was this song so much more popular than the #100 song right here: