Major Lance: Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (1964)

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Major Lance (April 4, 1939 - September 3, 1994) was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul. "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" was his biggest hit, reaching #5 in the US pop chart and #40 in the UK, where it was his only chart success. Billboard magazine did not publish an R&B chart during 1964, but Cashbox magazine charted this recording at #1.

The Kinks: Tired Of Waiting For You (1965)

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"Tired Of Waiting For You" was a hit 1965 rock song by the English band The Kinks. It reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart and #6 in the USA. It was recorded late August 1964 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London, with additional guitar overdub at IBC Studios, London on 29 December 1964. B-side "Come On Now" was recorded 22 or 23 December 1964 at Pye Studios (No. 2). The single was released on 15 January 1965 in the UK and on 17 February 1965 in the USA.

The Jelly Beans: I Wanna Love Him So Bad (1964)

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The Jelly Beans were an R&B vocal group from Jersey City, New Jersey. Formed in 1962 by five high schoolers, the group signed with Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller's label, Red Bird Records, in 1963. Working with songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, the group released its debut single, "I Wanna Love Him So Bad", in 1964. The song became a hit in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up, "Baby Be Mine", peaked at #51 later that year, and while the group recorded copiously, a full-length album was never issued. Red Bird dropped the group at the end of 1964; one final single was released on Eskee Records, but it fizzled and the group broke up in 1965.

The Impressions: People Get Ready (1965)

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"People Get Ready" was a 1965 single by The Impressions, and the title track from the album of the same name. The single is today the group's best-known hit, reaching number-three on the Billboard R&B Chart and number 14 on the Billboard Pop Chart. The gospel-influenced track was a Curtis Mayfield composition, and displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in his writing. Rolling Stone magazine named "People Get Ready" the 24th greatest song of all time. The song was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "People Get Ready" has also been chosen as one of the Top 10 Best Songs Of All Time by a panel of 20 top industry songwriters and producers, including Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Hal David, and others as reported to Britain's Mojo music magazine. Mayfield said, "That was taken from my church or from the upbringing of messages from the church. Like there's no hiding place and get on board, and images of that sort. I must have been in a very deep mood of that type of religious inspiration when I wrote that song." The song is the first Impressions hit to feature Mayfield's guitar in the break.

The Rivieras: California Sun (1964)

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The Rivieras were a rock and roll group formed in the early 1960s in South Bend, Indiana, United States. They are best known for their hit "California Sun." It reached #5 in the main U.S. pop chart., and is the most popular version of this much covered song. In fact, "California Sun" was one of the last songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart before the "British Invasion". The song has become a classic on "oldies" radio in North America over the years.

Ricky Nelson: Again (1964)

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Ricky Nelson, or Rick Nelson (born Eric Hilliard Nelson; 8 May 1940 - 31 December 1985), was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor. He placed fifty-three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973, including nineteen top-ten hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987. Nelson began his entertainment career in 1949 playing himself in the radio sitcom series, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet", and, in 1952, appeared in his first feature film, "Here Come the Nelsons". In 1957, he recorded his first single, debuted as a singer on the television version of the sitcom, and recorded a number one album, "Ricky". In 1958, Nelson recorded his first number one single, "Poor Little Fool", and, in 1959, received a Golden Globe Most Promising Male Newcomer nomination after starring in the western film, "Rio Bravo".