Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of December 11, 1965
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 11, 1965 kept The Byrds at #1 with “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season).” The record held the top spot for another week, giving folk-rock a strong place at the center of the American pop chart as the year moved toward its close.
The Supremes stayed at #2 with “I Hear A Symphony,” while The 4 Seasons climbed to #3 with “Let’s Hang On!” James Brown and the Famous Flames moved to #4 with “I Got You (I Feel Good),” bringing a burst of soul and funk energy into the upper chart.
The Dave Clark Five jumped from #10 to #5 with “Over And Over,” keeping British Invasion momentum alive. That gave the Top 5 a wide mix of folk-rock reflection, Motown polish, vocal-group pop, soul power, and British beat.
Below the Top 5, The Shangri-Las, Len Barry, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Fontella Bass, and Dean Martin rounded out a Top 10 filled with dramatic pop, dance records, instrumental flavor, soul, and traditional vocal style.
Top 5 Songs
1. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” remained at #1 this week, confirming The Byrds as one of the defining folk-rock acts of 1965. The song’s message about time, change, and seasons gave it a thoughtful quality that felt especially fitting near the end of the year.
The record combined ringing electric guitars with clear harmonies and a folk-based lyric. That blend helped make the song both reflective and radio-friendly.
By holding the top spot, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” showed that folk-rock was no longer a side current in pop music. It had become one of the major sounds of the year.
2. I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
“I Hear A Symphony” held at #2, keeping The Supremes close to the top after their recent #1 run. The song’s sweeping romantic feel gave Motown another polished and elegant pop-soul success.
Diana Ross’s lead vocal carried the record with warmth, while the arrangement gave it lift and drama. It sounded graceful without losing the clean pop appeal that made The Supremes so dependable.
Its continued strength showed that The Supremes remained one of the most powerful chart acts of the decade.
3. Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
“Let’s Hang On!” climbed to #3, giving The 4 Seasons another major Top 5 hit. The record’s bright arrangement and urgent chorus helped it stand out during a crowded late-year chart.
Frankie Valli’s distinctive vocal gave the song its familiar identity, while the group’s polished sound kept it firmly connected to classic 4 Seasons pop.
Its rise showed that The 4 Seasons still had major staying power in 1965, even with folk-rock, Motown, and soul records dominating much of the conversation.
4. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown And The Famous Flames
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” climbed to #4, giving James Brown and the Famous Flames one of the most explosive records in the Top 5. The song brought raw soul energy and rhythmic force to the national pop chart.
James Brown’s vocal, the punchy horn lines, and the tight groove made the record feel immediate and physical. It was a song built on motion, confidence, and excitement.
Its continued climb showed that Brown’s sound was becoming more important on the pop chart and pointed toward the funk revolution he would help lead.
5. Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five
“Over And Over” jumped from #10 to #5, giving The Dave Clark Five another strong American hit. The record brought upbeat British beat energy into the Top 5.
The song’s driving rhythm and direct chorus made it a natural radio record. It had the straightforward momentum that helped the group remain one of the most successful British Invasion acts in America.
Its move into the Top 5 showed that The Dave Clark Five still had plenty of chart strength as 1965 moved into December.
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More Weeks at #1 for “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending December 11, 1965, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds
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🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
- I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
- Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
- I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown And The Famous Flames
- Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five
- I Can Never Go Home Anymore – The Shangri-Las
- 1-2-3 – Len Barry
- Taste Of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
- Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
- I Will – Dean Martin
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
The December 11, 1965 chart mattered because The Byrds held #1 and proved that folk-rock had become one of the year’s defining sounds. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” gave the chart a reflective tone as 1965 entered its final weeks.
The week also showed the strength of soul and vocal-group pop. James Brown climbed higher with “I Got You,” The Supremes stayed near the top, and Fontella Bass remained in the Top 10 with “Rescue Me.”
With The 4 Seasons, The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Len Barry, Herb Alpert, and Dean Martin also present, this chart captured late 1965 as a rich blend of new rock ideas, soul power, classic pop, and British Invasion energy.
