Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of December 18, 1965
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 18, 1965 kept The Byrds at #1 with “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season).” The record continued its run at the top, giving folk-rock a reflective voice during the final weeks of 1965. Its message of change and timing felt especially fitting as the year moved toward its close.
The Dave Clark Five climbed to #2 with “Over And Over,” bringing British Invasion energy close to the top. James Brown and the Famous Flames moved to #3 with “I Got You (I Feel Good),” adding one of the most explosive soul records of the year to the upper chart.
The 4 Seasons slipped to #4 with “Let’s Hang On!,” while The Supremes fell to #5 with “I Hear A Symphony.” That gave the Top 5 a rich mix of folk-rock, British beat, soul power, vocal-group pop, and Motown elegance.
Below the Top 5, The Shangri-Las, Eddy Arnold, Roger Miller, The McCoys, and Dean Martin rounded out a Top 10 that showed just how broad popular music had become by late 1965.
Top 5 Songs
1. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” remained at #1 this week, keeping The Byrds at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s thoughtful message and ringing folk-rock sound continued to connect with listeners.
The record blended a timeless lyric with bright electric guitars and clear harmonies. That combination gave it both spiritual weight and strong pop-radio appeal.
By holding #1 again, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” confirmed that folk-rock had become one of the defining sounds of 1965.
2. Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five
“Over And Over” climbed from #5 to #2, putting The Dave Clark Five close to another #1 hit. The record brought upbeat British beat energy into the runner-up position.
Its driving rhythm and direct chorus gave it the kind of simple momentum that worked well on radio. It was lively, catchy, and unmistakably in the group’s energetic style.
The move to #2 showed that The Dave Clark Five still had major American chart power as 1965 came to an end.
3. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown And The Famous Flames
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” climbed to #3, giving James Brown and the Famous Flames one of the most powerful records in the Top 5. The song’s energy was immediate, physical, and impossible to ignore.
James Brown’s vocal, the horn stabs, and the tight rhythm made the record feel explosive. It pointed toward the funk sound Brown would help define in the years ahead.
Its rise showed that Brown’s influence was becoming impossible to overlook on the pop chart.
4. Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
“Let’s Hang On!” slipped from #3 to #4 but kept The 4 Seasons firmly in the Top 5. The record’s bright arrangement and urgent vocal sound had made it one of the group’s strongest late-1965 hits.
Frankie Valli’s distinctive voice gave the song its identity, while the arrangement kept it polished and energetic. It balanced classic vocal-group style with a strong pop drive.
Its continued Top 5 presence showed that The 4 Seasons remained one of America’s most reliable pop groups.
5. I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
“I Hear A Symphony” slipped from #2 to #5, but The Supremes remained in the Top 5 after another successful #1 run. The song’s sweeping Motown elegance had helped close the year strongly for the group.
Diana Ross’s graceful vocal and the polished arrangement gave the record warmth and lift. It showed The Supremes continuing to refine their sound while staying commercially powerful.
Even as it moved down, “I Hear A Symphony” remained one of Motown’s key late-1965 hits.
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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 18, 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
- Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five
- I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown And The Famous Flames
- Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
- I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
- I Can Never Go Home Anymore – The Shangri-Las
- Make The World Go Away – Eddy Arnold
- England Swings – Roger Miller
- Fever – The McCoys
- I Will – Dean Martin
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
The December 18, 1965 chart mattered because The Byrds held #1 while The Dave Clark Five and James Brown moved close behind. Folk-rock still led the chart, but British beat and soul power were pressing hard underneath it.
The week also showed how broad the Top 10 had become. Eddy Arnold and Dean Martin brought country-pop and traditional vocal styles, while Roger Miller added playful country-pop and The Shangri-Las brought dramatic girl-group storytelling.
As 1965 neared its final weeks, this chart captured the year’s variety: folk-rock, Motown, British rock, soul, country-pop, vocal pop, and teen drama all shared the same national stage.
