Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of December 4, 1965
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 4, 1965 brought The Byrds back to #1 with “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season).” After climbing from #2, the record gave folk-rock another major chart-topping moment and showed that the sound The Byrds helped popularize earlier in the year still had tremendous strength.
The Supremes slipped to #2 with “I Hear A Symphony,” while Len Barry held at #3 with “1-2-3.” The 4 Seasons remained at #4 with “Let’s Hang On!,” keeping polished vocal-group pop in the upper chart.
James Brown and the Famous Flames jumped to #5 with “I Got You (I Feel Good),” bringing raw soul power and future funk energy into the Top 5. That move gave this week’s upper chart a striking blend of folk-rock reflection, Motown elegance, dance-pop, vocal-group polish, and explosive soul.
Below the Top 5, Fontella Bass, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Marvin Gaye, The Shangri-Las, and The Dave Clark Five filled out a Top 10 that showed the full range of late-1965 pop.
Top 5 Songs
1. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” reached #1 this week, giving The Byrds another major Billboard Hot 100 triumph. The song’s message of time, change, and season made it feel thoughtful and timely as 1965 moved toward its close.
The record carried the group’s familiar ringing guitar sound and bright harmonies, connecting folk-based lyrics with a polished rock arrangement. It felt reflective without losing its radio appeal.
By reaching #1, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” confirmed The Byrds as one of the most important folk-rock acts of the year and showed how deeply that sound had entered mainstream pop.
2. I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
“I Hear A Symphony” slipped from #1 to #2, but The Supremes remained one of the strongest acts on the chart. Their latest Motown hit had already reached the top and continued to hold close behind The Byrds.
The song’s sweeping romantic style gave The Supremes a graceful sound, while Diana Ross’s vocal kept it warm and accessible. It was polished, elegant, and unmistakably Motown.
Even after leaving #1, “I Hear A Symphony” remained another example of The Supremes’ remarkable consistency during the mid-1960s.
3. 1-2-3 – Len Barry
“1-2-3” held at #3, keeping Len Barry near the top with one of the brightest dance-pop records of the season. The song’s counting hook and upbeat rhythm made it instantly memorable.
The record was direct, lively, and built for radio. Its simple chorus helped it stand apart in a Top 5 that included folk-rock, Motown, and soul.
Its steady position showed that upbeat dance-pop still had major strength on the Hot 100 in late 1965.
4. Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
“Let’s Hang On!” held at #4, keeping The 4 Seasons in the Top 5 with another polished vocal-group hit. The song’s urgent chorus and bright arrangement gave it strong radio appeal.
Frankie Valli’s distinctive vocal helped the record stand out, while the group’s familiar sound gave it a classic 4 Seasons feel. It was polished but energetic.
Its continued Top 5 strength showed that The 4 Seasons still had major chart power even as folk-rock, Motown, and soul records shaped much of the late-year conversation.
5. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown And The Famous Flames
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” jumped from #9 to #5, giving James Brown and the Famous Flames one of the week’s biggest moves. The record brought explosive soul energy into the Top 5.
James Brown’s vocal, the punchy horns, and the tight rhythm made the song feel immediate and physical. It was one of the records pointing toward the funk direction that would become even more important later in the decade.
Its rise into the Top 5 showed that Brown’s sound was becoming a major force on the pop chart, not just the R&B chart.
More Weeks at #1 for “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”
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 4, 1965, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) by The Byrds
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 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
- 1-2-3 – Len Barry
- 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
- Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
- Taste Of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
- Ain’t That Peculiar – Marvin Gaye
- I Can Never Go Home Anymore – The Shangri-Las
- Over And Over – The Dave Clark Five
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
The December 4, 1965 chart mattered because The Byrds returned folk-rock to #1 with “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The song’s reflective message and electric folk sound made it one of the defining records of the year’s final stretch.
The week also showed the growing power of soul and funk. James Brown surged into the Top 5, while Fontella Bass and Marvin Gaye kept soul strongly represented in the Top 10.
With The Supremes, Len Barry, The 4 Seasons, Herb Alpert, The Shangri-Las, and The Dave Clark Five also present, this chart captured late 1965 as a rich mix of folk-rock, Motown, soul, vocal pop, instrumental pop, and British Invasion energy.
