Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 20, 1965
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 20, 1965 brought The Supremes back to #1 with “I Hear A Symphony.” After jumping from #5, the record gave Motown another chart-topping moment and continued the remarkable run that made The Supremes one of the most dependable hitmakers of the decade.
Len Barry climbed to #2 with “1-2-3,” bringing bright dance-pop energy close to the top. The Rolling Stones slipped to #3 with “Get Off Of My Cloud,” but their recent #1 still kept rock attitude near the center of the chart.
Fontella Bass moved to #4 with “Rescue Me,” while The 4 Seasons climbed to #5 with “Let’s Hang On!” That gave the Top 5 a strong mix of Motown elegance, dance-pop, British rock, Chicago soul, and polished vocal-group pop.
Below the Top 5, The Byrds made a major move with “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” while The Toys, Marvin Gaye, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, and The Vogues rounded out a chart filled with soul, folk-rock, instrumental pop, and harmony records.
Top 5 Songs
1. I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
“I Hear A Symphony” reached #1 this week, giving The Supremes another major Billboard Hot 100 success. The song had a sweeping, romantic feel that helped it stand apart from some of their earlier, more direct Motown hits.
Diana Ross delivered the lead vocal with grace and warmth, while the arrangement gave the record a sense of lift and drama. It sounded polished, elegant, and unmistakably Motown.
By reaching the top, “I Hear A Symphony” showed that The Supremes could continue evolving their sound while remaining one of the most powerful pop acts in America.
2. 1-2-3 – Len Barry
“1-2-3” climbed to #2, giving Len Barry one of the strongest hits of the late fall. The song’s counting hook and upbeat rhythm made it instantly accessible.
The record had a bright, danceable feel that made it a strong radio favorite. Its simplicity worked in its favor, giving listeners a chorus they could remember immediately.
Its move to #2 showed that dance-pop still had major power on the Hot 100, especially when paired with a hook as direct as this one.
3. Get Off Of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
“Get Off Of My Cloud” slipped from #1 to #3, but The Rolling Stones remained one of the strongest forces on the chart. The record had already confirmed that the group’s harder rock sound could keep producing major American hits.
The song’s restless rhythm and sharp vocal attitude carried the same rebellious edge that had made “Satisfaction” so important earlier in the year.
Even after leaving the top spot, “Get Off Of My Cloud” remained one of the defining rock records of late 1965.
4. Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
“Rescue Me” climbed from #6 to #4, giving Fontella Bass a major Top 5 hit. The record brought strong Chicago soul energy into the upper chart.
Its driving rhythm, confident vocal, and urgent hook made it one of the most powerful soul records of the season. Bass’s performance gave the song both strength and vulnerability.
By reaching the Top 5, “Rescue Me” showed how strongly soul music was competing on the national pop chart in late 1965.
5. Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
“Let’s Hang On!” climbed to #5, putting The 4 Seasons back into the Top 5 with a polished, high-energy pop record. The group’s familiar vocal sound remained a strong presence on American radio.
The song had a bright arrangement, urgent chorus, and the distinctive Frankie Valli-led sound that made The 4 Seasons stand out. It carried both pop polish and emotional push.
Its rise showed that The 4 Seasons still had strong chart power in a year dominated by British rock, Motown, and soul records.
More Weeks at #1 for “I Hear a Symphony”
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 November 20, 1965, this was your birthday song:
🎵 I Hear a Symphony by The Supremes
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
- 1-2-3 – Len Barry
- Get Off Of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
- Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
- Let’s Hang On! – The 4 Seasons Featuring the “Sound of Frankie Valli”
- Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
- A Lover’s Concerto – The Toys
- Ain’t That Peculiar – Marvin Gaye
- Taste Of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
- You’re The One – The Vogues
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
The November 20, 1965 chart mattered because The Supremes returned to #1 and reinforced Motown’s dominance. With “I Hear A Symphony,” “Rescue Me,” and “Ain’t That Peculiar” all in the Top 10, soul music had a major presence this week.
The week also pointed toward the next major folk-rock moment as The Byrds climbed with “Turn! Turn! Turn!” That record was moving quickly and would soon become one of the defining songs of the season.
With The Rolling Stones, Len Barry, The 4 Seasons, The Toys, Herb Alpert, and The Vogues also on the chart, this week captured late 1965’s broad mix of rock attitude, Motown polish, dance-pop, instrumental pop, and harmony vocals.
