Around the Beatles aired in the UK sixty years ago, so we look at "the other acts" on that show.   (See "When They Was Fab" 2024.17, April 28 for Kit and I talking about the Beatles side of things).       Additionally, the British charts for May 1964.    Amongst other things, we celebrate the 95th anniversary of Burt Bacharach's birth and talk "Baby It's You". #madeonZencastr

The Billboard charts for the final two weeks of April 1964.      Rampant Beatlemania (not starring Terri Hemmert), and a couple of tunes that must be heard to be believed! #MadeonZencastr

The Billboard Charts for the first two weeks of April, 1964.     The Beatles rule the roost, but Motown continues churning out commercial and critical darlings (My Guy), and Burt Bacharach gives Dionne Warwick a song which will become one of the all-time greats of rock and roll.  #MadeonZencastr  #FabFaux #MagicalMysteryCamp

The Beatles have conquered the Billboard charts, so we examine some of the news stories from the month.    Additionally, the British charts for April 1964.    Eden Kane, Shirley Bassey, the Four Pennies, the Undertakers, the Merseybeats and a horn player to be named later! #madeonZencastr

More from March of 1964.     Even more  Beatles on the charts, but figures including Lenny Welch, The Shirelles, Tony Bennett, Bobby Goldsboro and others you may or may not remember continue to make appearances.  #madeonZencastr

Beatlemania, Beatlemania, Beatlemania!!!   (and it hasn't even reached it's Zenith).     Lots and lots of Beatles, but also Jan and Dean (and Mel Blanc) The Four Preps, Dale and Grace, Nino and April and more!  #madeonZencastr

The British charts for March of 1964.      Can't Buy Me Love arrives, while Lennon/McCartney also continue the string with Peter & Gordon and World Without Love.      We also consider the state of "other music" on the British charts. #madeonzencastr

The Beatles continue rampaging the charts, but the Americans also stake some ground.     Two sides from Elvis in the charts (one good, one very bad), The Shoop Shoop Song, a bad Merseybeat knockoff and a Beatles novelty record (about the hair, of course) written by someone you might not expect! #madeonzencastr.

The first two weeks of Billboard, 1964.       Dawn, Fun Fun Fun and more of the Beatles than you can shake a forest at!    #MadeonZencastr

Cilla, Beatles, Stones and a feature on the Ed Sullivan Show.     Side A - the British charts and more!

We roll into the American charts for January 1964.     Marsha Albert, Carroll James, and millions of East Coasters help "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to the Top of the Cashbox charts.   Meanwhile, Capitol cannot keep up with demand as the Ed Sullivan show approaches.

I Want to Hold Your Hand firmly takes control of the American charts, while British bands continue their dominance on the British charts.   To use the lingo of music writers of the time.    "While the Beatles crawl to the top of the Cashbox charts (but not quite Billboard), the Searchers give us a swinging, twisting new deck!"    

1963 draws to a close, and Capitol records decides to celebrate by finallly releasing a little record from across the pond - Frank Ifield covering Bing Crosby!    All this and more, including some thoughts on that other record which would escape on boxing day and make a big splash in January!

"I Want to Hold Your Hand" enters the British charts, "She Loves You" hums along, as does the NEMS crew.      Piers Hemmingsen guests as we spend some time considering the rise of the "British Invasion" in Canada.

The American charts for November of 1963.    Doldrums in the charts that were not improved by the Kennedy assassination at the end of the month.    A lot of filler, with a select few gems.    Steven Allen, Ray Charles (not that one) and Sammy Davis, Jr. too!

The charts roll on.    She Loves You finds it's way back to the top of the charts and we discuss Beatles covers from the first year in honor of the Stones  "I Wanna Be Your Man" #MadeonZencastr

We close out October 1963 with two more weeks that have nothing to do with Eeephing or Ardells.    Somehow we manage a Happy Days reference, and a story about George Greif.   #MadeonZencastr,.

It doesn't matter what we call it, you are going to remember this show for one of two things - eefin' (no, it's not dirty), the Ardells and their successor "The American Beetles".     Dress up as 30-year old high schoolers, moptops or maybe even Alvin and Dave Seville.    We're not done yet though.    Coming soon is our one-sided Bonus EP to finish out the month of October!

The George Martin train rolls on.   Cilla Black, Shirley Bassey and the latest smash hit from Gerry and the Pacemakers.    All this and more on Toppermost of the Poppermost, covering the British charts for the month of October 1963.     #MadeonZencastr Use our special code toppermost at zencastr.com/pricing to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan.

The American charts continue their roll - some blues, some soul but precious little rock.     Duane Eddy joins in the surfing craze, Nino and April inspire the name of a future hard roc perennial, while Ray Charles proves that it doesn't matter where you are from if you are "Busted."

":From Me to You" slides down the British charts, but the Beatles have an ace up their sleeve - something new and fresh!    She Loves It, and She Loves You.     We track the new single, see what else the Brits were listening to,  and  look at the first year of the Fabs on the British charts!

Live (on Tape and edited) from the SEATAC room in Chicago, Illinois - it's "Toppermost of the Poppermost" with Ed Chen and Kit O'Toole.     Marv was present in spirit.     So may I introduce to you, the act you've known for all these years (well, at least one!)      If you want the "Rockshow" version rather than the "Wings over America" style presentation, look for the video on YouTube!

Brian Wilson and his love of close harmony (see Freshman, Four) appear, leaders of the surf trend.     Your boyfriend's back, your baby's gone surfin' and neither has grown the Beatle haircut that will become so visibile in less than half a year!

The summer of 1963 rolls on, and the Beatles introduce an unsuspecting audience to their next single "She Loves You".     Meanwhile, the charts roll on, and the acts who will be known as the "British Invasion" a year later are making their presence known in the homeland.