This week 50 years ago, Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the first female prime minister of India; the musical "Sweet Charity" debuted on Broadway; actor Rainn Wilson ("The Office") was born; the Don Knotts comedy "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" topped the box office; and the following songs were the most popular in the U.S., according to the Billboard Hot 100 chart archive.
10. "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," The Lovin' Spoonful
The vocal layering on the Lovin' Spoonful's second single (the band's first: "Do You Believe in Magic") reportedly inspired Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys to write "God Only Knows."
9. "As Tears Go By," the Rolling Stones
The first person to have a hit with "As Tears Go By," was Marianne Faithful in 1964, a few years before she started dating Mick Jagger. P.S.: It was originally called "As Time Goes By," which makes a little more sense.
8. "A Must to Avoid," Herman's Hermits
She's "a complete impossibility"? That's not very nice, guys.
7. "The Men in My Little Girl's Life," Mike Douglas
The latest installment in 1960s and '70s Songs That Make Me Really, Really Uncomfortable.
6. "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)," The T-Bones
What.
5. "Day Tripper," The Beatles
One of the best guitar riffs of all time.
4. "Five O'Clock World," The Vogues
Although it's pure peppy pop, "Five O'Clock World" was written by Allen Reynolds, who specialized in country music, writing for folks like Crystal Gayle and Waylon Jennings as well as producing for Garth Brooks.
3. "She's Just My Style," Gary Lewis and The Playboys
Kind of the 1966 version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" — answer: everything! BTW: Is there anyone out there who really loves how someone else combs their hair?
2. "We Can Work It Out," the Beatles
The double A-side with "Day Tripper," this one's a true collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with McCartney responsible for the faster-tempo sections and Lennon behind the slower paced, "Life is very short..." sections
1. "The Sound of Silence," Simon and Garfunkel
No. 1 for two nonconsecutive weeks (sandwiching two weeks of "We Can Work It Out" at the top), "The Sound of Silence" was from Simon and Garfunkel's debut album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." and was released in September 1965, a full year and a half after it was recorded. More important: Paul Simon says he wrote it in the bathroom.