As 1964 drew to a close, there was no doubt that, from a musical perspective, the world was a very different place than before the year started. In one short year, The Beatles changed the face, the style and even the business of pop music.

Even somebody who never listened to the radio would have been able to discern the growth from “I Want to Hold You Hand” to “I Feel Fine.” Self-sufficient bands started to pop up on both sides of the Atlantic, writing their own material and playing most of the instruments on their own, and The Beatles surely deserve credit for that change.

Meanwhile, Motown continued to reinvent R&B as crossover music with a strong pop edge. All in all, it was a pretty glorious era for pop songs.

Featured tracks include:

I Feel Fine – The Beatles

She’s a Woman – The Beatles

The Name Game – Shirley Ellis

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – The Righteous Brothers

How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye

The Wedding – Julie Rogers

Leader of the Laundromat – The Detergents

Downtown – Petula Clark

My Girl – The Temptations

Jolly Green Giant – The Kingsmen

Hold What You’ve Got – Joe Tex

Tell Her No – The Zombies