FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 26, 2018

DEAR JERRY: Since I file my singles by title, I have often wondered the following:

Alphabetically, what is the first and last charted song of each year of the 1960s?

The first and last song of each year of the 1960s, charted or not?

The first and last song for the complete decade (1960-1969)?

And finally, of the entire 20th century?
—Lawrence Polk, Seattle

DEAR LAWRENCE: In the order you requested, and including only U.S. releases, here is the charted group:

1960: "About This Thing Called Love" (Fabian) - "Young Emotions" (Rick Nelson)
1961: "African Waltz" (Cannonball Adderley) - "You're Movin' Me" (Clyde McPhatter)
1962: "Above the Stars" (Mr. Acker Bilk) - "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow" (Johnny Crawford)
1963: "Abilene" (George Hamilton IV) - "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah" (Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans)
1964: "Abigail Beecher" (Freddy Cannon) - "Your Cheatin' Heart" (Fats Domino)
1965: "Action" (Freddy Cannon) - "You've Never Been in Love Like This Before" (Unit Four Plus Two)
1966: "'A' Team" (SSgt Barry Sadler) - "Zorba the Greek" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)
1967: "Ain't Gonna Rest (Till I Get You)" (Five Stairsteps) - "Zip Code" (Five Americans)
1968: "Abraham, Martin and John" (Dion) - "Zabadak" (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich)
1969: "Abergavenny" (Shannon) - "Zazueira (Za-zoo-wher-a)" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)

These may or may not have had chart success:

1960: "A.B.C. Love" (Junior and His Friends) - "Zyzzle" (The Ping Pongs)
1961: "A Felicidade" (Burt and the Backbeats) - "Zorro" (Charles McCullough and the Silks)
1962: "A Camminare" (Eddie Fisher) & (Saverio Saridis) - "Zwei Kleine Italiener" (The Sunnies & the Cornel Trio)
1963: "A Casual Look" (Dotty Daniels) - "Zosia" (Johnny Nogaj and His Orchestra)
1964: "A Casinha Pequenina (Little House)" (The Limeliters) - "Zulu Stamp" (John Barry)
1965: "A-B-C" (Ray Stevens) - "Zorba's Dance" (The Modern Grecian Quartette)
1966: "'A' Team" (SSgt Barry Sadler) - "Zorba the Greek" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)
1967: "A & I" (The Checkmates, Ltd.) - "Zona Sul" (Charlie Byrd)
1968: "A & I" (Jimmy McCracklin) - "Zulu Lunchbag (Mgibe)" (African Echoes)
1969"A Banda (Ah Bahn-da)" (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass) - "Zorbá Theme (Life Is)" (Herschel Bernardi)

Extrapolated from above, here are the first and last titles for the entire decade:

"A & I" (The Checkmates, Ltd.) 1967 & (Jimmy McCracklin) 1968 - "Zyzzle" (The Ping Pongs) 1960

Finally, among all known songs of the 20th century:

"A" (Barenaked Ladies) 1994 - "Zydeco Woman" (Rockin' Sidney) 1996