Posted by Fred Clemens on September 11, 2008 at 07:02:15:
In Reply to: Re: Chubby #1 Of ALL TIME According to Billboard! posted by Mike Riccio on September 11, 2008 at 04:24:09:
>>Prior to December 1998, songs did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100 until a retail single became available (which, incidentally, is why hits like Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and No Doubt's "Don't Speak" never appeared on the Hot 100). In earlier years, retail singles came to market fairly early in a song's life-usually shortly after, or even before, a song came to radio.
But, during the '90s, when labels would strategize No. 1 chart bows by significant hits, the retail release of some priority singles were withheld until radio audience reached maximum levels. Although some of these songs spent significant numbers of weeks at No. 1 or in the top 10, the delay of the sales component ultimately shortened the spans these songs would spend on the chart.
With the new methodology rewarding points for a song's entire chart run, rather than confining points to weeks spent in the top 10, the shorter chart lives recorded by the songs that debuted at No. 1 impact their all-time standings.<<
Wouldn't songs like "Stairway To Heaven" and their Chart status already have been reflected in the Album Charts?
Withholding release to attain maximum impact on the Charts seemed to be a standard in the 90's and beyond. The earliest instance of the practice I can think of, though not by intent, was when some (US) radio stations began playing the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand". Copies from the UK were acquired for airplay before it could get licensed for release in the US by Capitol Records. Initially it was scheduled for release in early February, 1964. But it was rush released to the public by the last week of December, 1963.
A late 90's Oldies-related incident of withholding came about when Dion's "Shu-Bop" got played on the air of many Oldies Stations before it saw actual public release nearly a year afterwards. The song had debuted on the air during Cousin Brucie's 40th Anniversary Celebration when Dion called in his message of congradulations.
Before the Hot 100 came along, there were separte Charts. One Chart specified the record as a whole, showing both sides, and based on actual sales in record stores. This Chart went up to #50. Another Chart that went to #100 showed the songs individually (rather than the whole record), and was based on what songs the buyers were asking for in stores. If both sides were requested, each would maintain their own individual Chart status. Earlier there had been a separate Chart based on Juke Box play.
The Game of record sales has changed significantly over the years, with the Charts adapting to it in each case. Initially, Radio airplay and Charting was based on actual record sales from stores. That is obviously different now.
And overall longevity should have been a key factor from the beginning, holding greater status than any Chart number.