100 - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison
Lighthouse - 1970 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat'l #5)
99 - *Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan - 1972 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat'l #1)
98 - Take It Easy - Eagles - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #12, Nat'l #12)
97 - Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #19,
Nat'l #10)
96 - *Jump - Van Halen - 1984 (Peaks: WABC - Post-Dates Chart, Nat'l #1)
95 - Things I'd Like to Say - New Colony Six - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #5,
Nat'l #16)
94 - *Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) - 5th Dimension
- 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
93 - The Wanderer - Dion - 1962 (Peaks: WABC #5, Nat'l #2)
92 - River Deep-Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner - 1966 (Peaks: WABC
- Did Not Chart, Nat'l #88)
91 - Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) - Crystals - 1963 (Peaks:
WABC #3, Nat'l #3)
90 - *Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie - 1981 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat'l #1)
89 - A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harem - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat'l
#5)
88 - *Daydream Believer - Monkees - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
87 - *Theme from "A Summer Place" -
Percy Faith & His Orch - 1960 (Peaks: WABC -
Pre-Dates Chart, Nat'l #1)
86 - *One Less Bell to Answer - 5th Dimension - 1970
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #2)
85 - Nowhere Man - Beatles - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat'l #3)
84 - Everything That Touches You - Association - 1968 (Peaks: WABC #13,
Nat'l #10)
83 - *I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops - 1965
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
82 - *I Will Follow Him - Little Peggy March - 1963 (Peaks: WABC #1,
Nat'l
#1)
81 - Tiny Dancer - Elton John - 1972 (Peaks: WABC - Did
Not Chart, Nat'l #41)
80 - Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen – 1975 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not
Chart, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
79 - I Wonder Why - Dion and the Belmonts - 1958 (Peaks: WABC -
Pre-Dates Chart, Nat'l #22)
78 - *(They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters - 1970 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat'l #1)
***AND NOW, LET'S GET
INTO THE BEST OF THE BEST, THE SONGS YOU VOTED INTO THIS YEAR'S TOP
77***
77 - Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind – 1966
(Peaks: WABC #6, Nat’l #5)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a very long sabbatical. Drug and
alcohol problems gave Lind a reputation of being tough to work with,
eventually causing him to drop out of the music industry. Finally, in
October 2012, 41 years after the release of his last studio album, Lind
issued a CD of new music. And in November 2013, he was inducted into the
Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
76 - *Help! – Beatles – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1,
Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a solo Beatles hit. Although
credited to the entire band, "Yesterday", which peaked at #1 in the
fall, was in realty a Paul McCartney record. As George Martin put it,
“[Yesterday] wasn't really a Beatles record and I discussed this with
Brian Epstein: 'You know this is Paul's song ... shall we call it Paul
McCartney?' He said 'No, whatever we do we are not splitting up the
Beatles.'
75 - You Can't Always Get What You Want -
Rolling Stones - 1969/1973 (Peaks: WABC, Did Not Chart, Nat'l #42)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the steady decline of bandmate
Brian Jones. By the release of "Beggars Banquet", Jones was increasingly
troubled and was only sporadically contributing to the band. His drug
use had become a hindrance, and he finally admitted that he was unable
to "go on the road again". On 3 July 1969, Jones drowned in the swimming
pool under mysterious circumstances at his home. And Mick Taylor joined
the band in his place.
74 - *Sherry - Four Seasons – 1962 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...national recognition with this,
the band's first #1 hit. It reached the top of Billboard's Hot 100 on
September 15, 1962. It remained at number one for five consecutive
weeks.
73 - Too Late to Turn Back Now - Cornelius
Brothers and Sister Rose - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #3, Nat'l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a million copies sold. And along
with that came a gold disc award in August, 1972.
72 - Something – Beatles - 1969 (Peaks: WABC
#7, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...high praise for this song from
everyone from John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Frank Sinatra, with
Lennon stating that "Something" was the best song on "Abbey Road" and
McCartney considering it the best song Harrison had written. The song
has been covered by over 150 artists, making it the second-most covered
Beatles song after "Yesterday".
71 - Dawn (Go Away) - Four Seasons – 1964
(Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...cementing phenomenal success with
"Rag Doll". That summertime hit took the charts by storm, jumping from
"Pick Hit of the Week" to #1 on New York's WABC, the fourth of five #1
hits and making the group one of the top American act of the 1960s.
70 - Won't Get Fooled Again – Who – 1971
(Peaks:
WABC #21, Nat’l #15)
THE NEXT BIG THING...going back on tour. "Baba O'
Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" became live favorites. And Robert
Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times described the Who as "the Greatest Show
on Earth".
69 - Please Please Me – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks:
WABC #3, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the decision by Capitol Records
to sign the band after much hesitation. This helped cement their
meteoric climb to legend status in the U.S. and subsequently world-wide.
68 - Piano Man - Billy Joel - 1974 (Peaks:
WABC #19. Nat'l #25)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the beginning of a Top 40 legacy
to go with LP success. It would take three years, but beginning in 1977,
Joel would have an incredible 31 Top 40 hits and three #1 songs.
67 - *Love Is Blue (L’Amour Est Bleu) – 1968 –
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...year-end honors. Billboard ranked
the record as the No. 2 song for 1968.
***ON WE GO, MORE OF
THE COUNTDOWN, STARTING WITH #66...***
66 - *Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones – 1969
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...didn't come for another two
years, as the band suddenly disappeared from the top 100. They'd have to
wait until May, 1971, when "Brown Sugar" entered the chart and
eventually jumped all the way to #1.
65 - Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones -
1968 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat'l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...their next album, "Beggars
Banquet", an eclectic mix of country and blues-inspired tunes. It got to
#5 in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K. and featured two songs, "Street
Fighting Man" and "Sympathy for the Devil", which were banned due to
content on many radio stations.
64 - *Incense and Peppermints – Strawberry
Alarm Clock – 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING... a gold disc awarded for one
million sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on
December 19, 1967. After that, there were no other hits and the band
eventually broke up.
63 - Because - Dave Clark Five – 1964 (Peaks:
WABC #4, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a long-overdue induction into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the class of 2008. Unfortunately, the
ceremony was without the late Denis Payton and lead vocalist Mike Smith,
who died eleven days before the induction.
62 - Can't Find The Time – Orpheus – 1969
(Peaks: WABC – DNC, Nat’l #80)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a resurgence of interest in
recent years in the avant-garde band, which has been widely recognized
as a progenitor of soft rock. This resulted in a second reunion of the
band in 2014 and planned dates for 2015 in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Chicago and New York.
61 - I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos -
1959 (Peaks: WABC - Pre-Dates Survey, Nat'l - #11)
THE NEXT BIG THING...awards and recognition. Despite
this being their only top 20 hit, the group was inducted into the Vocal
Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and
the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2003, "I Only Have Eyes For You"
was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.
60 - Here Comes the Sun – Beatles – 1969
(Peaks: WABC – LP Cut, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the release of the LP that was
actually recorded just BEFORE "Abbey Road" – the LP where this track
originated. That LP would be "Let It Be", originally to be titled "Get
Back", a return to the Beatles' earlier, less complicated approach to
music. It was originally recorded and projected for release before
"Abbey Road".
59 - *Runaround Sue – Dion – 1961 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...Dion's forsaking of the world of
sex, drugs and rock and roll as he became Born-Again and began recording
Christian music by 1981.
58 - *Downtown - Petula Clark – 1965 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...Pet's long overdue success in the
U.S. Although a success on radio, TV, movies and the charts since the
age of nine in England and across Europe, it was only after this #1 song
that she went on to chart 21 more top 100 hits and seven more top 20
hits.
57 - *Sugar Sugar – Archies – 1969 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...another simultaneous top ten hit
for the man behind The Archies' voices. That would be studio singer
extraordinaire Ron Dante, who clicked under the name "The Cuff Links"
with “Tracy” later in the fall of '69.
56 - Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners - 1959
(Peaks: WABC - Pre Dates Chart, Nat'l #12)
THE NEXT BIG THING...continued success on the oldies
tour circuit. Despite the deaths of their longtime manager and producer
Joe Rock plus the passing of three of the original members, lead singer
Jimmy Beaumont still performs with The Skyliners in their current
line-up of Nick Pociask, Frank Czuri, and Donna Groom (whose husband,
Mark Groom, has been the group's drummer/conductor for more than 25
years).
***...AND THE HITS
JUST KEEP ON COMIN', AS WE GET INTO THE TOP 50 AND MORE!...***
55 - What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
- 1967/1988 (Peaks: WABC, DID NOT CHART, Nat'l #32)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the movie "Good Morning,
Vietnam", in 1988. That Robin Williams movie was largely responsible for
the resurgence of this song, originally released in 1967.
54 - -*Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James
and the Shondells – 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...Tommy going solo in 1970. This
resulted in his next and final top 20 hit, "Draggin' the Line", which
went to #4.
53 - Strawberry Fields Forever – Beatles –
1967 (Peaks: WABC #34, Nat’l #8)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the "Paul Is Dead" clue
discovered on this record. Did John really say "I Buried Paul" as this
record fades, or was it merely "cranberry sauce" as Lennon claimed?
52 - Beginnings - Chicago - 1971 (Peaks: WABC
#11, Nat'l #7)
THE NEXT BIG THING...political activism. With the
release of "Chicago at Carnegie Hall Volumes I, II, III, and IV",
consisting of live performances of music from their first three albums,
the packaging of the album contained some rather strident political
messages. But this did not affect the band's success, as they went on to
chart 28 top 20 hits and three #1 songs.
51 - My Way - Frank Sinatra - 1969 (Peaks:
WABC, Did Not Chart, Nat'l #27)
THE NEXT BIG THING...75 straight weeks in the U.K. top
40, and 49 additional weeks in their top 75. That's a still unmatched
record, not bad for a song Sinatra told songwriter Ervin Drake in the
1970s that he "detested".
50 - Lola – Kinks – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #8,
Nat’l #9)
THE NEXT BIG THING...their last top 20 song, "Come
Dancing", #6, 1983.
49 - Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones - 1969
(Peaks: WABC, Did Not Chart, Nat'l Did Not Chart)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the 1970 documentary film "Gimme
Shelter". The film chronicled the last weeks of the Stones' 1969 U.S.
tour and culminating in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert. The movie
was named after this LP cut from the "Let It Bleed" LP.
48 - *The House Of The Rising Sun - Animals -
1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...War. The Animals continued on
with hits through 1968. But lead singer Eric Burdon really hit pay dirt
when he partnered up with the group War to have a #3 single, "Spill the
Wine", in 1970.
47 - *He's A Rebel – Crystals – 1962 (Peaks:
WABC #2, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the real lead vocal’s redemption
as a talent in her own right. That real lead vocalist was Darlene Love.
The actual Crystals recorded only two more hits on their own. Darlene
was front and center on the next top 20, "He's Sure the Boy I Love", and
released several of her own singles in 1963. But it took until the 2000s
for her star to shine and for her to be recognized as one of the
greatest voices in rock and roll with her induction into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame.
46 - *Hotel California – Eagles – 1977 (Peaks:
WABC #2, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...their final #1 record, "Heartache
Tonight", which entered the charts in late 1979.
45 - *Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues –
1968/1972 Peaks: (WABC #1, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...establishment as a premiere rock
act as eleven straight LPs made the top 30, including two that went to
#1.
***TIME TO CRACK THE
TOP 40, AND CONTINUE COUNTING 'EM DOWN, OR IS IT COUNTING THEM UP?...***
44 - *Happy Together - Turtles - 1967 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...for lead vocalists Howard
Kaylan and Mark Volman, a career as "Flo and Eddie", since the use of
the Turtles name and even their own names in billings was prohibited by
their contract with White Whale Records. Kaylan and Volman joined the
Mothers of Invention and later sang backing vocals on several recordings
by T. Rex, including their worldwide hit "Get it On (Bang A Gong)"
43 - Cara Mia - Jay and the Americans
- 1965 (Peaks: WABC - #3,
Nat'l #4)
THE NEXT BIG THING...1968, when they recorded an
album of their favorite oldies called "Sands of Time". This LP would
yield "This Magic Moment," a million seller and R.I.A.A. gold disc. It
would also be their last top ten single.
42 - Taxi - Harry Chapin – 1972 (Peaks: WABC -
#9, Nat’l #24)
THE NEXT BIG THING...musically, 1974, when Chapin
would have his only top 20 and #1 hit, "Cat's in the Cradle". But
arguably more significant were the mid-70s, when Harry and co-founded
World Hunger Year.
41 - Layla - Derek & the Dominos – 1972
(Peaks: WABC #7, Nat’l #10)
THE NEXT BIG THING...1993. Although there were many
successes along the way, the 1990s brought a series of 32 concerts to
the Royal Albert Hall, culminating in 1993 when "Tears in Heaven" won
three Grammy awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Male
Pop Vocal Performance. Clapton also won Album of the Year and Best Rock
Vocal Performance for Unplugged and Best Rock Song for "Layla".
40 - *I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher – 1965
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...as a duo, two top ten TV shows
in the 70's, "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" and "The Sonny & Cher Show".
For Cher, superstardom as a solo act was the next big thing, beginning
with several solo single releases while still with Sonny, but really
taking off in 1971 when "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" shot to #1.
39 - Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell – 1968
(Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING...TV. After he hosted a 1968
summer replacement for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", Glen was
given his own weekly variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour",
from January 1969 through June 1972.
38 - *To Sir With Love - Lulu - 1967 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...chartwise, nothing. Lulu had
only one other top 20 hit. But personally, Maurice Gibb was Lulu's next
big thing, marrying him in 1969 but divorcing after only four years due
to over his heavy drinking.
37 - A Day In The Life – Beatles – 1967
(Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the refusal of several radio
stations to play this cut. It was the first time that a Beatles song was
widely banned for content, although John's "...we're bigger than
Jesus..." comment the year before caused the group's songs in general to
be banned on several outlets.
36 - Midnight Confessions - Grass Roots – 1968
(Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #5)
THE NEXT BIG THING...1971, which was the next time,
and the last time, this act would hit the top ten, with "Sooner or
Later" at #9.
35 - Morning Girl - Neon Philharmonic – 1969 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l #17)
THE NEXT BIG THING...barely caused a musical
whimper..."Heighdy-Ho Princess" got to #94 in 1970 after which the group
essentially disappeared from the charts.
34 - *Cherish – Association – 1966 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a switch to Warner Records in
1967, which resulted in their only other #1 song, "Windy".
***"AND NOW, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN"...WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S WAY TOO FORMAL, HERE YA GO! AS
THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES!***
33 - *Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin – 1959
(Peaks: WABC Pre-dates chart, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...yet another switch in musical
styles. After starting his career with rock hits like "Splish Splash"
before moving to a more adult-oriented sound with this song, Bobby moved
to a more country music style by 1962 with hits like "Things", "You're
the Reason I'm Living" and "18 Yellow Roses".
32 - Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis
Presley – 1962 (Peak: WABC #8, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING..."Good Luck Charm", a #1 hit in
1962, but the LAST #1 Elvis song until 1969.
31 - Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers –
1965 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #4)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the duo's decision to escape from
the claws of the Phil Spector empire in 1966. Going to Verve/MGM
Records, group member Bill Medley produced another #1 hit by simulating
the Phil Spector "Wall of Sound".
30 - You Really Got Me - Kinks - 1964 (Peaks:
WABC #2, Nat'l #7)
THE NEXT BIG THING..."All Day and All of the Night",
#7 in 1965.
29 - *Will You Love Me Tomorrow – Shirelles –
1961 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...frequent guest appearances with
WINS New York radio station D.J. Murray the K, who hosted the ladies on
his "All Star Rock Shows". These appearances kept them in the public eye
and contributed to the success of their single releases.
28 - *Maggie May - Rod Stewart – 1971 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a second #1 song that came a full
five years later. That song, "Tonight's the Night", featured Britt
Eckland, Stewart's love interest at the time, whispering in French.
27 - Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – 1976/1992
(Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...their 1977 album, "News of the
World", and then two of rock's most recognizable anthems, "We Will Rock
You" and "We Are the Champions" and helped establish them as one of the
biggest stadium rock bands in the world.
26 - *Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie – 1966
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a new record label - Buddah -
three years later that would result in his last top ten song, "I'm Gonna
Make You Mine."
25 - *California Dreamin' - Mamas and the
Papas – 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #4)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a #1 national song the very week
this song fell off the chart. "Monday Monday" stayed on top for 3 weeks.
24 - *You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' -
Righteous Brothers - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the success of "Unchained
Melody", which caused producer Phil Spector to back off new material and
have the duo record older songs. That led to the success of the #5 hit,
"Ebb Tide".
23 - Mr. Dieingly Sad - Critters - 1966 (Peak:
WABC #6, Nat'l #17)
THE NEXT BIG THING...for the group, nothing…for
member Don Ciccone, The Four Seasons, with which he joined in 1975, just
in time to be part of their resurgent hits "Who Loves You" and "December
1963 (Oh What a Night)".
***CREEPING TOWARDS
THE BIGGIES, LET'S MOVE INTO THE TOP 22***
22 - *Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley - 1969
(Peak: WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...Elvis' induction into the initial
class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Julian and Sean Lennon were his
presenters.
21 – Imagine - John Lennon – 1971 (Peaks: WABC
#4, Nat’l #3)
THE NEXT BIG THING......late 1974, when John had
his very first post-Beatles #1 hit with "Whatever Gets You Through the
Night".
20 - Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan – 1965
(Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...July 29, 1966, when a motorcycle
crash led to a three year recovery of sorts for Dylan. He returned in
July 1969 and promptly scored his only other top ten hit, "Lay Lady
Lay", written for his wife.
19 - Waterloo Sunset - Kinks - 1967 (Peaks:
WABC -
Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did
Not Chart)
THE NEXT BIG THING..."Lola", #9 in 1970.
18 - *My Girl – Temptations – 1965 (Peaks:
WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the end of what's called the
"Classic Five" era on June 27, 1968. That's when the other original four
Temptations drew up legal documentation, officially firing the erratic
and demanding David Ruffin from the group. From that point on, sixteen
new members would come in and out of the group from the original four.
17 - *Runaway - Del Shannon - 1961 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...a song that only got to #77 on
the top 100 but one which gave Del the unique honor of being the first
singer of a U.S. chart hit written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The song was "From Me to You" in the summer of 1963.
16 - *Be My Baby - Ronettes - 1963 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...induction into the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
15 - God Only Knows - Beach Boys - 1966
(Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l - #39)
THE NEXT BIG THING...came just over 2 months after
this flip side hit the chart. It was then that "Good Vibrations" started
its climb up the top 100 and became their last #1 song until "Kokomo" 22
years later.
14 - *Good Vibrations - Beach Boys – 1966
(Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING... would not happen until ten years
after this song got to #1. That's how long it took for the group to have
another top ten hit, "Rock and Roll Music" (#5). And their next and
final #1 would not appear until 22 years later, when "Kokomo" made it to
the top.
13 - *I Want To Hold Your Hand – Beatles –
1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...was appearing on the “Ed Sullivan
Show”, which helped them attain legendary status as the greatest group
ever, with 34 top 20 LPs and 42 top USA 20 singles, twenty of which got
to #1.
12 - *She Loves You – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...chartwise, came on April 4, 1964,
when the Fab Four became the only act ever to simultaneously occupy the
Billboard Hot 100 chart's entire top five positions, as well as placing
seven others on the Hot 100. The top five songs were, in order, "Can’t
Buy Me Love", "Twist And Shout", "She Loves You", "I Want To Hold Your
Hand" and "Please Please Me". The other seven were "I Saw Her Standing
There" (#31), "From Me To You" (#41), "Do You Want To Know A Secret"
(#46), "All My Loving" (Canadian import single #58), "You Can’t Do That"
(#65), "Roll Over Beethoven" (Canadian import single #68) and "Thank You
Girl" (#79).
***COULD THIS BE REFERRED TO AS "THE FINAL
COUNTDOWN"? WELL, IT'S THE FINAL PART OF THIS
COUNTDOWN ANYWAY!...INTO THE TOP 11 WE GO!***
11 - In The Still Of The Nite - Five Satins –
1956 (Peaks: WABC – Pre-Dates Chart, Nat’l: #24)
THE NEXT BIG THING...the group never charted
another big hit, having only modest success with "To the Aisle". But 15
years later with the revival of oldies radio, this song cemented its
place in music history as the overwhelming doo-wop favorite of all-time.
10 -*Rag Doll - Four Seasons – 1964 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...was 12 years later. Although the
group had 14 top 20 hits after this song, the guys would not get to the
top again until 1976, when "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" became
their LAST #1 hit.
9 - *Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and
Garfunkel – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...was the group's breakup. For
Paul, it meant a new career that led to seven top 20 hits. For Art,
nothing succeeded musically until "All I Know" became his only top ten
hit three years later. But on the silver screen, Art did well, appearing
in "Catch-22" in 1970 and "Carnal Knowledge" in 1971.
8 - Stairway To Heaven
- Led Zeppelin – 1971
(Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
THE NEXT BIG THING...was the group following up the
lead album for this song with tours of the UK, Australia, Asia, North
America, Japan and the UK from late 1971 through early 1973. By 1975
with the release of "Physical Graffiti", Rolling Stone magazine declared
that the only bands Led Zeppelin had to compete with for the title "The
World's Best Rock Band" were the Rolling Stones and the Who. Shortly
after, all previous Led Zeppelin albums simultaneously re-entered the
top-200 album chart.
7 - Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen – 1975
(Peaks: WABC #36, Nat’l #25)
THE NEXT BIG THING...happened a full five years later
when, starting in 1980, "The Boss" ran off a string of 16 out of his
next 18 charted records making the top 20, including eleven in the top
ten.
6 - MacArthur Park - Richard Harris – 1968
(Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #2)
THE NEXT BIG THING...wasn't in music, since this song
was Richard's only top 20 record. But in 1971, Harris won a "Best Actor"
award for the movie "Cromwell" at the Moscow Film Festival and a Grammy
for the "Best Spoken Word Recording" for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"
in 1973.
5 - *Let It Be – Beatles – 1970 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BEST THING...a shocking announcement. This
song hit the chart on March 21, 1970. Twenty days later, Paul McCartney
announced the dissolution of the group. The day after THAT, "Let It Be"
got to #1 on the national chart, as each individual Beatle set off on
their own solo career.
4 - *American Pie - Don McLean – 1972 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...came 30 years later for Don, when
in February, 2002, "American Pie" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of
Fame. And then in 2004, McLean was inaugurated into the Songwriters Hall
of Fame.
3 - *Light My Fire – Doors – 1967 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...came over a year later, when The
Doors had their only other #1 song when "Hello I Love You" hit #1 on
August 3, 1968.
2 - *Satisfaction - Rolling Stones – 1965
(Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...came quickly, within a month of
this falling off the chart, when "Get Off My Cloud" started its climb to
#1, the only time the Stones would ever have back to back #1 songs.
1 - *Hey Jude – Beatles – 1968 (Peaks: WABC
#1, Nat’l #1)
THE NEXT BIG THING...in this case was also the last
big thing. Within a month of "Hey Jude" falling off the chart, The
Beatles recorded what many feel was their greatest album, "Abbey Road".
Although "Let It Be" would be the last LP released before their official
breakup, "Abbey Road" was the last LP they recorded together as a band.
THESE ARE THE SONG YOU LOVED THE
MOST THIS YEAR ON THE 18TH ANNUAL TOP 77.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE LINKS AT OLDIESBOARD.COM’S HOME PAGE
FOR MORE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ON THE TOP 77 RESULTS!***