Wednesday, December 31, 1986

Dave’s Faves: My Album Collection in 1986

Dave’s Faves:

My Album Collection in 1986

By year’s end, this was what my collection looked like. Albums acquired in 1986 are marked with an asterisk.

  1. Aha Hunting High and Low (1985) *
  2. Aha Scoundrel Days (1986) *
  3. Air Supply Lost in Love (1980)
  4. Air Supply The One That You Love (1981)
  5. Alabama Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986) *
  6. Alabama The Touch (1986)
  7. Asia Asia (1982)
  8. Asia Alpha (1983)
  9. Asia Astra (1985)

  10. Bangles Different Light (1986) *
  11. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
  12. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
  13. The Beatles Hey Jude (1968)
  14. The Beatles 1962-1966 (compilation: 1962-66, released 1973)
  15. The Beatles 1967-1970 (compilation: 1967-70, released 1973)
  16. The Beatles 20 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1962-70, released 1982) *
  17. Pat Benatar Crimes of Passion (1980)
  18. Pat Benatar Get Nervous (1982)
  19. Pat Benatar Live from Earth (live, 1983)
  20. Pat Benatar Tropico (1984)
  21. Pat Benatar Seven the Hard Way (1985)

  22. Berlin Pleasure Victim (1983) *
  23. Berlin Love Life (1984) *
  24. Berlin Count Three and Pray (1986) *
  25. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978)
  26. Blondie Eat to the Beat (1979)
  27. Boomtown Rats In the Long Grass (1984) *
  28. Boston Third Stage (1986) *

  29. Chicago Chicago 16 (1982)
  30. Chicago Chicago 17 (1984)
  31. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985)

  32. David + David Boomtown (1986) *
  33. Def Leppard Pyromania (1983)
  34. John Denver Greatest Hits (compilation: 1969-72, released 1973)
  35. Dennis DeYoung Desert Moon (1984)
  36. Dennis DeYoung Back to the World (1986) *
  37. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
  38. Neil Diamond The Jazz Singer (soundtrack, 1980)

  39. Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (compilation: 1971-75, released 1976)
  40. Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 2 (released 1982)
  41. Eurythmics In the Garden (1981)
  42. Eurythmics Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983)
  43. Eurythmics Touch (1983)
  44. Eurythmics 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) (1984)
  45. Eurythmics Be Yourself Tonight (1985)

  46. Dan Fogelberg Greatest Hits (compilation: 1972-82, released 1982)
  47. Foreigner 4 (1981)
  48. Foreigner Records (compilation: 1976-82, released 1982)
  49. Foreigner Agent Provocateur (1984)

  50. Peter Gabriel So (1986) *
  51. J. Geils Band Freeze Frame (1981)
  52. Genesis Genesis (1983)
  53. Genesis Invisible Touch (1986) *

  54. Daryl Hall & John Oates H2O (1982)
  55. Daryl Hall & John Oates Rock ‘N’ Soul Part I (compilation: (1973-83, released 1983)
  56. Don Henley Building the Perfect Beast (1984)
  57. Hooters Nervous Night (1985)

  58. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
  59. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
  60. Billy Joel Turnstiles (1976) *
  61. Billy Joel The Stranger (1977)
  62. Billy Joel The Nylon Curtain (1982)
  63. Billy Joel An Innocent Man (1983)
  64. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (compilation: 1973-85, released 1985)
  65. Billy Joel The Bridge (1986) *
  66. Journey Captured (live, 1981)
  67. Journey Escape (1981)
  68. Journey Frontiers (1983)
  69. Journey Raised on Radio (1986) *

  70. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983)
  71. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
  72. Huey Lewis & the News Sports (1983)

  73. Barry Manilow Greatest Hits (compilation, released 1978)
  74. Marillion Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983) *
  75. Marillion Fugazi (1984) *
  76. Marillion Real to Reel (live, 1984) *
  77. Marillion Misplaced Childhood (1985) *
  78. Marillion Brief Encounter (EP, 1986) *
  79. John Cougar (Mellencamp) American Fool (1982)
  80. John Cougar Mellencamp Uh-Huh (1983)
  81. John Cougar Mellencamp Scarecrow (1985)
  82. Men at Work Business As Usual (1981)
  83. Men at Work Cargo (1983)
  84. Men at Work Two Hearts (1985)
  85. The Moody Blues This Is the Moody Blues (compilation: 1967-72, released 1974) *
  86. The Moody Blues Voices in the Sky (compilation: 1967-82, released 1984) *
  87. The Moody Blues The Other Side of Life (1986) *

  88. Olivia Newton-John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-76, released 1977)
  89. Olivia Newton-John Totally Hot (1978)
  90. Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu (soundtrack, 1980)
  91. Olivia Newton-John Physical (1981)
  92. Olivia Newton-John Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (compilation: 1978-82, released 1982)
  93. Olivia Newton-John Soul Kiss (1985)
  94. Stevie Nicks The Wild Heart (1983)

  95. Alan Parsons Project I Robot (1977) *
  96. Alan Parsons Project The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) *
  97. Alan Parsons Project Eye in the Sky (1982) *
  98. Alan Parsons Project The Best of (compilation: 1977-83, released 1983)
  99. Alan Parsons Project Ammonia Avenue (1984)
  100. Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture (1985)
  101. Alan Parsons Project Stereotomy (1986) *
  102. Steve Perry Street Talk (1984)
  103. Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
  104. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
  105. The Police Outlandos D’Amour (1978)
  106. The Police Reggatta De Blanc (1979)
  107. The Police Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
  108. The Police Ghost in the Machine (1981)
  109. The Police Synchronicity (1983)
  110. Prince 1999 (1982)
  111. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984)
  112. Prince & the Revolution Around the World in a Day (1985)

  113. Queen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-81, released 1981)

  114. The Rainmakers The Rainmakers (1986) *
  115. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980)
  116. REO Speedwagon Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984)
  117. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 1980)
  118. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
  119. Lionel Richie Dancing on the Ceiling (1986) *
  120. Rush All the World’s a Stage (live, 1976) *
  121. Rush Moving Pictures (1981)
  122. Rush Exit…Stage Left (live, 1981)

  123. Charlie Sexton Pictures for Pleasure (1985) *
  124. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) *
  125. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) *
  126. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
  127. Bruce Springsteen Live 1975/1985 (live box set, 1986) *

  128. Squeeze 45s and Under (compilation: 1977-82, released 1982) *
  129. Squeeze Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985) *
  130. Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
  131. Sting Bring on the Night (live, 1986) *

  132. Styx Styx I (1972)
  133. Styx Styx II (1973)
  134. Styx The Serpent Is Rising (1973) *
  135. Styx Man of Miracles (1974) *
  136. Styx Best of Styx (compilation: 1972-74)
  137. Styx Equinox (1975)
  138. Styx Crystal Ball (1976)
  139. Styx The Grand Illusion (1977)
  140. Styx Pieces of Eight (1978)
  141. Styx Cornerstone (1979)
  142. Styx Paradise Theater (1981)
  143. Styx Kilroy Was Here (1983)
  144. Styx Caught in the Act (live, 1984)
  145. Supertramp Famous Last Words (1982)
  146. Supertramp Brother Where You Bound (1985)

  147. Tears for Fears The Hurting (1983)
  148. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
  149. Toto Toto IV (1982)

  150. U2 War (1983) *
  151. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (live, 1983) *

  152. Van Halen 5150 (1986) *

  153. John Williams (composer) Star Wars IV: A New Hope (soundtrack, 1977)

  154. Yes The Yes Album (1971)
  155. Yes Fragile (1971)
  156. Yes Classic Yes (compilation: 1971-77, released 1981)
  157. Yes 90125 (1983)

  158. ZZ Top Afterburner (1985)

    Various Artists:

  159. Brimstone and Treacle (soundtrack, 1982)
  160. Flashdance (soundtrack, 1983)
  161. Footloose (soundtrack, 1984)
  162. K-Tel: High Energy (1979)
  163. K-Tel: Starflight (1979)
  164. K-Tel: Wings of Sound (1979)
  165. Legend (soundtrack, 1986) *
  166. Pretty in Pink (soundtrack, 1986) *
  167. St. Elmo’s Fire (soundtrack, 1985) *
  168. Two of a Kind (soundtrack, 1983)
  169. Vision Quest (soundtrack, 1985)
  170. We Are the World (1985)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 8/31/2021.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bob Shannon & John Javna Behind the Hits

Bob Shannon & John Javna:

Behind the Hits

From the back book jacket: “Here they are…the most amazing stories of rock and roll’s first thirty years, the stories behind the classic songs and the aritsts who made them famous.” The book doesn’t present songs in a ranked, chronological, or alphabetized order. Instead, songs are grouped by categories such as “Accidental Hits,” “False Impressions,” “Mistaken Identity,” and “Spontaneous Combustion.” The songs (just shy of 350 titles) are presented here in alphabetical order by artist.

Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.

  • Ace “How Long” (1974)
  • The Angels “My Boyfriend’s Back” (1963)
  • Paul Anka “Diana” (1957)
  • Paul Anka “Puppy Love” (1960)
  • The Archies “Sugar, Sugar” (1969)
  • The Association “Windy” (1967)
  • Frankie Avalon “Dede Dinah” (1958)
  • Frankie Avalon “Venus” (1959)
  • Bachman-Turner Overdrive “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (1974)
  • Badfinger “Come and Get It” (1970)
  • Philip Bailey & Phil Collins “Easy Lover” (1985)
  • Hank Ballard & the Midnighters “The Twist” (1960)
  • Bessie Banks “Go Now” (1964)
  • Dave Bartholomew “My Ding-a-Ling” (1952)
  • Toni Basi “Mickey” (1981)
  • The Beach Boys “Little Deuce Coupe” (1963)
  • The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” (1966)
  • The Beatles “Love Me Do” (1962)
  • The Beatles “Please Please Me” (1963)
  • The Beatles “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” (1964)
  • The Beatles “Michelle” (1965)
  • The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” (1966)
  • The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” (1966)
  • The Beatles “Baby You’re a Rich Man” (1967)
  • The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968)
  • The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (1968)
  • The Beatles “Sexy Sadie” (1968)
  • The Beatles “Let It Be” (1970)
  • Bee Gees “Jive Talkin’” (1975)
  • Chuck Berry “Maybellene” (1955)
  • Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode” (1958)
  • Chuck Berry “Sweet Little Sixteen” (1958)
  • Chuck Berry “My Ding-a-Ling (live)” (1972)
  • Richard Berry “Louie Louie” (1957)
  • The Bobbettes “Mr. Lee” (1957)
  • Gary "U.S." Bonds “Quarter to Three” (1961)
  • Gary "U.S." Bonds “This Little Girl” (1981)
  • Booker T. & the MG’s “Green Onions” (1962)
  • Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (1977)
  • David Bowie “Space Oddity” (1969)
  • David Bowie “Fame” (1975)
  • Walter Brennan “Old Rivers” (1962)
  • Brooklyn Bridge with Johnny Maestro “The Worst That Can Happen” (1969)
  • Jackson Browne “Running on Empty” (1978)
  • Brownsville Station “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room” (1973)
  • Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (1967)
  • Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio “Train Kept-a-Rollin’” (1956)
  • The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
  • The Byrds “Eight Miles High” (1966)
  • The Byrds “Mr. Spaceman” (1966)
  • The Byrds “So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star” (1967)
  • Glen Campbell “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (1967)
  • Cannibal & the Headhunters “Land of 1,000 Dances” (1965)
  • Freddy Cannon “Tallahassee Lassie” (1959)
  • The Capris “There’s a Moon Out Tonight” (1960)
  • Captain & Tennille “Love Will Keep Us Together” (1975)
  • Carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” (1970)
  • Carpenters “Goodbye to Love” (1972)
  • The Champs “Tequila” (1958)
  • Gene Chandler “Duke of Earl” (1962)
  • Bruce Channel “Hey Baby” (1962)
  • Ray Charles “What’d I Say” (1959)
  • Cheap Trick “I Want You to Want Me (live)” (1979)
  • Chubby Checker “The Twist” (1960)
  • The Chiffons “He’s So Fine” (1963)
  • The Chiffons “One Fine Day” (1963)
  • The Chipmunks “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (1958)
  • The Chords “Sh-Boom” (1954)
  • Eric Clapton “I Shot the Sheriff” (1974)
  • Dave Clark Five “Bits and Pieces” (1964)
  • The Coasters “Along Came Jones” (1959)
  • Phil Collins “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1982)
  • Commodores “Easy” (1977)
  • Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978)
  • Alice Cooper “School’s Out” (1972)
  • Cream “Badge” (1969)
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival “Proud Mary” (1969)
  • The Crests “16 Candles” (1958)
  • Jim Croce “Time in a Bottle” (1972)
  • Jim Croce “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” (1973)
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Woodstock” (1970)
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Our House” (1970)
  • The Crystals “He’s a Rebel” (1962)
  • The Crystals “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” (1963)
  • The Cuff Links “Tracy” (1969)
  • Charlie Daniels Band “Uneasy Rider” (1973)
  • Danny & The Juniors “At the Hop” (1957)
  • Bobby Darin “Splish Splash” (1958)
  • Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife” (1959)
  • Bobby Darin “If I Were a Carpenter” (1966)
  • Skeeter Davis “The End of the World” (1963)
  • Bobby Day “Rockin’ Robin” (1958)
  • Jimmy Dean “Big Bad John” (1961)
  • Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots “Disco Duck” (1976)
  • The Del-Vikings “Come Go with Me” (1957)
  • John Denver “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (1971)
  • Derek & the Dominos “Layla” (1970)
  • Jackie DeShannon “Needles and Pins” (1963)
  • Jackie DeShannon “What the World Needs Now Is Love” (1965)
  • Devo “Whip It” (1980)
  • Neil Diamond “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1978)
  • The Diamonds “Little Darlin’” (1957)
  • Bo Diddley “Bo Diddley” (1955)
  • Mark Dinning “Teen Angel” (1959)
  • Dion & the Belmonts “A Teenager in Love” (1959)
  • Dion “The Wanderer” (1961)
  • Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing” (1978)
  • Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
  • The Dixie Cups “Chapel of Love” (1964)
  • Fats Domino “Be My Guest” (1959)
  • Ral Donner “Girl of My Best Friend” (1961)
  • The Doobie Brothers “What a Fool Believes” (1978)
  • The Doors “The End” (1967)
  • Lee Dorsey “Ya Ya” (1961)
  • Joe Dowell “Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)” (1961)
  • Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’” (1972)
  • The Drifters “Save the Last Dance for Me” (1960)
  • Earl-Jean “I’m into Something Good” (1964)
  • Duane Eddy “Rebel Rouser” (1958)
  • Scott English “Brandy” (1972)
  • Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
  • The Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little Susie” (1957)
  • The Everly Brothers “Bye Bye Love” (1957)
  • The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958)
  • The Everly Brothers “Bird Dog” (1958)
  • The Everly Brothers “Cathy’s Clown” (1960)
  • The Exciters “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (1963)
  • Shelley Fabares “Johnny Angel” (1962)
  • Marianne Faithfull “As Tears Go By” (1965)
  • The Fifth Dimension “Up, Up and Away” (1967)
  • The Fifth Dimension “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” (1969)
  • The Five Satins “In the Still of the Nite (I’ll Remember)” (1956)
  • Roberta Flack “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (1973)
  • Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” (1976)
  • Frankie Ford “Sea Cruise” (1959)
  • Foreigner “Urgent” (1981)
  • The Four Seasons “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (1962)
  • The Four Seasons “Sherry” (1962)
  • The Four Seasons “Walk Like a Man” (1963)
  • The Four Seasons “Rag Doll” (1964)
  • Four Tops “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” (1966)
  • Connie Francis “Who’s Sorry Now” (1958)
  • Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967)
  • Glenn Frey “Smuggler’s Blues” (1984)
  • Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982)
  • Crystal Gayle “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (1977)
  • Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs “Sugar Shack” (1963)
  • The Gladiolas “Little Darlin’” (1957)
  • Lesley Gore “It’s My Party” (1963)
  • Grand Funk Railroad “We’re an American Band” (1973)
  • The Grateful Dead “Truckin’” (1970)
  • The Grateful Dead “Friend of the Devil” (1970)
  • The Grateful Dead “Casey Jones” (1970)
  • Henry Gross “Shannon” (1979)
  • Arlo Guthrie “The City of New Orleans” (1972)
  • Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954)
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates “She’s Gone” (1973)
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates “Sara Smile” (1976)
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates “Kiss on My List” (1980)
  • Richard Harris “MacArthur Park” (1968)
  • Edwin Hawkins Singers “Oh Happy Day” (1969)
  • Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “I Put a Spell on You” (1956)
  • Herman’s Hermits “I’m into Something Good” (1964)
  • Herman’s Hermits “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” (1965)
  • Herman’s Hermits “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” (1965)
  • Bertie Higgins “Key Largo” (1982)
  • Al Hirt “Java” (1964)
  • The Hollies “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” (1969)
  • The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe” (1974)
  • Buddy Holly & the Crickets “That’ll Be the Day” (1957)
  • Buddy Holly & the Crickets “Peggy Sue” (1957)
  • Buddy Holly & the Crickets “I’m Gonna Love You Too” (1958)
  • Rupert Holmes “Him” (1980)
  • Mary Hopkin “Those Were the Days” (1968)
  • Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (1974)
  • Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1982)
  • Michael Jackson “Human Nature” (1982)
  • Tommy James & the Shondells “Hanky Panky” (1966)
  • Tommy James & the Shondells “Mony Mony” (1968)
  • Jan & Dean “Surf City” (1963)
  • Jan & Dean “Honolulu Lulu” (1963)
  • Jan & Dean “Linda” (1963)
  • Jan & Dean “Dead Man’s Curve” (1964)
  • Jan & Dean “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena” (1964)
  • Jay & the Americans “Only in America” (1963)
  • Jefferson Airplane “White Rabbit” (1967)
  • Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “Crimson and Clover” (1982)
  • Billy Joel “Piano Man” (1973)
  • Billy Joel “Uptown Girl” (1983)
  • Elton John “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (1975)
  • Rickie Lee Jones “Chuck E.’s in Love” (1979)
  • Tom Jones “The Green Green Grass of Home” (1966)
  • Katrina & the Waves “Walking on Sunshine” (1983)
  • Ernie K-Doe “Mother-in-Law” (1961)
  • Chris Kenner “Land of 1,000 Dances” (1963)
  • The Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963)
  • The Kingsmen “The Jolly Green Giant” (1965)
  • The Kinks “You Really Got Me” (1964)
  • The Kinks “Lola” (1970)
  • Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983)
  • Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
  • Brenda Lee “Fool #1” (1961)
  • The Left Banke “Walk Away Renee” (1966)
  • Bobby Lewis “Tossin’ and Turnin’” (1961)
  • Gary Lewis & the Playboys “This Diamond Ring” (1965)
  • Huey Lewis & the News “Do You Believe in Love?” (1982)
  • Jerry Lee Lewis “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (1957)
  • Jerry Lee Lewis “Breathless” (1958)
  • Little Richard “Tutti Frutti” (1955)
  • Little Richard “Rip It Up” (1956)
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City” (1966)
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?” (1966)
  • Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” (1956)
  • Barbara Lynn “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” (1962)
  • Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984)
  • Barry Manilow “Mandy” (1974)
  • Barry Manilow “I Write the Songs” (1975)
  • Manfred Mann “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (1964)
  • Manfred Mann “The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)” (1968)
  • Little Peggy March “I Will Follow Him” (1963)
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers “I Shot the Sheriff” (1974)
  • Paul McCartney & Wings “My Love” (1973)
  • The McCoys “Hang on Sloopy” (1965)
  • Gene McDaniels “Chip Chip” (1969)
  • Barry McGuire “Eve of Destruction” (1965)
  • Don McLean “American Pie” (1971)
  • Melanie “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” (1970)
  • Melanie “Brand New Key” (1971)
  • The Miracles “Shop Around” (1960)
  • The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” (1965)
  • The Miracles “The Tears of a Clown” (1967)
  • The Monkees “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You” (1967)
  • The Monkees “Valleri” (1967)
  • The Monotones “Book of Love” (1958)
  • The Moody Blues “Go Now” (1964)
  • Mott the Hoople “All the Young Dudes” (1972)
  • Napoleon XIV “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-haaa!” (1966)
  • Rick Nelson “Garden Party” (1972)
  • Ricky Nelson “I’m Walking” (1957)
  • Ricky Nelson “Travelin’ Man” (1961)
  • Juice Newton “Angel of the Morning” (1981)
  • Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (1981)
  • The Olympics “Good Lovin’” (1965)
  • Roy Orbison “Crying” (1961)
  • Roy Orbison “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (1964)
  • Tony Orlando & Dawn “Knock Three Times” (1970)
  • Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” (1973)
  • Tony Orlando & Dawn “Candida” (1970)
  • Bill Parsons “All-American Boy” (1958)
  • Paul & Paula “Hey Paula” (1962)
  • Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” (1956)
  • Peter & Gordon “Woman” (1966)
  • Peter, Paul & Mary “Puff the Magic Dragon” (1963)
  • Peter, Paul & Mary “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963)
  • Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers “Monster Mash” (1962)
  • Wilson Pickett “In the Midnight Hour” (1965)
  • Wilson Pickett “Land of 1,000 Dances” (1966)
  • The Pointer Sisters “Slow Hand” (1981)
  • The Police “Roxanne” (1978)
  • The Police “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (1980)
  • The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
  • Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956)
  • Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956)
  • Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956)
  • Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957)
  • Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never” (1960)
  • Pretenders “Stop Your Sobbing” (1980)
  • ? & the Mysterians “96 Tears” (1966)
  • Racey “Kitty (covered later as ‘Mickey’)” (1979)
  • The Rays “Silhouettes” (1957)
  • Otis Redding “Respect” (1965)
  • Otis Redding “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” (1968)
  • The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (1964)
  • Rockwell with Michael Jackson “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984)
  • The Rolling Stones “Time Is on My Side” (1964)
  • The Rolling Stones “It’s All Over Now” (1964)
  • The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)
  • The Rolling Stones “Play with Fire” (1965)
  • The Rolling Stones “Brown Sugar” (1971)
  • Linda Ronstadt “Heat Wave” (1975)
  • The Royal Teens “Short Shorts” (1958)
  • Rufus & Chaka Khan “Tell Me Something Good” (1974)
  • Todd Rundgren “I Saw the Light” (1972)
  • Merrilee Rush & the Turnabouts “Angel of the Morning” (1968)
  • Bobby Rydell “Volare” (1960)
  • Sam & Dave “Hold on I’m Comin’” (1966)
  • Sam & Dave “Soul Man” (1967)
  • Leo Sayer “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” (1976)
  • The Searchers “Needles and Pins” (1964)
  • Neil Sedaka “Oh Carol” (1959)
  • Neil Sedaka “Laughter in the Rain” (1974)
  • Neil Sedaka “Bad Blood” (1975)
  • Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band “Night Moves” (1976)
  • Michael Sembello “Maniac” (1983)
  • David Seville “Witch Doctor” (1958)
  • Del Shannon “Runaway” (1961)
  • Shirley & Lee “Let the Good Times Roll” (1956)
  • Carly Simon “You’re So Vain” (1972)
  • Simon & Garfunkel “The Sound of Silence” (aka “The Sounds of Silence”) (1965)
  • Paul Simon “Mother and Child Reunion” (1972)
  • Frank Sinatra “My Way” (1969)
  • Percy Sledge “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1966)
  • Spanky & Our Gang “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” (1967)
  • Dusty Springfield “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” (1966)
  • Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” (1981)
  • Terry Stafford “Suspicion” (1964)
  • Al Stewart “Year of the Cat” (1976)
  • Al Stewart “Time Passages” (1978)
  • Rod Stewart “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” (1977)
  • The Strangeloves “I Want Candy” (1965)
  • Strawberry Alarm Clock “Incense and Peppermints” (1967)
  • Donna Summer “MacArthur Park” (1978)
  • The Supremes “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965)
  • The Surfaris “Wipe Out” (1963)
  • Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1977)
  • James Taylor “Handy Man” (1977)
  • The Teddy Bears “To Know Him Is to Love Him” (1958)
  • Joe Tex “Skinny Legs and All” (1967)
  • Irma Thomas “Time Is on My Side” (1964)
  • Big Mama Thornton “Hound Dog” (1953)
  • Three Dog Night “Black and White” (1972)
  • Johnny Tillotson “Poetry in Motion” (1961)
  • The Tokens “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)” (1961)
  • Tom & Jerry “Hey Schoolgirl” (1957)
  • Toto “Rosanna” (1982)
  • The Troggs “Wild Thing” (1966)
  • The Turtles “Happy Together” (1967)
  • Ritchie Valens “Donna” (1958)
  • Van Halen “Jump” (1983)
  • Bobby Vee “Rubber Ball” (1960)
  • The Ventures “Walk Don’t Run” (1960)
  • Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (1956)
  • Loudon Wainwright III “Dead Skunk” (1973)
  • John Waite “Missing You” (1984)
  • Junior Walker & the All Stars “Shotgun” (1965)
  • Wang Chung “Dance Hall Days” (1984)
  • Dionne Warwick “Don’t Make Me Over” (1962)
  • Wham! “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984)
  • The Who “My Generation” (1965)
  • Wilson Place Street Band “Disco Lucy” (1977)
  • Frank J. Wilson & the Cavaliers “Last Kiss” (1964)
  • Steve Winwood “While You See a Chance” (1981)
  • Little Stevie Wonder Fingertips (Part 2) (1963)
  • Weird Al Yankovic “My Bologna” (parody of The Knack’s “My Sharona”) (1983)
  • Weird Al Yankovic “Eat It” (parody of Michael Jackson's “Beat It”) (1984)
  • The Young Rascals “Good Lovin’” (1966)
  • The Youngbloods “Get Together” (1967)

Resources/Related Links:

First posted 4/1/2023.

at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Pop Memories: The Top 100 Songs, 1890-1954

Pop Memories:

Top 100 Songs, 1890-1954

Billboard magazine has long been the music chart industry leader with its flagship Hot 100 chart, which launched in 1958. Prior to that, Billboard did other charts, but the farther back one dips into recorded history, the more difficult it is to find music charts from Billboard or any other source. Pop Memories 1890-1954 taps multiple sources from the pre-rock era to create music charts.

This particular webpage takes the list from that book of the top 100 songs from 1890 to 1954, as determined first by the most weeks spent at #1, tne by total weeks on the chart.

Check other lists based on charts, sales, and airplay here.

17 weeks:

1. Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947)

14 weeks:

2. Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers “White Christmas” (1942)

13 weeks:

3. Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (1940)
4. Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven” (1927)
5. Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950)
6. Harry James with Helen Forrest “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (1943)
7. The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950)
8. Ben Selvin “Dardanella” (1920)
9. The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946)
10. Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947)

12 weeks:

11. The Mills Brothers “Paper Doll” (1942)
12. Vernon Dalhart “The Prisoner’s Song” (1925)
13. Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (1939)
14. Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (1952)
15. Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949)
16. Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra “I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940)
17. Al Jolson “Sonny Boy” (1928)

11 weeks:

18. Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953)
19. Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (1950)
20. Guy Lombardo “The Third Man Theme” (1950)

21. Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951)
22. Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946)
23. Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra “Whispering” (1920)
24. Leo Reisman & His Orchestra with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers “Cheek to Cheek” (1935)
25. American Quartet with Billy Murray “Casey Jones” (1910)
26. Haydn Quartet “Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet” (1909)
27. Al Jolson “April Showers” (1922)
28. Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra with Franklyn Baur “Valencia (A Song of Spain)” (1926)
29. Bryon G. Harlan “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)” (1907)
30. Henry Burr “Just a Baby’s Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There)” (1918)

31. Arthur Collins “The Preacher and the Bear” (1905)
32. Len Spencer “The Arkansaw Traveler” (1902)

10 weeks:

33. Tony Bennett “Because of You” (1951)
34. Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians “Sweet Leilani” (1937)
35. Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (1948)
36. Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952)
37. Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953)
38. Ted Lewis & His Band “In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town” (1932)
39. Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (1947)
40. Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (1952)

41. Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees “Stein Song (University of Maine)” (1930)
42. The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen’s Orchestra “Rum and Coca-Cola” (1945)
43. Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945)
44. Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (1938)
45. Nick Lucas “Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips with Me” (1929)
46. Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & The Modernaires “Moonlight Cocktail” (1942)
47. Leo Reisman’s Orchestra with Fred Astaire “Night and Day” (1932)
48. Arthur Collins with Bryon G. Harlan “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (1911)
49. Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Bob Eberly & Helen O’Connell “Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)” (1941)
50. Haydn Quartet “Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart)” (1904)

51. Eileen Barton “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (1950)
52. Bing Crosby with George Stoll’s Orchestra “Pennies from Heaven” (1936)
53. Billy Murray “You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)” (1906)
54. George J. Gaskin “My Old New Hampshire Home” (1898)
55. Bryon G. Harlan “My Gal Sal” (1907)
56. George J. Gaskin “On the Banks of the Wabash” (1897)
57. George J. Gaskin “After the Ball” (1893)
58. George W. Johnson “The Laughing Song” (1891)
59. Dan Quinn “The Band Played On” (1895)

9 weeks:

60. Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945)
61. Bing Crosby with John Scottt Trotter’s Orchestra “Swinging on a Star” (1944)
62. Kitty Kallen “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954)
63. Glenn Miller with Tex Beneke & the Four Modernaires “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (1941)
64. Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951)
65. George Olsen with Joe Morrison “The Last Round-Up” (1933)
66. The Andrews Sisters “Shoo-Shoo Baby” (1943)
67. Peggy Lee “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948)
68. Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” (1952)
69. The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954)
70. Bing Crosby “Only Forever” (1940)

71. Glenn Miller “Tuxedo Junction” (1940)
72. American Quartet “Over There” (1917)
73. Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946)
74. Al Jolson “Swanee” (1920)
75. Bryon G. Harlan “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie” (1906)
76. Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” (1910)
77. Henry Burr with Albert Campbell “Till We Meet Again” (1919)
78. Henry Burr “Beautiful Ohio” (1919)
79. Harry MacDonough with Elise Stevenson (as Miss Walton) “Shine on, Harvest Moon” (1909)
80. Billy Murray “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis” (1904)

81. Billy Murray “Harrigan” (1907)
82. Bert Williams “Nobody” (1906)
83. Larry Clinton with Bea Wain “Deep Purple” (1939)
84. Dan Quinn “Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)” (1893)
85. Dan Quinn “The Sidewalks of New York” (1895)

8 weeks:

86. Al Dexter & His Troopers “Pistol Packin’ Mama” (1943)
87. Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948)
88. The Ames Brothers “You, You, You” (1953)
89. Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950)
90. The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947)

91. Tony Bennett “Rags to Riches” (1953)
92. Freddy Martin & Jack Fina “Piano Concerto in B Flat” (1941)
93. Perry Como “If (They Made Me King)” (1951)
94. Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946)
95. Eddy Howard “Sin (It’s No Sin)” (1951)
96. Perry Como “Wanted” (1954)
97. Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949)
98. Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944)
99. Dinah Shore “The Gypsy” (1946)
100. Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953)

Resources/Related Links:

First posted 12/21/2022.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pop Memories 1890-1954

Pop Memories:

1890-1954

My personal book shelves are loaded with more than a hundred books devoted to music. This one, however, is the most important of them all. The book was published by Record Research, a company started by Joel Whitburn which became the go-to resource for books on the Billboard charts. The book also features invaluable research from Steve Sullivan, who has become the individual most responsible for sparking my interest in music of the pre-rock era.

I became a chart fanatic in the 1980s because of American Top 40, a weekly radio countdown show based on Billboard’s pop charts. The magazine was founded in 1894 as a trade publication for, well, billboards. However, it expanded in the early years of the 20th century to cover the entertainment industry in general and then later keying in on the music industry. Their first music charts in 1913 focused on sheet music. Over the years, they’ve developed multiple charts focused on music, but the Billboard Hot 100, which tracks the most popular songs in the United States on a weekly basis, has become the industry standard.

However, other charts have existed over the years and Pop Memories serves as an invaluable resource to early Billboard charts as well as other chart sources. Here are some of the sources cited on page 7 of the 1986 edition:

  • The Phonogram (early 1890s), record industry periodical
  • The Phonoscope (1896-1899), monthly lists of popular recordings
  • Hobbies Magazine (1900-1920s), Jim Walsh columns on music
  • Talking Machine World (1905-1921), monthly record industry periodical, lists of best sellers
  • Billboard (1913-1918), most popular vaudeville songs
  • Billboard magazine (1920s), hit records and songs of the era, regular charts by 1934 for radio airplay and sheet music sales
  • Variety magazine (1920s), hit records and songs of the era, monthly rankings of best-selling records starting in 1929
  • Your Hit Parade (1935-1940), weekly rankings
  • Billboard (1938-1954), weekly lists of the most popular records in jukeboxes
  • Billboard (1940-1954), began first comprehensive chart of best selling records from all labels
  • Billboard (1945-1954), chart of most played songs by disc jockeys
  • ASCAP
  • record label catalogs and publications
  • sheet music sales

Dave’s Music Database lists based on Pop Memories:

Resources/Related Links:

  • Dave’s Music Database: “Lists Based on Charts, Sales, and Airplay”
  • Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc.
  • Joel Whitburn (2016). Pop Memories 1900-1940. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc.
  • Joel Whitburn (2002). Billboard Pop Hits – Singles & Albums, 1940-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc.

First posted 12/21/2022.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pop Memories 1890-1954 – Top 100 Artists

image from recordresearch.com

This list is taken from page 623 of Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954. That book was designed as a companion to the Billboard books which tracked the songs which charted on the Hot 100 from 1955 to the present. The book lists acts alphabetically and all their hits, including peak position and date first charted. This list was created by totaling each act’s chart points.

1. Bing Crosby
2. Paul Whiteman
3. Guy Lombardo
4. Tommy Dorsey
5. Billy Murray
6. Benny Goodman
7. Glenn Miller
8. Henry Burr
9. Peerless Quartet
10. Harry MacDonough

11. Ben Selvin
12. Ted Lewis
13. Al Jolson
14. Sammy Kaye
15. Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan
16. Perry Como
17. Jimmy Dorsey
18. Frank Sinatra
19. Charles Adams Prince
20. The Andrews Sisters

21. Freddy Martin
22. Kay Kyser
23. John McCormack
24. Leo Reisman
25. Isham Jones
26. Rudy Vallee
27. Eddy Duchin
28. American Quartet
29. Dinah Shore
30. Harry James

31. Jo Stafford
32. Haydn Quartet
33. Ada Jones
34. Duke Ellington
35. Louis Armstrong
36. Vaughn Monroe
37. Fats Waller
38. Glen Gray
39. Jan Garber
40. Hal Kemp

41. The Mills Brothers
42. Ruth Etting
43. Byron Harlan
44. Gene Austin
45. Ray Noble
46. Russ Morgan
47. Nat Shilkret
48. Fred Waring
49. Arthur Collins
50. Nat “King” Cole

51. Albert Campbell
52. Artie Shaw
53. George Olsen
54. Horace Heidt
55. Len Spencer
56. Frankie Laine
57. Ada Jones and Billy Murray
58. Enrico Caruso
59. Woody Herman
60. Frank Stanley

61. Marion Harris
62. Cal Stewart
63. The Ink Spots
64. Eddy Howard
65. Ella Fitzgerald
66. Ben Bernie
67. Dick Haymes
68. Walter Van Brunt
69. Patti Page
70. Nora Bayes

71. Dan Quinn
72. Eddie Fisher
73. Bob Crosby
74. Fred Astaire
75. Larry Clinton
76. Cab Calloway
77. Shep Fields
78. Margaret Whiting
79. George J. Gaskin
80. Charles Harrison

81. Doris Day
82. Bert Williams
83. Billie Holiday
84. Teddy Wilson
85. Ozzie Nelson
86. J.W. Myers
87. Ted Weems
88. Wayne King
89. Tony Martin
90. Vic Damone

91. Lewis James
92. Frank Crumit
93. Peggy Lee
94. Vincent Lopez
95. Cliff Edwrads
96. John Phillip Sousa
97. Vess Ossman
98. Connee Boswell
99. Kay Starr
100. Johnny Mercer

Resources:
  • Joel Whitburn (1991). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 623.
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, December 20, 1986

The Bangles hit #1 with “Walk Like an Egyptian”

Walk Like an Egyptian

The Bangles

This post has been moved here.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

The Beastie Boys charted with “Fight for Your Right”

You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party

Beastie Boys

Writer(s): Adam Yauch, Rick Rubin, Adam Horovitz (see lyrics here)

First Charted: December 20, 1986

Peak: 7 US, 3 CB, 12 RR, 1 CO, 11 UK, 7 CN, 37 AU, 7 DF (Click for codes to charts.)

Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.2 UK

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 81.7 video, 192.70 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

The fourth single from the Beastie Boys’ debut album made them a household name. Their goofy wit and party atmosphere endured them to millions – millions who flocked to buy the parent album, Licensed to Ill and give the Beasties the distinction of being the first rap group in U.S. history to hit #1 on the Billboard album chart.

The song – and the success of the album – owed much to the Beasties’ combination of metal and rap. The Beastie Boys were “just three kids from rich New York families who liked black culture.” TC With the help of producer Rick Rubin, they merged the sounds of Led Zeppelin with the style of old school rap. It wasn’t the first time rock and rap had found chart success – just months earlier, Rubin helped Run-D.M.C. get a top 5 U.S. pop hit with their remake of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” – aided by Aerosmith’s own Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

“Fight for Your Right” was intended as a parody of the kind of “beer-soaked, panty-raiding rock jam that ruled fraternity houses and dingy bars alike.” TB The video, which depicted “the party that is every suburban parent’s worst nightmare” TB played up the parody and garnered it plenty of spins on MTV.

Unfortunately, as member Mike D said, “There were tons of guys singing along to ‘Fight for Your Right’ who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them.” WK In fact, the song was reportedly cut just as a joke. Once the group became superstars thanks to their new frat-boy fanbase, they played up the roles until, according to Beastie Boy Adam “MCA” Yauch, they had become their own joke. SF

In time, the group would come to be very respected for their experimental music and ability to merge different genres. Rap group Public Enemy was on board early, even sampling the song for their own 1988 “Party for Your Right to Fight.”

Resources:

Related Links:

First posted 12/20/2011; last updated 6/18/2023.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, December 19, 1986

Judge refuses to reinstate a lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne’s “Suicide Solution”: December 19, 1986

Originally posted December 19, 2011.



October 26, 1984: 19-year-old John McCullum committed suicide in his home in California. His parents brought a lawsuit against heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his CBS record label. The McCullums were convinced that the song “Suicide Solution” from Ozzy’s Blizzard of Oz album, played a part in their son’s death. They claimed the song had hidden lyrics which incited their son to kill himself and that the song urged listeners to “get the gun and try it, shoot, shoot, shoot.” HI Osbourne responded that the song was actually anti-suicide, written in response to a musician who drank himself to death, HI supposedly AC/DC’s Bon Scott. WK

The crux of the lawsuit depended on the idea that while it is legal to express a viewpoint or feeling, it is illegal to directly call for any specific violent responses. Specifically, in the case of Brandenburg v. Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that “expression advocating violent or otherwise illegal behavior only loses First Amendment protection if the expression is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless behavior, and is likely to result in such action.” TJ Because this is hard to prove, similar lawsuits brought against other entertainers have generally failed. On December 19, 1986, a judge in California refused to reinstate the lawsuit.




Resources and Related Links:



at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, December 13, 1986

Bruce Hornsby “The Way It Is” hit #1

The Way It Is

Bruce Hornsby & the Range

Writer(s): Bruce Hornsby (see lyrics here)

First Charted: August 2, 1986

Peak: 12 US, 11 CB, 12 RR, 12 AC, 3 AR, 15 UK, 13 CN, 12 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales (in millions): --

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 38.89 video, 160.19 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Hornsby was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. His father was a former musician and oil exec who became a successful housing developer. As a former musician, he kept a Steinway piano which Bruce learned to play. When Michael McDonald heard him while on tour with the Doobie Brothers, he encouraged Hornsby to go to Los Angeles. Bruce and his brother John went to LA in 1980 and became staff songwriters at 20th Century Fox. Bruce played keyboards with Ambrosia and with Sheena Easton’s band before forming his own band, The Range, in 1984.

He recorded a four-song demo of his own music after becoming frustrated with trying to write hits for others. One of the songs was “The Way It Is.” The song started as lyrics first and then he added a lick he liked. He thought the melody was strange, but kept playing it over and over. FB After shopping it around, he was signed to RCA.

The first single, “Every Little Kiss,” only reached #72 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it would get reissued and go to #14. The second single – “the gentle and florid soft-rock jam” SG “The Way It Is” – went all the way to #1. It “is unambiguously a song about racism and about people with money doing everything in their power to keep their place atop the societal pyramid.” SG The chorus suggests pessism with the lines, “That’s just the way it is / Some things will never change.” However, when Hornsby adds the line, “But don’t you believe them” it implores “the need to resist complacency and never resign yourself to racial injustice as the status quo.” SF

The song had “a consistent tempo and a jazz-inflected sound” SF and lacked the elements of conventional chart-toppers such as “a big chorus, shifts in momentum, [and] catchy hooks.” SF “Hornsby sings in a warm, smooth white-soul yarl. The drums echo just right, and the guitars noodle with processed precision, like they were soundtracking a cop show.” SG “That piano is something else…Hornsby keeps circling that main figure, dancing around it. He orbits the main melody, ducking in and out when it makes sense, never losing the melodic thread even when he’s playing solos.” SG

Resources:

  • DMDB encyclopedia entry for Bruce Hornsby
  • FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 655.
  • SF Songfacts
  • SG Stereogum (1/22/2021). “The Number Ones” by Tom Breihan
  • WK Wikipedia

First posted 10/27/2022.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)