Sunday, March 26, 2017

Diana Ross/The Supremes: Top 50 Songs

image from washingtonblade.com

Diana Ross was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 26, 1944. As a member of the Supremes, she topped the Billboard charts twelve times and helped establish them as the top female group of all time. She left the group in 1970, but launched straight into a successful solo career. In celebration of her birthday, here are her top 50 songs of all time, with and without the Supremes. #1 songs are noted as follows: #1 US (Billboard pop chart), #1 AC (Billboard adult contemporary chart), #1 RB (Billboard R&B chart), and #1 UK (the UK charts).

The Top 50 Diana Ross/Supremes Songs

Where Did Our Love Go

1. Endless Love (with Lionel Richie, 1981) #1 US, #1 RB, #1 AC
2. Stop! In the Name of Love (The Supremes, 1965) #1 US
3. Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US, #1 RB
4. Baby Love (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US, #1 RB, #1 UK
5. You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes, 1966) #1 US, #1 RB
6. Upside Down (1980) #1 US, #1 RB
7. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (1970) #1 US, #1 RB
8. You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Supremes, 1966) #1 US, #1 RB
9. Love Child (The Supremes, 1968) #1 US
10. Someday We’ll Be Together (The Supremes, 1969) #1 US, #1 RB

Stop! In the Name of Love

11. Love Hangover (1976) #1 US, #1 RB
12. Touch Me in the Morning (1973) #1 US, #1 AC
13. Do You Know Where You’re Going To (Theme from ‘Mahogany’) (1975) #1 US, #1 AC
14. Come See About Me (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US
15. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (The Supremes with the Temptations, 1968)
16. I Hear a Symphony (The Supremes, 1965) #1 US
17. I’m Coming Out (1980)
18. Back in My Arms Again (The Supremes, 1965) #1 US, #1 RB
19. Reflections (The Supremes, 1967)
20. Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981)

21. The Happening (The Supremes, 1967) #1 US
22. The Last Time I Saw Him (1973) #1 AC
23. Muscles (1982)
24. Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone (The Supremes, 1967) #1 US, #1 RB
25. Missing You (1984) #1 RB
26. Mirror, Mirror (1982)
27. All of You (with Julio Iglesias, 1984)
28. Remember Me (1970)
29. Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand (1970)
30. It’s My Turn (1980)

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

31. Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart (The Supremes, 1966)
32. Chain Reaction (1985) #1 UK
33. Ease on Down the Road (with Michael Jackson, 1978)
34. I’m Livin’ in Shame (The Supremes, 1969)
35. In and Out of Love (The Supremes, 1967)
36. When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes (The Supremes, 1974)
37. My Mistake Was to Love You (with Marvin Gaye, 1974)
38. My World Is Empty Without You (The Supremes, 1965)
39. The Boss (1979)
40. Gettin’ Ready for Love (1977)

Upside Down

41. Swept Away (1984)
42. Forever Came Today (The Supremes, 1968)
43. Nothing But Heartaches (The Supremes, 1965)
44. Pieces of Ice (1983)
45. You’re a Special Part of Me (with Marvin Gaye, 1973)
46. Some Things You Never Get Used To (The Supremes, 1968)
47. I’m Still Waiting (1971) #1 UK
48. I’ll Try Something New (The Supremes with the Temptations, 1969)
49. Good Morning Heartache (1973)
50. The Composer (The Supremes, 1969)

Endless Love

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Saturday, March 18, 2017

R.I.P. Chuck Berry: His Top 25 Songs

Chuck Berry

Top 25 Songs

Rock singer/songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry was born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on 10/18/1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. He died 3/18/2017. He has been called “the architect of rock and roll.” His song “Johnny B. Goode” (1958) is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era 1954-1999.

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 25 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

1. Johnny B. Goode (1958)
2. Maybellene (1955)
3. Roll Over Beethoven (1956)
4. Rock and Roll Music (1957)
5. Sweet Little Sixteen (1958)

6. My Ding-a-Ling (live, 1972)
7. Memphis, Tennessee (1959)
8. School Days (1957)
9. No Particular Place to Go (1964)
10. You Never Can Tell (1964)

11. Promied Land (1964)
12. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (1956)
13. Carol (1958)
14. Nadine (1964)
15. Almost Grown (1959)

16. Back in the U.S.A. (1959)
17. Reelin’ & Rockin’ (1958)
18. Too Much Monkey Business (1956)
19. Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller (1958)
20. 30 Days to Come Back Home (1955)

21. Little Marie (1964)
22. Let It Rock (1960)
23. Too Pooped to Pop (1960)
24. Oh Baby Doll (1957)
25. Bye Bye Johnny (1960)

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First posted 5/21/2019; last updated 6/5/2022.
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50 years ago: The Beatles hit #1 with “Penny Lane”

Penny Lane

The Beatles

Writer(s): John Lennon, Paul McCartney (see lyrics here)

Released: February 13, 1967

First Charted: February 17, 1967

Peak: 11 US, 12 CB, 2 GR, 12 HR, 1 CL, 2 UK, 11 CN, 15 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.2 UK, 1.2 world (includes US + UK)

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 4.0 radio, 111.0 video, -- streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

In December 1966, the Beatles began work on “an album that…would have an over-arching theme: their hometown” LW of Liverpool, England. They wrote “When I’m Sixty Four,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “Penny Lane” – the latter two abour real locations in Liverpool – and then the project stalled. The first song ended up on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, “an album that…would be seen as the eefining artistic moment of the 1960s.” LW The other two were released on a contractually required new single in February 1967. They would also later be released on the U.S. album Magical Mystery Tour, which was an expansion of the double-EP of the same name in England.

Both songs climbed the charts with “Strawberry Fields Forever” reaching #8 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Penny Lane” went to #1. In the UK, the double A-side single reached #2. It marked the first time since the release of “Please Please Me” in January 1963 that a new Beatles’ single missed the top of the UK charts, FB bringing an end to their streak of seven consecutive #1 singles in the UK. SF

“Penny Lane” was Paul McCartney’s “answer to John Lennon’s childhood-memory ballad, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’” JA The latter “is introspective” LW while “Penny Lane” “looks cheerfully outward into a world of observed curiosities.” LW It also “had the clear melodic leaps and falls and artful dancing rhythms that so clearly bear McCartney’s stamp.” LW

Paul was inspired to write it while sitting at the Penny Lane bus roundabout waiting for John. He wrote down images of what he saw and it became the song. SF He explained that it is “part fact, part nostalgia.” FB For example, there is a barbershop there, but with photos of hairstyles rather than “every head [the barber’s] had the pleasure to know.” The barber was later identified as James Bioletti, who used to cut John, Paul, and George Harrison’s hair when they were kids. SF

John Lennon and producer George Martin both play piano on the song while Ringo Starr is on drums. Harrison plays the conga drum and provides the firebell. FB The song does not feature guitar. SF The song also features a baroque trumpet, which Paul told Martin he wanted to use JA after observing the New Philharmonia perform Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto #2” on the BBC. SF Paul sang the part how he wanted it and Martin transcribed it so it could played on the trumpet. SF

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First posted 3/26/2022; last updated 11/25/2022.

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