Friday, December 31, 2021

Digital Dream Door: Songs of the Year, 1920-2021

Digital Dream Door:

Songs of the year, 1920-2021

Digital Dream Door offers multiple best-of music lists, including song-of-the-year lists from 1940 to present. Here are the best songs from each year:

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.


Resources/Related Links:


First posted 4/6/2019; last updated 12/31/2022.

IFPI: Song of the Year, 2007-2021

IFPI:

Songs of the Year, 2007-2021

As it says on their website, IFPI (the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) “is the voice of the recording industry worldwide. [They] represent the interests of 1,300 record companies across the globe.” They put out annual reports on the state of the music industry. Since 2007, that report has included lists of the top acts, albums, and singles each year. Here are the top singles:

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.

  • 2021: The Weeknd “Save Your Tears”
  • 2020: BTS “Dynamite”

  • 2019: Billie Eilish “Bad Guy
  • 2018: Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana
  • 2017: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You
  • 2016: Drake with WizKid & Kyla “One Dance
  • 2015: Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth “See You Again
  • 2014: Pharrell Williams “Happy
  • 2013: Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines
  • 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe
  • 2011: Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are (Amazing)
  • 2010: Ke$ha “Tik Tok

  • 2009: Lady Gaga “Poker Face
  • 2008: Lil’ Wayne with Static Major “Lollipop”
  • 2007: Avril Lavigne “Girlfriend”

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 3/15/2020; last updated 1/7/2023.

100 years ago: Isham Jones hit #1 with “Wabash Blues”

Wabash Blues

Isham Jones

Writer(s): Fred Meinken (music), Dave Ringle (words) (see lyrics here)


First Charted: December 10, 1921


Peak: 16 US, 11 GA, 12 SM (Click for codes to charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 US


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.06 video, -- streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Born in Ohio in 1894, Isham Jones became a pianist, saxophonist, and composer before he formed his own jazz band. Some considered his “the best dance band of the pre-swing era.” PM That band included trumpeter Louis Panico, who played an integral part of “Wabash Blues” as “the laughing cornet,” a nickname derived from how much his trumpet playing sounded like a person laughing. SM

Wabash was a river which flows through Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. It had been written about previously, most notably in “On the Banks of the Wabash” in the late 1890s. SM Dave Ringle added “standard blues lyrics” SM about being unhappy and lonesome that were similar to the song “Wang Wang Blues,” a hit from a year earlier. SM

Both songs are examples of “up-tempo, rather cheerful blues,” TY2 a break from the view “of the blues as being slow and depressing.” TY2 “Wabash Blues” “doesn’t follow the classic 12-bar blues form.” TY2 Instead, it was “a good example of a commercial blues, written in Tin Pan Alley for the general market.” TY2

“Wabash Blues” was one of Jones’ earliest hits. He reached the charts 73 times from 1920 to 1938. This was his first of eight #1 songs. PM It became “a jazz band favorite.” DJ The Benson Orchestra, featuring pianist Roy Bargy, also charted with the song (#6, 1922) DJ as did Dolly Kay (#13, 1922), Ted Lewis (#16, 1930), and Russ Morgan (#17, 1939). PM


Resources:


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First posted 4/25/2023.

The Top 25 Albums of 2021

Dave’s Music Database:

Top Albums of 2021

Based on a combination of year-end lists and overall status in Dave’s Music Database, these are the top 25 albums of 2021:

  1. Olivia Rodrigo Sour
  2. Adele 30
  3. Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album
  4. Billie Eilish Happier Than Ever
  5. Lil Nas X Montero
  6. Drake Certified Lover Boy
  7. Tyler, the Creator Call Me if You Get Lost
  8. Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version)
  9. Kacey Musgraves Star-Crossed
  10. Doja Cat Planet Her

  11. Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
  12. Japanese Breakfast Jubilee
  13. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raise the Roof
  14. Justin Bieber Justice
  15. Silk Sonic An Evening with Silk Sonic
  16. Halsey If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
  17. The Weather Station Ignorance
  18. Turnstile Glow On
  19. Taylor Swift Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
  20. Snail Mail Valentine

  21. Brandi Carlile In These Silent Days
  22. Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales
  23. Jon Batiste We Are
  24. Dry Cleaning New Long Leg
  25. Floating Points with Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra Promises

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 1/4/2022.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Top 50 Songs of 2021

Dave’s Music Database:

Top 50 Songs of 2021

These are the top 50 songs of 2021 based on their overall performance in Dave’s Music Database, which is determined by combining chart data, sales figures, streaming, video views, and aggregates from more than 30 year-end lists.

Check out “Top Songs and Albums of the Year” lists here.


Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Top 20 songs of 2021 based on this list.


    DMDB Top 1%:

  1. Olivia Rodrigo “Drivers License
  2. The Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber “Stay
  3. Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak) “Leave the Door Open

    DMDB Top 2%:

  4. Adele “Easy on Me
  5. Lil Nas X “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
  6. Olivia Rodrigo “Good 4 U”
  7. Justin Bieber with Daniel Caesar & Giveon “Peaches”
  8. BTS “Butter”
  9. Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits”
  10. Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow “Industry Baby”

    DMDB Top 5%:

  11. Elton John with Dua Lipa “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)”
  12. Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
  13. Doja Cat with SZA “Kiss Me More”
  14. Taylor Swift “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”
  15. Polo G “Rapstar”
  16. Encanto Cast (Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz, et al) “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
  17. Gayle “abcdefu”
  18. Doja Cat “Woman”
  19. Cardi B “Up”
  20. Doja Cat “Need to Know”

  21. Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever”
  22. Coldplay with BTS “My Universe”
  23. Lil Tjay with 6lack “Calling My Phone”
  24. Imagine Dragons with JID “Enemy”
  25. Doja Cat & the Weeknd “You Right”
  26. Morgan Wallen “Wasted on You”
  27. Ed Sheeran “Shivers”
  28. Olivia Rodrigo “Traitor”

    DMDB Top 10%:

  29. Saweetie with Doja Cat “Best Friend”
  30. Nicky Youre & Dazy “Sunroof”

  31. Latto “Big Energy”
  32. Megan Thee Stallion “Thot Shit”
  33. Maroon 5 with Megan Thee Stallion “Beautiful Mistakes”
  34. Drake “What’s Next”
  35. Kacey Musgraves “Justified”
  36. Drake with Future & Young Thug “Way 2 Sexy”
  37. BTS “Permission to Dance”
  38. Marshmello with the Jonas Brothers “Leave Before You Love Me”
  39. Billie Eilish “Your Power”
  40. The Weeknd “Take My Breath”

  41. Justin Bieber “Ghost”
  42. Justin Bieber “Anyone”
  43. Adele “Oh My God”
  44. Olivia Rodrigo “DĂ©jĂ  Vu”
  45. Farruko “Pepas”
  46. Baby Keem with Kendrick Lamar “Family Ties”

    DMDB Top 20%:

  47. Coldplay “Higher Power”
  48. Doja Cat “Get Into It (Yuh)”
  49. Imagine Dragons “Follow You”

Resources/Related Links:


First posted 12/26/2021; last updated 1/17/2023.

Friday, December 24, 2021

Grammys Winners: Best Musical Theater Album

Grammy Winners for Best Musical Theater Album:

1959 to 2021

The Grammys have awarded “Best Musical Theater Album” since 1959. The work must be comprised of more than 51% or more new material. The award is typically given to the album producer, principal singers, and composers and lyricists. It has been known under multiple names including Best Original Cast Album, Best Broadway Show Album, Best Show Album, Best Original Cast Show Album, Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album, Best Cast Show Album, Best Musical Cast Show Album, and Best Musical Show Album.

Check out other album of the year awards here.

Check out other stage & screen lists here.

  • 2021: Alanis Morissette & Glen Ballard (music & lyrics), Michael Farrell (music) Jagged Little Pill
  • 2020: Anais Mitchell (music & lyrics) Hadestown

  • 2019: David Yazbeck (music & lyrics) The Band’s Visit
  • 2018: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (music & lyrics) Dear Evan Hansen
  • 2017: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, & Stephen Bray (music & lyrics) The Color Purple
  • 2016: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics) Hamilton
  • 2015: Various Artists Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
  • 2014: Cyndi Lauper (music & lyrics) Kinky Boots
  • 2013: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (music & lyrics) Once
  • 2012: Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, & Matt Stone (music & lyrics) The Book of Mormon
  • 2011: Green Day American Idiot
  • 2010: Leonard Bernstein (music) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) West Side Story

  • 2009: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics) In the Heights
  • 2008: Duncan Sheik (music) & Steven Sater (lyrics) Spring Awakening
  • 2007: Bob Gaudio (music) & Bob Crewe (lyrics) Jersey Boys
  • 2006: Eric Idle (music & lyrics) & John De Prez (music) Monty Python’s Spamalot
  • 2005: Stephen Schwartz (music & lyrics) Wicked
  • 2004: Jule Styne (music) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) Gypsy
  • 2003 Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (music & lyrcs) Hairspray
  • 2002: Mel Brooks (music & lyrics) The Producers
  • 2001: Elton John (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) Aida
  • 2000: Irving Berlin (music & lyrics) Annie Get Your Gun

  • 1999: Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) The Lion King
  • 1998: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Chicago
  • 1997: Bill Whelan (music) Riverdance
  • 1996: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (music & lyrics) Smokey Joe’s CafĂ©: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller
  • 1995: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Passion
  • 1994: Pete Townshend (music & lyrics) The Who’s Tommy
  • 1993: Frank Loesser (music & lyrics) Guys and Dolls
  • 1992: Cy Coleman (music) with Betty Comden & Adolph Green (lyrics) The Will Rogers Follies
  • 1991: Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) with Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics) Les MisĂ©rables
  • 1990: Various Artists Jerome Robbins’ Broadway

  • 1989: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Into the Woods
  • 1988: Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) with Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics) Les MisĂ©rables
  • 1987: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Follies in Concert
  • 1986: Leonard Bernstein (music) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) West Side Story
  • 1985: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Sunday in the Park with George
  • 1984: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & T.S. Eliot (lyrics) Cats
  • 1983: Henry Krieger (music) & Tom Eyen (lyrics) Dreamgirls
  • 1982: Lena Horner (performer) Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music
  • 1981: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) Evita
  • 1980: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  • 1979: Fats Waller (music) & various artists (lyrics) Ain’t Misbehavin’
  • 1978: Charles Strouse (music) & Martin Charnin (lyrics) Annie
  • 1977: Various Artists Bubbling Brown Sugar
  • 1976: Charlie Smalls et al (music & lyrics) The Wiz
  • 1975: Judd Woldin (music) & Robert Brittan (lyrics) Raisin
  • 1974: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) A Little Night Music
  • 1973: Mick Grant (music & lyrics) Don’t Mother Me, I Can’t Cope
  • 1972: Stephen Schwartz (music & lyrics) Godspell
  • 1971: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Company
  • 1970: Burt Bacharach (music) & Hal David (lyrics) Promises, Promises

  • 1969: Galt MacDermot (music) with Gerome Ragni & James Rado (lyrics) Hair
  • 1968: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Cabaret
  • 1967: Jerry Herman (music & lyrics) Mame
  • 1966: Burton Lane (music) & Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
  • 1965: Jule Styne (music) & Bob Merrill (lyrics) Funny Girl
  • 1964: Jerry Bock (music) & Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) She Loves Me
  • 1963: Richard Rodgers (music & lyrics) No Strings
  • 1962: Frank Loesser (music & lyrics) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • 1961: Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The Sound of Music
  • 1960: Jule Styne (music) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) Gypsy / Albert Hague (music) & Dorothy Fields (lyrics) Redhead
  • 1959: Meredith Willson (music & lyrics) The Music Man

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 12/24/2021.

Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Musical

Laurence Olivier Award:

Best New Musical: 1976-2020

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical was established in 1976. It is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of British productions. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards, but renamed in honor of actor Laurence Olivier in 1984.

Check out other album of the year awards here.

  • 2020: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (music & lyrics) Dear Evan Hansen
  • 2019: Irene Sankoff & David Hern (music & lyrics) Come from Away
  • 2018: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics) Hamilton
  • 2017: Tim Minchin (music & lyrics) Groundhog Day
  • 2016: Cyndi Lauper (music & lyrics) Kinky Boots
  • 2015: Ray Davies (music & lyrics) Sunny Afternoon
  • 2014: Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, & Matt Stone (music & lyrics) The Book of Mormon
  • 2013: Irving Berlin (music & lyrics) Top Hat
  • 2012: Tim Minchin (music & lyrics) Matilda
  • 2011: Neil Benjamin & Laurence O’Keefe (music & lyrics) Legally Blonde
  • 2010: Duncan Sheik (music) & Steven Sater (lyrics) Spring Awakening

  • 2009: Bob Gaudio (music) & Bob Crewe (lyrics) Jersey Boys
  • 2008: Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (music & lyrcs) Hairspray
  • 2007: Tony Kushner (music & lyrics) Caroline, or Change
  • 2006: Elton John (music) & Lee Hall (lyrics) Billy Elliot the Musical
  • 2005: Mel Brooks (music & lyrics) The Producers
  • 2004: Richard Thomas (music & lyrics) and Stewart Lee (lyrics) Jerry Springer
  • 2003: Madness (music & lyrics) Our House
  • 2002: --
  • 2001: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Merrily We Roll Along
  • 2000: George Stiles (music) & Anthony Drewe (lyrics) Honk!

  • 1999: Taliep Petersen (music) & David Kramer (lyrics) Kat and the Kings
  • 1998: Alan Menken (music) with Howard Ashman & Tim Rice (lyrics) Beauty and the Beast
  • 1997: Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) with Alain Boublil, Edward Hardy, & Stephen Clark (lyrics) Martin Guerre
  • 1996: Various Artists Jolson
  • 1995: Stephen Flaherty (music) & Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) Once on This Island
  • 1994: Cy Coleman (music) & David Zippel (lyrics) City of Angels
  • 1993: George Gershwin (music) & Ira Gershwin (lyrics) Crazy for You
  • 1992: Georges Bizet (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Carmen Jones
  • 1991: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Sunday in the Park with George
  • 1990: --

  • 1989: Various Artists Return to the Forbidden Planet
  • 1988: Leonard Bernstein (music) with Stephen Sondheim et al (lyrics) Candide
  • 1987: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Follies
  • 1986: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) with Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe (lyrics) Phantom of the Opera
  • 1985: Noel Gay (music) with Douglas Furber & L. Arthur Rose (lyrics) Me and My Girl
  • 1984: Harry Warren (music) with Al Dubin & Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 42nd Street
  • 1983: Willy Russell (music & lyrics) Blood Brothers
  • 1982: Monty Norman (music) & Peter Nichols (lyrics) Poppy
  • 1981: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & T.S. Eliot (lyrics) Cats
  • 1980: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  • 1979: Monty Norman (music & lyrics) with Julian More (lyrics) Songbook
  • 1978: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) Evita
  • 1977: Guy Woolfenden (music) & Trevor Nunn (lyrics) The Comedy of Errors
  • 1976: Marvin Hamlisch (music) & Edward Kleban (lyrics) A Chorus Line

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 12/24/2021.

Tony Award Winners for Best Revival of a Musical

Tony Awards:

Best Revival of a Musical: 1977-2019

From 1977 to 1993, the Tonys gave an award annually to the Best Revival. Musicals and non-musicals were lumped into the same category. In 1994, they were separated into two separate awards. Those musicals which won for Best Revival of a Musical or Best Revival are noted below.

Check out other album of the year awards here.

  • 2019: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Oklahoma!
  • 2018: Stephen Flaherty (music) & Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) Once on This Island
  • 2017: Jerry Herman (music & lyrics) Hello, Dolly!
  • 2016: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, & Stephen Bray (music & lyrics) The Color Purple
  • 2015: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The King and I
  • 2014: Stephen Trask (music & lyrics) Hedwig and the Angry Inch
  • 2013: Stephen Schwartz (music & lyrics) Pippin
  • 2012: George Gershwin (music) with Ira Gershwin & Dubose Heyward (lyrics) Porgy and Bess
  • 2011: Cole Porter (music & lyrics) Anything Goes
  • 2010: Jerry Herman (music & lyrics) La Cage aux Folles

  • 2009: Galt MacDermot (music) with Gerome Ragni & James Rado (lyrics) Hair
  • 2008: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) South Pacific
  • 2007: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Company
  • 2006: Richard Adler (music) & Jerry Ross (lyrics) The Pajama Game
  • 2005: Jerry Herman music & lyrics) La Cage aux Folles
  • 2004: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Assassins
  • 2003: Maury Yeston (music & lyrics) Nine
  • 2002: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Into the Woods
  • 2001: Harry Warren (music) with Al Dubin & Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 42nd Street
  • 2000: Cole Porter (music & lyrics) Kiss Me, Kate

  • 1999: Irving Berlin (music & lyrics) Annie Get Your Gun
  • 1998: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Cabaret
  • 1997: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Chicago
  • 1996: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The King and I
  • 1995: Jerome Kern (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Show Boat
  • 1994: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Carousel
Best Revival
  • 1993: Anna Christie *
  • 1992: Frank Loesser (music & lyrics) Guys and Dolls
  • 1991: Jerry Bock (music) & Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) Fiddler on the Roof
  • 1990: Jule Styne (music) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) Gypsy

  • 1989: Our Town *
  • 1988: Cole Porter (music & lyrics) Anything Goes
  • 1987: All My Sons *
  • 1986: Sweet Charity *
  • 1985: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg *
  • 1984: Death of a Salesman *
  • 1983: Richard Rodgers (music) & Lorenz Hart (lyrics) On Your Toes
  • 1982: Othello *
  • 1981: Arthur Sullivan (music) & W.S. Gilbert (libretto) The Pirates of Penzance
  • 1980: Morning’s at Seven *

  • 1979: --
  • 1978: Dracula
  • 1977: George Gershwin (music) with Ira Gershwin & Dubose Heyward (lyrics) Porgy and Bess
* non-musicals

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 12/24/2021.

Tony Award Winners for Best Musical

Tony Awards:

Best Musical: 1949-2020

The Tony Award for Best Musical has been presented since 1949. Broadway musicals which have no been previously produced on Broadway are eligible. Winners are determined by Tony Award voters.

Check out other album of the year awards here.

  • 2020: Various Artists Moulin Rouge!
  • 2019: Anais Mitchell (music & lyrics) Hadestown
  • 2018: David Yazbeck (music & lyrics) The Band’s Visit
  • 2017: Benji Pasek & Justin Paul (music & lyrics) Dear Evan Hansen
  • 2016: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics) Hamilton
  • 2015: Jeanine Tesori (music) & Lisa Kron (lyrics) Fun Home
  • 2014: Steven Lutvak (music) & Robert L. Freedman (lyrics) A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
  • 2013: Cyndi Lauper (music & lyrics) Kinky Boots
  • 2012: Glen Hansard & MarkĂ©ta Irglová Once
  • 2011: Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, & Matt Stone The Book of Mormon
  • 2010: David Bryan (music & lyrics) & Joe DPietro (lyrics) Memphis

  • 2009: Elton John (music) & Lee Hall (lyrics) Billy Elliot the Musical
  • 2008: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics) In the Heights
  • 2007: Duncan Sheik (music) & Steven Sater (lyrics) Spring Awakening
  • 2006: Bob Gaudio (music) & Bob Crewe (lyrics) Jersey Boys
  • 2005: Eric Idle (music & lyrics) & John De Prez (music) Spamalot
  • 2004: Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx (music & lyrics) Avenue Q
  • 2003: Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (music & lyrcs) Hairspray
  • 2002: Jeanine Tesori (music) & Dick Scanlan (lyrics) Thoroughly Modern Millie
  • 2001: Mel Brooks (music & lyrics) The Producers
  • 2000: Various Artists Contact

  • 1999: Various Artists Fosse
  • 1998: Elton John (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) The Lion King
  • 1997: Maury Yeston (music & lyrics) Titanic
  • 1996: Jonathan Larson (music & lyrics) Rent
  • 1995: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) with Don Black & Christopher Hampton (lyrics) Sunset Boulevard
  • 1994: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Passion
  • 1993: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Kiss of the Spider Woman
  • 1992: George Gershwin (music) & Ira Gershwin (lyrics) Crazy for You
  • 1991: Cy Coleman (music) with Betty Comden & Adolph Green (lyrics) The Will Rogers Follies
  • 1990: Cy Coleman (music) & David Zippel (lyrics) City of Angels

  • 1989: Various Artists Jerome Robbins’ Broadway
  • 1988: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) with Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe (lyrics) Phantom of the Opera
  • 1987: Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) with Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics) Les MisĂ©rables
  • 1986: Rupert Holmes (music & lyrics) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
  • 1985: Roger Miller (music & lyrics) Big River
  • 1984: Jerry Herman music & lyrics) La Cage aux Folles
  • 1983: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & T.S. Eliot (lyrics) Cats
  • 1982: Maury Yeston (music & lyrics) Nine
  • 1981: Harry Warren (music) with Al Dubin & Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 42nd Street
  • 1980: Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) Evita

  • 1979: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
  • 1978: Fats Waller (music) & various artists (lyrics) Ain’t Misbehavin’
  • 1977: Charles Strouse (music) & Martin Charnin (lyrics) Annie
  • 1976: Marvin Hamlisch (music) & Edward Kleban (lyrics) A Chorus Line
  • 1975: Charlie Smalls et al (music & lyrics) The Wiz
  • 1974: Judd Woldin (music) & Robert Brittan (lyrics) Raisin
  • 1973: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) A Little Night Music
  • 1972: Galt MacDermot (music) & John Guare (lyrics) Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • 1971: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) Company
  • 1970: Charles Strouse (music) & Lee Adams (lyrics) Applause

  • 1969: Sherman Edwards (music & lyrics) 1776
  • 1968: Jule Styne (music) with Adolph Green & Betty Comden (lyrics) Hallelujah, Baby!
  • 1967: John Kander (music) & Fred Ebb (lyrics) Cabaret
  • 1966: Mitch Leigh (music) & Joe Darion (lyrics) Man of La Mancha
  • 1965: Jerry Bock (music) & Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) Fiddler on the Roof
  • 1964: Jerry Herman (music & lyrics) Hello, Dolly!
  • 1963: Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
  • 1962: Frank Loesser (music & lyrics) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • 1961: Charles Strouse (music) & Lee Adams (lyrics) Bye Bye Birdie
  • 1960: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The Sound of Music / Jerry Bock (music) & Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) Fiorello!

  • 1959: Albert Hague (music) & Dorothy Fields (lyrics) Redhead
  • 1958: Meredith Willson (music & lyrics) The Music Man
  • 1957: Alan Jay Lerner (music) & Frederick Loewe (lyrics) My Fair Lady
  • 1956: Richard Adler (music) & Jerry Ross (lyrics) Damn Yankees
  • 1955: Richard Adler (music) & Jerry Ross (lyrics) The Pajama Game
  • 1954: Alexander Borodin (music) with Robert Wright & George Forrest (lyrics) Kismet
  • 1953: Leonard Bernstein (music) with Betty Comden & Adolph Green (lyrics) Wonderful Town
  • 1952: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The King and I
  • 1951: Frank Loesser (music & lyrics) Guys and Dolls
  • 1950: Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) South Pacific
  • 1949: Cole Porter (music & lyrics) Kiss Me, Kate

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 12/24/2021.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Music Maker Inductees (December 2021)

Originally posted 12/22/2021.

January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog! To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This twelfth class of music maker inductees is comprised of the top jazz acts. Inductees were determined by looking at the DMDB list of the top 100 jazz acts, ranking them by overall points in Dave’s Music Database, and then inducting the ten highest-ranked acts not previously inducted. See the full list of music maker inductees here.

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz singer, trumpeter, and bandleader born in Corona, Queens, NY. Nicknamed “Satchmo.” His version of “St. Louis Blues” with Bessie Smith is a DMDB Hall of Fame inductee and in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era. That song, “West End Blues,” “All of Me,” “Hello, Dolly!,” and “What a Wonderful World” rank in the top 1% of all time. The latter is also featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. His box set, The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings, ranks as one of the top 1000 albums of all time. Read more.

Count Basie (1904-1984)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz/big band leader and pianist born William James Basie in Red Bank, NJ. Learned to play the organ from Fats Waller. One of only seven recipients of both the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Trustees Award. “One O'Clock Jump” and “April in Paris” rank in the top 1% of all time. Read more.

Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Traditional pop singer and pianist born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery, AL. Inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” and “Mona Lisa” are in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era. Those two, along with “I Love You for Sentimental Reasons,” “Nature Boy,” and “Too Young” also rank in the top 1% of all time. After his death, his daughter recorded his famous “Unforgettable” song with him as a duet. It is also in the top 1% and won Grammys for Record and Song of the Year. Read more.

John Coltrane (1926-1967)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz musician born in Hamlet, NC. The songs “Giant Steps,” “My Favorite Things,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Lush Life,” and “Acknowledgement (A Love Supreme, Part 1)” all rank in the top 100 jazz songs. His album, A Love Supreme, is in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. That album and Giant Steps both rank in the top 1000 albums of all time. Read more.

Miles Davis (1926-1991)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz musician born in Alton, IL. Inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The songs “So What,” “Blues in Green,” and “All Blues” rank in the top 100 jazz songs. All three are featured on Kind of Blue, which is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. That album, as well as Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain, In a Silent Way, and Bitches Brew rank in the top 1000 albums of all time. Read more.

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz/big band leader and pianist born Edward Kennedy Ellington in Washington, D.C. One of only seven recipients of both the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Trustees Award. He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and won the Pulitzer Prize. “Mood Indigo” and “Take the ‘A’ Train” are DMDB Hall of Fame inductees and are both in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era. Those songs, as well as “It’ Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing” and “Sophisticated Ladythe top 1% of all time. His box set The Blanton-Webster Band and live album At Newport rank in the top 1000 albums of all time. Read more.

Etta James (1938-2012)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

R&B/blues singer born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, CA. Inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame. Recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. “At Last” ranks in the top 1% of all time. It is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry and in the DMDB lists of the top blues songs, jazz songs, love songs, and R&B songs. Read more. Her album Tell Mama is one of the top R&B albums and is in the Blues Hall of Fame.

Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz pianist born in Rocky Mount, NC. He is a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and won the Pulitzer Prize. his song “Round Midnight” is in the Grammy Hall of Fame, one of the top 100 jazz songs, and ranks in the top 1% of all time. His albums Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1, Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2, and Brilliant Corners are all in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Read more.

Bessie Smith (1894-1937)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Blues singer born in Chattanooga, TN. Known as “The Empress of the Blues.” Inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame. Recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Her version of “St. Louis Blues” with Louis Armstrong is a DMDB Hall of Fame inductee and in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era. That song and “Down Hearted Blues” rank in the top 1% of all time. Her compilation The Essential ranks as one of the top 1000 albums of all time. Read more.

Fats Waller (1904-1943)

Inducted December 2021 as a “Top Jazz Act”

Jazz/big band songwriter and pianist born Thomas Wright Waller in New York, NY. Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is a DMDB Hall of Fame inductee and in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era. That song and “Honeysuckle Rose” rank in the top 1% of all time. Both of those songs and “Jitterbug Waltz” are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Read more.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

The Top 100 Soundtracks of All Time

Soundtracks:

The Top 100 of All Time

This list was first posted on April 17, 2011, as a note on the Dave’s Music Database Facebook page. It has been revised a few times since then. As with most DMDB lists, this was created based on sales, chart peaks, awards, and an aggregate of lists, in this case more than 100 best-of lists focused on cast albums, musicals, soundtracks, and music-themed movies. You can click on the titles of the soundtrack for more detailed pages at DavesMusicDatabase.com. Unless noted otherwise, soundtracks are recorded by various artists.

Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.

1. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984)
2. Bee Gees et al Saturday Night Fever (1977)
3. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) (1965) The Sound of Music
4. Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (1961)
5. Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, et al Grease (1978)
6. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) South Pacific (1958)
7. Whitney Houston et al The Bodyguard (1992)
8. Dirty Dancing (1987)
9. O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack, 2000)
10. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (1972)

11. Richard and Robert Sherman (composers) Mary Poppins (1964)
12. Elton John and Tim Rice (composers) The Lion King (1994)
13. James Horner Titanic (1997)
14. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) The King and I (1956)
15. American Graffiti (1973)
16. Frozen (2013)
17. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
18. Jimmy Cliff et al The Harder They Come (1972)
19. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Oklahoma! (1955)
20. Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (1946)

21. Eminem et al 8 Mile (2002)
22. High School Musical (TV soundtrack, 2006)
23. Footloose (1984)
24. Woodstock (recorded live 1969, released 1970)
25. Whitney Houston et al Waiting to Exhale (1995)
26. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (composers) My Fair Lady (1964)
27. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (live, recorded 1983, released 1984)
28. Mario Lanza The Student Prince (1954)
29. George & Ira Gershwin (composers) An American in Paris (1951)
30. Madonna et al Evita (1996)

31. Flashdance (1983)
32. Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (1961)
33. Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (1959)
34. Top Gun (1986)
35. Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, & Herbert Stothart (composers) The Wizard of Oz (1939)
36. Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Show Boat (1951)
37. Pulp Fiction (1994)
38. The Band The Last Waltz (live, recorded 1976; released April 1978)
39. Earth, Wind & Fire That’s the Way of the World (1975)
40. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (composers) Gigi (1958)

41. John Kander & Fred Ebb (composers) Chicago (2003)
42. Alan Menken & Howard Ashman (composers) Beauty and the Beast (1997)
43. Simon & Garfunkel The Graduate (1968)
44. Forrest Gump (1994)
45. Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick (composers) Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
46. Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (1960)
47. Moulin Rouge (2001)
48. John Kander & Fred Ebb (composers) Cabaret (1972)
49. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Carousel (1956)
50. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, & Richard Stilgoe (composers) Phantom of the Opera (2004)

51. High School Musical 2 (TV soundtrack, 2007)
52. Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed (composers) Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
53. Isaac Hayes Shaft (1971)
54. The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers (1980)
55. Irving Berlin (composer) Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
56. Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice (composers) Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
57. Meredith Willson (composer) The Music Man (1962)
58. The Beatles Help! (1965)
59. Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart (1952)
60. Prince & the Revolution Parade (Under the Cherry Moon soundtrack, 1986)

61. Henry Mancini Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
62. Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus (composers) Mamma Mia! (2008)
63. Cole Porter (composer) Kiss Me, Kate (1954)
64. Spinal Tap This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
65. Richard O’Brien (composer) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
66. Elvis Presley Loving You (1957)
67. Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, & James Rado (composers) Hair (cast album, 1967)
68. Frank Churchill (composer) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
69. John Williams (composer) Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)
70. Al Jolson Souvenir Album (1947)

71. Lionel Bart (composer) Oliver! (1968)
72. The Commitments The Commitments (1991)
73. Miami Vice (TV soundtrack, 1985)
74. Almost Famous (2000)
75. Stephen Sondheim (composer) Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008)
76. Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, & Tim Rice Aladdin (1992)
77. Jonathan Larson (composer) Rent (2005)
78. Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Hairspray (2002)
79. Jule Styne & Bob Merrill (composers), Barbara Streisand (performer) Funny Girl (1968)
80. Prince Batman (1989)

81. Exodus (1961)
82. Elvis Presley King Creole (1958)
83. Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu (1980)
84. Doris Day Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
85. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova as The Swell Season Once (2007)
86. Around the World in 80 Days (1957)
87. Glee Cast Volume 3 Showstoppers (2010)
88. Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson A Star Is Born (1976)
89. Danny Kaye Hans Christian Andersen (1953)
90. Baz Luhrmann (composer) Romeo + Juliet (1996)

91. Bad Boys II (2003)
92. Coyote Ugly (2000)
93. Mario Lanza The Great Caruso (1951)
94. Garden State (2004)
95. Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (composers) Pal Joey (1957)
96. Three Little Words (1950)
97. Madonna I’m Breathless (1990)
98. Neil Diamond The Jazz Singer (1980)
99. Maurice Jarre Doctor Zhivago (1966)
100. Harry Warren & Al Dubin (composers) 42nd Street (1933)


Resources and Related Links:


First posted 4/17/2011; last updated 12/19/2021.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Today in Music (1921): Alan Freed was born.

Alan Freed, 1921-1965

Alan Freed

1921-1965

Overview:

Alan Freed was born on 12/15/1921 in Windber, Pennsylvania. In 1933, his family moved to Salem, Ohio, where Freed graduated from high school. While in high school, he played trombone in a band he formed called the Sultans of Swing. Sadly, he had to end his dreams of being a bandleader due to an ear infection.

He became interested in radio while at Ohio State University. After serving in US Army during World War II and working as a DJ on Armed Forces radio, he began a broadcasting career, moving around to several smaller radio stations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He joined WAKR 1590 AM radio in Akron, Ohio, in 1945 and became a star.

In 1950, he moved to Cleveland’s WEXL-TV and began his late-night, rock-n-roll-themed Moondog show on WJW radio in July 1951. On March 21, 1952, he presented the “Moondog Coronation Ball” in Cleveland. It is considered to be the first rock and roll concert. He went to New York in 1954. His career was derailed in 1959 by a payola scandal in which he was accused of taking money to play certain songs on the radio. He died on 1/20/1965.

He became the first DJ and concert producer to frequently play and promote rock and roll. He is even credited with coining the term “rock and roll” although it is more appropriate to say he popularized an already existing but obscure term. He was also influential in knocking down the walls of segregation by playing black artists on his radio program and presenting live concerts for racially mixed audiences.


Links:

Awards:

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 12/12/2023.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Dave's Music Database book: Music of the 1980s

Dave’s Music Database book:

Music of the 1980s

AC/DC, Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Guns N’ Roses, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, George Michael, the Police, Prince, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Run-D.M.C., Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, U2, Van Halen.

All of them and more are in this handy guide to the decade which:

  • Explores pop, rap, new wave, country, R&B, and more.
  • Highlights songs, albums, and videos which won awards each year from 1980 to 1989.
  • Lists the decade’s biggest songs, albums, acts, and videos overall and in different genres.
  • Spotlights 40+ songs and 20+ albums.

This book was inspired by a countdown of the top 909 songs of the 1980s done by Kansas City radio station 90.9 The Bridge. That list and this book also became catalysts for the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode “Music of the 1980s.” That episode keys in on songs spotlighted in the book which also appear on the Bridge countdown and the Dave’s Music Database list of The Top 100 Songs of the 1980s.


Songs Featured in the Book:


Albums Featured in the Book:


Spotify Podcast:

Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Music of the 1980s (debut: 12/14/2021)


Resources/Related Links:


First posted 12/14/2021; last updated 2/28/2024.