Showing posts with label Carole King. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carole King. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Brill Building Songwriters: Top 20

Brill Building Songwriters:

Top 20

The Brill Building is in Manhattan, New York, at 1619 Broadway in the historic Tin Pan Alley neighborhood. In the early 1960s, it was considered the center of the American music industry with 165 music businesses contained there by 1962. The “Brill Building sound” was significant in shaping music after rock and roll’s first wave. It was a throwback to the pre-rock era when the song was more important than the singer. In fact, a specific singer could generally be easily replaced with another singer.

Of the famous songwriters who emerged from there, Carole King said, “Every day we squeezed into our respective cubby holes with just enough room for a piano, a bench, and maybe a chair for the lyricist if you were lucky. You’d sit there and write and you could hear someone in the next cubby hole composing a song exactly like yours.” WK

See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories.


Gerry Goffin & Carole King

1. Carole King: Top 50
2. Barry Mann: Top 30
3. Cynthia Weil: Top 30
4. Gerry Goffin: Top 50
5. Jeff Barry
6. Ellie Greenwich
7. Doc Pomus
8. Jerry Leiber: Top 50
9. Mike Stoller: Top 50
10. Mort Shuman

11. Howard Greenfield
12. Neil Sedaka
13. Burt Bacharach
14. Hal David
15. Bobby Darin
16. Gene Pitney
17. Phil Spector
18. Paul Anka
19. Otis Blackwell
20. Laura Nyro

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First posted 6/24/2026.

 
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Sunday, February 1, 2026

MusiCares Person of the Year

MusiCares Person of the Year:

1991-2026

First given in 1991, the MusiCares Person of the Year is an award presented by the Recording Academy (who also presents the Grammys) to acknowledge musicians’ artistic achievement and philanthropic dedication. All the recipients are listed on this page.

See other lifetime achievement awards.

Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy at the 2023 MusiCares gala

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First posted 8/25/2017; last updated 2/1/2026.
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Sunday, September 1, 2024

Pop: Top 100 Albums

Pop:

The Top 100 Albums

There are no inarguable terms to define rock music – or R&B, or country, or dance, or any other genre. Perhaps the most baffling, though, is pop music. Why? Because it’s an amalgam of all other genres. Just take a glance at the top ten on this list. Michael Jackson shows up with a couple of R&B/dance-oriented albums. Fleetwood Mac makes an appearance with classic rock. The Bee Gees and others give us their spin on disco. Carole King shows why she reigned supreme at the forefront of the singer/songwriter movement of the ‘70s. Alanis Morissette serves up a slice the kind of alternative rock which became mainstream in the ‘90s while Adele gives us a dose of blue-eyed British soul.

A strong effort was made to focus on albums that generated multiple pop hits, did well on the album chart, and were big sellers. While albums like the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, and Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV are monster sellers, they only generated a mere three top-40 hits between them.

Welcome to the world of pop music. All the different ingredients described above have been factored in – as well as an aggregate of a handful of lists focused on the best pop albums of all time (see sources at bottom of page) – to create the list you have before you. Hopefully there’s something here to fit your tastes. After all, pop is the great equalizer. It can bring disparate groups together because of a shared love of a particular album. Without further ado, here’s the top 100 pop albums of all time, as determined by Dave’s Music Database.

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

1. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
2. Various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
3. George Michael Faith (1987)
4. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
5. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
6. Michael Jackson Bad (1987)
7. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
8. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
9. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
10. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984)

11. Adele 21 (2011)
12. Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
13. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
14. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014)
15. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
16. Various artists (Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta et al) Grease (1978)
17. Michael Jackson Dangerous (1991)
18. Madonna Like a Virgin (1984)
19. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
20. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987)

21. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985)
22. Janet Jackson Control (1986)
23. Taylor Swift Fearless (2008)
24. Lady Gaga The Fame (2008)
25. Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992)
26. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989)
27. Usher Confessions (2004)
28. Janet Jackson janet. (1993)
29. Mariah Carey Daydream (1995)
30. Katy Perry Teenage Dream (2010)

31. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990)
32. Boyz II Men II (1994)
33. Whitney Houston Whitney (1987)
34. Wham! Make It Big (1984)
35. Various artists Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 1987)
36. Madonna True Blue (1986)
37. Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (2009)
38. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
39. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
40. The Police Synchronicity (1983)

41. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (1988)
42. Bruno Mars Unorthodox Jukebox (2012)
43. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994)
44. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
45. Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (2003)
46. New Kids on the Block Hangin’ Tough (1988)
47. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
48. Taylor Swift Red (2012)
49. Destiny’s Child Survivor (2001)
50. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)

51. Ace of Base Happy Nation/The Sign (1993)
52. Bon Jovi New Jersey (1988)
53. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993)
54. Tina Turner Private Dancer (1984)
55. INXS Kick (1987)
56. Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (1999)
57. Phil Collins …But Seriously (1989)
58. Journey Escape (1981)
59. Kelly Clarkson Breakaway (2004)
60. Lady Gaga Born This Way (2011)
61. Spice Girls Spice (1996)
62. Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel (1988)
63. Celine Dion Falling into You (1996)
64. Rihanna Loud (2010)
65. Milli Vanilli Girl You Know It’s True (aka All or Nothing) (1989)
66. Billy Joel The Stranger (1977)
67. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
68. Huey Lewis & the News Sports (1983)
69. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
70. Fergie The Dutchess (2006)

71. Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding (2019)
72. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1999)
73. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983)
74. Backstreet Boys Millennium (1999)
75. Lionel Richie Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)
76. Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (2009)
77. Drake Scorpion (2018)
78. Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide) (2017)
79. Genesis Invisible Touch (1986)
80. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (1994)

81. Wilson Phillips Wilson Phillips (1990)
82. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
83. The Beatles Please Please Me (1963)
84. Huey Lewis & the News Fore! (1986)
85. Nickelback All the Right Reasons (2005)
86. T.I. Paper Trail (2008)
87. Bee Gees Spirits Having Flown (1979)
88. Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)
89. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (1964) 90. Taylor Swift Midnights (2022)

91. Bruno Mars Doo Wops & Hooligans (2010)
92. Justin Bieber Purpose (2015)
93. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
94. The Weeknd Starboy (2016)
95. The Weeknd After Hours (2020)
96. Various Artists (Whitney Houston et al) Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack, 1995)
97. Billy Joel An Innocent Man (1983)
98. Foreigner 4 (1981)
99. The Beatles Help! (1965)
100. Ariana Grande Thank U, Next (2019)

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First posted 11/22/2020; last updated 9/1/2024.

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Sunday, April 21, 2024

Laurel Canyon: Top 100 Songs

Laurel Canyon:

Top 100 Songs

Laurel Canyon is a mountainous neighborhood within the Hollywood Hills West district of Los Angeles, California. From the mid-‘60s to the mid-‘70s, it became “a nexus of counterculture activity and attitudes,” WK serving as a mecca for musicians including Jackson Browne, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Canned Heat, Crosby Stills & Nash, Ned Doheny, members of the Eagles, Carole King, Love, members of the Mamas & the Papas, John Mayall, Joni Mitchell, the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork, Jim Morrison (of the Doors), Harry Nilsson, Gram Parsons, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Judee Sill, J.D. Souther, James Taylor, Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys), Neil Young, and Frank Zappa.

18 lists focused on songs from Laurel Canyon were aggregated together. Those songs were narrowed down to those which were released between 1965 and 1975 and appeared on three or more lists. That left 149 songs. The top 50 songs were automatically in. For the next 50, I took the remaining songs and sorted them by overall status in Dave’s Music Database. Those top 50 were then added to the list, sorted by their points on the Laurel Canyon lists.

Check out the Spotify playlist of these songs here..

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (1966)
2. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Our House” (1970)
3. The Mamas & the Papas “California Dreamin’” (1965)
4. The Mamas & the Papas “Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)” (1967)
5. The Doors “Love Street” (1968)
6. The Turtles “Happy Together” (1967)
7. The Byrds “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” (1965)
8. Eagles “Take It Easy” (1972)
9. America “Ventura Highway” (1972)
10. Jackson Browne “Doctor My Eyes” (1972)

11. Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970)
12. Stephen Stills “Love the One You’re With” (1970)
13. The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
14. Crosby, Stills and Nash “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969)
15. The Mamas & the Papas “Monday Monday” (1966)
16. Linda Ronstadt “You’re No Good” (1974)
17. The Byrds “So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star” (1967)
18. Joni Mitchell “The Circle Game” (1970)
19. Eagles “Witchy Woman” (1972)
20. Poco “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” (1969)

21. Linda Ronstadt “When Will I Be Loved” (1974)
22. Buffalo Springfield “Mr. Soul” (1967)
23. The Byrds “Eight Miles High” (1966)
24. Carly Simon “You’re So Vain” (1972)
25. Love “Alone Again Or” (1967)
26. James Taylor “Fire and Rain” (1970)
27. Joni Mitchell “A Case of You” (1971)
28. Carole King “You’ve Got a Friend” (1971)
29. Flying Burrito Brothers “Christine’s Tune (Devil in Disguise)” (1969)
30. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Teach Your Children” (1970)

31. Carole King “I Feel the Earth Move” (1971)
32. Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys “Different Drum” (1967)
33. Carole King “So Far Away” (1971)
34. Judee Sill “Crayon Angels” (1971)
35. The Byrds “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (1968)
36. James Taylor “Sweet Baby James” (1970)
37. The Byrds “My Back Pages” (1967)
38. Carole King “It’s Too Late” (1971)
39. The Monkees “She” (1967)
40. Neil Young “Heart of Gold” (1972)

41. Eagles “Desperado” (1973)
42. Eagles “Tequila Sunrise” (1973)
43. The Mamas & the Papas “Go Where You Wanna Go” (1965)
44. Jackson Brown “Jamaica Say You Will” (1972)
45. Eagles “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” (1972)
46. Eagles “Already Gone” (1974)
47. Poco “A Good Feelin’ to Know” (1972)
48. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Helplessly Hoping” (1969)
49. Little Feat “Dixie Chicken” (1973)
50. Mama Cass Elliot (of the Mamas & the Papas) “Dream a Little Dream of Me” (1968)

51. Buffalo Springfield “Expecting to Fly” (1967)
52. Leon Russell “Tight Rope” (1972)
53. The Monkees “I’m a Believer” (1966)
54. The Beach Boys “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (1966)
55. The Doors “L.A. Woman” (1971)
56. Neil Young “Cinnamon Girl” (1969)
57. The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville” (1966)
58. Eagles “Lyin’ Eyes” (1975)
59. Crosby, Stills & Nash with Neil Young “Ohio” (1970)
60. The Mamas & the Papas “Creeque Alley” (1967)

61. Eagles “Best of My Love” (1974)
62. Joni Mitchell “River” (1971)
63. The Doors “Touch Me” (1968)
64. Linda Ronstadt “Long Long Time” (1970)
65. Three Dog Night “Mama Told Me Not to Come” (1970)
66. Eagles “Take It to the Limit” (1975)
67. Joni Mitchell “Help Me” (1974)
68. Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” (1969)
69. America “Lonely People” (1974)
70. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Marrakesh Express” (1969)

71. The Byrds “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” (1965)
72. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Wooden Ships” (1969)
73. The Turtles “It Ain’t Me, Babe” (1965)
74. The Byrds “All I Really Want to Do” (1965)
75. The Association “Never My Love” (1967)
76. The Doors “Light My Fire” (1967)
77. The Monkees “Daydream Believer” (1967)
78. James Taylor “You’ve Got a Friend” (1971)
79. The Doors “Hello, I Love You” (1968)
80. Neil Young “Old Man” (1972)

81. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Woodstock” (1970)
82. The Doors “Riders on the Storm” (1971)
83. Eagles “One of These Nights” (1975)
84. The Doors “Break on Through” (1967)
85. James Taylor “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You” (1975)
86. Love “My Little Red Book” (1966)
87. Sonny & Cher “I Got You Babe” (1965)
88. Canned Heat “On the Road Again” (1968)
89. The Doors “People Are Strange” (1967)
90. The Doors “Roadhouse Blues” (1970)

91. Joni Mitchell “Free Man in Paris” (1974)
92. Joni Mitchell “Carey” (1971)
93. The Doors “Love Her Madly” (1971)
94. Canned Heat “Going Up the Country” (1968)
95. The Doors “Love Me Two Times” (1967)
96. The Monkees “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (1967)
97. Neil Young “Southern Man” (1970)
98. Neil Young “The Needle and the Damage Done” (1972)
99. Linda Ronstadt “Heat Wave” (1975)
100. Linda Ronstadt “The Tracks of My Tears” (1975)

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First posted 4/21/2024; last updated 4/28/2024.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Gershwin Prize:

2007-2024

The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song was created by the Library of Congress in 2007. As explained on the site, it is given to celebrate “the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding. The styles in which these works are composed reflect myriad contemporary traditions like rock, jazz, country, pop, blues, folk, and gospel. The recipient – whether composer, singer/songwriter, or interpreter – is recognized for entertaining and informing audiences, for drawing upon the acknowledged foundations of popular song, and for inspiring new generations of performers on their own professional journeys.” The Library of Congress selects the recipient in consultation with a board consisting of members which may include music critics, performers, producers, scholars, and songwriters. The award was named after the brother/composer team of George and Ira Gershwin. Here are the recipients:

See other lifetime achievement awards.

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First posted 12/13/2012; last updated 3/20/2024.
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Friday, December 10, 2021

WXPN: Top 100 Albums of All Time

WXPN:

The All-Time Top 100 Albums

Starting December 2, 2021, the Philadelphia-based radio station WXPN did a countdown of the top 2021 albums of all time (!). The voter-based list took a week to play (it wrapped up on December 10), with lower albums getting one song apiece and then, by the time they got to the top 10, the entire albums were played. The station did a countdown of the top 885 albums (the station is 88.5 on the FM dial) in 2005. Links to both lists are included at the bottom of this page, but the top 100 from the 2021 list are included here.

Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.

1. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
2. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
3. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
4. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
5. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
6. The Clash London Calling (1979)
7. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
8. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
9. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
10. Carole King Tapestry (1971)

11. The Beatles Revolver (1966)
12. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
13. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
14. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
15. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
16. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
17. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
18. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971)
19. Steely Dan Aja (1977)
20. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)

21. The Who Who’s Next (1971)
22. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
23. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
24. The Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970)
25. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
26. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu (1970)
27. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
28. The Beatles Meet the Beatles! (1964)
29. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
30. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

31. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
32. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
33. The Who Quadrophenia (1973)
34. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
35. Bruce Springsteen The Wild, the Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle (1973)
36. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
37. Derek and the Dominos Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
38. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
39. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
40. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975)

41. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
42. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001)
43. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974)
44. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
45. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
46. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)
47. Counting Crows August and Everything After (1993)
48. Van Morrison Moondance (1970)
49. The Beatles Let It Be (1970)
50. John Prine John Prine (1971)

51. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970)
52. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
53. Pink Floyd Animals (1977) 54. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
55. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
56. Neil Young Harvest (1972)
57. The Allman Brothers Band Eat a Peach (1972)
58. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980)
59. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
60. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)

61. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (1970)
62. George Harrison All Things Must Pass (1970)
63. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
64. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
65. The Replacements Let It Be (1984)
66. Peter Gabriel So (1986)
67. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
68. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965)
69. The Band The Band (1969)
70. Yes Close to the Edge (1972)

71. Tom Petty Wildflowers (1994)
72. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
73. Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
74. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
75. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)
76. The Cure Disintegration (1989)
77. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007)
78. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes (1979)
79. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006)
80. The Rolling Stones Some Girls (1978)

81. Billy Joel The Stranger (1977)
82. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985)
83. Pretenders Pretenders (1980)
84. Queen A Night at the Opera (1975)
85. The Cars The Cars (1978)
86. Bruce Springsteen Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ (1973)
87. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1969)
88. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992)
89. Radiohead Kid A (2000)
90. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus (1978)

91. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984)
92. The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (1968)
93. The Who Tommy (1969)
94. Joni Mitchell Hejira (1976)
95. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989)
96. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993)
97. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
98. R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
99. Jackson Browne Late for the Sky (1974)
100. The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (1967)

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First posted 12/10/2021.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2020

The All-Time Top 100 Albums According to Billboard

First posted 3/29/2012; updated 8/5/2020.

Billboard:

The Top 100 Albums

Billboard magazine has long been the leading authority in the music industry when it comes to charting music. They provide a means of gauging quantifiable success of music. The DMDB has aggregated seven different Billboard lists (details at the bottom of the page) which measure the best albums of all time based on various factors such as weeks on the chart, weeks at #1, and sales.

Also, check out annual picks for album of the year.

1. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
2. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
3. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
4. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
5. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
6. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
7. Adele 21 (2011)
8. Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992)
9. Various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
10. Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 1987)

11. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
12. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
13. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
14. George Michael Faith (1987)
15. Grease (soundtrack, 1978)
16. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
17. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
18. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
19. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
20. Metallica Metallica (1991)

21. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991)
22. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
23. M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
24. Santana Supernatural (1999)
25. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)
26. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987)
27. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
28. Michael Jackson Bad (1987)
29. Backstreet Boys Millenium (1999)
30. James Horner (composer) Titanic (soundtrack, 1997)

31. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
32. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
33. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993)
34. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (1988)
35. Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992)
36. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985)
37. Whitney Houston Whitney (1987)
38. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
39. The Beatles 1 (compilation: 1962-70, released 2001)
40. AC/DC Back in Black (1980)

41. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
42. Celine Dion Falling into You (1996)
43. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992)
44. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
45. The Sound of Music (soundtrack, 1965)
46. West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961)
47. Mary Poppins (soundtrack, 1964)
48. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984)
49. Eminem The Eminem Show (2002)
50. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1999)

51. Taylor Swift Fearless (2008)
52. Norah Jones Come Away with Me (2002)
53. Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (U.S. Version, 1997)
54. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (2000)
55. Garth Brooks No Fences (1990)
56. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980)
57. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
58. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990)
59. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (live, 1975)
60. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965)

61. Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74)
62. The Police Synchronicity (1983)
63. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014)
64. Men at Work Business As Usual (1981)
65. Foreigner 4 (1981)
66. Usher Confessions (2004)
67. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964)
68. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
69. Celine Dion Let’s Talk about Love (1997)
70. The Monkees More of the Monkees (1967)

71. Hair (cast album, 1967)
72. The Monkees The Monkees (1966)
73. Supertramp Breakfast in America (1979)
74. The Lion King (soundtrack, 1994)
75. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995)
76. Asia Asia (1982)
77. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
78. Simon & Garfunkel/Dave Grusin The Graduate (soundtrack, 1968)
79. Green Day Dookie (1994)
80. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)

81. The Beatles Meet the Beatles! (1964)
82. The Eagles The Long Run (1979)
83. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass What Now My Love (1966)
84. John Cougar Mellencamp American Fool (1982)
85. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (1970)
86. South Pacific (cast album, 1949)
87. Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (compilation: 1971-75, released 1976)
88. My Fair Lady (cast album, 1956)
89. The Sound of Music (cast album, 1959)
90. The Music Man (cast album, 1957)

91. Kenny G Breathless (1992)
92. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977)
93. Michael Jackson Dangerous (1991)
94. Maurice Jarre Doctor Zhivago (soundtrack, 1966)
95. Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (1990)
96. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (2006)
97. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (1994)
98. Frozen (soundtrack, 2013)
99. Andy Williams Days of Wine and Roses (1963)
100. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)

Resources and Related Links:

  • 8/4/2020: Wikipedia: “List of Best-Selling Albums”

    List used to update “Best-Selling Albums” list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009. Includes official certified sales and claimed sales.

  • 8/3/2020: “The Biggest #1 Albums in U.S. Chart History”

    List especially created by Dave’s Music Database. Update of list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009. Ranks albums in the rock and pre-rock era based on weeks at #1.

  • 8/2/2020: “The Longest-Charting Albums in U.S. Chart History”

    List especially created by Dave’s Music Database. Ranks albums based on total weeks on the Billboard album charts. Update of list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009.

  • 6/22/2017: “What Is the Greatest Album of All Time According to the Music Industry?”

  • 2015: “Greatest of All Time: Billboard 200 Albums”

  • 2010: “Top 100 Albums.” Pages 964-5 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition)

    Top 100 list based on weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

  • 2010: “Albums of Longevity.” Page 969 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition)

    Top 50 list of albums which have charted more than 175 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart.

  • 2010: “Best Selling Albums.” Page 970 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition)

    A list of all albums certified by the RIAA to have sold 10 million or more copies.

  • 11/1/1994: “Top 100 Albums of All Time”

    This special list was compiled for the magazine’s 100th anniversary issue.

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Saturday, December 7, 2019

Carole King: Top 50 Songs

First posted 12/4/2019; updated 2/1/2020

Carole King

Singer/songwriter and pianist born Carole Joan Klein on 2/9/1942 in Manhattan, NY. Married lyricist Gerry Goffin in 1958; they wrote a number of hits together as part of the famous Brill Building team. Divorced in 1968. She recorded her first solo album in 1970 and became a Grammy darling the next year with four awards. Her album, Tapestry, is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.)

DMDB Top 1%:

1. It’s Too Late (King, 1971) #1 US, CB, HR, CN
2. The Loco-Motion (Little Eva, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR, RB, CN
3. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles, 1960) #1 US, CB
4. You’ve Got a Friend (James Taylor, 1971) #1 US, CB

DMDB Top 5%:

5. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
6. Up on the Roof (The Drifters, 1962)
7. Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vee, 1961) #1 US, CB, HR, CN
8. I Feel the Earth Move (King, 1971) #1 US, HR
9. One Fine Day (The Chiffons, 1963)
10. Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR
11. The Loco-Motion (Grand Funk Railroad, 1974) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, CN

DMDB Top 10%:

12. Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees, 1967) #1 CN
13. Go Away, Little Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971) #1 US, CB, CN
14. The Loco-Motion (Kylie Minogue, 1987) #1 AU
15. I’m into Something Good (Herman’s Hermits, 1964) #1 UK
16. You’ve Got a Friend (King, 1971)
17. So Far Away (King, 1971)
18. It Might As Well Rain Until September (King, 1962)

DMDB Top 20%:

19. Jazzman (King, 1974) #1 CB, HR
20. Up on the Roof (James Taylor, 1979)

21. Don’t Bring Me Down (The Animals, 1966)
22. Just Once in My Life (The Righteous Brothers, 1965)
23. Porpoise Song (The Monkees, 1968)
24. Nightingale (King, 1974) #1 AC
25. Sweet Seasons (King, 1971)
26. Only Love Is Real (King, 1975) #1 AC
27. Hey Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971)
28. Crying in the Rain (The Everly Brothers, 1962)
29. Been to Canaan (King, 1972) #1 AC
30. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (King, 1971)

31. Hi-De-Ho (Blood, Sweat & Tears; 1970)
32. One Fine Day (King, 1980)
33. Every Breath I Take (Gene Pitney, 1961)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

34. Corazón (King, 1973)
35. Believe in Humanity (King, 1973)
36. Crying in the Rain (aha, 1990)
37. Goin’ Back (The Byrds, 1967)
38. I Feel the Earth Move (Martika, 1989)
39. I Can’t Hear You No More (Helen Reddy, 1976) #1 AC
40. He’s a Bad Boy (King, 1963)

41. Hard Rock Café (King, 1977)
42. You Light Up My Life (King, 1973)
43. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (King, 1971)
44. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Dave Mason, 1978)
45. Some Kind of Wonderful (The Drifters, 1961)
46. When My Little Girl Is Smiling (The Drifters, 1962)
47. It’s Going to Take Some Time (Carpenters, 1972)
48. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (Little Eva, 1962)
49. Her Royal Majesty (James Darren, 1962)
50. Halfway to Paradise (Billy Fury, 1961)

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Gerry Goffin: Top 50 Songs

First posted 12/7/2019; updated 2/1/2020.

Gerry Goffin

Image from Rhino.com

Pop songwriter born 2/11/1939 in Brooklyn, NY. Died 6/9/2014. Married singer/songwriter Carole King in 1958. Wrote a number of hit songs together as one of the famous Brill Buiding teams. Divorced in 1968.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.)

DMDB Top 1%:

1. The Loco-Motion (Little Eva, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR, RB, CN
2. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles, 1960) #1 US, CB

DMDB Top 5%:

3. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
4. Up on the Roof (The Drifters, 1962)
5. Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vee, 1961) #1 US, CB, HR, CN
6. Saving All My Love for You (Whitney Houston, 1985) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB, #1 UK
7. Do You Know Where I’m Going To (Theme from “Mahogany”) (Diana Ross, 1975) #1 US, #1 CB, #1 HR, #1 AC
8. One Fine Day (The Chiffons, 1963)
9. Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR
10. The Loco-Motion (Grand Funk Railroad, 1974) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, CN

DMDB Top 10%:

11. The Loco-Motion (Kylie Minogue, 1987) #1 AU
12. Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees, 1967) #1 CN
13. Go Away, Little Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971) #1 US, CB, CN
14. Tonight I Celebrate My Love for You (Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack, 1983)
15. I’m into Something Good (Herman’s Hermits, 1964) #1 UK

DMDB Top 20%:

16. Someone That I Used to Love (Natalie Cole, 1980)
17. Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You (Glenn Medeiros, 1987)
18. Up on the Roof (James Taylor, 1979)
19. Don’t Bring Me Down (The Animals, 1966)
20. Who Put the Bomp in the Bomp Bomp Bomp (Barry Mann, 1961)

21. Just Once in My Life (The Righteous Brothers, 1965)
22. Miss You Like Crazy (Natalie Cole, 1989)
23. Porpoise Song (The Monkees, 1968)
24. I’ve Got to Use My Imagination (Gladys Knight & the Pips, 1973)
25. Hey Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971)
26. One Fine Day (King, 1980)
27. So Sad the Song (Gladys Knight & the Pips, 1976)
28. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (King, 1971)
29. Hi-De-Ho (Blood, Sweat & Tears; 1970)
30. Every Breath I Take (Gene Pitney, 1961)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

31. Goin’ Back (The Byrds, 1967)
32. I Can’t Hear You No More (Helen Reddy, 1976) #1 AC
33. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Carole King, 1971)
34. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Dave Mason, 1978)
35. Some Kind of Wonderful (The Drifters, 1961)
36. When My Little Girl Is Smiling (The Drifters, 1962)
37. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (Little Eva, 1962)
38. Her Royal Majesty (James Darren, 1962)
39. Halfway to Paradise (Billy Fury, 1961)
40. I Can’t Stay Mad at You (Skeeter Davis, 1963)

41. Oh No, Not My Baby (Maxine Brown, 1964)
42. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Bryan Ferry, 1993)
43. Up on the Roof (Carole King, 1970)
44. Is This What I Get for Loving You (The Ronettes, 1965)
45. Chains (The Cookies, 1962)
46. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Four Seasons, 1968)
47. Sharing You (Bobby Vee, 1962)
48. How Many Tears (Bobby Vee, 1961)
49. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Linda Ronstadt, 1970)
50. Run to Him (Bobby Vee, 1961)

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Friday, January 18, 2019

50 years ago: Dusty Springfield released Dusty in Memphis

First posted 4/8/2008; updated 12/1/2020.

Dusty in Memphis

Dusty Springfield

Released: January 18, 1969

Charted: March 15, 1969

Peak: 99 US

Sales (in millions): --

Genre: blue-eyed soul

Tracks:

Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. Just a Little Lovin’ (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) [2:19]
  2. So Much Love (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) [3:33]
  3. Son of a Preacher Man (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins) [2:28] (11/30/68, 10 US, 9 UK)
  4. I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore (Randy Newman) [3:12]
  5. Don’t Forget about Me (Goffin, King) [2:54] (3/1/69, 64 US)
  6. Breakfast in Bed (Eddie Hinton, Donnie Fritts) [2:59] (4/12/69, 91 US)
  7. Just One Smile (Newman) [2:44]
  8. The Windmills of Your Mind (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand) [3:54] (5/3/69, 31 US, 3 AC)
  9. In the Land of Make Believe (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) [2:34] (10/4/69, 27 AC)
  10. No Easy Way Down (Goffin, King) [3:11]
  11. I Can’t Make It Alone (Goffin, King) [4:01]

Total Running Time: 33:31

Rating:

3.807 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Quotable: “The All-time rock-era torch record” – Robert Christgau

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

“The idea of taking England’s reigning female soul queen to the home of the music she had mastered was an inspired one.” RW That “home” was specifically the American Sound Studio in Memphis where Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and others had recorded. Although she’d self-produced her earlier albums, she went with outside producers this time around using Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin to create what critic Robert Christgau called “the perfect instance of how a production team should work.” WK

Springfield had “very real anxiety about being compared with the soul greatest who had recorded in the same studios.” WK She had recorded R&B songs before, but this was the first time she committed to an entire album’s worth. WK The “production and engineering team picked mostly perfect songs, and those that weren’t so great were salvaged by Springfield’s marvelous delivery and technique.” RW

She was backed by the house band, the Memphis Cats, who had worked with Elvis Presley, Wilson Pickett, and King Curtis. She covered songs written by the famed writing teams of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Burt Bacharach and Hal David. “This set has definitive numbers in So Much Love, Son of a Preacher Man, Breakfast in Bed, Just One Smile, I Don't Want to Hear About It Anymore, and Just a Little Lovin'.” RW

The album didn’t perform well initially, peaking at #99 in the US and failing to reach the UK top 40. Music journalist Peter Robinson said the album stalled Springfield’s career, but eventually became “a popcultural milestone [and] timeless emotional reference point.” WK Entertainment Weekly’s Tony Scherman called it “one of the greatest pop records ever recorded.” WK Christgau called it “the all-time rock-era torch record.” WK “It’s truly a disc deserving of its classic status.” RW

Notes: A reissue added three bonus tracks including a cover of Willie and Laura Mae Jones’ That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho) and an unreleased version of What Do You Do When Love Dies from the original Memphis sessions.

A 25-song Rhino reissue included those three songs as well as “songs left over from sessions for the unfairly underrated Gamble- and Huff-produced Brand New Me album, and the unissued 1971 Jeff Barry-produced sides for a never-released third Atlantic album.” BE Also featured are “covers of David Gates' Make It with You and Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend, the gospel-flavored Love Shine Down, and the hard-rocking Natchez Trace.” BE

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