Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Song Inductees (January 2021)

Originally posted 1/22/2021. In honor of the 10th anniversary of the DMDB blog on January 22, 2019, Dave’s Music Database launched its own Hall of Fame. This is the ninth set of song inductees. From 1973 to 1982, there were four major charts which tracked U.S. pop songs: Billboard (1898-), Cashbox (1950-1996), Hit Records (1954-1982), and Radio & Records (1973-). 106 songs topped all four charts during that time. (See “USA #1 Pop Songs: 1890-present”). When narrowed down further, there were only 12 songs which combined for 20 or more weeks on top of those four charts.

Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

“How Deep Is Your Love” was the first single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and “Stayin’ Alive” is the one which endured to become the most iconic, but “Night Fever” was the biggest hit at the time. In the U.S., the first two spent a combined 7 weeks atop the chart, but “Night Fever” stayed there for a whopping 8 weeks. It was the biggest #1 of the year. Read more.

Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

For better or worse, there are few songs more associated with disco than “Stayin’ Alive.” BB100 “Confident, cocky, streetwise and upbeat,” LW the song perfectly complements John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Fever, the movie from which the song came. LW The song was not intended as a single, but after fans saw trailers for the movie, they swamped radio stations and RSO Records with calls for the song. WK Read more.

Blondie “Call Me” (1980) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

Composer and producer Giorgio Moroder, best known for his work with Donna Summer, approached Blondie about writing the theme song for the movie American Gigolo. BB Debbie Harry, the lead singer, said the band jumped at the chance “to work with their hero…‘He was the king of disco…And we were still the anti-establishment invaders.’” RS After seeing a rough cut of the film, BR1 she wrote lyrics in just a few hours from the perspective of a male prostitute – the main character of the film. WK The song’s six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart earned it the distinction of the magazine’s top song of the year. Read more.

Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (1977) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

Director Joe Brooks commissioned Debby Boone, the daughter of legendary singer Pat Boone, to record a new version of his song “You Light Up My Life” initially featured in the 1977 movie of the same name. Her version became the biggest #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit of the 1970s. Its 10 weeks on top of the chart made it the biggest #1 since Elvis Presley topped the charts for 11 weeks in 1956 with his double A-side hit “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog.” Read more.

Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

Songwriter Donna Weiss wrote the lyrics while Jackie DeShannon, whose “What the World Needs Now Is Now” and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” were both top tens, wrote most of the music. BR1 DeShannon recorded a honky-tonk version of the song for her 1975 album New Arrangement. When Carnes was given the song, she wasn’t convinced it had hit potential. BR1 However, when her synthesizer player, Bill Cuomo, reworked the track into a new-wavish pop song, BB100 Carnes was sold. So was the record buying public – it hit #1 in 31 countries WK and topped 1981’s year-end Hot 100 in the U.S. BB100 Read more.

Chic “Le Freak” (1978) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

“Le Freak” became the best-selling single in the history of Atlantic Records. BR1 It came about when Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were invited to New York City’s famed disco club Studio 54 by Grace Jones on New Year’s Eve in 1977. However, she forgot to notify the staff and the pair and the doorman told them to “fuck off” as he slammed the door on them. They used it in a song, changing it to “freak out” after realizing radio would never play it otherwise. WK Read more.

Andy Gibb “Shadow Dancing” (1978) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

The Gibb brothers (Barry, Maurice, Robin, and Andy) dominated the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. Andy’s brothers – the Bee Gees – had three #1 songs from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack while “Shadow Dancing” was Andy’s third #1 song, making him the first solo artist in the U.S. pop chart history to have his first three releases hit #1. WK “Shadow Dancing” was also named the biggest song of the year by Billboard magazine. Read more.

The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

The New York Times called “My Sharona” “an emblem of the new wave era in rock.” WK Doug Fieger, the lead singer of the Knack, fell for the real-life Sharona Alperin when she was in a relationship with someone else. He wrote the song in about 15 minutes, saying she “sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time.” WK The song “compressed a sense of teenage sexual frustration into its stutter beat built on simple rock and roll.” BR1 They eventually ended up together and even became engaged, but his alcoholism and rock n’ roll lifestyle led to their breakup. Read more.

Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love” (1981) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

In 2002, Richie told Billboard magazine, “When I put out ‘Endless Love’…during the days of disco, the reaction was, ‘Are you nuts?’” BB100 However, this unforgettable ballad from the completely forgettable Brooke Shields and Tom Cruise movie of the same name was the biggest hit Motown had up to that time, not to mention the biggest soundtrack single and most successful duet. BR1 Richie and Ross both had numerous #1’s with their groups the Supremes and the Commodores respectively and as solo acts, but this was the biggest hit for both of them. Read more.

Kenny Rogers “Lady” (1980) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

In 1980, Kenny Rogers’ record label wanted a Greatest Hits package to ring in the Christmas season. Rogers turned to the Commodores’ Lionel Richie for new material to add to the collection. Rogers said, “The idea was that Lionel would come from R&B and I’d come from country, and we’d meet somewhere in the middle.” BR1 The resulting “Lady” became Rogers’ fourth million-selling single and his first #1 on the pop charts. BB100 It was also the biggest pop song of 1980 WHC and the first song of the decade to hit Billboard’s pop, country, adult contemporary, and R&B charts, BR1 hitting #1 on the first three. Read more.

Rod Stewart “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (1976) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

Some radio programmers, the BBC, and Jesse Jackson’s People United to Save Humanity all saw this song as too sexually explicit, but public demand won out in the end and the song became the biggest #1 of 1976 WHC and the best-sellig song in the United States the following year. WK Its eight weeks on top made it the biggest #1 since the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” in November 1968. It was also the biggest hit of Stewart’s career. In 2018, Billboard ranked the song the 19th biggest in the history of the Hot 100. Read more.

Rod Stewart “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978) Inducted January 2021 as “Song with 20+ weeks atop 4 pop charts”

According to Carmine Appice, who had recently joined Stewart’s band and co-wrote the song, Stewart “was always looking at the charts and listening. He was a big fan of the Rolling Stones…so he wanted to do some kind of disco-y song, something like ‘Miss You.’” SF Some fans and critics thought his “defection to disco was unforgivable” BR1 but “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” gave Stewart his third chart-topping hit after “Maggie May” in 1971 and “Tonight’s the Night” in 1976. Read more.

Rod Stewart: Top 100 Songs

First posted 1/2/2020; updated 1/5/2020.

Rod Stewart image from Billboard.com

Rock singer Roderick David Stewart was born on this day (January 10) in 1945 in Highgate, London, England. He worked with the Shotgun Express (1966), the Jeff Beck Group (1967-69), and The Faces (69-75) and has maintained a solo career since 1969. His song, “Maggie May,” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999.

Awards:

Top 100 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. Stewart’s work with the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces are includes as well as his solo material. Songs are solo hits unless noted otherwise. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Maggie May (1971) #1 US, CB, HR, UK, CN, AU 2. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (1976) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, CN 3. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, UK, CN, AU DMDB Top 5%: 4. All for Love (Bryan Adams with Sting & Rod Stewart, 1993) #1 US, CB, RR, CN, AU 5. Sailing (1975) #1 UK 6. You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (1977) #1 RR, CN, AU 7. Have I Told You Lately (1991) #1 AC, CN 8. Stay with Me (The Faces, 1971) 9. The First Cut Is the Deepest (1976) 10. Downtown Train (1989) #1 CB, RR, AC, AR, CN DMDB Top 10%: 11. I Don’t Want to Talk About It (1975) #1 UK 12. You Wear It Well (1972) #1 UK 13. Reason to Believe (1971) 14. Young Turks (1981) 15. This Old Heart of Mine (Rod Stewart & Ron Isley, 1989) #1 AC 16. Rhythm of My Heart (1991) #1 CB, CN 17. Passion (1980) 18. Tonight I’m Yours (1981) 19. I Know I’m Losing You (The Faces, 1971) 20. Forever Young (1988) 21. Hot Legs (1977) DMDB Top 20%: 22. The Motown Song (Rod Stewart & the Temptations, 1991) #1 CN 23. Blue Moon (Rod Stewart & Eric Clapton, 2004) 24. Baby Jane (1983) #1 UK 25. People Get Ready (Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck, 1985) 26. Some Guys Have All the Luck (1984) 27. Handbags and Gladrags (1969) 28. The Killing of Georgie (1976) 29. Infatuation (1984) 30. Leave Virginia Alone (1995) #1 CN 31. I Was Only Joking (1977) 32. Twistin’ the Night Away (1972) 33. Love Touch (1986) 34. Get Back (1976) 35. They Can’t Take That Away from Me (2002) 36. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Rod Stewart & Cher, 2003) 37. What Am I Gonna Do? (1983) 38. Your Song (1992) 39. Broken Arrow (1991) 40. My Heart Can’t Tell You No (1988) 41. Someone to Watch Over Me (2003) 42. Ain’t Love a Bitch (1978) 43. Angel (The Faces, 1972) 44. Lost in You (1988) 45. These Foolish Things Remind Me of You (2002) 46. Oh No, Not My Baby (1973) 47. Having a Party (live with Ron Wood, 1993) 48. In a Broken Dream (Python Lee Jackson with Rod Stewart, 1969) 49. Cindy Incidentally (The Faces, 1973) 50. Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) 51. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Rod Stewart with Dave Koz, 2012) #1 AC Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 52. Reason to Believe (live with Ron Wood, 1993) 53. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2012) 54. It Takes Two (Rod Stewart & Tina Turner, 1990) 55. You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (The Faces, 1974) 56. Winter Wonderland (Rod Stewart & Michael Buble, 2012) 57. Another Heartache (1986) 58. This Old Heart of Mine (1975) 59. Ooh La La (1998) 60. Every Beat of My Heart (1986) 61. Gasoline Alley (1970) 62. Baby It’s Cold Outside (Rod Stewart & Dolly Parton, 2004) 63. If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right (1977) 64. If We Fall in Love Tonight (1996) 65. I’ve Got a Crush on You (Rod Stewart & Diana Ross, 2005) 66. Crazy About Her (1988) 67. I Can’t Deny It (2001) 68. How Long (1981) 69. So Far Away (1995) 70. What Made Milwaukee Famous (1972) 71. What a Wonderful World (Rod Stewart & Stevie Wonder, 2004) 72. Farewell/Bring It on Home to Me/You Send Me (1974) 73. Debris (The Faces, 1971) 74. I Don’t Want to Talk About It (1989) 75. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (2005) 76. Somebody Speical (1980) 77. Have You Ever Seen the Rain? (2006) 78. Mandolin Wind (1971) 79. Ole Ola (Muhler Brasileia) (Rod Stewart & the Scottish World Cup Squad, 1978) 80. I’ve Been Drinking (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 81. Twistin’ the Night Away (1987) 82. Time After Time (2003) 83. Faith of the Heart (1999) 84. Pool Hall Richard (The Faces, 1973) 85. Street Fighting Man (1969) 86. It’s All Over Now (1970) 87. Cut Across Shorty (Rod Stewart live Ron Wood, 1993) 88. All Right Now (1984) 89. Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 90. Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda) (1992) 91. Love Is Blue (L’Amour Est Blue) (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 92. Blondes Have More Fun (1978) 93. Mine for Me (1974) 94. Gi’ Me Wings (1980) 95. My Girl (1980) 96. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (N-Trance with Rod Stewart, 1997) 97. Tora Tora Tora (Out with the Boys) (1981) 98. Jealous (1981) 99. Don’t Come Around Here (Rod Stewart with Helicopter Girl, 2001) 100. Guess I’ll Always Love You (live, 1998) Resources and Related Links: Rod Stewart’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry

   

Rod Stewart hit #1 with “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy Rod Stewart

Writer(s): Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings (see lyrics here) Released: November 10, 1978 First Charted: November 18, 1978 Peak: 14 US, 15 CB, 15 HR, 16 RR, 5 RB, 1 CL, 11 UK, 14 CN, 12 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.5 UK, 3.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 155.0 video, 256.26 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” gave Stewart his third chart-topping hit after “Maggie May” in 1971 and “Tonight’s the Night” in 1976. The song reached #1 in the United States, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It was a top 10 hit in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. According to Carmine Appice, who had recently joined Stewart’s band and co-wrote the song, Stewart “was always looking at the charts and listening. He was a big fan of the Rolling Stones…so he wanted to do some kind of disco-y song, something like ‘Miss You.’” SF Some fans and critics thought his “defection to disco was unforgivable.” FB Critic Greil Marcus said in The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll “rarely has anyone betrayed his talent so completely.” FB It’s also been said it “could be the worst example of narcissim on record.” KL While the song certainly played on Stewart’s image as an international playboy, he insisted he was singing in the third person. KL Co-writer Duane Hitchings said the song was “a spoof on guys from the ‘cocaine lounge lizards’ of the Saturday Nightr Fever days.” WK The song also stirred claims of plagiarism from Brazilian songwriter Jorge Ben. He said the melody of “Da Ya” was stolen from his song “Taj Mahal.” FB While it never reached court, reissues of the song have credited Ben KL and Stewart donated the royalties from the song to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). WK Stewart admitted to “unconscious plagiarism” in his 2012 autobiography. WK He also said the “song’s signature synthesizer riff” came from Bobby Womack’s “If You Want My Love Put Something Down on It.” WK Resources: FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 497. KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits: The Stories Behind Every Number One Single Since 1952. London, Great Britain: Omnibus Press. Page 243. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 3/7/2021; last updated 9/15/2023.