We're off and running...
As a bonus, we're starting off with the "extras"...the songs that just missed
the top 77 on the list.
Here we go, with the Top 77, the songs you voted for as the greatest of
all time!
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77 -
*You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers - 1965 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This song made the top 100
five times by five different acts, three of those times in the top 20.
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76 -
*Wedding Bell Blues - 5th Dimension - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - The 5th Dimension charted
three times in 1969. All three
of those songs made the top 20, two got to #1.
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75 - I Only Have Eyes For You -
Flamingos - 1959 (Peaks: WABC - Pre-Dates Survey, Nat'l - #11)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This is the fourth most
popular song from the 1950s in the 17 years we've been doing this
survey. It has appeared in the Top 77 eight times.
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74 -
*Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) - Looking Glass - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #2,
Nat'l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY: This was the first of four
consecutive songs to get to #1 that began with the letter "B" in 1972.
The others were "Black and White" (Three Dog Night). "Baby Don't Get
Hooked on Me" (Mac Davis), and "Ben" (Michael Jackson).
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73 - Since
I Don't Have You - Skyliners - 1959 (Peaks: WABC - Pre Dates Chart.
Nat'l #12)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - The Skyliners first two
chart songs, this and "This I Swear", spent 31 weeks on the top 100.
Their next, and final, four songs spent a TOTAL of 27 weeks on
the top 100.
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72 - Here
Comes The Sun - Beatles - 1969 (Peaks: WABC - LP Cut. Nat'l - Did Not
Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - The LP this song was from,
"Abbey Road", jumped on the chart on October 25, 1969, one week after
the double-sided single "Come Together" b/w "Something" entered the Top
100. The LP stayed on the chart for 32 weeks. Each side of the single
charted for 16 weeks, or a total of 32 weeks, exactly the same as the
LP.
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71 - Earth
Angel (Will You Be Mine) - Penguins - 1955 (Peaks: WABC - Pre-Dates
Chart, Nat'l #8)
CHART ODDITY ODYSEY - Although this original
version entered the chart seven weeks before The Crew Cuts' cover
version, the cover version charted higher, making it to #3 in 1955.
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70 -
Beginnings - Chicago - 1971 (Peaks: WABC #11, Nat'l #7)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This was first released in
1969 with "Poem 58" as the flip side. It bombed. Then it was re-released
in 1971 with "Colour My World" on the flip side and became a top 20 hit.
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69 - Piano
Man - Billy Joel - 1974 (Peaks: WABC #19. Nat'l #25)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This song, Billy's first to
chart, led the way to four straight songs that failed to make the top
20. He didn’t come close to having four straight songs fail to make the
top 20 until 16 years later in May of 1990.
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68 - *The
House Of The Rising Sun - Animals - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This song soared to #1 to
become the group's first chart hit. As the British invasion faded, their
chart success cooled and the closest they'd ever get to #1 again would
be three years later when "San Franciscan Nights" got to #9.
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67 - *Will
You Love Me Tomorrow – Shirelles – 1961 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This is the tenth time this
song has made our top 77, but five of those ten times have come
consecutively, in the last five years.
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66 - *Where
Did Our Love Go – Supremes – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat'l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Their previous five chart
songs failed to make the top 20. The next time this would happen wasn’t
until 1969. Then, once again, they broke that streak by going to #1,
that time with “Someday We’ll Be Together”.
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65 - *A
Hard Day's Night – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was one of the rare
cases where a single charted on one label, Capitol, yet the LP charted
on another, United Artists. The Beatles charted on ten different record
labels in 1964.
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64 - Glad
All Over - Dave Clark Five – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #7, Nat’l #6)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the first of 14 top
20 songs in about 25 months for the group. That’s an average of one hit
song every two months for two years plus!
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63 -*Honky
Tonk Women - Rolling Stones – 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the band’s 23rd
chart entry in five years. After this fell off the Top 100, they would
have zero chart entries until 1971, when they went to #1 with “Brown
Sugar”.
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62 - Johnny
B Goode - Chuck Berry – 1958 (Peaks: WABC – Pre-Dates Chart, Nat’l #8)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – After this record peaked at
# 8, Chuck would not chart higher until 14 years later, when “My
Ding-A-Ling” improbably got to #1.
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61 – Lola –
Kinks – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #8, Nat’l #9)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – When this song got to #9 on
the chart, it became their highest charter in five years. And once it
fell off the chart, they would not chart as high again until 13 years
later when “Come Dancing” got to #6.
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60 - I Saw
Her Standing There – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #29, Nat’l #14)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the first of 26
double-sided records to make the Top 100 for the group.
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59 -
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen – 1975 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart,
Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Although Bruce has charted
over 25 times on the Top 100, this is one of only two songs that have
made out Top 77 in 17 years.
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58 - *I Got
You Babe - Sonny & Cher – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Before this song fell of the
chart in October of 1965, Sonny and Cher, together or as solo acts,
would have six songs on the Top 100 in a 14 week span.
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57 - *I
Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) - Four Tops – 1965 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – When this song got to #1,
replacing The Supremes’ “Back in My Arms Again”, it was the first time
one Motown song replaced another at the top of the chart,
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56 - Won't
Get Fooled Again – Who – 1971 (Peaks:
WABC #21, Nat’l #15)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song was written for a
soundtrack, “Lifehouse”, that never existed once the film’s production
was halted.
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55 - Ain't
No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell -1967 (Peaks: WABC
#6, Nat’l #19)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the first of seven
chart entries and four top 20 songs for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Marvin paired up with three other ladies through the years, but those
pairings only yielded two top 20 songs.
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54 -
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell – 1968 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #3)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was Glen’s breakthough
hit after failing to make the top 20 nine times. One of those nine,
“Gentle on My Mind”, actually charted longer than this one, sixteen
weeks as opposed to fifteen weeks, but “Gentle…” only got to #39.
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53 - Please
Please Me – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #3)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Released in 1963 in the U.S.
as “Please Please Me” by The Beattles, the label finally got their name
right for Beatlemania, and the song went to #3.
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52 –
*Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In -
5th Dimension – 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Only five songs in the 1960s
stayed at #1 longer than this one.
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51 –
Morning Girl - Neon Philharmonic
– 1969 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l #17)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Despite this being a top 20
song and DJ favorite in 1969, WABC and WMCA in New York never charted
the song.
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50 –
*Downtown - Petula Clark – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Pet was 32 years old when
this song got to #1, making her one of the oldest Top 40 acts to reach
the pinnacle of the charts in the 60s. She re-recorded "Downtown" seven
times, in 1976 (as a disco song), in 1984 (with a new intro), in 1988,
in 1996 and 2013. In October 2011 she recorded several lines in the
remake by the Saw Doctors. Her 2013 album also features a new version of
the song. In addition, the
original was remixed and re-released in 1988, 1999, and 2003.
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49 - *Sugar
Sugar – Archies – 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - By the time this song got to
#1 in September, it was only the ninth #1 record of the entire year.
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48 - *To
Sir With Love - Lulu - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was her only #1, her
only top ten, her only top 15. In fact, her only other top 20 hit didn’t
come until 14 years later, when “I Could Never Miss You” got to #18.
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47 -
*Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues – 1968/1972 Peaks: (WABC #1, Nat’l
#2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Four years earlier, this
song peaked at #103 on the “Bubbling Under” chart.
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46 - *He's
A Rebel – Crystals – 1962 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – All six Crystals records on
Phil Spector’s Philles record label made the top 20, The highest they
charted on any other label was #92.
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45 -
*What's Going On - Marvin Gaye – 1971 (Peaks: #1 WABC, #2 Nat’l)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Despite having 16 top 20
hits by the time this made the chart, Marvin peaked higher with this one
than any that came before.
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44
-*Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James and the Shondells – 1969 (Peaks:
WABC #1, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was Tommy’s last major
hit where he shared billing with The Shondells.
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43 – Taxi -
Harry Chapin – 1972 (Peaks: WABC - #9.Nat’l #24)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – “Sequel”, the
follow-up/answer/resolution to this song actually charted higher
nationally, despite having the same melody.
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42 -
*Yesterday – Beatles – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – There have been over 2,500
recorded versions of this song.
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41 -
Midnight Confessions - Grass Roots – 1968 (Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #5)
CHART IDDITY ODYSSEY – This was first recorded in
1967 by The Evergreen Blues and failed to chart.
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40 -
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #4)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – When this song returned to
the chart in 1990, it was competing with itself, a newly recorded
version by the duo that peaked at #19, while the original went to #13.
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39 -
*Runaway - Del Shannon – 1961 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Del returned to the chart
with a live version of this in 1967. But the record only got to #112.
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38 -* Mack
The Knife - Bobby Darin – 1959 (Peaks: WABC Pre-dates chart, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – When this song reached its
ninth week at #1, only two other songs had stayed on top longer: Guy
Mitchell’s “Singing the Blues” at 10 weeks, and Elvis’ double-sided hit
“Hound Dog”/”Don’t Be Cruel” at 11 weeks.
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37 - Can't
Find The Time – Orpheus – 1969 (Peaks: WABC – DNC, Nat’l #80)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Peaked at #111 in 1968, then
returned only to peak at a weak #80 in 1969; nevertheless, it’s become
somewhat of a classic.
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36 – *Stop!
In The Name Of Love – Supremes – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was one of only seven
#1 songs from the rock era through the 1980’s that had an exclamation
mark in the title.
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35 - Can't
Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley – 1962 (Peak: WABC #8, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Once this song got to #2, it
would be the last time Elvis would ever have three top ten songs in a
row.
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34 -
*Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley – 1969 (Peak: WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was “The King’s” last
#1 song to chart, coming 8 ½ years after his last one, in 1962, “Good
Luck Charm”.
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33 - Dawn
(Go Away) - Four Seasons – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #3)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Thanks to Vee Jay Records
pulling out old catalogue songs to capitalize on The Four Seasons’
popularity, the group was competing with itself when this was released,
as “Stay” was also climbing the chart. That one ended up peaking at #16.
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32 -
Strawberry Fields Forever – Beatles – 1967 (Peaks: WABC #34, Nat’l #8)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – The next Beatles “B” side to
peak this high wouldn’t come until 2 ½ years later, when “Something” got
to #3,
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31 - *Be My
Baby – Ronettes – 1963 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Believe it or not, this was
the ONLY Ronettes record to make the national top 20 chart.
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30 –
*Sherry - Four Seasons – 1962 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was The Four Seasons’
first top ten hit. They would have at least one top ten hit per year
after this until 1968, when the highest they peaked was #24 with “Will
You Love Me Tomorrow”. They would not have another top ten song until
1975.
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29 -
*Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie – 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song started phase two
of Lou’s career. His first was in 1963 and “The Gypsy Cried”, his third
began in 1969 with “I’m Gonna Make You Mine”. This one, in 1966,
produced his only #1 hit.
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28 - In My
Life – Beatles – 1966 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did Not
Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song was from the LP
“Rubber Soul”, which was one of nine consecutive albums The Beatles
placed at #1.
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27 -
*Maggie May - Rod Stewart – 1971 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was originally the “B”
side of the single; however, even though “Reason to Believe”, the
original “A” side, managed only to get to #62, it helped make this
single Rod’s only two-sided charter in his top 100 legacy.
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26 -
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – 1976/1992 (Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was a bigger national
hit the second time around in 1992, when it was featured in the film
“Wayne’s World”. In 24 weeks it peaked at #9 in 1976. But in 1992, it
made it to #2 in 17 weeks, for a total of 41 weeks!
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25 –
Because - Dave Clark Five – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #3)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Although immensely popular
as part of the British Invasion in 1964, it took 13 chart entries before
this group finally got to #1 with “Over and Over”. This song, although
it only got to #3, has proven to be the fan favorite through the years.
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24 – Layla
- Derek & the Dominos – 1972 (Peaks: WABC #7, Nat’l #10)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Before it made the top ten
in 1972 with the long version of the song, the song actually premiered
on the top 100 and peaked at #51 in 1971 in a shortened 2:43 version.
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23 - God
Only Knows - Beach Boys – 1966 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l -
#39)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Although this has turned out
to be a favorite of Beach Boys fans, it was not a major hit at all. In
fact, four Beach Boys’ “B” sides charted higher than this did.
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22 -
Waterloo Sunset – Kinks – 1967 (Peaks: WABC -
Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – The summers of 1966 through
1970 proved a dead zone for The Kinks, with only three chart entries at
the bottom half of the top 100. This song somehow emerged as a fan club
pick from this otherwise dismal time period for the group.
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21 -
*Cherish – Association – 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Although a #1 smash, the
group’s next two entries bombed. It took until the following summer for
the band to rebound with their second, and last, #1 song, “Windy”.
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20 - A Day
In The Life – Beatles – 1967 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did
Not Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song was never released
as a single in 1967, despite being one of the
group’s most popular songs ever. Finally, in 1978, the song WAS released
as a 45 rpm. Too little, too late…it didn’t chart at all.
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19 - *Hotel
California – Eagles – 1977 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This group had five #1
songs, yet every one of them only stayed on top for ONE week each.
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18 - *She
Loves You – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Originally released on Swan
Records in the U.S. in both white and black label pressings, this was
the ONLY Beatles release on that label, 45 rpm or LP.
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17 - Like A
Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #3, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Dylan’s two biggest hits
peaked at #2, this one and “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35”. Once the 1960s
turned into the 1970s, he would never again have a top ten hit.
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16 –
Imagine - John Lennon – 1971 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #3)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – Although this song got to #3
on the top 100, it stayed on the list for only nine weeks, the shortest
time of any of Lennon’s top 20 hits.
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15 - *My
Girl – Temptations – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the only top ten
song for the group between early 1964 and the fall of 1966. They ended
up with four #1 songs, two in the 1960s and two in the 1970s.
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14 - Born
To Run - Bruce Springsteen – 1975 (Peaks: WABC #36, Nat’l #25)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This is another “signature
song” that did poorly on the charts. According to the top 100, “Dancing
in the Dark” was his biggest hit, but just try telling that to
Bruce-ites.
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13 - *Let
It Be – Beatles – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – The Beatles went out in a
flurry, even though NONE of the songs on the chart in 1970 were recently
recorded. The LP “Let It Be” was charting at the same time the “Hey
Jude” LP was on the chart. “Let It Be” was still on the top 100 as “The
Long and Winding Road” entered the chart.
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12 - *Ain't
No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was the first of six #1
solo hits for Diana Ross. With The Supremes, she had twelve.
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11 -
Stairway To Heaven - Led
Zeppelin – 1971 (Peaks: WABC – Did Not Chart, Nat’l – Did Not Chart)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – With this song never being
released as a single, “Whole Lotta Love” ended up being the ONLY top ten
song for this superstar group.
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10 -
*American Pie - Don McLean – 1972 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – What started out as a
gangbuster career subsided substantially after this song faded away, Don
would go on to have only two other top 20 hits and only two other LPs to
chart, neither of which made the LP Top 20 list.
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9 - *Good
Vibrations - Beach Boys – 1966 (Peaks: WABC #4, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – It took 28 chart entries and
22 years before The Beach Boys returned to #1 on the top 100 with
“Kokomo”.
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8 - *I Want
To Hold Your Hand – Beatles – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY - This started a streak of 28
top 100 records that resulted in an appearance of at least one song on
the top 100 every week into November of 1964.
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7 - In The
Still Of The Nite - Five Satins – 1956 (Peaks: WABC – Pre-Dates Chart,
Nat’l: #24)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This group had five top 100
songs. None of them peaked higher than this, at a modest #24.
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6 - *Bridge
Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel – 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l
#1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This was their biggest hit,
and the peak of their success. Soon after this, the duo broke up and
would have only three more top 20 hits over the next twelve years after
having eleven top 40 hits in the previous five years.
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5 -
MacArthur Park - Richard Harris – 1968 (Peaks: WABC #2, Nat’l #2)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – After this huge hit, Richard
would peak no higher than #41 on the top 100. In fact, as iconic as this
hit was, Donna Summer had more chart success with her version in 1978,
peaking at #1 in 20 weeks.
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4 -*Rag
Doll - Four Seasons – 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song was the only
record ever to go straight from “Pick Hit of the Week” to #1 on the WABC
survey.
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3 - *Light
My Fire – Doors – 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This song spent nearly six
months on the top 100, which almost matched the total time spent on the
chart of their next three singles.
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2 -
*Satisfaction - Rolling Stones – 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – WABC never played the
original version of this song when it was current. Instead, they played
a custom-made version that edited out the last verse of the song, which
Program Director Rick Sklar deemed too risqué to play on his broad-based
Top 40 station.
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1 - *Hey
Jude – Beatles – 1968 )Peaks: WABC #1, Nat’l #1)
CHART ODDITY ODYSSEY – This double-sided record
entered the chart on September 14, 1968. The Beatles would not debut
another record on the top 100 until May 10, 1969. That eight month gap
represented the longest period of time between chart debuts that the Fab
Four would ever have as an active group between 1964 and 1970.
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