Here are the RESULTS of YOUR 22nd Top 77 of All-Time…
As Voted by YOU from October 28 through December 8, 2019
As You Voted for Up to Ten of Your Favorite Songs!
AS A BONUS, LET’S START WITH THE SONGS THAT JUST MISSED
THE TOP 77…
FROM #78 TO #100
Asterisk (*) Indicates Former #1 Song
Nationally or on WABC Radio, New York
For the Top 77 portion of the list,
“Top 77” refers to the number of years and peak number for the song on the Top
77
(Unless otherwise noted, chart info
is based on national chart information)
100 *Maggie May, Rod Stewart (1971)
99 *I Get Around, Beach BOYS
(1964)
98 *Penny Lane, Beatles (1967)
97 Worst That Could Happen,
Brooklyn Bridge (1969)
96 *Just My Imagination
(Running Away With Me), Temptations (1971)
95 Heat Wave, Martha and the
Vandellas (1963)
94 Rocket Man, Elton John
(1972)
93 Superstar, Carpenters
(1971)
92 *Don't Be Cruel, Elvis
Presley (1956)
91 If I Fell, Beatles (1964)
90 Feelin' Stronger Every Day,
Chicago (1973)
89 Glad All Over, Dave Clark
Five (1964)
88 Things I'd Like To Say, New
Colony Six (1969)
87 Just the Way You Are, Billy
Joel (1978)
86 *Downtown, Petula Clark
(1965)
85 *Runaround Sue, Dion (1961)
84 Something, Beatles (1969)
83 Miracles, Jefferson
Starship (1975)
82 Go All The Way, Raspberries
(1972)
81 *Groovin', Young Rascals
(1967)
80 Born To Run, Bruce
Springsteen (1975)
79 Walk Away Renee, Left Banke
(1966)
78 *Brandy (You're A Fine
Girl), Looking Glass (1972)
And now, here
are the songs that represent the “Cream of the Crop” of the nearly 3,000 songs
you voted for this year!
(Position/Title/Artist/Year/WABC &
Billboard Peak, Top 77 Peak and Years on Top 77)
77 – Jumpin’ Jack
Flash – Rolling Stones 1966 (#2 WABC,#3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #23, 4 years
The title was
inspired by the gardener at Keith Richards' country house. When both his and
Mick Jagger’s sleep was disrupted one morning by loud footsteps, Richard
explained that it was Jack Dyer, his gardener, walking past the window…declaring
"Oh, that's Jack – that's ‘Jumpin' Jack’."
76 – *The Twist
– Chubby Checker – 1960 & 1962 (#1 WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #24, 12 years
“King of the
Twist”? – Perhaps he should be called the “King of the Dance”. Twenty-one of his
charted songs were about dances!
75 – *Runaway –
Del Shannon 1961 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #20, 15 years
This song,
originally titled “Little Runaway”, was written to highlight keyboard player Max
Crook’s invention. It was his own electric keyboard called a Musitron".
74 – *Theme
from “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith 1960 (Pre-dates WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#42, 4 years
Failing to make
the top 30 after this smash dropped off the charts, Percy tried a vocal version
of the song in 1969. It bombed, reaching only a paltry #111 for one week.
73 – *Help! –
Beatles 1965 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #23, 12 years
From when The
Beatles’ first movie title track, “A Hard Day’s Night’ hit the top 100 on July
18, 1964 until their second movie title track hit the top 100 on August 7, 1965,
the band placed an astounding 15 songs on the Hot 100.
72 – Let’s Hang
On – Four Seasons 1965 (#4 WABC, #3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #49, 3 years
This was the
last Four Seasons song to include bass singer/bassist Nick
Massi. The same
month "Let's Hang On!" was released, Massi left the group. It never reached #1
on the Billboard chart, but did get to #1 on the national Cash Box survey.
71 - *Nights in
White Satin – Moody Blues 1972 (#1 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #16, 18 years
This song was
written in 1965 by band
member Justin Hayward. He came up with the title after a girlfriend gave him a
gift of satin bedsheets.
70 – Red Rubber Ball – Cyrkle 1966 (#3 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #70, 1 year
For the week ending July 9, 1966, this song peaked at #2 behind The Beatles’
“Paperback Writer”. That marked the fifth week that year that songs written by
Paul Simon and Lennon/McCartney were back to back at #1 and #2 on the chart.
69 – Waterloo Sunset – Kinks 1967 (Did Not Chart, WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #15,
14 years
Years ending in “7” must be lucky for the Kinks. After peaking at #2 in the U.K.
in 1967, the song returned to the chart 30 years later by Cathy Dennis, making
it all the way to #11 in 5 weeks. Ten years after that, the Kinks’ version
resurfaced, making it to #47 in two weeks. Although it was a big international
hit, this song remains virtually unplayed in America on “Top 40” radio.
68 – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows) – Edison Lighthouse 1970 (#4 WABC, #5
Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #48, 2 years
Originally done by Jefferson, who had a hit with “Baby Take Me in Your Arms”,
this song was given to Edison Lighthouse because the producer,
Tony Macaulay, didn't like Jefferson’s version. Jefferson's version wasn’t
released until decades later.
67 – What Does
It Take (to Win Your Love) – Jr. Walker and the All Stars 1969 (#5 WABC, #4
Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #67, 3 Years
Autry
DeWalt-Mixom – that’s Jr. Walker – had only TWO top ten Hot 100 songs. And both
of them, this and “Shotgun”, peaked at #4!
66 – Earth
Angel (Will You Be Mine) – Penguins 1955 (Pre-dates WABC, #8 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#11, 11 years
Debuted on the
charts of Christmas Day, 1954! Hark! The Earth Angel Sings! As a doo-wop group,
they were beaten to the punch by at least one other group, The Chords, who in
the summer of 1954 debuted “Sh-Boom”.
65 – Midnight
Confessions – Grass Roots 1968 (#3 WABC, #5 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #33, 16 years)
Yeah, yeah. We
know the title is “Midnight Confessions”…but listen carefully. Those words are
NOT in the lyrics; however, the words “Midnight Confession” – singular – are.
64 – Beyond the
Sea – Bobby Darin 1960 (Pre-dates WABC, #6 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #4, 14 years
Before Bobby, two versions of this song reached the national Top 40. First,
Benny Goodman charted in 1948, and then Roger Williams got to #37
in 1955.
63 – *The Long and Winding Road – Beatles 1970 (#3 WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#42, 4 years
Quick! What was the ONLY Beatles record in which both sides were listed together
as #1? Answer? See above and add “For You Blue”.
62 – Everything
That Touches You – Association 1968 (#13 WABC, #10 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #62, 2
years
So, which
number is greater? The number of top ten hits this group had or the number of
members in the group? The answer is…6 members and 5 top ten hits. It could be
worse. Formed as “The Men”, this group started out with 13 members! Oh, man! Or
make that…OH MEN!
61 – Unchained
Melody – Righteous Brothers 1965 & 1990 (#4 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #15, 18
years
Nine different
versions of this song made the top 100. The Righteous Brothers did it twice with
the original version and once with a re-recorded version. One other version made
the “Bubbling Under” chart. So what’s the biggest version? That would be Les
Baxter in 1955, the only one to get to #1.
60 – *Lightning
Strikes – Lou Christie 1966 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #18, 16 years
…from the man
who had three separate careers, or so it seems… 1963: Three chart entries
appear, led by “Two Faces Have I”. 1966: He strikes (ahem) again with this Top
77 song plus “Rhapsody in the Rain”. And then…1969: The sleeping giant awakes
once more with…”I’m Gonna Make You Mine”.
59 – *Reach Out
I’ll Be There – Four Tops 1966 #1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #40, 4 years
Told to sing
with the urgency of Bob Dylan, Levi Stubbs could have really said this song was
by The Dawn-Tops…After all, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent – later of Tony
Orlando’s hit-making group – sang backup.
58 – *Incense
and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock 1967 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #12,
19 years
Some may know
that these guys were originally known as Thee Sixpence and that lead guitarist
Ed King later was a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. But not as many know that on May
24, 1969, two versions of “Good Morning Starshine” entered the top 100. One was
by Oliver. The other was by this group. Oliver’s version got to #3.
Unfortunately, for Strawberry’s version of the song, the “..Clock” stopped at
#87.
57 – *You’ve
Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Righteous Brothers 1965 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#22, 18 years
It was a
three-time top 20 hit. These guys had the #1 version. Hall and Oates made it to
#12. Dionne Warwick got to #16.
56 – *Sherry –
Four Seasons 1962 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #21, 15 years
This group’s
first two top 100 singles spent a total of 10 weeks at #1. Their next 43 top 100
singles spent a total of only 7 weeks at #1.
55 – *Daydream
Believer – Monkees 1968 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #53, 9 years
This song,
written by Kingston Trio member John Stewart while he was still with that group,
was offered first to We Five and Spanky and Our Gang. They both turned it down.
54 – *Can’t
Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli 1967 (#1 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #38, 5
years
Here’s another
one of those songs where the title is technically never heard…But you DO hear
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off OF You”. By the way, “C’mon Marianne” was the Four
Seasons’ hit while this Valli solo was on the chart.
53 – Morning
Girl – Neon Philharmonic 1969 (Did Not Chart on WABC, #17 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#35, 6 years
In 1976, Shaun
Cassidy decided to release this as his first single. Bad decision – since it
never charted. But Shaun did much better with another remake from the 60’s, “Da
Doo Ron Ron”, which he took to #1.
52 – *I Can’t
Help Myself – Four Tops 1965 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #17. 14 years
The Four Tops
hit the top 100 every year from 1964 to 1976. Although they missed charting from
1977 to 1980, they returned with their biggest hit in eight years with “When She
Was My Girl” peaking at #11 in 1981.
51 – Taxi –
Harry Chapin 1972 (#9 WABC, #24 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #20, 20 years
It’s amazing to
think that this classic and the 1980 sequel to it called “Sequel” never made the
top 20, peaking at #24 and #23 respectively. In fact, the only Chapin song to
make the top 20 was “Cat’s in the Cradle”…which got to #1.
50 - *To Sir
with Love – Lulu 1967 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #24, 12 years
Her next
biggest hit in the USA, and her ONLY other top 20 hit in the states, was the #18
chart-maker, “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)”.
49 – Da Doo Ron
Ron (When He Walked Me Home) – Crystals 1963 (#3 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #44,
4 years
In the short
space of two years, The Crystals had six top 20 hits, including one #1. By the
end of 1963, they would never peak higher than #92.
48 – Please
Please Me – Beatles 1964 (#3 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #47, 5 years
Producer George
Martin preferred that The Beatles release “How Do You Do It’ as the single to
follow “Love Me Do”, but the boys refused to do that. So out came a song
inspired by Bing Crosby’s classic, “Please”, and influenced by Roy Orbison’s
singing style. Originally meant to be slow and dreamy, Martin turned up the pace
and a hit was born.
47 – *A Hard
Day’s Night – Beatles (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #31, 9 years
The song was
written in one night by John Lennon and recorded by the band in less than three
hours. Paul sang the bridge (“…when I’m home…”) only because John couldn’t reach
those notes.
46 – *Crystal
Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells 1969 (#1 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77
Peak #27, 15 years
In case you’re
wondering, the song’s meaning is religious, based on the gospel’s Book
of Ezekiel, Book
of Isaiah and
the Book
of Revelation, which
tell of a future age of brotherhood of mankind, living in peace and harmony.
45 – Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley 1962 (#8 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77
Peak #13, 18 years
Excluding EPs and re-releases, from March of 1956 through May of 1964, every “A”
side charted by Elvis made the top 30.
44 – Layla – Derek and the Dominos 1971 & 1972 (#7 WABC, #10 Nat’l) Top 77 #19,
18 years
Both the Broadcast Music Industry (BMI) and the Recording Industry Association
of America named this song as one of the greatest ever…BMI as #93 and RIAA as
#118. Rolling Stone named it the #27 song of all time.
43 – Since I Don’t Have You – Skyliners 1959 (Pre-dates WABC, #12 Nat’l) Top 77
#20, 16 years
Although “Since I Don’t Have You” only got to #12 on the U.S. top 100, it was a
#3 song on the R&B chart.
42 – A Day in
the Life (From “Sgt. Pepper’s…”) – Beatles 1967 (LP Cut WABC & Nat’l) Top 77
Peak #12, 19 years
Originally
titled “In the Life of…” the
total time spent recording this song was 34 hours. By contrast, the Beatles'
debut album, “Please
Please Me”,
took only 10 hours, 45 minutes to complete.
41 – Beginnings – Chicago 1971 (#11 WABC, #7 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #41, 6 years
Three of the group’s first seven single were released in one form or another
twice…”Question 67 and 68” (in 1969 and in a shorter version in 1971), 25 or 6
to 4 (in 1970 and in a new version in 1986), and this song (in 1969 not charting
and in 1971 when it got to #7 backed with “Colour My World”.)
40 – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 1967 (#6
WABC, #19 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #40, 5 years
Marvin had chart duets with four ladies. His biggest duet hit was with Tammi,
but not on this record. It was with “Your Precious Love”, which peaked at #5.
39 – Strawberry
Fields Forever – Beatles 1967 (#34 WABC, #8 Nat’l) Top && Peak #19, 16 years
The “proof”
that John mumbles “cranberry sauce” on the record’s fade are the words “My
mother made it for me” alleged to have come after that. The only problem is that
no recorded versions held the fade that long. So the “Paul Is Dead” advocates
continue to insist that John is saying “I buried Paul”.
38 - Mr.
Dieingly Sad – Critters 1966 (#6 WABC, #17 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #23, 5 years
They called
themselves “The Critters” just to fit in with the trend of group names based on
insects and animals, like “The Beatles” and “The Animals”…And here we were
hoping Elly May Clampett had something to do with it!
37 – *Yesterday
– Beatles 1965 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #24, 16 years
Contrary to
popular thinking that this was the shortest chart span for a Beatles #1 hit, in
reality FIVE Beatles #1 songs stayed on the charts a shorter amount of time.
36 – Here Comes
the Sun (From “Abbey Road”) – Beatles 1969 (LP Cut, WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#36, 5 years
John had nothing to do with this track. No vocals. No instrumentation. Nothing.
He was recovering from a car crash at the time. As of September 2019, this was
the most streamed Beatles
song in the United Kingdom, with over 50 million plays.
35 – *Happy Together – Turtles 1967 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #35, 5 years
This song was rejected a dozen times before it was offered to the Turtles.
34 – *Hotel California – Eagles 1977 (#2 WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #13, 18
years
According to the producer Bill
Szymczyk, it
took 33 separate edits on the two‑inch master to get this right. The label
wanted it under four minutes for radio play, but the Eagles refused to do that.
33 – Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan 1965 (#3 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #15,
20 years
Columbia Records didn’t care for the heavy electric sound or the length of this
song and initially relegated it to the "graveyard of canceled releases". It was
only after a DJ played it to strong response that Columbia big wigs decided to
give it a shot.
32 – *Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin 1959 (Pre-dates WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak
#2, 19 years
Ar-right now! Sing along! “And the shark, it has teeth, And it wears them in the
face. And Macheath, he has a knife, but the knife can't be seen”. Oops, sorry.
Those are the actual original lyrics of the first verse translated from German.
31 – Can’t Find the Time – Orpheus 1969 (Did Not Chart on WABC, #80 Nat’l) Top
77 Peak #25, 8 years
Which is correct? A, B or Both? A) Orpheus was a musician, poet and
prophet in Greek mythology. B) Orpheus was an American rock band
originally from Worcester,
Massachusetts,
that had two charted Hot
100 singles,
"Brown Arms in Houston" and "Can't
Find the Time,"
on RCA Records. Answer? A) (Orpheus the band recorded on MGM, not RCA. Got ya!)
30 – Because – Dave Clark Five 1964 (#4 WABC, #3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #11, 20
years
Dave Clark looked great behind those drums. But on the actual recordings, the
drumming was done by Bobby Graham, the U.K. equivalent of Hal Blaine. Graham
played on 13 number one singles, including those by The
Dave Clark Five, Engelbert
Humperdinck, Peter
and Gordon, The
Kinks, Tom
Jones, Dusty
Springfield, and
many more. All told, he appeared on a total of 40 UK top five hits (10 #2 hits;
4 #3 hits; 6 #4 hits; 7 #five hits; 107 top 50 hits – and a total of 1,155 days
in the charts) Whoa!
29 – I Only Have Eyes for You – Flamingos 1959 (Pre-dates WABC, #11 Nat’l) Top
77 #17, 12 years
Although “Lovers Never Say Goodbye” is likely their second most known song, the
Flamingos second biggest hit, chart-wise, was the little-remembered - “Nobody
Loves Me Like You”, which reached #30 on 1960.
28 – In My Life (From “Rubber Soul”) – Beatles 1966 (LP Cut, WABC & Nat’l) Top
77 Peak #19, 16 years
Starting out as a nostalgic set of
memories of Liverpool, John considered this to me one of his four best songs.
What were the others, you ask? Strawberry Fields Forever, I Am the Walrus and Help!
27 –*Sugar Sugar – Archies 1969 (#1
WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #27, 8 years
A “cartoon” act? Hardly! In fact, you
could call this act a “Supergroup”. Members included Ron Dante, Andy Kim, Ellie
Greenwich, and Toni Wine (along with Tony Passalacqua). Not bad!
26 – *My Girl – Temptations 1965 (#4
WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #3, 21 years
This song was written by Smokey
Robinson as an “answer” to “My Guy” by Mary Wells.
25 – *Let It Be – Beatles 1970 (#1 WABC
& Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #4, 21 years
Although songs routinely debut at #1 under Billboard’s current methodology, in
1970, this song had the highest debut on the Hot 100 to date, beginning its
chart run at No. 6. It was their final single before McCartney announced his
departure from the band.
24 – *Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley 1969 (#4 WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #20,
14 years
That weird fade-out at the end was NOT done to replicate Elvis walking off the
stage and then returning. It was actually done by RCA staff producer Felton
Jarvis as a subtle way of showing he was the one in control and could do
whatever he wanted. It was Jervis’ way of protesting recording the session at
American Sound Studio. But what’s really important enough to drive you crazy is
the question…Was this the first hit song to fade away and then fade back?
23 – Dawn (Go Away) – Four Seasons 1964 (#2 WABC, #3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #19, 15
years
After failing to chart with their first 22 or so singles, Frankie Valli and the
Four Seasons had seven #1 songs on five different labels. Seems patience, not
silence, is golden.
22 – Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell 1968 (#2 WABC, #3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #22,
10 years
“Me and You and an Uncle Named Boo…travelin’ and livin’ ‘cross the land…”Glen’s
Uncle Boo began giving him lessons and traveling and performing in clubs in
Texas, Wyoming, and other states when Glen was just fourteen.
21 –*Will You
Love Me Tomorrow – Shirelles 1961 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #21, 14 years
This song was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin specifically as a
follow-up to The Shirelles’ hit, “Tonight’s the Night”; hence the title was
built around the word “tomorrow”.
20 – Imagine – John Lennon 1971 (#4 WABC, #3 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #6, 22 years
This was chosen as the third greatest song of all-time in a 2018 Rolling Stone
magazine list. Curious where the Rolling Stones finished in Rolling Stone? At
#2…with “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. And what was #1? It’s a bit further up
on our own list…so read on! 😊
19 – *Good Vibrations – Beach Boys 1966 (#4 WABC, #1 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #4, 22
years
The recording
and production of “Good Vibrations” took seven months and cost an estimated
$50,000 to $75,000, making it the most expensive single ever at that point.
18 – *The Rain,
the Park and Other Things – Cowsills 1967 (#1 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #18, 9
years
Writers Artie
Kornfeld and Steve Duboff also wrote Crispian St.Peters hit, “The Pied Piper”.
This Cowsills song, originally titled “The Flower Girl”, was meant to be the “B”
side to “(Come ‘Round Here) I’m the One You Need”, the Motown classic. The
success of Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your
Hair)” pushed the label president to demand a different title in an hour. And
voila, the new title was born.
17 –
*California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas 1966 (3 WABC, #4 Nat’l) Top 77
Peak #17, 11 years
John Phillips’ folk group, the New Journeymen, recorded it first but later gave
it to Barry McGuire as a thank-you after McGuire, with a #1 hit "Eve of
Destruction," introduced the group to producer Lou Adler. Adler told the group
to record it themselves. Nice advice!
16 – *Cherish – Association 1966 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #14, 18 years
What some are convinced is the greatest love song of all time is actually the
greatest failed love song of all-time. Just listen to the lyrics.
15 – *Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) – 5th Dimension
1969 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #15, 10 years
So let’s clear this up once and for all. “Aquarius” is a song. “The Flesh
Failures” is a song. “Let the sunshine in” are the last three bars of “The Flesh
Failures”. Mix ‘em up and you get this hit..or so said producer Bones Howe.
14 – Stairway
to Heaven (From “Led Zeppelin IV”) – Led Zeppelin 1972 (LP Cut, WABC & Nat’l)
Top 77 Peak #2, 22 years
Though never released as a single, "Stairway to Heaven" is the most played song
on FM radio to date, played.well over 3 million times. At eight minutes per
play, that adds up to about 46 years of continuous playback!
13 – *Be My Baby – Ronettes 1963 (#1 WABC, #2 Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #12, 17 years
Originally referred to as “My One and Only Baby”, this song was rehearsed by the
orchestra 42 times and by Ronnie Spector for three days before Phil Spector
actually started recording.
12 – *She Loves You – Beatles 1864 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #4, 22 years
This remains their best-selling single in the UK.
11 – *Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross 1970 (#1 WABC & Nat’l)Top 77
Peak #2, 20 years
Diana Ross actually recorded this song first when she was with The Supremes. It
was done in the style of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell with the Temptations
acting as the other half of the duet on the LP, “Diana Ross & the Supremes Meet
the Temptations”,
10 – *Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel 1970 (#1 WABC & Nat’l)
Top 77 Peak #5, 22 years
This was one of
the few songs to top the US and UK charts at the same time. It was #1 in the US
for six weeks, #1 in the UK for three.
9 - *Light My
Fire – Doors 1967 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #2, 22 years
Lead singer Jim
Morrison’s episode with the law regarding his bizarre concert behavior is
well-known But less known is how his behavior became more and more erratic after
1969, culminating with his collapse during a
concert in Amsterdam and then apparently suffering a breakdown during a
performance in New Orleans in late 1970. In fact, The Doors disbanded in late
1970 when Morrison’s behavior became too much for the group to bear. Soon after,
he was found dead France.
8 – MacArthur Park – Richard Harris 1968 (#2 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #3, 22
years
Writer Jimmy Webb was asked to do a shorter version as a single, but refused.
Eventually, the record label relented. Webb remembers that George Martin told
him that the Beatles let “Hey
Jude” run
to over seven minutes because of “MacArthur Park”. Surprisingly, Donna Summer’s
version of this song was Webb’s ONLY #1 U.S. hit.
7 – God Only Knows – Beach Boys 1966 (Did Not Chart on WABC, #39 Nat’l) Top 77
Peak #7, 19 years
Rumor has it that Brian Wilson first toyed with the idea of titling this “Fred
Only Knows”…Why? Who knows? I guess you should ask Brian Wilson…or “Fred”,
whoever that is!
6 – *I Want to Hold Your Hand – Beatles 1964 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #4,
22 years
Looking for a
hit in the USA after both “From Me to You” and “She Loves You” got little
airplay in the states, manager Brian Epstein asked John and Paul to write a song
with the American market in mind. Recorded on
October 17,1963, in 17 takes at Abbey Road’s studio two, this was the first song
The Beatles recorded using four-track technology.
5 – *Rag Doll – Four Seasons 1964 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #1, 21 years
Ahhh…Stop me if you heard this…the story starts with a little girl cleaning car
windows…oh, you say you heard that a dozen or so times? OK, well then, maybe you
never heard this…Rag Doll” could very well be the first song to borrow that “Be
My Baby”/Phil Spector drum intro.The song came out a mere 10 months after “Be My
Baby”. And it pretty much establishes that many American groups who were getting
to #1 in that era were chasing Phil Spector and not The Beatles. Spector was
revolutionizing pop music in ways that had nothing to do with the Fab Four.
4 – *American Pie – Don McLean 1972 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top 77 Peak #3, 22 years
The final version is a collection of 24 edits of McLean’s takes along with
background vocals by James Taylor, Carly Simon, Pete Seeger, and Livingston
Taylor, among others. The first major cover version was by...the Brady Bunch, in
a recording that is a staple of “Worst Covers Of All Time” lists. It’s joined on
that list by another version of the song by Madonna.
3 – In the Still of the Nite – Five Satins 1956 (Pre-dates WABC, #24 Nat’l) Top
77 Peak #2, 22 years
Is it “Nite” or “Night”? Actually it’s both. And more. To avoid confusion with
the Cole Porter classic, this song was released under WAY too many titles…“I’ll
Remember (In the Still of the Nite)” AND “I’ll Remember” AND “(I’ll Remember) In
the Still of the Night”. AND “In the Still of the Nite”… or make that word
“Night”…or, well you get the picture. For now, I say to you, “Good Night”, or
Nite…Aaah!
2 – *(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones 1965 (#1 WABC & Nat’l) Top
77 Peak #2, 22 years
Banned by some radio stations in 1965, it was ironic that forty one years later,
when the band performed three songs during the February 2006 Super
Bowl XL halftime
show, "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction" was the only one of the three songs NOT
censored as it was broadcast.
1 - *Hey Jude – Beatles 1968 (#1 WABC & Nat’l)
Top 77 Peak #1, 22 years
This record was
originally meant to fade out before the four minute mark, that is, until Paul
decided to fly off and riff on the word “better’
into the “na-na-na’s”. And history was made. As the longest Beatles single. And
the longest reign at #1 on our Top 77. 21 times and counting out of 22 years! “Nanananananana”…indeed.
CONGRATULATIONS TO “HEY JUDE” FOR MAKING IT TO THE TOP FOR THE 21st TIME, AND
THANKS FOR VOTING!
I thank Frank
Thomas for his unbelievable work on the technical end of compiling this list
and to Allan Sniffen for turning the list into music on REWOUND Radio.
Check back on this page for details on how you can get your own copy of the
EXTENDED Top 77, where you can check out EVERY song that got votes and download
your very own copy!