Position/Title/Artist/Year
100      Here Comes the Sun/Beatles - 1969
99        Take It Easy/Eagles - 1972
98        Oh Babe What Would You Say/Hurricane Smith - 1973
97        Pretty Ballerina/Left Banke - 1967
96        *Crystal Blue Persuasion/Tommy James and the Shondells - 1969
95        Up Up And Away/5th Dimension - 1967
94        Nowhere Man/Beatles - 1966
93        *Maggie May/Rod Stewart - 1971
92        Born To Run/Bruce Springsteen - 1975
91        Ariel/Dean Friedman -1977
90        Miracles/Jefferson Starship - 1975
89        Let's Hang On/Four Seasons - 1965
88        *Wedding Bell Blues/5th Dimension - 1969
87        *Runaway/Del Shannon - 1961
86        Day After Day/Badfinger - 1972
85        Baby Take Me In Your Arms/Jefferson - 1970
84        *Close To You/Carpenters - 1970
83        *Ticket To Ride/Beatles - 1965
82        *Groovin'/Young Rascals - 1967
81        Walk Away Renee/Left Banke - 1966
80        *Rock Around The Clock/Bill Haley & His Comets - 1955
79        Everything That Touches You/Association - 1968
78        *Back In My Arms Again/Supremes - 1965
 

77        Don't Worry Baby/Beach Boys – 1964 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #10
Before and After – One week BEFORE this hit the chart, the “A’ side “I Get Around” Started its climb to become the group’s first #1 hit. AFTER this, no Beach Boys’ flip side would make the Top 25. 

76        *Poor Side Of Town/Johnny Rivers - 1966 – Top 77 1 time, Peak #76
Before and After – Before this, Johnny had nine top 40 hits in two years. After this? Despite 18 more chart songs and six top 20 songs, Johnny never had another #1. 

75        *Downtown/Petula Clark - 1965 – Top 77 11 times, Peak #13
Before and After – Before this, from the age of nine, Petula had a successful career as a radio star, actress and singer…but ZERO success in the USA. After this? She had 21 chart hits in the next seven years, including another #1 and five more top ten hits. 

74        *The House of The Rising Sun/Animals – 1964 – Top 77 11 times, Peak #38
Before and After: Before this, the folk song was generally known as “Rising Sun Blues”, with roots going back to the 17^th century. After this? Within six months of this falling off the chart, members were already leaving the band. 

73        I Only Have Eyes for You/Flamingos -1959 – Top 77 13 times, Peak #17
Before and After: Before this, they were known as The Swallows, El Flamingos, and The Five Flamingos, with 21 releases, none of them making the top 100. After this? 31 charts songs, but NOTHING higher than #30. 

72        *One Less Bell To Answer/5th Dimension – 1971 – Top 77 5 times, Peak #34
Before and After: Before this, they released an incredible seven singles in the first eight months of 1970. After? The group began to split in 1976, but with original member Florence LaRue at the helm, over 25 new members have kept the group performing into the present. 

71        *Hello Goodbye/Beatles – 1967 – Top 77 1 time, Peak #71
Before and After: Before this, Brian Epstein managed The Beatles to spectacular success. After? The Beatles were on their own, with this song being their first release since the death of Epstein in August, 1967. 

70        Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)/Penguins – 1955 – Top 77 12 times, Peak #11
Before and After: Before this, only one other “Doo-Wop” group (The Chords with “Sh-Boom”) made the Top Ten on the Pop Charts. After this song clicked, the floodgates opened for crossover “Doo Wop” acts. 

69        *Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Shirelles – 1961 – Top 77 15 times, Peak #21
Before and After: Before this, “Dedicated to the One I Love” couldn’t get past #83. After this? With the success of this #1 song, “Dedicated…” was re-released and soared to #3. 

68        Things I'd Like To Say/New Colony Six – 1969 – Top 77 4 times, Peak #29
Before and After: Before this, the group struggled to make the top 20, coming closest with “I Will Always Think About You” (#22). After? Once this song peaked at #16, the group would never chart higher than #50.

67        *It's Too Late /Carole King – 1971 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #11
Before and After: Before this, Carole wrote a ton of Top 40 hits, but barely charted with her own releases. After this? Massive success, with 11 top 40 hits, including three top tens. 

66        Go All The Way/Raspberries – 1972 – Top 77 3 times, Peak #54
Before and After: Before this, the group formed from two other bands, Cyrus Erie and The Choir (of “It’s Cold Outside”) fame. After this? Two more top 20 hits before lead singer Eric Carmen left to go solo. 

65        Strawberry Fields Forever/Beatles – 1967 – Top 77 17 times, Peak #19
Before and After: Before this release, The Beatles had a four-year run of single releases getting to #1 in England. After? This song became a “key” to the “Paul Is Dead” rumors, as fans insisted “I Buried Paul” could be heard in the song’s fade-out”. 

64        Cara Mia/Jay & the Americans – 1965 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #32
Before and After: Before this, “Cara Mia” was a #1 hit in the UK and a top ten U.S. hit by David Whitfield. After this? Jay and the Americans’ only other top ten hit was with another version of a past hit with “This Magic Moment” climbing to #6 in 1969. 

63        Tonite Tonite/Mello-Kings – 1957 – Top 77 2 times, Peak #63
Before and After: Before this? The group was known as The Mello-tones but changed it when another group with the same name hit the top 100 just three months before “Tonite Tonite” was released. After this? The song re-charted in 1961, but only made it to #95. 

62        *Incense and Peppermints/Strawberry Alarm Clock - 1967 – Top 77 20 times, Peak #12
Before and After: Before this, the “Summer of Love” was in full force, ushering in many “psychedelic” chart hits like this one. After this? As psychedelia faded, so did this group, as four subsequent releases peaked lower than the previous with the band’s farewell chart appearance, “Good Morning Starshine” stalling at #87. 

61        Beyond the Sea/Bobby Darin – 1960 – Top 77 15 times, Peak #4
Before and After: Before this? Bobby broke away from pure rock and roll with “Mack the Knife”. After this? He continued broadening his appeal and having hits in the rock, pop, folk, and country genres. 

60        Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – 1967 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #40
Before and After: Before this, Marvin teamed up with Mary Wells and Kim Weston for top 20 hits. After this? Marvin had six more top 40 hits with Tammi. 

59        *Happy Together/Turtles – 1967 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #35
Before and After: Before this? Five charted songs, “It Ain’t Me Babe” being the most successful one, peaking at #8. After this? Five more top 20 hits before the band dissolved, and then evolved to become “Flo and Eddie”. 

58        Thunder Road/Bruce Springsteen – 1975 – Top 77 7 times, Peak #56
Before and After: Local success and recognition in progressive circles. After this? Massive success, with over 28 charted singles, including 12 top ten hits. 

57        *Can't Take My Eyes Off You/Frankie Valli – 1967 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #38
Before this? Frankie’s top 20 hits came only with The 4 Seasons. After this? Frankie had five more top 20 hits, including two #1 songs. 

56        Because/Dave Clark Five – 1964 – Top 77 21 times, Peak #11
Before and After: Before this, the group exploded onto the scene in the USA with four top ten hits in just four months. After this? Despite huge chart success, they’d have to wait over another year or so to have their only #1 song, “Over and Over”. 

55        *To Sir with Love/Lulu  - 1967 -  Top 77 13 times, Peak #24
Before and After: Before this, a career billed as “Lulu and the Luvers” yielded only one charted song that stalled at #94. After this? Surprisingly, she had only one other top 20 song, “I Could Never Miss You More”. 

54        *Daydream Believer/ Monkees – 1967 – Top 77 10 times, #53
Before and After: Before this, TWO #1 songs, TWO other top ten songs, TWO other top 20 songs. After this? NO #1 songs, ONE other top ten song, ONE other top 20 song. 

53        *Yesterday/Beatles – 1965 – Top 77 17 times, Peak #24
Before and After: Before? Nine #1 songs, this being the 10^th. After this? Ten more #1 songs. But only this one and “Help!” had the “honor” of being the only one-word titles to go to #1 for The Fab Four. 

52        Time Won't Let Me/Outsiders – 1966 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #38
Before and After: Sonny Geraci decided to change the name of his high school band from “The Starfires” to “The Outsiders. After this? Sonny was a man of many names, having another hit with “Precious and Few” as part of Climax and then changing his name to Peter Emmett backed by a group called North Coast. 

51        Superstar/Carpenters – 1971 – Top 77 2 times, Peak #25
Before and After: Conceived by Rita Coolidge, Delaney and Bonnie first recorded this song under the title “Groupie (Superstar)”. After this? The song stayed in the public’s ear with versions by several acts, including Cher, Luther Vandross and Bette Midler. 

50        *Dreams/Fleetwood Mac – 1977 – Top 77 1 time, Peak #50
Before and After: Before this, 4 top 20 hits but no #1 hits. After this? 11 top 20 hits, but no #1’s.  HOWEVER, a big “Wow” came this year when a “Tik Tok” video carried the song to #12 on the U.S. charts! 

49        *The Rain the Park & Other Things/Cowsills – 1967 – Top 77 10 times, Peak #18
Before and After: Before this? “Most of All”, their first and only release on Phillips, crawled to #118 and then disappeared. After? The group’s popularity led to two more top ten hits, seven top 100 hits, and a hit TV show and group, “The Partridge Family” coming into existence. 

48        Dawn (Go Away)/Four Seasons – 1964 – Top 77 16 times, Peak #19
Before and After: Before this, these guys had 7 top 40 hits, all on the Vee Jay label. After this? A switch to Phillips Records produced this and 16 other top 20 hits. 

47        Midnight Confessions/Grass Roots – 1968 – Top 77 17 times, Peak #33
Before and After: Before this, the guys did back-up sessions and managed three top 40 hits. After this, they’d changed some personnel and reinvent themselves to click with 10 top 40’s. 

46        *Hotel California/Eagles – 1977 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #13
Before and After: A marriage of members of The Flying Burrito Brothers and Linda Ronstadt’s back-up band produced this group who delivered seven top 20 songs and three number one hits. After this song hit #1, resulted in only one more #1 song and five top 20 hits, along with an on-again off-again reuniting through the years. 

45        Since I Don't Have You/Skyliners – 1959 – Top 77 17 times, Peak #19
Before and After: They were The Cresents and the ElRios, before being combined by manager Joe Rock. After? Despite no more top 20 hits and only two songs that made the Top 40, they continued to be in demand for concerts well into the 2000’s. 

44        *The Sounds of Silence/Simon and Garfunkel – 1965 – Top 77 8 times, Peak 24
Before and After: Before? They were Tom and Jerry, aspiring to become hit-makers via songs like “Hey School Girl” and “That’s My Story”. And after? They created a landmark song and LP with “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, only to break up over that LP shortly afterward. 

43        Can't Help Falling in Love/Elvis Presley – 1962 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #13
Before and After: Before this, Elvis was already a superstar…a once-in-a-generation success. Unfortunately, two years after this The Beatles hit the U.S. shores, and Elvis would have only six more top ten hits, the number he had in his first 11 months on the charts in 1956 and 1957. 

42        Layla/Derek & the Dominos – 1972 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #19
Before and After: First came Eric Clapton solo on “After Midnight”. After Eric ditched the “Derek” persona, he had ten top ten hits on his own. 

41        *My Sweet Lord/George Harrison – 1971 – Top 77 9 times, Peak #21
Before and After: Before this? The Beatles. ‘Nuff said? After this, a successful solo career, yielding - including this song - nine top ten hits, and three #1’s. 

40        Can't Find the Time/Orpheus -1969 – Top 77 9 times, Peak #25
Before and After: Before? Nothing. After? Nothing. Can you say “One Hit Wonders”, where their one hit wasn’t really a hit, only getting to #80 in two tries on the national chart. 

39        Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)/Crystals – 1963 – Top 77 5 times, Peak #39
Before and After: Four top 20 hits and a Number One song. After this: Producer Phil Spector became enamored with Ronnie Spector and pushed her group into the limelight as the Crystals faded after “Then He Kissed Me” got to #6. 

38        I Wonder Why/Dion & the Belmonts – 1958 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #16
Before and After: Before this, these guys were singing on street corners in the Bronx. After this? A split in 1960 resulted in nine top 20 hits for Dion, just one for The Belmonts. 

37        In My Life/Beatles (from “Rubber Soul” LP) – 1966 – Top 77 17 times, Peak #18
Before and After: Before this, harpsichords were rarely used on pop records. After this? Bands looking to emulate The Beatles began using harpsichords. Ironically, The Beatles did not use a harpsichord on this song. They used a piano, sped up. 

36        *Stoned Soul Picnic/5th Dimension – 1968 – Top 77 8 times, Peak #36
Before and After: Their previous five songs resulted in a #7 hit and a #16 hit. After this? Their next five songs resulted in two #1 hits and two more top 20 hits. 

35        *Sherry/Four Seasons – 1962 – Top 77 16 times, Peak #21
Before and After: Before this, from the Variatones to The Four Lovers, the name changes got them nowhere, man! After this, their career soared, with – counting this song – 52 times charted and five #1 songs. 

34        *Don't Be Cruel/Elvis Presley – 1956 – Top 77 2 times, Peak #34
Before and After: Before this, his breakthrough came five months earlier when “Heartbreak Hotel” went to #1 for eight weeks. After this, he tacked on 13 more #1 songs, giving him a career total of 16 #1 songs. 

33        *I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)/Four Tops – 1965 – Top 77 15 times, Peak #17
Before and After: Before this, their only top 20 hit was “Baby I Need Your Loving”. After this: They essentially copied this song with new lyrics and even said so by titling it It’s the Same Old Song”.  Their only other #1 song would be “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”. 

32        *Nights In White Satin/Moody Blues – 1972 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #16
Before this became a hit in 1972, it was released in 1968 but stalled at #102. After this? They entered the “classic artist” realm with both singles and LP success. 

31        *Suspicious Minds /Elvis Presley – 1969 – Top 77 15 times, Peak #20
Before and After: Before this, Elvis last #1 song was “Good Luck Charm” in 1962. After this? Elvis never had another #1 song. 

30        Mr. Dieingly Sad/Critters – 1966 – Top 77 6 times, Peak #23
Before and After: Before this, the group had success in several local markets including New York with “Younger Girl”, but that song stopped at #42 nationally. After this? Although this song got to #17, national top 20 hit status eluded these guys. 

29        Wichita Lineman/Glen Campbell – 1968 – Top 77 11 times, Peak #22
Before and After: Glen’s notoriety came essentially as a studio sideman, much of it with “The Wrecking Crew”. A dozen charted hits got no higher than #26. After this, he had seven top 20 hits and two #1 songs. 

28        *You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'/Righteous Brothers – 1965 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #22
Before and After: Before this, they were signed to Moonlight Records, in which they only got to #49 with “Little Latin Lupe Lu”. After this? Jump started by superstar producer Phil Spector, they became stars, and ended up charting in the top 20 nine more times, and getting to #1 one more time. 

27        A Day in The Life/Beatles (from “Sgt. Pepper’s…” LP) – 1967 – Top 77 20 times, Peak #12
Before and After: Before this, the Fab Four were superstars, essentially with catchy pop melodies. After this, they became largely experimental, breaking sound barriers for innovation never heard before in the rock music genre. 

26        *She Loves You/Beatles – 1964 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #4
Before and After: Before this, the group had huge success in their native England. After this? They became a legendary and dominant force in music right into this century. 

25        *Mack the Knife/Bobby Darin -1959 – Top 77 20 times, Peak #2
Before and After: Before this, Bobby had a smash #2 hit with “Dream Lover”, and was looking to continuing improving , since he already had a #3 hit with “Splish Splash”. After this? He did get to #1 with this song, but never hit the top spot again. 

24        Morning Girl/Neon Philharmonic – 1969 – Top 77 7 times, Peak #24
Before and After: Before this? This “group” was pretty much the brainchild of composer Tupper Saussey and not much else. After this, they tried to keep the electronic music format going, but only charted one more time…at #94. 

23        *California Dreamin'/Mamas and the Papas – 1966 – Top 77 12 times, Peak #17
Before and After: Before? They were “greasin’ an American Express” card. After? “California Dreamin’ is becoming a reality”! 

22        *Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)/Looking Glass – 1972 – Top 77 16 times, Peak #21
Before and After: Only three groups got to #1 before these guys did it in 1972. Nine of the first 12 #1 hits in 1972 were by solo acts. After? Barry Manilow couldn’t call HIS song “Brandy” since that title was kinda sorta already taken. LOL. 

21        *Let It Be/Beatles – 1970 – Top 77 22 times, Peak #4
Before and After: A spectacular portfolio of music that changed the world over a period of only about six months. After this? This song and LP pretty much was part and parcel their swan song. They broke up shortly thereafter with each going solo. 

20        *Cherish/Association – 1966 – Top 77 19 times, Peak #14
Before and After: Just before this was a hit, the group had their first charted song, “Along Comes Mary”, go to #7. After this? Another one-word title, “Windy”, became their only other #1 hit. 

19        *Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In/5th Dimension – 1969 – Top 77 11 times, Peak #15
Before and After: An off-Broadway rock musical called “Hair” and starring Steve Curry exploded in theatre circles. After this? The group moved over to the Bell Label, where they tacked on five top 20 hits. 

18        Beginnings /Chicago – 1971 – Top 77 7 times, Peak #18
Before and After: Before this became a hit, the band was known as Chicago Transit Authority. After producer-arranger Jim Gurcio was finished with them, their name was shortened to Chicago and three long tracks were edited down to a more workable time for A.M. radio. “Beginnings” went from 7:54 to 2:47 and from obscurity to a two-sided #7 hit along with “Colour My World”. 

17        *Sugar Sugar/Archies – 1969 – Top 77 9 times, Peak #17
Before and After: Before this, he was Carmine John Granito, a singer, songwriter, session vocalist, and record producer. After this, he was “Ron Dante”, lead singer of the cartoon-based Archies and both lead and backup vocalist for The Cuff Links of “Tracy” fame. He’d later go on to voice his own records, record commercials, and co-produce Barry Manilow’s LPs. 

16        *Be My Baby/Ronettes – 1963 – Top 77 18 times, Peak #12
Before this, she was Veronica Bennett, one of The Darling Sisters, who started doing vocal work for Phil Spector in 1962. After this, she became Ronnie Spector, wife of superstar producer Phil Spector, whose “Wall of Sound” dominated the airways through much of the early 1960’s. 

15        *My Girl/Temptations -1965 – Top 77 22 times, Peak #3
Before and After: Before this, there was Mary Wells’ huge hit “My Guy”, written by Smokey Robinson.  After this companion song to that went to #1, there was another 22 top 20 songs and three more #1 hits for this group. 

14        Like a Rolling Stone/Bob Dylan – 1965 – Top 77 21 times, Peak #12
Before and After: Before this, Dylan was a folk favorite who charted with only one song, “Subterranean Homesick Blues” at #39. After this song shot to #2, Dylan added 27 more charted singles to his resume. 

13        *Good Vibrations/Beach Boys – 1966 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #7
Before and After: This was the chart mid-point for the group. Before this, the Beach Boys had  26 top 100 songs and 2 #1 hits. After this, the Beach Boys had 27 top 100 songs and one #1 hit. 

12        *Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Diana Ross – 1970 – Top 77 21 times, Peak #2
Before and After: Before this, Diana spent 22 weeks at #1 with 12 songs by The Supremes. After this, Ms. Ross spent an additional 17 week s at #1 solo on six #1 songs. So counting this song, she totaled 42 in the #1 spot both with The Supremes and solo. 

11        *I Want to Hold Your Hand/Beatles -1964 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #4
Before and After: Before this, only one of their songs charted on the Top 100 when “From Me to You” bubbled under at #116. After this, they amassed an amazing 73 top 100 hits through the year 2000, with 20 of those going to #1. 

10        Stairway to Heaven/Led Zeppelin (from “Led Zeppelin IV” LP) – 1971 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #2
Before and After: Before this, only one song from these guys made the top ten, “Whole Lotta Love” in 1969-1970. After this, NONE of their songs made the top ten as they became one of the greatest hard rock bands of all-time. 

9          MacArthur Park/Richard Harris – 1968 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #3
Before and After: Before this, Richard Harris portrayed King Arthur in the stage and movie version of “Camelot”. After this, Richard got higher than #41 on the top 100. 

8          *American Pie/Don McLean – 1972 Top 77 23 times, Peak #3
Before and After: Before this, “American Pie” was a favorite dessert item of Americans, After this hit, “American Pie” was a #1 hit record, a hit movie, and a favorite dessert item of Americans. 

7          *Bridge over Troubled Water/Simon and Garfunkel – 1970 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #5
Before and After: Before this, these guys spent a total of 5 weeks at #1 with two of their songs. After this hit finished its chart run, these guys had 6 weeks on top with this song alone. 

6          In the Still of the Nite/Five Satins – 1956 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #2
Before and After:  Before this, R&B and “Doo Wop” was just barely found on the national top 100 surveys. After this? The record was re-released twice in the early 60’s and help spur a “Doo Wop” revival in the early 1960s. 

5          *Light My Fire/Doors – 1967 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #2
Before and After: Before this song was released, Jim Morrison balked at it being edited down from over seven minutes long down to under three minutes. It was only after it was cut to 2:52 that Top 40 radio embraced it, helping The Doors become one of the hottest acts over the next year. 

4          *Rag Doll/Four Seasons – 1964 – Top 77 22 times, Peak #1
Before and After: On WABC in New York, no song had ever jumped from off the survey entirely to the #1 spot before this hit did just that.  After the 4 Seasons jumped from the Pick Hit to #1 with this song, no other act, including The Beatles, came close to repeating that feat.

3          God Only Knows/Beach Boys – 1966 – Top 77 20 times, Peak #3
Before and After: Before this flip side of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” hit the charts, nine other Beach Boys flip sides charted in the top 100 or “Bubbling Under” list. After this was released, not one Beach Boys flip side ever charted again. 

2          *Satisfaction/Rolling Stones – 1965 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #2
Before and After: Before this topped the charts, the Stones did not have a #1 hit. After this accomplished that feat, they repeated it seven more times. 

1          *Hey Jude/Beatles – 1968 – Top 77 23 times, Peak #1
Before this hit finished its 19 week chart run, no other Beatles song stayed on the top 100 for more than 15 weeks. After this song fell off the top 100, “Twist and Shout” was re-issued in 1986, giving it a weeks total of 26 weeks when combined with its 1964 chart run.
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO “HEY JUDE” FOR MAKING IT TO THE TOP FOR THE 22nd TIME, AND THANKS FOR VOTING!
 

I thank Frank Thomas for going “above and beyond” with his unbelievable work on the technical end of compiling this list and helping me with the stats
 and to Allan Sniffen for turning the list into a great week of 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!

Mike Riccio
Oldies Board Moderator and Top 77 Founder