For those who think surveys are based on local sales, think again.
Kent has mentioned more than once that had Stairway to Heaven been issued on a commercial 45, it probably would have been a number one hit. Well, the song was issued on a 45. I even had two copies of it at one time, but it was never issued commercially. Yet here at WRAW, in Reading, PA, it sits at #1, fifty years ago.
Jack
As you said, it wasn’t sales that spurred this to #1 … because you literally couldn’t buy it at the time. (I’ve had a couple of 45 rpm pressings of this, too, over the years … usually an import with the small center hole … yet it doesn’t look like it ever actually sold enough copies as a single to make an impact anywhere … so it had to be listener requests and airplay that pushed it to #1 in Reading, PA.
One thing that Radio and Records Magazine did differently than Billboard and Cash Box is that they charted songs based on what radio was actually playing. (It’s kinda funny because all these years later, they were way ahead of the curve on this one! Billboard’s charts today have absolutely nothing to do with a song’s actually SALES anymore … it’s just how many streams it receives or YouTube views it gets.) Unfortunately, Radio And Records didn’t start publishing until October of 1973 … so they missed the main time period where “Stairway To Heaven” would have made its greatest impact by a full year and, as such, it never charted at all.
However, songs like Elton John’s version of “Pinball Wizard” (which can only be described as “radio hit” … even WLS charted it here in Chicago), No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” and Led Zeppelin’s “All My Love” all made The Top Ten … even though you couldn’t actually walk into a record store and buy them! (In fact, “Don’t Speak topped their Top 40 Chart for ELEVEN Weeks!) kk
Speaking of the charts …
>>>Now, reader Pat Kelly has calculated year-end rankings that include those songs (Sean Ross / Ross On Radio)
Sigh ... another year-end chart ranking that lists "I'm A Believer" as the No. 1 song of 1966 instead of 1967.
On the Billboard Hot 100, the record spent 11 of its 15 weeks on the chart, and 6 of its 7 weeks at No. 1, in 1967; on the Cash Box Top 100, it spent 12 of its 17 weeks on the chart, and 6 of its 8 weeks at No. 1, in 1967. Those of us who listened to the radio on a daily basis back then consider "I'm A Believer" to be one of the biggest hits of 1967, not 1966 (and most radio stations had it listed on their 1967 year-end surveys).
– Randy Price
Definitely one of my biggest chart pet peeves as well. (That’s what happens when you look back in hindsight and only consider a song’s chart peak date - not at all representing reality at the time.)
I’m sure there are dozens and dozens of others - but this is the one that always leaped out at me (as it was just SO obvious if you were there at the time.)
Seems nobody looking back does deep enough research to report this information accurately. (kk)
Have you voted for your ten favorites yet?
Rewound Radio has already started tabulating the votes for their Annual Top 77 Countdown, which plays back during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
(In actuality, you’ll hear over THREE THOUSAND songs during this very special week … EVERY song that got a vote will get played at some time during this week long salute.)
Get over to the website and vote now: https://musicradio77.com/voting2022.html
And PLEASE … let’s do our best to FINALLY unseat “Hey Jude” as the world’s all-time favorite song … it’s already held that position for over twenty years … it can’t POSSIBLY still be the opinion of all of the music fans out there as the Greatest Song of All-Time!!! (I say we all vote for “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and shake things up a little bit this year!!!)
Actually, I’ve already cast my votes for my ten favorites … which is a joke in and of itself because I can’t POSSIBLY narrow down my top ten favorites of ANYTHING, much less 60+ years of great music!!! (Still, I predictably named “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” as my all-time favorite … and it probably is … but I also gave a nod to our good buddy John Madara’s Lesley Gore hit “You Don’t Own Me” and a few others that have continued to move me over the years.) Incredibly NO Chicago artists on my list this year (hey, I’ve got to mix things up now and again, too!!!) Well, actually that’s not true … after featuring it on Phil Nee’s recent Top 40 Favorite Songs of 1972 Show, I added Jamestown Massacre’s “Summer Sun” to my list this year!
But don’t let ME influence you … I’m just out here trying to motivate you to vote!!!
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For me, this has always been a great, overlooked track by The Stones … so I am happy to feature it today. (At the time, I actually liked it better than the A-Side! Lol But I’ve come to REALLY appreciate “She’s A Rainbow” these days … this was a VERY strong two-sided single for The Stones!)
You guys must have liked it, too …
When we did our All-Time Favorite Psychedelic Songs Survey back in 2005, you voted it as your #19 favorite, just ahead of The Doors’ “Light My Fire.” (This became our first REALLY big countdown … and got a lot of coverage back in the day, including several radio program spins … so it’s kinda cool to revisit it again today as we end this week by celebrating our 23rd Anniversary of doing Forgotten Hits!!!) kk
http://forgottenhits.com/top_20_favorite_psychedelic_songs
Frannie and I agree that this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony was one of the best (if not THE best) we’ve seen. The show just kept right moving along (and at four hours without a commercial interruption, that’s saying something!)
While I didn’t consider this year’s class to be the most appealing (and, in some cases, even the most deserving), we were entertained throughout. Best performances for me were the Eurythmics hits-filled set and Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp teaming up for a killer version of “Great Balls Of Fire” … although all of the artists brought their A-Game. After its initial airing Saturday Night, it’ll be streaming on HBO Max (and probably replaying on HBO at least sixty more times in the next month or so as well!) … but this one is definitely worth checking out. (With Pink and Pat Benatar performing a double bill next summer here in Chicago, I just may have to break my personal ban on Wrigley Field and go see this concert!!!) kk
Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, he made the music news a couple more times this past week …
His two hour interview with Howard Stern (airing next Sunday Night, the 27th, on HBO) is supposed to be one of the best of his career (promos show The Boss bringing The King Of All Media to tears with a performance of “Thunder Road”) … and then, of course, there’s also the controversy about face value ticket prices for some of Bruce’s upcoming shows topping out at $5000 apiece … and the fact that The Boss is ok with that. (See the below link sent in by FH Reader Tom Cuddy) kk
https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/bruce-springsteen-concert/
And while we’re talking about career achievement awards, did you hear that ABBA has been nominated for FOUR Grammy Awards this year for their big “Voyage” reunion album???” (Shocked the heck out of me!)
After never winning a Grammy before during the peak of their career, the group finds itself nominated for Album Of The Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. (Hmm … makes you wonder if this means they may have one more left in ‘em!!!) kk
And, speaking of reunions, Queen and Adam Lambert say they want to do one last world tour next year (with a heavy emphasis on The United States.) We may just have to look into that one. (kk)
The December issue of Endless Summer Quarterly takes a look back to remember our FH Buddy Billy Hinsche. You can pick up a copy of this issue here:
Next Week In Forgotten Hits …
Monday’s 1972 Coast-To-Coast Survey Journey takes us to Montana …
And on Tuesday we’ll be running our Joel Whitburn Trivia Contest (for your chance to win a copy of the Record Research book of your choice)
Wednesday Chuck Buell’s prepared another special anniversary tribute …
And then on Friday we celebrate an anniversary of our own …
The 23rd Anniversary of Forgotten Hits!
And then on Saturday Phil Nee interviews one of our all-time favorites …
David Gates of Bread.
In between, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, the 24th …
And if you’re looking for something other than “The Usual Lions And Cowboys Football Ritual,” Forgotten Hits Reader Tim Kubat as an alternative suggestion …
How about celebrating Hanksgiving instead!!!
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/245271/tom-hanks-to-curate-wyep-on-hanksgiving-day/
