I asked chart statistician Randy Price if he had ever compiled an "official" list of The Top Instrumentals of All-Time from his Super Charts, a point-ranking system that compiles a record's performance on the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts. Here's what we got back:
Kent,
Funny you should bring that up ... I've been working on compiling a list of sources for a planned set of CDs that will include every instrumental to make the Hot 100 during the '60s (more than 560 songs, on 23 CDs). I'm finding that there are quite a few (particularly lower charting records) that aren't available on CD, or what is are not the single versions.
But to answer your question: Since by "All-Time" I assume you mean the usual time period of 1955-1979, that would preclude using "SuperChart" data specifically, since they go back only to 1960 (so far). I could put together a list from my annual charts compiled from Billboard and Cash Box data ... let me know if you want me to go outside the time period stated -- I could go back as far as 1950 and forward as far as 1992, although I don't think there have been any instrumentals that would qualify since 1986.
– Randy
1955 - 1979, the time period normally associated with Forgotten Hits, will be fine. As noted by Joel Whitburn yesterday, NOTHING post-1985 would have made the "All Time" List anyway! Thanks, Randy!
The OFFICIAL List appears below:
NOTE: Chart statistician Randy Price has compiled EXCLUSIVELY for us here in Forgotten Hits the OFFICIAL ranking of the Top 40 Instrumental Hits, 1955 - 1979, based on a COMBINED ranking of the Billboard and Cash Box Charts for this period. This chart is copyright Randy Price and Forgotten Hits, 2009, and may not be used without express written consent from both parties.
Top 40 Instrumentals, 1955-1979:
Based on a progressive point system applied to the weekly Billboard
and Cash Box pop charts
1. THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - Percy Faith & His Orchestra (Columbia) (1960)
2. LOVE IS BLUE (L'Amour Est Bleu) - Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra (Philips) (1968)
3. CHERRY PINK AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE - Perez Prado & His Orchestra
(RCA Victor) (1955)
4. EXODUS - Ferrante & Teicher (United Artists) (1960-61)
5. AUTUMN LEAVES - Roger Williams (Kapp) (1955)
6. STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Mr. Acker Bilk (Atco) (1962)
7. WONDERLAND BY NIGHT - Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra (Decca) (1960-61)
8. LISBON ANTIGUA - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra (Capitol) (1956)
9. CALCUTTA - Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra (Dot) (1961)
10. A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band (Private Stock) (1976)
11. THE POOR PEOPLE OF PARIS - Les Baxter & His Orchestra (Capitol) (1956)
12. FINGERTIPS (pt. 2) - Little Stevie Wonder (Tamla) (1963)
13. MELODY OF LOVE - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra (Dot) (1955)
14. UNCHAINED MELODY - Les Baxter & His Orchestra (Capitol) (1955)
15. HONKY TONK (Pts. 1 & 2) - Bill Doggett (King) (1956)
16. CANADIAN SUNSET - Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra with Eddie Heywood
(RCA Victor) (1956)
17. TEQUILA - The Champs (Challenge) (1958)
18. LAST DATE - Floyd Cramer (RCA Victor) (1960)
19. TELSTAR - The Tornadoes (London) (1962-3)
20. MOONGLOW AND THEME FROM "PICNIC" - Morris Stoloff & The Columbia Pictures Orchestra (Decca) (1956)
21. THE CRAZY OTTO - Johnny Maddox (Dot) (1955)
22. THE STRIPPER - David Rose & His Orchestra (MGM) (1962)
23. RISE - Herb Alpert (A&M) (1979)
24. SLEEP WALK - Santo & Johnny (Canadian-American) (1959)
25. SAIL ALONG SILVERY MOON - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra (Dot) (1958)
26. TOPSY (pt. 2) - Cozy Cole (Love) (1958)
27. LOVE'S THEME - The Love Unlimited Orchestra (20th Century) (1974)
28. FLY, ROBIN, FLY - The Silver Convention (Midland Int'l) (1975)
29. PICK UP THE PIECES - The Average White Band (Atlantic) (1975)
30. LOVE THEME FROM ROMEO & JULIET - Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
(RCA Victor) (1969)
31. WALK -- DON'T RUN - The Ventures (Dolton) (1960)
32. TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) - MFSB (Philadelphia Int'l) (1974)
33. TASTE OF HONEY - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (A&M) (1965)
34. TEA FOR TWO CHA CHA - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra starring Warren Covington (Decca) (1958)
35. WASHINGTON SQUARE - The Village Stompers (Epic) (1963)
36. STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND - Meco (Millennium) (1977)
37. THE HAPPY ORGAN - Dave "Baby" Cortez (Clock) (1959)
38. THE HUSTLE - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (Avco) (1975)
39. THE "IN" CROWD - The Ramsey Lewis Trio (Argo) (1965)
40. BORN FREE - Roger Williams (Kapp) (1966)
A bit more in line with what I would have expected, "Theme From 'A Summer Place'", a nine week chart topper, is now leading the pack ... and Perez Prado's beautifully haunting "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" not only makes the list, but also the Top Three! Thanks again to Randy Price for sharing this list with our Forgotten Hits Readers! (kk)
