Worse yet Billboard has shifted all of their focus to post August 4. 1958, the date The Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart began. In effect they eliminated Elvis Presley's first 28 chart hits in one swoop, deeming them in process insignificant. These include TEN #1 Records ... records that LAUNCHED Rock And Roll like "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock".
And now comes word of The Top 20 "catchiest" songs in history ... songs you can identify within the first 2-3 seconds of it coming on the air. (I've personally got THOUSANDS of these in my head ... and at the top of the list are the same 200 that they just keep playing over and over and over again every single day with no reprieve!)
Kudos to our FH Buddy Jim Peterik who places at #3 with "Eye Of The Tiger", his #1 Hit with Survivor from the movie "Rocky III".
Clark Besch goes on ...
Science is tackling "Eye of the Tiger" now! My younger brother is always wanting to play just a second of a song in the car for me to name that tune when we go on trips. I manage it most of the time ... mainly because he chooses songs we both love and have heard one million times, even though some of these may often be obscure records to others.
That said, yesterday, a scientific survey was released showing "Eye of the Tiger" as the third most "catchiest tune" ever. The study will help evolve into working with people with Dementia. Personally, I must be getting dementia, since I do not KNOW songs 1, 2, and 4. I DO live way in the past??
Here's the chart:
http://www.cnet.com/news/the-top-10-catchiest-songs-of-all-time-according-to-science/
I would have to say that I would more likely have a list looking like based on those first notes:
1. I Wanna Meet You - Cryan Shames
2. Satisfaction - Stones
3. Day Tripper - Beatles
4. Him or Me - Raiders
5. All Right Now - Free
6. I Will Always Think About You - NC6
7. I Like it Like That - DC5
8. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
9. White Room - Cream
10. Sunny Days - Lighthouse
Are these catchy? Ya got me. I just could pick them out in a second, I think -- AND they are great ones!
Clark
Well, I will admit to knowing most of these ... although their 12,000 person study must have consisted of primarily people under the age of 25 - 30 for so many of these recent hits to rank as high as they do.
"Wannabe" by The Spice Girls? Yeah, I get it ... but I can't even REMEMBER the last time I heard it on the radio. "Mambo No. 5"? Yep, good choice, but again not a real big one on any of the play lists that I listen to. I still hear "Eye Of The Tiger" at least four or five times a day ... the Lady GaGa song, too.
I'm a little surprised by "SOS" because it's "Dancing Queen" that they play to death ... at LEAST 15 times a week. "Oh, Pretty Woman"? That's been on our "Over-Played List" since the day Forgotten Hits started!
Who plays "It's Now Or Never" anymore? I can't find a radio station that'll touch a song pre-1964! "Mmmbop" too by Hanson. "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M??? Where'd they conduct this poll, Great Britain?
Interesting study but they barely scratched the surface. And I can probably name a thousand songs in HALF that time ... because that's how fast I push the button to change the channel the minute "Don't Stop Believin'", "Jack And Diane", "Brown Eyed Girl" or "Old Time Rock And Roll" come on! (kk)
One thing I've never been able to figure out:
How is it that when a group or performer released a "two-sided" hit single each side of the record had a different "song position" on the charts?
Like HEY JUDE got to #1 while its flip REVOLUTION got stuck in the top 20 somewhere.
The same with PAPERBACK WRITER / RAIN. Why was PAPERBACK WRITER #1 but RAIN was only a "minor hit"?
Or the Joey Dee and the Starliters' 1962 single HEY LET'S TWIST made the top-40 but its flip ROLLY POLY didn't.
Or, say, the Beach Boys 1964 two-sider I GET AROUND / DON'T WORRY BABY.
It doesn't make sense to me. Both songs are on the same record, but each side charts differently. But it wasn't possible to buy said record without getting both songs at once.
So how were they able to determine which side was the "bigger hit" side?
Did the record companies or those who produced the charts routinely hire people with certain telepathic aptitudes which enabled them to read the minds of some 20,000-some record buyers so as to assess which side of the single was the one being "favored"? And how were these telepathic employees able to zero in on just a multitude of teenage record buyers and no one else?
Tal Hartsfeld
I've never understood it either. Obviously you could measure the airplay of each side of the record ... but how would ANYBODY on God's Green Earth know which side of the record drew the buyer into the store in the first place and made them lay down their hard-earned cash to pick up these latest hits???
I have ALWAYS listed two-sided hits as sharing the same chart position when compiling my own charts. (And sometimes the "A" side of the single would change during the course of a given record's chart run.) It seemed to be the only fair way to do it. But all three major trades listed these sides separately for most of the rock era.
Check out our Top 200 Biggest Two-Sided Hits Of All-Time Chart ... reflecting the ACCUMULATED points earned by BOTH sides of each given record. (As such, you'll find some surprises here ... such as the one you mentioned above ... "Hey Jude" peaking at #1 for nine weeks ... but "Revolution" only peaking at #12. Without question, "Hey Jude" was The Beatles' biggest single here in The States ... but now it falls behind "Come Together" / "Something", which peaked at #1 and #2.
Their 7-week chart-topper "I Want To Hold Your Hand" places at #22 on our list due to the #14 showing of "I Saw Her Standing There", a record that TODAY you're FAR more likely to hear than the A-Side. That puts it behind other Beatles Two-Sided Hits like "I Feel Fine" / "She's A Woman", "We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper", "Penny Lane" / "Strawberry Fields Forever" and even "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You"!!!
It's a fun chart to explore (and offers ALL kinds of special radio programming ideas) ...
Click here: Forgotten Hits - The Top 200 BIGGEST TWO-SIDED HITS of All-Time
re: Up-Coming Christmas Shows:
The other day we told you about some of the great Christmas Concerts they've got coming up at The Arcada Theatre ... GREAT artists like Ronnie Spector, The Ides Of March, LeAnn Rimes and The Nelsons (with The Cowsills) to name just a few. (Full details on the OShows website: www.oshows.com).
But there are also some great holiday shows coming up at The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan ...
Felix Cavaliere's Rascals are back in town on December 6th ... and on December 14th it's the "This Christmas - An Evening of Holiday And Hits" show featuring Michael McDonald. (Michael is back on the brand new Doobie Brothers album released this week, "Southbound", featuring the Doobies paired with some of country music's biggest names, offering up reimagined versions of some of their biggest hits. Kinda cool to see The Doobies' original singers of these hits ... Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald ... filling in the gaps on these brand new country renditions!)
The Genesee also has Kenny Rogers tomorrow night and The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards on Saturday. Other shows include Judy Collins (for one night only on November 16th) and The BoDeans will be appearing at BOTH theaters with back-to-back shows on December 27th (The Arcada Theatre) and 28th (The Genesee Theatre), with special guest star American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks.
I hope she will reconsider.
Josh
Kent,
I truly admire Darlene Love. Beyond her magnetic and majestic voice, she clearly has a great sense of loyalty. "(Christmas) Baby please come home" has been around for over a half century.
But let's get real ... the show is inexorably linked with David Letterman. It's a video gem I look forward to ever year and frequently dig on youtube.
When Dave walks, its appropriate that Darlene should discontinue the tune as part of the CBS Late Night format. It just wouldn't be the same with a different host. You can always see how much Letterman admires Darlene.
Side note ... when I took my first legit sportscasting job on WISH TV, ch. 8 in Indianapolis back in September, 1974, the first guy who interviewed me on radio was a hip young dude named David Letterman. About two months later, he was off to the west coast to begin his historic TV journey.
Darlene Love??? How many tunes did she sing for the Ronettes that people in fact believe were sung by Ronnie?
Last but not least, I'll be emceeing the Bears - Packers game on the wide screen at Ronnie Onesti's Arcada Theater in St. Charles on Sunday ... also signing "special discounted" copies of my book "Chet Coppock: Laying it on the Line."
Hope to see some of our FH members at the event. That means you, Kent!!!!
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series
I've got about 40 pages to go in your book ... it's a real fun read. (FH fans who've grown accustomed to Chet's irreverent stream-of-consciousness ramblings in our semi-regular "Coppock's Topics" will love it. You don't have to be a major sports fan to appreciate all that this guy has been through and accomplished over his illustrious career ... there isn't a page in the book that won't leave you smiling!) And the fact that he kicks off every chapter with the lyrics of a song is pretty cool, too. (But seriously, Chet ... did you HAVE to do Steve Miller?!?!?)
Don't know if I'll make it out there on Sunday or not (we'll be at The Arcada Friday Night to see B.J. Thomas!) but you can bet I'm gonna want you to sign my copy next time I see ya! (kk)
re: This And That:
Yesterday was Peter Noone's birthday! (Happy 67th Peter!!!)
Got this from Gary Pig Gold to help celebrate:
Dear Hermitheads,
None other than Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone, the Artist still known as Herman, turns 67 Today !
and, to Celebrate … http://popdiggers.com/hold-on-its-hermans-birthday
Very nice, Gary ... by the way, yesterday was also Art Garfunkel's 73rd birthday!!! (kk)
Hello Kent -
I'm writing to let you know about our 'Philly Pop Music" documentary series. Please take a moment to check it out on Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/phillypop Also share it with all your readers. All the tools are there. Get perks, make a contribution, or simply follow updates. If enough of us get behind it, we can make the "Philly Pop Music" documentary happen!
Philly Pop Music will have an opportunity to preserve the history of Philadelphia's diverse musical community to the world in a way that does it justice. It's a huge gift to everyone who loves music, and You can be part of the process!!!
It includes interviews and commentary from: Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Gamble & Huff, John Oates (Hall & Oates), Joe Boyd (producer - Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, Hendrix), Billy Paul, Earl Young (MFSB), Bobby Eli (MFSB), Kevin Bacon, Michael Bacon, George Thorogood, Linda Cohen, Pat Martino, Al Kooper (producer - songwriter), Laurie Anderson, Rufus Harley, Tommy Conwell, Robert Hazard, Kenn Kweder, Byard Lancaster, Odean Pope and many more. Plus we have a few more lined up for new interviews ... stay tuned!
Your contribution will help us complete our first Philly Pop Music series and have the DVD included in the Rock Hall, Library and Archives where scholars, historians, journalists and the general public may have access to the film.
We plan to release the film as a series by decades ... 60's, 70's, 80's, etc.
Other Ways You Can Help: If you are unable to contribute, you can help by emailing our link to your friends and sharing this information on Facebook and other social media sites.
Thank you for your support!
George Manney
http://igg.me/at/phillypop
MONKEES.NET CELEBRATE 20 YEARS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
NY - Monday, November 10 is the 20 year anniversary of Brad Waddell’s Monkees.net site – the preferred site to go for all things Monkee-related. Says Waddell, “Early in 1992, the Internet was getting a lot of buzz and so as a computer programmer I had to get out there and see what was happening. I re-discovered the Monkees fans from around the world; hanging out on IRC chat and USENET (alt.music.monkees) and proceeded to see what I could add to the mix. I created a Monkees mailing list and began to help in scheduling Monkees parties online at scheduled times in the chat.”
“In 1994 when the old menu systems of the Internet began to give way to the new form of HTML web pages, I built the first Monkees-web site and listed it on Yahoo and it was popular immediately because of the ability to share photos, recordings and a few videos.” Waddell says he’s met fans from all over the world and feels flattered that his site has become something of a common ground.
He’s even interfaced, not only with the members of the band, but also various resources the band has worked with. Says Micky Dolenz-publicist David Salidor, “Brad’s done an amazing job of keeping current; cherishing the history of the group and their music. Theirs is a totally unique story and their fans, young and old, have a perfect resource to go to.”
Says Waddell, “The high point of my involvement in this site was undoubtedly when Michael Nesmith invited me to his office in California to show him how this Internet thing worked, and having him follow up that meeting by beginning to write a novel on the web - page by page - for all of the fans to watch. He really jumps into things with both feet and eventually he published the novel as ‘The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora’.”
Waddell’s plans for his site next week is to run a contest with prizes, and to print several essays from some of the key-Monkee-resources, including authors Eric Lefcowitz (Monkee Business) and Mark Bego, who co-authored Dolenz’s 2004 book I’m A Believer.
Waddell says that the biggest joy and accomplishment is having met each of the band members and having them embrace his efforts. “It has been 20 years and the Monkees still are in my music rotation bringing happy memories of Monkee weddings between fans, great friends and humorous romps like the true story of what happened to Mike’s wool hat,” says Waddell.
Adds Micky Dolenz, “Congratulations for hanging in there with us through the years; your support has not gone unnoticed nor unappreciated!”
Says Waddell, “The Monkees were early stars of the Internet and Monkee.Net continues to have around 5000 visits per day, which is not surprising as it has some of the most amazingly dedicated worldwide fan groups of any musical organization I have seen.”
photos- Monkees.net site and Brad & Jackie Waddell (courteys dis COMPANY)
NEW RELEASE! Trini Lopez, “At PJ's” - Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition on 200g Vinyl
"... raw, energetic, live music - this is Trini at his absolute best … Wonderful songs, brilliantly performed that STAND THE TEST OF TIME ...”
Hollywood, CA - Exhibit Records announces the release of a Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition album of Trini Lopez, "At PJ’s." The 200 gram vinyl record is beautifully presented in a sturdy old style gatefold jacket featuring the original album art work and for the first time includes the lyrics to all the tunes. The back of each album is foil-stamped with its unique number.
With the release of this album in April 1963 Trini Lopez became one of the biggest singing stars of the Folk Revival. Trini Lopez, "At PJ's" made it to #2 on the Billboard charts and stayed in the Top 40 for over a year. The album included the chart-topping "If I Had a Hammer" which reached number one in 36 countries and was a radio favorite for many years. The hit single sold more than 4 million copies and the album sold over a million and was awarded a gold record.
This was the album that made Lopez an instant success and the live party-a-go-go atmosphere of the record did much to put Trini's likable energy over the top. What Lopez did, at the head of a trio was to make folk-pop swing. Other songs include "This Land Is Your Land," and "Gotta Travel On." It could be surmised that by treating such material in this fashion, Lopez had a tiny influence upon the subsequent folk-rock movement...though, Lopez was more the all-around entertainer with a Latin lilt than he was a pure folk singer, so you also get "America" (from West Side Story), "La Bamba," Ray Charles' "What'd I Say," "Volare," and "When the Saints Go Marching In."
The emergent Exhibit Records has rapidly curated an eclectic catalog of classic recordings and gaining notice for exquisite mastering, high quality pressings and detail to the fine art of exceptional package design.
TRINI LOPEZ, "AT PJ’s" (eXLP1- 44069)
Producer: Don Costa
Recorded at PJ's Nightclub, West Hollywood, California
Mastered for this LP by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Pressed at Quality Record Pressings, Salina, KS
Side One:
A-me-ri-ca
If I Had a Hammer
Bye Bye Blackbird
Cielito Lindo
This Land Is Your Land
What'd I Say
Side Two:
La Bamba
Granada
MEDLEY:
Gotta Travel On
Down by the Riverside
Marianne
When the Saints Go Marching In
Volare
Unchain My Heart
Exhibit Records
8491 Sunset Blvd., #174, West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.exhibitrecords.com, info@exhibitrecords.com
Earlier in today's posting we told you about Judy Collins' upcoming appearance at The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL. Now comes word of a brand new record release as well!
Folk Icon Judy Collins Releases A New 2CD Career Retrospective with Guest Appearances by Joan Baez and Stephen Stills! Includes her most beloved songs and interpretations such as “Send In The Clowns,” “Cat’s In The Cradle,” “Both Sides Now,” “Amazing Grace” and many more!
Los Angeles, CA - Her distinguished voice carried a troubled nation through one of the most tumultuous decade of the 20th century, and continued to inspire millions of music fans for many decades to come. Now, the magnificent Judy Collins proudly presents a new collection of timeless classics, 28 gorgeous songs on 2CDs, that capture both the breadth and depth of Collins’ vast catalog of original songs and unforgettable interpretations. With superb guest performances by fellow folk icons Joan Baez and Stephen Stills (of Crosby Stills & Nash), Both Sides Now - The Very Best Of will be made available on November 4 courtesy of Wildflower Records in association with Cleopatra Records, Inc.
As its title suggests, this wonderful collection showcases both sides of Judy Collins’ extraordinary talent as both a gifted songwriter as well as a skilled interpreter of other’s material. “My Father” and “Albatross” are excellent examples of Collins’ distinctive song-craft - intimate, melodic, and profoundly emotional. These very same qualities have also helped Collins breathe new life into such standards as “Send In The Clowns,” “Amazing Grace, and “Over The Rainbow” truly making these well-known favorites her own. Fans young and old, newcomers and loyal backers alike, will find a lot to love and even more cherish on this incredible compilation!
DISC 1
1. Diamonds And Rust (with Joan Baez)
2. Both Sides Now
3. Angels In The Snow (with Jonas Fjeld)
4. Last Thing On My Mind (with Stephen Stills)
5. Risk
6. Send In The Clowns
7. One I Love
8. Amazing Grace
9. Morning Has Broken
10. Lily Of The Valley
11. Oh, Had I A Golden Thread
12. In The Twilight
13. The Fire Plays (with Ari Hest) [Live In Ireland]
14. Bridge Over Troubled Water
DISC 2
1. My Father
2. Over The Rainbow
3. Since You've Asked
4. Cat's In The Cradle (Live At the Wildflower Festival)
5. Morocco (with Ollabelle)
6. Born To The Breed
7. Helpless (with Rachael Sage)
8. Albatross
9. Pure Imagination
10. The Rose
11. Yesterday
12. The Blizzard
13. Mr. Tambourine Man (Live At the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
14. Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Live at the Wildflower Festival)
Stuart Shea's Monteras story/interview is very well done and is a fun read. Thanks to Clark for letting us know about it. And of course thanks to Forgotten Hits for being the vehicle that brings us all this great information!
David Lewis
Kent ...
Whenever Mom plays Johnny Cash, her twins do THIS!
(You can't watch this clip and tell me its not another clip of the week, to add to my resume. Can you? LoL!
Frank B.
I don't know about "Clip Of The Week" ... but it IS pretty fun to watch for about 30 seconds or so!!! (Besides, it's a slow news day! lol)
Proof again that today's radio programmers don't have a CLUE where their new audience is going to come from ... 'cause I'll bet there's not an oldies station in town ... ANY town ... that played "Folsom Prison Blues" this week!!! (kk)
