#41
The Isley Brothers reached #1 in various parts of the country with their big 1969 hit "It's Your Thing" ... but OFFICIALLY it only peaked at #2 ... and it did so in all three major trade publication (for a total of FOUR accumulated weeks)
It was held out of the top spot by "Hair" by The Cowsills ... but it still managed to earn 43 #2 points on its own.
#40
We seem to be having LOTS of "rainy days" here this morning ... especially on the lower region of the chart. (You may recall that Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" came in at #46.)
"Rainy Days And Mondays" just missed hitting the top spot (and following in the footsteps their two back-to-back #1 singles in 1970, "Close To You" and "We've Only Just Begun.")
They just couldn't get past Carole King's MONSTER hit "It's Too Late" this time around ... so "Rainy Days And Mondays" had to settle for the Runners Up position. It spent a total of FOUR weeks at #2 ... and earned 45 points in the process.
#39
Stevie Wonder officially peaked at #2 with his 1967 classic "I Was Made To Love Her." (It's also one of MY personal favorites ... as are nearly ALL things '67!!!)
It, too, accumulate four weeks at #2 (along with 47 points) - and was kept from the top spot by "Light My Fire" by The Doors. (If you're going to come in second to somebody in '67, The Doors are a pretty good candidate with whom to do so!)
#38
Coming in at #38 with 50 points (and five combined weeks at #2) are The Orlons and their Cameo-Parkway Hit "The Wah-Watusi.
(This dance was all the rage at the time ... so The Orlons cashed in big time with this one!)
Bobby Vinton kept them out of the #1 spot, however, thanks to his big hit "Roses Are Red," written by our FH Buddy, Paul Evans.
#37
The newly christened Diana Ross and the Supremes snagged five weeks at #2 with their 1967 hit "Reflections." (This was their first release under their new moniker ... everything up till now had simply credited "The Supremes" as the artist ... but Berry Gordy was looking for ways to enable Diana Ross to step out and pursue other opportunities ... like movies, for example.)
As the music trends were changing during The Summer Of Love, Motown strayed from their successful formula a little bit on this one, even adding some psychedelic overtones here and there throughout the record.
Obviously, it worked ... The Supremes ... I'm sorry, Diana Ross and the Supremes ... found themselves right back at the top of the charts. (It was Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe" that kept them out of the top spot.)
#36
Here's a perfect example of the '50's Groove ...
Our #36 #2 Record is by Bill Doggett, who utilized a funky, screaming saxophone in order to capture the proper "Honky Tonk" feel, making this record "sing" all the way up to the top of the charts. (Not bad for an instrumental hit, eh???)
Well ... ALMOST the top. "Honky Tonk" accumulated FIVE weeks in the #2 position, rock-blocked by Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel." (Hey, if you're going to just miss out on having a #1 Record, there's nobody out there more respectable than Elvis Presley to lose to!!!)
#35 - #30 will post at 9 am ...
Hope to see you then!
