Looking back at some key 4th of July's past ...
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
7/4/66 – The Beatles unintentionally snub Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos by failing to show up at a palace reception that she had arranged. As a result, all of their security police protection is pulled by her husband, at which point an angry mob attacks The Fab Four as they try to leave the country … without payment for their performances there. (If the decision to stop touring hadn’t been officially and unanimously been made by the group before, it was etched in stone today.)
Also on 7/4, President Johnson signs The Freedom Of Information Act
56 YEARS AGO TODAY:
Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” first went on the air July 4th, 1970 …
And we pay tribute to it again today, just as we did on the show’s 50th Anniversary (see links below):
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2020/07/july-4th-1970.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2020/07/our-salute-to-american-top-40-coninues.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2020/07/and-hits-just-keep-on-comin.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2020/07/caseys-coast-to-coast-tribute-continues.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-4th-of-july.html
50 YEARS AGO TODAY:
Billboard Magazine ran a special 150-page section in their July 4th issue in 1976, remembering the biggest songs and artists of the rock era.
Things have certainly changed since then …
Back in 1976, they were still counting Elvis’ hits BEFORE the August, 1958 launch of their Hot 100 Chart. As such, he ranked at #4 on their all-time hits list with his two-sided chart-topper “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog.”
(He also came in at #2 on their Top Artists list.)
TOP 10 SONGS OF THE ROCK ERA (circa 1976) per Billboard Magazine:
# 1 - “The Twist,” Chubby Checker (having topped the chart TWICE, in 1960 AND 1962)
# 2 - “Hey Jude,” The Beatles
# 3 - “Mack the Knife,” Bobby
# 4 - “Don’t Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley
# 5 - “Tossin’ and Turnin’,” Bobby Lewis
# 6 - “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles
# 7 - “The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton
# 8 - “I’m a Believer,” The Monkees
# 9 - “Singing the Blues,” Guy Mitchell
#10 - “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” B.J. Thomas
TOP 10 ARTISTS:
# 1 - The Beatles
# 2 - Elvis Presley
# 3 - Frank Sinatra
# 4 - Kingston Trio
# 5 - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
# 6 - Elton John
# 7 - Johnny Mathis
# 8 - Perry Como
# 9 - Barbra Streisand
#10 - John Denver
That list SURE looks different on their 2021 revision!
While The Beatles still hold down the #1 spot, the balance of the Top Ten (which now includes the artist’s overall chart performance on both The Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart AND The Top 200 Albums Chart) looks like this:
# 1 - The Beatles
# 2 - The Rolling Stones
# 3 - Elton John
# 4 - Mariah Carey
# 5 – Madonna
# 6 – Barbra Streisand (along with Elton John, the only other holdover from the 1976 list)
# 7 – Michael Jackson
# 8 - Taylor Swift
# 9 - Stevie Wonder
#10 – Chicago
You can catch the complete revised list here: https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-artists/
Elvis still made The Top 20, Herb Alpert came in at #21, John Denver holds on at #42, but all of the other candidates (Frank Sinatra, The Kingston Trio, Johnny Mathis and Perry Como, all GIANTS on the charts in the 1950’s and early ‘60’s) have disappeared from The Top 100 completely. (kk)
6 YEARS AGO TODAY:
And Chuck Buell reminds us that the last time the 4th of July fell on a Saturday was six years ago in 2020 ...
And it won't happen again until 2037!!!
So you might as well celebrate this Saturday In The Park ... on the 4th of July ... while you still can!
1 YEAR AGO TODAY:
And THIS recap from last year ...
THE #1 RECORDS ON THE 4th of JULY - 1955 - 1990
1955 - ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - Bill Haley and his Comets**
1956 - THE WAYWARD WIND - Gogi Grant**
1957 - (LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR - Elvis Presley
1958 - THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER - Sheb Wooley**
1959 - THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS - Johnny Horton**
1960 - EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY'S FOOL - Connie Francis
1961 - TOSSIN' AND TURNIN' - Bobby Lewis**
1962 - THE STRIPPER - David Rose
1963 - EASIER SAID THAN DONE - Essex**
1964 - I GET AROUND - The Beach Boys**
1965 - SATISFACTION - The Rolling Stones**
1966 - PAPERBACK WRITER - The Beatles
1967 - WINDY - The Association**
1968 - THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU - Herb Alpert**
1969 - LOVE THEME FROM "ROMEO AND JULIET" - Henry Mancini
1970 - THE LOVE YOU SAVE - The Jackson Five
1971 - IT'S TOO LATE - Carole King**
1972 - LEAN ON ME - Bill Withers
1973 - WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston
1974 - ROCK THE BOAT - The Hues Corporation
1975 - LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - The Captain and Tennille**
1976 - SILLY LOVE SONGS - Paul McCartney and Wings**
1977 - UNDERCOVER ANGEL - Alan O'Day
1978 - SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb**
1979 - RING MY BELL - Anita Ward**
1980 - COMING UP - Paul McCartney and Wings
1981 - BETTE DAVIS EYES - Kim Carnes**
1982 - DON'T YOU WANT ME - The Human League
1983 - EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - The Police**
1984 - WHEN DOVES CRY - Prince**
1985 - SUSSUDIO - Phil Collins
1986 - THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS (TO MAKE YOU CRY) - Billy Ocean
1987 - I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY - Whitney Houston
1988 - THE FLAME - Cheap Trick
1989 - GOOD THING - Fine Young Cannibals
1990 - STEP BY STEP - New Kids On The Block
**Denotes Biggest Song of the Summer for That Year
Enjoy a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!
(also courtesy of Chuck Buell)
