Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits: 1970

[doomsdaymachine]

One limitation of the annual charts published in Billboard is that they are not compiled on a calendar-year basis - that is, they do not run from January to December. Because of publishing deadlines, the eligibility period has varied over the years, but generally runs from the beginning of December to the end of November. In the past, this has penalized some records that were hits at the end of the year by leaving them caught in limbo between two particular years, not gaining enough points in either to register on any year-end chart. As a result, songs like "Big Girls Don't Cry" by the Four Seasons, "Come See About Me" by the Supremes, and "I Think I Love You" by the Partridge Family never appeared on a Billboard year-end survey because they peaked in November or December.

The(se) charts...list singles in the year that they peaked. "My Sweet Lord," which went to #1 the week of December 26, 1970, is included in the top 100 songs of 1970. In the official Billboard charts, it was listed in 1971.

The(se) charts...are not meant to replace the year-end surveys Billboard has published over the years. Those charts are a matter of record. Rather, these lists are an opportunity to look at the biggest hits of each year from a different perspective.

rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1970

[torcan]

The problem I have with ranking "My Sweet Lord" with 1970 is that it only had 1 week at No. 1 in 1970, and 4 in 1971. It's definately a 1971 song.

I think songs should be ranked in the year they DROPPED from their peak position - unless the song had a very unusual chart run - such as "I Love the Nightlife"; or the year in which they acquired the most points. Either way "My Sweet Lord" is '71.

As much as I like Fred Bronson's book, he blew it on this one.

[at40petebattistini]

^Like the song, I straddle both years with "My Sweet Lord". I believe Casey noted in the Most Extrordinary British Artists special that "it was Christmas 1970 when we first heard this song." An early December release and a quick "add" to every Top 40 and MOR station resulted in the song's "first impression momentum" peaking in 1970. That's what makes a record hot. And isn't that first impression momentum the basis of how and when we recall our favorites? On the other hand, you can't overlook how the song's popularity continued into the next month/year.

Tough call.

[bestmusicexpert]

Is there a link for 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1979? I'm interested in seeing how those turned out.

[doomsdaymachine]

Mar 23, 2013 9:23:52 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

Is there a link for 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1979? I'm interested in seeing how those turned out.

I'm working on those lists and will post the link as soon as they're done.

Meanwhile, I've also done year-end lists for 1956-69 if anyone's interested.

rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1956
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1957
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1958
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1959
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1960
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1961
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1962
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1963
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1964
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1965
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1966
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1967
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1968
rateyourmusic.com/list/goldwax317/billboards_hottest_hot_100_hits__1969

[doomsdaymachine]

Mar 22, 2013 16:19:35 GMT -5 torcan said:

The problem I have with ranking "My Sweet Lord" with 1970 is that it only had 1 week at No. 1 in 1970, and 4 in 1971. It's definately a 1971 song.

I think songs should be ranked in the year they DROPPED from their peak position - unless the song had a very unusual chart run - such as "I Love the Nightlife"; or the year in which they acquired the most points. Either way "My Sweet Lord" is '71.

As much as I like Fred Bronson's book, he blew it on this one.

I felt similarly about his ranking "I"m A Believer" at #1 for 1966. It spent only the final week of that year at the top, followed by the first six weeks of 1967. Seems to me, it should have been the #1 song of 1967!