|
Post by pointpark04 on Jun 9, 2014 11:53:05 GMT -5
The Billboard Hot 100 as we know it today is a joke. Then again, radio today is a joke. The same songs in the Top 10 for months at a time. Little-to-no movement within the Top 10 for weeks at a time.
Actually, it's mostly been like this for a decade or so. Which is quite pathetic, considering how many great songs there are to be found on the Internet as opposed to how few actually get played on radio.
I'll never forget the Entertainment Weekly article I read a few years ago specifically talking about women on radio here in the states. Some clown actually said, "There isn't room on radio" for another female artist when discussing why songs by Robyn can't be heard any more. Funny, because they keep on coming up with new female acts who annoy the hell out of me, yet they can't seem to play songs from one of the greatest, worldwide beloved female artists. Lunacy.
Being a PD or station manager today must be a breeze. Just play the same 20 songs for three months, then rotate one or two new ones every other week, and take a break. Hard work.
|
|
|
Post by jmack19 on Jun 9, 2014 14:28:44 GMT -5
3: GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - WHITNEY HOUSTON (1) - Great song! Interesting story about how she and Cyndi Lauper shared the record for the most Top Ten hits from a debut album, with four apiece. Has that record been broken yet (I'm guessing yes, but I've got a headache and can't think very hard). George Michael's debut album "Faith" had six top 10 hits if you include the single that was also on "Beverly Hills Cop II" soundtrack.
|
|
|
Post by mga707 on Jun 9, 2014 17:46:18 GMT -5
3: GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - WHITNEY HOUSTON (1) - Great song! Interesting story about how she and Cyndi Lauper shared the record for the most Top Ten hits from a debut album, with four apiece. Has that record been broken yet (I'm guessing yes, but I've got a headache and can't think very hard). George Michael's debut album "Faith" had six top 10 hits if you include the single that was also on "Beverly Hills Cop II" soundtrack. I guess "Faith" was, technically, George's debut solo album. But...and it's a big but...let's just say I don't think any Wham!/George Michael were too upset about the departure of Andrew Ridgeley! Even Whitburn lists George Michael/Wham! together.
|
|
|
Post by Hervard on Jun 10, 2014 10:26:07 GMT -5
I never knew that "Hold Me" was on Whitney's first album - I always thought it was from Teddy Pendergrass' album from 1984 (which it actually was, but was also placed on Whitney's first album when it was released in early 1985. I, too, think that had they re-released it in 1986, after the success of the other four singles, it would have at least hit the Top Ten. I also don't know why "All At Once" was released only to AC radio (and wasn't there a song called "Thinking Of You" that was an R&B only song)? Arista primarily aimed Whitney Houston to the black music market for the first three singles. They didn't aggressively push her to the pop market until they released "How Will I Know." Yeah, I think I remember hearing that somewhere. I wonder how "You Give Good Love" and "Saving All My Love For You" fared so well at Top 40, since Whitney wasn't exactly an established artist at the time.
|
|
|
Post by mga707 on Jun 10, 2014 14:53:40 GMT -5
Arista primarily aimed Whitney Houston to the black music market for the first three singles. They didn't aggressively push her to the pop market until they released "How Will I Know." Yeah, I think I remember hearing that somewhere. I wonder how "You Give Good Love" and "Saving All My Love For You" fared so well at Top 40, since Whitney wasn't exactly an established artist at the time. I can't remember seeing a video for the former, but young Whitney looking smokin' good in the video for the latter song certainly didn't hurt.
|
|
|
Post by friarboy on Jun 13, 2014 9:05:37 GMT -5
39. Long Haired Lover From Liverpool/Little Jimmy Osmond--Bad Apple No. 1. I was familiar with the existence of this song, but had never actually heard it until I heard it on the countdown. And it's OK if I never hear this cutesy, whiney number ever again. It's no surprise that Jimmy never had another hit. One of my favorite things about these older shows is hearing songs I had never heard before, unlike the mid/late 80s ones where I can sing every line to most of the songs. However, I often contend that in 70-73 or thereabouts, most of the songs were either great or god-awful with little in between. This song, however, may be the first one I have ever heard 15 seconds of and fast forwarded through the rest of. Who listened to this junk to put it in the Top 40? Just the Osmond name, what? There is no excuse for this "music" and it made me embarrassed to be a child of the early 70s. I wholeheartedly apologize on behalf of 1972 for this dreck being played on hundreds of stations last week. Let us ensure that it does not happen again.
|
|
|
Post by bestmusicexpert on Jun 13, 2014 16:49:22 GMT -5
Yeah, because Harlem Shake, What Does The Fox Say and Boom Boom Pow are any better...
|
|
|
Post by AmericanTop40 on Jun 13, 2014 20:30:43 GMT -5
Yeah, because Harlem Shake, What Does The Fox Say and Boom Boom Pow are any better... Probably the best post I have read on this board since joining. Well said, sir.
|
|
|
Post by friarboy on Jun 14, 2014 8:24:50 GMT -5
Yeah, because Harlem Shake, What Does The Fox Say and Boom Boom Pow are any better... May you have to listen to many hours of records by then-9-year-old Jimmy Osmond
|
|
|
Post by bestmusicexpert on Jun 14, 2014 9:22:43 GMT -5
Better than a song that sounds like flatulence, an idiotic novelty song and a trio of untalented hacks autotuning baby talk...
|
|
|
Post by Hervard on Jun 14, 2014 19:10:46 GMT -5
American Top 40 - June 14, 2014
This week's presentation - June 13, 1981
Droppers: YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO (36) - Great song! Shame that it dropped off! FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (33) - Great song! I'm surprised that this song didn't get any higher than #29, seeing that I heard it all the time back in the spring of 1981. KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (31) - Great song! Too bad it dropped off, but at least we heard it on the last 1981 show - on one of its #1 weeks to boot! SAY YOU'LL BE MINE - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (30) - This wasn't bad, but it was my least favorite of his Top 40 hits. AI NO CORRIDA - QUINCY JONES f/DUNE (28) - This was a pretty good song, as I recall. I MISSED AGAIN - PHIL COLLINS (26) - Great song! My favorite of his two 1981 hits! (His other is coming up as an Optional Extra, BTW). MORNING TRAIN (NINE TO FIVE) - SHEENA EASTON (25) - Meh, no big loss, as I don't really care for this song. SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU - DON MACLEAN (23) - Great song! Possibly my favorite version of this song that I've heard.
(Wow, quite a list there! I'm surprised that none of the songs dropped from inside the Top 20. Then again, this isn't 1982, so...)
LW#1: BETTE DAVIS EYES – KIM CARNES 40: STRONGER THAN BEFORE – CAROLE BAYER SAGER (debut) - Good song - sounds a little like something the Bee Gees or Andy Gibb might do. 39: I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF – BILLY VERA & THE BEATERS (39) - Good song - I prefer this over their other 80s hit. 38: SWEET BABY – STANLEY CLARKE & GEORGE DUKE (debut) - Pretty much your run-of-the-mill early-80s easy-listening song, but a great one it was! 37: GEMINI DREAM – THE MOODY BLUES (debut) - Great song! Their comeback hit, after an absence of nearly three years, as well as their first Top 20 hit for over eight years. 36: SEVEN YEAR ACHE – ROSANNE CASH (debut) - Great song! One I had heard several times circa 1983 and wondered what the title and artist was, finally finding out when this song was played as an AT20 extra in April, 1999. 35: TIME – THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (38) - Great song! As I've said several times before, I liked most of their songs featuring Eric Woolfson on lead vocals. 34: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY – MANHATTAN TRANSFER (debut) - Good song, I preferred a few others from them - mainly AC-only songs. 33: I DON’T NEED YOU – KENNY ROGERS (debut) - Great song! A true guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song with a passion. 32: SAY WHAT – JESSE WINCHESTER (35) - Good song. 31: FOOL IN LOVE WITH YOU – JIM PHOTOGLO (34) - Great song! He sounds a cross between the Manhattans and Gary Wright. ARCHIVES: SOUL & INSPIRATION – THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - Good song - not sure if I prefer this or their other #1 hit. OPTIONAL EXTRA: SLOW HAND - POINTER SISTERS - Great song! This song didn't quite make it to #1 on AT40, but managed to spend two weeks on top on the R&R chart. 30: STILL RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART – PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE (32) - Great song! I liked this and "Let Me Love You Tonight" about the same. 29: MODERN GIRL – SHEENA EASTON (37) - Great song, though I prefer a few others from her. 28: ELVIRA – THE OAK RIDGE BOYS GEEZERS (40) - No. Just no. 27: THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) – JOEY SCARBURY (debut) - Great song! One of the best TV show themes ever! 26: WINNING – SANTANA (29) - Great song! One of my favorites from them! 25: WATCHING THE WHEELS – JOHN LENNON (17) - Good song, though I preferred the other two Double Fantasy singles. LDD: JUST REMEMBER I LOVE YOU - FIREFALL - Good song, and somewhat fitting for the dedication (from a guy to a girl whom he's so crazy about that he gets so nervous when he's around her that he becomes clumsy, tripping over everything and so forth). 24: HEARTS – MARTY BALIN (debut) - Great song! With such a high debut, one would guess that this would at least hit the Top Five, but it peaked at #8, which still isn't bad - IIRC, some songs have debuted even higher yet missed the Top Ten. 23: NOBODY WINS – ELTON JOHN (27) - Good song - one of several hits by him with a disco flavor. 22: ANGEL OF THE MORNING – JUICE NEWTON (18) - Good song, but my least favorite of her Top 40 hits. 21: IS IT YOU – LEE RITENOUR (24) - Great song! Sounds more like something from the mid- to late 1970s instead of 1981. ARCHIVES: GOOD LOVIN’ – THE YOUNG RASCALS - Good song - a staple for oldies stations. OPTIONAL EXTRA: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON - Great song! A good driving song! 20: JESSIE’S GIRL – RICK SPRINGFIELD (22) - Great song! With the baby steps this song was taking up the chart, who knew that it would eventually hit #1? 19: THE WAITING – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (21) - Great song! One of his best, and most underrated songs IMO. 18: TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX (15) - Great song! I preferred "The Best Of Times", but I do like this song more than I used to. 17: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (19) - Meh, this song was OK, but one of my least favorites from them. 16: HOW ‘BOUT US - CHAMPAIGN (12) - Great song! I like this and their other Top 40 hit "Try Again" about the same. 15: WHAT ARE WE DOIN’ IN LOVE – DOTTIE WEST w/KENNY ROGERS (16) - Great song! As I've said before, I have no idea why Kenny didn't receive any label credit for this song. I wonder if the song would have performed better on the chart if his name had been on the label? 14: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE – AIR SUPPLY (20) - Great song! One of my favorites from them (and their only #1 hit)! 13: I LOVE YOU – THE CLIMAX BLUES BAND (13) - Great song! Easily my favorite of their two Top 40 hits! 12: THIS LITTLE GIRL – GARY U.S. BONDS (14) - Great song! Bonds' comeback Top 40 hit, and you can definitely tell that Springsteen had a hand in this one! 11: JUST THE TWO OF US – GROVER WASHINGTON JR. & BILL WITHERS (8) - Great song! Like the Pointer Sisters' song we heard earlier, this peaked at #2 on AT40, but topped the R&R chart for a pair of weeks. 10: SWEETHEART – FRANKIE & THE KNOCKOUTS (10) - Great song! Definitely one of my favorite songs of the entire year! ARCHIVES: MONDAY MONDAY – THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS - This was OK, but I prefer several others from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: THE BREAK-UP SONG (THEY DON'T WRITE 'EM) - GREG KIHN BAND - This was pretty good, but I preferred "Jeopardy". 9: TAKE IT ON THE RUN – REO SPEEDWAGON (5) - Great song! Definitely one of their best hits ever! 8: AMERICA – NEIL DIAMOND (9) - Great song! Appropriate that this peaked on Flag Day weekend! LDD: HEY JUDE – THE BEATLES - Great song! Glad that they did a follow-up on the LDD and found that the grandmother of the author of the LDD (and the subject of the LDD) had miraculously recovered from her condition (I forget what said condition was - I do know it required a blood transfusion) by herself. 7: ALL THOSE YEARS AGO – GEORGE HARRISON (11) - Great song! One of my favorites of his solo hits! 6: LIVING INSIDE MYSELF – GINO VANELLI (6) - Great song! Of the few songs I've heard by him, this would be my favorite. 5: A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (JUST LIKE YOU DO) – RAY PARKER JR & RAYDIO (7) - Great song! One of his/their best! 4: BEING WITH YOU – SMOKEY ROBINSON (2) - This was OK, but I prefer many others from him, both solo and with the Miracles. 3: SUKIYAKI – A TASTE OF HONEY (3) - Good song, though it doesn't hold a candle to 4PM's 1994 cover. OPTIONAL EXTRA: IN THE AIR TONIGHT - PHIL COLLINS - Good song, though, as I said earlier, I preferred his song that dropped off this week. 2: MEDLEY – STARS ON 45 (3) - Good song - the one that started off the medley craze. This song somehow managed to interrupt Kim Carnes' marathon run at #1 the following week. 1: BETTE DAVIS EYES – KIM CARNES (1) - Great song! Glad this song managed to rebound to #1 after yielding to Stars On 45 for a week, enabling it to become the top song for all of 1981!
Predictions for next week: Well, let's just start by saying that 1980 is likely out, because that would be the June 21 show, which was guest hosted. Moreover, I don't think we'll be hearing 1980 for at least another month. 1983 is the most likely for next week if they're shooting for avoiding repeats, as all other years that haven't been featured in over a month would have to be repeats, since the shows closest to next weekend's date have already been run. My back-up prediction is June 22, 1985, which was last run in 2009, so at least it's been awhile since we heard that one.
|
|
|
Post by mga707 on Jun 14, 2014 20:58:48 GMT -5
Aw, c'mon! How can "Elvira" not put a smile on your face? Especially since one NEVER hears it anymore. Admit it--you were singing along, trying to get...down...real...looooowwwww..... "A-oom papa oom papa oom papa mow mow..."
|
|
|
Post by friarboy on Jun 14, 2014 21:29:36 GMT -5
Aw, c'mon! How can "Elvira" not put a smile on your face? Especially since one NEVER hears it anymore. Admit it--you were singing along, trying to get...down...real...looooowwwww..... "A-oom papa oom papa oom papa mow mow..." It's Beethoven compared to boom boom pow I'm pretty new here, amidoinitrite?
|
|
|
Post by Hervard on Jun 14, 2014 23:15:41 GMT -5
Elvira only puts a smile on my face when it's over with. When it comes on, I get this expression on my face like someone laid a nasty fart.
|
|
|
Post by AmericanTop40 on Jun 14, 2014 23:42:10 GMT -5
June 13, 1981
40: STRONGER THAN BEFORE – CAROLE BAYER SAGER - Horrible singing voice, but by turning up the volume of background singers and a little electronic assistance, you have a tolerable vocal delivery and a very good song! 39 I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF – BILLY VERA & THE BEATERS - No, just no! 38: SWEET BABY – STANLEY CLARKE & GEORGE DUKE (debut) - Bringing a touch of class to the countdown. Real musicians! Good song. 37: GEMINI DREAM – THE MOODY BLUES - Aggressive rocker from the guys who get a bad rap about being too mellow. I never get tired of hearing this song. A+ 36: SEVEN YEAR ACHE – ROSANNE CASH - Country music was hot at this time after Urban Cowboy and Cash cashed in with this well-written song. The interlude after each chorus reminds me of the Little Rascals Theme for some reason. 35: TIME – THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT - Might as well be subtitled "Funeral Song". Yes, it is a depressing song. But for those who appreciate sad songs as I do, this one ranks up near the top. 34: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY – MANHATTAN TRANSFER - Their top 40 hit the prior year is my favorite, but this is an excellent remake and continued to show off their vocal talents. 33: I DON’T NEED YOU – KENNY ROGERS - Another wonderfully depressing song that I haven't heard on the radio very much since it was a hit. That's probably why it sounds so refreshing to hear today. Not nearly as good as "Time" earlier in the countdown, but still a winner. 32: SAY WHAT – JESSE WINCHESTER - Okay song to hear periodically but the chorus can get a bit annoying. 31: FOOL IN LOVE WITH YOU – JIM PHOTOGLO - I believe this was issued on the dreadful 20th Century Fox label that was pressed on cheap vinyl. I think the 45 I bought was wore out after two listens! Anyway, I bought it, so that tells you how much I liked it in 1981 and I still like it today! 30: STILL RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART – PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE - Okay song, but nothing spectacular. 29: MODERN GIRL – SHEENA EASTON - Unlike #32, I could sing along to the chorus in this one all day long. Very catchy. 28: ELVIRA – THE OAK RIDGE BOYS - No, just NO! I like many of their songs, but not this turkey. 27: THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) – JOEY SCARBURY - Good song, but the general public seemed to like it more than I did. 26: WINNING – SANTANA - Winning indeed! Love this song. 25: WATCHING THE WHEELS – JOHN LENNON - One of the weaker songs by John Lennon on Double Fantasy. I would have chosen "I'm Losing You" as the third single. 24: HEARTS – MARTY BALIN - Talented man and although this one didn't resonate with me when I first heard it, I appreciate it more and more each time I hear it. 23: NOBODY WINS – ELTON JOHN - A shame this one and the follow-up didn't do better because I love both songs and the album they are from ("The Fox") is very good also. 22: ANGEL OF THE MORNING – JUICE NEWTON - Powerful rendition of a classic 60's song and although I was at first upset someone would dare to cover it, I think Juice made it her own. 21: IS IT YOU – LEE RITENOUR - See #38. 20: JESSIE’S GIRL – RICK SPRINGFIELD - Good song but I am so tired of hearing it. 19: THE WAITING – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS - See #20. 18: TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX - Give me the 70's version of Styx any day over this junk! 17: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES - Amazing how the 4th release from this album is my favorite. 16: HOW ‘BOUT US - CHAMPAIGN - The group might as well have been called Champagne because this is a sparklingly refreshing song and one of my favorite songs in the countdown. 15: WHAT ARE WE DOIN’ IN LOVE – DOTTIE WEST - I disliked this song when it was a hit. Now I find it okay. 14: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE – AIR SUPPLY - The formula ballad was getting old at this point. 13: I LOVE YOU – THE CLIMAX BLUES BAND - I remember it took a long time for this song to be issued on CD and as soon as it was available I grabbed it. It's a beauty. 12: THIS LITTLE GIRL – GARY U.S. BONDS - I was glad Springsteen helped Bonds return to the Top 40. But I like his 60's songs more. 11: JUST THE TWO OF US – GROVER WASHINGTON JR. & BILL WITHERS - See #38 & #21 10: SWEETHEART – FRANKIE & THE KNOCKOUTS - Good song although it seems the public liked it more than I did. 9: TAKE IT ON THE RUN – REO SPEEDWAGON - Never thought this song was great and now that it has been played to death, I never want to hear it ever again. 8: AMERICA – NEIL DIAMOND - A July 4th favorite. Without a doubt, one of his best uptempo songs. 7: ALL THOSE YEARS AGO – GEORGE HARRISON - A shame it took a tragedy to return George to the Top 10. Very deserving smash as were a lot of his other singles that sadly did not make it up this far. 6: LIVING INSIDE MYSELF – GINO VANELLI - Very nicely crafted and delivered. 5: A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE – RAY PARKER JR & RAYDIO - No, just NO. 4: BEING WITH YOU – SMOKEY ROBINSON - No, just NO. After my love affair with "Cruisin" it seemed like I loved Smokey's 45s that were not hits in the 80's and hated the ones that were hits. Go figure! 3: SUKIYAKI – A TASTE OF HONEY - see #33 2: MEDLEY – STARS ON 45 - I was sad when the medley craze died off. I really enjoyed these creations! 1: BETTE DAVIS EYES – KIM CARNES - Good song, but not even close to deserving 9 weeks at #1!!!
|
|