TRACING POPULAR TASTES : US #1 SINGLES LEADERBOARD.  

This post: 1955-88. More: tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè traces the shifts in popular music through the decades…

-THE LEADERBOARD-

The Rock Era is said to have begun in 1955 when “Rock Around The Clock” became the first rock ‘n’ roll disc to reach #1 on Billboard’s Singles Chart. Since then, pop music has spawned countless sub-genres, including: new wave, disco, Merseybeat, garage, hip hop, punk, grunge, funk, psychedelic soul, folk rock and Motown.

This series charts the changes in trends and how they have impacted the chart statistics from the American perspective. Every single that reached #1 in the U.S.A. since mid- 1955 to the present is taken into account. Acts are ranked according to how many chart-topping songs they have achieved and separated by number of weeks spent in the top position.

The Beatles moved into the top of this leaderboard in 1970 and have remained in front ever since. There has been much change in the lower ranks over subsequent decades. By the mid-1980s, Michael Jackson continued dominating while new names such as Madonna, Phil Collins, Prince, George Michael and Whitney Houston emerged as new chart champs.

 

PART TEN

July 1955-1988

1.    THE BEATLES                                  20      59

2.    ELVIS PRESLEY                               17      77

3.    THE SUPREMES                               12      22

4.    MICHAEL JACKSON*                     11      29

5.    THE BEE GEES                                   9      27

6.    PAUL McCARTNEY                           8      25

7.    THE ROLLING STONES                   8      17

8.    STEVIE WONDER*                            7      17

9.    WHITNEY HOUSTON                       7      13                       

10.DIANA ROSS*                                     6      20

 

THE TIME CAPSULE: LEVON. More retro tomorrow.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

LEVON

Elton John

1971

U.S.A. - #24

Trivia:

"Levon" was a single lifted off Elton John's fourth studio album 'Madman Across The Water'. The song has become one of the recording artist's signature songs, along with another track on the same LP: "Tiny Dancer".

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

BURT BACHARACH 100 ESSENTIAL SONGS. . This post: #7. Continues: tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè presents:

THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS CO/WRITTEN BY

BURT

BACHARACH

Burt Bacharach has had a major impact on popular music with a catalogue spanning many decades. His songbook boasts some of the most elegant and unforgettable songs of all time. His compositions have been recorded by a vast array of acts ranging from The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones and Carpenters. He is best remembered for his collaborations with Hal David that were brought to life with Dionne Warwick’s vocal skills.

Burt Bacharach died in his home in February 2023. He was 94 years old. This special countdown pays tribute to Bacharach’s immense talent and impressive legacy, celebrating 100 of his best compositions…

 

🎶

♭7♭

ARTHUR’S THEME

(BEST THAT YOU CAN DO)

Christopher Cross (1981)

Christopher Cross was one of the hottest acts in pop music. His self-titled debut album had been released in 1979 and was both a commercial and critical success. It spawned the US #1 hit “Sailing” and the #2 smash “Ride Like The Wind”. In 1980, he collected 5 Grammy Awards, including Album, Song and Record of the Year trophies. Burt Bacharach and his then partner Carole Bayer Sager were working on a song for the motion picture comedy ‘Arthur’ and asked Cross to collaborate with them. He agreed. The film’s cast included Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli and Sir John Gielgud. The line “when you caught between the moon and New York City” was from an unreleased composition Sager had co-written with Australian singer/ songwriter Peter Allen. She asked if they could use that line and he agreed. The result was “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”. It was recorded by Cross. The single reached #1 in America where it enjoyed 3 weeks at the top. Five days after winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Bacharach and Sager married.

Follow the countdown on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1nYjYdZQeXUUOLLnkehRj7?si=132a524084ae466f&pt=b46ae886558caeaeb131e7d76b44e203

 

 

TRACING POPULAR TASTES : US #1 SINGLES LEADERBOARD.  

This post: 1955-86. More: tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè traces the shifts in popular music through the decades:

-THE LEADERBOARD-

The Rock Era is said to have commenced in July 1955, when “Rock Around The Clock” became the first rock ‘n’ roll disc to reach #1 on Billboard’s Singles Chart. Since then, rock music has spawned countless genres and sub-genres, including: soul, new wave, folk rock, punk, grunge, funk, disco, hip hop, garage, crunk and psychedelic soul. 

This series charts the changes in trends and how they have impacted the chart statistics from the US perspective.

Every single that reached #1 in America since mid-1955 to the present is taken into account. Acts are ranked according to how many chart-topping singles they have achieved and separated by weeks in the top position. Each instalment lists only the leading performers and represents a major impact on the leaderboard.

By 1970, The Beatles had replaced Elvis at the top. To date, no other act has surpassed the Fab Four’s total of #1 singles. They have remained at #1 since, but there has been much change within the lower ranks over subsequent decades.

By the mid-1980s, Michael Jackson broke records with his ‘Thriller’ album. A new breed began to occupy the chart summit, including Madonna, Phil Collins, Prince and Wham!

 

PART NINE:

July 1955- 1986

1.          THE BEATLES                                                           20         59

2.          ELVIS PRESLEY                                                        17         77

3.          THE SUPREMES                                                        12         22

4.          THE BEE GEES                                                            9          27

5.          PAUL McCARTNEY / WINGS                                       8          25

6.          THE ROLLING STONES                                               8          17

7.          STEVIE WONDER                                                        7*        17

8.          MICHAEL JACKSON                                                   6          22

9.          DIANA ROSS                                                              6*        20

10.     HALL & OATES                                                            6          14

11.     LIONEL RICHIE                                                           5          21

12.     OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN                                              5          18

13.     ELTON JOHN*                                                             5          11

14.     THE 4 SEASONS                                                         4          15

15.     DONNA SUMMER                                                       4          13

16.     BOBBY VINTON                                                          4          12

17.     THE JACKSON 5                                                         4          10

18.     BARBRA STREISAND                                                  4          10

       BLONDIE                                                                      4          10

       MADONNA                                                                   4          10

19.     CHER*                                                                        4          8

20.     PHIL COLLINS                                                            4          7.

21.     THE TEMPTATIONS                                                     4          6

22.     JOHN DENVER                                                           4          5

23.     SIMON & GARFUNKEL                                              3*         11

24.     PRINCE                                                                     3          8

25.     THE BEACH BOYS                                                     3          8

 

THE TIME CAPSULE: GIRL, YOU'LL BE A WOMAN SOON. More retro tomorrow.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

GIRL. YOU’LL BE A WOMAN SOON

Neil Diamond

1967

U.S.A. - #10

 

Trivia:

Neil Diamond wrote "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon". His original version was produced by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0