Billboard Chart History - 10 Years: the 1s

[Dawn]

This time, let's look at the years ending in "1".


June 28, 1941

(TW = Position This Week; LW = Position Last Week; NW = Number Weeks on Chart; *Former #1)
TW LW NW
1 4 7 MARIA ELENA - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch. w. vocal/Bob Eberly (Note: This, and the flipside "Green Eyes" [See #9 below], accounted for Jimmy's best-selling single record)
2 3 5 *DADDY - Sammy Kaye & His Orch. w. vocal/The Kaye Choir (Note: Song was written by Bobby Troup, and was a #1 Billboard best-seller for eight weeks)
3 -- 3 THE HUT-SUT SONG (A Swedish Serenade) - Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights w. vocal/Donna (Wood) & her Don Juans (Note: Donna is the sister of Gloria Wood, who later sang with Kay Kyser)
4 2 5 THE HUT-SUT SONG (A Swedish Serenade) - Freddy Martin & His Orch. w. vocal/Eddie Stone
5 1 8 *MY SISTER AND I - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch. w. vocal/Bob Eberly (Note: This song got its title from a best selling book during that time)
6 5 11 INTERMEZZO - Wayne King & His Orch. (Note: Theme song from the Ingrid Bergman movie of the same name; Was also issued under the title "Souvenir De Vienne")
7 -- NEW INTERMEZZO - Freddy Martin & His Orch. w. vocal/Clyde Rogers
8 -- NEW THE THINGS I LOVE - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch. w. vocal/Bob Eberly
9 6 7 GREEN EYES - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch. w. vocal/Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell [See "note" for #1 above]
10 -- NEW THE HUT-SUT SONG - The Four King Sisters

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

June 30, 1951


(TW = Position This Week; LW = Position Last Week; NW = Number Weeks on Chart; *Former #1)
TW LW NW
1 1 12 TOO YOUNG - Nat "King" Cole w. Orch. Conducted by Les Baxter (Note: An early Nelson Riddle arrangement, this Cole hit was 5 weeks a Billboard #1 Best Selling single)
2 3 10 JEZEBEL - Frankie Laine & The Norman Luboff Choir w. Mitch Miller & His Orch.
3 2 15 *HOW HIGH THE MOON - Les Paul & Mary Ford (Note: This Grammy Hall Of Fame hit spent 9 weeks as a Billboard #1 Best Seller)
4 6 13 THE LOVELIEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR - Mario Lanza w. Orch. Conducted by Constantine Callinicos (Note: This was Lanza's signature hit, from his movie "The Toast Of New Orleans"; it spent 34 weeks on Billboard's pop charts)
5 4 15 ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY - The Weavers & The Terry Gilkyson Singers w. Orchestra & Chorus Conducted by Vic Schoen (Note: Pete Seeger, who will make a name for himself in the coming '60s, leads the call-and-response on this folkish million-seller)
6 8 6 MY TRULY, TRULY FAIR - Guy Mitchell w. Mitch Miller's Orch. & Chorus
7 7 9 ROSE, ROSE, I LOVE YOU - Frankie Laine & The Norman Luboff Choir w. Paul Weston & His Orch.
8 -- NEW COME ON-A MY HOUSE - Rosemary Clooney w. Percy Faith & His Orch. & featuring Stan Freeman on harpsichord (Note: This was Rosie's big breakthrough smash; it was written by playwright William Saroyan and his cousin, Ross "David Seville" Bagdasarian, who would a few years later become a name artist with his novelty hits by The Chipmunks and a crazy song called "Witch Doctor" [Note: See #4 in the 1958 chart below])
9 5 11 SOUND OFF (The Duckworth Chant) - Vaughn Monroe & His Orch. w. vocal/Vaughn Monroe (Note: Song was based upon a military marching chant written by Willie Duckworth)
10 10 7 MISTER AND MISSISSIPPI - Patti Page

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US Hot 100 Singles Week Ending 2nd July, 1961
Issue Date 26th June, 1961

TW LW TITLE Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak Position)

1 3 QUARTER TO THREE
U.S. Bonds (Legrand)-6 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 5 RAINDROPS
Dee Clark (Vee-Jay)-9 (2)
3 1 MOODY RIVER
Pat Boone (Dot)-9 (1)
4 7 TOSSIN' AND TURNIN'
Bobby Lewis (Beltone)-10 (4)
5 2 TRAVELIN' MAN
Ricky Nelson (Imperial)-10 (1)
6 6 THE WRITING ON THE WALL
Adam Wade (Coed)-7 (6)
7 9 THE BOLL WEEVIL SONG
Brook Benton (Mercury)-7 (7)
8 8 EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART
The Pips (Vee-Jay)-7 (8)
9 10 THOSE OLDIES BUT GOODIES (Remind Me Of You)
Little Caesar and the Romans (Del-Fi)-9 (9)
10 4 STAND BY ME
Ben E. King (Atco)-8 (4)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US Top 100 Singles Week Ending 26th June, 1971

TW LW TITLE-Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart

1 1 IT'S TOO LATE/
I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE
Carole King (Ode)-8 (2 weeks at #1)
2 2 RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS
The Carpenters (A&M)-7
3 3 WANT ADS
The Honey Cone (Hot Wax)-12
4 7 INDIAN RESERVATION (The Lament Of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)
The Raiders (Columbia)-12
5 6 TREAT HER LIKE A LADY
Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose (United Artists)-12
6 4 BROWN SUGAR
The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-9
7 5 IT DON'T COME EASY
Ringo Starr (Apple)-9
8 19 DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE
Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (Dunhill)-6
9 12 WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT
Jerry Reed (RCA)-8
10 10 SWEET AND INNOCENT
Donny Osmond of the Osmonds (MGM)-14

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US Top 100 Singles Week Ending 27th June, 1981

TW LW TITLE Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak Position)

1 2 BETTE DAVIS EYES
Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-14 (6 weeks at #1) (1)
2 1 MEDLEY: INTRO VENUS/SUGAR SUGAR/NO REPLY/I'LL BE BACK/DRIVE MY CAR/
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET/WE CAN WORK IT OUT/I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
BETTER/NOWHERE MAN/YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT GIRL/STARS ON 45
Stars On 45 (Radio Records)-12 (1)
3 3 SUKIYAKI
A Taste Of Honey (Capitol)-17 (3)
4 4 A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do)
Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (Arista)-17 (4)
5 5 ALL THOSE YEARS AGO
George Harrison (Dark Horse)-6 (5)
6 7 THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE
Air Supply (Arista)-7 (6)
7 9 YOU MAKE MY DREAMS
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-9 (7)
8 8 AMERICA
Neil Diamond (Capitol)-10 (8)
9 10 JESSIE'S GIRL
Rick Springifield (RCA)-14 (9)
10 23 ELVIRA
The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)-7 (10)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US Top 100 Singles Week Ending June 29, 1991

TW LW TITLE Artist - Weeks on Chart (Peak Position)

1 1 RUSH RUSH Paula Abdul - 8 (1)
2 2 I WANNA SEX YOU UP Color Me Badd - 13 (2)
3 6 UNBELIEVABLE EMF - 12 (3)
4 7 POWER OF LOVE/LOVE POWER Luther Vandross - 10 (4)
5 4 LOSING MY RELIGION R.E.M. - 13 (4)
6 3 MORE THAN WORDS Extreme - 15 (1)
7 10 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Jesus Jones - 12 (7)
8 5 LOVE IS A WONDERFUL THING Michael Bolton - 11 (4)
9 8 STRIKE IT UP Black Box - 13 (8)
10 12 PLAYGROUND Another Bad Creation - 10 (10)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US Top 100 Singles Week Ending June 30, 2001

TW LW Weeks TITLE - Artist

1 1 12 LADY MARMALADE - C. Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink
2 2 21 HANGING BY A MOMENT - Lifehouse
3 4 7 MY BABY - Lil' Romeo
4 3 19 RIDE WIT ME - Nelly Featuring City Spud
5 5 16 DROPS OF JUPITER (TELL ME) - Train
6 8 12 PEACHES & CREAM - 112
7 9 15 GET UR FREAK ON - Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
8 6 14 FIESTA - R. Kelly Featuring Jay-Z
9 12 10 LET ME BLOW YA MIND - Eve Featuring Gwen Stefani
10 11 6 THERE YOU'LL BE - Faith Hill

I hardly ever hear it now, but I recall a time when "The Boll Weevil Song" got a lot of airplay on oldies stations. Interesting that the lyric "Yeah, and I wish that you were in ****" home" couldn't be expressed as intended; that would probably be considered fairly tame today, but was apparently unacceptable at the time.

Yikes, that "Lady Marmalade" remake is 9 years old already? Seems like no time since that was the new thing.

[Jughead]

Bette Davis eyes was the #1 song when I was born...in MAY 1981. Apparently it went #1 well into the summer of '81. No song today could ever have that long at #1 these days!

The 2001 chart reminds me why I stopped listening to Top 40 radio around that time.

[Ken]

1941 - The only track from the list that I'm slightly familiar with is "Maria Elena."

1951 - I've heard "Come on a My House" a couple of times.

1961 - Many "biggies" here -Gary U.S. Bonds, Ricky, Ben E King, Dee Clark etc. I think that Gladys Knight's "EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART" is an excellent and sadly overlooked track largely forgotten today. I discovered it in the late 70's or very early 80's thanks to an oldies compilation that was given to me.

1971 - Some fantastic tracks included here. Seeing that Carole King is at #1 on the chart, Dawn I wanted to recommend the show "Carole King / James Taylor live at The Troubadour" that is airing on PBS if you get the chance to catch it, it is an excellent concert!

1981 - Reading this list sure takes me back. Both the Stars on 45 and George Harrison singles made there way into my ever growing 45 collection. I remember recording "You make My Dreams" and "Bette Davis Eyes" off the radio.

1991 - Oh no, Michael Bolton, run for the hills! only two tracks from this list really stand out for me "More Than Words" and "Losing My Religion" , yes both were heavily overplayed at the time, but I still like them and I'm far from being the world's biggest R.E.M. fan.

2001 - I can still remember hearing the "Lady Marmalade" remake and I was stunned. This is on my list of one of the worst remakes ever made.

Just what exactly is a "City Spud" - should I be afraid? lol

GET UR FREAK ON - Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - simply dreadful.

[m c dornan]

1941:
Again, multiple versions of songs on the charts the same week!

1951:
Rosemary Clooney thought that song was utterly stupid and didn't want to record it, but her manager (I think Mitch Miller) told her she'd do it or not record anymore.

1961:
Raindrops. What a wonderful song!

1971:
I won the Tapestry LP in a college music contest. Didn't want it, but a girl won ELO's Face the Music, which she didn't want, so we traded.

1981:
Stars on 45? Were they trying to show you can make Beatles songs sound as insipid as Sugar Sugar?

All those years ago George Harrison had a song on the charts.

[H2IZCOOL]

OK ... I have to get back to answering this series of posts.

1941: Actually before i was born!!
Excuse me .... it's just that I don't get to say that very often! ;D

I really am not familiar with any of the songs by title (other than Maria Elena, which I know from when it was a top ten hit for Los Indios Tabajaras in the early '60s.) I bet if I heard either "Hut Sut Song" or "intermezzo" I would recognize them, and I may try to do that when I get home tonight. It is interesting that those two songs make up half of the top 10. It was a lot more common back then for several simultaneous covers of a song to be released. Plus, I believe that more people paid attention to the song than in who was singing it.

1951. I am familiar with all but "Rose Rose". Mario Lanza's "Loveliest Night of the Year" is in my top 500. Truly a masterful vocal!

1961. One of my favorite years of all, and one that is maligned with early '60s music in general. There are two top 500 songs here "Raindrops" and "Tossin' and Turnin' "

1971. I generally like early '70s stuff, but other than the Carole King two sider, the Carpenters, and Ringo,this is a pretty weak chart, IMO. And it's heavily weighted down by Donny Osmonds successful attempt to ruin a fairly decent Roy Orbison song of 12 years or so earlier.

1981. A good chart! It has two top 500 songs - "Betty Davis Eyes" and "Elvira," and some good efforts from Ray Parker, Hall and Oates, and maybe my favorite Rick Springfield song.

1991 Moving into the Vast Wasteland that is what I call "present day music" - there are actually two Top 500 songs here. "Losing My Religion" and "More than Words." These songs as well as "Unbelievable,"remind me of the year of Andrew's Bar Mitzvah -- a very happy time for us. The rest of the chart? Yuck!

2001. The only one I'm familiar with is Lady Marmalade - yes, this cover. It was featured in the movie Moulin Rouge, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Dawn]

Jun 25, 2010 10:12:42 GMT -5 Jughead said:

Bette Davis eyes was the #1 song when I was born...in MAY 1981. Apparently it went #1 well into the summer of '81. No song today could ever have that long at #1 these days!

The 2001 chart reminds me why I stopped listening to Top 40 radio around that time.

Yep, "Bette Davis Eyes" was extremely popular then, and remained so for pretty much that whole summer as I recall. It's been only recently that I found out it was a cover...the original version was recorded in '74 by Jackie DeShannon and is very country-influenced.

[Dawn]

Jun 25, 2010 16:51:19 GMT -5 Ken said:

1941 - The only track from the list that I'm slightly familiar with is "Maria Elena."

1951 - I've heard "Come on a My House" a couple of times.

1961 - Many "biggies" here -Gary U.S. Bonds, Ricky, Ben E King, Dee Clark etc. I think that Gladys Knight's "EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART" is an excellent and sadly overlooked track largely forgotten today. I discovered it in the late 70's or very early 80's thanks to an oldies compilation that was given to me.

1971 - Some fantastic tracks included here. Seeing that Carole King is at #1 on the chart, Dawn I wanted to recommend the show "Carole King / James Taylor live at The Troubadour" that is airing on PBS if you get the chance to catch it, it is an excellent concert!

1981 - Reading this list sure takes me back. Both the Stars on 45 and George Harrison singles made there way into my ever growing 45 collection. I remember recording "You make My Dreams" and "Bette Davis Eyes" off the radio.

1991 - Oh no, Michael Bolton, run for the hills! only two tracks from this list really stand out for me "More Than Words" and "Losing My Religion" , yes both were heavily overplayed at the time, but I still like them and I'm far from being the world's biggest R.E.M. fan.

2001 - I can still remember hearing the "Lady Marmalade" remake and I was stunned. This is on my list of one of the worst remakes ever made.

Just what exactly is a "City Spud" - should I be afraid? lol

GET UR FREAK ON - Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - simply dreadful.

You're right about "Every Beat of My Heart" being a forgotten gem. It's been ages since I've heard that one.

Thanks for the heads-up on the concert - didn't know that PBS was airing that! James and Carole are both so talented, and I imagine they sound wonderful together.

I still can't fathom how Michael Bolton was as popular as he was in the '90s. Yikes!

[Dawn]

Jun 26, 2010 12:43:06 GMT -5 m c dornan said:

1941:
Again, multiple versions of songs on the charts the same week!

1951:
Rosemary Clooney thought that song was utterly stupid and didn't want to record it, but her manager (I think Mitch Miller) told her she'd do it or not record anymore.

1961:
Raindrops. What a wonderful song!

1971:
I won the Tapestry LP in a college music contest. Didn't want it, but a girl won ELO's Face the Music, which she didn't want, so we traded.

1981:
Stars on 45? Were they trying to show you can make Beatles songs sound as insipid as Sugar Sugar?

All those years ago George Harrison had a song on the charts.

I hadn't known Rosemary disliked the song so much...that's interesting. She did a great job with it, though.

Love both Face the Music and Tapestry! That was definitely a time of great albums.

[Dawn]

Jun 30, 2010 8:39:58 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

OK ... I have to get back to answering this series of posts.

1941: Actually before i was born!!
Excuse me .... it's just that I don't get to say that very often! ;D

I really am not familiar with any of the songs by title (other than Maria Elena, which I know from when it was a top ten hit for Los Indios Tabajaras in the early '60s.) I bet if I heard either "Hut Sut Song" or "intermezzo" I would recognize them, and I may try to do that when I get home tonight. It is interesting that those two songs make up half of the top 10. It was a lot more common back then for several simultaneous covers of a song to be released. Plus, I believe that more people paid attention to the song than in who was singing it.

1951. I am familiar with all but "Rose Rose". Mario Lanza's "Loveliest Night of the Year" is in my top 500. Truly a masterful vocal!

1961. One of my favorite years of all, and one that is maligned with early '60s music in general. There are two top 500 songs here "Raindrops" and "Tossin' and Turnin' "

1971. I generally like early '70s stuff, but other than the Carole King two sider, the Carpenters, and Ringo,this is a pretty weak chart, IMO. And it's heavily weighted down by Donny Osmonds successful attempt to ruin a fairly decent Roy Orbison song of 12 years or so earlier.

1981. A good chart! It has two top 500 songs - "Betty Davis Eyes" and "Elvira," and some good efforts from Ray Parker, Hall and Oates, and maybe my favorite Rick Springfield song.

1991 Moving into the Vast Wasteland that is what I call "present day music" - there are actually two Top 500 songs here. "Losing My Religion" and "More than Words." These songs as well as "Unbelievable,"remind me of the year of Andrew's Bar Mitzvah -- a very happy time for us. The rest of the chart? Yuck!

2001. The only one I'm familiar with is Lady Marmalade - yes, this cover. It was featured in the movie Moulin Rouge, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.

I liked some of Donny's hits from back in the day, but "Sweet and Innocent" is just shrill, and hasn't aged well at all.

Agree on the '81 chart...lots of good ones. For some reason, the music from that year gets dissed in general, which I can't really understand as most of it was very good, and there's lots of variety among the hits.