Billboard Chart History - 10 Years: the 5s

[Dawn]

Getting this up a bit late this week, as I was out of town earlier this week and didn't have access to my files. This time, let's take a look at charts from the "5" years.


July 7, 1945

(TW = Position This Week; LW = Position Last Week; NW = Number Weeks on Chart)
TW LW NW
1 1 12 SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Les Brown & His Band Of Renown w. vocal/Doris Day (Note: Was 9 weeks as Billboard's Best Selling Single, and was 1945's biggest hit; it also opened the door for Doris Day's solo career and movies)
2 3 14 THERE! I'VE SAID IT AGAIN - Vaughn Monroe & His Orch. w. vocal/Vaughn Monroe & The Norton Sisters (Note: This was Monroe's longest charted single remaining on Billboard's Pop charts for 29 weeks)
3 2 9 BELL BOTTOM TROUSERS - Tony Pastor & His Orch. w. vocal/Ruth McCullough & Tony Pastor
4 -- NEW ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & THE SANTA FE - Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers w. Paul Weston & His Orch. (Note: This Oscar winning song is from the Judy Garland musical "The Harvey Girls"; it was Mercer's most successful recording as a performer)
5 4 6 SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Hal McIntyre & His Orch.
6 8 5 BELL BOTTOM TROUSERS - Kay Kyser & His Orch. w. vocal/Ferdy, Slim & The Kay Quartet (Note: This is a rather cleaned-up version of a traditional sea chant)
7 10 2 GOTTA BE THIS OR THAT (Part 1) - Benny Goodman & His Orch. w. vocal/Benny Goodman (Note: On the original 78 RPM record, it was much too long to fit on one side; it was, therefore, split into two parts, whereas "Part 1" was on one side and "Part 2" was on the flip side)
8 -- 2 CHOPIN'S POLONAISE - Carmen Cavallaro, His Piano & Orch. (Note: Thanks to the popular Chopin biopic "A Song To Remember", Cavallaro, Perry Como, and Jose Iturbi each sold over a million copies of this classical melody in 1945)
9 6 4 BELL BOTTOM TROUSERS - Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians w. vocal/Jimmy Brown
10 5 7 YOU BELONG TO MY HEART - Bing Crosby w. Xavier Cugat & His Orch. (Note: This infectious latin song was from the Disney film "The Three Caballeros")

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July 2, 1955


(TW = Position This Week; LW = Position Last Week; NW = Number Weeks on Chart; *Former #1)
TW LW NW
1 1 18 CHERRY PINK AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE - Perez 'Prez' Prado & His Orch. featuring Billy Regis on trumpet (Note: This blockbuster hit spent 10 weeks at #1; was performed by Prado in the Jane Russell movie "Underwater")
2 3 8 ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - Bill Haley & The Comets (Note: This record was first released a year earlier in 1954 but failed; it was released again in 1955 when it was included in the blockbuster movie "Blackboard Jungle," and was 8 weeks as Billboard's #1 best-seller; it's considered by many to be the record that unofficially started the Rock and Roll Era)
3 4 9 A BLOSSOM FELL b/w IF I MAY - Nat "King" Cole & The Four Knights w. Nelson Riddle & His Orch.
4 2 13 UNCHAINED MELODY - Les Baxter, His Orch. & Chorus (Note: This song was introduced by Todd Duncan in the B-movie "Unchained")
5 5 8 LEARNIN' THE BLUES - Frank Sinatra w. Nelson Riddle & His Orch.
6 6 11 HONEY BABE - Art Mooney, His Orch. & Chorus (Note: A traditional military marching chant that was featured in the 1955 movie "Battle Cry")
7 8 13 UNCHAINED MELODY - Al Hibbler w. Orch. Conducted by Jack Pleis
8 9 5 SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE - The McGuire Sisters w. Dick Jacobs, His Orch. & Chorus (Note: Song is from the Fred Astaire musical movie "Daddy Long Legs")
9 7 15 DANCE WITH ME, HENRY - Georgia Gibbs w. Hugo Peretti & His Orch. (Note: This is a family-rated lyric version of the Etta James R&B hit "The Wallflower")
10 11 14 IT'S A SIN TO TELL A LIE - Somethin' Smith & The Redheads (Note: Smith & The Redheads revive a popular 1936 song)

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US Top 100 Singles Week Ending 3rd July, 1965

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

1 2 I CAN'T HELP MYSELF
The Four Tops (Motown)-8 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 4 (I Can't Get No) SATISFACTION
The Rolling Stones (London)-4 (2)
3 1 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
The Byrds (Columbia)-8 (1)
4 3 WOOLY BULLY
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (MGM)-14 (2)
5 5 WONDERFUL WORLD
Herman's Hermits (MGM)-6 (5)
6 7 FOR YOUR LOVE
The Yardbirds (Epic)-8 (6)
7 10 SEVENTH SON
Johnny Rivers (Imperial)-5 (7)
8 6 CRYING IN THE CHAPEL
Elvis Presley (RCA)-11 (3)
9 12 YES, I'M READY
Barbara Mason (Artic)-8 (9)
10 15 WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE
Jackie DeShannon (Imperial)-7 (10)

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US Top 100 Singles Week Ending 5th July, 1975

TW LW TITLE Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart

1 1 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER
The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-12 (3 weeks at #1)
2 6 THE HUSTLE
Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony (Avco)-12
3 7 LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID
Paul McCartney and Wings (Capitol)-6
4 3 WILDFIRE
Michael (Martin) Murphey (Epic)-15
5 5 LOVE WON'T LET ME WAIT
Major Harris (Atlantic)-15
6 9 MAGIC
Pilot (EMI)-14
7 4 I'M NOT LISA
Jessi Colter (Capitol)-14
8 2 WHEN WILL I BE LOVED/
IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE
Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-13
9 16 ONE OF THESE NIGHTS
The Eagles (Asylum)-6
10 15 PLEASE MR. PLEASE
Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-5

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US Top 100 Singles Week Ending July 6, 1985

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

1 2 SUSSUDIO Phil Collins - 9 (1)
2 3 A VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran - 8 (2)
3 4 RASPBERRY BERET Prince & The Revolution - 8 (3)
4 1 HEAVEN Bryan Adams - 12 (1)
5 6 THE SEARCH IS OVER Survivor - 12 (5)
6 8 WOULD I LIE TO YOU? Eurythmics - 11 (6)
7 13 YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE Whitney Houston - 9 (7)
8 14 EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY Paul Young - 9 (8)
9 12 VOICES CARRY Til Tuesday - 13 (9)
10 5 ANGEL Madonna - 11 (5)

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US Top 100 Singles Week Ending July 1, 1995

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

1 1 HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN? Bryan Adams - 12 (1)
2 3 DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL Monica - 10 (2)
3 5 ONE MORE CHANCE Notorious B.I.G. - 2 (3)
4 2 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART Nicki French - 14 (2)
5 6 SCREAM/CHILDHOOD Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson - 3 (5)
6 4 WATER RUNS DRY Boyz II Men - 10 (2)
7 8 WATERFALLS TLC - 4 (7)
8 9 I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU/YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY Method Man/Mary J. Blige - 9 (3)
9 10 FREAK LIKE ME Adina Howard - 21 (2)
10 7 THIS IS HOW WE DO IT Montell Jordan - 19 (1)

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"Sentimental Journey" is such a classic. I'm not sure I've ever heard these specific versions, but I've really enjoyed every version of the song I've heard thus far.

Love, love, love that '75 chart. "I'm Not Lisa" is probably the weakest of the bunch for me, but even it is well-written and performed.

"Sussudio" has not aged all that well, but I kinda have a soft spot for it, as my husband won $500 from a radio station contest as a result of that song back in the mid '90s.

[m c dornan]

Arrangements totally changed from 40s big band to 50s pop. In the 40s, songs were by a band,featuring a singer. The song is dominated by the instrumental, with the singer in the middle break. 50s on, songs were by singers, the band probably wouldn't get mentioned at all. Songs were dominated by the singer, with the band showing up in the instrumental break.

1965: Too bad Barbara Mason's "Yes I'm Ready" has been unplayed. Great song. In about 1965 there were a lot of black singers named Barbara on the charts. Mason. Lewis. Lynn. Harris (Toys).

On edit: And Barbara George.

[Jughead]

I remember hearing Sentimental Journey on an old episode of "Cold Case". One of the great things about that show was hearing all the older songs that I may not have recollected. I'm upset that CBS cancelled it.

Onto the rest of the charts...

Some of those 1995 songs I don't really enjoy now...but 1995 was the summer before I entered high school, so at the time, I really enjoyed Top 40 music.

The entire 1985 chart is a keeper in my book. Aside from that Whitney Houston song, I like all the others on the list. You're right that Sussudio has not aged all that greatly, but then again, a lot of songs that relied heavily on synthesizers really didn't.

There's maybe a couple of songs from '75 I can get into, but the whole chart seems kinda mismatched. I can understand how those who lived through the 1970's would think it was good...but looking back on it from someone who missed the 70s completely, the whole period of 1974-1977 seems a bit bland. Early 70s was great. Late 70's, not bad. Mid-70's...not a fan.

1965 is another chart I could listen to very easily.

[Ken]

1945 - Of all the versions of "Sentimental Journey" listed, Les Brown's version maybe the one I've heard (of course, Ringo covered it later ;D)

1955 - I know "Dance With Me, Henry" and of course "Rock Around The Clock" - which still sounds great today.


1965 - I love everything listed - what a great year!

1975 - "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Listen To What The Man Said"
"One of these Nights" and years later "Magic" all made their way into my 45 collection. I was never a huge fan of "I'm Not Lisa." I beleive Jesse Colter was married to Waylon Jennings.

1985 - I was really burned out on Prince because of the "Purple Rain" soundtrack but I've always liked this one, I liked the video clip as well. Then he went and started singing in those falsetto style vocals ugh! "Voices Carry" and "Would I Lie To You" are two others that I think still sound good.

1995 - Since I'm a huge fan of Bryan's the only "bright spot" for me here is "Have You Ever Really Loves a Woman."

[Dawn]

Jul 1, 2010 17:55:54 GMT -5 m c dornan said:

Arrangements totally changed from 40s big band to 50s pop. In the 40s, songs were by a band,featuring a singer. The song is dominated by the instrumental, with the singer in the middle break. 50s on, songs were by singers, the band probably wouldn't get mentioned at all. Songs were dominated by the singer, with the band showing up in the instrumental break.

1965: Too bad Barbara Mason's "Yes I'm Ready" has been unplayed. Great song. In about 1965 there were a lot of black singers named Barbara on the charts. Mason. Lewis. Lynn. Harris (Toys).

On edit: And Barbara George.

I remember a time when "Yes I'm Ready" got occasional airplay on oldies stations, but you're right, that song has pretty much dropped off the face of the earth lately as far as radio is concerned.

Barbara also did a nice cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Give Me Your Love."

[Dawn]

Jul 1, 2010 18:05:09 GMT -5 Jughead said:

I remember hearing Sentimental Journey on an old episode of "Cold Case". One of the great things about that show was hearing all the older songs that I may not have recollected. I'm upset that CBS cancelled it.

Onto the rest of the charts...

Some of those 1995 songs I don't really enjoy now...but 1995 was the summer before I entered high school, so at the time, I really enjoyed Top 40 music.

The entire 1985 chart is a keeper in my book. Aside from that Whitney Houston song, I like all the others on the list. You're right that Sussudio has not aged all that greatly, but then again, a lot of songs that relied heavily on synthesizers really didn't.

There's maybe a couple of songs from '75 I can get into, but the whole chart seems kinda mismatched. I can understand how those who lived through the 1970's would think it was good...but looking back on it from someone who missed the 70s completely, the whole period of 1974-1977 seems a bit bland. Early 70s was great. Late 70's, not bad. Mid-70's...not a fan.

1965 is another chart I could listen to very easily.

I was listening to some top 40 in '95, but I have to say I'm familiar with only about half that chart. I must have missed the others somehow.

Good point about the dominant synthesizers sounding dated. I suppose at the time the thinking was that it made the music sound cutting edge, but a more "neutral" arrangement style would probably have served the songs better for the long term.

[Dawn]

Jul 1, 2010 18:28:02 GMT -5 Ken said:

1945 - Of all the versions of "Sentimental Journey" listed, Les Brown's version maybe the one I've heard (of course, Ringo covered it later ;D)

1955 - I know "Dance With Me, Henry" and of course "Rock Around The Clock" - which still sounds great today.


1965 - I love everything listed - what a great year!

1975 - "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Listen To What The Man Said"
"One of these Nights" and years later "Magic" all made their way into my 45 collection. I was never a huge fan of "I'm Not Lisa." I beleive Jesse Colter was married to Waylon Jennings.

1985 - I was really burned out on Prince because of the "Purple Rain" soundtrack but I've always liked this one, I liked the video clip as well. Then he went and started singing in those falsetto style vocals ugh! "Voices Carry" and "Would I Lie To You" are two others that I think still sound good.

1995 - Since I'm a huge fan of Bryan's the only "bright spot" for me here is "Have You Ever Really Loves a Woman."

I've never heard that Ringo album in its entirety, but I've always been curious about it. One of these days I'll have to track down a copy. And speaking of Ringo, he is 70 today!! He looks amazing for his age.

I remember getting a little tired of the songs from the Purple Rain soundtrack as well at one time. Those songs were everywhere!!