Billboard recently did a feature on memorable singles that peaked at #s 100 all the way through #1. I was most interested in those in the 100-41 range. Great factoids here:
http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/taking-peaks-part-1-nos-100-76-1004056627.story
interesting stuff there, but what's with the (mostly) '80s/'90s/'00s-centric focus?
Very good point - guess that's what they had in the way of chart records and reference books to work with. My own list - with a few entries influenced by theirs - is much different:
41 Robbie Williams, "Angels"
42 Jefferson Airplane, "The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil"
43 Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Two Tribes"
44 Prince, "Morning Papers" (runner up: Teddy Pendergrass, "Love T.K.O.")
45 War, "L.A. Sunshine" (runner up: Village People, "Go West")
46 Paul Revere and the Raiders, "Steppin' Out" (runner-up: Weather Girls, "It's Raining Men")
47 Isley Brothers, "Shout"
48 Edwin Starr, "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)" (runner-up: Jason Mraz w/ Colbie Caillat, "Lucky")
49 Four Tops, "Yesterday's Dreams" (runners-up: Jefferson Starship, "Play on Love" and Jake Holmes, "So Close")
50 Elgins, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" (runner-up: Eric Burdon and War, "They Can't Take Away Our Music")
51 Turtles, "You Don't Have to Walk in the Rain"
52 Indigo Girls, "Closer to Fine"
53 Lighthouse, "Pretty Lady"
54 Spinners, "Sadie"
55 Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together" (runners-up: King, "Love and Pride" and Ting Tings, "Shut Up and Let Me Go")
56 B-52s, "Rock Lobster" (runner-up: Newcleus, "Jam On It")
57 Cher, "Strong Enough"
58 Montanas, "You've Got to Be Loved" (runner-up: Cass Elliot, "Move in a Little Closer, Baby")
59 Psychedelic Furs, "The Ghost in You"
60 Jefferson Airplane, "Pretty As You Feel" (runner-up: Death Cab for Cutie, "Soul Meets Body")
61 Gladys Knight & the Pips, "All I Need Is Time"
62 Jellyfish, "Baby's Coming Back" (runner-up: Mike Kennedy, "Louisiana")
63 Hues Corporation, "Freedom for the Stallion"
64 Real Thing, "You to Me Are Everything"
65 Jefferson Airplane, "Volunteers" (runner-up: David Bowie, "Starman")
66 Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"
67 Yaz, "Only You"
68 Modest Mouse, "Float On"
69 Grateful Dead, "Uncle John's Band"
70 Prince, "Controversy"
71 Herbie Hancock, "Rockit"
72 XTC, "The Mayor of Simpleton" (runner-up: Rusted Root, "Send Me on My Way")
73 Aretha Franklin, "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)" (runner-up: Sarah McLachlan, "Possession")
74 Spinners, "How Could I Let You Get Away"
75 Zwol, "Call Out My Name"
76 Fine Young Cannibals, "Johnny Come Home" (runner-up: White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army")
77 Machine, "There but for the Grace of God Go I"
78 Liz Phair, "Supernova"
79 Beach Boys, "Sail On Sailor"
80 Orpheus, "Can't Find the Time"
81 Tony Orlando & Dawn, "It Only Hurts When I Try to Smile"
82 Monkees, "Good Clean Fun" (runner-up: Blondie, "Maria")
83 Nina Simone, "Do What You Gotta Do" (runner-up: Formations, "At the Top of the Stairs")
84 Jefferson Starship, "Ride the Tiger"
85 R.E.M., "So. Central Rain"
86 Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"
87 Sonny & Cher, "Living for You"
88 Wild Weeds, "No Good to Cry"
89 Sly and the Family Stone, "Sing a Simple Song"
90 Four Tops and Moody Blues, "A Simple Game" (runner-up: Jamestown Massacre, "Summer Sun")
91 Turtles, "Love in the City" (runners-up: Dusty Springfield, "Breakfast in Bed" and MGMT, "Kids")
92 Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer"
93 The Who, "I Can't Explain"
94 Nina Simone, "Ain't Got No / I Got Life"
95 Ray Charles, "(Night Time Is) The Right Time"
96 Cashman & West a/k/a Morning Mist, "California on My Mind"
97 Paul Revere and the Raiders, "Love Music"
98 Jefferson Airplane, "Greasy Heart"
99 Jackie DeShannon, "When You Walk in the Room"
100 21st Century, "Remember the Rain?"
(I'd like to find a better #99, though. And their researchers and I disagree on RW's "Angels" peak; I think it may have charted twice.)
