The List Thread

[mshray]

Gaz & I have both previously posted lists of our Personal Top 40's, but I've finally filled in the the last few remaining blanks in my expanded list, now improved to cover the entire Hot 100.  Some of these are no-brainers 'cause a great song (c.f. "I Am The Walrus", "Sugar Magnolia") simply charted in a ridiculously low positon, but in other spots there are a suprising number of good songs to choose from.  And in a few spots (46, 62, 98 & 99) I haven't found much, but at least it's a song in my collection somewhere.  Since I don't have a comprehensive chart list to work from this is till a work in progress*, but I have at least a 2nd runner-up for all but 4 songs in the 90's, and 3rd & 4th runners up for about a third of the list.  Fwiw, that last numerical position for me to find an entry for was #57.

So, for your amusement, here's the list from 41-100:

41.  To Live and Die in L.A. - Wang Chung 1985
42.  Destination Unknown - Missing Persons 1982
43.  Champagne Jam - ARS 1978
44.  Tom Sawyer - Rush 1981
45.  Apeman - Kinks 1971
46.  Since You've Been Gone - Head East 1978
47.  Friends - Beach Boys 1968
48.  Not Fade Away - Rolling Stones 1964
49.  Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine - Stealers Wheel 1973
50.  Pictures Of Lily - Who 1967
51.  Over The Hills And Far Away - Led Zeppelin 1973
52.  Eyes Of Silver - Doobie Brothers 1972
53.  Back To The Island - Leon Russell 1976
54.  Mozambique - Bob Dylan 1976
55.  Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young 1970
56.  I Am The Walrus - Beatles 1967
57.  Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan 1974
58.  Skateaway - Dire Straits 1980
59.  Funk 49 - James Gang 1970
60.  I Predict - Sparks 1982
61.  Ride My Seesaw - Moody Blues 1968
62.  Surrender - Cheap Trick 1978
63.  My Old School - Steely Dan 1973
64.  Lithium - Nirvana 1992
65.  Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix 1967
66.  I Eat Cannibals - Total Coelho 1983
67.  Cat People (Putting Out Fire) - David Bowie 1982
68.  Never Been Any Reason - Head East 1975
69.  Uncle John's Band - Grateful Dead 1970
70.  Fashion - David Bowie    1981
71.  Reap The Wild Wind - Ultravox 1983
72.  The Mayor Of Simpleton - XTC 1989
73.  Blockbuster - Sweet 1973
74.  In Thee - BOC 1979
75.  Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band 1977
76.  Closer To The Heart - Rush 1977
77.  Ain't Wastin' Time No More - Allman Brothers 1972
78.  I Melt With You - Modern English 1983
79.  Sail On Sailor - Beach Boys 1973
80.  Don't Change - INXS 1983
81.  Legal Tender - B-52's 1983
82.  Graceland - Paul Simon 1986
83.  Shooting Shark - BOC 1984
84.  Runnin' With The Devil - Van Halen 1978
85.  Celebrity Skin - Hole 1998
86.  Do You Wanna Dance - Ramones 1978
87.  What Goes Up - Alan Parsons Project 1978
88.  Fly By Night - Rush 1977
89.  See What Love Can Do - Eric Clapton 1985
90.  Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk 1986
91.  Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead 1973
92.  Revival (Love Is Everywhere) - Allman Brothers 1971
93.  I Can't Explain - Who 1965
94.  Fall On Me - REM 1986
95.  Dear God - Midge Ure 1989
96.  The Golden Age of Rock 'N' Roll - Mott The Hoople 1974
97.  America - Simon & Garfunkel 1972
98.  Expecting To Fly - Buffalo Springfield 1968
99.  Co-co - Sweet 1971
100. Allergies - Paul Simon 1983

*whenever I get bored lately I start flippping around in Allmusic & click on the Charts & Awards tab of various bands to see if there's anything interesting in the 41-100 range.  I have comprehensive Top 40 lists, but this is the only way I know to find stuff in the bottom half of the Hot 100, which explains why some groups like Rush are a bit over represented.  There are undoubtedly many songs I haven't stumbled onto yet that will be added to this list.

[Gazoo]

Wow.

I'm delighted and stunned that you were able to set out and fulfill this task.  I mean, I've been meaning to do this for years.  I wonder if some programming guru can create a bot that will scan every AMG "charts" page, cull the data for each "Hot 100" entry, and pump it all out into a sortable database.  I can picture it in my head.

But I digress.  My picks will mirror at least a few of these, I'm sure ("America," for certain), I'll have a lot more sunshine pop and a lot less rock.  Watch for "You've Got to Be Loved," in other words.

Gaz

[mshray]

Wow.

I'm delighted and stunned that you were able to set out and fulfill this task.  I mean, I've been meaning to do this for years.  I wonder if some programming guru can create a bot that will scan every AMG "charts" page, cull the data for each "Hot 100" entry, and pump it all out into a sortable database.  I can picture it in my head.

But I digress.  My picks will mirror at least a few of these, I'm sure ("America," for certain), I'll have a lot more sunshine pop and a lot less rock.  Watch for "You've Got to Be Loved," in other words.

Gaz

I've got a book that purports to tell you how to do that very thing: Spidering Hacks, but I've only just skimmed the first couple of chapters.

[Gazoo]

I've started work on my list this evening.  About halfway done, complicated by the fact that there are multiple songs I *adore* at positions 49 and 64:

49:
Four Tops, "Yesterday's Dreams"
Jefferson Starship, "Play on Love"
Jake Holmes, "So Close"
Sophie B. Hawkins, "Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)"

64:
Jefferson Starship, "St. Charles"
Jefferson Airplane, "Crown of Creation"
Dusty Springfield, "Don't Forget About Me"
David Bowie, "TVC-15"
Real Thing, "You to Me Are Everything"

Will update you all as I approach completion.  In the meantime, Mark, I'm surprised that "Destination Unknown" beat out "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at #42 (I passed up both in favor of the Airplane's "Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil).  (Did the Stones' "Time Waits for No One" miss the Hot 100 altogether, or was it never a single?)

[RGMike]

Did the Stones' "Time Waits for No One" miss the Hot 100 altogether, or was it never a single?

Never a single... "Angie" and "Doo doo doo doo doo (Heartbreaker)" were the only singles from Goats Head Soup.

[mshray]

I've started work on my list this evening.  About halfway done, complicated by the fact that there are multiple songs I *adore* at positions 49 and 64:

49:
Four Tops, "Yesterday's Dreams"
Jefferson Starship, "Play on Love"
Jake Holmes, "So Close"
Sophie B. Hawkins, "Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)"

64:
Jefferson Starship, "St. Charles"
Jefferson Airplane, "Crown of Creation"
Dusty Springfield, "Don't Forget About Me"
David Bowie, "TVC-15"
Real Thing, "You to Me Are Everything"

Will update you all as I approach completion.  In the meantime, Mark, I'm surprised that "Destination Unknown" beat out "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at #42 (I passed up both in favor of the Airplane's "Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil).  (Did the Stones' "Time Waits for No One" miss the Hot 100 altogether, or was it never a single?)

Here's a few more songs:
#49:
Cool Places - Sparks w/Jane Wiedlin
Tie Your Mother Down - Queen
What I Like About You - Romantics
There She Goes - The La's

#64
Truckin' - Grateful Dead
Tequila Sunrise - Eagles
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
My Baby - Pretenders

"Destination Unknown" resonates with me for some reason, and the Stones tune is my first runner up in that position.  When I try to figure out how to rank all these songs, I have found a pretty simple method:  I just ask myself if I'm flipping stations & I hear both of these songs, which station do I go back to?  And since I hear the Stones tune on a weekly basis in ordinary life, it came in second.

In fact I have a top 10 just at #42.
Destination Unknown - Missing Persons
You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones
The Fanatic - Felony
Last of the Singing Cowboys - Marshall Tucker Band
Words - Missing Persons
On the Border - Al Stewart
And You & I - Yes
Flirtin' With Disaster - Molly Hatchet
Neon Nites - ARS
After Midnight - J. J. Cale

[Gazoo]

And in a few spots (46, 62, 98 & 99) I haven't found much

How about, for #62, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, "The Message"?  And for #46, my pick is Paul Revere & the Raiders' "Steppin' Out."

[Gazoo]

OK, I've completed my list (for now -- these things are always subject to change).  Positions 53, 75 and 85 were the hardest to fill and I'm sure I'll change them when I find better candidates.  Same with #100, as there seem to be so very few songs that have actually peaked at such an ignominious position.  (Better that than peaking at #101, as Grandmaster Flash did with "White Lines," though.)  I didn't put years behind any of these but I hope they're all at least marginally familiar.  Here ya go ...


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"
47.   Isley Brothers, "Shout"
48.   Edwin Starr, "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)"
49.   (tie) Four Tops, "Yesterday's Dreams" and Jefferson Starship, "Play on Love" and Jake Holmes, "So Close"
50.   (tie) Eric Burdon and War, "They Can't Take Away Our Music" and Elgins, "Heaven Must Have Sent You"
51.   Turtles, "You Don't Have to Walk in the Rain"
52.   Jimi Hendrix, "Crosstown Traffic" (runners up: Rascals, "I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore" and CCR, "Lodi")
53.   David Bowie and Sade, "Absolute Beginners"
54.   Spinners, "Sadie"
55.   Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together" (runner up: King, "Love and Pride")
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.   *N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart"
60.   Jefferson Airplane, "Pretty As You Feel"
61.   Gladys Knight & the Pips, "All I Need Is Time"
62.   Mike Kennedy, "Louisiana" (runner up: Jellyfish, "Baby's Coming Back")
63.   (tie) Monkees, "Listen to the Band" and The Band, "The Weight"
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.   Rusted Root, "Send Me on My Way"
73.   Aretha Franklin, "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)"
74.   Spinners, "How Could I Let You Get Away"
75.   Prince, "Call My Name"
76.   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.   Cher, "Song for the Lonely"
86.   Harry Chapin, "Better Place to Be"
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"
91.   Turtles, "Love in the City" (runner up: Dusty Springfield, "Breakfast in Bed")
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.   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.   Turtles, "Eve of Destruction"

[ggould]

100.   Turtles, "Eve of Destruction"

has anyone ever heard this?  MP3?

What is the agreed-upon source for these chart positions you and Mark use?

[Alicat]

Are the songs those that peaked at those positions?

[RGMike]

59.   *N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart"

Shirley, you jest!  I have neither the time nor the inclination to do an entire list, but the best-ever #59 is clearly "What Do All the People Know" by the Monroes. :wink:

[mshray]

59.   *N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart"

Shirley, you jest!  I have neither the time nor the inclination to do an entire list, but the best-ever #59 is clearly "What Do All the People Know" by the Monroes. :wink:

Actually I'm surprised Gaz, noted Danophile, didn't go with "The Fez" at #59.  Chosing "Funk 49" over that was one of the narrowest margins in my list (but I just love that bass line).

[Gazoo]

Alicat: Yes - we're listing our favorite song that peaked at each Hot 100 chart position.  A way of celebrating songs that unfortunately/unfairly missed the boat.

Geoff: Sources are second-hand recaps of Billboard chart data.  In my case that includes AMG (primarily), liner notes from greatest-hits comps (including all the Motown and Monkees I included), Dave Marsh's The Heart of Rock & Soul, and the Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders.  If I were to do something with this like forge an article out of it, I'd be more rigorous in the fact-checking, but this seems sufficient for now.

Mark/Mike: I actually hadn't consulted the Steely charts; "The Fez" may indeed take over at #59.  But do not blindly disparage the N Sync track: Have any of you ever even heard it?  It's a catchy pop song, not as grand as Backstreet Boys' "Quit Playing Games With My Heart," but still one of the better teen-pop confections.  Meantime, I'm not at all familiar with the Monroes.

[Lightnin' Rod]

This seemed as good a place to post this as any.  It's a "peoples choice" top 73 albums as voted for by the readers at markprindle.com, a record review site owned and operated by one Mark Prindle, some punk guy from new york.   He's a pretty funny guy, but is sure to offend at least some of the people a lot of the time.  He's immature and crude, and indulges in homophobic humour.  Anyway, the list is interesting, and Mark can't resist making a joke out of it.

http://markprindle.com/top73.htm

[Gazoo]

http://markprindle.com/top73.htm

1 Monkees - Pool It!

Hahahahahahaha