#81 reminds me of the now pretty well-known trivial fact that Gene Roddenberyy wrote (terrible and never performed) lyrics for the original Star Trek theme specifically to make sure he got a cut of the royalties.
Without consulting the composer, Alexander Courage. When informed that the royalties would be split, Courage said ‘but it doesn’t have lyrics!’ ‘It does now’ said Roddenberry….
You're right. And in the same vein, Patti Austin & James Ingram got to number 1 in early 1983 with a re-release of "Baby Come to Me" after inclusion on the daytime drama "General Hospital" throughout a TV storyline in 1982. The song had flopped on its original release.
Speaking of Paint It, Black: you ever hear of Matt Dusk? He's a great singer in the style of Sinatra/Buble and he's starting to do covers of pop/rock songs like Taylor Swift, etc. Here's his version of the Stones song: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vAXJEHjT6Lg
"As I’ve noted repeatedly when talking about the decline of key changes, a key change does not necessarily connote musical sophistication. Most key changes on number one hits are just going up a half step or a whole step for the final chorus (e.g., “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston)—not the most inventive compositional device."
I had a girlfriend once who was an accomplished musician, and she would always anticiapte these changes by cynically muttering "and now modulate..." She called Barbara Streisand and Bette Midler "scoopers". She also thought Bonnie Raitt was a hack.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry on modulation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulation_(music)#Popularity says the following: "The popularity of the key change varies with musical trends over time. In every decade from the 1960s to the 1990s, about 25% of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 had a key change; however, in the 2010s, only one Billboard No. 1 hit ("Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott) had a key change.[25]"
Loved your points. As for numbers 89 & 90, both Bruce Springsteen & Bob Dylan were featured solo singers on the number 1 hit, "We are the World" in 1985. Of course, this isn't a solo hit, but does this count as a number 1 hit for each artist? Some fans say yes, others say no.
Your comment about instrumentals is good, but it also made me think about people adding lyrics to existing tunes of which the first that came to mind was Oscar Brown Jr's great version of "Afro-Blue" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G748lKUVaJs
Re #86, the All-New Mickey Mouse Club launched lots of careers, including Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez (NSYNC), Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and some others, as well as quite a few famous actors.
Re #95, saw the first SNL with that genius Billy Preston. Great song and performer.
I must challenge your claim of "American Pie" being among the longest Number One songs. The album cut was eight minutes, but the 45 single — the standard by which songs qualified for Billboard Number Ones at the time — was two separate sides of about 4 minutes each.
#81 reminds me of the now pretty well-known trivial fact that Gene Roddenberyy wrote (terrible and never performed) lyrics for the original Star Trek theme specifically to make sure he got a cut of the royalties.
Insane, genius move. Similar to Johnny Carson getting a credit on the Tonight Show theme despite writing nothing
Without consulting the composer, Alexander Courage. When informed that the royalties would be split, Courage said ‘but it doesn’t have lyrics!’ ‘It does now’ said Roddenberry….
Margaritaville is another chain but alas only hit #8
I remember when Family Ties sent Billy Vera flying up the charts to #1 when they used his song in a heartbreaking montage.
https://youtu.be/giPp38fx4UQ?si=WcLZToPD2k9VhT5J
Ice always enjoyed this song. The best Billy Vera fact is that he performs the King of Queens theme song
You're right. And in the same vein, Patti Austin & James Ingram got to number 1 in early 1983 with a re-release of "Baby Come to Me" after inclusion on the daytime drama "General Hospital" throughout a TV storyline in 1982. The song had flopped on its original release.
If the Dalla Riva book is only 11 times as good as this blog post, it will be a great read!
Speaking of Paint It, Black: you ever hear of Matt Dusk? He's a great singer in the style of Sinatra/Buble and he's starting to do covers of pop/rock songs like Taylor Swift, etc. Here's his version of the Stones song: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vAXJEHjT6Lg
I highly enjoyed reading this and the first part.
"As I’ve noted repeatedly when talking about the decline of key changes, a key change does not necessarily connote musical sophistication. Most key changes on number one hits are just going up a half step or a whole step for the final chorus (e.g., “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston)—not the most inventive compositional device."
I had a girlfriend once who was an accomplished musician, and she would always anticiapte these changes by cynically muttering "and now modulate..." She called Barbara Streisand and Bette Midler "scoopers". She also thought Bonnie Raitt was a hack.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry on modulation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulation_(music)#Popularity says the following: "The popularity of the key change varies with musical trends over time. In every decade from the 1960s to the 1990s, about 25% of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 had a key change; however, in the 2010s, only one Billboard No. 1 hit ("Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott) had a key change.[25]"
Guess what [25] resolves to https://www.npr.org/2022/11/25/1139232684/why-the-key-change-has-disappeared-from-top-charting-tunes ;-)
Lmao
#66 is spot on! “Want Ads” is chef’s kiss perfection!
Wanted: Young Men single and free
Experience in love preferred , but will accept a young trainee
This couplet rivals anything written by Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, or Johnny Mercer!
100%. The humor in the song is so subtle
Loved your points. As for numbers 89 & 90, both Bruce Springsteen & Bob Dylan were featured solo singers on the number 1 hit, "We are the World" in 1985. Of course, this isn't a solo hit, but does this count as a number 1 hit for each artist? Some fans say yes, others say no.
We are the world is the number one hit loophole lol. I don’t count it but both Bruce and Bob got solo lines
Love these lists, and yes, Bon Jovi has some good songs :)
There are many disco versions of blockbuster movie themes: E.T, Superman, the Exorcist, Jaws even!
Your comment about instrumentals is good, but it also made me think about people adding lyrics to existing tunes of which the first that came to mind was Oscar Brown Jr's great version of "Afro-Blue" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G748lKUVaJs
Re #86, the All-New Mickey Mouse Club launched lots of careers, including Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez (NSYNC), Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and some others, as well as quite a few famous actors.
Re #95, saw the first SNL with that genius Billy Preston. Great song and performer.
So true re Want Ads
I must challenge your claim of "American Pie" being among the longest Number One songs. The album cut was eight minutes, but the 45 single — the standard by which songs qualified for Billboard Number Ones at the time — was two separate sides of about 4 minutes each.
But it’s still a single song, right?
Re #97: Marty Robbins (born Martin David Robinson), El Paso song debuted in 1959 and reached #1 in 1960.
if only Glory Days went 4 spots higher, Springsteen would have his #1 and a second chain restaurant would be in the conversation
There’s a Glory Days restaurant? If Margaritaville fought a bit harder we could have had that too
my hometown had a RT and GD open around the same time and there was an intense rivalry. we should have factored in chart success…
That town wouldn’t have been able to handle a Kenny rogers roasters too