It's interesting how you managed to quantify the impact of music like this. Your dedication to the data for seven years really shines through, making me think about how much hidden strucutre there is in cultural phenomena.
Addendum to #8: How about family members who both peaked at number TWO? It's the Dylans of course—Bob a couple times (Rolling Stone, Rainy Day Women), then Jakob three decades later with One Headlight.
File away for when you write the sequel about number-two hits…
Loved all the details you pointed out. Looking forward to Part 2. Number 3 is right on the money, but I would include Elvis (especially before he was drafted). Number 4 is correct, but you forgot Laurie London (age 14) with "He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands)" in 1958. I can't fault your choice for number 12 -- but who would believe Larry Verne could reach the top with "Mr. Custer" in 1960 while creating a comic look at the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn? Finally, number 22 is correct, but you could add number 1 hit covers by the Platters ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") in 1959, the Marcels ("Blue Moon") in 1961, Nino Tempo & April Stevens ("Deep Purple") in 1963, and Bobby Vinton ("There! I've Said It Again") in 1964 -- all of which were number 1 hits for their original artists (according to Joel Whitburn) before the Rock & Roll Era began in 1955.
Thanks! I'm really looking forward to reading your book. One last thing, for number 8, can we count Shirley Jones (for the Partridge Family in 1970) and Shaun Cassidy (1977)?
Although "Please Mister Postman" was a no. 1 hit for both the Marvelettes and the Carpenters, the best version is arguably by the Beatles. John Lennon was a superb singer in the early years.
#49 Thank you for this chart. One thing I've noticed about my own music library is that there are fewer and fewer women the further in time I go back. 30% of the songs I have from the past decade are women-led. 20% of songs I have from the '96-'05 decade are women-led. Less than 10% of songs I have from the 70s are women-led. I've always wondered whether this was mostly bias on my part, where I'm aware of many great female musicians today but I'm more ignorant about great female musicians from the past, or whether there's been a gradual shift in the music industry to give female artists more promotion and/or more independence. Your "Gender of Chart-Topping Musicians" chart offers some evidence that it's not just me, there really are more prominent female musicians since the 90s.
#58 My music library also corroborates the late-80s as being the weakest time period musically. The rock was too metal, the R&B was too synthetic, and hip hop was only just starting to mature
I write about gender representation a bit more in Chapters 2 and 11 of my book. But yes there were undeniably fewer women making music back in the day, almost certainly because of various roadblocks put in the way for them to start careers. At the performance level, I would bet we’re pretty close to parity now
OMG “If You Wanna Be Happy.” Where to begin with that one? I never knew that hit number one. Don’t forget the adlib before the last chorus:
“Hey man I saw your wife the other day!”
“Yeah?”
“She's ugly!”
“Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby!”
And then my favorite moment of the whole song: “Yeah!,” which I desperately want to believe is by the one guy in the group who didn’t get a line in the conversation so they let him do that. If that’s not what happened, please don’t tell me.
One of my favourite posts that I've read. Great job!
Thank you!!
This is a fantastic post!! Thank you. So fun and interesting.
Thanks! Check out my book if you get a chance
It's interesting how you managed to quantify the impact of music like this. Your dedication to the data for seven years really shines through, making me think about how much hidden strucutre there is in cultural phenomena.
Thank you! Check out my book if you get a chance
Knew there was a reason I loved Another Day in Paradise so much 👏 lovely read mate thank you
Addendum to #8: How about family members who both peaked at number TWO? It's the Dylans of course—Bob a couple times (Rolling Stone, Rainy Day Women), then Jakob three decades later with One Headlight.
File away for when you write the sequel about number-two hits…
Truly an incredible insight. Is it possible there is anyone else?? I believe I have a Dylan fact in part of this.
Loved all the details you pointed out. Looking forward to Part 2. Number 3 is right on the money, but I would include Elvis (especially before he was drafted). Number 4 is correct, but you forgot Laurie London (age 14) with "He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands)" in 1958. I can't fault your choice for number 12 -- but who would believe Larry Verne could reach the top with "Mr. Custer" in 1960 while creating a comic look at the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn? Finally, number 22 is correct, but you could add number 1 hit covers by the Platters ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") in 1959, the Marcels ("Blue Moon") in 1961, Nino Tempo & April Stevens ("Deep Purple") in 1963, and Bobby Vinton ("There! I've Said It Again") in 1964 -- all of which were number 1 hits for their original artists (according to Joel Whitburn) before the Rock & Roll Era began in 1955.
Good points! That Larry Verne song is inexplicable
Thanks! I'm really looking forward to reading your book. One last thing, for number 8, can we count Shirley Jones (for the Partridge Family in 1970) and Shaun Cassidy (1977)?
I’ll allow it
#15 - there are no number 1 hits since 1987 with a religious theme, but Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” reached #2 in 2013
True!
Love these details! Can't wait to read your book!
Chris, you are in a category of your own. As soul DJ Frankie Crocker used to say, “often imitated, never duplicated.”😎🕺🏻
This made me glad I stopped to read.
Great piece.
To glom onto # 23, not only are there two chart hits called “Show Me Love,” but one was sung by Robin and the other sung by Robyn.
Double-check my work, but I believe I’m
correct.
#35 made me lol.
Nice work!
Although "Please Mister Postman" was a no. 1 hit for both the Marvelettes and the Carpenters, the best version is arguably by the Beatles. John Lennon was a superb singer in the early years.
Thank you for the excuse to Kool-Aid man in to point out that Marvin Gaye played the drums on the Marvelettes’ version.
#49 Thank you for this chart. One thing I've noticed about my own music library is that there are fewer and fewer women the further in time I go back. 30% of the songs I have from the past decade are women-led. 20% of songs I have from the '96-'05 decade are women-led. Less than 10% of songs I have from the 70s are women-led. I've always wondered whether this was mostly bias on my part, where I'm aware of many great female musicians today but I'm more ignorant about great female musicians from the past, or whether there's been a gradual shift in the music industry to give female artists more promotion and/or more independence. Your "Gender of Chart-Topping Musicians" chart offers some evidence that it's not just me, there really are more prominent female musicians since the 90s.
#58 My music library also corroborates the late-80s as being the weakest time period musically. The rock was too metal, the R&B was too synthetic, and hip hop was only just starting to mature
I write about gender representation a bit more in Chapters 2 and 11 of my book. But yes there were undeniably fewer women making music back in the day, almost certainly because of various roadblocks put in the way for them to start careers. At the performance level, I would bet we’re pretty close to parity now
OMG “If You Wanna Be Happy.” Where to begin with that one? I never knew that hit number one. Don’t forget the adlib before the last chorus:
“Hey man I saw your wife the other day!”
“Yeah?”
“She's ugly!”
“Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby!”
And then my favorite moment of the whole song: “Yeah!,” which I desperately want to believe is by the one guy in the group who didn’t get a line in the conversation so they let him do that. If that’s not what happened, please don’t tell me.
I always link this Jimmy Soul song with the non-#1 “Another Saturday Night” by Sam Cooke.
Who has sold the most records without a number one hit? Springsteen?
If you only count the Hot 100, then probably Garth Brooks