RonJonSurfer Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 ...or at least year by year... Greatest Number One Hits by Robert of the Radish in The Y! Music Playlist Blog The Billboard Hot 100 chart began identifying the top songs in America back in 1958. The list takes airplay and sales into account and is a good measure of what the most popular songs are at a point in time. Songs that make to the very top of this list on any given week can claim the moniker "number one hit". This playlist is a collection of the best of the best. The greatest hits to ever peak on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now before you start whining about why a particular song did not make the grade please ask yourself if the song ever made it to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If not, it will not be on this playlist. It's easy to find a list of Billboard's number one hits, but how does one narrow it down from there? Do you select the biggest sellers, the most critically acclaimed, personal favorites? Well, ultimately I decided on some parameters to help me tailor the list into a chronological time capsule that represents the best of what planet earth had to offer in terms of popular music. The list includes just one song for each year since the Hot 100 chart began in 1958 and I made the decision to not repeat artists. Although some (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones) could easily have multiple songs on this list, I thought giving other talented acts a chance would create a better cross-section of popular music. One thing I noticed as I moved from decade to decade was that it got much harder to choose a song I could really identify with. To my ears the 60's and 70's and even the 80's were filled to the brim with timeless tracks, while both the quality and quantity of #1 hits took a nosedive in the 90's and 00's. I'm not sure if this is because I'm getting old and am out of touch with what the kids dig today, or if popular music is indeed dead. What do you think? Greatest Number One Hits 1958: All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers 1959: Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price 1960: Stay - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs 1961: Surrender - Elvis Presley 1962: I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles 1963: Fingertips Pt. 2 - Stevie Wonder 1964: House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals 1965: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones 1966: Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 1967: Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles 1968: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding 1969: Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone 1970: The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 1971: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations 1972: Let's Stay Together - Al Green 1973: Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye 1974: The Joker - Steve Miller Band 1975: Island Girl - Elton John 1976: 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon 1977: Hotel California - The Eagles 1978: Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees 1979: Heart Of Glass - Blondie 1980: Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2 - Pink Floyd 1981: Starting Over, (Just Like) - John Lennon 1982: Jack And Diane - John Cougar Mellencamp 1983: Beat It - Michael Jackson 1984: When Doves Cry - Prince 1985: Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears for Fears 1986: Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel 1987: With Or Without You - U2 1988: Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses 1989: Like A Prayer - Madonna 1990: Vision Of Love - Mariah Carey 1991: Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - P.M. Dawn 1992: Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot 1993: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston 1994: Bump N' Grind - R. Kelly 1995: Waterfalls - TLC 1996: California Love - 2Pac 1997: Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G. 1998: Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill 1999: Smooth - Santana 2000: Amazed - Lonestar 2001: All For You - Janet Jackson 2002: Hot In Herre - Nelly 2003: Hey Ya! - Outkast 2004: Yeah! - Usher 2005: Gold Digger - Kanye West 2006: SexyBack - Justin Timberlake 2007: Irreplaceable - Beyonce 2008: Whatever You Like - T.I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Only one I agree with though... 1964: House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Udo Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I refuse to get drawn into another "who's best" discussion. Except to say that 2008 isn't over yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Oh, lots of good tunes...I'm wondering how many of these are on our TT...I don't have the time to check that out, just wondering.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 I'm not sure if this is because I'm getting old and am out of touch with what the kids dig today, or if popular music is indeed dead. I'll say it first: if he's still using the term "dig," he's way out of touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Yes, nice list. I would have chosen other #1s but anyways, not bad. Otis, Animals, mucho Motown... where´s Mrs Winehouse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 I'll say it first: if he's still using the term "dig," he's way out of touch. I'm with you groovy chick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 I'm with you groovy chick. Oh MAN! When I read this I keep hearing this song in my head.. I dig Rock and Roll music And I love to get the chance to play. (and sing it) I figure it's about the happiest sound goin' down today. The message may not move me, Or mean a great deal to me, But hey! it feels so groovy to say: I dig the Mamas and the Papas at "The Trip," Sunset Strip in L.A. And they got a good thing goin' When the words don't get in the way. And when they're really wailing, Michelle and Cass are sailin'. Hey! they really nail me to the wall. I dig Donovan in a dream-like, tripped out way His crystal images tell you 'bout a brighter day And when the Beatles tell you They've got a word "love" to sell you They mean exactly what they say I dig Rock and Roll music I could really get it on in that scene. I think I could say somethin' if you know what I mean But if I really say it, the radio won't play it Unless I lay it between the lines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Udo Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 I can dig it, he can dig it, she can dig it, we can dig it, they can dig it, you can dig it Oh, let's dig it. Can you dig it, baby? I can dig it, he can dig it, she can dig it, we can dig it, they can dig it, you can dig it Oh, let's dig it. Can you dig it, baby? grazin' in the grass, yes, baby, can you dig it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otokichi Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 I was listening to "Gold Digger" by Kanye West at YouTube just now. I wondered who was singing, since Rappers can't/don't. I scrolled down the comments and found I'd been listening to a sample/loop of part of Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman." Quincy Jones got it right: Rappers make your OWN music, don't just sample stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 You know that composers back in the day, like Beethoven, Handel, Brahms, etc. Liked to use their contemporaries melodies and play around with them, develop variations on their themes, right? And that it's not like they take a dart to a board filled with different names of songs and wherever that dart lands, that's their sample. It takes an ear, it takes know-how, to match a sample to a beat. And lastly, I'm pretty sure that 'Gold Digger' has Jamie Foxx (a friend of West) singing the Ray Charles hook, so that makes it a cover, not a sample. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Udo Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Gold Digger Yeah that's Jamie Foxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doqmsday Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 It's amazing how music has evolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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