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Okay gang, here we go again! It's time to let you know what songs you voted for as the GREATEST of all time! The best of the best as YOU called it...in our 12th annual Top 77 of All Time. This year more than ever, this survey was a team effort that could not have happened without the impetus and teamwork of yours truly Mike Riccio along with Tom Natoli, Frank Thomas, and Chad Olszyk . It is simply amazing how a concept to improve the voting process began way back in the spring and developed through the summer and fall to allow us to utilize a system with a drop-down menu that allows you to vote for a database of over 30,000 songs PLUS anything you'd like that's NOT on the list. It makes things easier for the voters, and easier for US to tabulate, even though at this point we have all logged literally hundreds of hours putting this list together. And to think it all started with me and a set of index cards in 1998! So once again, we're off and running... As a bonus, we're once again starting off with the "extras"...the songs that just missed the top 77 on the list that we usually don't reveal. (We'll reveal the actual Top 77 from #77 to #1 in groups of about 10 songs a day until we get to #1.) More detailed info on each song starts below at #77. Here are the results of YOUR twelfth annual All-Time Top 77! Starting with... (Top 77 / WABC Peak / Billboard Peak) [* Asterisk indicates former #1 song on WABC] |
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(Click on any image or song title below to see the YouTube video!)Day number two of the survey "reveal" leads us to the songs that actually made the Top 77. Here we go with #77 right down to #71. 
 BET YA DIDN'T KNOW! This was Roy's biggest hit, yet he would not have another top 20 song nationally
until his very last chart entry, "You Got It", which peaked at #9 in 1989. It's back on our list for the first time since 2006. #77 - *Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1) 
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 BET YA DIDN'T KNOW! This song was originally done by Benny Goodman in 1948 and was based on the 1945 French song titled "La Mer". Dropping down from #35 last year.
#76 - Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin - 1960 (Peaks: Pre-dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #3, Natl #6)
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 BET YA DIDN'T KNOW! "The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs Elvis would play live in concert, and was NEVER recorded in a studio.
This is its first appearance EVER on the Top 77.
#75 - The Wonder of You - Elvis Presley - 1970 (Peaks: WABC #8, Natl #9)
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 BET YA DIDN'T KNOW! The Kinks hated the first version they recorded of this. At the second session, Dave Davies slashed his amp to get the desired live sound.
That was the version that was released. Rolling Stone magazine placed the song at number 4 on their list of the The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. In 2005, the song was voted the best British song of the 1955-1965 decade in a BBC radio poll. This is its first appearance EVER on the Top 77.
#74 - You Really Got Me - The Kinks - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #7)
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 BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The famous beginning notes of the guitar string pattern was based on a riff that Allen (Jake) Jacobs
of a band called the Magicians would use as he incessantly tuned and re-tuned after, before, and frequently during each piece the band played. This is its first appearance EVER on the Top 77.
#73 - *Happy Together - The Turtles - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: In the UK, this song re-entered the charts 7 times between 1970-1972. It holds the record for the longest stay on the chart at an astounding 122 weeks
(that's almost 2 1/2 years!) peaking at #5 there. Back on our survey for the first time in two years.
#72 - My Way - Frank Sinatra - 1969 (Peaks: Did Not Chart on WABC, Natl #27)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song was written by The Addrisi Brothers, who had their own Top 40 hits with "We've Got to Get It On Again"
(#25 in 1972) and "Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On" (#20 in 1977). This is its first appearance EVER on the Top 77.
#71 - Everything That Touches You - The Association - 1968 (Peaks: WABC #13, Natl #10) |
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Let's move on to our next group of the hits you guys voted for in this year's edition of the Top 77. There's some GREAT music here, and some surprises! |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song hit #18 on the US Black Singles chart and was inspired by the writer's childhood friend, Denice Lefrak. This is its first time EVER on the Top 77.
#70 - Denise - Randy and the Rainbows - 1963 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #10)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This group was originally called "Thee Six-Pence" and the song was originally called
"The Happy Whistler". The famous intro to the song was written by lead guitarist Ed King, who later joined
Lynyrd Skynyrd and promptly wrote the legendary guitar intro licks we hear in "Sweet Home Alabama".
It's moving up from #75 on last year's list.
#69 - *Incense and Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Tom Petty makes reference to this in his top 25 hit, "Runnin' Down A Dream". The line is,
"It was a beautiful day, me and Del were singing, a little runaway." It's back on the Top 77 for the first time
since 2007, when it hit its peak position of #17.
#68 - *Runaway - Del Shannon - 1961 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The opening line, "You never close your eyes any more when I kiss your lips," was inspired
by the Paris Sisters song "I Love How You Love Me," which begins, "I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me."
It's back on our Top 77 for the first time since 2006.
#67 - *You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this was originally released
as the B-side of "Blue Guitar" by Richard Chamberlain in 1963. It's up ten notches from #76 last year.
It's back on our Top 77 for only the second time.
#66 - *(They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters - 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was recorded between 4 and 7 in the morning and was Elvis' eighteenth and last number
one single in the United States. Down from #30 last year.
#65 - Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The song became popular as an African-American Folk song. It was recorded by Texas Alexander
in the 1920s, then by a number of other artists including Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White and later Nina Simone.
It was her version The Animals first heard. It checked in at #49 on last year's Top 77.
#64 - *The House of the Rising Sun - Animals - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was released July 3, 1969, the same day original band member Brian Jones was found dead in his swimming pool.
Reparata & The Delrons, of "Whenever a Teenage Cries" fame, sang the backup vocals on this. It's down from #45 last year.
#63 - *Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: In 1985, this became the first Beatles song ever used in a commercial when it was used in an ad for Ford cars.
Ford paid $100,000 for it, and the version in the commercial was performed by a sound-alike group. "Help!" was #41 last year.
#62 - *Help! - Beatles - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: "Strawberry Fields Forever" was originally recorded for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band",
but was instead released in February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane". The working title was "It's Not Too Bad"
and the Beatles recorded three distinct versions of the song. This was last on our survey in 2007.
#61 - Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #34, Natl #8)
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The countdown continues, with EIGHT bonafide superstars and a fifties group that placed two of their biggest hits back to back! |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Producer Quincy Jones wanted to change the title to "Not My Lover" so the song would not be
connected to tennis star Billie Jean King. This was the second of seven U.S. top 10 hits from the Thriller album.
This is only the second appearance on the Top 77 for this hit.
#60 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson - 1983 (Peaks: Post-dates WABC charts, WYNY-NY #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was recorded at 3 different sessions before the Eagles found the right key for Don
Henley's vocal. The line "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" is a
reference to friendly rivals Steely Dan. The year before, Steely Dan included the line "Turn up the Eagles,
the neighbors are listening" on their song "Everything You Did." It drops down from #26 last year.
#59 - Hotel California - Eagles - 1977 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Although Carole won a Grammy nomination with this for "Best Female Pop Vocal" for 1974, she
lost out to Olivia Newton-John and "I Honestly Love You". "Jazzman" returns to the Top 77 for the first time
since 2004.
#58 - *Jazzman - Carole King - 1974 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song, which only got to #103 when it first charted in 1968, was backed by "The London Festival Orchestra",
which never actually existed. It was the name given to the studio musicians assembled for this album. The poem at the end was
recorded separately and is titled "Late Lament". It was written by their drummer, Graeme Edge. The song is one of a handful that's
made our Top 77 every time, moving up from #70 last year.
#57 - *Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Artists who have recorded this song include Chuck Jackson (1964), Manfred Mann (1965),
The Vogues (1970), Lenny Welch (1973), Rick Nelson, Barbra Streisand (1974), Patti LaBelle (1977), Art Garfunkel (1979),
Don McLean (1981), Ronnie Milsap (1991), Guns N' Roses (1994), and The Brian Setzer Orchestra (1998). It's back after missing the Top 77
last year.
#56 - Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners - 1959 (Peaks: Pre-dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #1, Natl #12)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: "I'd Die", the flip side of their 1963 version of the standard "Since I Fell For You", was
re-discovered in the mid-70's by 13-Q Radio deejay, Don Bombard (now known as Bob Shannon on WCBS-FM in New York).
It has become one of their most requested releases. This is only the second time "This I Swear" has made the Top 77.
#55 - This I Swear - Skyliners - 1959 (Peaks: Pre-dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #12, Natl #26)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Written as a slower soul song, Bill Wyman began doing a takeoff as a spoof of music played
at Jewish weddings. Then co-manager Eric Easton and Charlie Watts improvised a rhythm heard in some Middle
Eastern dances. This new more upbeat rhythm was then used in for the final product. This is its first year on
the Top 77.
#54 - *Paint It Black - Rolling Stones - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: "A Hard Day's Night" was the first Beatles album to feature entirely original compositions,
and the only one where all the songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It last made our list in 2005.
#53 - *A Hard Days Night - Beatles - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: George Harrison's "This Song", which was about the "My Sweet Lord"/"He's So Fine" plagiarism
suit, references THIS song ("I Can't Help Myself"). In the middle of the song, voices proclaim, "Could be 'Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch'".
To which the response, referring to the Fontella Bass song, says, "Naah! More like 'Rescue Me'".
#52 - *I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) - 4 Tops - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Between their other activities, The Ronettes did background vocals for artists like Bobby
Rydell, Del Shannon and Joey Dee on record.
#51 - *Be My Baby - Ronettes - 1963 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #2)
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On we go, creeping into the Top 50, with eight songs from the 60s leading the way. |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Pete Seeger, who recorded an early American version of this song, thought the original
African lyrics were "Wimoweh", so that's what he wrote down and how it was recorded in English. The lyrics were
actually "Uyimbube," which means "You're a Lion." It was misheard for "Wimoweh" because when pronounced,
"Uyimbube" sounds like: "oo-yim-bweh-beh". Believe it or not, this is the first time the song has been on the
Top 77 since our very first survey in 1998!
#50 - *The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimohweh) - The Tokens - 1961 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry and Phil Spector each had a separate idea for this song, so they
combined all three ideas and the melody is a composite of the three unfinished songs. In 1995, Spector agreed to produce a
version of the song with Celine Dion. The sessions were a disaster, and her version from these sessions was never released.
This is its first appearance on the Top 77 since 2001.
#49 - River Deep Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner - 1966 (Peaks: WABC-Did Not Chart, Natl #88)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Dion cites Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" and Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" as the inspiration for
this macho period piece called "The Wanderer". This is the song's first Top 77 appearance since 1999.
#48 - The Wanderer - Dion - 1962 (Peaks: WABC #5, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW - As you probably DO know, the words "Mama mia" are repeated in this song in the line
"Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go." But did you know that the song that knocked this out of the #1
chart position in 1976 in the UK was..."Mamma Mia" by Abba? "Bohemian Rhapsody" was #54 last year on the Top 77.
#47 - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - 1976/1992 (Peaks: WABC #3, Natl #9-1976/#2-1992)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW - Originally titled "Terry", then "Jackie" and then finally "Sherry", it took less time
for Bob Gaudio to write this hit than it took the group to decide on a name for the song. He wrote it in less
than 15 minutes. It was #29 last year.
#46 - *Sherry - Four Seasons - 1962 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song was a #2 hit for Ben Selvin in 1934. The Flamingos charted from 1953 until 1970,
but never reached a higher number than #30 on the top 100 after this hit got to #11. This song was #53 on last year's Top 77.
#45 - I Only Have Eyes for You - Flamingos - 1959 (Peaks: Pre-dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #5, Natl #11)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The lyric "Take care, TCB" is often misheard. "TCB" means "Taking Care of Business".
And the show "Laugh In" took the catch phrase, "Sock it to me" from Aretha's line in this song. This is another song
that's making its first appearance on the Top 77 since the very first survey in 1998!
#44 - Respect - Aretha Franklin - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Although by now most of us know that Darlene Love was actually the voice of "The Crystals"
on this song and that no members of the actual group sang on the recording, what's lesser known is that
Phil Spector also used Darlene Love to pose as the Crystals (again) for the follow-up #11 hit "He's Sure The
Boy I Love". This song checked in at #39 last year.
#43 - He's a Rebel - Crystals - 1962 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Originally, the song was 3:25 long. In an effort to encourage radio play, it was sped up
and trimmed to 3:08, then listed on the label as 3:00. "Cherish" finished at #17 last year.
#42 - *Cherish - Association - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: In their homeland England, The Dave Clark Five hit the top 50 twenty-three times, but NEVER
with this song. It was #18 on our list last year, missing the Top 77 only once, in 1998, the very first year.
#41 - Because - Dave Clark Five - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #3)
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On we go, into the top 40 of the Top 77... |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Well before the crack of "Dawn", Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent (who later backed up
Tony Orlando as "Dawn") sang backup on this hit. Up from #59, this song has now been on the Top 77 two
years in a row after missing the survey for the first ten years.
#40 - *Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song was written by Jesse Belvin, whose most well-known song, "Goodnight My Love
(Pleasant Dreams"), didn't chart, even though The McGuire Sisters, The Fleetwoods and Paul Anka all made the
top 40 with that song. In the meantime, the cover version of this Penguins hit by The Crew-Cuts got all the way
to #3. On the Top 77 survey for the fifth year in a row, it was #32 last year.
#39 - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - Penguins - 1955 (Peaks: Pre-dates New York Charts, Natl #8)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Jimmy Fox, the drummer on the Outsiders' first album, later formed The James Gang with
Joe Walsh. The song takes a big jump from #77 last year to #38 this year.
#38 - Time Won't Let Me - Outsiders - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #6, Natl #5)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This would be Tommy James last top ten hit with the Shondells. With the group, he had 7
top ten songs and two additional top 20 songs. As a solo act, he had only ONE top ten hit and ONE top 20 song!
It's back on the Top 77 for the first time since 2006.
#37 - *Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James and the Shondells - 1969 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The alto (high) vocal in the middle of this song is sung by a male band member, not a woman.
In addition, Harry's 1980 song "Sequel", which continued the story started in "Taxi", was actually a bigger chart hit than "Taxi",
peaking at #23. The song drops down from #20 on last year's Top 77.
#36 - Taxi - Harry Chapin - 1972 (Peaks: WABC: #9, Natl #24)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: While this song was moving up the charts on the Phillips label, the Vee-Jay label pitted The Four Seasons
against themselves by releasing "Stay". Although "Stay" only peaked at #16, it possibly drew enough sales away from "Dawn (Go Away)"
to keep that song from getting to #1. "Dawn (Go Away)" was #28 on last year's list.
#35 - Dawn (Go Away) - Four Seasons - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #3)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Although the title is never sung in this song, Rod got the name "Maggie May" from the same
traditional Liverpool folk song that the Beatles included on the "Let It Be" album. "Maggie" is British slang
for a prostitute. You voted it two slots higher than last year, as it moves up from #36.
#34 - *Maggie May - Rod Stewart - 1971 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was written by the same man who wrote "Soul Finger" for the Bar-Kays. His name is
Lou Josie. And the hard-to-understand words in the first stanza are: "Your soft, gentle motion, babe, brings out
a need in me that no one can hear". It was #57 last year.
#33 - Midnight Confessions - Grass Roots - 1968 (Peaks: WABC #3, Natl #5)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: On March 16th 1970, Marvin's long time friend and vocal partner, Tammi Terrell, died of a
malignant brain tumor at only 24 years old. Marvin Gaye was devastated and inconsolable. He wouldn’t perform in
public for several years and he vowed never to replace Tammi with another partner. This song is back on the Top 77 after missing the list last year.
#32 - *What's Going On - Marvin Gaye - 1971 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was a top 100 hit for eight different artists: The Dick Hyman Trio, Richard Hayman and
Jan August, Lawrence Welk, Louis Armstrong, Billy Vaughn, Les Paul, Bobby Darin, and Ella Fitzgerald. It charted
under several different titles including "Moritat" and "A Theme from the Three Penny Opera". On our survey, it's up from #40 last year.
#31 - Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin - 1959 (Peaks: Pre-Dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #1, Natl #1)
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We're getting closer to the top as we get into the thirty most popular songs as voted by you...let's start with... |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Of The Beach Boys first 19 charted singles, eight were double-sided hits. The biggest "B" side
was "Shut Down", which got to #23 in 1963. "God Only Knows" was their LAST "B" side to chart. The song moves up from #33 last year.
#30 - God Only Knows - Beach Boys - 1966 (Peaks: Did Not Chart on WABC, Natl #39)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: A Beatles song not by The Beatles? Sure! This was the first time a Beatle recorded without
the others and was also the first Beatles song that could not be reproduced live to sound like it did on record without
additional musicians. The song finished #47 last year.
#29 - *Yesterday - Beatles - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Keyboardist Michael Brown would later go on to have a #1 song with the group Stories and "Brother Louie" in 1973,
making him a rare one-hit wonder TWICE on WABC, having only one top 20 hit with two different groups. "Walk Away Renee" was #43 last year.
#28 - Walk Away Renee - Left Banke - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #5)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was the last studio song that Keith Moon performed with The Who (on May 25, 1978) in Shepperton Studios. National Review magazine
published a list of "The 50 greatest conservative rock songs" and surprisingly "Won't Get Fooled Again" was ranked number one. It was #42 on the Top 77 last year.
#27 - Won't Get Fooled Again - Who - 1971 (Peaks: WABC #21, Natl #15)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This is the most charted song in top 100 history. It made the list ten different times by seven different artists on the
national top 100 surveys. In 1955, three versions of this song were in the top 20 at the same time by Les Baxter, Al Hibbler, and Roy Hamilton,
while a fourth version by June Valli peaked at #29. And The Righteous Brothers (in reality just Bobby Hatfield solo) had two of their own versions
of this song in the top 20 at the same time when, in 1990, the song was featured in the "Ghost" movie soundtrack. It was #38 last year.
#26 - Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers - 1965/1990 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #4)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: We all know this is about the love Eric Clapton has for Patti Boyd, but few know that Clapton also wrote a song
about the END of the relationship in 1989 called "Old Love". On "Layla", Duane Allman came up with the famous guitar riff, and Jim Gordon
came up with the famous piano solo. "Layla" was #22 last year.
#25 - Layla - Derek and the Dominoes - 1971/1972 (Peaks: WABC #7, Natl #10)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song was never released in England. Instead, The Bachelors, a three-piece vocal group from Ireland, released this in 1966
and got to #3 in the UK. Believe it or not, the Simon and Garfunkel classic made our Top 77 for the first time last year, when it was #56.
You can hear The Bachelors version by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TifnLyRtvMM
#24 - *The Sounds of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was The Temptations' first number-one hit, and it was also the first number one hit on the reinstated Billboard R&B Singles chart,
which had gone on a fifteen-month hiatus from 1963 to 1965. It was at this same position on the Top 77 last year.
#23 - My Girl - Temptations - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Petula Clark was 32 when this song got to #1. By then, she had already starred in 25 films and had ten top 20 songs in the UK,
including one #1 song (her version of Lolita's "Sailor"). In addition, before most of us even HEARD of Petula, she had eight top ten hits in France,
six top ten hits in Germany, and three top ten songs in Italy. This is the first time it has
been on the Top 77 since our first year, 1998.
#22 - *Downtown - Petula Clark - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Lou's last chart appearance came in 1981 when he peaked at #81 with "Summer '81 (medley)" as part of The Cantina Band.
The song was a medley of Beach Boys songs. Lou was right here at #21 on the Top 77 last year.
#21 - *Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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ALRIGHTY THEN! We are THERE! Or HERE! Or wherever! We are AT the TOP 20 of the Top 77. So hang on to your hats, gang. Here are the BIGGEST of the BIGGIES! |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This recording features Davies' first wife Rasa on
background vocals. In 1985 Ray Davies released an album entitled "Return to Waterloo",
a soundtrack for the movie of the same name and he also wrote a collection of short stories called "Waterloo Sunset".
Ray and the boys were #23 last year.
#20 - Waterloo Sunset - Kinks - 1967 (Peaks: WABC - Did Not Chart, Natl - Did Not Chart)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Because of the multiple takes needed to perfect the orchestral contributions and the
final 42 second note, as well as John and Paul's considerable procrastination in composing the song, final
product took 34 hours to record, which was 234 hours longer than it took The Beatles to record their entire first LP.
This iconic cut jumps all the way up from #60 last year.
#19 - A Day in the Life (From the LP - "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band") - Beatles - 1967 (Peaks: WABC - Did Not Chart, Natl - Did Not Chart, Natl - LP #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW - The instrumental break was done by producer George Martin by
playing a piano solo and speeding up the tape to make it sound like a harpsichord.
John Lennon had asked him to fill it with something "baroque." This Beatles classic was #27
on the Top 77 last year.
#18 - In My Life (From the LP - "Rubber Soul") - Beatles - 1966 (Peaks: WABC - Did Not Chart, Natl - Did Not Chart, Natl - LP #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Some of the unlikely artists who have recorded this song are Bob Marley & the
Wailers, Johnny Thunders, The Four Seasons, The Rascals, Cher, Judy Collins, The Rolling Stones, Green Day,
Spirit, Johnny Winter, John Mellencamp and Jimi Hendrix. The Swedish version of the song translates
to "Like a Homeless Soul". The Italian version is titled literally, "Like a Kicked-off Stone".
Bob landed at #31 last year.
#17 - Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #3, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song is from the "Blue Hawaii" LP, which was Elvis' biggest LP. The album stayed at #1
for 20 straight weeks, which was longer than any Beatles album lasted at #1. The song was #14 on last year's survey.
#16 - Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley - 1962 (Peaks: WABC #8, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: After their initial LP "America" hit #1, the titles of their next SEVEN LPs began with the letter "H".
The song was #16 last year, after missing the Top 77 for the first time in 2007.
#15 - *A Horse with No Name - America - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: According to Paul McCartney, this song was somewhat inspired by Bobby Rydell's "Forget Him",
as The Beatles wanted to write a song telling the guy to "forget other guys because she loves YOU." In the UK, this
is the biggest selling Beatles single. And it held the record for top-selling UK single of all time until 1977,
when that record was broken by...Paul McCartney and Wings with "Mull Of Kintyre." "She Loves You" was #9 last year.
#14 - *She Loves You - The Beatles - 1964 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: In the UK, this song wasn't released as a single until 1975 and it only got to #6.
After John's death, the single re-entered the UK chart and was #1 for four weeks in January 1981. It came
out again as a single in the UK in 1988 and got to #45. Finally, it was released for a FOURTH time as a
single in 1999 and made it all the way to #3. Last year, "Imagine" was #15 on the Top 77.
#13 - Imagine - John Lennon - 1971 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #3)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song went from "Pick Hit of the Week" directly to #1 on WABC and stayed
there for six weeks. Nationally, it was #1 for two weeks. But after this, The Four Seasons would not have
a #1 song again until "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)" which came out in December, 1975. And in an ironic
twist of fate, the month of December 1963 was one of only a handful of weeks that The Four Seasons did not
appear on the top 100 charts between their debut on August 25, 1962 and February 1969. The song drops down
one notch from last year.
#12 - *Rag Doll - Four Seasons - 1964 (Peaks: #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Written by Paul specifically for Art, this song originally had two
verses and different lyrics. The lyrics were partly inspired by the line "I'll be your
bridge over deep water if you trust in me" from the classic Swan Silvertones' 1958 song
"Mary Don't You Weep". Garfunkel's first two attempts to record the difficult vocal failed.
Last year. this was #12.
#11 - *Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (Peaks WABC#1, Natl #1)
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Breathe DEEP! (Where have I heard that before?) It's time for the final ten, the biggest of the bigs, the top ten on this year's Top 77! |
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This song was re-released in 1991. Although the re-release didn't chart in the U.S., it did go to #12 in the
U.K. after charting at #2 in 1972. Madonna's version of the song was #1 in England in 2000, making it bigger than either of McLean's
chart runs there. Don's version has made our survey every time, landing as high as #3.
#10 - *American Pie - Don McLean - 1972 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Although this song is a classic, Donna Summer's version of the song was bigger, reaching #1 on both
the WABC New York charts and the national charts. In its 12th straight year on the Top 77, it has been as high as #3.
#9 - MacArthur Park - Richard Harris - 1968 (Peaks: WABC #2, Natl #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: In celebration of its 40th year, The Beach Boys released five versions of "Good Vibrations" including the original
single version, various session takes, an alternate take (previously released on the Beach Boys'"Rarities" album), an instrumental track
in stereo (the only official stereo version of this song), and a live concert rehearsal (from Hawaii in August 1967). In 12 years on our
lists, it only peaked higher once when it was #7.
#8 - Good Vibrations - Beach Boys - 1966 (Peaks: WABC #4, Natl #1))
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: The German version lyrics in "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand" are really not close to what most of the world sang along to in the English version.
Compare for yourself: "In your arms I'm happy and glad. It was never that way with anyone else, never that way, never that way. Oh you are
so pretty, as pretty as a diamond. I want to go with you. Come give me your hand... " In its 12th year on our lists, it has always ranked between #5 and #15.
#7 - I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles (1964) (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: This was a huge hit around the world, peaking at #3 in Australia, #2 in Brazil, #6 in the
U.K., #14 in Ireland, and #24 in the Netherlands. But which is one of the biggest countries that the song
performed poorest in? That would be the country where Jim Morrison died, France. There the song only got to #62.
On our list for the 12th time, it peaked at #2 on our very first survey.
#6 - *Light My Fire - Doors - 1967 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: When Diana got to #1 on September 13, 1970, it marked the ONLY time any song by The Supremes
OR Diana Ross ever knocked another Motown act from the #1 spot. The song dethroned by Diana was "War" by Edwin Starr.
Back for the 12th time, this is the first time the song has not been #2 since 2003.
#5 - *Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross - 1970 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: It was originally the "B" side to "The Jones Girl", and although the single was only a
moderate hit when it was first released, its esteemed status is partly credited to its inclusion in the highly
influential 1959 LP series, "Oldies But Goodies" on DJ Art Laboe's Original Sound label. It was ranked #90 on
Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Other versions include Santo & Johnny,
Paul Anka, Debbie Gibson, and Boyz II Men. The song was intentionally spelled as "In the Still of the Nite" to
avoid confusion with Cole Porter's "In the Still of the Night." And it's the song that inspired this very Top 77
survey back in 1998, on the list twelve times and peaking as high as #2.
#4 - In the Still of the Nite - Five Satins - 1956 (Peaks: Pre-dates WABC Charts, WMGM-NY #13, Natl #24)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Charlie Watts recalls that "Satisfaction" was recorded at the same studio where Duke Ellington
recorded one of the greatest jazz songs ever, "Take the A Train track". And the lyric, "I can't get no satisfaction",
actually comes from a line from a Chuck Berry song called "Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)", when Chuck sings,
"If I don't get no satisfaction from the judge, I'm gonna take it to the FBI and voice my grudge.". Wanna hear it?
Click here: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/c/chuck-berry/30-days/
#3 - *(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones - 1965 (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Somehow, it has pretty much slipped under the radar that this song "borrowed" heavily from
"Taurus" by Spirit, a song from two years earlier. Is it just coincidence that Led Zeppelin was the opening act
for Spirit on their first American tour? Listen to the comparison here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czfI66yQUkk&feature=related The song is at its highest number ever on our list in twelve appearances. #2 - Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin (From the untitled LP referenced as "Led Zeppelin IV") - 1970 Peaks: WABC - Did Not Chart. Nat'l - Did Not Chart, Natl - LP #2)
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BET YA DIDN'T KNOW: Although written in 1966 and intended for inclusion in the "Get Back" sessions,
"Isn't It a Pity", the flip side of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord", borrowed several elements from "Hey Jude"
and sounded strikingly similar to it by the time it appeared on "All Things Must Pass". This included some near-identical
"na-na-na, na na na na's" that begin at the 5:15 mark and become downright blatantly obvious at the 5:42 mark, disguised as
"ah-ah-ah, ah ah ah ah". Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuStBNkvwhE
#1 - Hey Jude - The Beatles - 1968 - (Peaks: WABC #1, Natl #1) |
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So that wraps up the song-by-song countdown version of the 12th annual Top 77. Thanks for making this such a successful year. But there's more to come. Be sure to check out the detailed summary and breakdown of the stats for this year's list on the main page, coming soon! |
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http://www.tunemagic.net/Vote20092009 Top 77 Final ResultsCheck this page for updates on the 2009 Top 77 Songs Of All Time Survey! |
(6 / 4) Bad Time - Grand Funk (1975) 
(1 / 1) *Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - 
(- / 1) Beat It - Michael Jackson (1983)
(1 / 4) *California Dreamin' - Mamas and the Papas (1966)
(- / -) Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones 
(6 / 1) Poor Side Of Town - Johnny Rivers (1966)
(- / 9) Whispering Bells - Dell-Vikings (1957)
(7 / 5) Psychotic Reaction - Count Five (1966)
(3 / 1) The Long And Winding Road - Beatles (1970)
(- / -) Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd 
(1 / 1) *Windy - Association (1967)
(2 / 5) Magic - Pilot (1975)
(4 / 2) Crying - Roy Orbison (1961)
(1 / 1) *Runaround Sue - Dion (1961)
(1 / 1) *You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes (1966)
(36 / 23) Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen (1975)
(7 / 3) Something - Beatles (1969)
(- / 1) Hound Dog - Elvis Presley (1956)
(- / 42) You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones 
(- / 1) Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets 
(1 / 1) *Let It Be - Beatles (1970)
(6 / 8) Ain't No Mountain High Enough - 
(- / -) Baba O'Riley - Who (From the LP "Who's Next") (1971)