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As you are undoubtedly aware, I love lists. Part of this has to do with my early pop fandom--top 40s and such have that effect on people, or at least boys, usually--and early exposure to the Wallace/Wallechinskys’ first volume of The Book of Lists--there were three altogether, I believe. But one of the most beloved books I ever owned was Fred Bronson’s Billboard Book of Number One Hits, one song/record per page, each with an 800-or-so-word synopsis, history, biography, profile, and whatever combination of those things you can imagine. My grandmother gave that to me when I was, I think nine or ten years old--it predated my year of obsessive Beatlemania, I’m pretty sure of that--and even now, I still peruse my roommate’s copy regularly. So when I heard that Bronson had an updated volume of Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits in the pipeline, I ordered one up--despite the rather large amount of music-related volumes I own, surprisingly few of them are straight-up reference books.
What I wasn’t prepared for is how completely obsessively the new book--an updated version of an old book I had absolutely no idea about until now--was put together. There are rankings of the top 100 singles for each year between 1956 and 2001, as well as for each decade from the ’50s to the ’90s, and a master list of the top 5000 (!!!) singles of all time. (No. 1: "Smooth," by Santana & Rob Thomas. The top 13 songs are all from 1992-2001, unfortunately; SoundScan really did change everything.) There are also rankings of top artists, songwriters, producers, labels, subjects (places, boys’ names, girls’ names, food, the body, animals, colors), nations (UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands), and general arcana (debuts, one-hit wonders, duets, girl groups, instrumentals). There is more. Oh my fucking God, there is more.
Right--I got the thing and went apeshit. But this week, with some downtime from regular work and before a few larger-scale projects (hush-hush, for now) start up, I decided to have some fun with my new fetish object. Below are my ranked top ten singles from each year’s Billboard-sanctioned top 100, including 2002 because I bought the magazine’s year-end issue. (I eliminated songs in the 2001 list--a rather large amount--from consideration for the 2002 top ten.) There are few overlaps with my ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s lists, which were assembled somewhat hastily (in each case, I got it in my mind to make each list and did each one within 24 hours of conceiving the idea) and from a far wider-ranging pool (i.e. whatever came to mind at during those 24 hours).
Obviously, mainstream pop isn’t always my cup of tea, and in a few cases I struggled to fill the slots. Worst year for this, surprisingly enough: 1994, a terrific year for music but a horrible one for the charts, though I’ll grant that I was so into rave and alt-rock during that year that I’m sure I missed a few good ones that made the Billboard 100. Keep this in mind, especially on numbers six through ten for that year. Nevertheless, I’m surprised at how many mainstream hits I liked even in years (the early ’80s especially) where the action was so clearly subcultural and away from the charts’ eye.
Finally, some nitpicky stuff. The number in brackets at the end of each entry is the song’s place in the year-end Hot 100. Labels are as in the book. So are years, so no nastygrams about “I Want You Back” being from 1969, not 1970, please. I combined records ranked separately (as with the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”/“Revolution,” in 1968 numbers one and 66, respectively) if they were released as A-B sides. I also added B-sides to certain records that didn’t include them in the book--in the cases of Sam Cooke (1965) and Aretha Franklin (1968), the added B-side shot the record to number one on my lists--and at least once, maybe more (I don’t remember anymore), I eliminated a B-side that I didn’t particularly care for. Number of songs ranked in Billboard’s year-end top ten that wound up first on my lists: 15. Lowest-ranked by Billboard that’s number one on my lists: 94th (the Go-Go’s, “Our Lips Are Sealed,” 1981). Highest-ranking: number one, four times: 1956, 1978, 1984, 1998.
Complaints to the usual address, as always. Oh, and have I mentioned that I like lists?
1956
1. Elvis Presley: “Don’t Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog” (RCA) [1]
2. Little Richard: “Tutti Frutti” (Specialty) [95]
3. Bill Doggett: “Honky Tonk Pt. 1 & 2” (King) [19]
4. Carl Perkins: “Blue Suede Shoes” (Sun) [21]
5. The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon: “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (Gee) [33]
6. Fats Domino: “I’m in Love Again”/“My Blue Heaven” (Imperial) [26]
7. Johnny Cash: “I Walk the Line” (Sun) [92]
8. Fats Domino: “When My Dreamboat Comes Home” (Imperial) [83]
9. Buchanan & Goodman: “The Flying Saucer Pt. 1 & 2” (Luniverse) [40]
10. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers: “I Want You to Be My Girl” (Gee) [71]
1957
1. Fats Domino: “I’m Walkin’” (Imperial) [49]
2. Buddy Holly: “Peggy Sue” (Coral) [34]
3. Fats Domino: “Blueberry Hill” (Imperial) [19]
4. Elvis Presley: “Jailhouse Rock” (RCA) [2]
5. Jerry Lee Lewis: “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (Sun) [27]
6. Patsy Cline: “Walkin’ After Midnight” (Decca) [97]
7. The Crickets: “That’ll Be the Day” (Brunswick) [26]
8. The Dell-Vikings: “Whispering Bells” (Dot) [71]
9. The Coasters: “Searchin’”/“Young Blood” (Atco) [21]
10. Sam Cooke: “You Send Me” (Keen) [10]
1958
1. The Everly Brothers: “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (Cadence) [3]
2. Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns: “Don’t You Just Know It” (Ace) [86]
3. The Crickets: “Oh, Boy!” (Brunswick) [71]
4. Chuck Berry: “Johnny B. Goode” (Chess) [64]
5. The Coasters: “Yakety Yak” (Atco) [23]
6. Chuck Berry: “Sweet Little Sixteen” (Chess) [18]
7. Bobby Day: “Rockin’ Robin” (Class) [24]
8. Jerry Lee Lewis: “Great Balls of Fire” (Sun) [25]
9. The Chantels: “Maybe” (End) [76]
10. Danny & the Juniors: “At the Hop” (ABC-Paramount) [1]
1959
1. The Flamingos: “I Only Have Eyes for You” (End) [90]
2. Ray Charles: “What’d I Say Pt. 1 & 2” (Atlantic) [77]
3. The Drifters: “There Goes My Baby” (Atlantic) [34]
4. The Skyliners: “Since I Don’t Have You” (Calico) [74]
5. Ray Anthony: “Peter Gunn” (Capitol) [59]
6. The Coasters: “Charlie Brown” (Atco) [18]
7. Bobby Darin: “Mack the Knife” (Atco) [1]
8. Fats Domino: “Whole Lotta Loving” (Imperial) [58]
9. Lloyd Price: “Stagger Lee” (ABC-Paramount) [9]
10. Dion & the Belmonts: “A Teenager in Love” (Laurie) [62]
1960
1. Ray Charles: “Georgia on My Mind” (ABC-Paramount) [34]
2. Jerry Butler: “He Will Break Your Heart” (Vee-Jay) [48]
3. Elvis Presley: “It’s Now or Never” (RCA) [4]
4. The Safaris: “Image of a Girl” (Eldo) [67]
5. Sam Cooke: “Wonderful World” (Keen) [71]
6. Jim Reeves: “He’ll Have to Go” (RCA) [9]
7. Roy Orbison: “Only the Lonely” (Monument) [24]
8. Sam Cooke: “Chain Gang” (RCA) [22]
9. Fats Domino: “Walking to New Orleans” (Imperial) [77]
10. The Everly Brothers: “Cathy’s Clown” (Warner Bros.) [3]
1961
1. Ben E. King: “Stand By Me” (Atco) [45]
2. The Shirelles: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (Scepter) [9]
3. The Tokens: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (RCA) [8]
4. Del Shannon: “Runaway” (Big Top) [5]
5. Ben E. King: “Spanish Harlem” (Atco) [75]
6. The Marvelettes: “Please Mr. Postman” (Tamla) [19]
7. Dion: “Runaround Sue” (Laurie) [3]
8. The Shirelles: “Dedicated to the One I Love” (Scepter) [33]
9. Shep & the Limelites: “Daddy’s Home” (Hull) [32]
10. Elvis Presley: “Little Sister” (RCA) [79]
1962
1. Little Eva: “The Loco-Motion” (Dimension) [20]
2. Elvis Presley: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (RCA) [27]
3. The Shirelles: “Soldier Boy” (Scepter) [8]
4. Booker T. & the MG’s: “Green Onions” (Stax) [38]
5. The Contours: “Do You Love Me” (Gordy) [30]
6. Dion: “The Wanderer” (Laruie) [29]
7. Gene Chandler: “Duke of Earl” (Vee-Jay) [11]
8. Bruce Channel: “Hey! Baby” (Smash) [13]
9. Joey Dee and the Starliters: “Peppermint Twist” (Roulette) [8]
10. The Tornadoes: “Telstar” (London) [12]
1963
1. The Ronettes: “Be My Baby” (Philles) [21]
2. The Jaynetts: “Sally, Go ’Round the Roses” (Tuff) [33]
3. The Chantays: “Pipeline” (Dot) [50]
4. Martha & the Vandellas: “Heat Wave” (Gordy) [48]
5. The Surfaris: “Wipe Out” (Dot) [35]
6. The Impressions: “It’s All Right” (ABC-Paramount) [54]
7. The Crystals: “Then He Kissed Me” (Philles) [77]
8. The Crystals: “Da Doo Ron Ron” (Philles) [47]
9. The Kingsmen: “Louie Louie” (Wand) [4]
10. Sam Cooke: “Another Saturday Night” (RCA) [91]
1964
1. Dionne Warwick: “Walk on By” (Scepter) [60]
2. The Supremes: “Come See About Me” (Motown) [8]
3. The Beatles: “Please Please Me” (Vee-Jay) [32]
4. The Beatles: “She Loves You” (Swan) [2]
5. Roy Orbison: “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Monument) [13]
6. The Beach Boys: “I Get Around”/“Don’t Worry Baby” (Capitol) [9]
7. Martha & the Vandellas: “Dancing in the Street” (Gordy) [27]
8. The Trashmen: “Surfin’ Bird” (Garrett) [46]
9. The Beach Boys: “Fun, Fun, Fun” (Capitol) [74]
10. The Animals: “House of the Rising Sun” (MGM) [16]
1965
1. Sam Cooke: “Shake”/ “A Change Is Gonna Come” (RCA) [89]
2. James Brown: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag Pt. 1” (King) [74]
3. Bob Dylan: “Like a Rolling Stone” (Columbia) [33]
4. The Beatles: “Ticket to Ride” (Capitol) [22]
5. The Byrds: “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (Columbia) [7]
6. The Rolling Stones: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (London) [1]
7. Marvin Gaye: “Ain’t That Peculiar” (Tamla) [68]
8. The Temptations: “My Girl” (Gordy) [19]
9. The Kinks: “All Day and All of the Night” (Reprise) [71]
10. The Righteous Brothers: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (Philles) [2]
1966
1. The Four Tops: “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” (Motown) [15]
2. The Supremes: “You Can’t Hurry Love” (Motown) [12]
3. The Rolling Stones: “19th Nervous Breakdown” (London) [28]
4. ? & the Mysterians: “96 Tears” (Cameo) [6]
5. The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (Capitol) [97]
6. Stevie Wonder: “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (Tamla) [45]
7. The Temptations: “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (Gordy) [81]
8. The Beatles: “We Can Work It Out”/“Day Tripper” (Capitol) [4/93]
9. The Lovin’ Spoonful: “Summer in the City” (Kama Sutra) [8]
10. The Supremes: “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (Motown) [26]
1967
1. James Brown: “Cold Sweat Pt. 1 & 2” (King) [88]
2. Buffalo Springfield: “For What It’s Worth” (Atco) [55]
3. Jackie Wilson: “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” (Brunswick) [58]
4. The Beatles: “Penny Lane”/“Strawberry Fields Forever” (Capitol) [30/94]
5. Procol Harum: “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (Deram) [51]
6. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: “I Second That Emotion” (Tamla) [33]
7. The Beatles: “Hello Goodbye”/“I Am the Walrus” (Capitol) [10]
8. Aretha Franklin: “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” (Atlantic) [74]
9. The Who: “I Can See for Miles” (Decca) [75]
10. Sam and Dave: “Soul Man” (Stax) [20]
1968
1. Aretha Franklin: “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone”/ “Ain’t No Way” (Atlantic) [54]
2. The Supremes: “Love Child” (Motown) [5]
3. Marvin Gaye: “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (Tamla) [2]
4. Archie Bell & the Drells: “Tighten Up” (Atlantic) [12]
5. The Rolling Stones: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (London) [30]
6. The Chambers Brothers: “Time Has Come Today” (Columbia) [83]
7. The Beatles: “Hey Jude”/“Revolution” (Apple) [1/66]
8. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell: “You’re All I Need to Get By” (Tamla) [94]
9. The Temptations: “I Wish It Would Rain” (Gordy) [38]
10. Sly & the Family Stone: “Dance to the Music” (Epic) [62]
1969
1. Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” (RCA) [25]
2. The Rolling Stones: “Honky Tonk Women”/“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (London) [3]
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Down on the Corner”/“Fortunate Son” (Fantasy) [36]
4. Booker T. & the MG’s: “Time Is Tight” (Stax) [81]
5. Jerry Butler: “Only the Strong Survive” (Mercury) [53]
6. Sly & the Family Stone: “Everyday People” (Epic) [4]
7. James Brown: “Mother Popcorn Pt. 1 & 2” (King) [80]
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Bad Moon Rising” (Fantasy) [26]
9. Dusty Springfield: “Son-of-a Preacher Man” (Atlantic) [97]
10. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Green River” (Fantasy) [29]
1970
1. The Jackson 5: “I Want You Back” (Motown) [13]
2. Sly & the Family Stone: “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”/“Everybody Is a Star” (Epic) [20]
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Up Around the Bend”/“Run Through the Jungle” (Fantasy) [55]
4. Freda Payne: “Band of Gold” (Invictus) [31]
5. Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band: “Express Yourself” (Warner Bros.) [88]
6. Aretha Franklin: “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)” (Atlantic) [98]
7. Edwin Starr: “War” (Gordy) [9]
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Travelin’ Band”/“Who’ll Stop the Rain” (Fantasy) [30]
9. The Jackson 5: “I’ll Be There” (Motown) [1]
10. Stevie Wonder: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (Tamla) [37]
1971
1. The Temptations: “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” (Gordy) [13]
2. Rolling Stones: “Brown Sugar” (Rolling Stones) [15]
3. Sly & the Family Stone: “Family Affair” (Epic) [9]
4. Van Morrison: “Domino” (Warner Bros.) [98]
5. Al Green: “Tired of Being Alone” (Hi) [47]
6. Rod Stewart: “Maggie May”/“Reason to Believe” (Mercury) [3]
7. Isaac Hayes: “Theme from ‘Shaft’” (Enterprise) [11]
8. Undisputed Truth: “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (Gordy) [36]
9. The Staple Singers: “Respect Yourself” (Stax) [87]
10. Jean Knight: “Mr. Big Stuff” (Stax) [23]
1972
1. Spinners: “I’ll Be Around” (Atlantic) [45]
2. Elvis Presley: “Burnin’ Love” (RCA) [32]
3. Johnny Nash: “I Can See Clearly Now” (Epic) [5]
4. Al Green: “Look What You Done for Me” (Hi) [52]
5. Paul Simon: “Mother and Child Reunion” (Columbia) [55]
6. Curtis Mayfield: “Freddie’s Dead” (ABC-Paramount) [49]
7. Al Green: “I’m Still in Love with You” (Hi) [38]
8. The Temptations: “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (Gordy) [30]
9. The Staple Singers: “I’ll Take You There” (Stax) [13]
10. Bill Withers: “Use Me” (Sussex) [36]
1973
1. Marvin Gaye: “Let’s Get It On” (Tamla) [4]
2. Stevie Wonder: “Superstition” (Tamla) [17]
3. Gladys Knight & the Pips: “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Buddah) [10]
4. The O’Jays: “Love Train” (Philadelphia International) [30]
5. Bob Dylan: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Columbia) [99]
6. Al Green: “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” (Hi) [81]
7. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “The Love I Lost Pt. 1” (Philadelphia International) [80]
8. Steely Dan: “Do It Again” (ABC) [89]
9. Grand Funk Railroad: “We’re an American Band” (Capitol) [27]
10. The Isley Brothers: “That Lady Pt. 1” (T-Neck) [55]
1974
1. Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Sweet Home Alabama” (MCA) [71]
2. William DeVaughn: “Be Thankful for What You Got” (Roxbury) [63]
3. The Three Degrees: “When Will I See You Again” (Philadelphia International) [34]
4. Joni Mitchell: “Help Me” (Reprise) [86]
5. Paul McCartney & Wings: “Jet” (Apple) [83]
6. Al Green: “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)” (Hi) [73]
7. Bachman-Turner Overdrive: “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (Mercury) [27]
8. Stevie Wonder: “Living for the City” (Tamla) [60]
9. Steely Dan: “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” (MCA) [69]
10. Stevie Wonder: “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” (Tamla) [23]
1975
1. Gloria Gaynor: “Never Can Say Goodbye” (MGM) [86]
2. Stevie Wonder: “Boogie on Reggae Woman” (Tamla) [44]
3. The Elton John Band: “Philadelphia Freedom” (MCA) [4]
4. War: “Low Rider” (UA) [72]
5. Bad Company: “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Swan Song) [76]
6. Bee Gees: “Jive Talkin’” (RSO) [16]
7. 10cc: “I’m Not in Love” (Mercury) [23]
8. Ohio Players: “Fire” (Mercury) [31]
9. Average White Band: “Pick Up the Pieces” (Atlantic) [26]
10. War: “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” (UA) [59]
1976
1. The Manhattans: “Kiss and Say Goodbye” (Columbia) [10]
2. Fleetwood Mac: “Say You Love Me” (Reprise) [69]
3. Diana Ross: “Love Hangover” (Motown) [15]
4. The O’Jays: “I Love Music” (Philadelphia International) [57]
5. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “Wake Up Everybody” (Philadelphia International) [83]
6. Fleetwood Mac: “Rhiannon” (Reprise) [95]
7. Rhythm Heritage: “Theme from ‘S.W.A.T.’” (ABC) [34]
8. Paul Simon: “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (Columbia) [11]
9. Bee Gees: “You Should Be Dancing” (RSO) [16]
10. Vicki Sue Robinson: “Turn the Beat Around” (RCA) [84]
1977
1. Donna Summer: “I Feel Love” (Casablanca) [57]
2. Fleetwood Mac: “You Make Loving Fun” (Reprise) [86]
3. ABBA: “Dancing Queen” (Atlantic) [27]
4. Fleetwood Mac: “Go Your Own Way” (Reprise) [90]
5. Bob Seger: “Night Moves” (Capitol) [52]
6. Fleetwood Mac: “Dreams” (Reprise) [34]
7. James Taylor: “Handy Man” (Columbia) [50]
8. Marvin Gaye: “Got to Give It Up Pt. 1” (Tamla) [14]
9. Stevie Wonder: “Sir Duke” (Tamla) [6]
10. Stevie Wonder: “I Wish” (Tamla) [22]
1978
1. Chic: “Le Freak” (Atlantic) [1]
2. Parliament: “Flash Light” (Casablanca) [76]
3. Trammps: “Disco Inferno” (Atlantic) [71]
4. Bee Gees: “Stayin’ Alive” (RSO) [2]
5. Chic: “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” (Atlantic) [43]
6. Bee Gees: “Night Fever” (RSO) [3]
7. Rolling Stones: “Miss You” (Rolling Stones) [18]
8. Jackson Browne: “Running on Empty” (Asylum) [84]
9. Donna Summer: “Last Dance” (Casablanca) [29]
10. Raydio: “Jack and Jill” (Asylum) [49]
1979
1. Chic: “Good Times” (Atlantic) [9]
2. Michael Jackson: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (Epic) [21]
3. Sister Sledge: “We Are Family”/“He’s the Greatest Dancer” (Cotillion) [28/71]
4. Donna Summer: “Bad Girls” (Casablanca) [4]
5. McFadden & Whitehead: “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” (Philadelphia International) [86]
6. Blondie: “Heart of Glass” (Chrysalis) [17]
7. Chic: “I Want Your Love” (Atlantic) [69]
8. Donna Summer: “Hot Stuff” (Casablanca) [1]
9. Peaches & Herb: “Reunited” (Polydor) [6]
10. Village People: “Y.M.C.A.” (Casablanca) [13]
1980
1. Smokey Robinson: “Cruisin’” (Tamla) [29]
2. Diana Ross: “Upside Down” (Motown) [5]
3. Pretenders: “Brass in Pocket” (Sire) [67]
4. Prince: “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Warner Bros.) [91]
5. Gary Numan: “Cars” (Atco) [47]
6. Blondie: “Call Me” (Chrysalis) [1]
7. Diana Ross: “I’m Coming Out” (Motown) [56]
8. Devo: “Whip It” (Warner Bros.) [57]
9. The Manhattans: “Shining Star” (Columbia) [42]
10. Michael Jackson: “Rock with You” (Epic) [12]
1981
1. The Go-Go’s: “Our Lips Are Sealed” (I.R.S) [94]
2. Kool & the Gang: “Celebration” (De-Lite) [11]
3. Rick Springfield: “Jessie’s Girl” (RCA) [7]
4. Rolling Stones: “Start Me Up” (Rolling Stones) [22]
5. Kim Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes” (EMI America) [3]
6. Rick James: “Super Freak Pt. 1” (Gordy) [89]
7. Blondie: “The Tide Is High” (Chrysalis) [17]
8. Dolly Parton: “9 to 5” (RCA) [6]
9. Smokey Robinson: “Being with You” (Tamla) [8]
10. Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio: “A Woman Needs Love” (Arista) [38]
1982
1. Human League: “Don’t You Want Me” (A&M) [8]
2. Fleetwood Mac: “Hold Me” (Warner Bros.) [24]
3. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: “I Love Rock ’n Roll” (Boardwalk) [3]
4. The Go-Go’s: “We Got the Beat” (I.R.S.) [21]
5. Rolling Stones: “Waiting on a Friend” (Rolling Stones) [70]
6. Stevie Nicks: “Edge of Seventeen” (Modern) [88]
7. Stevie Wonder: “That Girl”/“Do I Do” (Tamla) [30/78]
8. Ray Parker, Jr.: “The Other Woman” (Arista) [32]
9. Willie Nelson: “Always on My Mind” (Columbia) [34]
10. Dazz Band: “Let It Whip” (Motown) [35]
1983
1. Marvin Gaye: “Sexual Healing” (Columbia) [25]
2. Michael Jackson: “Billie Jean” (Epic) [4]
3. Prince: “Little Red Corvette” (Warner Bros.) [47]
4. The Police: “Every Breath You Take” (A&M) [1]
5. Michael Jackson: “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” (Epic) [61]
6. Pretenders: “Back on the Chain Gang”/“My City Was Gone” (Sire) [52]
7. The Clash: “Rock the Casbah” (Epic) [55]
8. Michael Jackson: “Beat It” (Epic) [8]
9. Eddy Grant: “Electric Avenue” (Portrait) [13]
10. Stevie Nicks: “Stand Back” (Portrait) [53]
1984
1. Prince: “When Doves Cry”/“17 Days” (Warner Bros.) [1]
2. Van Halen: “Jump” (Warner Bros.) [3]
3. Shannon: “Let the Music Play” (Mirage) [80]
4. John Waite: “Missing You” (EMI America) [13]
5. Chaka Khan: “I Feel 4 U” (Warner Bros.) [25]
6. Thompson Twins: “Hold Me Now” (Arista) [28]
7. Prince & the Revolution: “Let’s Go Crazy”/“Erotic City” (Warner Bros.) [19]
8. Cyndi Lauper: “Time After Time” (Portrait) [17]
9. Sheila E.: “The Glamorous Life” (Warner Bros.) [42]
10. Cyndi Lauper: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (Portrait) [23]
1985
1. Bruce Springsteen: “Glory Days” (Columbia) [63]
2. Prince & the Revolution: “Raspberry Beret” (Warner Bros.) [29]
3. Madonna: “Crazy for You” (Geffen) [4]
4. Tears for Fears: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (Mercury) [10]
5. Bruce Springsteen: “Born in the U.S.A.” (Columbia) [82]
6. Katrina & the Waves: “Walking on Sunshine” (Capitol) [91]
7. Don Henley: “The Boys of Summer” (Geffen) [59]
8. Prince & the Revolution: “Pop Life” (Warner Bros.) [92]
9. Aretha Franklin: “Freeway of Love” (Arista) [47]
10. Klymaxx: “I Miss You” (Constellation) [51]
1986
1. Prince & the Revolution: “Kiss” (Warner Bros.) [5]
2. Run-D.M.C.: “Walk This Way” (Profile) [62]
3. Janet Jackson: “When I Think of You” (A&M) [15]
4. Pet Shop Boys: “West End Girls” (EMI America) [13]
5. Cameo: “Word Up” (Atlanta Artists) [63]
6. The Bangles: “Manic Monday” (Columbia) [39]
7. Janet Jackson: “What Have You Done for Me Lately” (A&M) [52]
8. Pretenders: “Don’t Get Me Wrong” (Sire) [79]
9. Nu Shooz: “I Can’t Wait” (Atlantic) [49]
10. Timex Social Club: “Rumors” (Jay) [76]
1987
1. Crowded House: “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (Capitol) [34]
2. Prince: “U Got the Look” (Paisley Park) [40]
3. Madonna: “Open Your Heart” (Sire) [21]
4. Bruce Springsteen: “Brilliant Disguise” (Columbia) [84]
5. Lou Gramm: “Midnight Blue” (Atlantic) [86]
6. Pet Shop Boys: “It’s a Sin” (EMI America) [94]
7. The Whispers: “Rock Steady” (Solar) [76]
8. Madonna: “La Isla Bonita” (Sire) [49]
9. Levert: “Casanova” (Atlantic) [72]
10. Bon Jovi: “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Mercury) [3]
1988
1. Guns N’ Roses: “Sweet Child o’ Mine” (Geffen) [7]
2. Pet Shop Boys featuring Dusty Springfield: “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” (EMI America) [43]
3. INXS: “New Sensation” (Atlantic) [54]
4. Guns N’ Roses: “Welcome to the Jungle” (Geffen) [76]
5. Pebbles: “Mercedes Boy” (MCA) [45]
6. UB40: “Red Red Wine” (A&M) [24]
7. Pet Shop Boys: “Always on My Mind” (EMI America) [69]
8. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: “I Hate Myself for Loving You” (Blackheart) [91]
9. Tracy Chapman: “Fast Car” (Elektra) [79]
10. Billy Ocean: “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” (Jive) [12]
1989
1. Madonna: “Like a Prayer” (Sire) [5]
2. Tone Loc: “Funky Cold Medina” (Delicious Vinyl) [54]
3. Young MC: “Bust a Move” (Delicious Vinyl) [55]
4. Soul II Soul: “Keep on Movin’” (Virgin) [95]
5. Tone Loc: “Wild Thing” (Delicious Vinyl) [39]
6. Soul II Soul: “Back to Life” (Virgin) [48]
7. Madonna: “Express Yourself” (Sire) [37]
8. Madonna: “Cherish” (Sire) [40]
9. Bobby Brown: “My Prerogative” (MCA) [9]
10. Fine Young Cannibals: “She Drives Me Crazy” (I.R.S.) [25]
1990
1. Digital Underground: “The Humpty Dance” (Tommy Boy) [59]
2. Black Box: “Everybody Everybody” (RCA) [80]
3. Deee-Lite: “Groove Is in the Heart”/“What Is Love?” (Elektra) [47]
4. Tony! Toni! Toné!: “Feels Good” (Wing) [56]
5. Sinéad O’Connor: “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Ensign) [2]
6. DNA featuring Suzanne Vega: “Tom’s Diner” (A&M) [64]
7. Biz Markie: “Just a Friend” (Cold Chillin’) [94]
8. Technotronic: “Pump Up the Jam” (SBK) [22]
9. The B-52’s: “Roam” (Reprise) [44]
10. Lisa Stansfield: “All Around the World” (Arista) [32]
1991
1. Londonbeat: “I’ve Been Thinking About You” (Radioactive) [32]
2. Prince & the New Power Generation: “Cream” (Paisley Park) [17]
3. L.L. Cool J: “Around the Way Girl” (Def Jam) [75]
4. R.E.M.: “Losing My Religion” (Warner Bros.) [51]
5. Naughty By Nature: “O.P.P.” (Tommy Boy) [43]
6. Color Me Badd: “I Wanna Sex You Up” (Giant) [7]
7. Black Box: “Strike It Up” (RCA) [91]
8. P.M. Dawn: “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” (Gee Street) [19]
9. Madonna: “Justify My Love” (Sire) [9]
10. Lenny Kravitz: “It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over” (Virgin) [35]
1992
1. Nirvana: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (DGC) [41]
2. Kris Kross: “Jump” (Ruffhouse) [3]
3. U2: “One” (Island) [62]
4. Kris Kross: “Warm It Up” (Ruffhouse) [62]
5. Arrested Development: “Tennessee” (Chrysalis) [52]
6. Color Me Badd: “All 4 Love” (Giant) [8]
7. Mary J. Blige: “Real Love” (Uptown) [20]
8. U2: “Mysterious Ways” (Island) [70]
9. Madonna: “Erotica” (Sire) [74]
10. En Vogue: “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” (Atco EastWest) [19]
1993
1. Tony! Toni! Toné!: “If I Had No Loot” (Wing) [48]
2. Aerosmith: “Cryin’” (Geffen) [59]
3. Robin S: “Show Me Love” (Big Beat) [31]
4. Ice Cube: “It Was a Good Day”/“Check Yo’ Self” (Priority) [75]
5. Salt-n-Pepa: “Shoop” (Next Plateau) [25]
6. Digable Planets: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Pendulum) [73]
7. Madonna: “Deeper and Deeper” (Maverick) [66]
8. Tag Team: “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (Life) [1]
9. Dr. Dre: “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (Death Row) [12]
10. Naughty By Nature: “Hip Hop Hooray” (Tommy Boy) [40]
1994
1. Beck: “Loser” (DGC) [68]
2. Coolio: “Fantastic Voyage” (Tommy Boy) [21]
3. Real McCoy: “Another Night” (Arista) [5]
4. Salt-n-Pepa featuring En Vogue: “Whatta Man” (Next Plateau) [23]
5. The Cranberries: “Linger” (Island) [47]
6. R.E.M.: “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” (Warner Bros.) [65]
7. Prince: “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” (NPG) [19]
8. Aaliyah: “Back and Forth” (Blackground) [35]
9. Pretenders: “I’ll Stand By You” (Sire) [43]
10. Gin Blossoms: “Found Out About You” (A&M) [93]
1995
1. Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige: “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By” (Def Jam) [46]
2. TLC: “Waterfalls” (LaFace) [5]
3. Craig Mack: “Flava in Ya Ear” (Bad Boy) [56]
4. Luniz: “I Got 5 on It” (Noo Trybe) [51]
5. Real McCoy: “Come and Get Your Love” (Arista) [82]
6. The Notorious B.I.G.: “Big Poppa”/“Warning” (Bad Boy) [45]
7. TLC: “Creep” (LaFace) [3]
8. Skee-Lo: “I Wish” (Sunshine) [74]
9. The Notorious B.I.G.: “One More Chance/Stay with Me” (Bad Boy) [17]
10. Real McCoy: “Run Away” (Arista) [34]
1996
1. Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre: “No Diggity” (Interscope) [8]
2. Everything But the Girl: “Missing (Todd Terry Club Mix)” (Atlantic) [14]
3. Mary J. Blige: “Not Gon’ Cry” (Arista) [19]
4. Smashing Pumpkins: “1979” (Virgin) [43]
5. Quad City DJ’s: “C’mon & Ride It (the Train)” (Big Beat) [22]
6. Busta Rhymes: “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check” (Flipmode) [58]
7. OutKast: “Elevators (Me & You)” (LaFace) [60]
8. Toni Braxton: “Un-Break My Heart” (LaFace) [1]
9. Tracy Chapman: “Give Me One Reason” (Elektra) [13]
10. L.L. Cool J: “Doin’ It” (Def Jam) [55]
1997
1. Ma$e: “Feel So Good” (Bad Boy) [41]
2. Freak Nasty: “Da’ Dip” (Power) [31]
3. Chumbawamba: “Tubthumping” (Republic) [27]
4. Hanson: “MMMBop” (Mercury) [11]
5. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott: “Sock It 2 Me” (The Gold Mind) [56]
6. The Notorious B.I.G.: “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” (Bad Boy) [4]
7. Spice Girls: “Wannabe” (Virgin) [8]
8. Tony Toni Toné: “Thinking of You” (Mercury) [95]
9. Timbaland & Magoo: “Up Jumps da Boogie” (Blackground) [62]
10. Third Eye Blind: “Semi-Charmed Life” (Elektra) [16]
1998
1. Next: “Too Close” (Arista) [1]
2. Janet Jackson: “Together Again” (Virgin) [7]
3. Will Smith: “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” (Columbia) [14]
4. Lauryn Hill: “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Ruffhouse) [19]
5. Wyclef Jean: “Gone ’Til November” (Ruffhouse) [49]
6. The Verve: “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (VC/Hut) [88]
7. Brandy & Monica: “The Boy Is Mine” (Atlantic) [2]
8. Backstreet Boys: “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” (Jive) [29]
9. Beastie Boys: “Intergalactic” (Grand Royal) [98]
10. Monifah: “Touch It” (Uptown) [49]
1999
1. Backstreet Boys: “I Want It That Way” (Jive) [25]
2. Shania Twain: “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Mercury) [48]
3. LFO: “Summer Girls” (Logic) [28]
4. Juvenile featuring Mannie Fresh and Li’l Wayne: “Back That Thang Up” (No Limit) [36]
5. Sporty Thievz: “No Pigeons” (Roc-a-Block) [98]
6. Backstreet Boys: “Larger Than Life” (Jive) [97]
7. TLC: “Unpretty” (LaFace) [10]
8. Len: “Steal My Sunshine” (Work) [33]
9. Sugar Ray: “Every Morning” (Lava) [16]
10. Whitney Houston: “It’s Not Right But It’s OK” (Arista) [44]
2000
1. Destiny’s Child: “Say My Name” (Columbia) [9]
2. Jay-Z: “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” (Roc-a-Fella) [49]
3. Eminem: “The Real Slim Shady” (Aftermath) [51]
4. Nelly: “(Hot S**t) Country Grammar” (Fo’ Real) [36]
5. Mystikal: “Shake Ya Ass” (Jive) [57]
6. Kid Rock: “Only God Knows Why” (Top Dog/Lava) [72]
7. Macy Gray: “I Try” (Epic) [39]
8. Madonna: “Music” (Maverick) [4]
9. Destiny’s Child: “Jumpin’, Jumpin’” (Columbia) [17]
10. Aaliyah: “Try Again” (Blackground) [10]
2001
1. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott: “Get Ur Freak On” (The Gold Mind) [45]
2. Nelly featuring City Spud: “Ride wit’ Me” (Fo’ Real) [25]
3. Pink: “Get the Party Started” (Arista) [27]
4. OutKast: “Ms. Jackson” (LaFace) [22]
5. Petey Pablo: “Raise Up” (Jive) [95]
6. Jay-Z: “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” (Roc-a-Fella) [54]
7. U2: “Beautiful Day” (Interscope) [73]
8. City High: “What Would You Do?” (Booga Basement) [30]
9. Aerosmith: “Jaded” (Columbia) [52]
10. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott: “One Minute Man” (The Gold Mind) [64]
2002
1. Pink: “Don’t Let Me Get Me” (Arista) [36]
2. No Doubt featuring Lady Saw: “Underneath It All” (Interscope) [71]
3. Kylie Minogue: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (Capitol) [45]
4. Tweet: “Oops (Oh My)” (The Gold Mind) [38]
5. Nelly: “Hot in Herre” (Fo’ Real) [3]
6. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott: “Work It” (The Gold Mind) [54]
7. No Doubt: “Hella Good” (Interscope) [59]
8. Mr. Cheeks: “Lights, Camera, Action!” (Universal) [49]
9. Eminem: “Without Me” (Aftermath) [21]
10. N.O.R.E.: “Nothin’” (Def Jam) [37]
I need to say something here about the Luomo show I caught at Pianos in the L.E.S. two nights ago. I saw him at Fun a few months ago, took lots of mushrooms for the occasion, and thanks to a fusillade of technical fuckups the show for all intents & purposes sucked. Not this time, though: aside from some recent compilation trax ("The Present Lover" from Digital Disco, "Melt" from Clicks & Cuts 3), his recent Gold Chains remix, "Body Speaking" from the 12-inch, and "Tessio" from Vocalcity, it was all new stuff, and it was fucking blinding. The vocals are both more assured and more desperate than the ones on Vocalcity, less murky and more upfront, and he's mixing them into desire-abstractions that dart and dip and glide by you with an assurance that's almost audacious. The grooves are fucking incredible; I danced for about 3/4 of the show, I think Geeta managed about half (correct me if I'm wrong, please), and I'm proud to say that both Jody Beth and Jen, neither of whom is as rabid a dance music fan as I am or, to a lesser extent, Geeta is, both danced pretty much the entire fucking time. If the Luomo album (not due till October, grumble grumble) is half as good as that set, it'll unquestionably be one of the best albums of the year.
Gee, how utterly surprising
that the Republicans aren't actually doing as well as they'd like you to believe, popularity-wise. In fact, they're doing the equivalent of stuffing the ballot box by writing letters to the editors of newspapers under assumed citizens' names. ("Astroturfing," they call it--manufacturing a grassroots campaign where there is none.) Problem is, many of those assumed citizens wrote the same fucking letter to different papers. Sort of like the whole Sony-inventing-a-movie-critic's-quotes thing, only on a far more insidious scale...and I'll say no more in order to protect whatever rights I have left as a U.S. citizen.
And now a few other year-end lists/overviews I liked, from Michael Daddino, Slap Dee Barnes (whoever that is; like their style, though), Philip Sherburne, Simon Reynolds (singles and albums/reissues), and Tom Ewing (four download recommendation lists so far, plus an overview). More to come, surely.
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