By Roger Nead
July 27, 2004
FIRST THEY WANT TO EAT OUR BRAINS...NOW THEY WANT TO HAVE HIT SONGS:
The dead or course! And like they say, old pop artists never die, they just get manipulated into doing new recordings.
I’m referring to the very late Pop/Country legend CONWAY TWITTY. Twitty is the featured artist on the #57 hit on Billboard’s Country Singles chart this week, despite the fact that he died in 1993.
Of course, being deceased has never stopped an artist from having a chart hit, for example: 2PAC, JOHN LENNON, JIM CROCE, and the country charts have always been open to the dead, in fact PATSY CLINE and JIM REEVES had a Top 40 country duet with “Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)” in 1982, 19 years after she died, and 18 years after his death. This recording was made by splicing together the two versions of the song each recorded separately before their deaths.
This technique has been done on many hit duets in pop music history, for example NATALIE COLE & NAT “KING” COLE’S Grammy winning “Unforgettable” in 1991, and NEIL DIAMOND & BARBRA STREISAND’S chart topping “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” in 1978. But Conway’s new hit, which is titled: “(I Wanna Hear) A Cheatin’ Song,” and is by ANITA COCHRAN Featuring CONWAY TWITTY, is something pop music has never seen. You see, Twitty never actually sang the line of the new hit, which he sings. Sneaky recording technicians actually pulled each word from previously released CONWAY TWITTY recordings to make up the new line.
If this catches on, 2PAC might be having new chart hits well into the next century.
WASTING AWAY AGAIN IN NUMBERONEVILLE:
I’m not sure what’s more surprising...the fact that JIMMY BUFFETT’S latest CD debuts in the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, or the fact that’s it’s Buffett’s first ever #1 album.
The “Parrotheads” (which is Buffett lingo for die-hard fans, think the drunken sailor equivalent to a “Trekker”) have long supported their hero’s career for the last 30 years, but it took a recent revival in the Country Music scene to really put Jimmy on Top. Last year, his duet with ALAN JACKSON, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” spent eight weeks at #1 on the Country Singles chart, and his current HANK WILLIAMS remake “Hey Good Lookin’” which features CLINT BLACK, KENNY CHESNEY, ALAN JACKSON, TOBY KEITH and GEORGE STRAIT, is peaking at #8 this week.
Well, to me he’ll always be that “Cheesburger In Paradise” guy.
OOH LOOK....ANOTHER REVIEW!:
KILLRADIO: RAISED ON WHIPPED CREAM
Release Date: September 7th, 2004
Label: Columbia Records
It’s been quite some time since a major record label released a real honest-to-god hard-core punk rock album. It’s even more surprising coming from Columbia (a label which is best known as the home of: SIMON & GARFUNKEL, BARBRA STREISAND, GEORGE MICHAEL, and MARIAH CAREY). But here it is: “Raised On Whipped Cream” by KILLRADIO.
Although I don’t really want to make a comparison, but the hard-core liberalism of KILLRADIO reminds me of the heyday of THE DEAD KENNEDYS. I mean there hasn’t been many punkers willing to express such contempt to the Republican party since JELLO BIAFRA and company called it quits during the Regan era. Honestly, it’s about time too. Personally, I’m neither a Republican or Democrat, and I don’t really support either party, but in the last decade or so, rock music seemed to shy away from politics. Leaving Country music’s “Right Wing” defense to really stand out.
KILLRADIO have a very good chance to find a huge following with the 16-25 year old liberals, and might even bring a new “hard-core” punk movement into the mainstream. Not really for the GOOD CHARLOTTE/SUGARCULT fans, but more for the youths now discovering BLACK FLAG/DK/ANTHRAX.
At any rate, KILLRADIO will shake up rock music a little, and your parents will HATE it!
For more info go to: www.killradiorevolution.com
WEB SITE OF THE WEEK:
My new weekly feature! I’ll put up a link of a cool Web site everyone should be checking out.
This week: Hopefully all the loyal Moviepoopshoot fans have spent some time getting to know Homestar Runner and his friends Strong Bad, The Cheat, Pom Pom, Coach Z, Strong Sad, and all the rest. But if not...You Must Go: www.homestarrunner.com So, shut up and do it now...or else “I’ll Blow Up The Ocean!”
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 singles:
1) Confessions Part II by USHER
2) Slow Motion by JUVENILE Featuring SOULJA SLIM
3) Burn by USHER
4) Lean Back by TERROR SQUAD
5) If I Ain’t Got You by ALICIA KEYS
6) Move Ya Body by NINA SKY Featuring JABBA
7) The Reason by HOOBASTANK
8) Turn Me On by KEVIN LYTTLE Featuring SPRAGGA BENZ
9) On Fire by LLOYD BANKS
10) Dip It Low by CHRISTINA MILIAN
U.S. Album Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 albums:
1) License To Chill by JIMMY BUFFETT
2) Confessions by USHER
3) The Hunger For More by LLOYD BANKS
4) The Tipping Point by THE ROOTS
5) Here For The Party by GRETCHEN WILSON
6) Under My Skin by AVRIL LAVIGNE
7) Horse Of A Different Color by BIG & RICH
8) Musicology by PRINCE
9) A Cinderella Story – SOUNDTRACK
10) Los Lonely Boys by LOS LONELY BOYS
Top 10 Most Downloaded Tracks:
Here is this week’s Top 10 Hot Digital Tracks:
1) Yeah! by USHER Featuring LIL’ JON & LUDACRIS
2) Pieces Of Me by ASHLEE SIMPSON
3) The Reason by HOOBASTANK
4) Welcome Back by MASE
5) Leave (Get Out) by JOJO
6) Turn Me On by KEVIN LYTTLE
7) Let’s Get It Started by BLACK EYED PEAS
8) Accidentally In Love by COUNTING CROWS
9) Slow Motion by JUVENILE Featuring SOULJA SLIM
10) Take Me Out by FRANZ FERDINAND
Modern Rock Tracks:
Here are this week’s Top 10 Modern Rock tracks:
1) Float On by MODEST MOUSE
2) Slither by VELVET REVOLVER
3) Just Like You by THREE DAYS GRACE
4) Talk Shows On Mute by INCUBUS
5) Vindicated by DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
6) Take Me Out by FRANZ FERDINAND
7) Broken by SEETHER Featuring AMY LEE
8) Breaking The Habit by LINKIN PARK
9) Somebody Told Me by THE KILLERS
10) Down by BLINK-182
U.K. Singles Chart
Here are the Top Ten singles in the UK:
1) Lola’s Theme by SHAPESHIFTERS
2) Some Girls by RACHEL STEVENS
3) Burn by USHER
4) Tipsy by J-KWON
5) See It In A Boy’s Eyes by JAMELIA
6) First Of The Gang To Die by MORRISSEY
7) Everytime by BRITNEY SPEARS
8) Move Ya Body by NINA SKY Featuring JABBA
9) Dragostea Din Tel by O-ZONE
10) I Don’t Wanna Know by MARIO WINANS Featuring ENYA & P. DIDDY
My Own Personal Top 30 Chart:
1) Breathe by SECRET MACHINES
2) She Can Play Me Like A Drum Machine by DEATH RAY DAVIES
3) Gotta Go Through It by BLINKER THE STAR
4) Uncorrected Proofs by THE WEAKERTHANS
5) One More Day by DYKEHOUSE
6) P.J. Soles by LOCAL H
7) 15 Minutes by CHOMSKY
8) Hold Me Up by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
9) Without You Here by EVE 6
10) Met A Girl Like You Once by ZACK HEXUM
11) Latchkey Princess by THE VANISHED
12) Primitive (The Way I Treat You) by AMBULANCE LTD
13) Say Something New by THE CONCRETES
14) Better by COWBOY MOUTH
15) Unbroken (Hotel Baby) by MONSTER MAGNET
16) Turn It Up by SHILOH
17) Golden Touch by RAZORLIGHT
18) I’m Not Okay (I Promise) by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
19) I’ll Change For Now by NEVER HEARD OF IT
20) Cookin’ (Version) by THIEVERY CORPORATION
21) Errant Geese by THE BON MOTS
22) C’mon by GO BETTY GO
23) The Fold Out by THE JEALOUS SOUND
24) Fever by PINK GREASE
25) Wish I Never Met You by STATE OF SHOCK
26) Walking Around Waiting Downtown by REVERIE SOUND MACHINE
27) Passing By by ZERO 7
28) Am I The Same Girl by KING RADIO
29) Trouble by DJ ME DJ YOU
30) Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS
FUN & GAMES:
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC:
THE ‘70S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 31 years ago July 27TH, 1973!
THE ‘80S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 21 years ago
July 27TH, 1983!
TOP O’ THE CHARTS:
Let’s go through time and see what was at #1 this week on the various popular music charts!
#1 Song on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart, July 27, 2000:
It’s Gonna Be Me by ‘N SYNC
#1 Song on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart, July 27, 1995:
You Oughta Know by ALANIS MORISSETTE
#1 Album on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, July 27, 1990:
Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em by M.C. HAMMER
#1 Song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart, July 27, 1985:
The Power Of Love by HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
#1 Song on Billboard’s Country & Western Chart, July 27, 1980:
Bar Room Buddies by MERLE HAGGARD & CLINT EASTWOOD
#1 Song on Billboard’s R&B Chart, July 27, 1975:
Fight The Power by THE ISLEY BROTHERS
#1 Song on the UK Chart, July 27, 1970:
In The Summertime by MUNGO JERRY
#1 Song on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, July 27, 1965:
(Such An) Easy Question by ELVIS PRESLEY
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Top Ten Charts, 12, 22, 32, and 42 years ago this week:
JULY 27, 1992:
1) Baby Got Back by SIR MIX-A-LOT
2) This Used To Be My Playground by MADONNA
3) Baby-Baby-Baby by TLC
4) Achy Breaky Heart by BILLY RAY CYRUS
5) Just Another Day by JON SECADA
6) November Rain by GUNS N’ ROSES
7) Life Is A Highway by TOM COCHRANE
8) End Of The Road by BOYZ II MEN
9) Giving Him Something He Can Feel by EN VOGUE
10) Wishing On A Star by THE COVER GIRLS
JULY 27, 1982:
1) Eye Of The Tiger by SURVIVOR
2) Rosanna by TOTO
3) Hurts So Good by JOHN COUGAR
4) Hold Me by FLEETWOOD MAC
5) Abracadabra by THE STEVE MILLER BAND
6) Hard To Say I’m Sorry by CHICAGO
7) Don’t You Want Me by THE HUMAN LEAGUE
8) Even The Nights Are Better by AIR SUPPLY
9) Only The Lonely by THE MOTELS
10) Keep The Fire Burnin’ by REO SPEEDWAGON
JULY 27, 1972:
1) Alone Again (Naturally) by GILBERT O’SULLIVAN
2) Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) by LOOKING GLASS
3) Too Late To Turn Back Now by CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE
4) (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right by LUTHER INGRAM
5) Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast by WAYNE NEWTON
6) Where Is The Love by ROBERT FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY
7) School’s Out by ALICE COOPER
8) How Do You Do? by MOUTH & MacNEAL
9) Lean On Me by BILL WITHERS
10) Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) by THE HOLLIES
JULY 27, 1962:
1) Roses Are Red (My Love) by BOBBY VINTON
2) The Wah-Watusi by THE ORLONS
3) Sealed With A Kiss by BRIAN HYLAND
4) I Can’t Stop Loving You by RAY CHARLES
5) The Stripper by DAVID ROSE
6) Speedy Gonzales by PAT BOONE
7) Wolverton Mountain by CLAUDE KING
8) Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by NEIL SEDAKA
9) Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) by DEE DEE SHARP
10) Ahab, The Arab by RAY STEVENS
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION:
Below is a list of pop hits for JANET JACKSON. What is the significance of the order I’ve placed them in? (Hint: It isn’t chronological!)
1) “Control”
2) “If”
3) “Runaway”
4) “Let’s Wait Awhile”
5) “All For You”
THE ANSWER:
The songs above are listed in the order of descending peak position.
“Control” peaked at #5 in 1987
“If” peaked at #4 in 1993
“Runaway” peaked at #3 in 1995
“Let’s Wait Awhile” peaked at #2 in 1987
And “All For You” peaked at #1 in 2001
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
Below is a huge list of pop music artists. Some of them you know, some maybe you don’t, but they’ve all had hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Regarding the songs they’ve charted with, they also share one very distinct thing in common. What is it?
RAY CHARLES
AEROSMITH
ARETHA FRANKLIN
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
CHUBBY CHECKER
ANNE MURRAY
UNDERGROUND SUNSHINE
JOE COCKER
WILSON PICKETT
THE CARPENTERS
ARTHUR CONLEY
EMMYLOU HARRIS
IKE & TINA TURNER
RAMSEY LEWIS
THE 5 STAIRSTEPS
SERGIO MENDES
ESTHER PHILLIPS
FATS DOMINO
THE VONTASTICS
BOB KUBAN & THE IN-MEN
DAVID & JONATHAN
TIFFANY
Answer next week!
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