By Roger Nead
August 3, 2004
THE POP CHARTS ARE CHANGING VERY “SLOWLY” THESE DAYS:
JUVENILE becomes the first male artist to have a #1 hit in the US since February 21st, not to be named USHER. “Slow Motion” by JUVENILE Featuring SOULJA SLIM is the seventh #1 hit of 2004 and only the second #1 hit since the Hot 100 began in 1958, to start with the word “Slow.” Coincidentally, the first #1 hit to begin with the word “Slow” was the last #1 hit by a “non-USHER” male artist: “Slow Jamz” by TWISTA Featuring KANYE WEST & JAMIE FOXX.
“Slow Motion” is the first #1 hit for JUVENILE and SOULJA SLIM, as “Slow Jamz” was the first #1 hit for TWISTA, KANYE WEST, and JAMIE FOXX.
The only other #1 in the history of the Hot 100 with the word “Slow” in the title was “Nice & Slow” by (guess who) USHER, in 1998. Before that, you’d have to go all the way to 1952, six years before the launch of the Hot 100, to find PEE WEE KING’S “Slow Poke” at #1.
”LITTLE GUITARS,” “BIG ALBUMS”
VAN HALEN has been around so damn long that’s there’s not much more one can say about them. But here’s something maybe you didn’t know:
The new double CD Greatest Hits release “The Best Of Both Worlds” is the band’s 14th album, and their 13th to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. The fact is, every release since their first album, 1978’s “Van Halen” has reached the Top 6. This is despite the fact that every VH album since “VH II” has gone steadily down in quality.
Here’s VAN HALEN’S album chart history:
VAN HALEN (#19, 1978)
VAN HALEN II (#6, 1979)
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST (#6, 1980)
FAIR WARNING (#5, 1981)
DIVER DOWN (#3, 1982)
MCMLXXXIV (1984) (#2, 1984)
5150 (#1, 1986)
OU812 (#1, 1988)
FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (#1, 1991)
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW (LIVE) (#5, 1993)
BALANCE (#1, 1995)
BEST OF VOLUME 1 (#1, 1996)
VAN HALEN III (#4, 1998)
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: GREATEST HITS (#3, 2004)
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: Here’s a great site for anyone interested in old movie theaters, drive-in theaters, amusement parks, and drag strips, especially if you’re from the state of Michigan. Either way, it’s a lot of fun: www.waterwinterwonderland.com
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 singles:
1) Slow Motion by JUVENILE Featuring SOULJA SLIM
2) Confessions Part II by USHER
3) Lean Back by TERROR SQUAD
4) Move Ya Body by NINA SKY Featuring JABBA
5) If I Ain’t Got You by ALICIA KEYS
6) Turn Me On by KEVIN LYTTLE Featuring SPRAGGA BENZ
7) Dip It Low by CHRISTINA MILIAN
8) Burn by USHER
9) The Reason by HOOBASTANK
10) Sunshine by LIL’ FLIP Featuring LEA
U.S. Album Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 albums:
1) Autobiography by ASHLEE SIMPSON
2) License To Chill by JIMMY BUFFETT
3) The Best Of Both Worlds by VAN HALEN
4) Confessions by USHER
5) Here For The Party by GRETCHEN WILSON
6) The Hunger For More by LLOYD BANKS
7) Under My Skin by AVRIL LAVIGNE
8) Musicology by PRINCE
9) Horse Of A Different Color by BIG & RICH
10) A Cinderella Story – SOUNDTRACK
Top 10 Most Downloaded Tracks:
Here is this week’s Top 10 Hot Digital Tracks:
1) Pieces Of Me by ASHLEE SIMPSON
2) Yeah! by USHER Featuring LIL’ JON & LUDACRIS
3) Let’s Get It Started by BLACK EYED PEAS
4) The Reason by HOOBASTANK
5) Turn Me On by KEVIN LYTTLE
6) She Will Be Loved by MAROON5
7) Leave (Get Out) by JOJO
8) My Happy Ending by AVRIL LAVIGNE
9) Welcome Back by MASE
10) Accidentally In Love by COUNTING CROWS
Modern Rock Tracks:
Here are this week’s Top 10 Modern Rock tracks:
1) Just Like You by THREE DAYS GRACE
2) Vindicated by DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
3) Float On by MODEST MOUSE
4) Breaking The Habit by LINKIN PARK
5) Take Me Out by FRANZ FERDINAND
6) Slither by VELVET REVOLVER
7) Talk Shows On Mute by INCUBUS
8) Broken by SEETHER Featuring AMY LEE
9) Somebody Told Me by THE KILLERS
10) Anthem Of Our Dying Day by STORY OF THE YEAR
U.K. Singles Chart
Here are the Top Ten singles in the UK:
1) Dry Your Eyes by THE STREETS
2) Lola’s Theme by SHAPESHIFTERS
3) Some Girls by RACHEL STEVENS
4) Tipsy by J-KWON
5) Burn by USHER
6) See It In A Boy’s Eyes by JAMELIA
7) Everytime by BRITNEY SPEARS
8) Dragostea Din Tel by O-ZONE
9) Move Ya Body by NINA SKY Featuring JABBA
10) Satellite Of Love ’04 by LOU REED
My Own Personal Top 30 Chart:
1) She Can Play Me Like A Drum Machine by DEATH RAY DAVIES
2) Gotta Go Through It by BLINKER THE STAR
3) Uncorrected Proofs by THE WEAKERTHANS
4) P.J. Soles by LOCAL H
5) One More Day by DYKEHOUSE
6) Breathe by SECRET MACHINES
7) Without You Here by EVE 6
8) Met A Girl Like You Once by ZACK HEXUM
9) Latchkey Princess by THE VANISHED
10) Unbroken (Hotel Baby) by MONSTER MAGNET
11) Hold Me Up by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
12) Say Something New by THE CONCRETES
13) Turn It Up by SHILOH
14) Golden Touch by RAZORLIGHT
15) I’m Not Okay (I Promise) by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
16) 15 Minutes by CHOMSKY
17) The Fold Out by THE JEALOUS SOUND
18) I’ll Change For Now by NEVER HEARD OF IT
19) Cookin’ (Version) by THIEVERY CORPORATION
20) Fever by PINK GREASE
21) Primitive (The Way I Treat You) by AMBULANCE LTD
22) Experimental Film by THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
23) How We Know by THE THERMALS
24) Wish I Never Met You by STATE OF SHOCK
25) Nowhere Again by SECRET MACHINES
26) You Were The One by KING RADIO
27) Moonshine by LIT
28) Better by COWBOY MOUTH
29) Errant Geese by THE BON MOTS
30) C’mon by GO BETTY GO
FUN & GAMES:
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC:
THE ‘70S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 27 years ago August 3RD, 1977!
THE ‘80S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 17 years ago
August 3RD, 1987!
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, August 3, 1999:
Genie In A Bottle by CHRISTINA AGUILERA
#1 Song on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart, August 3, 1994:
Come Out And Play by THE OFFSPRING
#1 Song on Billboard’s R&B Chart, August 3, 1989:
On Our Own by BOBBY BROWN
#1 Song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart, August 3, 1984:
Rock Me Tonite by BILLY SQUIRE
#1 Song on the UK Chart, August 3, 1979:
I Don’t Like Mondays by THE BOOMTOWN RATS
#1 Album on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, August 3, 1974:
Caribou by ELTON JOHN
#1 Song on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, August 3, 1969:
Spinning Wheel by BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
#1 Song on Billboard’s Country & Western Chart, August 3, 1964:
Dang Me by ROGER MILLER
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Top Ten Charts, 13, 23, 33, and 43 years ago this week:
AUGUST 3, 1991:
1) (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by BRYAN ADAMS
2) P.A.S.S.I.O.N. by RYTHM SYNDICATE
3) Right Here, Right Now by JESUS JONES
4) Summertime by D.J. JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE
5) Every Heartbeat by AMY GRANT
6) It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over by LENNY KRAVITZ
7) Unbelievable by EMF
8) Temptation by CORINA
9) Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave) by ROXETTE
10) I’ll Be There by THE ESCAPE CLUB
AUGUST 3, 1981:
1) Jessie’s Girl by RICK SPRINGFIELD
2) Endless Love by DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE
3) Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” (Believe It Or Not) by JOEY SCARBURY
4) I Don’t Need You by KENNY ROGERS
5) Elvira by THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
6) Slow Hand by THE POINTER SISTERS
7) Boy From New York City by MANHATTAN TRANSFER
8) Hearts by MARTY BALIN
9) Queen Of Hearts by JUICE NEWTON
10) The One That You Love by AIR SUPPLY
AUGUST 3, 1971:
1) How Can You Mend A Broken Heart by BEE GEES
2) Indian Reservation by THE RAIDERS
3) You’ve Got A Friend by JAMES TAYLOR
4) Mr. Big Stuff by JEAN KNIGHT
5) Draggin’ The Line by TOMMY JAMES
6) Take Me Home, Country Roads by JOHN DENVER With FAT CITY
7) It’s Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move by CAROLE KING
8) Beginnings/Colour My World by CHICAGO
9) What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin And John by TOM CLAY
10) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) by MARVIN GAYE
AUGUST 3, 1961:
1) Tossin’ And Turnin’ by BOBBY LEWIS
2) I Like It Like That by CHRIS KENNER
3) Last Night by THE MAR-KEYS
4) Dum Dum by BRENDA LEE
5) Hats Off To Larry by DEL SHANNON
6) Together by CONNIE FRANCIS
7) Pretty Little Angel Eyes by CURTIS LEE
8) Let’s Twist Again by CHUBBY CHECKER
9) Wooden Heart by JOE DOWELL
10) Michael by THE HIGHWAYMEN
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
LAST WEEK’S 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
THE ANSWER:
You knew this one didn’t you? They’ve all had hit singles with cover versions of well-known Beatle songs!
RAY CHARLES charted with versions of “Yesterday” (#25 in 1967), and “Eleanor Rigby” (#35 in 1968).
AEROSMITH reached #23 in 1978, with their take on “Come Together” from the soundtrack to the ill-fated SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND movie.
ARETHA FRANKLIN followed Ray’s version of “Eleanor Rigby” with her own soul version, peaking at #17, in 1969.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE released the biggest hit from the SGT. PEPPER soundtrack with their version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” which went all the way up to #9 in 1978.
CHUBBY CHECKER is best known for taking “The Twist” to #1 on two separate occasions in 1960, and 1962, but he also “twisted” his way though a version of THE BEATLES’ “Back In The U.S.S.R.” in 1969.
Canadian MOR vocalist ANNE MURRAY charted with three BEATLE remakes: “You Won’t See Me” (#8 in 1974), “Day Tripper” (#59 in 1975), and “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You,” (#64 in 1980).
UNDERGROUND SUNSHINE had their one and only chart hit with a cover of the classic BEATLE tune from the white album: “Birthday” (#26 in 1969).
Like RAY CHARLES, and ANNE MURRAY, JOE COCKER also visited the BEATLES catalog a couple of time, beginning with “With A Little Help From My Friends,” (#68 in 1968), and again with “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,” (#30 in 1970).
WILSON PICKETT served up a soul version of “Hey Jude” in 1969, and took it all the way to #23.
Karin and Richard CARPENTER’S first hit was a take on THE BEATLES #1 hit from 1965: “Ticket To Ride.” THE CARPENTERS peaked at #54 with that one.
In 1969, ARTHUR CONLEY reached #51 with his version of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” making it his last pop chart appearance.
Country/Folk singer EMMYLOU HARRIS made #65 in 1976 with her remake of “Here, There And Everywhere,” originally a cut on THE BEATLES 1966 release Revolver.
IKE & TINA TURNER only made it to #57 in 1970, with their version of the #1 hit “Come Together.”
RAMSEY LEWIS charted with instrumental versions of the Fab Fours “A Hard Day’s Night,” (#29 in 1966), “Day Tripper,” (#74 in 1967), and “Julia,” (#76 in 1969).
THE 5 STAIRSTEPS had a gold single in 1970 with “O-o-h Child,” which reached #8, but that singles B-Side, their version of THE BEATLES “Dear Prudence,” also charted, reaching #66.
SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL ’66 took their “easy-listening” version of “The Fool On The Hill” all the way to #6 in 1968.
The Late ESTHER PHILLIPS changed THE BEATLES “And I Love Her” to “And I Love Him” and had her third biggest hit, #54 in 1965.
FATS DOMINO, one of the forefathers of Rock ‘N Roll, had his final chart appearance with a cover of THE BEATLES’ #4 hit, “Lady Madonna,” in 1968.
Thanks to a cover of “Day Tripper,” THE VONTASTICS barely made it onto the Hot 100, spending one week at #100 in September of 1966.
BOB KUBAN & THE IN-MEN were best known for 1966’s #12 hit “The Cheater,” or possibly for the fact that the groups lead singer WALTER SCOTT was murdered by his ex-wife and buried in his front yard, but they did have the first charting version of THE BEATLES classic “Drive My Car,” (#93 in 1966).
DAVID & JONATHAN were better known as music producers in the 1970’s, but they released one hit single as artists, a remake of “Michelle,” reaching #18 in 1966.
And 80’s shopping mall queen TIFFANY followed up back-to-back #1 hits in 1988 with a female version of THE BEATLES “I Saw Her Standing There,” replacing “her” with “him” and reaching #7.
I know this is a lot to read, but consider this: this is only a small sampling of artist that have covered BEATLE hits. I could go on for days if I mentioned them all!
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
Below is a list of well-known Cartoon/Comic Strip characters. All but one of them is named in the title of at least one Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Which one has never been the subject of a hit song?
1) SPEEDY GONZALEZ
2) ALLEY-OOP
3) SPIDER MAN
4) SNOOPY
5) BATMAN
6) THE FLINTSTONES
7) YOGI BEAR
8) SUPERMAN
Answer next week!
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