By Roger Nead
December 28, 2004
GOODBYE TO THE YEAR OF THE USHER:
Welcome to my third annual year-end pop chart news column. I realize I’ve been less than reliable with my weekly column this year, but as one of my New Years resolutions I vow to update it more often in 2005!
USHER was the big news in pop music in ’04. He is the first artist in forty years, since THE BEATLES, to have the #1 and #2 songs of the year, but he also set a record with the most weeks at #1 in a single year, 27, far outpacing the previous record holders BOYZ II MEN (with 16 weeks).
USHER’S label LaFace Records also had a lot to boast about, they’re the first record label to have the top two singles of the year, and top two albums of the same year since 1978, when RSO Records did it with “Shadow Dancing” by ANDY GIBB (#1) and “Night Fever” by BEE GEES (#2) on the year-end singles chart, and the soundtracks to SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (#1) and GREASE (#2) on the album chart.
BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DIED:
As I like to do each year, here’s a recap of some of the important pop music figures to pass on in 2004.
DARRELL ABBOTT, guitarist of DAMAGEPLAN, and former PANTERA member. PANTERA’S 1994 release FAR BEYOND DRIVEN debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart.
PAUL ATKINSON, guitar player for 60’s British band THE ZOMBIES. THE ZOMBIES biggest hits were: “She’s Not There” (#2 in 1964), and “Time Of The Season” (#3 in 1969).
ELMER BERNSTEIN, prolific film composer, his work included the scores for GHOSTBUSTERS, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE GREAT ESCAPE, TRUE GRIT, and AIRPLANE!, among others.
JAN BERRY, 60’s surf music icon as a member of duo JAN & DEAN, they hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Surf City,” in 1963, and also reached the Top 10 with the songs “Dead Man’s Curve,” “The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena),” “Drag City,” “Baby Talk,” and “Jennie Lee.” In 1966 Berry spent 10 months in a coma after a car accident on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.
LAURA BRANIGAN, New York born 80’s pop star, her biggest hits include: “Gloria” (#2 1982), “Self Control” (#4 1984), and “Solitaire” (#7 1983).
JOHNNY BRISTOL, rose to fame as a songwriter/producer for Motown Records in the 1960’s, he co-wrote the final #1 hit for DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES, “Someday We’ll Be Together,” and had his own Top 10 hit in 1974: “Hang On In There Baby,” on MGM Records.
JACK BROWN, never wrote, performed, or produced a hit record, but is credited with inventing the micro-plastic flexi record that allowed magazines and cereal boxes to include promo records. And where would THE ARCHIES, BOBBY SHERMAN or THE SUGAR BEARS be without that?
RAY CHARLES, probably the biggest and best music star to die in 2004, he had a trio of #1 hits on the Hot 100 in the early sixties: “Georgia On My Mind” (1960), “Hit The Road Jack” (1961) and his biggest hit “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1962).
RITCHIE CORDELL, songwriter/producer who authored back-to-back #1 hits in 1987, “Mony Mony” for BILLY IDOL, and “I Think We’re Alone Now” for TIFFANY. Cordell also produced hits for artists like JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (“I Love Rock And Roll”), BOW WOW WOW (“I Want Candy”) and THE RAMONES (“Subterranean Jungle”).
SKEETER DAVIS, Skeeter recorded the biggest “cross-over” hit of all time: “The End Of The World.” The song reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #2 on the Hot 100 chart, #2 on the Country & Western chart, and #4 on the R&B chart, in 1963.
JERRY GOLDSMITH, Academy Award winning film composer, and the only film composer I ever saw in concert (at the Hollywood Bowl, a few years back). Jerry’s scores include: THE OMEN, ALIEN, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, POLTERGEIST, PLANET OF THE APES and GREMLINS, among many others.
J.J. JACKSON, radio DJ at Los Angeles radio station KLOS in the early 70’s, J.J. was one of the original “VJ’S” at MTV.
RICK JAMES, Funk legend best known for the 1981 hit “Super Freak” but reached #1 on the Billboard R&B chart with “You & I” (1978), “Give It To Me Baby” (1981), “Cold Blooded” (1983), and “Loosey’s Rap” (1988).
RUSSELL JONES, a.k.a. OL’ DIRTY BASTARD, a.k.a. DIRT MEGIRT, a.k.a. UNIQUE ASON, WU-TANG CLAN member whose solo hits included “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” (#62 in 1995), and “Got Your Money” (#33 in 1999).
TERRY MELCHER, member of 60’s duo THE RIP CHORDS (“Hey Little Cobra”) Melcher was also famous for being the son of film star DORIS DAY, producing the two chart toppers for THE BYRDS (“Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn, Turn, Turn”), and for having a run in with CHARLES MANSON not long before the SHARON TATE murders.
BRUCE PALMER, probably the least known member of 60’s “super-group” BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD (“For What It’s Worth” “Mr. Soul”).
JOHN PEEL, probably the most influential DJ in British history, Peel helped launch the careers of artists such as: PINK FLOYD, T. REX, NEW ORDER, THE CLASH and THE CURE, among others.
JOHNNY RAMONE, founding member of the legendary punk band THE RAMONES, what this guitarist lacked in musical training, he made up for in attitude and style. On the pop charts THE RAMONES biggest hits were: “Rockaway Beach” (#66 in 1978), and “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” (#81 in 1977). They had two Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart: “Pet Sematary” (#4 1989), and “Poison Heart” (#6 in 1992).
EDMUND SYLVERS, member of the 70’S family band THE SYLVERS, they scored a #1 pop/R&B hit in 1976: “Boogie Fever.”
RANDY VANWARMER 70’s “one-hit-wonder” who topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in May of 1979 with “Just When I Needed You Most.” The song also reached #4 on the Hot 100, and #71 on the Country singles chart.
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are the Top 20 Pop Singles of 2004:
Yeah! by USHER Featuring LIL JON & LUDACRIS
Burn by USHER
If I Ain’t Got You by ALICIA KEYS
This Love by MAROON5
The Way You Move by OUTKAST Featuring SLEEPY BROWN
The Reason by HOOBASTANK
I Don’t Wanna Know by MARIO WINANA Featuring ENYA & P. DIDDY
Hey Ya! by OUTKAST
Goodies by CIARA Featuring PETEY PABLO
Lean Back by TERROR SQUAD
Tipsy by J-KWON
Confessions Part II by USHER
Slow Motion by JUVENILE Featuring SOULJA SLIM
Freek-A-Leek by PETEY PABLO
Here Without You by 3 DOORS DOWN
Slow Jamz by TWISTA Featuring KANYE WEST & JAMIE FOXX
Someday by NICKELBACK
Naughty Girl by BEYONCE
My Immortal by EVANESCENCE
Sunshine by LIL’ FLIP Featuring LEA
U.S. Album Chart:
Here are the Top 20 Pop Albums of 2004:
Confessions by USHER
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OUTKAST
Closer by JOSH GROBAN
The Diary Of Alicia Keys by ALICIA KEYS
Feels Like Home by NORAH JONES
Fallen by EVANESCENCE
Shock’n Y’all by TOBY KEITH
In The Zone by BRITNEY SPEARS
The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow by SHERYL CROW
When The Sun Goes Down by KENNY CHESNEY
The Black Album by JAY-Z
The College Dropout by KANYE WEST
Now 14 by VARIOUS ARTISTS
In The Skin by JESSICA SIMPSON
Songs About Jane by MAROON5
Now 16 by VARIOUS ARTISTS
Metamorphosis by HILLARY DUFF
Autobiography by ASHLEE SIMPSON
Here For The Party by GRETCHEN WILSON
Beg For Mercy by G-UNIT
My Chart
Here are my picks for the Top 50 songs of 2004:
Reconstruction Site by THE WEAKERTHANS
Last Defense by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Tits On The Radio by SCISSOR SISTERS
It’s All The Same by REVERIE SOUND REVUE
P.J. Soles by LOCAL H
Breathe by SECRET MACHINES
Beautiful Stones by GOLD CASH GOLD
Favorite Scar by THE VANISHED
Spitting Games by SNOW PATROL
Got To Go Through It by BLINKER THE STAR
California Songs by LOCAL H
Soap (Waste Another Day) by THE VANISHED
Hold Me Up by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
She Can Play Me Like A Drum Machine by DEATH RAY DAVIES
Chain Smoking by DYKEHOUSE
People Together by DJ ME DJ YOU
Over The Edge by ZEBRAHEAD
This Boy Is Exhausted by THE WRENS
Autobahn by ANBERLIN
Top Of The World by WILDHEARTS
Don’t Steal Our Sun by THE THRILLS
Experimental Film by THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Let It Go by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
The Reasons by THE WEAKERTHANS
Run by SNOW PATROL
The Fold Out by THE JEALOUS SOUND
Homewrecker by HELLOGOODBYE
Passing By by ZERO 7
The Road Lead’s Where It’s Led by SECRET MACHINES
Psalm Of The Elks Lodge Last Call by THE WEAKERTHANS
Trouble by DJ ME DJ YOU
Operation Big Beat by FROM BUBBLEGUM TO SKY
Walking Around Waiting Downtown by REVERIE SOUND REVUE
Uncorrected Proofs by THE WEAKERTHANS
Maggie Doesn’t Blink by DEATH RAY DAVIES
Vaporize by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Runaway by ZEBRAHEAD
One More Day by DYKEHOUSE
Laura by SCISSOR SISTERS
J’aime Ta Femme (I Like Your Girl) by PLANET SMASHERS
Unbroken (Hotel Baby) by MONSTER MAGNET
Live On by SLOAN
Primitive (The Way I Treat You) by AMBULANCE LTD
Somebody Told Me by THE KILLERS
Better by COWBOY MOUTH
From Blown Speakers by THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
Latchkey Princess by THE VANISHED
Float On by MODEST MOUSE
The First Single (You Know Me) by THE FORMAT
I’m So L.A. by MYNX
TOP O’ THE CHARTS:
Here’s a year-end wrap up of the top songs of 2004 on all of Billboard’s pop singles charts!
#1 Song on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart:
White Flag by DIDO
#1 Song on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart:
Megalomaniac by INCUBUS
#1 Song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart:
Figured You Out by NICKELBACK
#1 Song on Billboard’s Country Chart:
Live Like You Were Dying by TIM McGRAW
#1 Song on Billboard’s Rap Chart:
Lean Back by TERROR SQUAD
#1 Song on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Chart:
If I Ain’t Got You by ALICIA KEYS
#1 Song on Billboard’s Dance Chart:
Took My Life by VERNESSA MITCHELL
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Year-End Top Ten Charts, 10, 20, 30, and 40 years ago:
TOP TEN SONGS 1994:
The Sign by ACE OF BASE
I Swear by ALL-4-ONE
I’ll Make Love To You by BOYZ II MEN
The Power Of Love by CELINE DION
Hero by MARIAH CAREY
Stay (I Missed You) by LISA LOEB & NINE STORIES
Breathe Again by TONI BRAXTON
All For Love by BRYAN ADAMS/STING/ROD STEWART
All That She Wants by ACE OF BASE
10) Don’t Turn Around by ACE OF BASE
TOP TEN SONGS 1984:
When Doves Cry by PRINCE
What’s Love Got To Do With It by TINA TURNER
Say Say Say by PAUL McCARTNEY & MICHAEL JACKSON
Footloose by KENNY LOGGINS
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by PHIL COLLINS
Jump by VAN HALEN
Hello by LIONEL RICHIE
Owner Of A Lonely Heart by YES
Ghostbusters by RAY PARKER JR.
10) Karma Chameleon by CULTURE CLUB
TOP TEN SONGS 1974:
1) The Way We Were by BARBRA STREISAND
2) Seasons In The Sun by TERRY JACKS
3) Love’s Theme by LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA
4) Come And Get Your Love by REDBONE
5) Dancing Machine by THE JACKSON 5
6) The Loco-Motion by GRAND FUNK
7) TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) by MFSB & THE THREE DEGREES
8) The Streak by RAY STEVENS
9) Bennie And The Jets by ELTON JOHN
10) One Hell Of A Woman by MAC DAVIS
TOP TEN SONGS 1964:
I Want To Hold Your Hand by THE BEATLES
She Loves You by THE BEATLES
Hello, Dolly! by LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Oh, Pretty Woman by ROY ORBISON
I Get Around by THE BEACH BOYS
6) Everybody Loves Somebody by DEAN MARTIN
7) My Guy by MARY WELLS
8) We’ll Sing In The Sunshine by GALE GARNETT
9) Last Kiss by J. FRANK WILSON & THE CAVALIERS
10) Where Did Our Love Go by THE SUPREMES
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION:
What R&B/Jazz superstar charted on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart with a record of cover versions of each song from THE BEATLES Abbey Road LP?
THE ANSWER:
Jazz/Pop guitarist/vocalist GEORGE BENSON was the artist who recorded: THE OTHER SIDE OF ABBEY ROAD, not long after THE BEATLES original was released. Benson’s version charted belatedly in 1976, and reached #125.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Since the creation of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958, who is the only solo artist to have the #1 pop single of the year more than once?
Answer next year!
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