By Roger Nead
December 30, 2003
SO LONG ‘03:
Hooray! Here it is, my second annual Year-End column blow-out! Yeah, the truth is I was just too damn lazy to actually write something this week, so enjoy...
Of course, we kick it off with a recap of some of the notable Pop Music personalities we lost this year:
HANK BALLARD, 66, March 2nd, Wrote, and Originated “The Twist,” one of Rock & Roll’s biggest hits, recorded two Top 10 hits with his band THE MIDNIGHTERS: “Finger Poppin’ Time” #7, and “Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go,” # 6, both in 1960.
JUNE CARTER-CASH, 73, May 15th, Wife of Country star JOHNNY CASH, charted a duet with her husband in 1970. “If I Were A Carpenter” reached #36.
JOHNNY CASH, 71, September 12th, Country Legend whose pop hits included: “A Boy Named Sue,” #2, 1969, “Guess Things Happen That Way,” #11, 1958, “What Is Truth,” #19, 1970, and “One Piece At A Time,” #29, 1976.
HOWIE EPSTEIN, 47, February 23rd, Joined TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS, as bassist in 1982. Played on such hits as: “You Got Lucky,” #20, 1983, “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” #13, 1985, “Learning To Fly,” #28, 1991, and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” #14, 1994.
MAURICE GIBB, 53, January 12th, Twin brother of BEE GEES Robin Gibb, performed with his brothers on all 9 of their #1 hits, including: “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” 1971, “Jive Talkin’,” 1975, “Stayin’ Alive,” 1978, and “Love You Inside Out,” 1979.
DON GIBSON, 75, November 17th, Country star of the late 50’s, hit the pop charts with hits such as: “Oh Lonesome Me,” #7, 1958, and “Sea Of Hearbreak,” #21, 1961. Wrote “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” a #1 hit for RAY CHARLES in 1962, and “Sweet Dreams,” a #44 hit for PATSY CLINE in 1963.
BOBBY HATFIELD, 63, November 5th, One-half of Pop duo THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS, who reached #1 with the hits: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” 1965, and “(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration,” 1966. The group took their version of the standard “Unchained Melody” into the Top 20, three different times.
MICHAEL KAMEN, 55, November 18th, Film composer who co-wrote 3 #1 hits: “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” 1991, and “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?,” 1995 for BRYAN ADAMS, and “All For Love,” 1994, by BRYAN ADAMS, ROD STEWART & STING.
HERBIE MANN, 73, July 1st, Jazz flutist who reached #14 on the Hot 100, with “Hijack,” in 1975, and #26 in 1979 with “Superman.”
ROBERT PALMER, 54, September 26th, British pop star who reached #1 in 1986, with “Addicted To Love,” and #2 in 1988, with “Simply Irresistible.” Palmer also fronted “Super-Group” THE POWER STATION, in 1985.
JOHNNY PAYCHECK, 64, February 18th, Country singer who topped Billboard’s Country & Western Chart in 1978, with “Take This Job And Shove It,” and reached the pop chart in 1971, with “She’s All I Got.”
SAM PHILLIPS, 80, July 30th, Founder of legendary record label SUN RECORDS, helped launch the careers of ELVIS PRESLEY, JOHNNY CASH, CARL PERKINS, and ROY ORBISON, among others.
EDWIN STARR, 61, April 2nd, Motown soul singer who reached #1 on the pop chart with “War” in 1970, and #6 with “Twenty-Five Miles” in 1969.
TONY THOMPSON, 48, November 19th, Noted session drummer who performed on hits for ROBERT PALMER, CHIC, MADONNA, and THE POWER STATION, among others.
BARRY WHITE, 58, July 4th, Baritone voiced soul man who’s greatest hits is in every romantic’s collection. Among his classics: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe,” #1 1974, “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything,” #2, 1975, “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby,” #3, 1973, and “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me,” #4, 1977.
WARREN ZEVON, 56, September 7th, Singer/songwriter who reached #21 on the pop chart in 1978, with “Werewolves Of London.” Among Zevon’s other musical highlights was reaching #23 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart with a cover of PRINCE’S #2 hit “Raspberry Beret” performed by HINDU LOVE GODS, which also featured members of rock band R.E.M.
YEAR-END CHARTS:
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are the Top 20 singles of 2003:
1) In Da Club by 50 CENT
2) Ignition by R. KELLY
3) Get Busy by SEAN PAUL
4) Crazy In Love by BEYONCE Featuring JAY-Z
5) When I’m Gone by 3 DOORS DOWN
6) Unwell by MATCHBOX TWENTY
7) Right Thurr by CHINGY
8) Miss You by AALIYAH
9) Picture by KID ROCK Featuring SHERYL CROW Or ALLISON MOORER
10) Bring Me To Life by EVANESCENCE Featuring PAUL McCOY
11) Get Low by LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ
12) Baby Boy by BEYONCE Featuring SEAN PAUL
13) Shake Ya Tailfeather by NELLY, P. DIDDY & MURPHY LEE
14) 21 Questions by 50 CENT Featuring NATE DOGG
15) All I Have by JENNIFER LOPEZ Featuring LL COOL J
16) Beautiful by CHRISTINA AGUILERA
17) I Know What You Want by BUSTA RHYMES & MARIAH CAREY Featuring THE FLIPMODE SQUAD
18) I’m With You by AVRIL LAVIGNE
19) Drift Away by UNCLE KRACKER Featuring DOBIE GRAY
20) Magic Stick by LIL’ KIM Featuring 50 CENT
Album Chart:
Here are the Top 20 albums of 2003:
1) Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ by 50 CENT
2) Come Away With Me by NORAH JONES
3) Up! by SHANIA TWAIN
4) Home by DIXIE CHICKS
5) Let Go by AVRIL LAVIGNE
6) Meteora by LINKIN PARK
7) 8 MILE – SOUNDTRACK
8) Fallen by EVANESCENCE
9) Tim McGraw And The Dancehall Doctors by TIM McGRAW
10) Stripped by CHRISTINA AGUILERA
11) Justified by JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
12) This Is Me...Then by JENNIFER LOPEZ
13) Chocolate Factory by R. KELLY
14) The Eminem Show by EMINEM
15) Now 11 by VARIOUS ARTISTS
16) Cocky by KID ROCK
17) A Rush Of Blood To The Head by COLDPLAY
18) The Young And The Hopeless by GOOD CHARLOTTE
19) Dangerously In Love by BEYONCE
20) Unleashed by TOBY KEITH
Modern Rock Tracks:
Here are the top 10 Modern Rock tracks of 2003:
1) Headstrong by TRAPT
2) Seven Nation Army by THE WHITE STRIPES
3) Like A Stone by AUDIOSLAVE
4) Send The Pain Below by CHEVELLE
5) Faint by LINKIN PARK
6) Somewhere I Belong by LINKIN PARK
7) No One Knows by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
8) Bring Me To Life by EVANESCENCE Featuring PAUL McCOY
9) Times Like These by FOO FIGHTERS
10) Can’t Stop by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Top Rap Tracks:
Here are the top 10 Rap tracks of 2003:
1) In Da Club by 50 CENT
2) Get Low by LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ Featuring YING YANG TWINS
3) Right Thurr by CHINGY
4) Get Busy by SEAN PAUL
5) 21 Questions by 50 CENT
6) Can’t Let Go by FABOLOUS Featuring MIKE SHOREY & LIL’ MO
7) P.I.M.P. by 50 CENT
8) I Know What You Want by BUSTA RHYMES & MARIAH CAREY Featuring THE FLIPMODE SQUAD
9) Magic Stick by LIL’ KIM Featuring 50 CENT
10) Into You by FABOLOUS Featuring TAMIA Or ASHANTI
My Own Personal Top 30 Songs Of 2003:
Tired of the same old crappy pop radio? Click here to listen to my Year-end Top 30!
It’s Free!...and worth nearly twice that!
1) Nice Weather For Ducks by LEMON JELLY
2) Rabbit Hole by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
3) Plea From A Cat Named Virtute by THE WEAKERTHANS
4) Friendly Ghost by EELS
5) Don’t Believe It All by TREBLE CHARGER
6) Now It’s On by GRANDADDY
7) Punk Rock Princess by SOMETHING CORPORATE
8) Getting By With It’s by REGGIE & THE FULL EFFECT
9) At Least We’re Dreaming by EVE 6
10) Letters To You by FINCH
11) Lie Down by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
12) Our Retired Explorer (Dines With Michel Foucault In Paris, 1961) by THE WEAKERTHANS
13) Saturday Morning by EELS
14) Into You by ZEBRAHEAD
15) Landslide Baby by BEULAH
16) Torn To Shreds by DEF LEPPARD
17) I’ll Be Here When You Wake by THE REINDEER SECTION
18) Do You Believe In Me by JULIANA THEORY
19) Forget December by SOMETHING CORPORATE
20) The Rat by THE APPARITIONS
21) Brand New Love by DEADSY
22) Don’t Leave Me by THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS
23) No One’s Safe From Goodbye by CARLY HENNESSY
24) This Picture by PLACEBO
25) Space by SOMETHING CORPORATE
26) Somebody Loves You by EELS
27) Breathe by TELEPOPMUSIK
28) Danger! (High Voltage) by ELECTRIC SIX
29) Sleeping In by THE POSTAL SERVICE
30) Lost In The Plot by THE DEARS
Just for kicks...here’s my Top 10 Albums of 2003:
1) Reconstruction Site by THE WEAKERTHANS
2) Shootenanny! By EELS
3) Tre’ by THE DINING ROOMS
4) It’s All In Your Head by EVE 6
5) Under The Tray by REGGIE & THE FULL EFFECT
6) MFZB by ZEBRAHEAD
7) Yoko by BEULAH
8) Oxygen Think Tank by THE APPARITIONS
9) Year Of The Rabbit by YEAR OF THE RABBIT
10) Sumday by GRANDADDY
#1 ON BILLBOARD’S CHARTS
Here’s a look at what finished at #1 on some other pop charts this year:
#1 R&B Single of 2003 = In Da Club by 50 CENT
#1 R&B Album of 2003 = Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ by 50 CENT
#1 Country Single of 2003 = My Front Porch Looking In by LONESTAR
#1 Country Album of 2003 = Up! by SHANIA TWAIN
#1 Latin Single of 2003 = Tal Vez by RICKY MARTIN
#1 Latin Album of 2003 = Un Dia Normal by JUANES
#1 Dance Music Club Play Hit of 2003 = Into The Sun by WEEKEND PLAYERS
#1 Adult Contemporary Single of 2003 = The Game Of Love by SANTANA Featuring MICHELLE BRANCH
FUN & GAMES:
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC:
Check out my radio show
This week: Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 27 years ago, December 30th, 1977!
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Year-end Top Ten Charts from 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years ago:
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1998:
1) Too Close by NEXT
2) The Boy Is Mine by BRANDY & MONICA
3) You’re Still The One by SHANIA TWAIN
4) Truly Madly Deeply by SAVAGE GARDEN
5) How Do I Live by LEANN RIMES
6) Together Again by JANET
7) All My Life by K-CI & JOJO
8) Something About The Way You Look Tonight / Candle In The Wind 1997 by ELTON JOHN
9) Nice & Slow by USHER
10) I Don’t Want To Wait by PAULA COLE
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1993:
1) I Will Always Love You by WHITNEY HOUSTON
2) Whoomp! (There It Is) by TAG TEAM
3) Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40
4) That’s The Way Love Goes by JANET JACKSON
5) Freak Me by SILK
6) Weak by SWV
7) If I Ever Fall In Love by SHAI
8) Dreamlover by MARIAH CAREY
9) Rump Shaker by WRECKX-N-EFFECT
10) Informer by SNOW
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1988:
1) Faith by GEORGE MICHAEL
2) Need You Tonight by INXS
3) Got My Mind Set On You by GEORGE HARRISON
4) Never Gonna Give You Up by RICK ASTLEY
5) Sweet Child O’ Mine by GUNS N’ ROSES
6) So Emotional by WHITNEY HOUSTON
7) Heaven Is A Place On Earth by BELINDA CARLISLE
8) Could’ve Been by TIFFANY
9) Hands To Heaven by BREATHE
10) Roll With It by STEVE WINWOOD
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1983:
1) Every Breath You Take by THE POLICE
2) Billie Jean by MICHAEL JACKSON
3) Flashdance...What A Feeling by IRENE CARA
4) Down Under by MEN AT WORK
5) Beat It by MICHAEL JACKSON
6) Total Eclipse Of The Heart by BONNIE TYLER
7) Maneater by DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
8) Baby Come To Me by PATTI AUSTIN & JAMES INGRAM
9) Maniac by MICHAEL SEMBELLO
10) Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by EURYTHMICS
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1978:
1) Shadow Dancing by ANDY GIBB
2) Night Fever by BEE GEES
3) You Light Up My Life by DEBBY BOONE
4) Stayin’ Alive by BEE GEES
5) Kiss You All Over by EXILE
6) How Deep Is Your Love by BEE GEES
7) Baby Come Back by PLAYER
8) (Love Is) Thicker Than Water by ANDY GIBB
9) Boogie Oogie Oogie by A TASTE OF HONEY
10) Three Times A Lady by THE COMMODORES
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1973:
1) Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Old Oak Tree by TONY ORLANDO & DAWN
2) Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by JIM CROCE
3) Killing Me Softly With His Song by ROBERTA FLACK
4) Let’s Get It On by MARVIN GAYE
5) My Love by PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS
6) Why Me by KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
7) Crocodile Rock by ELTON JOHN
8) Will It Go Round In Circles by BILLY PRESTON
9) You’re So Vain by CARLY SIMON
10) Touch Me In The Morning by DIANA ROSS
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1968:
1) Hey Jude by THE BEATLES
2) Love Is Blue (L’Amour Est Blue) by PAUL MAURIAT
3) Honey by BOBBY GOLDSBORO
4) (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay by OTIS REDDING
5) People Got To Be Free by THE RASCALS
6) Sunshine Of Your Love by CREAM
7) This Guy’s In Love With You by HERB ALPERT
8) The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly by HUGO MONTENEGRO
9) Mrs. Robinson by SIMON & GARFUNKEL
10) Tighten Up by ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS
YEAR-END TOP TEN 1963:
1) Sugar Shack by JIMMY GLIMMER & THE FIREBALLS
2) Surfin’ USA by THE BEACH BOYS
3) The End Of The World by SKEETER DAVIS
4) Rhythm Of The Rain by THE CASCADES
5) He’s So Fine by THE CHIFFONS
6) Blue Velvet by BOBBY VINTON
7) Hey Paula by PAUL & PAULA
8) Fingertips Part II by LITTLE STEVIE WONDER
9) Washington Square by THE VILLAGE STOMPERS
10) It’s All Right by THE IMPRESSIONS
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
Test your rock IQ and answer my question!
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION:
What popular film composer wrote the theme to the short lived 1986 CBS series FAST TIMES, based on the popular 1982 film FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, and what popular new-wave group performed the song?
THE ANSWER:
The popular film composer is DANNY ELFMAN, whose recent scores include: BIG FISH, SPIDERMAN 2, and HULK, and the group performing the song? Well, Elfman’s band OINGO BOINGO, of course.
Among Elfman’s other TV themes are: THE SIMPSONS, SLEDGEHAMMER!, and TALES FROM THE CRYPT.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember the FAST TIMES TV show though, it aired only two months, and starred Dean Cameron, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Patrick Dempsey.
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Since this is the year-end column, this week’s question deals with the Year-End Billboard Charts!
Below is a list of well-known superstar artists who at one time during their careers were the biggest names in pop music. However, one of these 8 artists never topped a year-end Pop Singles Chart, or a year-end Pop Albums Chart.
So, think hard, and pick out the loser of the bunch!
1) ELVIS PRESLEY
2) THE BEATLES
3) ELTON JOHN
4) BEE GEES
5) MICHAEL JACKSON
6) MADONNA
7) WHITNEY HOUSTON
8) MARIAH CAREY
Answer next week!
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