Billboard's #1 Pop Singles

[I Am A Swede]

Love this song!

"Sealed with a kiss" reached number one in the UK charts in 1989 in a version with teen idol Jason Donovan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrKPvjdxGEw

[Max]

"Sealed With a Kiss" was a far superior song than "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." I am surprised that classic did not reach #1. I enjoyed his version of "Gypsy Woman" as well, though I prefer the original recording by the Impressions.

I previously mentioned that my favorite Elvis Presley song is "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You." However, without a doubt, the King's finest masterpiece is "It's Now or Never," which spent five weeks at number one: the weeks ended 8/15/60, 8/22/60, 8/29/60, 9/5/60, & 9/12/60.

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Much like "Mack the Knife," "It's Now or Never" is a song that has nothing to do with rock and roll. Rather, this record traces its roots back to a 1901 Italian tune titled "O Sole Mio." In 1949, singer Tony Martin recorded an English version of "O Sole Mio" called "There's No Tomorrow." Eleven years later, Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold wrote new lyrics for Presley, and "It's Now or Never" (as we know it today) was born.

"It's Now or Never" earned the distinction of being Elvis' personal favorite recording of his. It was also the song that inspired the legendary Barry White to pursue a career in music. (In 1960, White heard this tune while serving a jail sentence for tire theft.) Most impressively, however, is that "It's Now or Never" is Presley's best-selling single, with worldwide sales of over 20 million. (The tune was his most popular hit in the U.K., spending eight weeks at number one there. Furthermore, upon being reissued 45 years later, "It's Now or Never" spent an additional week at number one in 2005.)

[DRW50]

I love It's Now or Never. One of my few tolerable memories of Rob Schneider is when he sang that on SNL.

[I Am A Swede]

I had no idea that "It's Now or Never" was Elvis' biggest hit!

[Max]

I Am A Swede, please forgive me for my rudeness, but "It's Now or Never" was only Elvis' biggest hit internationally (and not in the U.S.). Domestically, the double sided "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" was Presleys most popular record, spending eleven weeks at number one in 1956. (I sincerely apologize for the confusion that I caused; indeed, according to the way I wrote things, I made it sound like "It's Now or Never" was Elvis Presley's biggest hit.)

The most famous dance song of all-time is arguably "The Twist" by Chubby Checker. This classic spent a total of three weeks at the peak position: the weeks ended 9/19/60, 1/13/62, & 1/20/62. Please note that your eyes are not playing tricks on you! Rather, "The Twist" spent one week at #1 in September 1960 and then fell off the Hot 100. In its second chart run, it spent an additional two weeks at the top in January 1962. (This marks the only time in the rock era when a single went to #1 in two different chart runs.)

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Ernest Evans was born on October 3, 1941 in South Carolina. However, he was raised in Philadelphia, where he eventually decided to become a chicken plucker. On the side, he impersonated famous singers. In 1958, Dick Clark and his then-wife Bobbie were looking for somebody to perform an audio Christmas card that they could give to their friends. Dick asked Ernest to record the card, and Bobbie renamed Evans "Chubby Checker" because she thought that he sounded like Fats Domino. (The analogy went like this: "chubby" is to "fats" as "checker" is to "domino.") Clark liked the card so much that he suggested that it be released as a single, and "The Class" (as it was called) peaked at #38.

Chubby's signature song--"The Twist"--was written by R&B pioneer Hank Ballard, who came up with the idea after watching teenagers do some dance moves in Tampa. Ballard and his group--the Midnighters--originally recorded the tune, and it reached at #28 in 1960. (Prior to "The Twist," Ballard & the Midnighters were most famous for a 1954 R&B smash titled "Work With Me Annie," which was a song about sex.) Dick Clark heard Ballard's record, and thought that Danny & the Juniors should make a cover version. However, he was disappointed with the results, so he called executives at Philadelphia's Cameo/Parkway Records, who suggested Clark's old friend Chubby Checker. (It should be noted that Clark actually tried to book Ballard on "American Bandstand" but couldn't get him; that is why he then searched for a local artist to cover it.)

In part due to the song's greatness, and in part due to heavy exposure on "American Bandstand," Checker's version became extremely popular among teenagers and soared to #1 in 1960. The second time around, "The Twist" became a huge sensation among adults, thanks to Chubby performing the song on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in October 1961. Those in high society who frequented clubs such as Manhattan's Peppermint Lounge made "The Twist" the biggest pop culture craze of 1962.

"The Twist" was far more popular than one would think, considering it only spent three weeks at number one. That's because the song had an extremely long chart life: during its two chart runs, it spent an amazing total of 39 weeks on the Hot 100, 33 of which were on the top 40.

[DRW50]

The Twist is often credited with making music by black artists and dance music more acceptable among conservative, older Americans, helping to pave the way for Motown and the rock revolution kicked off by the British Invasion.

Chubby still performs the song all the time, and a ton of songs (by Checker and others) referenced The Twist.

[quartermainefan]

I really think "Let's Twist Again" is a better song.

[alphanguy74]

I also think "Let's Twist Again" is the superior song... but what can you say about a song so iconic in music history. Chubby Checker still performs and still sound good. For a little bit of fun, here he is in a flashdance top signing the song with Dame Edna in 1989:

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[DRW50]

Priceless.

I agree Let's Twist Again is better. Honestly, for a long time I thought that *was* the original song.

[Max]

As much as I enjoy "The Twist," I also prefer "Let's Twist Again." This song--which only reached #8 in 1961 (though it deserved to go to #1)--also helped to bring about a resurgence in the popularity of "The Twist."

For this reason alone, it is an outrage that Chubby Checker has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The second of three chart-toppers for Connie Francis was "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," which was number one for two weeks: the weeks ended 9/26/60 & 10/3/60.

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Like "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" was a country-flavored tune written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller. The fact that "Heart" was also the follow-up to "Fool" gave Connie the distinction of being the first female solo artist to score two consecutive number one hits. (I must say, however, that while "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is an OK record, I never particularly cared for it.)

In between "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" and Connie's final chart-topper (which came in March 1962), she accumulated the following top ten hits:

"Many Tears Ago" (#7, 1960)

"Where the Boys Are" (#4, 1961)

"Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" (#7, 1961)

"Together" (#6, 1961)

"When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)" (#10, 1962)

"Where the Boys Are"--written by Greenfield and his long-time songwriting partner Neil Sedaka--was also the title of Francis' first movie. Co-starring George Hamilton, Dolores Hart, and Paula Prentiss, "Where the Boys Are" centered around a group of college students who spent their spring break in Fort Lauderdale.

[Max]

IMO, the most dreadful recording profiled thus far on this thread is "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne, which was number one for one week: the week ended 10/10/60.

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In real life, U.S. General George Custer is famous for leading his 700 troops to defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which took place on June 25, 1876. On that date, Custer and his all his men were killed by Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and the 3,000 people under his command. Despite the triumphant victory that the Indians scored, the Sioux surrendered to the Unites States Government in 1877.

The idiotic novelty record called "Mr. Custer" was about a (fictional) soldier of Custer's who didn't want to fight on that fateful day in June 1876. The writers of the song convinced photo developer Larry Verne (born Larry Vern Erickson in 1936) to "sing" the tune, but (not surprisingly) had major difficulties trying to persuade a record company to release the song. Although they eventually found a taker (in the relatively small Era label), tons of rejections occurred; one time, someone told the songwriters that "Mr. Custer" was "the most horrible thing I ever heard in my life."

While it remains a mystery how "Mr. Custer" became so popular, it is no surprise that Larry Verne ended up a one-hit wonder. (One-hit wonders usually deserved better success than they had, but obviously not in this case.) After his musical career fizzled out, Verne spent 35 years in Hollywood building movie sets. He is now retired.

[alphanguy74]

I love "My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own"... but lke I've said before, I like most all of Connie Francis' songs, though "My Happiness" is my favorite. Mr. Custer... GO AWAY! I wonder how songs like this can become #1... but it's just one of those unexplained abberations in music history.

[Max]

The second most successful doo-wop group was the Drifters, whose only number one single--"Save the Last Dance for Me"--held the top spot for three weeks (not all of which were consecutive): the weeks ended 10/17/60, 10/31/60, & 11/7/60.

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The Drifters were so named because their members kept drifting in and out of vocal groups. At one time or another, over 30 different people were members of the group, and there were in fact two different sets of Drifters altogether. The first incarnation of the Drifters was formed in 1953 and scored a string of popular R&B hits, including "Money Honey" (1953), "Honey Love" (1954), "Adorable" (1955), and "Ruby Baby" (1956). At first, they were led by the legendary Clyde McPhatter; however, he began a stint in the Army in late 1954 and decided to pursue a solo career upon returning to civilian life. The group struggled after he left, and the first set of Drifters disbanded in 1958.

George Treadwell owned the Drifters and managed the group. In 1958, he watched another group called the Five Crowns--led by Ben E. King (whose real name is Ben Nelson)--perform and liked what he saw. Deperate to keep the Drifters name alive, Treadwell renamed them as such, and soon the group was in the recording studio. This second incarnation of the Drifters distinguished themselves (among doo-wop groups) via the presence of heavy orchestration on its records. In 1959, the group scored its first pop smash when "There Goes My Baby" soared to #2. "Save the Last Dance for Me"--a song written by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman--came one year later.

Ben E. King chose to leave the Drifters shortly after he recorded "Save the Last Dance for Me;" in 1961, he had two top ten solo hits: "Spanish Harlem" (#10) and the timeless "Stand by Me" (#4). Under King's replacement, Rudy Lewis, the Drifters accumulated two more top ten hits: "Up on the Roof" (#5, 1963) and "On Broadway" (#9, 1963). Lewis tragically died of a heart attack in 1964 at age 27; his successor was Johnny Moore (who was in the first incarnation of the Drifters). Moore sang lead on the Drifters' final top ten hit, 1964's "Under the Boardwalk" (which peaked at #4).

The Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. My personal favorites of theirs are "Up on the Roof" as well as two of their more moderate hits: "Dance With Me" (#15, 1959) and "This Magic Moment" (#16, 1960).

[DRW50]

Save the Last Dance for Me is a timeless song.

I didn't know why they were named The Drifters.

[Max]

Carl, I'm really glad you found that piece of info fascinating.

Brenda Lee's second and final #1 hit was the dreamy "I Want to Be Wanted," which spent one week at the peak position: the week ended 10/24/60.

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"I Want to Be Wanted" is a song of Italian origin. Though the tune was featured in the film "Never on Sunday," English lyrics needed to be written by Kim Gannon.

In December 1960, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" peaked at #14 on the Hot 100. This song was originally recorded in 1958, but did not become popular until Brenda accumulated two chart-toppers of her own. Despite its relatively modest chart positon, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" remains one of the most recognized rock and roll holiday classics.

Though she never again reached #1, Brenda had an impressive string of top ten hits from 1961-63, as listed below:

"Emotions" (#7, 1961)

"You Can Depend on Me" (#6, 1961)

"Dum Dum" (#4, 1961)

"Fool #1" (#3, 1961)

"Break It to Me Gently" (#4, 1962)

"Everybody Loves Me But You" (#6, 1962)

"All Alone Am I" (#3, 1962)

"Losing You" (#6, 1963)

Lee's last top 40 single occurred in 1967, and her last pop hit of any import was 1966's "Coming on Strong" (which peaked at #11). Once she became ice cold as a pop/rock singer, Brenda switched over to country music, where she scored hits from 1971-85. Little Miss Dynamite was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1997 and 2002, respectively.