Wednesday, November 14, 2018

WE LOVE THE BEATLES

A 1974 live version was recorded by the Elton John Band with John Lennon and released as the B-side to the former's "Philadelphia Freedom" single. The song is available on the Lennon box set, and on Elton John's To Be Continued... box set as well as the expanded CD edition of his 1976 live album Here and There and Elton John's Rare Masters. Lennon's introduction:
I'd like to thank Elton and the boys for having me on tonight. We tried to think of a number to finish off with so I can get out of here and be sick, and we thought we'd do a number of an old, estranged fiancé of mine, called Paul. This is one I never sang, it's an old Beatle number, and we just about know it.
This was the last major live performance by John Lennon. After Lennon's death, the track was released as a single and reached #40 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1981, making it the first time that any version of the song had entered the UK charts.

(Forgive me, I took the above from Wikipedia but I just love this song and this version is pretty darn good and I wish I could have seen this live.)


Monday, November 5, 2018

Billboard Top 20 Greatest Country Songs Of All Time

The Greatest of All-Time 60th Anniversary Billboard Country Songs rankings are based on weekly performance on the Hot 100
(from its inception on Aug. 4, 1958, through July 21, 2018).
Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Billboard Top 200 Albums | TOP 10 | October 20th 2018


Billboard Top 10 Albums
Week Ending October 20th 2018


Billboard Hot 100 Single Charts - Top 10 | October 20th 2018

Today in Music History

October 24th 1979
Paul McCartney with 'Guinness Book of Records' chief Norris McWhirter hold up a unique Rhodium disc which was presented to the musician for achieving the title of 'Most Successful composer of all time'.


from Wikipedia:
Rhodium is a chemical element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group. It has only one naturally occurring isotope103Rh. Naturally occurring rhodium is usually found as the free metal, alloyed with similar metals, and rarely as a chemical compound in minerals such as bowieite and rhodplumsite. It is one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Billboard's #1 Country Song of 1956


"Crazy Arms"
Ray Price
In a year like 1956 when you had so many legendary songs reach #1 on the Billboard country chart, this little classic spent a record 20 weeks at the top. 
#1 on the airplay, jukebox and bestsellers charts help it become Billboard's biggest county song of 1956.  The record of 20 weeks stood alone until 2013 when Florida Georgia Line matched it with "Cruise".


Friday, September 28, 2018

Original vs Elvis Remake


September 26th we celebrate the 70th birthday of the fantastic Olivia Newton-John, today its her first top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit and first top 5 Billboard Country hit, what made this so great to listen to besides the beautiful Olivia was the bass harmony of Mike Sammes: 

1974




April 1977 Elvis recorded his live version of this song to be released on the last album he released while still alive, "Moody Blue". 
This version was not released as an official single but has become famous for the great bass harmony of J. D. Sumner.


Monday, September 24, 2018

Billboard Top 50 Hot Country Songs | September 22nd 2018


Billboard Hot Country Songs
Top 50
Week Ending September 22nd 2018


Billboard Album Chart (Top 20) September 22nd 2018

Billboard Album Chart
Top 20
Week Ending September 22nd 2018

20 - 17 - XXXTENTACION
19 - Divide - Ed Sheeran
18 - This One's For You - Luke Combs
17 - The Greatest Showman - Soundtrack
16 - Book of Bad Decisions - Clutch 
(Debut)
15 - Love Yourself : Answer
14 - Invasion of Privacy - Cardi B
13 - ? - XXXTENTACION
12 - Goodbye and Good Riddance - Juice WRLD
11 - Queen - Nicki Minaj
10 - Sweetener - Ariana Grande
9  -  I Want To Die in New Orleans - $uicideboy$
(Debut)
8  -  beerbongs and bentleys - Post Malone
7  -  Astroworld - Travis Scott
6  -  Swimming - Mac Miller
5  -  Scorpion - Drake
4  -  Zoo - Russ 
(Debut)
3  -  Look Up Child - Lauren Daigle 
(Debut)
2  -  Kamikaze - Eminem
1  -  Egypt Station - Paul McCartney
(Debut)

Track listing

Tracklist taken from the official McCartney page. All tracks written by Paul McCartney, except "Fuh You" and "Nothing for Free" by Paul McCartney and Ryan Tedder. All tracks produced by Greg Kurstin with McCartney, except "Fuh You" and "Nothing for Free" by Tedder, Zach Skelton, and McCartney.
No.TitleLength
1."Opening Station"0:42
2."I Don't Know"4:27
3."Come On to Me"4:11
4."Happy with You"3:34
5."Who Cares"3:13
6."Fuh You"3:23
7."Confidante"3:04
8."People Want Peace"2:59
9."Hand in Hand"2:35
10."Dominoes"5:02
11."Back in Brazil"3:21
12."Do It Now"3:17
13."Caesar Rock"3:29
14."Despite Repeated Warnings"6:58
15."Station II"0:46
16."Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link"6:22
Bonus tracks[29]
No.TitleLength
17."Get Started"3:41
18."Nothing for Free"3:15




Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Original vs Elvis Remake


Willie Nelson
Album : "Red Headed Stranger"
1975
While not a Willie original, it did launch his career into high gear as this reached #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart in October 1975 for 2 consecutive weeks.



Elvis Presley
1976
Elvis Presley finally recorded "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (having sung it privately with friends and family for years while accompanying himself on piano) in the Jungle Room at Graceland on February 7th 1976. This was the last known song that Elvis Presley sang (at the piano in the rest area of his Racquetball Court located to the rear of Graceland) before his death on August 16th 1977

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Most Top 10 Hits by Groups or Duos | Billboard Hot 100 (1956 - 2018)

This video presents the Groups or Duos that have amassed the most Top 10 singles on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart. Other chart data included highlights those number ones these acts got, as well as weeks at number one. The years shown reflect the time span between their first and last Top 10 hit.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Top Selling Album of Every Year (1991-2018)

Today we are looking at the top selling albums of every year in the United States based on the Nielsen SoundScan era.
Nielsen tracked the top selling psychical & digital sales from 1991-2014. From 2015-present when Nielsen started tracking stream equivalent sales as well top compensate for the lack of traditional album purchases.

Friday, June 29, 2018

Elvis Original vs Remake

"Always On My Mind"
Elvis Presley
1972
Elvis recorded this soon to be classic on March 29th 1972 just weeks after his separation from wife Priscilla.  Originally the "B" side of the sing "Separate Ways", this would become one of his best songs of the 1970s and peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, #16 on the Country chart, and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.



"Always On My Mind"
Willie Nelson
1982
Recorded and released in the early part of 1982 this remake of the Elvis song from 10 year previous raced to the top of the Billboard Country songs chart and spent 2 consecutive weeks at #1 and eventually became Billboard's #1 country song of 1982.
Willie would also peak at #5 on the Hot 100, #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #1 on the Canadian Country songs chart.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

The #1 Song of 1950

"Goodnight Irene" by The Weavers
Spent 13 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Bestsellers chart and became the biggest selling song of 1950.

Friday, June 1, 2018

Billboard Top 20: 90's Soundtrack Albums

We will be looking at the most successful soundtrack of the 90's based on Billboard 200 Chart success. 
Some albums ended up selling more albums than others in the list, but these top 20 had the most chart success based extended sales.

Rolling Stone Magazine Cover of the Week

May 31st 1969


Thursday, May 17, 2018

Original vs. Elvis Remake

There are a lot, I mean a lot of songs that were big hits or small hits that Elvis would remake as part of his concert set or put on his albums because he enjoyed singing them.  Most famously was "Hound Dog"  written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952 and sung by Big Mama Thornton,  but until Elvis made it his own and turned it into a monster hit, no one really knew about the original.  
I will be giving you 2 songs, the original version/artist along with Elvis' version that may or may not have been a top 40 hit for him.  

This first song is one of my favorites that isn't a well known Elvis remake but the original by Roger Whitaker became a Top 20 hit in the US and UK 4 years after its original release.   
Elvis's version  appeared on his "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee" album in 1976 but did not make the top 40, stalling at #48. 


The Last Farewell 
(Roger Whitaker)
1975
#19 Billboard Hot 100
#1 Billboard AC Chart
#2 UK Official Chart



The Last Farewell
(Elvis Presley)
1976
#48 Billboard Hot 100


Billboard Top 200 Albums | TOP 10 | May 19th 2018


Billboard Top 20 Albums
Week Ending May 19th 2018