The 1996 #1 Mainstream Rock Hits are one of three rock charts that year. This one started in 1981 and is the oldest. Even if they went to #1 on another list, I’m linking to all of the tracks here as well. “airplay” means the peak position of a non-Hot 100 hit (i.e., pop) from Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay chart.
Until It Sleeps – Metallica, eight weeks at #1; it was also #27 on the alternative rock chart, and #10 on the pop charts
Cumbersome – Seven Mary Three, four weeks at #1; #7 alternative, #39 pop
The World I Know– Collective Soul, four weeks at #1; #6 alternative, #19 pop, #36 airplay
In The Meantime – Spacehog, four weeks at #1; #2 alternative for three weeks, #32 pop
Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart – Stone Temple Pilots, four weeks at #1; #3 alternative for three weeks, #36 airplay
Blow Up the Outside World – Soundgarden, four weeks at #1; #8 alternative, #53 airplay
Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) – Everclear, three weeks at #1, #5 alternative, #29 airplay
Test for Echo – Rush, three weeks at #1, #39 alternative, #102 pop. First recorded by Bob Seger in 1973.
Hero of the Day – Metallica, three weeks at #1, #27 alternative, #10 pop
Where the River Flows – Collective Soul, two weeks at #1
Human Being – Van Halen, two weeks at #1
My lack of familiarity with most of these songs was fascinating to me