Roger O Green

BOOK REVIEW: Across the Charts-the 1960s

I am an unabashed fan of those Billboard books such as Top Pop Singles and Top R&B /Hip Hop Singles. Arriving in the mail this week, Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts-the 1960s. It takes all the songs that hit the Hot 100 (HT), Bubbling Under (BU), R&B (RB), Country (CW) and Adult Contemporary (AC). from January 1960 through December 1969. Additionally it notes those “list” songs such as the Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs, RIAA/NEA 365 songs of the (20th) century, BMI top 100 songs of the century, etc.

Examples: Whipped cream by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass entered the AC charts on 3/20/66 and got to #13, spending 8 weeks on the charts, while it hit the HT charts on 2/20/66 and stayed there for 10 weeks, but only got to #68.

The Beatles’ From Me to You was released on 8/3/63 but only got to the BU charts at #116, but was re-released on 3/7/64 and got to #41. Another Beatles’ song, Something, was #3 on the HT but also #17 on the AC, the ONLY Beatles song to reach the AC in the decade. Also, Something was #273 on the Rolling Stone list and #17 on the BMI rating.

Nat “King Cole’s Ramblin’ Rose was #1 for 5 weeks in 1962 on the AC charts, #2 for 2 weeks on the HT chart AND #7 on the RB charts. Similarly, the 1960 Elvis Presley hit Stuck on You was #1 for 4 weeks on the HT, #6 on the RB(!) and #27 on the CW. I note these last two examples to describe the universality of music, and why I was never able to organize my albums by “genre”.

Additionally, the book lists all the songs alphabetically, so I can see that All My Loving charted for the Beatles, the Chipmunks, Jimmy Griffin and the Hollyridge Strings.

There are three songs that made it to #1 on three of the four charts
I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You by Ray Charles (1962): RB (10 weeks), HT (5 weeks) and AC (5 weeks); #161 on the Rolling Stone list, #40 on the BMI.
Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean (1961): AC (9 weeks), HT (5 weeks), CW (2 weeks).
AND, OMG
Honey by Bobby Goldsboro (1968): HT (6 weeks), CW (3 weeks), AC (2 weeks).

There’s is only one song that made the Top 10 in all four charts, HT, RB, CW, and AC. Any guesses?

This is a really fun book, at least for a music junkie of this period such as I. For more information, go to RecordResearch.com.

(This was an unpaid, unsolicited announcement for a book I’m loving.)

ROG

Forgetting 9/11

Even three or four years after September 11, 2001, there was this public conversation that people were “forgetting” 9/11. Or more precisely, had “forgotten the lessons of 9/11.”

I was working in a 14-story building in downtown Albany in September 2001. It was a beautiful, virtually perfect day, weatherwise, in the Northeast.
About 8:55 a.m., someone told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Someone from the office across the hall had a TV – we didn’t. I looked, but no one reporting on it had any information. One of my colleagues hoped that it wouldn’t be like the John F. Kennedy, Jr. airplane crash a couple months earlier, where ABC News, for one reported on air for SEVEN HOURS that the plane was missing and was feared to have crashed, and not all that much else, before the crash was finally confirmed. I went back to work.

To my mind, it really means that those people are really chastising the actions and beliefs of their fellow Americans who feel that the activities of the government since that date might not be in the best interest of the United States, whether it be the Iraq war or the prisoners at Gitmo.

Ten minutes later, someone came in and reported that a SECOND plane had hit the WTC, and this time I watched until I had seen the infamous video about five times. Then I left again, ostensibly to do work. But I didn’t. I heard someone’s radio on, which is how I heard about the Pentagon crash, so I went back to the TV, saw it, but unlike my co-workers, retreated back to my office, where I hear on the radio that all planes were being grounded. Wild speculation took place that there were still eight to 12 planes in the air, unaccounted for; in fact, there was only one.

It seems as though, in purporting to be fighting for freedom in Iraq, there is, ironically, less freedom at home due to the USA “PATRIOT” Act and like governmental activities.

After hearing of the collapse of the South Tower around 10 a.m., I went back to the TV. The speculation of the fatalities were awful. Then the other tower collapsed in front of me.
One odd thing about that day was that I was supposed to be on a plane to Dallas the very next day. One of my colleagues was grounded in Little Rock while my boss had already made it to Dallas and they were conferring about what to do. One of my Albany colleagues had the bizarre notion of driving to Dallas. I finally talked with my boss, who said that he didn’t think we were in any danger. Actually, it wasn’t until later when I discovered that one of the planes was actually in Albany air space that I thought that maybe we COULD have been in danger. In any case, the conference was canceled.

There was a guy I knew rather slightly from my State Data Center Affiliates meetings who died in the Twin Towers. He was a quiet but rather pleasant man who tried, more or less unsuccessfully, to teach me how to use a particular type of software.

We were allowed to go home, which was just as well, for we weren’t doing any work. I used to ride my bicycle under something called the Empire State Plaza, as a lesser incline than State Street. I rode past a policeman. I was past him by 20 yards when he called to me; maybe he should be checking me out?
Then for reasons I cannot explain, I went to Music Shack and bought the new Bob Dylan album Love and Theft, which I had preordered and that was released that day; didn’t actually LISTEN to it for well over a week. I watched TV there, then went home and watched for nine more hours. Starting the next day, I limited myself to one hour per day for a while, except that weekend, when the late Peter Jennings did a piece trying to explain the events to children.

I don’t believe most people have “forgotten” 9/11. They may have come to different conclusions as a result of it, but I could no more “forget” 9/11 than those of an earlier generation could “forget” Pearl Harbor. But I think we need to create an atmosphere whereby disagreeing with government response to 9/11 is not treated as a treasonous act.

At the conference I attended last week, Hiram Smith of Franklin Covey spoke about loss, the notion of bad things happening to good people, and he specifically mentioned 9/11. He noted that you can’t avoid pain, but you can choose to avoid misery. I’ll have to ponder that one.

Meanwhile, here are some newspaper headlines from 9/12/01.

VIDEO REVIEW: Enchanted

Friend Fred , way back on February 23, extolled the virtues of the 2007 cartoon-and-live-action Disney film Enchanted. It starred Amy Adams, who Roger Ebert loved in Junebug. A couple months later, I went to my local library to put it on reserve. And waited and waited until, when a call came from the library saying my item is in – without actually specifying what item it might be – I had forgotten about it.

Two days later, I get the DVD and the family sits down to watch it. Big mistake. The four-year-old is terrified of the ogre, and by the time we get to the slaying of the bus dragon, she’s done.

So I watch it by myself (and later my wife, herself). You know what? Fred was correct! It’s fun! It’s romantic! It has some great songs, including “Happy Working Song” that Adams sang at the Oscars this year, a great riff on “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White. In fact, what was truly remarkable were some of the exact shots used in various animated and live action Disney films.

The art was great. I recognized the cartoon version of Susan Sarandon before I recognized her voice. The other characters that inhabited both worlds were likewise well-rendered in animated form. The DVD extras enhanced my appreciation of the moviemaking. Those birds and rats that were cleaning? NOT CGI, but actual trained animals. New York City at the climax? CGI.

In fact, the only quibbles I had the DVD touched on. A couple deleted scenes, one of which would have explained the motivation of one character better, I might have kept. But this is a minor thing.

I had forgotten that Patrick Dempsey was that McDreamy guy from Grey’s Anatomy. But, as Fred noted, the film lives or dies with Amy Adams, and she was radiant. Perhaps coincidentally, Giselle spoke to her prince (James Marsden) about what happens after “happily ever after”; a recent TV Guide promises that Grey’s will answer the very same question this coming season.

Highly recommended for people who know the Disney oeuvre or like musicals. Recommended for most everyone else who isn’t grumpy. Not recommended for very sensitive four-year olds.

ROG

Did You Miss Me? Didn’t Think So

One of the wonderful features about Blogger is that I can write posts and then have them publish on future dates. I was in Chicago from Tuesday through Saturday – more on that not just anon, but for a couple of weeks – and except for about an hour on Friday, when I could check my Gmail and AOL accounts and print my boarding ticket for my return flight, I had no access to the Internet, unless I wanted to spend 47 cents per minute. Note: I did not.

Writing ahead wasn’t all that difficult. What IS hard is getting started again. For me, there’s a blogging rhythm. If I’m posting every day, I’m probably writing at least every other day. When I came back from this trip, though, I needed to spend time with my wife and daughter, check my work e-mail (accessible from home, but not elsewhere remotely – 300 deleted on Sunday), mow the lawn (though I had mowed it Sunday or Monday before I left, the rain during the week, especially the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna, made it necessary again), church and other tasks precludes blogging. Here’s something: my suitcase probably weighed 15 pounds on the way to the conference; it weighed 41.3 pounds on the way back, so I had to sort through all that conference swag, papers, and whatnot.

But it’s more about the momentum. A blogger in motion tends to stay in motion; a blogger at rest tends to stay at rest. I have PLENTY to write about. (Rose, BTW, has some ideas about what to blog about if you don’t.)

Oh, one thing about Chicago. I tend not to tell people I’m going away until I return. Since I changed my Blogger links, though, that was undermined. I knew in the first case it would be, so when it happened the second time, it was no big deal. Time #1 was when my colleague Amelia wrote: Blogging for Your SBDC – Roger and Amelia go to Chicago back on August 27, the cat was rather out of the bag. Then when Gordon mentions we went to a Cubs game together, well the jig was really up. As I tweeted (that’s what you do on Twitter), someone tweeted about a session I attended in Chicago in real time; I’m still disinclined.

A couple things about the Cubs game: someone from the Astros, Ty Wiggington, hit a two-run homer; he used to be with the Mets . Meanwhile, a Cubs runner was thrown out at the plate; a MOST unpopular call, and at least one Cubs fan in our section was very loud and vocal in his “appreciation” of the ump’s brain functions. But the very worst play: men on first and third for the Astros. Runner on first caught 30 feet from first base and caught in a pickle (rundown). So the runner at third heads for home. Instead of trying to tag the runner heading back to first, the middle infielder throws home, but muffs it. The one runner scores, and the other’s safe at second; Little Leaguers would have done it better. I had the Cubs going to the World series from the beginning of the season – ouch.

ROG

Birthday songs

My birthday is March 7, so in honor of my unbirthday, here are the #1 Billboard songs on my birthday.
2008 … “Low” by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – don’t know what this is
2007 … “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims – don’t know
2006 … “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt – even I know this one, and in fact managed to become sick of it
2005 … “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent featuring Olivia – don’t know
2004 … “Yeah!” by Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon – heard this song a couple times, but wouldn’t say I KNOW it
2003 … “In Da Club” by 50 Cent – ditto
2002 … “Ain’t It Funny” by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule – don’t know
2001 … “Stutter [Double Take Remix]” by Joe featuring Mystikal – must have heard it, but not sticking to the brain
2000 … “Amazed” by Lonestar – ditto
1999 … “Believe” by Cher – classic Cher histrionics
1998 … “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion – real histrionics. And I own it.
1997 … “Wannabe” by Spice Girls – fluff. Spice Girls didn’t offend me; I just didn’t much care.
1996 … “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men – this song was number 1 for something like 16 weeks. It showed up on JEOPARDY! when I was on in 1998, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember the title. (I kept thinking One Fine Day, but I knew THAT was wrong. Category was Songs By the Numbers for $200.) When the Regis Philbin-hosted Who Wants to be a Millionaire was on, I think it was involved in a $250,000 clue. Oh, the song itself? It’s OK. I like the B2M harmonies.
1995 … “Take a Bow” by Madonna. Not remembering.
1994 … “The Sign” by Ace of Base. Annoyingly catchy.
1993 … “Informer” by Snow. Heard, don’t recall.
1992 … “To Be with You” by Mr. Big. Don’t know.
1991 … “Someday” by Mariah Carey. All of Mariah Carey’s songs from a certain period sound exactly the same to me.
1990 … “Escapade” by Janet Jackson. I like Janet actually, but this was pretty lightweight.
1989 … “Lost in Your Eyes” by Debbie Gibson – heard it, not remembering.
1988 … “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. Actually, I’ve probably heard more often in the 21st Century than at the time. Meh.
1987 … “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Never was a big Bon Jovi fan. Own none of their albums. It was as good a song as they did, I suppose.
1986 … “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. Recall liking this, but I’d need to hear it again.
1985 … “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon. It became popular to dump on the Spudwagon, but it’s no worse than that corporate rock sound of any number of songs of the era.
1984 … “Jump” by Van Halen. My fondness probably comes from David Lee Roth on the video.
1983 … “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. Classic tune. Own.
1982 … “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band. I always liked the storyline. Own.
1981 … “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbitt. Dopey.
1980 … “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen. Lesser Queen; still, I used to try to imitate it. Own.
1979 … “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Anthemic. Still, I still hear Jim Carrey do Tony Clifton, singing “I Will Surveeve” in the Man on the Moon movie. Own.
1978 … “(Love Is) Thicker than Water” by Andy Gibb. Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 (and died March 10, 1988). You’d think I’d remember a big hit from a fellow Piscean, especially a dead one, wouldn’t you? I really don’t.
1977 … “Love Theme from ‘A Star Is Born’ (Evergreen)” by Barbra Streisand. Like Barbra’s voice. What can I say? Oh that the movie was filmed in part at the Union College campus in Schenectady, NY, which gives it special props. Own.
1976 … “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” by The Four Seasons – guilty pleasure, for sure. Own. (n.b., I see that some people don’t believe in guilty pleasures. OK.)
1975 … “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Olivia Newton-John. Dopey song, pleasant voice. Own.
1974 … “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks. Hated this song. Its sing-songy verse, its pretentious lyrics.
1973 … “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack. Saw Roberta sing this live. A fan. Own.
1972 … “Without You” by Nilsson. For some reason, when he wails “Can’t li-i-i-ive…” it always gets to me, as though he really WOULD die. Own.
1971 … “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds. This especially annoyed me, this faux Jackson Five song.
1970 … “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel. Beautiful instrumentation, practically tear-inducing singing by Artie. Own.
1969 … “Everyday People” by Sly & the Family Stone. My first favorite Sly song. Why CAN’T we all get along? Own.
1968 … “Love Is Blue” by Paul Mauriat. A lovely instrumental. Own.
1967 … “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” by The Supremes. I’m not much on people talking in songs. This is a rare exception. “You stripped me of my dreams…” Own.
1966 … “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by S/Sgt. Barry Sadler. I hated the politics of the song, yet had a grudging admiration for its unambiguous sincerity. It did inspire a truly dreadful 1968 John Wayne/David Janssen film that I saw at the time.
1965 … “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles. The verse is pretty basic, but the chorus with the brief a cappella bits is nice. Own.
1964 … “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. The chorus and verse are good energy. But it’s the bridge that really makes it work. Own.
1963 … “Walk like a Man” by The Four Seasons. I was ten at the time, and a guy singing “walk like a man” in that register just cracked me up, I’m afraid to admit. A greater appreciation came later. Own.
1962 … “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel. I have at least three versions of this song, but I’m not particularly remembering his take.
1961 … “Pony Time” by Chubby Checker. Only vague recollection.
1960 … “Theme from ‘A Summer Place'” by Percy Faith. Another pretty instrumental. Own.
1959 … “Venus” by Frankie Avalon. Liked this, actually, in spite of myself.
1958 … “Don’t/ I Beg of You” by Elvis Presley. Like Don’t; not remembering the other. Own.
1957 … “Young Love” by Tab Hunter. The Sonny James version of this same song also went to #1 in 1957, and I like it a lot, but I don’t know the Tab Hunter version at all.
1956 … “Lisbon Antigua” by Nelson Riddle. Don’t know.
1955 … “Sincerely” by The McGuire Sisters. Lovely harmonies. Think Andrews Sisters or Lemmon Sisters. Own.
1954 … “Make Love to Me!” by Jo Stafford. Don’t know.
1953 … “Till I Waltz Again with You” by Teresa Brewer. Don’t know.
ROG