You can follow all the podcasts on Spotify and you can also access them through the podcast tab above. In this episode, I compare 2 versions of the same song, one that did not excite me and the other spent 8 weeks atop my personal chart. With that 2 month stay at the top in mind, I talk about potential #1 contenders, songs that missed the mark because of it, and some of its predecessors this year.

 

This has happened in the past with the song "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention. I was no fan of that song, easily on a hated list but when Counting Crows covered it, the song spent 4 weeks at #1 on my personal chart.

You can follow all the podcasts on Spotify and you can also access them through the podcast tab above. In this episode, I compare 2 versions of the same song, one that did not excite me and the other spent 8 weeks atop my personal chart. With that 2 month stay at the top in mind, I talk about potential #1 contenders, songs that missed the mark because of it, and some of its predecessors this year.

 

This has happened in the past with the song "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention. I was no fan of that song, easily on a hated list but when Counting Crows covered it, the song spent 4 weeks at #1 on my personal chart.

The original #49 was ironically the song that topped the 1982 list that was compiled for this past summer’s party.”1999” by Prince was released in September 82 and peaked at #44 on the Hot 100 but saw the bulk of its success in 1983 after “Little Red Corvette” became a top 5 hit in the spring.

 

 

Over the course of the parties the 49’s saw food (Edamame, candy and cherries), along with “Something In Your Mouth” and “Something Just Like This”. There were also songs about sunshine, lightning and the night.

 

In back-to-back years (2015-16) there was “Same Damn Life” and Déjà Vu”. In 20011 & 2012 “S&M” led to a “Good Feeling” (oh there are Pornographers in the mix too, well new ones). 2 remakes of 70’s tunes also made the grade in 2001 and 2003.

 

In 2017 Chris Cornell pondered “Our Time In The Universe” from the 2015 album “Higher Truth”, the same year he left our planet. In 2006 the title tune from the movie version of “Rent” showed up on the list. Its creator Jonathan Larson lost his life the day of the first Off-Broadway preview of the musical in 1996. The 2021 film “Tick Tick…Boom” was based on events in Larson’s life as a struggling composer and playwright. Andrew Garfield won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Larson.

 

By far my favorite song at #49 through the years is the Jellyfish tune “Joining A Fan Club” from the 1993 album “Spilt Milk”. This song was a favorite among our circle of friends at the time and is an important part of our personal soundtrack and probably in my top 100 songs of all time. It is an epic, satirical look at Fanclub-dom, from the traditional

(“Joining a fan club with my friends Filling our bathtubs with T-shirts and 8 x 10's.”)

to the holy

(“Mom's writing checks to the minister in the corner singing "dig down deep" Cause if you wanna go to heaven all you gotta do is pay to pray.”)

This is Power-Pop at its finest. The instrumental bridge from 2:08 to 3:08 is blistering yet melodic with many layers. The short-lived band (only 2 early ‘90s albums) certainly maintains a cult following and a few of the members are now the Lickerish Quartet. In the past 2 years they have released 3 EP’s (Threesome Vol.1, 2, and 3) and have reached my top 10 4 times with 2 #1’s.

   

Before the beyondradio.com website debuted in 1995 I had a newsletter called Musicscape. In it I compiled a chart based on friends doing their own weekly personal chart along with information on new releases. It was a small group of people and it started before I discovered hundreds of people on the internet who posted their own personal charts. During the life of the newsletter (mid-1993 to early spring 1994) “Joining A Fan Club” reached #11 and spent over half a year on the chart. I still have some of the newsletters I produced and looking back it seems so quaint. This was still a time when personal computers were a relatively new thing, and I was still putting the countdown for the party on cassette tapes. I still have most of those as well. Oh, the olden days.

   

Speaking of the olden days, this time of year has me reflecting on past decades and assessing how I feel about the music in current day. This year I look back at 1972, 82, etc. The new1972 list saw some major differences from the past. I did not do a personal chart in 1972. It was 1974 when I commenced my weekly list. Going back a little over 20 years ago I compiled my first top 25 of 72 but clearly, I did not give it a lot of thought.

 

The current top 25 is completely reflective of how I feel about these songs now. “Conquistador” has always been a potent entry for me but “American Pie” took a big dip, going from #1 to #21. The biggest drop was “Layla” which fell from #16 to #122. “Conquistador” transports me right back to my 11-year-old self and was an early indicator of my love for a rock/orchestra mix. The Electric Light Orchestra was a favorite band of the late ‘70s and show up for the first time here at #11 with “10538 Overture”.

 

 

The big winners in my top 250 of 1972 were the Partridge Family (23 entries-4 in the top 25) and Elton John (12 entries-2 in the top 25). It was an absolute pleasure to re-discover “Never Been To Spain” by Three Dog Night. I feel like I’ve listened to this song like it’s a new one this year, though I have vivid memories of this from childhood. A great build on this song, it’s my favorite by the band now. They were a solid band for me in the early ‘70s.

 

 

Unfortunately, The Honey Cone’s “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” is not available on Spotify. The Motown-esque girl group is best known for their #1 song “Want Ads” from 1971. This single reached #15 on the Hot 100. It was a bright spot in R&B at time as so much of that genre had a heaviness over it. Even many of the love songs had a gloom over them (i.e. Al Green, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”-one of the creepiest songs I know).

 

 

The Carpenters manage 3 songs in the top 25, one of those being the album cut “Road Ode” (#25), a great song showing the dynamic between quiet verses and lush and expansive chorus. A song I had completely forgotten about shows up at #13. Chi Coltrane’s “Thunder And Lightning”, a rollicking blues-pop jam. The song hit #17 on the Hot 100 and according to Wikipedia it was a #1 record in New York City. That makes sense since I grew up in North Jersey. I can see how this song would lead to my appreciation of Bonnie Raitt. Sadly Coltrane ended up as a one-hit-wonder.

 

 

 

 

2        1        PROCOL HARUM        Conquistador

x        2        THREE DOG NIGHT    Never Been To Spain

8        3        THE HONEY CONE     One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

x        4        PARTRIDGE FAMILY If You Ever Go

x        5        THE OSMONDS  Down By The Lazy River

x        6        PARTRIDGE FAMILY Maybe Someday

x        7        BOZ SCAGGS     Dinah Flo

12      8        RASPBERRIES    Go All The Way

13      9        THE CARPENTERS     Goodbye To Love

10      10      CLIMAX    Precious And Few

x        11      ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA  10538 Overture

6        12      BEE GEES Run To Me

x        13      CHI COLTRANE Thunder And Lightning

x        14      PARTRIDGE FAMILY Last Night

11      15      THE CARPENTERS     Hurting Each Other

14      16      ELTON JOHN     Tiny Dancer

x        17      PARTRIDGE FAMILY Love Must Be The Answer

22      18      THREE DOG NIGHT    Black & White

5        19      AMERICA  I Need You

24      20      ELTON JOHN     Rocket Man (I Think It's Gonna Be A Long, Long Time)

1        21      DON MCLEAN    American Pie

x        22      JOHN LENNON  Happy Xmas (The War Is Over)

x        23      DANIEL BOONE Beautiful Sunday

20      24      NILSSON   Without You

x        25      THE CARPENTERS     Road Ode

This coming June with be my 40th annual music party. We go in-depth about the music party on the 5 episodes from Castlist 002 of the Beyond Radio Presents podcast. For those not in the know, the first party was in January 1984 and counted down the top 125 of the year based on a group of my friends' top 50's of 1983 (David Bowie's "Modern Love" was the first #1). By the mid-90's the party had morphed into a summer party and soon became a weekend event and really an annual reunion of friends and family. I did not know when I had the initial idea that it would go on for this long but I am blessed that it has. 

My life has been one immersed in music, starting with The Partridge Family (the bulk of episodes from Castlist 001 relate PFam songs to some of the genres that I have gravitated towards), leading into my weekly personal chart, the music party, and then this website. During the first 20 years of the website it was mainly focused on the charts I compiled from personal charts from across the globe. All of these things fueled my insatiable search for new music.

Once I started the podcast in 2018 that has become my main focus and it has been a true joy to produce. The premise of the podcast, where music nostalgia and music discovery collide, made me look backward as well as forwards. What a gift it is to sift through my history with music and create a way for people to discover music through my lens (and of course my podcast partner Jeff Morris' as well). It was his suggestion that I do a podcast so the gift really came from him.

The 40th annual music party is scheduled for June 24, 2023. In leading up to that I decided to make a series of playlists that feature the songs that attained each position in the top 50 each year. The first playlist is all the #50's from the last 39 years. The playlists won't always have 39 songs as some songs ended up performing better the following year they hit a certain position.

The songs are in chronological order and are a mix of well-known and obscure songs. Typically the participation of submissions would be anywhere from 20 to 50 people so in the years where there were fewer it was easier for songs that were not big hits to reach the top 50. This past summer there was substantially less participation which allowed "Coconuts" by Kim Petras reach #4 and the remake of Reba McEntire's "Does He Love Me" with Dolly Parton come in at #6. I personally love the eclectic mix that the party countdown provides.

The first #50 was the Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Seen The Rain" as done by Bonnie Tyler (maybe a travesty to some but it turned the song into a grandiose upbeat anthem). The signature production by Jim Steinman is evident. Ironically Steinman's muse Meat Loaf showed up at #50 11 years later  with "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)". In 2020 the song "Die To Live" by the Danish metal band Volbeat was #50 and with it's mix of metal and boogie-woogie horns it is very reminiscent of Meat Loaf's addition to the Rocky Horror movie "Hot Patootie-Bless My Soul". We discussed this in an episode of the podcast but with 65 episodes I'm not sure which one (we've easily discussed over 1000 songs thus far).

To show the diversity of the countdown, #50 in the last 4 years has been by Barbra Streisand, Volbeat, Blake Shelton, and Jack White. Shelton shows up another time with a largely overlooked duet that went to #4 in Iceland in 2013. There's also a punk band with a transgender lead singer, a poignant song about a father and son by a British singer-songwriter, a Canadian 2-hit wonder from 1993, and a lip-syncing duo.

Oh My! I've updated my personal chart on the right. It's the first time since February. I will be making a concerted effort add more content here.

Below are the 2 latest episodes of the podcast and some current playlists I have. At the end of the year I look back 10, 20 years etc. and reassess my favorites. I have 2 of those playlists ready, 1972 and 1992. I will be posting my year end chart and playlist soon, along with the 1982, 2002 and 2012 playlists. You can follow me on Spotify by typing beyondradio in the search box and going down to profiles. You'll see Tim Harris, that's me.

Episode 1 - Super Quirky Cordiale

Artists discussed:

Superorganism

Ghost

The Go! Team

10cc

Lime Cordiale

Icehouse

Blood Cultures

Henry Gross

Bright Light Bright Light

 

Episode 2 - New For Jeff 2022

Artists discussed:

Editors

Echo and the Bunnymen

Kraftwerk

Cabaret Voltaire

Nimmo

Rui Da Silva

LCD Soundsystem

July Talk

Nine Inch Nails

 

The latest Beyond Radio Presents episode is available for your listening pleasure.

In this episode, we look back at my 39th Annual Music Party that happened at the end of June. It had been a long time since Jeff & his wife Jen were both at the party. We look back at the best songs of 21/22 and 1982 according to the participants. They did choose songs for the 1982 list but not the current year so I let Jeff know how the songs I know he liked from the past year might have affected the outcome if he submitted a list.

We end the episode with a fun band that Jeff and Jen were going to see live. In the end that band figures in nicely with the time of year.

EP 10 - HOPEFUL BOY POP

This was such a fun episode. It was supposed to be the beginning of an episode that recaps this summer's music party but it became an entity unto itself.

I present a number of songs that have impacted Pop radio in the States in recent months to Jeff, exploring a trend that I am seeing develop. Inadvertently, as is often the case, I am led to an artist that I did not know would fit the narrative, and in the end, I interview him and his production partner; the first artist interview since beginning the podcast in 2018.

There is a magical moment that happens with his music, perhaps one of my favorite moments ever (certainly in the top 10). Snippets of the interview are included and the full interview is its own episode.

Towards the end of the episode, I bring up an episode of Switched On Pop (a great podcast) and explore a number of spoken word songs over music. Jeff's comments often can lead to the opening or closing song to the episode and this time both.

Opening Song - "Empty Nesters" by Toro Y Moi

Closing Song - "Find My Way" by Gabe Dixon

On Spotify Through the website

EP 11 - Daniel Blair Interview

This episode is the full interview I had with Daniel Blair and his production partner Jackson Harbour. We had a blast.

On Spotify Through the Website

As the boy band discussion continues we talk about a popular pop punk band of the aughts, an obscure band from Southern California and Boys who like Girls from Massachusetts.

The mood shifts towards the end of the episode and we get a little '80s nostalgia thrown in.

In this episode, we explore 2 bands of the second British Invasion, Duran Duran and Wham which leads into a great story about "I'm Too Sexy".

I torture Jeff with a Pop-Gospel-ish song that segues into a discussion about svengali boy band producers (well at least one of them was) and the R&B style of the late '80s and early '90s, New Jack Swing.

The episode ends with a call and an unlikely source of music inspiration.

Link to Spotify

In this episode we do a slight recap of the previous episode which was so much fun, I present 2 new songs to Jeff cold, and we discuss some shifting of priorities in the Beyond Radio universe; introducing the new playlist series Retro Aesthetic.

Recently added to Retro Aesthetic March 2022

Mai Tai "Female Intuition"

Giant Rooks "Watershed"

Spencer Albee "I'm Still Here"

5 Seconds Of Summer "Complete Mess"

 

Griff f/ Sigrid "Head on Fire"

 

The latest playlist in the Positively Happy series

 

A handful of selections from Positively Happy 3

Betty Boo "Get Me To The Weekend"

Party song that uses the music from Human League's "Love Action" to great effect.

Lo Moon "Dream Never Dies"

Gorgeously plaintive song reminding us to hold on to the memories of youth and never give up on hope.

Triumph "Magic Power"

We may not all have the magic power of music in us but we can all use the power of music to create magic.

Harry Styles "Treat People With Kindness"

This '70s inspired 2019 track became my favorite song of 2020 and the video certainly helped solidify its happiness quotient. It exudes joy.

The Wonder Stuff "The Size Of a Cow"

This toe-tapper was a UK top 5 single in 1991

Beyond Radio's new playlist series "Retro Aesthetic" brings back the style of Top 40 radio from the past.

Some R&B and Dance, a little Country, plus a lot of melodic Rock & Pop. A mostly upbeat mix: the way Top 40 radio used to be. New music-centric with gems from the past. Some you may remember and some that'll be new to you. There is great music out there to be heard.

New versions will be updated periodically.

Also another playlist series "Positively Happy" has its second version. There will be more to come on the development of these two series.

 

Beyond Radio Tim's Top 30, Feb, 13, 2022

And here's the playlist for my current overall favorites of the last 2 months

11           1              SPOON Wild       1              4

Brand new album “Lucifer On The Sofa” came out this past Friday. This preview into the album is their most infectious song yet. Co-written by Jack Antonoff with a piano line that nods to “Sympathy For The Devil”.

3              2              ELECTRIC ENEMY              Save Me (I'm Not Crazy) 2              17

Second time in my top 5 for the UK foursome. They have released a handful of singles since 2020.

2              3              MEAT LOAF        Couldn't Have Said It Better         1(2)        21

Re-discovery after his passing. He was larger than life.

4              4              THE RECORD COMPANY Never Leave You              4(2)        11

L.A.’s Record Company have a classic rock style and have reached the Adult Alternative top 3 three times since 2016. The lead cut from their latest album “Play Loud” has a light groove and pop sheen while still retaining its rock vibe.

1              5              MAGDALENA BAY            Secrets (Your Fire)           1              13

Love this quote from the Pitchfork review of their album “Mercurial World”. “Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin’s fuzzy, rococo synthpop confections have a magic power: They sound like whatever you grew up with, whenever that was.” This one has a little Snoop and a lot of ‘80s going on. At times she sounds like the vocalist from Altered Images.

5              6              BBNO$ f/ RICH BRIAN     Edamame            1(2)        13

Fun and fast paced, Hip Hop rarely makes it to #1 on my chart but this is undeniable. Cling Clang.

6              7              MAMMOMTH WVH        Epiphany             6              10

Eddie Van Halen’s son is putting out the best melodic hard rock (without emo trappings) these days. At #77, “Think It Over” should bring a third song to my top 10.

14           8              JOYWAVE            Cyn City 2000     8              11

This is the fifth song from the Rochester, NY outfit to reach my top 10 yet they have still been unable to hit #1. “Obsession” spent 2 weeks at #2 in 2019.

10           9              BOSTON MANOR             Algorithm            9              12

3 songs from this UK Emo-Pink bands 20202 album “Glue” made my top 10.

8              10           SANTANA f/ ROB THOMAS & AMERICAN AUTHORS           Move    8              19

Over 20 years after “Smooth” ruled radio Carlos Santana teams up again with Rob Thomas and score again. Not as big though, only reaching the top 25 on Hot AC. It has been 53 years since Santana first hit the Hot 100 with “Jingo”.

15           11           KANE BROWN    One Mississippi 11           12

Currently #4 on the Country airplay chart this is his best performance on my chart thus far.

7              12           YUNGBLUD         Fleabag 5              21

It’s not often anymore than a distinctively British sounding voice makes an impact in the States. This song is in the Alternative top 10 and it’s the second time he has reached #5 on my chart. “Loner” peaked there in 2019.

12           13           COIN     Chapstick             1(2)        13

This electro-pop nugget is top 15 on the Alternative chart but surprisingly moves up to #1 on the Adult Alternative chart this week. I wonder if it will cross to Pop.

9              14           THE SHERLOCKS World I Understand        7              14

This Yorkshire band has scored 2 #7 songs in a row on my chart with this and “City Lights”. In early 2017 they reached #8 (and #40 of the year) with “Will You Be There”. That one has risen in stature since then.

20           15           TIM MCGRAW   Free Man             15           6

I just recently discovered this track that was included on 2016’s “McGraw(The Ultimate Collection)”. It is a remake of an Angie Aparo song from 1999. Aparo had 2 #1’s and a #3 from that album on my chart. One of those, “Cry”, was later popularized by McGraw’s wife Faith Hill in 2002.

18           16           ROYAL BLOOD   Hold On                16           13

This is the seventh song from the UK bands album “Typhoons” to make my top 150 and fourth to reach the top 20. The title track reached #4 last March.

26           17           OLE BORUD        Backyard Party  17           6

I believe this 2008 song showed up on Spotify in December after I was listening to a particular playlist. The Norwegian artist has been tooling around for decades and his Wikipedia page said his genres consist of everything from Christian Metal to Jazz Pop, Hardcore Punk, and Yacht Rock. Now that’s some diversity. His latest album from this year is called “Soul Letters”.

13           18           INHALER              Totally   11(2)      20

The Irish band led by Bono’s son Elijah Hewson has slowly crafter a career in Europe over the last 4 years with a string of single releases. 6 of those have made my personal chart with their current U.S. release “Cheer Up Baby” poised to make it 7. Their debut album “It Won’t Always Be Like This” reached #1 in Ireland and the UK last July, the title track peaked at #8 on my chart.

19           19           TWIN ATLANTIC Bang On The Gong           19(2)      16

21           20           SIXX: A.M.           Waiting All My Life          20           11

17           21           ARKELLS               Pub Crawl            1(3)        12

A Christmas song from 2020 I discovered this in the fall and for a holiday song it has had real staying power. It’s mix of the heartfelt, humor, and upbeat swagger makes it stand as a universal song for me.

25           22           THE OSMONDS Crazy Horses      22           5

One of the highlights from the most recent podcast, this 1972 is absolutely crazy. I was jarred at first and then it started to grow on me. Wacky stuff.

34           23           GABE DIXON BAND          Find My Way      23           6

A piano banger from 2008 discovered because his 2021 song “Something Good” went to #3 on my chart. My friend Michael remembered the song from back then when he heard it in my car the other day.

24           24           ALEXANDRA SHIPP & VANESSA HUDGENS             Come To Your Senses     24           10

Center ballad from the Netflix movie “Tick, Tick…Boom!” starring Andrew Garfield who just received an Oscar nod for his performance as “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson. Garfield has songs at #59 (“30/90”) and #69 (“Why”). That song is also discussed on the latest podcast and had an extremely emotional response from me.

16           25           BASTILLE              Give Me The Future        12           18

39           26           PARQUET COURTS           Walking At A Downtown Pace    26           6

This is the first song by the NYC indie rockers to impact me. Their punk-ish style is very ‘80s/’90s college radio. This song has a bass driven groove that really made me pay attention.

28           27           ED SHEERAN       Overpass Graffiti              27           10

29           28           FOALS   Wake Me Up      28           11

60           29           BRKN LOVE         Dead Weight      29           4

Reminds me of Nothing But Thieves and that is a good thing.

33           30           JON MCLAUGHLIN           Why It Hurts       30           7

We are already 3 episodes into the latest Pod-Castlist. The first series of episodes are all Boy-Band-centric. This latest episode is my favorite out of the 54 episodes we have put together so far. The fun quotient is high, the unexpected connections and moments are vast, and one of the most pivotal moments in my life is unveiled. You'll laugh and maybe cry but soon be laughing again. Too Much Fun!!!!

Here's the Spotify playlist with all the songs we'll be discussing over this season, already almost 200 songs deep.

The upper reaches of my re-vamped 1981 chart are decidedly Pop-Rock though #1 is a bit different. The finale of the 1980 movie “Fame” still stands out as one of my favorite movie moments. At the time the movie was my favorite, it connected to my time in musical theater in high school, something I did not pursue once I went to Boston and attended Boston University. The song incorporates everything you would expect from a musical about the High School of the Performing Arts in NYC. There were rock textures, but also standard pop balladry, a choral section, and symphonic grandeur.

This song cemented by love of orchestral rock though you could say “Jesus Christ Superstar” took care of that previously. I have never been a big fan of straight-ahead classical music but when incorporated into music styles I love it can be breathtaking. Most recently that happened with an updated version of the song “Where’s The Love” by Hanson. On the 2018 album “String Theory” the brothers worked with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, creating a story arc using their catalog over the previous 25 years. This version may have eclipsed the original 1997 song (I have written about this before).

The soundtrack to “Fame” features 6 songs that made my personal chart. “Fame” and “Out Here On My Own” ended up on my re-vamped 1980 year-end list at numbers 34 and 159 respectively. Linda Clifford’s dance stomper “Red Light” was #83 that year. On this list, Irene Cara shows up again with “Hot Lunch Jam” (#29) and Paul McCrane’s ballad “Dogs In The Yard” at #22. The actor spent 11 years as the caustic Dr. Robert Romano on the TV series “ER”. Ironically we watched the movie last weekend (at least most of it) and alas, it felt dated.

Numbers 2 and 3 on the list are also ballads, “Time” by Alan Parsons Project and “You Could’ve Been With Me” by Sheena Easton. “Time” comes from my favorite album of 1981 “Turn Of A Friendly Card” (though released in November 1980). The melancholy of this song is quite powerful, but the delivery is understated and graceful. The lyric “Goodbye my love, maybe for forever” exemplifies the force of this song. 7 songs from the album show up in my top 100 of the year.

Here was a band that also incorporated orchestral tones to their music. The instrumental “The Ace Of Swords” (#26) is certainly one of those songs though the entire album is orchestral in nature. “May Be A Price To Pay” (#57) opens the concept album about gambling and its addictive quality. “Games People Play” (#36) gave the ensemble their first top 15 Pop hit, reaching number 12. “Time” was the follow-up single and reached number 7. Side two featured the “Turn Of A Friendly Card Suite” which was actually 5 separate tracks. Along with ‘Swords’ “Snake Eyes (#71) and ”The Turn Of a Friendly Card” Parts 1 & 2 come in at #93 and #94.

Parsons was a producer and engineer who worked on albums like “Abbey Road” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” and with Pop bands like Pilot whose major stateside hit was “Magic” in 1975, the basis for the “Oh Oh Oh Ozempic” commercials. David Paton. the lead singer of Pilot was a vocalist on the first 4 albums by the project whose core was Parsons and Eric Woolfson, The rest were a revolving stable of musicians. Their first album from 1976, “Tales Of Mystery and Imagination” features all the members of both Pilot and Ambrosia and is based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

The young British vocalist Sheena Easton had arrived in the States in early 1981 with the Hot 100 number one song “Morning Train (9 to 5)” (#119). The title of that song was originally just “9 To 5” in the UK but was changed for the American market because Dolly Parton’s song of the same name (#35) was out concurrently. The Easton song feels dated and suffers on my year-end list because of that while Dolly’s song seems timeless. Easton had quite a year, by the end of 1981 she had 4 songs make the Pop top 15 including the James Bond theme “For Your Eyes Only” and the gorgeous “You Could Have Been With Me”. I feel this single was the first one to show the dynamics of her voice. The vocal soars on the chorus. Both “Time” and “You Could Have Been With Me” stand up as classics to me, untouched by the ravages of time. Ironically, they both reached #7 on the Pop chart and #15 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

By the time the Moody Blues song “Gemini Dream” (#4) came out as the lead single from their number 1 and tenth album “Long Distance Voyager” it seemed it was never clear what type of song they would click with. The progressive rock band from the UK were another group to heavily use orchestration in their music, most famously on “Nights In White Satin” a song from 1967 that became a bonafide hit in 1972 with a re-release. That happened because a Washington D.C. DJ used the song as his sign-off. Listeners wanted to know what it was and started requesting it and a hit was born. Kind of an early version of a song going viral. The album it came from, “Days Of Future Passed”, saw a resurrection as well and the next Moody Blues release “Seventh Sojourn” was also a number 1 album in the States.

The lead single from that album, the rocker “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band)” hit number 12 on the Hot 100, as did “Gemini Dream”. ‘Dream’ seemed an anomaly for the band, a throbbing, infectious and almost danceable Pop-Rock song (at actually peaked at #36 on the Billboard Dance Chart). The song was followed by the seemingly more popular “The Voice” (#155). In looking at my chart reference books “The Voice” was number 1 for 4 weeks on the newly created Rock Tracks Chart in Billboard while ‘Dream’ only reached #13. ‘Dream’ performed better on the Hot 100 where “The Voice” peaked at number 15. On the Radio & Records Pop chart, both songs peaked at number 6.

The orchestral theme plays out again (weird) on my #5 of the year, “Joan Crawford” by Blue Oyster Cult. The first 40 seconds of that song sound like a piece from a piano concerto. The song inspired by “Mommie Dearest” then turns into a straightforward rock song, but definitely a fun one. It received moderate Rock radio airplay, but the video was banned by MTV because of a sexually-explicit scene. You can find it on YouTube. The lead single from the album “Fire Of Unknown Origin”, “Burnin’ For You” (#51), reached number 1 on the Rock chart and number 40 on the Hot 100. Lead singer Eric Bloom is Howard Stern’s cousin.

The group was considered a Hard Rock band bordering on Heavy Metal though these songs are less heavy and they did score a Pop top 10 song in 1976 with “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. The more metal AC/DC were coming off their breakthrough year in 1980 and the title track from the album “Back In Black” (#65) was a holdover from the previous year. Because of that success, their 1976 album “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” saw a re-release in March 1981, the title track (#186) saw top 5 placement on the Rock Tracks Chart but the tongue-in-cheek and clever “Big Balls” (#27) was an album fav as well. The album featured the original lead singer Bon Scott, who passed away in early 1980 from a drug overdose.

AC/DC were on the verge of stardom with the 1979 album “Highway to Hell” and considered disbanding following his death but instead recruited vocalist Brian Johnston as his replacement. “Back In Black” was released during the summer, less than 6 months after Scott’s death, and kept their momentum going. The resurgence of ‘Dirty Deeds’ however, was felt to hamper the follow-up to ‘Black’, “For Those About To Rock We Salute You”. Though it reached number one on the Billboard 200, ‘Dirty Deeds’ which reached number 3 outsold it. Nothing to worry about in the end, AC/DC are one of the most successful rock bands of the last 50 years.

Another band in the Hard Rock realm at the time was Canada’s Triumph. Fueled by the vocal dynamics of Rik Emmet, they had a strong run on the Billboard’s Rock Tracks Chart from 1979-1986 with 1981’s album “Allied Forces” their most successful. “Magic Power” (#31) was arguably their most popular song (number 8 Rock, Hot 100 number 51, and in Canada number 14). I certainly liked it at the time, but the song has a more powerful grip on me now with the lyric “I’ve got the magic power of music in me”. It resonates as a mantra in my life. Though I am not a performer, I have expressed that power in my own way through my 60 years. In 1982 the song “Say Anything” from “Allied Forces” would reach #1 on my personal chart and was #17 of the year back then. A funny anecdote that I came across on Wikipedia is that the first live performance Triumph did in the NYC area was at the Capitol Theater in my hometown of Passaic, NJ in 1980.

“The Night Owls” (#6) was a top 5 Pop song in late 1981 for Little River Band but I have a feeling a lot of people don’t remember it. Between 1978-1983 they scored 8 top 10 Pop hits in the States. While the Australian band’s albums performed better in their homeland as their career progressed the singles did infinitely better in the U.S. The album “Time Exposure” was produced by George Martin, famous for his work with the Beatles. They are definitely one of the most successful bands on my personal chart during that era. The 2 other singles from the album “Take It Easy On Me” and “Man On Your Mind” will do well on my re-vamped 1982 chart.

Another Australian band comes in at #10 on my re-vamped 1981 chart. “Welcome To The Universe” by Flash and the Pan has grown in stature over the years. The duo of Harry Vanda and George Young were in a mid-60’s band the Easybeats. They had one U.S. hit with “Friday On My Mind”, peaking at #16 in 1966. I remember this song more than that chart position would indicate. Wikipedia says Blue Oyster Cult did a cover of it, but I can’t find that. David Bowie also covered it on his 1973 album “Pinups” but I don’t recall that version.

Flash and the Pan are best known for the song “Hey St. Peter” which debuted on the Hot 100 on my birthday, July 28, in 1979. The last time I re-did that year’s chart it came in at #12. The 8:23 long ‘Universe’ has an atmospheric intro and outro but it’s the meat of the song that I love. It has a rolling piano line that is quite infectious. George Young is the older brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC. George and Malcolm died less than a month apart in late 2017.

Boston was an early market for the song “Ah! Leah! (#7) by Donnie Iris. Cleveland and Pittsburgh were also early on the song. Its success in these cities helped Iris cement a 5-album deal with MCA Records who re-released the album in October 1980. The song would go on to hit number 29 on the Hot 100. On the inaugural Rock Tracks Chart dated March 21, 1981, it was number 19 but I suspect if the chart had debuted earlier, it would have been top 10, maybe even top 5. The song started out as an anti-war song(?!) and Iris and his songwriting partner were trying to come up with a Gregorian style chant for the song. They came up with ah Leah which led to the song becoming about a girl. In 1970 Iris was a member of the Jaggerz who had a Hot 100 number 2 with “The Rapper”, a song written by him. He also has my #32 song of 1981 with “That’s The Way Love Ought To Be”.

The San Francisco band The Tubes achieved their most commercial success to date in 9181 with the album “The Completion Backwards Principle”, garnering their first top 40 hit “Don’t Want To Wait Anymore” (#8) and the Rock Tracks top 10 “Talk To Ya Later” (#21). Before this, they were largely known for the 1975 song “White Punks On Dope” and their elaborate stage shows. In 1980, after their turn in the movie “Xanadu” on the rock/big band hybrid “Dancin’” (which I love), their label A&M dropped them. They were able to secure a contract with Capitol Records and aided by legendary producer David Foster, they made their mark on the radio in the early ‘80s.

To me at the time, the ballad “Don’t Want To Wait Anymore” seemed out of character. Now knowing Foster co-wrote and produced it makes complete sense. I can hear elements of 1980’s era Chicago in this song. ‘Later’ had virtually no involvement from band members other than vocalist Fee Waybill. Foster didn’t feel the album had an upbeat single and he enlisted Steve Lukather of Toto to help write a song with he and Waybill. ‘Later’, though just missing the Hot 100 at number 101, was a big hit largely because of MTV. A new musical force at the time, airplay on the cable music channel was never factored into the Hot 100, a big misstep in retrospect. Another fun ditty from the album, “Sushi Girl” (#81), was a favorite of mine at the time but I can’t recall if got any airplay. Fee Waybill has my #10 song of 2021 with the crunchy “Faker” from his 2020 release “Fee Waybill Rides Again”. He still sounds great at 71, at least on record.

Southern rockers 38 Special had a big year in 1981, finally breaking into the mainstream with “Hold on Loosely” (#9) and “Fantasy Girl” (#11). By this time, while not abandoning their roots, their sound evolved into a radio-ready sound that melded the sound of Foreigner and the like, with their southern style. Part of that was aided by the songwriting of Jim Peterik who helmed the ‘80s band Survivor. He co-wrote those 2 songs, plus 2 others on the album “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys”.

Donnie Van Zant was a co-founder of the band, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant. The lead vocalist on those 2 songs, Don Barnes, recorded a solo album “Ride The Storm” in 1989. It was not released because the label A&M was being sold. It finally surfaced in 2017. Going back to the Chicago reference, that album features a cover of one of my favorite songs by the band “Feelin’ Stronger Everyday”. This is a new find for me in 2022 and it sounds like 38 Special never left. Another Southern rock band from Florida (38 Special hails from Jacksonville), Tampa’s The Outlaws, brought their blistering car song “Devil’s Road” to #30 for the year, and the song “I Can’t Stop Loving You” just missed the top 200 at #202.

Though only a minor 2002 hit, Phil Collins’ version ‘Can’t Stop Loving You” hit number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #8 on my weekly personal chart. In another instance of a song attaining greater heights than its Hot 100 peak would indicate, the Genesis front man’s first solo single “In The Air Tonight” (#40) only peaked at #19. It was huge on MTV and Rock radio and an international mega-hit. VH1 selected it as the number 35 song of the ‘80s. The production of the song owes a lot to the former leader of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, with its moody otherworldly feel. Gabriel shows up at #207 with “I Don’t Remember” and two other songs from Collins’ debut album “Face Value” made my top 200, “I Missed Again” (#107), and “Behind The Lines” (#163).

Foreigner, who were at the forefront of what was called arena rock at the time, absolutely has its place on my list. The song “Urgent” (#18) is the 1st to show up. They call the song a rock and soul hybrid, and I agree. The immediately recognizable intro was just a lick Mick Jones was toying with and Mutt Lange the producer (of AC/DC, Def Leppard and Shania Twain fame) helped him build a song around the riff. The album “4” was a pinnacle for the band, spending 10 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The title of the song came from the person who was the synthesizer programmer for the album, a lad named Thomas Dolby. He had a demo for a song where he sang ‘urges, urges” and Lange asked him if he could incorporate that into a song they were working on. The sax solo on the song was performed by Junior Walker. He with his band the All-Stars had a string of Pop and R&B hits from the mid-60s through the early ‘70s. The Motown artist’s 1st hit was “Shotgun” in 1965. Dolby wrote another song in my top 100 of 1981. “New Toy” (#76) was written specifically for Lene Lovich by Dolby after seeing her perform live.

“Waiting For A Girl Like You” (#144) had the distinction of spending 10 weeks at number 2 on the Hot 100 without ever hitting the top spot. It was held off by 9 weeks of Olivia Newton-John’s 10-week stay at the top with “Physical” (#83) and then Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That” in early 1982. On the list of top 100 songs from the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100, it placed at #80. “Jukebox Hero” (#128), the 3rd single from the album reached number 3 on the Rock Tracks chart in the summer of ’81, long before its single release in January 1982. The story song about a fan buying a guitar and wanting to become a star was a live highlight of the band and one of Lou Gramm’s favorite songs to do. In 2018 the band launched a show in Canadian theaters with the hopes of reaching Broadway titled “Juke Box Hero” featuring 16 of their songs. The connection between Pop music and musical theater has ramped up in the last 25 years but they all can’t be a win.

1981 was a benchmark year for arena rock with 4 bands seeing their most successful albums. Along with Foreigner, REO Speedwagon had the #1 selling album of 1981 with “Hi Infidelity” (their 9th album), while Styx’ “Paradise Theatre” (their 10th album) and Journey’s “Escape” (their 8th album) both hit number one on the Billboard 200. The REO and Journey albums both sold in excess of 10 million copies in the U.S. These 4 albums held the top spot on the Billboard 200 topped for 23 weeks of the calendar year.

7 songs from “Hi Infidelity” made my top 300 of the year, “Don’t Let Him Go” (#58), “Take It On The Run” (#64), and the Pop number 1 “Keep On Loving You” (#92) in the top 100. The Illinois band Styx used the famed Paradise Theatre in Chicago as the backdrop to a fictional concept album about its rise and fall. This one brought 6 songs to my top 250, another album with 3 in the top 100; “Rockin’ The Paradise (#28), “The Best Of Times (#66), and “Too Much Time On My Hands” (#82). That song was Tommy Shaw’s only lead vocal on a Pop top 10 song.

Journey’s now ubiquitous song “Don’t Stop Believin’ (#25) has now become an empowerment anthem of sorts and the best-selling digital track of the 20th century in the U.S. with over 7 million sold. Sports teams have regularly used it but its use in the final scene of “The Sopranos” and the initial episode of “Glee” are certainly huge factors. It was also used as the closing number in the musical “Rock Of Ages”. Elsewhere in my top 200 of 1981 are radio songs “Stone In Love” (#39), “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly In Love” (#52), “Who’s Crying Now” (#113), and album cuts “Keep On Runnin’” (145) and “Escape” (#158)

More musical theater connection here. Meat Loaf songwriter Jim Steinman got his start in that realm in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. “Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through” (#12) and the album it came from, “Bad For Good”, were intended to be the follow-up to the juggernaut “Bat Out Of Hell”. That album was developed from a musical Steinman had written in 1974 called “Neverland”, described as a “futuristic rock Version of Peter Pan”. Meat Loaf was having vocal problems and Steinman decided to release the follow-up it on his own. He sang on most of the tracks, though his voice was no match for the music. Rory Dodd sang lead on 3 tracks, including ‘Dreams’. Meat Loaf eventually recorded his version of the song in 1993 on “Bat Out Of Hell II”. The original (my preferred version) reached #14 on the Rock Tracks chart and went top 25 on the Radio & Records Pop chart. Meat Loaf’s peaked at #9 on the Pop chart in 1994. I don’t remember this at all. Steinman sadly died this year on my mom’s birthday, April 19.

Musical theater requires acting and singing (at least for most of the cast). Rick Springfield does both, but seemingly separately. On the acting side, he is best known for portraying Dr. Noah Drake on “General Hospital”. He debuted in that role in 1981 and attacked the Pop chart at the same with “Jessie’s Girl” (#13). This was a musical comeback for him. 9 years earlier the Australian reached number 14 on the Hot 100 with “Speak To The Sky”. They definitely did not play that on NYC radio from what I recall. “Jessie’s Girl” was number 1 on the Hot 100 when MTV launched on August 1, 1981. It took almost 5 months to reach the summit, a lengthy climb in the day. I was a big fan of the song and the other hits from his album “Working Class Dog”. The Sammy Hagar penned “I’ve Done Everything For You” (#70) and “Love Is Alright Tonite” my #25 of 1982. His brand of Pop-Rock even saw exposure at Rock radio, ‘Jessie’ reaching number 10. To say this song is iconic, well yes, is correct. On the creepy side of things, he dated Linda Blair in the ‘70s when he was 25 and she was 15 though they have remained friends.

Iconic applies to the duo of Daryl Hall & John Oates who had a comeback year in 1980-81 which led to them being the number 4 artist of the ‘80s and 39th overall artist of the Hot 100 era. The 1980 album “Voices” started off in a similar vein to the previous album “X-Static”; the lead single “How Does It Feel To Be Back”, with Oates as lead vocalist, peaked at #30 on the Hot 100, a downward trend from the lead single of the former album “Wait For Me” reaching number 18. The turnaround came with the next release, a cover of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. That brought the duo back to the Pop top 5.

An atypical thing happened with the third single from “Voices”. “Kiss On My List” (#18) would surpass ‘Feeling’ and go to the top of the Hot 100. They were recording their 10th album when it reached the summit. It is so much harder for an artist to amass that many albums in a decade now or even hold a contract for that long. That album’s title track, “Private Eyes” (#14) brought them to the top of the Hot 100 a second time in 1981. In-between the single “You Make My Dreams” (#38) was another top 5 hit. All three certainly are still in the zeitgeist and not forgotten. They have had myriad uses in media, television, and movies throughout the last 40 years.

Another song from “Voices” went to number 1 on the Hot 100, but by another artist. In 1985 Paul Young covered “Everytime You Go Away” reaching the top in May of that year. A track from “Private Eyes”, “Looking For A Good Time” (#98) made my top 100 for ’81 and 5 more in my top 300 from the 2 albums. More tracks would follow in 1982 like the earlier mentioned “I Can’t Go For That”.

Rounding out the Pop and Rock side of my top 25 was a Hot 100 anomaly and a legendary group. Delbert McClinton scored his sole Pop top 10 in early 1981 with “Giving It Up For Your Love” (#15). The 81-year-old Texas Blues Rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter has had a lengthy musical career, spanning 7 decades. ‘Love’ was a jangly, upbeat, horn-laden song that stood apart from other songs at the time. The b-side was the effervescent “My Sweet Baby” (#37) featuring some great blues guitar licks. It seems to me that would have been a great radio follow-up. The actual follow-up was “Shotgun Rider” a more conventional Country-Pop song, which stalled at number 70 on the Hot 100. Neither of those songs are available on Spotify but you can find them on YouTube.

The best performing artist on the Pop/R&B side of things was the Jacksons. Michael Jackson was having a banner year in 1980 with the album “Off The Wall” and even though he was the lead vocalist on the singles from the late 1980 album “Triumph” none of them reached the Pop top 10. “Lovely One” reached number 12 and “Heartbreak Hotel” (#16) peaked at number 22. At some point, the name of the song was changed to the ridiculous “This Place Hotel” to avoid confusion with Elvis Presley’s song of the same name from 25 years earlier. Again, ridiculous and Michael Jackson was actually unaware of the Presley song and did not even know the song’s name was changed. In addition to ‘Hotel’, “Can You Feel it” (#42) and “Walk Right Now” (#125) were all great dance floor fillers. “Can You Feel It” is another song (and kind of sports anthem) that I believe is more well-known and appreciated now than at the time.

Next up, the alternative side of 1981

I have been trying to work towards a solution for keeping the Beyond Radio charts going but increasingly it has become a losing situation. There are a number of factors involved. My focus on the podcast and nostalgia writing certainly are a big part of it. Too many threads to keep any of them all going in a timely way. A secondary job that is not necessarily making me much money is also taking away a portion of time from my week. That situation also needs to be re-assessed. 

But the major reason is that the database program I have used for the last 25 plus years may be archaic and random files have become corrupted. I just do not have the time or energy to try to piece that stuff together and re-do the work anymore. I also do not have the time to learn a whole new program. Perhaps in time I will but it isn't going to happen in the short term.

The other more minor influences on my decision are a lack of any kind of feedback and almost non-existent connection to current "Pop" music. That is not to say that I have lost my desire to hear new music. I find plenty of great music outside the current mainstream to enjoy in other genres. If you look at my current chart, it is almost devoid of anything from the Hot 100. I actually don't mind being out of touch with current "Pop" trends. I am the old man in the room now.

Perhaps it's a natural evolution that has been pushed by the universe. So far only files that contain current music information have been corrupted. Part of what has kept me doing this for so long is that is helps me to discover new music. I will figure out how to do that more efficiently and I may more narrowly focus what I present here in the new music realm. The nostalgia writing and podcast will still be here and hopefully better than ever.

5 years ago this situation would ruin my day but right now I'm just going with the signs that have been shown to me. It is time to shift priorities and that can be very freeing. To quote Adele, my own psyche is being "Easy On Me".

   

Originally 1971 was dominated by the Partridge Family and this is still the case. The childhood impression of that group is indelible. 6 titles in the top 25 and 15 in the top 100 show the power that the music still holds for me. “Brand New Me” would not have been my #1 of the year back then, at 10 years old. Probably it would have been “I Woke Up In Love This Morning” (now at #23). The first time I did an all-time list was in 1978. On that list “Somebody Wants to Love You” (#15 on this list) was the highest-ranking PFam song from this list at #190. At the age of 17, the music of my 10-year-old self was still there but was eclipsed by Elton John and a slew of more current music.

The next time I did an all-time list was in 2001. On the list “You Are Always On My Mind” (#7 on this list) was the highest-ranking at #157. 4 songs were in the top 200 while only 2 were in the top 200 in 1978. With 23 more years of music to absorb for the 2001 list, that indicates that the Partridge music was becoming more elevated in my overall assessment. Right on its heels was “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat” (#10 on this list) at #170. I believe that if Billboard’s Hot 100 criteria was similar to the way it is now ‘Heartbeat’ would have had a high peak position. It is truly one of their greatest hits and was featured in multiple episodes in the first season of the sitcom.

Another song that is considered one of their greatest hits is “Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque (#19 on this list). That song had an episode dedicated to it. Interestingly something about “Brand New Me” struck me in 2002, maybe because I did an all-time list in 2001. It and another song, “Friend And A Lover” from 1973, were on my personal chart and reached #2 and #5 respectively. I didn’t start my weekly personal chart until late 1974 so these songs never had a chart run for me previously (“You Are Always On My Mind” had a chart run in 1975). In the 2 decades since it has firmly become my favorite Partridge song. Ironically it is the first track on the first album.

A song that just impacted me just yesterday is “I’m On My Way Back Home Again” from their third album “Sound Magazine”. I was listening to the playlist while Ubering and I had this song around #115 for the year. When this came on the exuberance of the song struck me and I was brought back to my childhood and the TV show. The joy that I feel in these moments is so massive it is hard to explain. Thus I moved it up to #27 today (these things are very fluid).

A number of the early podcasts focused on The Partridge Family and its relationship to more current music. “Brand New Me” was one of the featured songs and it even ended having an impact on Jeff, my podcast partner. In all, 6 of the first 8 episodes of the “Beyond Radio Presents” focus on the Partridge Family. Some of the early episodes have not the greatest sound quality (it has improved much over time). This particular episode could be a good introduction to the arc. A fun and short episode that is making me laugh while listening to it again now. In this episode, there are some great stories and Jeff connects “I Woke Up In Love This Morning” to Jefferson Airplane!

There will be a new season of “Beyond Radio Presents” starting in January. The first arc is loosely related to boy bands through the years. I’ve also had the pleasure of introducing Jeff to some early Elton John through the podcasts. The album “Tumbleweed Connection” Has 6 of the 11 songs from Elton that are in my current top 150 of 1971. The moody “Where To Now St. Peter?” (#4) and “Burn Down The Mission” (#9) are the standouts from the album. I discovered this album probably late in high school or in college. Most likely the latter as that’s when I discovered used record stores.

On my first all-time list in 1978 these songs did not show up but in 2001 they showed up at numbers 257 and 688 in my top 1000. The other song from the album that is in the top 25 is “Son Of Your Father” (#20). The theme of the album revolves around the old west of the U.S., though neither Elton nor his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin had been to the States yet. Taupin says it was influenced by the songs of Robbie Robertson and his group The Band and their 1968 album “Music From Big Pink”. They were an early roots-rock band, and this album contains one of their most famous songs, “The Weight” with the more recognizable lyric “take a load off Fanny and you put the load right on me”.

Elton’s “Your Song” (#11) was from his debut American release in 1970 but hit its peak in February 1971. The song was first recorded by Three Dog Night on their 1970 album “It Ain’t Easy” but not released as a single. They wanted Elton to have his chance with the song at radio. If you read by current assessment of music from 2001, Ewan MacGregor’s version from Moulin Rouge is my number 9 of that year, and my favorite version.

Three Dog Night’s “An Old-Fashioned Love Song” (#12) was one of my favorites as a child, #303 on my original all-time list. Written by Paul Williams, the song was first offered to the Carpenters, but Richard Carpenter rejected it. Though the song starts out in a somewhat traditional ballad form (well the organ intro is not traditional), it ends in an upbeat layered vocal display which is what drew me to the song originally (“coming down in three-part harmony”). I can’t envision a Carpenters version at all, though both bands have employed fuzz guitar.

Williams, who was also an actor who made a lot of guest appearances on TV shows from the mid-70s through the early ‘80s would be recognizable if you saw his picture. As a songwriter, he co-wrote “Rainy Days And Mondays” (#21) for the Carpenters in addition to “We’ve Only Just Begun”. He also co-wrote “Evergreen” with Barbra Streisand (“Stoney End” (#29)) and “Rainbow Connection”, such a beautiful song.

My favorite Carpenters song is “Superstar” (#2), a song written in 1969, inspired by Rita Coolidge, and co-written by Leon Russell and the duo Delaney & Bonnie who first recorded it. The original title was “Groupie (Superstar)” and was a tad more risqué than the Carpenters version. Rita Coolidge sang it on a track from Joe Cocker’s 1970 live album “Mad Dogs And Englishmen” (co-produced by Leon Russell). The album spawned the top 10 single “The Letter”.

Like the organ intro in the Three Dog Night song, the oboe intro was unique a approach that makes the song stand out. The subdued verses are juxtaposed with the somewhat more upbeat chorus, yet the overall feel of the song is somber. This was one of the best showcases for Karen Carpenter’s rich voice. In the ‘90s there was a flourish of tribute albums to artists and in 1994 “If I Were A Carpenter” was a collection of their songs by Alternative artists, an inspired combination. I purchased it as a 7” boxed set, 7 45’s, and it is one of my most treasured possessions. “Superstar” was re-imagined by Sonic Youth, a stark yet atmospheric version with hushed male vocals. ‘Rainy Days’ was even starker as done by Cracker, it sounds like a person on the verge of a breakdown.

4 Non Blondes of “What’s Up” fame contributed a rocked-up “Bless The Beasts and the Children” (#63). That was the theme of the 1971 movie of the same name. From the same soundtrack was a song called “Colton’s Dream”. That song took on a different life over the years, in 1973 becoming the theme to the soap opera “The Young and The Restless” and in 1976 becoming a radio hit as “Nadia’s Theme” because of its association with Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Not that she used it in performance, instead it was used by ABC’s “Wide World Of Sports” as a theme to a montage of her performances. The things you learn.

Back to Elton John. At #33, “Madman Across The Water”, the title song from Elton’s fourth album released in November 1971, was originally supposed to be on “Tumbleweed Connection” featuring Mick Ronson on guitar. Ronson was an oft collaborator with David Bowie and a major part of the ‘70s glam rock scene. That version was scrapped, and a new version is contained on the ‘Madman’ album. The original 8:22 version was released on a re-issue of ‘Tumbleweed’. It has a much more prominent guitar than the more string-laden version that most people know.

The other major album for me from 1971 was “Jesus Christ Superstar”. That album was released in October of 1970 and was the #1 album on the Billboard 200 for 1971, just ahead of Carole King’s “Tapestry”. Her album has 6 songs in my top 150, the highest “I Feel The Earth Move” (#42). “It’s Too Late” (#53) and “So Far Away” (#61) I think falter from previous feelings about the songs due to over-exposure.

I didn’t discover JCS until 1976 when I was in our high school production of the musical in my freshman year. In late 1975 I played Young Patrick in our production of “Mame” and my young voice cracked on stage singing “My Best Girl”, seemingly an embarrassing moment. It was not my most embarrassing moment in high school, but that is not necessarily good subject matter for this discussion. Some people are aware of this episode in my life, LOL. In “Jesus Christ Superstar” I had the role of “Peter” with much less drama.

I fell in love with the music of both. 14 of the tracks from ‘Superstar’ are in my current top 150 of 1971. A surprise to me, the “Overture” (#17) placed not are behind Murray Head’s “Superstar” (#13), probably because it incorporates a lot of the most prominent musical aspects of the album. That is what an overture is supposed to do, right? “Heaven On Their Minds” at the start of the story sits at #22 and Jesus’ signature song “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)” is #26. That song reached #1 on my personal chart in 1976 and just made my all-time top 1000 in 2001 at 962.

From Mame, “It’s Today” and “Open A New Window” both were on my weekly personal chart in 1976, reaching #11 and #30 respectively. I was a total unabashed music geek. If you’ve never seen “Mame” (the Lucille Ball 1974 movie version, not the best adaptation, Angela Lansbury originated the role on Broadway in 1966), “We Need A Little Christmas” is a song you may know. Mame’s sidekick Vera Charles was played by the fabulous Bea Arthur in both versions and their signature song together was “Bosom Buddies”. The musical was born from the 1958 movie adaptation of the 1956 novel “Auntie Mame”. Rosalind Russell was the quintessential Auntie Mame, though I did not discover the movie until much later in life. I have a number of friends who can quote the movie verbatim.

When the ‘Superstar’ album was put together it had not seen a stage production anywhere yet. I had not realized that. Producers and songwriters Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who went on to illustrious careers in musical theater, employed singers from theater (Head) and rock (Ian Gillan of Deep Purple as Jesus) for the album. Because they could not initially get financial backing, they decided to release the rock opera as a concept album. The success of that led to the Broadway and London stage productions.

Yvonne Elliman was an unknown singer when brought into the project and her song of unrequited love, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” (#52) became a radio hit with 2 versions at the same time. Hers reached number 28 on the Hot 100 but it was Helen Reddy’s version that performed better, reaching number 13. I don’t remember that version from the time, she didn’t come onto my radar until “I Am Woman” in 1972. Elliman’s version is definitely better. I find it funny that a Catholic high school in 1976 allowed a production featuring a prostitute, not something I thought about at the time. Mike D’abo sang “King Herod’s Song” (#73), a major highlight of the album. He had been the lead singer of Manfred Mann in the late ‘60s and was the co-writer of “Build Me Up Buttercup”, a song everyone knows now because of the Geico motorcycle commercials or for myriad other reasons, a pop-culture staple.

“Draggin’ The Line” (#3) by Tommy James has a very distinctive pre-chorus with a lower voice repeating the phrase and a simple horn line and again, a distinctive intro, an insistent bass and drum line. The song certainly had a subtle psychedelic feel to it, almost mysterious, that goes into a brighter chorus (more upbeat than “Superstar” however). This song is forever connected to driving to Darlington Lake in Mahwah, NJ the summer of ’71.

I wanted to use the word couplet for the bass/drum line but it didn’t fit. I am not a music theorist though I did take the class in freshman year of high school and used “Ballroom Blitz” as the showcase of a project. Back to the couplet, internet research led me to an article about Glen Campbell’s song “Wichita Lineman” stating it had the greatest musical couplet of all-time. The line is “and I need you more than want you, and I want you for all-time”. It certainly does conjure up something beautiful yet sad.

Why ‘Wichita Lineman’ Contains the Greatest Musical Couplet Ever Written ‹ Literary Hub (lithub.com)

This next song sums that up perfectly. Carly Simon’s “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be” (#5) creates a dark and again mysterious mood, an overall feeling of sadness. I vividly remember the song as a child and though at the time it was not a favorite, it was indicative of an overall feel during that time. There was a heaviness to the early ‘70s that was explored through a lot of the music of the time.

I never disliked the song as I did with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. Some will cringe in horror as I think that is one of the creepiest songs ever recorded. Simon’s ode to the dysfunction of marriage is an exquisite production that I now treasure. Her voice, the strings, and the subtle piano lines create the haunting verses; the pronounced drumline that leads us to the chorus adds a perfect touch. It was a bold move for a debut single but garnered her a Grammy nomination for female vocal and helped her to win Best New Artist. It reached #10 on the Hot 100 but went to #1 on Boston’s top 40 station WRKO.

The recurring theme of heavy verses leading into upbeat choruses comes in again with the Bee Gees “Lonely Days” (#16), their first top 5 hit in the States. If you can believe it, by this time the Gibb brothers had released 8 albums and Robin had quit the group, rejoining for this album “2 Years On”. Their early history is too much to absorb right now.

It has been said about this song, well it’s easier to just quote the wiki article

“The song incorporated the innovative structure and knack for changing tempos exemplified by the second side of The Beatles' Abbey Road album, released the previous year and a clear influence on this single. "Lonely Days" shifts back and forth between a piano-and-strings-dominated verse reminiscent of "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "Golden Slumbers," and an up-tempo stomping chorus that echoes "Carry That Weight"; perhaps as an acknowledgment of the debt, as the record approaches its fade-out, the lead singer's voice is filtered to sound like John Lennon's.”

I can certainly see the comparison. The 2 former Beatles entries in my top 25 are vastly different. John Lennon’s “Imagine” (#18) fits into the beautiful and sad lane with a sprinkle of optimism. Well, maybe more than a sprinkle. More piano and strings but no upbeat chorus. The thought of ultimate peace is a lofty goal.

George Harrison’s “What Is Life” (#6) was recorded with the help of Eric Clapton and Delaney & Bonnie’s backing band. It is almost the opposite of the sentiment put forth in “Imagine”. Where that song speaks of “no religion too” this one and the other major hot from Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” album “My Sweet Lord”, speak to the existence of a higher power (though obliquely). I love, love, loved this song as a child and I still do. This song will fit nicely into their third edition of my Positively Happy Spotify playlist series which I am currently working on. You check out the first 2 here.

Not everything in 1971 was dark. Certainly, the Partridge Family weren’t. At #8, the Grass Roots “Sooner or Later” fits into the happy music lane. This and “Don’t Pull Your” (#25) by Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds were prominent songs of my childhood and most definitely associated with my dad. The funny thing is, and I’m just learning this, the song was originally pitched to the Grass Roots who passed on it because they felt it was a little lightweight. There are rumors that the song was written with Elvis Presley in mind, and I can certainly hear that as well (think “Suspicious Minds”). The Grass Roots also show up at #27 with “Temptation Eyes”, a song less familiar as a 10-year-old.

“If I Were Your Woman” (#12) by Gladys Knight & The Pips is a song much more appreciated as an adult. This is true of a lot of R&B/Pop of the era. Much of that music felt dark to my childhood brain. This one is elevated with a powerful vocal performance from Gladys Knight. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” (#50) and “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (#76) were major parts of the soundtrack of NYC area radio, as were Sly & The Family Stone’s “Family Affair” (#133), “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations, “Tried Of Being Alone” (#114) by Al Green and “Theme from Shaft” (#117) by Isaac Hayes. None of these would have shown up on an early list of favs from ’71. There are 2 episodes of the podcast dedicated to the connection between early ‘80s soul and the current revival of the style.

Paul Revere and the Raiders song “Indian Reservation” (#21) rounds out the top 25. A song that would not be recorded today. It was written in and originally recorded in 1959 and hit a minor hit version in 1968 by Don Fardon. The 1971 Raiders version altered the lyrics a bit and reached number 1 on the Hot 100.

One last thing, 3 songs that ended up in my top 100 were songs that I did not know by title at the time (or through the ‘70s) so they were fun discoveries. “Bitch” (#49) by the Rolling Stones is a song well-known by me throughout the years but I never gave a thought to the name. Santana’s “Everybody’s Everything” (#58), a rousing horn-laden Latin-tinged groover, gave me a wow moment, as the lyrics don’t appear anywhere in the song that I am aware of. This one I hadn’t heard since a child. At #878 Jethro Tull’s “Hymn 43” is one that I remember through the osmosis of classic rock radio, it was never a go-to song.

 

A couple of random thoughts on other 1971 songs.

“Joy To The World” (#34) The #1 song on the Billboard year-end list, The segue from #33 “The Temple” from Jesus Christ Superstar which ends with an angry Jesus screaming “heal yourselves” going into “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” is kind of funny.

 

“Knock Three Times” (#36) This was the first single I ever bought and my mother confiscated it from me because she said it was dirty “knock three times on the ceiling if you want me”.

 

“She’s A Lady” (#40) Dad song

 

Signs (#58) A potent historical portrait of the era, and even the Tesla version in 1990 holds up. The church verse got me a little teary-eyed.

 

“American Pie” (#64) was Billboard’s #3 of 1972. “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was #1 of 1972, Ugh!

 

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” Billboard’s #8 of 1971, missed my list but may re-consider. Just saw a piece about the song on “CBS Sunday Morning” last weekend and it gave me a lovely perspective of the song.

 

“Gotta Get Up”/Nilsson (#77) Did not know this song until it was used as the theme to “Russian Doll”

 

“Rose Garden (#80) A Mom song

 

“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”/Jerry Reed (#82) Forgot about the Country-comedy song. Very fun

 

“I’d Love To Change The World”/Ten Years After (#91) Another song where I did not know who sang it or even when it was from

 

Timothy/The Buoys (#126) My namesake song I did not know at the time. It is about a mine cave-in and the cannibalism of Timothy. Controversial for sure but it peaked at #17 on the Hot 100. Rupert Holmes of ‘Pina Colada song’ fame wrote it and it was inspired by the fact that the band’s label would not help promote their first single. He felt controversy would help and it did.

 

“Me And Bobby McGee” (#138) Definitely was not a fan of Janis Joplin as a kid so the fact that made the top 150 is testament to a more adult perspective. Her “Cry baby” (#122) fared even better.

Here's the full list

Tim’s Top 150 of 1971 (2021 style)

1          PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Brand New Me

2          THE CARPENTERS   Superstar

3          TOMMY JAMES         Draggin' The Line

4          ELTON JOHN            Where To Now St. Peter?

5          CARLY SIMON          That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

6          GEORGE HARRISON            What Is Life

7          PARTRIDGE FAMILY            You Are Always On My Mind

8          THE GRASS ROOTS Sooner Or Later

9          ELTON JOHN            Burn Down The Mission

10        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            I Can Feel Your Heartbeat

11        ELTON JOHN            Your Song

12        THREE DOG NIGHT An Old Fashioned Love Song

13        MURRAY HEAD         Superstar

14        GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS       If I Were Your Woman

15        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Somebody Wants To Love You

16        BEE GEES      Lonely Days

17        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Overture

18        JOHN LENNON         Imagine

19        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Point Me In The Direction of Albuquerque

20        ELTON JOHN            Son Of Your Father

21        THE RAIDERS            Indian Reservation

22        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Heaven On Their Minds

23        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            I Woke Up In Love This Morning

24        THE CARPENTERS   Rainy Days & Mondays

25        HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLDS   Don't Pull Your Love

26        IAN GILLAN (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR)         Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)

27        THE GRASS ROOTS Temptation Eyes

28        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            I'm On My Way Back Home

29        BARBRA STREISAND           Stoney End

30        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            I'll Meet You Halfway

31        T.REX  Bang A Gong (Get It On)

32        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          The Temple

33        ELTON JOHN            Madman Across The Water

34        THREE DOG NIGHT Joy To The World

35        TONY ORLANDO & DAWN  Knock Three Times

36        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Lay It On The Line

37        THE WHO       Baba O'Riley

38        DOORS           Love Her Madly

39        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Hosanna

40        TOM JONES  She's A Lady

41        THE JACKSON 5      Mama's Pearl

42        CAROLE KING          I Feel The Earth Move

43        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Love Is All That I Ever Need

44        THE WHO       Won't Get Fooled Again

45        CHER  Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

46        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem

47        ELTON JOHN            Country Comfort

48        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted

49        ROLLING STONES    Bitch

50        MARVIN GAYE          What's Going On

51        ELTON JOHN            Friends

52        YVONNE ELLIMAN (Jesus(            I Don't Know How To Love Him

53        CAROLE KING          It's Too Late

54        RINGO STARR           It Don't Come Easy

55        ROLLING STONES    Brown Sugar

56        SANTANA       Everybody's Everything

57        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          What's The Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying

58        FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND      Signs

59        THE STAPLE SINGERS        Respect Yourself

60        THE MOODY BLUES            The Story in Your Eyes

61        CAROLE KING          So Far Away

62        BARBRA STREISAND           Time And Love

63        THE CARPENTERS   Bless The Beasts And The Children

64        DON MCLEAN            American Pie

65        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            That'll Be The Day

66        T.REX  Jeepster

67        LEE MICHAELS         Do You Know What I Mean

68        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          The Last Supper

69        RARE EARTH             I Just Want To Celebrate

70        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            I'm Here. You're Here

71        CHICAGO       Does Anybody Really Know Time It Is?

72        THE HONEY CONE   Want Ads

73        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          King Herod's Song

74        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Singing My Song

75        THE OSMONDS         One Bad Apple

76        MARVIN GAYE          Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

77        NILSSON        Gotta Get Up

78        JETHRO TULL          Hymn 43

79        CAT STEVENS           Father And Son

80        PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Summer Days

81        LYNN ANDERSON    Rose Garden

82        THE FORTUNES        Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again

83        NEIL DIAMOND         I Am I Said

84        JERRY REED When You're Hot, You're Hot

85        FACES            Stay With Me

86        JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Damned For All Time/Blood Money

87        DAVE EDMUNDS       I Hear You Knocking

88        GORDON LIGHTFOOT         If You Could Read My Mind

89        ELTON JOHN            Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun

90        JAMES GANG           Walk Away (Seems To Me)

91        TEN YEARS AFTER  I'd Love To Change The World

92        JETHRO TULL          Aqualung

93        STAMPEDERS            Sweet City Woman

94        LED ZEPPELIN          Immigrant Song

95        ELTON JOHN            Can I Put You On

96        VAN MORRISON       Domino

97        YVONNE ELLIMAN (Jesus(            Everything's Alright

98        BREAD            If

99        DONNY OSMOND     Sweet And innocent

100     THE CARPENTERS   For All We Know

101     PAUL MCCARTNEY  Another Day

102     JONATHAN EDWARDS        Sunshine (Go Away Today)

103     JETHRO TULL          Locomotive Breath

104     BEE GEES      How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

105     COVEN           One Tin Soldier

106     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            There's No Doubt In My Mind

107     THE FIFTH DIMENSION       Never My Love

108     ELTON JOHN            Amoreena

109     BREWER AND SHIPLEY      One Toke Over The Line

110     JOHN LENNON         Jealous Guy

111     JAMES TAYLOR       You've Got A Friend

112     J. GEILS BAND         Looking For A Love

113     RUNT (TODD RUNDGREN)  We Gotta Get You A Woman

114     AL GREEN      Tired Of Being Alone

115     CAT STEVENS           Wild World

116     ELTON JOHN            Honky Tonk Woman

117     ISAAC HAYES           Theme From Shaft

118     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Umbrella Man

119     CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL      Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

120     VAN MORRISON       Wild Night

121     MICHAEL JACKSON            Got To Be There

122     JANIS JOPLIN          Cry Baby

123     THE BUOYS   Timothy

124     SONNY & CHER        All I Ever Need Is You

125     THE WHO       Going Mobile

126     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Bandala

127     PAUL MCCARTNEY & LINDA MCCARTNEY         Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

128     CAROLE KING          You've Got A Friend

129     DENNIS COFFEY & THE DETROIT GUITAR BAND         Scorpio

130     THE WHO       Behind Blue Eyes

131     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            She'd Rather Have The Rain

132     ARETHA FRANKLIN Rock Steady

133     SLY & THE FAMILY STONE            Family Affair

134     ROD STEWART          (Find A) Reason To Believe

135     CAROLE KING          (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

136     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Brown Eyes

137     ROD STEWART w/ FACES   (I Know) I'm Losing You

138     JANIS JOPLIN          Me And Bobby Mcgee

139     JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          Judas' Death

140     BREAD            Baby I'm-a Want You

141     ROD STEWART          Every Picture Tells A Story

142     THE DOORS   L.A. Woman

143     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Twenty Four Hours A Day

144     YES     Your Move (I've Seen All Good People)

145     PARTRIDGE FAMILY            Echo Valley 2-6809

146     JOAN BAEZ   The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

147     CAROLE KING          Smackwater Jack

148     CAT STEVENS           Peace Train

149     ROD STEWART          Maggie May

150     JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR          This Jesus Must Die

In the last couple of years, I have started looking at past decades; 10, 20, 30 years, etc., and re-determining my favorite songs as tastes change, songs grow tired and new songs may have been discovered. Over the course of the next week or so, I will post the results from 1971, 81 and so on but the first one I have decided to post is the top 25 of 2001. It was a pivotal year in my life and in listening to these countups (as I call them), of the 6 years I looked at this month, this one has the most impressive top 15. Most would likely end up in my top 100-200 songs of all-time, a list I am currently also working on updating.

Number 1, “Come What May” from Moulin Rouge, became my and my husband’s song after seeing the movie. I don’t believe we had a song in the 11 years before this, but this song seemed to sum things up and is still as poignant and beautiful as when we first heard it. Gorgeous and grand, Ewan MacGregor and Nicole Kidman’s voices blend so wonderfully. This song should have been a massive hit and was actually one in Kidman’s homeland of Australia.

Number 2 was and still remains a massive hit, “Drops Of Jupiter” by Train. A song written about his recently passed mother, the song was in heavy rotation on radio when my mom passed on April 19, 2001, on her 68th birthday. Of course, the impact of this tale of being free in the universe has had an enduring legacy for me, my sister Julie, and my husband John. She couldn’t have loved him more. It was certainly a shame she was not alive to see us get married in 2004 on our 14th anniversary. She would have been beaming, and probably was from up above. The song remained #1 on my weekly personal chart for 13 weeks (it was virtually aborted during that time). Every time we hear this we are filled with sadness and joy at the same time. Train’s “Something More” comes in at number 25 and 8 songs from the album reached my weekly chart with 4 reaching #1 (these 2 plus “She’s on Fire” and “Respect”).

Number 10, “Mad Season” by Matchbox 20 is also connected to her death as it was the first song I heard after leaving her house the day she passed. I had found her in bed, not something that ever leaves you and everything around me became surreal. It was hours before it was time to leave, police and ambulance arriving all kind of a blur. When in my car driving home the timeliness of this song was uncanny. Part of the lyric is:

“I need you now

Do you think you can cope

You figured me out

That I'm lost and I'm hopeless

I'm bleeding and broken

Though I've never spoken

I come undone

In this mad season”

I certainly had clarity in that moment. Matchbox 20 are one of my favorite artists in the Pop/Rock arena and during their heyday, 1997-2003, they had an impressive string of radio hits. Many of those made my weekly top 10, 6 of those reaching #1. 2001 was a great year for Pop/Rock. For me, little-known artists in the lane had great albums at the time. Dexter Freebish, a Texas band are Number 11 with “Wonderland”. In 2000 they had a moderate hit with “Leaving Town” and the album “A Life Of Saturdays” is one of the best albums in that vein ever. I charted 6 songs from the album. “Leaving Town” is probably in my top 50 of all-time.

Hanson’s second album “This Time Around” was highly underrated. It was a great slice of Pop/Rock and showed a musical maturity that was all but ignored. If they could have repeated the radio success of the first album, they would be recognized for the great catalog they have put out ever since. Number 14, “Dying To Be Alive”, is an example of that maturity. The lyrics are deep and contemplative, the music is exuberant with a background choir and “na na’s” for emphasis. At the end it becomes hushed, and the coda is:

“And we all come,

Tumbling down.

No matter how strong,

We all turn to the ground.

When the day's gone,

Say "why did I wait?"

Can't just leave your

Life to fate.

Gotta turn it 'round

Before it's too late.”

In an interesting twist, a song from that 2000 album was the #1 song of the year on my chart last year. The rocker “In The City” a song I don’t remember from back in the day. incorporates shades of Jethro Tull and a scorching harmonica solo from John Popper of Blues Traveller. I implore you to listen to that song. They actually had my top 2 songs of 2020 as the orchestral version of “Where’s The Love” is almost better than the original, which I absolutely adore. I was told by my podcast partner Jeff that the new version of ‘Love’ is a fan’s version, which I get, but adding the orchestra and making it more Rock than Dance, gives it a truly emotional heft. What a great achievement for a band to create 2 versions of the same song with radically different outcomes.

Number 3, “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake, is a grooving lyrical masterpiece that has been elevated for me over time. I’ve seen the band at least twice and they have a style that is uniquely theirs. John McCrea’s vocals are usually a bit off-kilter which has its own charm. And he often sing-speaks the lyrics (not really rap). All the elements of this song are fabulous, lyrics, trumpet, chant background vocals, “na na’s” (again), and a great bass line. Add lyrics like this:

“I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity

Who uses a machete, to cut through red tape

With fingernails that shine like justice

And a voice that is dark like tinted glass

She is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack

She's touring the facilities and picking up slack”

What’s not to love. In its initial run on my personal chart, the #7 Alternative hit only peaked at #3. In 20 years, it has aged to virtual perfection.

Number 4, “Hide” by Canadian singer and blues guitarist Colin James, is his second trip to my top 5 of the year. In 1990 he had my #1 song of the year with “Just Came Back”. What is strange is that he has not had many other songs impact me over the years. These two though, are superb blending of blues and melodic rock.

Number 5 comes out of the ‘90’s female folk scene perpetuated by Sarah Mclachlan and the Indigo Girls. “Crumbs” by Jonatha Brooke stands up within the genre for me unlike most of the songs I appreciated then. Perhaps that is because it didn’t get over-saturated. The song is from the 1997 album “10 Cent Wings” and I re-discovered it in 2001. I love the way the song starts lyrically, “I can tell, by the way you're pushing crumbs around the table, you're not listening to me”. There is some grit behind this song, not an acoustic romp (although it starts that way), but a fully-realized sonic pleasure. After the first chorus, it adds crunchy guitar, shimmering synth, organ, and background vocals. The bridge brings in strings and some vocal distortion and it climaxes in wall of sound deliciousness.

Next up, the lead single and title track from my favorite album of 2001, Ben Folds “Rockin’ The Suburbs” sits at #6. I feel like this song is perfect for the climate in this country 20 years later. The song is supposed to be funny, yet not. It exemplifies where a good amount of the angst may be coming from.

“Let me tell y'all what it's like

Being male, middle-class, and white

It's a bitch, if you don't believe

Listen up to my new CD

I got shit runnin' through my brain

It's so intense that I can't explain

All alone in my white-boy pain

Shake your booty while the band complains

In a haze these days

I pull up to the stop light

I can feel that something's not right

I can feel that someone's blasting me with hate

And bass

Sendin' dirty vibes my way

'Cause my great great great great Grandad

Made someones' great great great great Grandaddies slaves

It wasn't my idea

It wasn't my idea

Never was my idea”

Originally the song was supposed to be aimed at bands like Korn and Rage Against the Machine, but he chose not to make it so explicit. Almost every song from the album made my personal chart, many in 2002 because the album came out on September 11, 2001. Ooh, how weird. “Still Fighting It” at number 15 glides along a similar path to his hit with Ben Folds Five “Brick”. I love how he goes from hypersensitive to caustic humor to upbeat and jolly (“Zak and Sara” which went to #1 on my personal chart in 2002). Folds is another artist I have seen multiple times and John McCrea from Cake supplied vocals on Folds’ song “Fred Jones, Pt. 2” from the album.

Speaking of 9/11, a song that had a connection to it after the fact was “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” by Five For Fighting. That song had an interesting chart ascension on my personal chart, debuting at #75 and jumping to #5 the next week, hitting #1 2 weeks later. This was in July/Aug of 2001, and I cannot recall why that song impacted me so quickly at the time. It definitely has suffered in hindsight, dropping from my #23 of the year then to #63 now. Actually, 13 of the original top 25 of 2001 have fallen out, with the furthest drop belonging to Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” at #85.

Number 7 is another song featuring “na na’s” and another song from a previous year. The Christian band All Star United released the album “International Anthems For The Human Race” in 1998 and the song “Worldwide Socialites Unite” is a raucous and undeniable happy song, at least on the surface. The band was known for sarcastic lyrics:

“Don't ask, don't tell

And please don't stare at the emperor

In his underwear

Special thanks to the snack committee

Heavens, don't those tarts look pretty

Worldwide socialites unite

Enjoy the conversation

But try to keep it light

Just avoid the friction

And if you feel conviction

Well then, baby, step outside

Let's keep the "lite" in social

Let's keep this social light

Let's keep the "lite" in socialite”

In the end, the song makes me incredibly happy. This is another song that did not reach #1 on my weekly personal chart, peaking at #3. This year I charted a song from their 2007 album “Love and Radiation” (there is no timeline on when a song can chart for me, it’s all based on when I discover it). “Take Me Away” eclipsed ‘Socialite’ by peaking at #2 in February but its stature over time, I trust, will not pass that one on my all-time list.

Moving from a couple of fun and sarcastic songs we go full throttle in the opposite direction. The title of Number 8 is “Bitter” and comes from the one-hit-wonder band Nine Days. After 3 independent albums, the Albany New York band scored a #1 Pop hit in 2000 with “Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)”. This is the opposite of that happy little ditty, from the same album, “The Madding Crowd”. It, at the time, was probably the most gut-wrenching song that I loved. A teardown of a selfish and shallow girlfriend:

“If I could change anything then I would change everything.

These bitter days shall remain.

So carry your blues behind your eyes,

Don't flatter yourself I will survive.”

It is strangely beautiful, and the ending instrumental coda keeps ascending like he is moving on and rising above the bitterness. In 2019 I actually came upon the most gut-wrenchingly emotional song I have ever heard, in the song “Pink Motel” by Canada’s The Glorious Sons. That song spent 10 weeks at #1 on my chart and I get teary-eyed almost every time I hear it. It has 2 distinct choruses with a bridge that can only be described as screaming anguish. The song acts as an arc with that being the center point. The second chorus that bookends the middle is one of my favorite moments in music. It is a breathtaking piece of music. Not surprisingly it currently stands as my #3 song of all-time. This is another must-hear song. It may not be for everyone, but you might be forever changed.

Another about-face going to number 9. From bitterness to new love. The second entry from “Moulin Rouge” is Ewan MacGregor’s take on Elton John’s “Your Song”. Of course, with Elton being my main man of the ‘70’s, the original was a fav from 1970 but this version takes it to another level for me. It seems the song deserved a theatrical treatment. All the nuances of the lyrics are acted out in this remake. Besides the fact that Ewan’s voice is lovely and nuanced, the operatic background touches really enhance the final product. If you are not a theater person, this may not work for you, but I hope Elton was pleased with the update.

Numbers 10 and 11 have already been discussed and number 12 changes things up again. “Wonderboy” by Tenacious D (the comedy rock duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass) is actually my second favorite comedy song of all-time. My fav is “Stonehenge” by Ylvis. That’s a whole thing I won’t get into here. You should watch the video; well, you should watch both videos. The Ylvis video has lyrics which can be very helpful. My favorite line from “Wonderboy” is “there, the cravaass, fill it with your mighty juice”.

Number 13 is by the Country group Lonestar. “With Me” is a joyous tune that my husband John likes, and he does not like Country music. Sometimes happy music is just happy music. Their massive hit “Amazed” was the first Country song to top the Hot 100 and the Country chart since “Islands In The Stream”. It was also sung at our wedding in 2004 by our good friend Chris.

Number 16, “Strong Enough”, comes from Tal Bachman, the son of Randy Bachman who was the founding member of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive. The song is from his 1999 debut album which also featured the Pop top 10 song “She’s So High”. I clearly came late to the album. ‘High’ peaked at #30 on my chart in 1999 and over a year later I debuted the song “Romanticide”, the first of 5 more songs from the album to make my chart. He had promise but was never able to repeat his initial success.

Angie Aparo, a solo artist from Atlanta, had a major impact on my chart with his 2000 album “The American”. 8 songs from it appeared on my personal chart with 2 of those making the top 25 of the year, “Hush” at number 17 and “Cry” at number 22. “Cry” became a crossover hit for Faith Hill in 2002, its best showing was on Adult Contemporary where it went to #1. Her husband Tim McGraw also covered another song from Aparo’s album, the song “Free Man”. McGraw hit #1 on my chart once, in 2002, with the album cut “Angel Boy”.

Another artist with 2 songs in the top 25 here (and another based in Atlanta) is the Josh Joplin Group. “Camera One” at number 21 was the first song by an independent artist to hit #1 on the Adult Alternative chart. It crossover over to Pop and was also featured on an episode of “Scrubs”. Their style was perfect for the soundtracks of shows like “Dawson’s Creek” and “Northern Exposure” at the time.

Their song “Matter” falls in at number 24. Both songs were produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads fame. They both have also grown for me over the years as they peaked in 2001 at #5 and #4. “Matter” is a contemplative song and should have been a single.

“Dreams are not lost

They merely fall beneath the ashes

Of what is left to the soul

From where it starts to where it catches

And this is the time until it passes”

It is interesting that there are a lot of songs by one-hit-wonder artists on this list. Number 18 is from another, Harvey Danger, whose claim to fame is the 1997 song ‘Flagpole Sitta”. “Meetings With Remarkable Men” is from their second album, 2000’s “King James Version” and shows up here based on extensive airplay on my Spotify playlists this year. This was a true re-discovery and I’m so glad. The remarkable men are Jesus Christ, Morrissey, and Kip Winger. I should post the entire lyrics but here’s the first verse

“I had a lovely brunch with Jesus Christ

He said, "Two words about inanity: fundamental Christianity," yeah

The food was very nice

But then, He had to go and die for my sins and stick my ass with the check

"Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy."

(Go near an open window and that'll be the end of me)”

Another song you should check out. Also, I had no idea lyrics were to become such an integral part of this discussion.

Number 19 comes from the other end of the spectrum, arguably the greatest American Rock band of the last 50 years, Aerosmith. “Jaded” which peaked at #6 on my weekly personal chart in 2001, has a great pop chorus with the hook, “my my baby blue”. Their ballad “Fly Away From Here” was originally my #11 of the year in 2001 and now has fallen to #49, though the competition within the top 50 now is strong. It sits between 2 great songs, “Bohemian Like You” by the Dandy Wharhols and “The Call” by Backstreet Boys.

Rounding out the top 20 is “AngeL’ by Stabbing Westward, an industrial band from Illinois. Not necessarily a go-to genre for me but occasionally a song will hit the right note. This is actually kind of an industrial power ballad if there is such a thing.

The corresponding Spotify playlist has the entire top 200 excluding the songs not available on Spotify. From the top 25 “Worldwide Socialites Unite” and “Angel” are not available, but you can find them on YouTube.

Tim’s Top songs of 2001

1          NICOLE KIDMAN & EWAN McGREGOR    Come What May

2          TRAIN Drops Of Jupiter

3          CAKE  Short Skirt/Long Jacket

4          COLIN JAMES           Hide

5          JONATHA BROOKE Crumbs

6          BEN FOLDS   Rockin' The Suburbs

7          ALL STAR UNITED   Worldwide Socialites Unite

8          NINE DAYS    Bitter

9          EWAN McGREGOR   Your Song

10        MATCHBOX 20         Mad Season

11        DEXTER FREEBISH  Wonderland

12        TENACIOUS D          Wonderboy

13        LONESTAR     With Me

14        HANSON        Dying To Be Alive

15        BEN FOLDS   Still Fighting It

16        TAL BACHMAN         Strong Enough

17        ANGIE APARO           Hush

18        HARVEY DANGER    Meetings With Remarkable Men

19        AEROSMITH   Jaded

20        STABBING WESTWARD       Angel

21        JOSH JOPLIN GROUP         Camera One

22        ANGIE APARO           Cry

23        RONAN KEATING     Lovin' Each Day

24        JOSH JOPLIN GROUP         Matter

25        TRAIN Something More

November's Combined Rock 

LM/TM/ARTIST/Song/Weeks/Peak on BR250

1              1              THE WAR ON DRUGS      I Don't Live Here Anymore           9              6

96           2              FOALS   Wake Me Up      5              13

6              3              JACK WHITE        Taking Me Back 6              36

4              4              WHITE LIES          As I Try Not To Fall Apart               9              22

5              5              WET LEG              Wet Dream         8              25

7              6              THE LUMINEERS               Brightside            10           47

13           7              TEARS FOR FEARS             The Tipping Point             7              12

125         8              SPOON The Hardest Cut                5              61

2              9              ALT-J     U&Me  10           23

10           10           NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHTSWEATS         Survivor               17           68

12           11           HATCHIE              This Enchanted 9              44

14           12           BILLY TALENT F/ RIVERS CUOMO               End Of Me           10           89

3              13           PLACEBO             Beautiful James 11           15

26           14           KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified               14           5

32           15           COLD WAR KIDS What You Say    25           52

24           16           PARQUET COURTS           Walking At A Downtown Pace    14           85

40           17           THE SHERLOCKS World I Understand        7              93

8              18           MITSKI  Working For The Knife   7              33

30           19           BILLY IDOL           Bitter Taste         17           16

38           20           WET LEG              Chaise Longue   17           32

33           21           SAM FENDER      Spit Of You          9              26

15           22           GHOST  Hunter's Moon  9              76

22           23           GLASS ANIMALS               I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)               14           38

9              24           THE KILLERS        Quiet Town        14           30

11           25           CHVRCHES          Good Girls           18           20

 

November's Eclectic Voter's Chart

POS/ARTIST/Song/Weeks/Peak on BR250

1              ADELE   Easy On Me        7              1

2              ABBA     Don't Shut Me Down      14           3

3              JASON ALDEAN & CARRIE UNDERWOOD If I Didn't Love You           19           25

4              WALKER HAYES f/ KESHA              Fancy Like           22           14

5              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart           16           2

6              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe      9              3

7              SAM HUNT          23           10           42

8              KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified               14           5

9              ED SHEERAN       Shivers 12           3

10           AVRIL LAVIGNE Bite Me 3              21

11           TAYLOR SWIFT   All Too Well        3              7

12           ED SHEERAN       Overpass Graffiti              6              10

13           FOALS   Wake Me Up      5              13

14           BILLY IDOL           Bitter Taste         17           16

15           BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON.PAAK & SILK SONIC   Smokin' Out The Window             4              8

16           TEARS FOR FEARS             The Tipping Point             7              12

17           THE WEEKND & SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA               Moth To A Flame              6              11

18           THE WAR ON DRUGS      I Don't Live Here Anymore           9              6

19           SAM FENDER      Spit Of You          9              26

20           KYLIE MINOGUE & JESSIE WARE Kiss Of Life          5              14

21           DURAN DURAN Anniversary        14           32

22           HALSEY I Am Not A Woman. I'm A God   14           7

23           KANE BROWN    One Mississippi 17           78

24           MUNA f/ PHOEBE BRIDGERS       Silk Chiffon         9              39

25           CARLY PEARCE & ASHLEY MCBRIDE          Never Wanted To Be That Girl     10           92

 

Monthly Pop Chart, November 2021

POS/ARTIST/Song/Weeks/Peak on BR250  

1              ADELE   Easy On Me

2              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart

3              ED SHEERAN       Shivers

4              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe

5              ED SHEERAN       Overpass Graffiti

6              ED SHEERAN       Bad Habits

7              BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON.PAAK & SILK SONIC   Smokin' Out The Window

8              JUSTIN BIEBER   Ghost

9              THE KID LAROI f/ JUSTION BIEBER             Stay

10           TAYLOR SWIFT   All Too Well

11           LIL NAS X              That's What I Want

12           KYLIE MINOGUE f/ YEARS & YEARS            A Second To Midnight

13           THE WEEKND & SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA               Moth To A Flame

14           KYLIE MINOGUE & JESSIE WARE Kiss Of Life

15           THE ANXIETY      Meet Me At Our Spot

16           LIL NAS X f/ JACK HARLOW           Industry Baby

17           ABBA     Just A Notion

18           EWAN MCVICAR               Tell Me Something Good

19           SHOUSE               Love Tonight

20           POST MALONE & THE WEEKND  One Right Now

21           CKAY     Love Nwantiti

22           THE WEEKND     Take My Breath

23           ELTON JOHN & CHARLIE PUTH    After All

24           DOJA CAT            Woman

25           WIZKID f/ TEMS Essence

 

Monthly Alternative Chart, November 2021

Adele is far ahead of the pack while Elton & Dua are holding there own. "Moth To A Flame" and "Overpass Braffiti" should rise into the top 10 by the end of the month.

1              ADELE   Easy On Me

2              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart

3              ED SHEERAN       Shivers

4              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe

5              ED SHEERAN       Bad Habits

6              THE KID LAROI f/ JUSTION BIEBER             Stay

7              LIL NAS X f/ JACK HARLOW           Industry Baby

8              LIL NAS X              That's What I Want

9              KYLIE MINOGUE f/ YEARS & YEARS            A Second To Midnight

10           THE ANXIETY      Meet Me At Our Spot

11           THE WEEKND     Take My Breath

12           EWAN MCVICAR               Tell Me Something Good

13           THE WEEKND & SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA               Moth To A Flame

14           JUSTIN BIEBER   Ghost

15           CKAY     Love Nwantiti

16           ED SHEERAN       Overpass Graffiti

17           ABBA     Just A Notion

18           KYLIE MINOGUE & JESSIE WARE Kiss Of Life

19           WIZKID f/ TEMS Essence

20           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Good 4 U

21           SHOUSE               Love Tonight

22           DOJA CAT            Woman

23           WALKER HAYES f/ KESHA              Fancy Like

24           KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified

25           ELTON JOHN & CHARLIE PUTH    After All

26           CHLOE   Have Mercy

27           TROYE SIVAN     Angel Baby

28           WESTLIFE             Starlight

29           DOJA CAT            Need To Know

30           ELDERBROOK     Innerlight

31           BECKY HILL f/ TOPIC        My Heart Goes (La Di Da)

32           JOEL CORRY f/ MABEL    I Wish

33           MANESKIN         Mammamia

34           ABBA     Don't Shut Me Down

35           DUA LIPA             Love Again

36           TEARS FOR FEARS             The Tipping Point

37           DOJA CAT & THE WEEKEND          You Right

38           BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON.PAAK & SILK SONIC   Smokin' Out The Window

39           PURPLE DISCO MACHINE              Dopamine

40           LORDE   Mood Ring

41           SAM FENDER      Spit Of You

42           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Traitor

43           CRAIG DAVID & MNEK   Who Are You

44           BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON.PAAK & SILK SONIC   Skate

45           TWICE   The Feels

46           BECKY HILL & DAVID GUETTA      Remember

47           POST MALONE & THE WEEKND  One Right Now

48           FRED AGAIN...   Billie (Loving Arms)

49           CAMILA CABELLO             Don't Go Yet

50           DERMOT KENNEDY          Better Days

51           STING   If It's Love

52           CHARLI XCX f/ CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS & CAROLINE POLACHEK               New Shapes

53           DAVID GUETTA, MISTAJAM & JOHN NEWMAN    If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)

54           CLEAN BANDIT & WHITNEY HOUSTON    How Will I Know

55           ARI LENNOX       Pressure

56           YEARS & YEARS Crave

57           MANESKIN         Beggin'

58           DJ SNAKE f/ OZUNA, MEGAN THEE STALLION & LISA         SG

59           DURAN DURAN Anniversary

60           BBNO$  Edamame

61           CHARLI XCX        Good Ones

62           TAI VERDES         A-O-K

63           ROD STEWART   One More Time

64           JOEL CORRY vs JAX JONES f/ CHARLI XCX & SAWEETIE       Out Out

65           DUA LIPA             Levitating

66           BILLY IDOL           Bitter Taste

67           SUMMER WALKER           Ex For A Reason

68           ANNE-MARIE & LITTLE MIX          Kiss My (Uh On)

69           KANYE WEST f/ LIL BABY & THE WEEKND               Hurricane

70           KELSEA BALLERINI f/ LANY            I Quit Drinking

71           SIGRID  Burning Bridges

72           KACEY MUSGRAVES        Breadwinner

73           STEPS    The Slightest Touch

74           SAM FENDER      Get You Down

75           HALSEY I Am Not A Woman. I'm A God

76           NORMANI f/ CARDI B      Wild Side

77           MIMI WEBB        24/5

78           ELDERBROOK     I'll Find My Way To You

79           NEIKED, MAE MULLER & POLO G               Better Days

80           MARSHMELLO f/ JONAS BROTHERS          Leave Before You Love Me

81           ALEXANDRA STAN           Come Into My World

82           JESY NELSON      Boyz

83           MAISIE PETERS  Psycho

84           BRYAN ADAMS  So Happy It Hurts

85           FARRUKO            Pepas

86           TIESTO f/AVA MAX          The Motto

87           SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA               It Gets Better

88           BIFFY CLYRO       A Hunger In Your Haunt

89           CLEAN BANDIT & TOPIC f/ WES NELSON Drive

90           GLASS ANIMALS f/ IANN DIOR    Heat Waves

91           LOST FREQUENCIES f/ CALUM SCOTT       Where Are You Now

92           COLDPLAY f/ SELENA GOMEZ      Let Somebody Go

93           TOM GRENNEN Don't Break The Heart

94           AGNES  Here Comes The Night

95           KELLY CLARKSON             Christmas Is Canceled (Just You)

96           DAVID ARCHULETA          Movin'

97           BLACK EYED PEAS f/ SAWEETIE & LELEL PONS      Hit It

98           MEDUZA f/ HOZIER          Tell it to My Heart

99           LITTLE BOOTS    Silver Balloons

100         DRAKE f/ FUTURE & YUONG THUG           Way 2 Sexy

Beyond Radio’s Rock Chart

powered by alternative, aaa and rock leaning personal charts

Full top 250

LM/TM/ARTIST/Song/Weeks/Peak on BR250

2              1              THE WAR ON DRUGS      I Don't Live Here Anymore           5              8

84           2              ALT-J     U&Me  6              23

55           3              PLACEBO             Beautiful James 7              15

506         4              WHITE LIES          As I Try Not To Fall Apart               5              22

new       5              WET LEG              Wet Dream         4              25

new       6              JACK WHITE        Taking Me Back 2              48

74           7              THE LUMINEERS               Brightside            6              52

new       8              MITSKI  Working For The Knife   3              33

17           9              THE KILLERS        Quiet Town        10           30

26           10           NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHTSWEATS         Survivor               13           74

7              11           CHVRCHES          Good Girls           14           20

18           12           HATCHIE              This Enchanted 5              51

new       13           TEARS FOR FEARS             The Tipping Point             3              21

46           14           BILLY TALENT F/ RIVERS CUOMO               End Of Me           6              92

165         15           GHOST  Hunter's Moon  5              77

8              16           WALK THE MOON            Can You Handle My Love?            16           29

654         17           IDLES     The Beachland Ballroom                5              95

188         18           MODEST MOUSE              The Sun Hasn't Left         19           89

96           19           MANESKIN         Beggin' 19           45

145         20           BIFFY CLYRO       A Hunger In Your Haunt 6              94

new       21           THE WOMBATS Ready For The High          2              104

79           22           GLASS ANIMALS               I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)               10           38

16           23           THE RECORD COMPANY How High             15           88

15           24           PARQUET COURTS           Walking At A Downtown Pace    10           85

1              25           GANG OF YOUTHS           The Angel of 8th Ave.     19           27

 

1              LIL NAS X f/ JACK HARLOW           Industry Baby    14           11

2              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart           12           2

3              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe      5              3

4              LIL NAS X              That's What I Want          6              9

5              ADELE   Easy On Me        3              1

6              KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified               10           5

7              THE ANXIETY      Meet Me At Our Spot     6              18

8              THE WEEKND     Take My Breath 13           1

9              ED SHEERAN       Shivers 8              7

10           DOJA CAT            Need To Know   21           36

11           LORDE   Mood Ring          10           10

12           CHARLI XCX        Good Ones         10           12

13           CHLOE   Have Mercy        7              40

14           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Traitor   23           35

15           THE KID LAROI f/ JUSTION BIEBER             Stay       16           5

16           DUA LIPA             Love Again          83           3

17           CAMILA CABELLO             Don't Go Yet       14           37

18           SAM FENDER      Get You Down   7              27

19           HALSEY I Am Not A Woman. I'm A God   10           7

20           LIZZO f/ CARDI B               Rumors 13           33

21           KACEY MUSGRAVES        Star-Crossed      10           34

22           WIZKID f/ TEMS Essence 16           99

23           YEARS & YEARS Crave    7              87

24           GALANTIS f/ DAVID GUETTA & LITTLE MIX             Heartbreak Anthem        24           3

25           DOJA CAT & THE WEEKEND          You Right             19           35

 

Beyond Radio’s Eclectic Chart

powered by personal charts that span multiple genres

Full top 250

POS/ARTIST/Song/Weeks/Peak on BR250

1              ABBA     Don't Shut Me Down      10           3

2              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe      5              3

3              ADELE   Easy On Me        3              1

4              BILLY IDOL           Bitter Taste         13           16

5              NATALIE IMBRUGLIA      On My Way         11           31

6              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart           12           2

7              KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified               10           5

8              THE WEEKND     Take My Breath 13           1

9              SAM HUNT          23           6              46

10           WALKER HAYES f/ KESHA              Fancy Like           18           14

11           DURAN DURAN Anniversary        10           43

12           ED SHEERAN       Shivers 8              7

13           SAM FENDER      Spit Of You          5              26

14           BILLIE EILISH       Happier Than Ever           14           4

15           KYLIE MINOGUE f/ YEARS & YEARS            A Second To Midnight    4              17

16           JASON ALDEAN & CARRIE UNDERWOOD If I Didn't Love You           15           41

17           LIL NAS X              That's What I Want          6              9

18           BLOSSOMS         Care For               10           40

19           ROD STEWART   One More Time 5              72

20           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Brutal    23           19

21           CHARLI XCX        Good Ones         10           12

22           MANESKIN         Mammamia        3              29

23           CHVRCHES f/ ROBERT SMITH       How Not To Drown          22           2

24           THE WAR ON DRUGS      I Don't Live Here Anymore           5              8

25           TROYE SIVAN     Angel Baby          7              39

 

Beyond Radio’s Compilation Sites Top 250

powered by our Beyond Radio affiliate forums that produce their own charts

Full Top 250

POS/ARTIST/Cold/Weeks/Peak on BR250

1              ELTON JOHN & DUA LIPA              Cold Heart           12           2

2              THE WEEKND     Take My Breath 13           1

3              ADELE   Easy On Me        3              1

4              ED SHEERAN       Shivers 8              7

5              ABBA     Don't Shut Me Down      10           3

6              COLDPLAY & BTS              My Universe      5              3

7              THE KID LAROI f/ JUSTION BIEBER             Stay       16           5

8              BILLIE EILISH       Happier Than Ever           14           4

9              LIL NAS X              That's What I Want          6              9

10           ED SHEERAN       Bad Habits           19           1

11           ABBA     I Still Have Faith In You   10           23

12           LIL NAS X f/ JACK HARLOW           Industry Baby    14           11

13           CHARLI XCX        Good Ones         10           12

14           HALSEY I Am Not A Woman. I'm A God   10           7

15           KYLIE MINOGUE f/ YEARS & YEARS            A Second To Midnight    4              17

16           THE WAR ON DRUGS      I Don't Live Here Anymore           5              8

17           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Good 4 U             24           1

18           KACEY MUSGRAVES        Justified               10           5

19           OLIVIA RODRIGO              Traitor   23           35

20           LITTLE MIX          Love (Sweet Love)           10           66

21           JOEL CORRY vs JAX JONES f/ CHARLI XCX & SAWEETIE       Out Out                13           42

22           SHOUSE               Love Tonight      15           60

23           CAMILA CABELLO             Don't Go Yet       14           37

24           THE WEEKND & SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA               Moth To A Flame              2              64

25           ANNE-MARIE & LITTLE MIX          Kiss My (Uh On) 14           23