September 12, 2008
THE LIVERPOOL 14Hi Fred!
Since this is the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100, and coming on the heels of the recent chart achievements of T-Pain, David Cook and Lil Wayne, I was wondering if you could list the 14 tracks the Beatles had on the Hot 100 dated April 11, 1964, along with their positions -- one of the many, many impressive chart feats by the Fab Four.
Thank you and here's to the next 50!
John Chua
Makati City
Philippines
Dear John,
Glad to provide the list. From 44 years ago, here are the 14 Beatles songs that all appeared on the Hot 100 for the week ending April 11, 1964. Heading the list is "Can't Buy Me Love," which was in the second frame of a five-week reign:
No. 1: "Can't Buy Me Love"
No. 2: "Twist and Shout"
No. 4: "She Loves You"
No. 7: "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
No. 9: "Please Please Me"
No. 14: "Do You Want to Know a Secret"
No. 38: "I Saw Her Standing There"
No. 48: "You Can't Do That"
No. 50: "All My Loving"
No. 52: "From Me to You"
No. 61: "Thank You Girl"
No. 74: "There's a Place"
No. 78: "Roll Over Beethoven"
No. 81: "Love Me Do"ON A CLEAR CHART, YOU CAN SEE 'FOREVER'Hi Fred,
Thanks for all the cool trivia and answers you provide every week. It's great to live in 2008 and have an expert as accessible as you!
Chris Brown's "Forever" debuted at No. 9 several weeks ago, and I don't recall it dropping out of the top 10 during its run. I know there have been some singles that have spent their first 19 weeks in the top 10 -- Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” debuted at No. 1 and spent at least 16 weeks in that spot in 1995-1996, so I'm guessing it was in the top 10 for the first 19 weeks of its run.
My question is, when was the last time a song debuted in the top 10 and spent its first 19 weeks in that tier?
Thanks!
Chris Bubenik
Dear Chris,
Glad you enjoy Chart Beat and Chart Beat Chat!
Chris Brown's "Forever" is holding at No. 4 in its 20th chart week, but the song hasn't been in the top 10 every week since its debut at No. 9 on the Hot 100 on May 10. In fact, in its second week the single fell to No. 15 and then plunged to No. 25 before rebounding to No. 20.
"Forever" returned to the top 10 in its eighth chart week and has been there ever since, for a total of 14 weeks in the top 10.
Many of the songs that have debuted in the top 10 recently have had short stays in that elite tier. The longest top 10 stay for a recent debut is credited to Avril Lavigne. "Girlfriend" debuted at No. 5 the week of March 17 and remained in the top 10 for 18 weeks.
Even though "Forever" hasn't hit the 19-week mark yet - and it still could - I do have an answer to your question. The last song to debut in the top 10 and remain there for at least 19 weeks was Toni Braxton's "You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow." That two-sided hit spent 20 weeks in the top 10 from June to October of 1996. And to satisfy your curiosity about Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day," that No. 1 hit spent 19 weeks in the top 10.THEN THERE'S A 'TWIST'...Dear Fred,
I'm sure you've be getting a lot of e-mails about the "All-Time Hot 100" list posted at Billboard.com. I'm not writing to question, critique or comment on those rankings, but I am hoping that the placement of Chubby Checker's "The Twist" at No. 1 on that list may encourage the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to finally let Checker in. He has earned it!
Richard K. Rogers
Astoria, N.Y.
haretonic@yahoo.com
Dear Richard,
If it were up to me, Chubby Checker would be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so between you and me, there are two votes for inducting him. If only our votes counted...LONG, LONG TIMEDear Fred,
Last week you asked if anyone could think of a longer trek to No. 1 on the Hot 100 than the journey UB40's "Red Red Wine" took from 1984-88. I can think of two.
"At This Moment" by
Billy Vera & The Beaters first debuted on Sept. 19, 1981, and didn't hit No. 1 until Jan. 24, 1987, for a total of five years, four months and one week.
"When I'm With You" by Sheriff first debuted on May 14, 1983, and didn't hit No. 1 until Feb. 4, 1989, for a total of five years, eight months and three weeks.
Paul Haney
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Dear Paul,
You were one of more than a dozen readers who wrote in to respond to the item about the longest journey to No. 1 on the Hot 100. I'm sorry I can't post more of the e-mails, but thanks to everyone who wrote in. Paul, your letter will have to represent all of the missives I received on the topic.
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