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COME AND GET THESE MEMORIES

Hello Fred,
 
I have been listening to several CDs by Motown artists lately due to the 50th anniversary celebration.

I pulled out my collection "Live Wire" by Martha and the Vandellas and saw you had written the liner notes. Have you ever written notes for any other CDs?

I have been keeping up with the Billboard charts since 1974 when I saw a Hot 100 chart posted at Record Bar.
 
James Davis
Macon, Ga.


Dear James,
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We have something in common. The first Hot 100 I ever saw was also in a record store, in downtown Los Angeles. I was 14, so it was way before 1974.

I really enjoyed writing the liner notes for that double-CD by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. It was based on a very long interview with Martha that covered her entire life. At the same time, I wrote liner notes for a similar double-CD by the Marvelettes, based on a long in-person interview with Gladys Horton.

I have written notes for a lot of CDs, too many to mention here. A few that stand out for me: “It’s My Party: The Mercury Anthology” by Lesley Gore, “Laughter in the Rain: The Best of Neil Sedaka, 1974-1980” and “This Is the Story: The Jean Terrell Years” by the Supremes. Most recently, I wrote the liner notes for a 10-CD Time Life box set, “Billboard #1 Hits of the ’70s,” and I’m currently writing notes for a new Motown box that hasn’t been announced yet, so I shouldn’t reveal the title or the artist.


THE CHASE IS ON

Fred:
 
Hello and thanks as always for all you do for chart geeks like myself! I am a big fan of Adele's "Chasing Pavements" and was very disappointed it didn't peak higher than No. 82 on the Hot 100 last year.  I was, however, extremely pleased to see it rocket 43 positions to a new peak of No. 21 this week. Along with the 11-point bump up to No. 13 (after 41 weeks on the chart) for Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," have there ever been any other notable moves like these two in Hot 100 history after a Grammy telecast?  I've never heard of a year-old song like "Chasing Pavements" peak at such a low number only to re-enter many months later and do what it has done (so far).

Thanks very much!
 
Ron Raymond, Jr.
Winslow, Maine


Ron,

Usually, albums receive the biggest bump from the Grammys. Readers with long memories might recall that Toni Braxton’s debut album entered The Billboard 200 the week of July 31, 1993, but didn’t go to No. 1 until the week of Feb. 26, 1994, after she won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Similarly, Ray Charles’ “Genius Loves Company” debuted the week of Sept. 18, 2004, but didn’t go to No. 1 until the week of March 5, 2005, after winning the Grammy for Album of the Year.

This week’s album chart has a number of Grammy-influenced jumps, including the 69-2 rebound of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ “Raising Sand,” after its Album of the Year win. Jennifer Hudson’s self-titled debut takes a 47-30 hike after being named Best R&B Album of the Year and George Strait’s “Troubadour” surges 113-57 after its triumph as Best Country Album.

Adele’s victory as Best New Artist and her win for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance helped give her outstanding “Chasing Pavements” a second life, and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” had a reversal of fortune after being named Song of the Year. I think one reason that singles benefited from the Grammys this year is the immediacy of downloading. You can watch the Grammys and have the winning tracks on your iPod before the credits roll.


IN THE COUNTRY CLUB

Hi Fred,

I thoroughly enjoy reading your column, as always. I noticed that LeAnn Rimes became the first proper country artist to achieve a No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, although Reba McEntire came close in 1996 peaking at No. 2 with “You Keep Me Hangin' On.”

Dolly Parton and Shania Twain also charted on Dance but never reached the top 10. Al Downing hit the top in 1974 with “I'll Be Holding On,” but I am not sure he was considered a country artist. So I think LeAnn deserves credit for being the first. 

Also, Beyonce debuted on the Club Play chart last week with her new song “Diva,” while her two previous hits (“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” and”If I Were a Boy”) still remain on the chart. Not including artists who scored multiple hits at once with "LP Cuts," I think Beyonce becomes the first artist to place three different tracks at once on this chart.

Thanks,
Jim Maino


Dear Jim,

It’s a great week for country crossovers, with LeAnn Rimes’ “What I Cannot Change” topping Hot Dance Club Play and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” becoming the first song by a country artist to lead the Mainstream Top 40 list.

Big Al Downing recorded music in a number of different genres, but had enough hits on the country charts to be considered a country artist, so I’m not sure Rimes can be considered the first to top the dance tally.


FAMILY TREE

Hi, Fred,

I noticed a curious confluence on this week’s country charts. At No. 27 is a song by Montgomery Gentry (Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry). At No. 28 is a song by Eddie’s younger brother John Michael Montgomery.  And at No. 29 is a song titled “Brothers”!

Rick Emmer
Apollo Beach, Fla.


Dear Rick,

It doesn’t get better than that. Thanks for noticing this trio of related hits. Hopefully the Montgomery brothers noticed it, too.