This week, the week of January 18-22, 2016, we will be looking at the year 1966!

We call it:  "50/50!"

January 22, 2016

Note:  Not all the titles will be great!  LOL!

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on random anniversary numbers over others.  The 50th anniversary of anything tends to get more attention than 48 or 49 because we like our round numbers I guess.

So let's look at the top five songs of the year 1966!

For a year that saw the Beatles in the middle of the amazing run, the birth of the Monkees, and an ever growing cross over in media from movies to music the songs that ranked the highest for the entire year might be a bit of a surprise!

Coming in at #1 for the entire year of 1966 is a song that remained at number one for five weeks despite being at odds with what most of the record buying community was supporting at the time.

A ballad song by a former high school drop out about the bravery and strength of the military...during the Vietnam War.

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler enlisted in the Air Force and then re-enlisted in the Army after his initial discharge.  He was shot in the head during a robbery attempt after leaving the service and survived but never fully recovered and died a the age of 49 in 1989.

Also, contrary to popular belief Sadler was NOT a one hit wonder.  A follow up song, "The A Team", went to number six in 1966.

Thanks for joining me this week and hopefully you learned something new!

Next week: A whole new theme and five more chances to break up your work day with the Midday Musical Interlude!

~ Glenn

This week, the week of January 18-22, 2016, we will be looking at the year 1966!

We call it:  "50/50!"

January 21, 2016

Note:  Not all the titles will be great!  LOL!

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on random anniversary numbers over others.  The 50th anniversary of anything tends to get more attention than 48 or 49 because we like our round numbers I guess.

So let's look at the top five songs of the year 1966!

For a year that saw the Beatles in the middle of the amazing run, the birth of the Monkees, and an ever growing cross over in media from movies to music the songs that ranked the highest for the entire year might be a bit of a surprise!

Coming in at #2, this song was actually just a wee bit shorter for the radio than the album it came out on.  Cutting ONE LINE off at the end to try and keep the tune under the magical three minute mark that a lot of stations preferred at the time. (It is still over three minutes...despite saying "3:00" on the label.  Showing you just how smart radio DJs are.)

One of two number one hits for The Association its another one of those songs that has been covered by a multitude of artists from Dizzy Gillespie to David Cassidy, who also charted the song just six years later reaching number nine.

Tomorrow: The Beatles, The Monkees, Tommy James, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Lovin' Spoonful and others all made the year end hot 100...but only one was number for the entire year of 1966!

~ Glenn

This week, the week of January 18-22, 2016, we will be looking at the year 1966!

We call it:  "50/50!"

January 20, 2016

Note:  Not all the titles will be great!  LOL!

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on random anniversary numbers over others.  The 50th anniversary of anything tends to get more attention than 48 or 49 because we like our round numbers I guess.

So let's look at the top five songs of the year 1966!

For a year that saw the Beatles in the middle of the amazing run, the birth of the Monkees, and an ever growing cross over in media from movies to music the songs that ranked the highest for the entire year might be a bit of a surprise!

Coming in at #3, this song sung by the first white group to record on Phil Spector's Philles Records label, where they picked up their "blue eyed soul" designation...but it came after their association with the "wall of sound" style that Spector was known for.

Originally written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, it went to #1 in the US and #15 in UK.

The song was the Righteous Brothers second number one hit...and last.

Tomorrow:  Another 1st time chart topper!

~ Glenn

This week, the week of January 18-22, 2016, we will be looking at the year 1966!

We call it:  "50/50!"

January 19, 2016

Note:  Not all the titles will be great!  LOL!

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on random anniversary numbers over others.  The 50th anniversary of anything tends to get more attention than 48 or 49 because we like our round numbers I guess.

So let's look at the top five songs of the year 1966!

For a year that saw the Beatles in the middle of the amazing run, the birth of the Monkees, and an ever growing cross over in media from movies to music the songs that ranked the highest for the entire year might be a bit of a surprise!

Coming in at #4, is a song recorded for Motown records and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland.  And if you don't know how they shaped the sound of the 60's please go read about it.

Spending two weeks a top the Billboard Hot 100 in October of 1966.  The Four Tops entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Tomorrow: Blue eyed soul!

~ Glenn

This week, the week of January 18-22, 2016, we will be looking at the year 1966!

We call it:  "50/50!"

January 18, 2016

Note:  Not all the titles will be great!  LOL!

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on random anniversary numbers over others.  The 50th anniversary of anything tends to get more attention than 48 or 49 because we like our round numbers I guess.

So let's look at the top five songs of the year 1966!

For a year that saw the Beatles in the middle of the amazing run, the birth of the Monkees, and an ever growing cross over in media from movies to music the songs that ranked the highest for the entire year might be a bit of a surprise!

Coming in at #5, this song was written four years earlier and the lead singer changed his name to a symbol (although a recognizable one) long before Prince thought it was cool.

The song hit #1 in October of 1966.

Also, the group was NOT a one hit wonder.  Their follow up to "96 Tears", "I Need Somebody" peaked at #22 also in 1966!

Tomorrow:  Motown Sound!

~ Glenn