So this week our target year will be 1964- that magical year for the Beatles, and the year Elvis always takes off so he doesn't have to hear, "Beatles this, Beatles that". Now, truth be told, we are in the early part of their rampage this week, with their songs at a 'minimum' of the Cashbox charts- at #1, 7, 80, and 100. And this week, I'm doing the feature a bit different, hold that thought! I have two debuts for you this week, and let's start with this one, at #10, from UK band Jungle:
So first off, let me saythat I Want To Hold Your Hand is tops in all three of our countries this week. Instead of doing the song I wouldn't turn off anymore, though, I'll be doing what my top five would have been- imagining from just looking at the top 40, adjusting for time on chart, the bullet, etc. And we'll get to that... but I DID say we have the top of 2023 yet to announce! So let me find that durn list, and where we left off, and...
10- Talk, A Little Bit Happy. The M10's version of Meat Loaf, he did Run Away To Mars at the NHL All-Star Game. Very cool!
9- Gorillaz w/ Tame Impala and Booty Brown,New Gold. Probably my biggest earworm of the year.
8- Saint Asonia, Devastate. Their first trip to #1... until this week (?)
7- Caroline Rose, Everywhere I Go I Bring The Rain. When I first heard this, I wasn't convinced it make the top ten on a weekly chart, much less the year. The poster child for "It grew on me."
6- Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, Far From You. How can you resist harp and pedal steel? Had me crying to it... So let's bring in our next debut for this week's chart! At #9, more ELO through the voice of Juliana Hatfield...
So now, here's my top five for this week in 1964...
At #5, everybody else's #1, I Want To Hold Your Hand.
At #4, an early composition of David Gates, future leader of Bread: The Murmaids and Popsicles, Icicles. It was 16 this week, after getting as high as #3, peaking at 10 in Canada and 12 in Australia. Somewhat funny story: When we first got together, my ex tried singing this song. Her mind, though, tried to combine it with the similar themed My Favorite Things, and what came out of her mouth was, "These are a few of my favorite slugs..." Hope she hasn't forgotten that one!
At #3, and the hot riser, The Four Seasons and Dawn (Go Away). A #13 peak in Australia and 3 in Canada, it would similarly be stuck behind the Beatles, trapped behind two of them at 3 for 3 weeks, and behind four of them for 2 more. It was 32 with a bullet this week.
At #2, one of those Beatles tunes, She Loves You at #7 this week. Like IWTHYH, it would top all three charts eventually.
And at my top would be the song destined to be stuck at #2 for a couple of weeks- a song that would stick at 5 in Canada and 4 in Australia- Leslie Gore's You Don't Own Me.
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5- Aiden Bissett, Ultraviolet. A cool acoustic version here.
4- Bethany Cosentino, It's Fine. My second biggest earworm of the year.
3- Bakar, Hell'N'Back. I was late to this one, but as the second hit of his on here, last summer's Alive!, just now got to #30 on Radiowavemonitor's alt chart, I don't feel too terrible.
2- Smash Mouth, Underground Sun. So much the ultimate summer song, I may chart it again next year, lol!
And finally, the heart-breaking number one, from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit...
Much thanks to PBS and Austin City Limits there! Now, to this week's remaining top ten...
8- Ten weeks on the chart for Real Estate and Water Underground, which moves into a 9th place tie all time- and one of those fellows at #9 is their #1 Paper Cup!
7- Up 3 for Dent May and One Call, That's All.
6- Slipping one, Trans-Canada Highwaymen with Pretty Lady.
5- Up 2 for Buck Meek and Cuero Dudes.
4- Also up 2, Amira Elfeky and Everything I Do Is For You.
3- TCH again, the former #1 down 2, Heartbeat It's A Lovebeat.
2- Jenny Lewis up 2 with Cherry Baby. And the new #1....
Thousand Foot Krutch, with Saint Asonia, and Let The Sparks Fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whew! Did it! And it only took me till a week into February!
