Category Archives: charts

The double-digit #1s: in review

Posted on August 14, 2019 by thomasinskeep

Originally written two years ago, as “Despacito” hit the 14-week mark on its way to a then-record-tying 16 weeks at #1. I’ve made some nips and tucks since. And, of course, there’s a new all-time champ you may have heard … Continue reading →

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The long-running #2s: do they try harder?

Posted on August 11, 2019 by thomasinskeep

With Billie Eilish’s hit spending its 8th week stuck at #2 behind “Old Town Road,” Billboard saw fit to survey the 10 songs which were forever Hot 100 bridesmaids and never brides for eight weeks or longer. (The all-time record … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, charts, hip hop, pop, R&B, rock | Comments Off on The long-running #2s: do they try harder?

Pop top 40 summer nights super-special: 7/21/79

Posted on July 20, 2019 by thomasinskeep

Not just the pop top 40 from this week 40 years ago, but the country top 10, too, because just look at it. All but two of these are in the accompanying playlist. Hot 100:1 1 BAD GIRLS –•– Donna … Continue reading →

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Pop top 40 summer nights special: 7/20/74

Posted on July 17, 2019 by thomasinskeep

Continuing a series of looks back at the pop charts in summer, ergo the title change. This chart from 45 years ago is an interesting one; more interesting than I expected, definitely. Songs not in the accompanying Spotify playlist are … Continue reading →

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Pop top 40 summer nights special: 7/16/94

Posted on July 10, 2019 by thomasinskeep

25 years ago this week. A great summer for R&B, as “MTV Jams” proved on a daily basis. Here’s the playlist, only missing two selections (whose videos are linked below). 1 1 I SWEAR –•– All-4-One – 13 (1) — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, charts, pop, R&B, rock | Comments Off on Pop top 40 summer nights special: 7/16/94

The vibrancy of black radio, summer of ’92

Posted on June 23, 2019 by thomasinskeep

At the start of 1992, I’d just turned 21 and had just moved back in with my folks, after a colossally bad 1991. Shortly thereafter I found a pair of jobs, a part-time daytime gig and a full-time overnight gig, … Continue reading →

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Pop top 40: 3/10/79

Posted on March 10, 2019 by thomasinskeep

40 years ago: arguably, peak disco. Not yet peak yacht rock, but a couple gems show up. And what’s that down below at #35: the first stirrings of the next country crossover boom? Also, the only decent Dire Straits hit! … Continue reading →

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Pop top 40: 2/26/83

Posted on February 26, 2019 by thomasinskeep

If a chart could be said to be “peak ’83,” it might well be this one. One iconic song after another, along with a few, er, ringers, as you can hear, as you “take it to the nth degree.” 1 1 … Continue reading →

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Pop top 40: 1/19/80

Posted on January 17, 2018 by thomasinskeep

The future was already underway, we just didn’t know it: falling out of the top 40 this week, from a high of #36 the week prior, was “Rapper’s Delight.” But otherwise, yeah, it’s still the ’70s. Don’t believe me? Listen … Continue reading →

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Pop top 10: 1/10/76

Posted on January 10, 2018 by thomasinskeep

Lots of classics in this top 10, and a very tidy microcosm of its time: soft pop ballads, glam-adjacent, and some honest to goodness funk/soul/disco classics, with a mother of a novelty classic at #1. All that’s missing, really, is … Continue reading →

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