Surprise! To quote John Cleese, "And now for something...completely different!"
I thought before the year was over (2013, that is), I'd post a list of what I'd consider to be the most essential songs reviewed so far in chronological order. So here it is - The first three installments of Dr. Rock's Unavailable, Unlicensed, Mildly Biased, Greatest #1 Hits Box Set!
Disc 1 - 1958-1962 (From Malt Shops to Outer Space)
1 - The Kingston Trio - "Tom Dooley"
2 - Lloyd Price - "Stagger Lee"
3 - Elvis Presley - "A Big Hunk O' Love"
4 - Percy Faith - "Theme From A Summer Place"
5 - Elvis Presley - "Stuck On You"
6 - The Everly Brothers - "Cathy's Clown"
7 - Chubby Checker - "The Twist"
8 - The Drifters - "Save The Last Dance For Me"
9 - Ray Charles - "Georgia On My Mind"
10 - Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs - "Stay!"
11 - The Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
12 - The Marcels - "Blue Moon"
13 - Del Shannon - "Runaway"
14 - Roy Orbison - "Running Scared"
15 - Ray Charles - "Hit The Road Jack"
16 - The Tokens - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
17 - The Crystals - "He's A Rebel"
18 - The Tornadoes - "Telstar"
Disc 2 - 1963-1965 (A Change Is Gonna Come)
1 - The Rooftop Singers - "Walk Right In"
2 - The Four Seasons - "Walk Like A Man"
3 - The Chiffons - "He's So Fine"
4 - Jan And Dean - "Surf City"
5 - Little Stevie Wonder - "Fingertips (Part 2)"
6 - The Beatles - "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
7 - The Beatles - "She Loves You"
8 - The Beach Boys - "I Get Around"
9 - The Four Seasons - "Rag Doll"
10 - The Beatles - "A Hard Day's Night"
11 - The Animals - "The House Of The Rising Sun"
12 - Roy Orbison - "Oh, Pretty Woman"
13 - Manfred Mann - "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy"
14 - The Supremes - "Baby Love"
15 - The Righteous Brothers - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
16 - The Temptations - "My Girl"
17 - The Beatles - "Ticket To Ride"
18 - The Beach Boys - "Help Me Rhonda"
Disc 3 - 1965-1966 - (96 Miles High)
1 - The Byrds - "Mr. Tambourine Man"
2 - The Rolling Stones - "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
3 - The Beatles - "Help"
4 - The Beatles - "Yesterday"
5 - The Rolling Stones - "Get Off Of My Cloud"
6 - The Byrds - "Turn! Turn! Turn!"
7 - Simon And Garfunkel - "The Sound Of Silence"
8 - The Young Rascals - "Good Lovin'"
9 - Percy Sledge - "When A Man Loves A Woman"
10 - The Rolling Stones - "Paint It Black"
11 - The Beatles - "Paperback Writer"
12 - The Troggs - "Wild Thing"
13 - The Lovin' Spoonful - "Summer In The City"
14 - The Association - "Cherish"
15 - The Four Tops - "Reach Out, I'll Be There"
16 - ? And The Mysterians - "96 Tears"
17 - The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
18 - The Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations"
There are still many favorites of mine I left out (I couldn't include every Beatles song), but this should give you an idea of what songs were well-deserved #1 hits. Many different genres, many different sounds, all 100% recommended by me.
Now, just for fun, here's another imaginary compilation, although this is one you'd never want to own! - Dr. Rock's worst and/or weakest #1 Songs Box Set - Insert these CD's directly into the toaster!
Disc 1 - 1958-1966 - "Unfunny Jokes and Schmaltzy Folks"
1 - The Chipmunks - "The Chipmunk Song"
2 - The Browns - "The Three Bells"
3 - Frankie Avalon - "Why"
4 - Mark Dinning - "Teen Angel"
5 - Brian Hyland - "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"
6 - Larry Verne - "Mr. Custer"
7 - Lawrence Welk - "Calcutta"
8 - Joe Dowell - "Wooden Heart"
9 - Bobby Vinton - "Roses Are Red (My Love)"
10 - Steve Lawrence - "Go Away Little Girl"
11 - Little Peggy March - "I Will Follow Him"
12 - The Singing Nun - "Dominique"
13 - Barry Sadler - "The Ballad Of The Green Berets"
14 - The New Vaudeville Band - "Winchester Cathedral"
Notice how few outstandingly bad songs there are in comparison to the 54 outstandingly good ones? Well, unfortunately as we progress through the decades, that number is going to invert. For now though, prepare yourself for 1967!
Coming Up Next (For real this time) - 1967 Overview.
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock saying, Have a very happy new year! -
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