About

Billboard published the first Hot 100 singles chart in its August 4, 1958 issue. The Hot 100 replaced the Top 100 (measuring sales, radio play and jukebox play) and the Most Played by Jockeys charts with a streamlined, cross-genre ranking that’s considered the standard measure of singles popularity in the United States. This blog looks at those records that managed to reach the #1 place on the Hot 100, their place in US pop culture and whether they’re worthy of their place at the top. Credit for the concept goes to Tom Ewing, who reviews all the UK #1 singles at Popular.

Like this:

Be the first to like this page.

21 Comments »

21 Responses

on October 13, 2009 at 11:31 pm Leon

Hi,

I just found this blog. I think your understanding and observations of pop musical history match your writing skills quite well and they’re great. So keep exercising. Good stuff!

LS
on October 14, 2009 at 10:21 pm Sally

Thanks! It’s always nice to know someone’s reading.
on August 16, 2010 at 7:58 pm Anonymous

With due respect acknowledging I am writing under the anonymity, I’d like to comment and hope you don’t write off my remarks as simply rude. Obviously you are smart, educated and of high self esteem. However your writing suggests you see your self as the great communicator, judge and savior of aesthetics. I suggest however you lower your standards and enjoy life more. Perhaps try a drum, tambourine or cowbell. You get an A for your website, but that doesn’t earn you the position you claim. Good Luck.
on August 17, 2010 at 2:57 pm Sally O'Rourke

Thank you for your feedback. Are you familiar with Fred Bronson’s work? He may be more to your liking, as he covers the Hot 100 (and other pop charts) without a critical bent. His “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits” has been an invaluable reference for this blog.

However, I would humbly like to rebut your assumption that I see myself as some type of Cultural Overlord. I am merely a music fan with a WordPress account. That’s one of the great innovations of the internet: music criticism is no longer restricted to a few designated arbiters of taste. People who would have never otherwise had an outlet (including me) can express how a song makes them feel or an artist makes them think. Given that art is subjective and pop music is inherently populist, having as many critical voices out there can only be a good thing. And as far as having high standards goes, I think that’s a positive! I’m certainly happier for surrounding myself with music I love rather than settling for the beige hum of mediocrity.
on January 12, 2011 at 6:48 pm secretagentkr

sally! we are watching you on jepoardy right now and being a multi genere dj, i was soooo stoked to hear about your blog! amazing!
you are our favorite contestant!

xo
kristy and holly (toronto, canada)
on January 12, 2011 at 6:50 pm Allan

Dear Ms. O’Rourke,

I think it was only right that you made it to Jeopardy. Continued success. My own passion is for delineating the life stories of great adventurers, of which NYC has the lion’s share. I’ll explain if you wish to contact me.

I wish you the best. I failed three times but Alex is one charming lad. Keep up the fine blog…you are a scholar after my own heart, truly. Perhaps we;ll meet over coffee one of these years.

Cheers,

Allan

PS: Why does East Side, West Side come to mind, I wonder. Your delightful name perhaps, which (given name) was that of my late beloved Mom. A.
on January 12, 2011 at 7:29 pm Ted David

Loved seeing you on JEOPARDY! Such a pretty face!

Looked you up as a result of your appearance and mention of your blog. I plan to publish your link on a radio board I moderate called the New York Broadcasting History Board.

http://www.nybhb.com

Best wishes,

Ted
on January 12, 2011 at 8:23 pm PamelaJaye

Hi,

if you are the person I think, I just heard you say this on Jeopardy! and I had to stop playback to come and see.
As a teen I used to write down AT40 every week in a notebook. I’m guessing my brother and I are going to love this blog! (thanks for telling Alex!)
on January 12, 2011 at 8:31 pm Sally O'Rourke

That’s me! Thanks for finding me (and for watching Jeopardy!).
on January 12, 2011 at 9:23 pm Vincent

Hi Sally,

Loved your performance on Jeopardy! Thanks for mentioning your blog. I plan to enjoy it often!

Happy New Year!

Vincent
on January 12, 2011 at 9:36 pm mryan@keene.edu

I am having great fun reading this!
Try as I might, I won’t get through in one sitting so you are now bookmarked.

Marc
on January 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm Jim Ochs

Sally,

If it hadn’t been for Jeopardy, I would never have found your blog. Wish you could’ve moved on to, at least, another day. Your blog concept is very near and dear to me as I have collected all the #1′s from Fred Bronson’s stated ‘Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll, when Bill Haley and the Comets hit it big with Rock Around The Clock, to today. Wish I had thought of your idea. I will peruse your posts and maybe try something of my own along the same lines, but with true vinyl samples or versions as the difference. Thanks for the inspiration.
on January 16, 2011 at 1:27 pm Eddie George

Sally,

I truly enjoyed your appearances on Jeopardy !.

You were a breath of fresh air.

Thanks for mentioning your blog. Two of my favorite
things; Jeopardy ! , and rock & roll music.

Good luck in all of your endeavors. The world needs
more people like you.

Eddie George
on January 16, 2011 at 1:34 pm Eddie George

OBTW, two of my favorite music writers/archivists
are Joel Whitburn and Dave Marsh.

Eddie George
on January 16, 2011 at 5:53 pm Eddie George

Sally,

I am ” tripping down memory lane ” with your blog.
Of course, the songs that I am reading about, and
listening to are all right in my ” wheelhouse “, the
wonderful ’60′s. I loved them all.

I really am amazed at your ” feel ” and insight into
these songs. This was before you were even born.
For me it is easy. I lived these songs. They were my
everyday soul. But for someone like you to pick up
on the nuances and feeling of these wonderful songs
is truly remarkable.

Keep up the good work.

Eddie George
on January 18, 2011 at 11:41 am andriana

SALLLY!!!!! you are AMAZING! ive been so inspired by the 50s and 60s for my next record! i’m learning so many songs on guitar and it’s so much fun! i LOOOOOOOOVE your blog.. how u explain and write everything. ur points of view and the videos! the information is so much fun and interesting to read! DONT STOP! i’ll be following and reading everything else you’ve written. xoox
on January 25, 2011 at 9:10 am Kevin O'Leary

Sally,

Saw you on Jeopardy (Greg Kihn must be proud of you)!

I share a few things with you….an Irish surname, life in Austin, and a longstanding love of the music charts. I still have many of the Top 40 surveys from the early to mid ’60s from Twin Cities’ radio stations, KDWB and WDGY. Also have spent many hours poring over old Billboard mags.

I managed to accumulate the Billboard Top 100 records (MP3 format) for the years 1956 – 2000 and the Top 30 for the years 1947-1955.

You’ve done a fabulous job describing the background and context of the #1′s….keep it up!!

Kevin
on April 6, 2011 at 8:27 am brianwilcoxon

Sally –

I ran across your blog while doing some research for my own music blog… while my scope is more focused on time and less focused on material than yours, I think we both generally have the same idea. This is a truly amazing project you have going, and the work you’re doing is really inspiring to me as a writer and thinker.

I am subscribing immediately and you can be assured that you have a new dedicated follower!

All the best,
Brian
on April 9, 2011 at 10:21 pm Sally O'Rourke

Brian, thanks for your kind words. What a fascinating idea for a blog! I look forward to following it through 2018.
on November 26, 2011 at 3:50 am ukulefty

Randomly stumbled across your blog while searching for the chord progressions for some 50′s hits. Love your writing and the concept is great! You’ve gained a new subscriber.
on May 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm Jeff Wood

Sally,
I just heard about your blog from your mom, my wife (Katreena) and your mom were roommates in college. We had dinner with her recently at a really interesting fish restaurant in Baton Rouge. When she told us you did a blog on the Billboard top 100 I couldn’t wait to check it out. I have only had a chance to read a few of your reviews and I am impressed. Really quite a undertaking, but you do get to listen to a lot of really good music.

I have been listening to music it seems like forever, It has always been a part of my life, from my first AM radio in the mid 50’s to my massive MP3 library today. I grew up in Southern California, started High School about the time the Beatles first started recording, so I remember all these songs from when they were first played on the radio.

I still enjoy listening to all of them. I always have a song playing in my head – lately it has been Adele (she has a unique way of describing her anger, Set Fire to the Rain) usually listening to something else works, but it is still in there – possibly all the play she is getting on some of the music shows like The Voice.

Can’t wait to get back to reading your reviews and keep them coming – you are just getting into my teenage years and my fondest memories of music. Also, I will be referencing your blog from one I am doing for my wife about her frog, Jeremiah.

Jeff