Five years ago, I decided I didn’t know enough about the history of pop music, and that it was time to start a listening project. The plan: listen to the top five songs from every year since 1935, and record my reactions to them. I keep getting distracted by other projects and life in general, but I’m slowly moving forward.
For years from 1935-45, I used the charts at popculturemadness.com. I’m not sure they’re entirely accurate, but which were the only clear, ordered lists of hits I could find for that period.
For years from 1946-2009, I’m using the Billboard Hot 100.
Note: there were two songs I never did manage to find: Leo Reisman’s rendition of “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (1935 #5), and Wayne King’s version of “You Are My Sunshine” (1941 #2).
July 20, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I found 1960 through 1935 on your web site Where may I find 1961 through 2005?
I try to collect songs (that I enjoy) from the 1930s through 1960s.
July 21, 2008 at 4:48 am
I haven’t written 1961 through 2005 yet! I got interested in film and sort of lost track of this blog. I do plan to start it up again sometime, though. Good to know people are reading.
August 1, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Re: The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra – Tangerine
You asked, “I love her voice, and I wish I knew who she was.”
Helen O’Connell
October 22, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Cool site – love your deconstruction of the songs. There is so much hidden from view and unknown about the song-writing, production and performance for each song that a book could probably be written about each one. You clearly have a strong rooting in musical theory for sure.
Now that you’re up to 1969 (I am 60 so we are talking the sweet-spot of my youth), I look forward to your future reviews.