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by Sam Juliano
Tomorrow, May 28th, marks a significant day for our site and film community. It’s the birthday of Allan Fish, a beloved member who would have turned 51. In his honor, we’re launching the Eighth Annual Online Film Festival. The festival will kick off with a special opening post by our project founder, Jamie Uhler, and will run throughout the following week, following the schedule we’ve shared with all our writers.
Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Named Top Song of 1985!
It’s a Moment of triumph for Tears for Fears! Their iconic song, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” has claimed the top spot in our 1985 song poll. This British New Wave ensemble has outshined other talented artists, with Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town” and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” securing the second and third positions respectively. A total of 35 ballots were cast.
1 Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears 251
2 Life in a Northern Town – Dream Academy 211
3 Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush 192
4 Road to Nowhere -Talking Heads 162
5 The Whole of the Moon – The Waterboys 157
6 Driver 8 – R.E.M. 148
7 Would I Lie to You? – The Eurythmics 146
8 Bring on the Dancing Horses – Echo/Bunnymen 138
9 And She Was – Talking Heads 128
10 Don’t You Forget About Me (Simple Minds) 123
11 Push (The Cure) 118
12 Voices Carry – ‘Till Tuesday 117
13 Raspberry Beret – Prince 115
14 Just Like Honey – Jesus and Mary Chain 114
15 The Power of Love (Huey Lewis & the News) 108
16 Head over Heels -Tears for Fears 103
17 The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (The Smiths) 100
18 Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer 96
19 Time (Tom Waits) 90
20 Part-Time Lover (Stevie Wonder) 89
21 We Are the World – USA for Africa 87
22 One More Night – Phil Collins 86
23 Bastards of Young – The Replacements 86
24 The Headmaster Ritual (The Smiths) 82
25 In Between Days – The Cure 77
26 How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths 76
27 Out of Touch – Hall & Oats 70
28 We Built This City” Starship 68
29 Freeway of Love (Aretha Franklin) 61
30 Money for Nothing – Dire Straits 60
31 Don’t Come Around Here No More (Tom Petty) 59
32 I’m on Fire – Bruce Springsteen 59
33 Cherish (Kool & the Gang) 57
34 Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen 55
35 Say You, Say Me (Lionel Richie) 55
36 Be Near Me – ABC 54
37 Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen 53
38 Smooth Operator – Sade 50
39 Shout – Tears for Fears 49
40 Bonzo Goes to Bitburg – The Ramones 46
41 Fortress Around Your Heart” – Sting 44
42 Sweetest Taboo (Sade) 43
43 Tight Connection to My Heart – Bob Dylan 43
44 Centerfield – John Fogerty 42
45 We Don’t Need Another Hero” – Tina Turner 42
46 Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams 41
47 Temptation (Joan Armatrading) 41
48 Everytime You Go Away – Paul Young 40
49 What You Need-INXS 40
50 Too Late For Goodbyes-Julian Lennon 37
Best Popular Songs of 1955 Poll!
As promised, we are back-tracking to 1955. We will also do 1956-1962 in succession to get us fully caught up before we return to 1986. My own Top 20, as always are presented in alphabetical order:
Ain’t That a Shame (Fats Domino)
Ain’t That a Shame (Pat Boone)
Autumn Leaves (Roger Williams)
A Blossom Fell (Nat King Cole)
Bo Diddly (Bo Diddly)
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (Pez Prado)
Cool Water (Frankie Laine)
Cry Me a River (Julie London)
The Great Pretender (Platters)
In the Wee Small Hours (Frank Sinatra)
Learnin’ the Blues (Frank Sinatra)
Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (Four Aces)
Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters)
Maybellene (Chuck Berry)
Melody of Love (Billy Vaughn)
Mister Sandman (Four Aces)
Only You (Platters)
Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley and His Comets)
Yellow Rose of Texas (Mitch Miller)
Unchained Melody (Les Baxter)
————————-BILLBOARD TOP 30 OF 1955————-
1 “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” Perez Prado
2 “Rock Around the Clock” Bill Haley & His Comets
3 “The Yellow Rose of Texas” Mitch Miller
4 “Autumn Leaves” Roger Williams
5 “Unchained Melody” Les Baxter
6 “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” Bill Hayes
7 “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces
8 “Sincerely” The McGuire Sisters
9 “Ain’t That a Shame” Pat Boone
10 “The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)” Georgia Gibbs
11 “The Crazy Otto Medley” Johnny Maddox
12 “Melody of Love” Billy Vaughn
13 “Sixteen Tons” Tennessee Ernie Ford
14 “Learnin’ the Blues” Frank Sinatra
15 “Hearts of Stone” The Fontane Sisters
16 “Tweedle Dee” Georgia Gibbs
17 “Moments to Remember” The Four Lads
18 “Mr. Sandman” The Chordettes
19 “Let Me Go, Lover!” Joan Weber
20 “A Blossom Fell” Nat King Cole
21 “Unchained Melody” Al Hibbler
22 “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” Fess Parker
23 “Honey-Babe” Art Mooney
24 “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” Tennessee Ernie Ford
25 “Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)” Perry Como
26 “Hard to Get” Gisele MacKenzie
27 “The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane” The Ames Brothers
28 “That’s All I Want from You” Jaye P. Morgan
29 “Only You (And You Alone)” The Platters
30 “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” Somethin’ Smith and the Redheads
Also: Maybellene (Chuck Berry)
The Great Pretender (Platters)
In the Wee Small Hours (Frank Sinatra)
and any other song not listed.
Angelo D’Arminio
1 Maybellene – Chuck Berry
2 Only You – Platters
3 Ain’t That A Shame – Fats Domino
4 The Great Pretender – Platters
5 Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
6 Thirty Days – Chuck Berry
7 Smokey Joe’s Cafe -Robins
8 Speedo – Cadillacs
9 Story Untold – Nutmegs
10 When You Dance – Turbans
11 I Hear You Knocking – Smiley Lewis
12 Tutti-Frutti – Little Richard
13 Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
14 Wee Wee Hours – Chuck Berry
15 Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin
16 All By Myself – Fats Domino
17 Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
18 Lif is But a Dream – Harptones
19 Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Frankie Lymon
20 My Babe – Little Walter
Ken Baker
Rock Around the Clock
The Great Pretender
Maybellene
Sixteen Tons
Let Me Go, Lover
Learnin’ the Blues
Only You
Ain’t That a Shame
Sincerely
Cry Me a River
Brian Wilson
Alphabetical by Title:
Ain’t That a Shame-Fats Domino
As Long As I’m Moving-Ruth Brown
At My Front Door-The El Dorados
Bo Diddley-Bo Diddley
Cry Me a River-Julie London
Flip Flop and Fly-Big Joe Turner and His Blues Kings
The Great Pretender-The Platters
How High the Moon-Ella Fitzgerald
I Hear You Knockin’-Smiley Lewis
In the Wee Small Hours-Frank Sinatra
Mannish Boy-Muddy Waters
My Babe-Little Walter
My Old Flame-Dinah Washington
Need Your Love So Bad-Little Willie John
Play It Fair-Lavern Baker
Rock Around the Clock-Bill Haley and The Comets
Topsy-Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh
Tutti Frutti-Little Richard
Unchained Melody-Roy Hamilton
Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)-Sarah
2
Active
Maxine Segedin Grgurev
My choices in no special order.
1. Memories Are Made of This — Dean Martin.
2. Rock Around The Clock — Bill Haley & His Comets
3. Unchained Melody– Les Baxter
4. Love and Marriage–Frank Sinatra
5. Nuttin’ for Christmas –Barry Gordon
6. Earth Angel–The Penquins
7. Hey Mr. Banjo– The Sunnysiders
8. White Christmas–Bing Crosby
9. Sixteen Tons–Tennessee Ernie Ford
10. Ballad of Davy Crockett–Bill Hayes
11. Only You–The Platters
12. Perez Prado- Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
13. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing– The Four Aces
14. Tutti Frutti– Little Richard
15. Yellow Rose of Texas–Mitch Miller.
16. Mr. Sandman–The Four Aces
17. Bo Diddley– Bo Diddley
18. Pledging My Love–Johnny Ace
19. Ballad of Davey Crockett- Fess Parker
20. Sincerely–The McGuire Sisters
Scott Neil Laster
Great era in music for R&B/ Soul/ Blues so my 20 are all in those genres
1: Maybellene – Chuck Berry
2: Bo Diddley- Bo Diddley
3: Manish Boy- Muddy Waters
4: Tutti- Frutti- Little Richard
5: Every Day I Have The Blues- B.B.King
6: I’ve Got a Woman- Ray Charles
7: Who Will Be Next – Howlin’ Wolf
8: I’m a Man- Bo Diddley
9: Flip, Flop Fly- Joe Turner
10: Ain’t That a Shame- Fats Domino
11: Speedo- The Cadillacs
12: Greenbacks – Ray Charles
13: Don’t Start Me Talkin’- Sonny Boy Williamson
14: Hand Clapin’- Red Prysock
15: Good Rockin Daddy – Etta James
16: My Babe – Little Walter
17: I Hear You Knockin’ – Smiley Lewis
18: Morning , Noon and Night – Joe Younger
19: I Wish You Would- Billy Boy Arnold
20: The Great Pretender- The Platters
2
Andrew Hunt
A huge year for Rock ‘n’ Roll! (And some other great songs from other genres!)Thank you, Sammy and Angelo, for this wonderful 1955 poll! My Top 20 from that year consists of:
1. “A Fool For You” – Ray Charles
2. “As Long As I’m Moving” – Ruth Brown
3. “Mystery Train” – Elvis Presley
4. “Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash
5. “Bo Diddley” – Bo Diddley
6. “Morning, Noon and Night” – Joe Turner and His Blues Kings
7. “Maybellene” – Chuck Berry
8. “Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard
9. “Ain’t That A Shame” – Fats Domino
10. “The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)” – Etta James
11. “Don’t Start Me Talkin’” – Sonny Boy Williamson
12. “Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley and His Comets
13. “The Great Pretender” – The Platters
14. “Only You (And You Alone)” – The Platters
15. “Who Will Be Next” – Howlin’ Wolf
16. “Autumn Leaves” – Roger Williams
17. “Mr. Sandman” – The Chordettes
18. “Mannish Boy” – Muddy Waters
19. “Sincerely” – The McGuire Sisters
20. “In the Wee Small Hours” – Frank Sinatra
Geraldine C Caufield
Only You
Lucia Harper
Random order.
I Hear You Knocking – Smiley Lewis
Feel So Good – Shirley and Lee
Don’t Explain – Helen Merrill
Sixteen Tons – Tennesse Ernie Ford
Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes
Ain’t That a Shame – Fats Domino
Life Is but a Dream – The Harptones
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – Frank Sinatra
Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
Rock Around the Clock – Bill Hailey and the Comets
Maybellene – Chuck Berry
I’m a Man – Bo Diddley
The Great Pretender – The Platters
Let Me Go Lover – Ruby Murray
Only You – Platters
Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Teenagers
William B. Jones
1. Ain’t That a Shame – Fats Domino
2. Maybelline – Chuck Berry
3. Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
4. Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and His Comets
5. The Great Pretender – The Platters
6. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
7. Learnin’ the Blues – Frank Sinatra
8. Tweedle Dee – Lavern Baker
9. Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
10. Pledging My Love -Johnny Ace
11. Mannish Boy – Muddy Waters
12. Sincerely – The Moonglows (original version)
13. Ballad of Davy Crockett – Bill Hayes
14. Unchained Melody – Al Hibbler
15. The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry) – Etta James
16. Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes
17. Hearts of Stone – The Charms (most successful r&b version)
18. Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So) – Gene and Eunice (original version)
19. Only You – The Platters
20. A Blossom Fell – Nat King Cole
Active
Sammy Juliano
William B. Jones so great to have you back here, and what a fabulous ballot!
Write a comment…
My 1955 hit list…
Baby Let’s Play House – Elvis Presley
I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone – Elvis Presley
Mystery Train – Elvis Presley
I Forgot to Remember to Forget – Elvis Presley
Tutti-Frutti – Little Richard
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
I’m A Man – Bo Diddley
Maybellene – Chuck Berry
Cry Cry Cry – Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Ain’t It A Shame – Fats Domino
The Great Pretender – The Platters
Only You – The Platters
Flip Flop And Fly – Big Joe Turner
Mannish Boy – Muddy Waters
Don’t Start Me Talkin’ – Sonny Boy Williamson
Good Rockin’ Daddy – Etta James
Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby – Jimmy Reed
Walkin’ The Blues – Willie Dixon
My Babe – Little Walter
My Twenty For 1955 (Alphabetical Order)
Ain’t That A Shame : Fats Domino.
April In Paris : Count Basie.
At The Front Door (Crazy Little Mama) : The El Dorados.
Baby Let’s Play House : Elvis Presley.
Bo Diddley : Bo Diddley.
The Breeze And i : Cateria Valente.
Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom : Perez Prado And His Orchestra.
Le Complainte : Cora Vaucaire.
Cry Me A River : Julie London.
Folson Prison Blues : Johnny Cash.
The Great Pretender : The Platters.
Lullaby Of Birdland : Sarah Vaughan.
Mack The Knife : Louis Armstrong.
Mannish boy : Muddy Waters.
Memories Are Made Of This : Dean Martin.
Moritat : Lenya Lotte.
Mystery Train : Elvis Presley.
Tutti Frutti : Little Richard.
The Wallflower : Etta James.
Why Do Fools Fall In Love : Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers.
WITD-1985 playlist is up on Spotify.