[ohenry]

This site contains a few real head-scratching pop chart lists and I found it interesting.  Here's an example:

The Artists With the Most U.S. Number One Singles

Number  Name  Total 
1  The Beatles  20 
2  Elvis Presley  18 
3  Mariah Carey  15 
4  Michael Jackson  13 
5  The Supremes  12 
6  Madonna  12 
7  Whitney Houston  11 
8  Stevie Wonder  10 
9  Janet Jackson  10 
10  George Michael  10 
11  Elton John  9 
12  Paul McCartney  9 
13  Bee Gees  9 
14  Rolling Stones  8 
15  Phil Collins  7 
16  Pat Boone  6 
17  Hall and Oates  6 
18  Diana Ross  6 
19  Paula Abdul  6 
20  Eagles  5 
21  Four Seasons  5 
22  Prince  5 
23  KC & the Sunshine Band  5 
24  Olivia Newton-John  5 
25  Barbra Streisand  5 
26  Lionel Richie  5 
27  Bon Jovi  5 
28  Boyz II Men  5 
29  Puff Daddy  5 

Paula Abdul having more No.1's than the Eagles or the Four Seasons?  Mariah Carey at No. 3?  Damn.

You can see all the lists here at http://www.classicbands.com/chartfacts.html  Happy wincing and head-scratching.

[woodsyi]

Mariah Carey at No. 3?  Damn.

You can see all the lists here at http://www.classicbands.com/chartfacts.html  Happy wincing and head-scratching.

It's because her then husband pushed her stuff like crazy.  If you produce a million copy and innundate the market, you are bound to sell a bunch especially if they discount it.  I am sure he also "encouraged" all the radio stations to play her songs. All you need is to hit #1 for 1week.  I bet she leads the most "remainder" of CD pressings on shelf category.

[Thump553]

At least 5 of the top 10 are automatic channel changers for me.

[Rob Babcock]

All of the top ten are automatic channel changers for me.  With the occasional exception of the Beatles; they have some I don't mind.

[Rob Babcock]

BTW, how can George Micheal have 10?   I can only even recall one song by him.

[soundboy]

BTW, how can George Micheal have 10?   I can only even recall one song by him.

George Michael had at least 3 #1 singles as a member of Wham! before the group broke up.  Then came his solo debut, "Faith".....

Perhaps more surprising is the sales generated by individual artist as tallied by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

[pjchappy]

A bit off subject. . .I've seen the RIAA site before, but I've always wanted to see a sight with international sales.  Can anyone point me in that direction?


p

[MaxCast]

There's only two on the list I listen to regularly, E. John and the Eagles.
But, boy-o-boy, do I remember the smoochin' days of Lionel Richie

[chadh]

BTW, how can George Micheal have 10?   I can only even recall one song by him.

George Michael had at least 3 #1 singles as a member of Wham! before the group broke up.  Then came his solo debut, "Faith".....

Paul McCartney's #1s don't include his #1s with The Beatles.  So I presume that George Michael's #1s don't include those he scored whilst with Wham.

Of much greater importance though:  does nobody listen to Stevie Wonder?!?!  Granted, he let things slide since the "I just called to say I love you" fiasco.  But prior to that...wow.  Stevie is scarily good.

Chad

[launche]

Another thumbs up for Stevie Wonder, great music.
In fact, my listening pleasure doubled when I went back and revisited the Motown, R&B, Soul etc... from the 60's,70's & early 80's.  It reminded me that it's the music that moves you not the system.  No matter where I play Teddy Pendergrass's Love T.K.O. it always sounds good.

I'm not ashamed to admit I have a few George Michael Cd's, the stuff after Faith, like Listen Without Prejudice etc... there's some decent work there.

It's funny when I was a kid listening to the Kasey Casem top 40 countdown.  I was really into the charts and it seemed to mean something to have a No. 1 hit, nowadays I couldn't name one song in the top ten.  I don't even think most of the kids to day even pay attention to the charts.  Although I did hear something recently about a current song that broke of was about the break the consecutive weeks at No. 1 record.

[Thump553]

Soundboy, that RIAA chart had quite a few surprises for me.  For example, I would have never guessed Hank Williams, Jr. (the football song guy) outsold Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, or Neil Young solo, or the Grateful Dead.  Jewel outsold those three also.  Go figure.

Thanks for the link.

[Rob Babcock]

I never cared for Stevie Wonder.  Or really any other Motown stuff.  As for Micheal, perhaps they are including Wham! stuff.  They had an awful lot of big hits.

[Woodsea]

But Garth Brooks is in the top 3 in quite a few categories!  There seems to be some  on how all these charts work.  I don't put to much emphasis on sales, I guess neither does the 'hot 100'
check Garth's wiki  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Brooks

[launche]

I never cared for Stevie Wonder.  Or really any other Motown stuff.  As for Micheal, perhaps they are including Wham! stuff.  They had an awful lot of big hits.

I can understand, different strokes for different folks.
But that is some of the best music ever made IMO.
And there's not much technical about it, it's the feeling of the music.
I didn't think I'd like it as much either but when I play it, it just feels right. 

I can recall a few listening sessions with other audiophiles and playing Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder etc...  and them saying "That's not recorded very well"  and I remember thinking "that's not the point" and that it was some of the best stuff we'd heard all session.  Yeah, some of the other stuff sounded better from a hi-fi standpoint but it didn't stir as much emotion or make me wanna boogie as much.  Although, as the my systems have gotten better obviously, so has appreciation of these recordings and I'm sure there are excellent vinyl issues of these classics.  I actually find a lot of the mixes of the 60's and 70's to be more enjoyable than todays work.

[PhilNYC]

I actually find a lot of the mixes of the 60's and 70's to be more enjoyable than todays work.

I agree with this without any question.  Motown, the "Philadelphia sound", all the older soul-based music are great stuff IMHO.  Became less of a fan when it lost some edge and sounded more like smooth jazz.