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Post by Whi$tlin' Pete on Feb 1, 2014 12:01:50 GMT -5
I was an avid chart watcher in the 1980's and was a big fan of the Radio and Records charts. My emphasis was on the CHR/Pop chart which I followed on a weekly basis. To me, it seemed that the R&R charts were slightly rigged, especially in the 1980's when there were never any songs that charted for a single week, and number 40 was always a debut record. Statistically, this is not possible.
I was looking at some old issues of R&R from 1985. There is a section called "Parallels" which lists each song with the data that R&R received from each station. A couple of things I'm wondering. Is it possible to compile the weekly chart from this data? Did R&R give certain regions extra weight? Under a given song it will show statistics like WIXX 33-24, meaning the song moved from 33-24 on their playlist. What numerical value would R&R give this in their formula? I would like to compile the chart for a couple specific weeks to see if my theory is correct. Thanks for any help!
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HolidayGuy
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Joined: December 2003
Posts: 33,880
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Post by HolidayGuy on Feb 1, 2014 12:57:58 GMT -5
I don't think it was more "rigged" than any other chart. it's possible that there was some weighting going on; I think Cashbox gave greater weight to the upper regions of the chart or something like that.
I haven't seen each chart, but was it really a debut at No. 40 for every single chart in that decade?
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Post by Whi$tlin' Pete on Feb 1, 2014 13:41:50 GMT -5
Number 40 was a debut every single week in 1985. This trend lasted until mid 1986 when it seemed to normalize. It just seemed that if an older song would be removed to give a new song a fresh start. Also, I believe that songs that weren't performing well that may have barely made the chart were often dismissed. This is just what I felt, this may or may not be true. But even when R&R did a top 30 chart, songs seemed to debut early, take their time climbing through the 20's and then make faster moves. IE - "Sweet Dreams" Eurythmics moving 30-28-25-21-14.
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johnnywest
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Joined: September 2003
Posts: 5,870
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Post by johnnywest on Nov 4, 2014 21:35:24 GMT -5
To me, it seemed that the R&R charts were slightly rigged, especially in the 1980's when there were never any songs that charted for a single week, and number 40 was always a debut record. Statistically, this is not possible. Funny you should mention that. I was thinking the same thing when I started listening to Casey's Top 40 and Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 in the late 80s/early 90s. Even though it wasn't every week that had a debut at #40, it seemed like it was more common than not. And it was extremely rare for a one-week wonder. |
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Post by Daniel Shywaoub on Nov 5, 2014 0:38:55 GMT -5
I started to make a list of #40 one-week-wonders, but there weren't as many as I was thinking there were, so I abandoned it. The ones I remember (R&R):
TOMORROW Silverchair
NATURAL ONE Folk Implosion
LAST RESORT Papa Roach
I wasn't following the charts anymore in 2007, but according to the chart guy, Papa Roach's "Forever" also did a one-week stand.
From Billboard, I remember Shana's "I Want You", which was interesting because it spent 22 weeks on the chart but only that 1 week in the Top 40. Fortunately for her, Casey was at the mic that week; I always thought it would be horrible if your song did a one-week thing when Casey had a sub, or even worse, if he was having one of those stupid specials!
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Cerebro
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Posts: 3,606
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Post by Cerebro on Nov 5, 2014 12:59:22 GMT -5
I always thought it would be horrible if your song did a one-week thing when Casey had a sub, or even worse, if he was having one of those stupid specials! Tell that to Elvis, of all people. The JXL remix of "A Little Less Conversation" brought The King back to the pop chart for a one-week engagement at #40 in 2002. Unfortunately, Casey's, then, go-to guest host Ed McMann was filling in that week, so we didn't get to hear him announce it. In 1995, The Beatles spent a single week on at #40 with "Free As A Bird". Casey did get to announce that one. |
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Post by Daniel Shywaoub on Nov 5, 2014 21:03:48 GMT -5
Ah yes, I did forget Free As A Bird ... for some reason, I thought A Little Less Conversation made it to #37 or something ...
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johnm1120
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JAM
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 24,131
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Post by johnm1120 on Nov 7, 2014 18:08:29 GMT -5
Here's a few one week wonders from the 90s:
3rd Party - Love Is Alive
The Beatles - Free As A Bird
Five - It's The Things You Do
Folk Implosion - Natural One
Goo Goo Dolls - Naked
Amanda Marshall - Fall From Grace
Shania Twain - You've Got A Way
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