Beatles countdown: American Top 40

For the 11^th anniversary of “American Top 40” in 1981, Casey Kasem and his team assembled the 40 biggest hits (based on chart metrics) by the Beatles – together, and solo. Almost all of these topped the chart:

1-Hey Jude (1968)

2-I Want To Hold Your Hand (1964)

3-(Just Like) Starting Over (John) (1980)

4-Silly Love Songs (Paul) (1976)

5-My Sweet Lord/Isn't It a Pity (George) (1970)

6-Get Back (Beatles with Billy Preston) (1969)

7-My Love (Paul) (1973)

8-She Loves You (1964)

9-Help! (1965)

10-We Can Work It Out (1965)

11-Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) (Paul) (1980)

12-Yesterday (1965)

13-I Feel Fine (1964)

14-Can't Buy Me Love (1964)

15-Come Together/Something (1969)

16-Let It Be (1970)

17-A Hard Day's Night (1964)

18-Band On the Run (Paul) (1973)

19-Hello Goodbye (1967)

20-You're Sixteen (Ringo) (1973)

21-Paperback Writer (1966)

22-Woman (John) (1980, #2)

23-Listen To What the Man Said (Paul) (1975)

24-Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (Paul) (1971)

25-Eight Days a Week (1965)

26-Love Me Do (1964)

27-With A Little Luck (Paul) (1978)

28-Ticket To Ride (1965)

29-Photograph (Ringo) (1973)

30-The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue (1970)

31-Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (George) (1973)

32-All You Need Is Love (1967)

33-Live and Let Die (Paul) (1973, #2)

34-Junior's Farm/Sally G (Paul) (1975, #3)

35-It Don't Come Easy (Ringo) (1971, #3)

36-Twist and Shout (1964, #2)

37-Please Please Me (1964, #3)

38-Goodnight Tonight (Paul) (1979, #5)

39-Penny Lane (1967)

40-Nowhere Man (1966, #3)

I was surprised to see so many disks from the Top 5 which were not chart toppers, but obviously they were in the Top 40 for several weeks and notched up more airplay. In fact, one #1 single (John’s “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” from 1974) didn’t make the list at all – probably since it dropped off so quickly. Also not making the grade were:

Instant Karma (John) (1970, #3)

Imagine (John) (1971, #3)

No No Song (Ringo) (1974, #3)

Let 'Em In (Paul) (1976, #3)

Oh My My (Ringo) (1973, #5)

George’s “All Those Years Ago” was not included, probably since it was still on the chart in July ‘81. It would peak at #2 for three weeks around this time. Had AT40 made another Beatles special, I’m sure it would have made the cut. And the following songs almost certainly would have:

Ebony & Ivory (Paul w/Stevie Wonder) (1982)

The Girl Is Mine (Paul w/Michael Jackson) (1982, #2)

Say Say Say (Paul w/Michael Jackson) (1983)

Nobody Told Me (John) (1984, #5)

Got My Mind Set On You (George) (1987)

Not included in the AT40 special, obviously, are two British chart-toppers (#4 “Lady Madonna” and #8 “The Ballad of John and Yoko”). My theory about why they missed in America is that the former – being their last Capitol single before the “switch” to Apple -- was under-promoted. And “Ballad” was denied airplay in parts of the country for its use of the word “Christ.” Plus, it came out too soon after “Get Back” (which was still on the charts). Both songs are still popular today, as are the following… they’ve appeared on several Beatle hits compilations, but weren't in the AT40 countdown for the reasons indicated:

*From Me to You (1964)-a massive UK hit, and their first official chart-topper there. In America, it was relegated to the B-side of "Please Please Me" in 1964, and only charted at #41 (after previously charting at #116 as an A-side in 1963)

*Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul) (1970)-one of Paul's most famous songs was never released as a single. A live version hit #10 in 1977 and gets airplay on oldies stations today.

*Mull of Kintyre (Paul) (1977)-a massive UK #1; it was the biggest-selling single of all time for many years. In the US, it was the flip side of "Girls School" (which hit #33)

*Pipes of Peace (Paul) (1983)-like "Mull" six years earlier, this was a UK #1. In the US it was the flip side of "So Bad" in 1984 (which hit #23)

*What Is Life (George) (1970, #10)

*Jet (Paul) (1973, #7)

*Watching the Wheels (John) (1980, #10)-the three songs above get heavy airplay on oldies and classic rock stations, they’ve been used in other media, but they weren’t massive hits on original release.

 

For reference, the 40 biggest Beatles (group only) singles were compiled in the 2006 book, “Billboard’s Hottest Hits.” Interesting how things changed in 25 years, with several songs ranking relatively higher than they did in 1981:

1-Hey Jude

2-I Want To Hold Your Hand

3-She Loves You

4-Get Back

5-Let It Be

6-Can't Buy Me Love

7-Yesterday

8-We Can Work It Out

9-I Feel Fine

10-Help!

11-Hello Goodbye

12-A Hard Day's Night

13-Come Together/Something

14-Twist And Shout

15-All You Need Is Love

16-Love Me Do

17-Paperback Writer

18-Ticket To Ride

19-The Long And Winding Road

20-Eight Days A Week

21-Penny Lane

22-Please Please Me

23-Do You Want To Know A Secret?

24-Yellow Submarine

25-Lady Madonna

26-Nowhere Man

27-Got To Get You Into My Life

28-Revolution

29-She's A Woman

30-The Ballad Of John And Yoko

31-Day Tripper

32-The Beatles Movie Medley

33-Strawberry Fields Forever

34-And I Love Her

35-P.S. I Love You

36-Eleanor Rigby

37-I Saw Her Standing There

38-Ain't She Sweet

39-Matchbox

40-Free As A Bird