When it comes to music for a holiday, Christmas wins hands down, stockings up. Easter has a basket full of tunes about bunnies and hats. But as we get to July 4th, America’s birthday, there is plenty of patriotic music, but not many tunes that mention the holiday itself. Singers don’t show up at your door singing Van Morrison’s “Almost Independence Day” or Bruce Springsteen’s “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)”.
Professor Mikey here, Happy Fourth! In addition to seeking cherry bombs and M-80s, I have been digging for songs that topped the charts on the 4th of July. Presenting a red, white, and blue Top 40, the songs that went all the way to the top during the Golden Age of Retro, 1955-1994.
OK it is showtime! Salute the number one hits that rocked the 4th of July, provided soundtracks for the weenie roasts and the fireworks, and solidified a lot of fabulous summers! America celebrates birthdays 179 thru 217 from these Number One hits from the Fifties into the Nineties!
1955 CHERRY PINK (AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE - Pérez Prada and His Orchestra
1956 THE WAYWARD WIND - Gogi Grant
1957 LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND - Pat Boone
1958 THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER - Sheb Wooley
1959 THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS - Johnny Horton
1960 EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL - Connie Francis
1961 QUARTER TO THREE - Gary U.S. Bonds
1962 I CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU - Ray Charles
1963 SUKIYAKI - Kyu Sakamoto
1964 I GET AROUND - The Beach Boys
1965 I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - The Four Tops
1966 STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT - Frank Sinatra
1967 WINDY - The Association
1968 THIS GUY’S IN LOVE WITH YOU - Herb Alpert
1969 LOVE THEME FROM ROMEO AND JULIET - Henry Mancini
1970 THE LOVE YOU SAVE - The Jackson 5
1971 IT’S TOO LATE - Carol King
1972 SONG SUNG BLUE - Neil Diamond
1973 GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH) - George Harrison
1974 SUNDOWN - Gordon Lightfoot
1975 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - The Captain And Tennille
1976 SILLY LOVE SONGS - Wings
1977 GONNA FLY NOW (THEME FROM “ROCKY”) - Bill Conti
1978 SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb
1979 RING MY BELL - Anita Ward
Points of Interest:
1955: “Cherry Pink (And Apple Blossom White)” is the last chart topper of the pre-rock era. The week after the 4th, it will be replaced by Bill Haley and the Comets and “Rock Around the Clock“.
1959: The only 4th of July #1 that has anything to do with American history, the 1814 “Battle of New Orleans.”
1960s: No psychedelic #1s. For the most part, most of these best sellers would charm Boomer and Karen’s parents. No brown acid warnings needed here!
1973, ‘76, ‘80: No Beatle Number Ones, but George and Paul account for three solo Beatles numero unos.
1980s: Much more representative than the 60s. The decade begins wanting its MTV and ends with Milli Vanilli.
1980 COMING UP - Paul McCartney
1981 BETTE DAVIS EYES - Kim Carnes
1982 DON'T YOU WANT ME - The Human League
1983 FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING - Irene Cara
1984 THE REFLEX - Duran Duran
1985 HEAVEN - Bryan Adams
1986 ON MY OWN - Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
1987 I WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) - Whitney Houston
1988 DIRTY DIANA - Michael Jackson
1989 BABY DON’T FORGET MY NUMBER - Milli Vanilli
1990 STEP BY STEP - New Kids on the Block
1991 RUSH RUSH - Paula Abdul
1992 BABY GOT BACK - Sir Mix-A-Lot
1993 THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES - Janet Jackson
1994 I SWEAR - All-4-One
Don’t miss:
1958: “The Purple People Eater.” What a strange song. America’s got novelty.
1961: “A Quarter to Three” showcasing the performance skills of the fabulous Gary U.S. Bonds.
1962: “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” And then, there is Ray Charles.
1965: The Four Tops with another of their classics for the ages, “I Can’t Help Myself.”
1975: “Love Will Keep Us Together.” Tennille is having a blast, but the Captain seems to be going down with the ship.
1978: “Shadow Dancing.” A short chapter from the too-short career of Andy Gibb.
1979: “Ring My Bell.” Everybody thought disco was over except Anita Ward.
1980: “Coming Up.” Paul McCartney has a budget and a sense of humor. Very worth it.
1981: Kim Carnes in an early MTV mainstay, “Bette Davis Eyes.” You can feel the times changing.
1987: Whitney Houston at her zenith on “I Want to Dance with Somebody.”
1989: “Baby Don’t Forget My Number.” Don’t let the bad press scare you away. Milli Vanilli captures the times so well, especially the authentic part.
1990: “Step by Step” The New Kids hit the block with Donnie on a motorcycle!
1991: “Rush Rush,” Paula Abdul dumps Keanu Reeves.
1992: Sir Mix-A-Lot proves that “Baby Got Back,” even on the 4th of July.
1993: “That’s the Way Love Goes.” Janet Jackson shines. As always.
