#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Ballad of the Green Berets” by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, whose parents were born in Phoenix. He grew up in various places throughout the Southwest — including Arizona — and lived in Tucson during the 1970s. Although this Vietnam… Continue reading
#1 at KZZP/Phoenix: “Father Figure” — written, sung and produced by George Michael. The ex-Whamster’s previous hit, the former #1 “Faith,” holds at #16. Among other notable songs at “The Number 1 Hit Music Station”: Patrick Swayze climbs from #9… Continue reading
#1 at KZZP/Phoenix: “Keep On Loving You” by R.E.O. Speedwagon, their most enduring hit on oldies radio. It knocks out “Hey Nineteen,” Steely Dan’s lament on growing old, which name-checks Aretha Franklin, as well as the 1967 one-hit-wonder group the… Continue reading
#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Up On The Roof” by the Drifters, another in a long line of hits for the legendary rhythm-and-blues group. Musically, the early 1960s were essentially a carry-over from the 1950s. Not until January 1964, when the Beatles… Continue reading
#1 song of the year at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Let It Be” by the Beatles. The Fab Four were followed by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Close To You” by the Carpenters. These were the top three songs of… Continue reading
#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Incense And Peppermints,” the psychedelic classic by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Skyrocketing from #25 to #4 is next week’s #1, “Daydream Believer” (written by soon-to-be Phoenix favorite John Stewart) and the very cool flip side “Goin’ Down”… Continue reading
#1 at KTKT/Tucson: “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas — one of those endearing novelty one-hit wonders. He bumps out another Carl (Carlton), who drops to #5 with “Everlasting Love,” a cover of Robert Knight‘s 1967 hit. Zonaman traveled down… Continue reading
#1 at KTKT/Tucson: “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” by the Beatles, the group’s biggest single. This was a tumultuous time in the United States. The mood of the country in 1968 was bleak following the assassinations of Martin Luther King and… Continue reading
#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton, second hit from the #1 album Frampton Comes Alive. The #2 album is the classic Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs, with lead-off single “Lowdown” moving up from #14 to… Continue reading
#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Words” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” another two-sided hit by the Monkees. The Pre-Fab Four again hold off the Fab Four, as the Beatles’ double-sided single “All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man” remains… Continue reading
