Behind the #1

Series produced by Garrett Stack

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Hundreds of #1 recordings on the Billboard charts have fascinating backstories.

In this series, the stories behind the #1 hits are presented with fascinating detail. Typical complete feature includes: Opening jingle, spoken copy over music bed, the #1 song. Average length of the feature is 4-6 minutes. The series contains #1 hits of the late '50s, the '60s and '70s. New pieces are developed for each new edition of American Jukebox. A piece in this series is included as part of every one of Garrett Stack's American Jukebox programs.

SERIES PIECES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY TITLE


51 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Wilbert Harrison battled it out with six different versions of Kansas City.

  • Added: Oct 04, 2014
  • Length: 04:24
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Ritchie Valens had it first and took it to #22 on the charts. Los Lobos brought it to #1.

  • Added: Sep 08, 2014
  • Length: 04:28
Caption: Top L-R: Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz. Bottom L-R: Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith
First hit out - went to #1. Trouble was soon to brew.

Bought by XRAY.fm


  • Added: Sep 08, 2014
  • Length: 05:17
  • Purchases: 1
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Cemented the girls' image as "bad" - good bad not evil.

  • Added: Sep 08, 2014
  • Length: 05:32
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1967 saw The Letter at the top of the charts in the fall.

  • Added: Jan 10, 2015
  • Length: 04:15
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Carole King's baby sitter scored big with this.

  • Added: Sep 06, 2014
  • Length: 04:54
Caption: Blooming Hits LP Cover - 1968
This 1968 #1 instrumental spent 5 weeks at the top of the charts.

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 07, 2014
  • Length: 04:35
  • Purchases: 1
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This early recording has quite a backstory.

  • Added: Sep 07, 2014
  • Length: 04:30
Caption: 15 years together before Love Train
After modest 13 chart entries on the Hot-100, and a new record label, Love Train catapulted to #1.

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 11, 2014
  • Length: 06:04
  • Purchases: 1
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In 1971, this double-sided #1 single established Rod Stewart as a major player in the rock scene. His career continues five decades later.

  • Added: Nov 17, 2014
  • Length: 10:49
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They should've listened to Mama. That ain't no way to have fun, son!

  • Added: Sep 09, 2014
  • Length: 04:54

  • Added: Sep 12, 2014
  • Length: 05:20
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Used in the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, McGovern took this to #1 and launched her long career

  • Added: Sep 23, 2014
  • Length: 05:11
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Over and Over was the DC 5's only #1 hit.

  • Added: Sep 06, 2014
  • Length: 04:24
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It took eight years for Knox to get his song recorded.

  • Added: Sep 24, 2014
  • Length: 04:21
Caption: 29-year-old George McCrae (1974)
George McCrae got this song by default.

  • Added: Sep 09, 2014
  • Length: 04:43
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Del's runaway career was hot in the '60s.

  • Added: Sep 09, 2014
  • Length: 05:03
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The last "Supremes" record didn't have any Supremes. Just Diana and others.

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 09, 2014
  • Length: 06:02
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The original 45
A deadly combination: gambling and guns.

  • Added: Sep 28, 2014
  • Length: 04:34

  • Added: Sep 09, 2014
  • Length: 05:59