The Wire - Latest News

Top of The Pops (Charts)

Look back on what was ruling the radio airwaves and selling albums each week in the past

The Number One Singles of 1976

Top 40 programmers were featuring less songs from rock acts. There were lots (and lots) of disco hits as audiences were taking to the dance floor

Read More

Radio Hits in November 1976: More Cowbell!

A novelty hit topped this week’s chart but there were huge rock hits from Frampton, Boston, Kiss, Rod Stewart and Steve Miller. More cowbell, anyone?

Read More

Rocking the Charts: The Top Albums of October 1981

Though Top 40 programmers stubbornly played songs by A/C acts, the top slots on the US sales chart were dominated by rock acts

Read More

The Number One Singles of 1967: With Love

26 songs reached the top of the U.S. pop chart that year. And in many cases, there are some wild stories behind these rock, pop and R&B hits

Read More

Radio Hits in October 1978: Kenny and Stevie Were Doin’ It

The Stones, The Who, Bob Seger, Billy Joel and Foreigner were all in the Top 10 this week but rock’s days were numbered in that format

Read More

Radio Hits in October 1969: Gimme the Honky Tonk Blues

The Stones, Beatles and Elvis shared the spotlight this week along with some huge bubblegum hits. The full chart is about as good as it gets

Read More

Radio Hits in October 1965: Seems Like Yesterday

A Beatles song – one of the most recorded songs ever – was #1 this week in 1965. A few months later an instrumental beat it for Record of the Year

Read More

The 11 Number One Albums of 1969: CCR Were Rising

In a final year of the decade, three releases accounted for 33 of the year’s weekly chart toppers. The one with the most weeks at #1 may surprise you

Read More

Radio Hits in October 1974: The ‘New Math’

The Best Classic Bands chart nerds noticed that this week featured 3 hits at the top with the word “Nothing” in the title: great songs by BTO, Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston

Read More

Radio Hits in September 1968: Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah

Los Angeles’ Top 40 powerhouse KHJ had some all-time greats in its Top 10 this week including The Beatles’ longest-running #1

Read More