Category Archives: throwback weekends

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Song of the Day #6,398: ‘She’s Just My Style’ – Gary Lewis and the Playboys

The week of January 11, 1966, found two stone-cold classics remaining atop the Billboard Hot 100 in The Beatles’ ‘We Can Work It Out‘ and Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence.‘

In third place that week was a song that hasn’t stood the test of time, at least not enough to be on my radar. ‘She’s Just My Style’ was Gary Lewis and the Playboys’ fifth single, and their fifth to make it to at least the top four. This was part of a record streak of seven straight top ten hits (tying them with The Lovin’ Spoonful as the only acts to achieve that feat with their first seven singles).

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Song of the Day #6,397: ‘The Great Pretender’ – The Platters

Throwing back to the week of January 10, 1957, we find Dean Martin and Tennessee Ernie Ford holding on to the top two spots with, respectively, ‘Memories Are Made of This‘ and ‘Sixteen Tons.’

At #3, The Platters’ ‘The Great Pretender’ was steadily moving up the chart on its way to a #1 berth a few weeks later. This was the first chart-topping hit for the doo-wop band, which ultimately had four songs reach #1.

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Song of the Day #6,391: ‘Party All the Time’ – Eddie Murphy

Between 1976 and 1991, Billboard froze their final Hot 100 chart of the year to focus on a year-end wrap-up issue. So the #1 song the week of January 4, 1986, was the same as the prior week. That was Lionel Richie’s ‘Say Say Say,’ enjoying its second week atop the chart.

In the #2 spot that New Years week was the appropriately titled ‘Party All the Time,’ the first single from Eddie Murphy’s debut music album How Could It Be. This was the kickoff to an ill-fated music career that spanned three albums, poor reviews, and this one hit.

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Song of the Day #6,384: ”I Got You (I Feel Good)’ – James Brown

The week of December 28, 1965, saw a pair of singles atop the Billboard Hot 100 that typify the musical excellence of the 60s: Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence‘ at #1 and The Beatles’ ‘We Can Work It Out‘ at #2.

In the third spot that week was a song just as enduring and excellent as those two — James Brown’s ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’ This track, Brown’s signature song, was the funk master’s highest-charting single, peaking right here at #3.

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