Colour My World – Chicago
This is a favorite of many since during the 70s and even today many proms have used this as their theme, and weddings and the song for the first dance. It’s a great song alone, but it’s often played by the group as part of James Pankow’s Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite. It was twice released as part of a single. Both times as B sides. First in 1970 with Make Me Smile, the first song in the suite, and then in 1971 with Beginnings.

Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
I was still listening to AM radio when I first heard this song. All I knew for the first few months was the 3 and half minute single release. It wasn’t until a friend told me that it was much longer on the album Who’s Next. I was in love with the short version and blown away with the full version. Part of the song now can be heard as the Theme for CBS’s CS: Miami.

I thought I would add a Christmas seasonal song on the list, but I really could decide between three. Version doesn’t really matter. Those three are White Christmas, most popular version being Bing’s Crosby, I’ll be Home for Christmas and The Christmas Song.

Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland
I have always been a big fan of movies and of course when I was growing up one of the movies we all seem to wait for to play on the TV each year was the Wizard of OZ.

Sure would love to hear what you consider your favorite song.

The next night the some of these same people went to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and did the same. These hippies were the followers of Charles Manson.

Two things that Manson often quoted were the Bible and The Beatles. Manson saw the four Beatles members as being the “four angels” referred to in Revelation 9. It describes these angels as having “faces as the faces of men” but with “the hair of women” with “breastplates of fire”, their guitars, and their songs as being “issued fire and brimstone”.

The Beatles White Album issued in 1968 was a turning point in the thoughts of Manson. Before hearing the album Manson was caring about the sex and drugs. After this, it was as if god had spoken to him and he believed that they were telling him to start ‘Helter Skelter’, a war between the blacks and whites.

But the Beatles weren’t the only group that Manson had ties. Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys had invited a bunch of girls into his house and they brought their guru, Charlie Manson. In fact one of the songs on the Beach Boys Album 20/20 had its roots in a song written by Manson. Charlie’s version was called Cease To Exist – and the group changed around the lyrics and renamed it Never Learn Not To Love.

Through Wilson’s relationship Manson meet Terry Melcher, the son of Doris Day. Melcher was living at 10050 Cielo Drive when they met. It was at this house that Charlie took his ‘Family’ on the night of August 8th to begin ‘Helter Skelter’

In that year 25 weeks found a song either written or performed by one of the 4 brothers at the number one spot including 15 weeks in a row from February 4th to May 13th.

In a 53 week period from July 30, 1977 to July 29, 1978 they held the Number 1 spot for 31 weeks.
July 30 – August 13 and September 17, 1977 (4) “I Just Want to be Your Everything” – Andy Gibb
December 24, 1977 – January 7, 1978 (3) “How Deep is Your Love – Bee Gees
February 4 – February 25 ( 4) “Stayin’ Alive” – Bee Gees
March 4 – March 11 (2) ” (Love is) Ticker than Water” – Andy Gibb
March 18 – May 6 (8) “Night Fever” – Bee Gees
May 13 – “If I Can’t Have You” – Yvonne Elliman (Written by the Bee Gees)
June 17 – July 29 (7) – “Shadow Dancing” – Andy Gibb

During this 53 week period the only other artists to have a Number 1 song are:
August 20 – September 10 & September 24 (5) – “Best of my Love” The Emotions
October 1 & 8 (2) “Star Wars Theme” – Meco
October 15 – December 17 (10) – “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone
January 14 – January 28 (3) – “Baby Come Back: – Player
May 20 & 27 (2) – “With a Little Luck” – Wings
June 3 – ” “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” – Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
June 10 – “You’re the One That I Want” – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

The movie “Grease” would have another Number 1 song in 1978, its theme song “Grease” by Frankie Valli and written by Barry Gibb. It would spend 2 weeks at Number 1, August 26 and September 2.

He had rough youth with his sister Clara dieing in a fire and his mother going through a period of what now is termed degenerative neurological disease, possibly Parkinson’s Disease. Even though he didn’t spend much time in school he read constantly, perhaps some of these books were about psychology.

Will Geer, the actor who many remember as Grandpa Walton, was a lifelong friend to Guthrie. They met during the 1930′s in California when like many others Guthrie left the dust bowl for California. During this stage he sang when he could, did whatever work that was available and listened to the tales of the working man.

In February 1940 after hearing once again what he felt was the overplayed God Bless America on the Kate Smith radio show, he sat down to write his most well known song, This Land is Your Land. It wasn’t until four years later that the song was first recorded and not until the 1950′s that is was issued as sheet music.

Even though he is best remembered as a song writer, he really was simply a poet, whose words were put to music. He also wrote Bound for Glory, a autobiography of his growing up in Oklahoma, Texas and his wayward travels.

When he died from complications from Huntington’s Disease on October 3, 1967 his songs were once again being sung by the folk artists of the era. Bob Dylan, an American Troubadour himself, considered Guthrie his hero.

The Album reached Number 1 for 15 weeks on the Album charts and remained on them for 302 weeks or nearly 6 years.

The Album had the number 1 singles It’s Too Late, I Feel the Earth Move and So Far Away. The song You’ve Got A Friend was recorded by James Taylor and his version also peaked at number 1.

Barbara Streisand released a version of the song Where You Lead. Where You Lead remade by Carole King and her daughter Louise Goffin is used as the theme for The Gilmore Girls.

It won the Grammy Award for best Album in 1972. The Song It’s Too Late won Record of the Year while You’ve Got a Friend won Song of the Year. Carole King was awarded Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Two tribute albums have been made. The first in 1995 titled tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King, and the second, released in 2003, titled A New Tapestry — Carole King Tribute.

1930′s – Bing Crosby with the 1940′s being Frank Sinatra. Many could be of the opinion that Bing Crosby is the artist of the 30′s and 40′s with Sinatra reaching the top in the later 40′s and into the early 50′s.

1950′s – Elvis Presley. He’s not called the King for nothing

1960′s – The Beatles. They began in 1962 as a top British act before reaching the US in 1964. The 70′s began as they ended, but their influence is still felt.

1970′s – Elton John. He was the first artist to debut at Number 1 on the album chart and from 1971 on (although Your Song did debut in 1970) didn’t miss a year without a top selling song.

1980′s – Michael Jackson. Just one word, Thriller. Although there is an argument for Madonna.

1990′s – Garth Brooks. Whether you liked him or not, he sold a bunch of CD’s.

2000′s – The decade has just ended and their could be an argument for a number of artists. Beyonce, Jay Z, Britney Spears, and even Miley Cyrus. But I’ll give that honor to Mariah Carey.