Twostepcublog

Hey gang, it's finally the end of the work-week, and time for my top-100 tunes for this week. Muse stays at #1 for its second week, while Latin soul star Miguel (pictured above) moves right under the top-10. Tracks by Dave Aude', Christina Aguilera, and Pink make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ), while former big hits by Neon Trees, Green Day, Nicki Minaj, and Karmin drop off the chart. WHEN WILL HE LEAVE ALREADY! This Week           Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Madness - Muse (1) 2. I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons (2) 3. Skyfall - Adele (5) 4. Some Nights - fun (4) 5. Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) - Ne-Yo (7) 6. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - Pink (6) 7. Gangnam Style - PSY (3) 8. Too Close - Alex Clare (8) 9. Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia f/John Martin (9) 10. ...

Today, November 30th, marks pop/punk pioneer Billy Idol's 57th birthday... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Phil Collins - " I Don't Care Anymore " from the album Hello...I Must Be Going! (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39 (three weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 3 Today's song of the day is by singer/drummer Phil Collins , who already had a busy 1982 as part of Genesis with a successful album, tour, and resulting part-live CD with a top-40 hit in tow with " Paperlate ", as well as releasing his second solo album, which gave Collins his first solo top-10 hit, a cover of the Supremes' " You Can't Hurry Love ". For the followup to that hit, Collins released the much more moody "I Don't Care Anymore", which resembles his first album's "In The Air Tonight" quite a bit, but with a more personal angst resulting from the breakup of his marriage... "I Don't Care Anymore" was Phil's big rock hit from the album, reaching #3 on that format's chart in Billboard , while sneaking into the top-40 for ...

I'm back with eight (well, nine ) more nuggets from the mighty eighties, and this week it's back to 1988, the year Sonny Bono is elected mayor of Palm Springs, California... Depeche Mode - " Route 66 / Behind The Wheel " from the album Music For The Masses (1987) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #61 This double-shot single from my favorite band of all time totals up the pinnacle of any road trip mix. Come along? (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Hey gang, it's time for this week's trip back to the 70s, and this time out it's back to 1978, the year skin-mag mogul Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed in Georgia. Nick Gilder - " Hot Child In The City " from the album City Nights (1978) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 I don't think there was any single person in my generation who initially thought this was a guy singing. Even after watching this I'm doubtful. Fun fact: Nick co-wrote Scandal's "The Warrior"... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 29th, marks the 44th birthday of ("old") New Kid on the Block Jonathan Knight (the gay one)... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Debarge -" I Like It " from the album All This Love (1983) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #31 (two weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 6 Today's Song of the Day is the breakout single from R&B sibling act DeBarge, who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their elder brothers were part of a soul group named Switch, who had a top-40 hit of their own with " There'll Never Be " in 1978. After releasing a debut album under the name The DeBarges that really didn't go anywhere, the brothers El, Marty, Randy, and sister Bunny added brother James to the lineup and put out their All This Love album in the summer of 1982. The first single from the set, "Stop! Don't Tease Me" brought the kids their first success on the radio, missing the R&B top-40 peaking at #46. But the followup, released at the end of 1982, proved to be a slow and steady climber to the top of the R&B radio chart and their first top-40 pop hit. "I Like It", written ...

Hey gang, it's time for my weekly recap of the new songs making their way on to the official music charts in Australia this week. The top-selling song Down Under this week is by newly-crowned X Factor winner Samantha Jade, with her "winner's song" "What You've Done To Me"... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

I'm back with another half-dozen nuggets from the 60s, and this time I'm back to 1968, the year Planet Of The Apes debuts in theaters... The Lemon Pipers - " Green Tambourine " from the album Green Tambourine (1967) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 The missing link between bubblegum pop and psychedelica. (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 28th, marks the 69th birthday of musician, singer, and satirist Randy Newman... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Toto - " I Won't Hold You Back " from the album Toto IV (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10 (one week) Weeks in the top-40: 12 Today's Song of the Day is the fourth top-40 single from soft-rock kings Toto 's fourth album Toto IV .  After the top-5 Arquette-name-checking " Rosanna ", the yacht-rocking " Make Believe ", and the percussion-filled #1 hit " Africa ", the band went with a mournful ballad about letting the one you love go. Written by guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, "I Won't Hold You Back" was the big "power-ballad" of the album... "I Won't Hold You Back" became Toto's third top-10 hit for their Grammy-winning album, and their last top-10 pop hit so far. The song also topped the adult-contemporary (soft-rock) chart, and made the top-40 in Britain as well. (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Welcome back to this week's sample of the new songs making their way on to the official music singles sales chart in Germany. This week Rihanna spends a fourth week at #1 with " Diamonds "... There are two debuts up in the top-40 here this week, and the highest at #20 is "I Love It" by Swedish electropop duo Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX.... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

It's time for this week's recap of the latest music to make the official music charts in France. This week Adele's " Skyfall " remains at #1 for a third week. The top debut this week belongs to French new-wave group Indochine, who have been around since the mid-80s, and topped the pop chart here in 2002 with " J'ai demande a la lune ".  They return at #13 with "Memoria"... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 27th, marks the 34th birthday of rapper Mike Skinner (The Streets)... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - "Even Now" from the album The Distance (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12 (one week) Weeks in the top-40: 9 Today's song of the day is by Detroit rock legend Bob Seger , who returned in 1982 with a countrified cover of Rodney Crowell's " Shame On The Moon " that gave him his biggest hit up to that time. For the followup single, Seger and his Silver Bullet Band released one of Seger's own songs, the driving "Even Now"... The single was Seger best success on rock radio from the album, making it to #2 in 1983. It also made the top-40 in Canada, and was a minor hit in England as well, his first in four years... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Melissa Manchester - " Nice Girls " from the album Greatest Hits (1983) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #42 This week's robbed hit is by singer Melissa Manchester , who had the biggest hit of her career in 1982 with the Grammy-winning " You Should Hear How She Talks About You ". After a lack of hit followups from that album, her record company issued a greatest hits set the year after, with a new track selected for the radio single, "Nice Girls". The midtempo track, written by Jan & Steve Buckingham with Mark Gray, was just a touch too early-80s soft-rock for the now new-wave-infected pop radio scene... The single almost made the top-40, though, and did well on adult-contemporary radio, where it peaked at #22. I'm sure if this was released a year earlier, it would've been a more worthy hit single.

I'm back with the second half of this week's "album sweep" sampling the records making the Top 200 Albums chart in Billboard magazine for their first time. You can check out part one by clicking here , and as always I've included when possible links to go buy anything you see. Support the artists! Coming in at #49 is a Starbucks exclusive holiday compilation CD Under The Mistletoe , which includes performances by veterans like Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald as well as newcomers like Tracey Thorn and Sara Bareilles... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 26th, marks music icon Tina Turner's 73rd birthday... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Diana Ross - "So Close" from the album Silk Electric (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #40 (two weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 2 Today's Song of the Day is by soul/pop legend Diana Ross , who ended 1982 with a sensual top-10 written by friend Michael Jackson about " Muscles ". For her followup, she released a rare song for her, co-written by herself, Bill Wray, and arranger Robert Mounsey, and produced by the singer herself. "So Close" is a simple retro-50s doo-wop-ish song that Diana coos on through, with backing vocals arranged by Luther Vandross... "So Close" naturally did the best on adult-contemporary (soft-rock) radio, where it peaked up at #13, and at pop radio, where it made the top-40 for a couple weeks. However, since R&B radio was at time entrenched in the funk, it stalled at #76, and just missed the top-40 in Britain. And I'm still surprised this album remains criminally out of print in the States... (Click belo...

Hey gang, the weekend is coming to a close, and time to check out the songs making the official music chart in Britain this week for the first time. The top seller this week is X Factor finalist and now host of the spin-off Xtra Factor Olly Murs, with the first single from his upcoming third album Right Place Right Time , which gets released tomorrow. "Troublemaker", featuring American rapper Flo Rida, becomes Olly's fourth #1 single in the UK... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

It's time to kick off this week's "album sweep" sampling the records making their first appearance on this week's Top 200 Albums chart in Billboard magazine. In this half will be the top 15 debuting sets, with links to buy them if available online at Amazon mp3 or elsewhere... British boyband wonders One Direction score their second #1 album of this year with their sophomore set Take Me Home , selling over a half-million copies.  (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 25th, marks the 52nd birthday of singer Amy Grant... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Jefferson Starship - " Winds Of Change " from the album Winds Of Change (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #38 (two weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 2 Today's Song of the Day is by San Francisco 'Summer of Love' veterans Jefferson Starship , who closed out 1982 with their lucky seventh top-40 single after changing personnel and name from the Jefferson Airplane, " Be My Lady ". They followed it up with another track co-written by bassist Pete Sears and wife Jeannette, "Winds Of Change", which tacked more edgier than its predecessor.... With shared lead vocals by Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, the song grazed the pop top-40, but did much better on rock radio, peaking at #18. In my opinion, it was Grace's last really great performance on a group single. (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Some random thoughts about this season of The Voice , now that it's down to the final eight contestants, now that I've finally caught up with the series on DVR... First the two eliminated finalists, who I feel were robbed by being sent home.... Sylvia Yacoub : had an amazing powerful voice that was spot on in diva moments like "My Heart Will Go On". Best song: "Girl On Fire"...  (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Hey gang, I'm ready to finish off today's "chart sweeps" with the latest dance jams on the radio and in the clubs and making the charts at Billboard magazine. On the DJ-polled Hot Dance Club Play chart, Calvin Harris and Florence Welch climb to #1 with " Sweet Nothing ", making their second collab to hit the top this year. The top entry here is by Swedish DJ/producer Eric Prydz, with "Every Day" at #43.... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Hey gang....normally part four of the day's "chart sweeps" of the new music on Billboard magazine would bring you the latest on country radio, but there are no debuts this week...and Luke Bryan's " Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye " remains at #1 for a second week.. I'll wind things up at 6:30pm Eastern with the newest dance jams in the clubs and on the radio...Twang on!

Welcome back....I'm up to part three of this week's "chart sweeps" of the latest songs making their way on to the weekly music charts at Billboard magazine, and now I'm up to the newest on R&B radio. In another insult to the R&B community after corrupting the main "R&B/HipHop Songs" list to basically mirror the Hot 100 with crossover airplay from all genres included with the editors deciding what is "R&B" enough to make the chart, they've pared down the R&B/HipHop Airplay list for a second time, which had been 100 songs strong, then 75, and now only 50. Ridiculous. But I'd rather go with that than an "all-Rihanna all the time" list, so on that chart for the eleventh week at #1 is the superb " Adorn " by Miguel. And with the paring down of the list, nothing "debuts" this week. Grr... On the Adult R&B (Urban AC) radio format list, "Adorn" is also at the top for a thir...

It's time for part two of today's "chart sweeps" of the newest songs making it on to this week's charts at Billboard magazine. Now I've got the latest on rock radio... On the Rock Airplay chart, Mumford & Sons spend an eighth week at #1 with " I Will Wait "... Two new songs enter this list, and the higher is by the band Churchill at #43 with "Change". Their first hit has already placed on the Modern Rock and Triple-A format charts...    (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Hey gang, it's time for today's four (usually five) part "chart sweep" of the latest songs making their way on to the weekly music charts in Billboard magazine. This time out it's the latest on and pop charts... On the Big Chart, the Hot 100 , Rihanna ends Maroon 5's grasp on the charts with " Diamonds ". It's her 12th chart-topping hit on this list, tying her with Madonna... The top debut this week belongs to British boyband heartthrobs One Direction, who come in just below the top-40 at #41 with "Little Things". Written by fellow countryman Ed Sheeran, it's the most unique and nicest thing they've recorded as yet... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Prince - " Little Red Corvette " from the album 1999 (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6 (two weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 15 Today's Song of the Day is by the Purple One himself, who was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis to musical parents, he started making music when he was a child. His first album, For You , was released in 1978, when Prince turned 20, and the sensual affair produced his first hit, "Soft & Wet", which made the top-20 on the R&B chart, and grazed the bottom of the pop chart as well. The followup, a self-titled LP, did even better, giving him a song that just missed the pop top-10, "I Wanna Be Your Lover", that also was his first dance hit, peaking at #2 in 1979, and his first #1 R&B single. After a overtly sexual album, Dirty Mind , his 1981 album Controversy gave him a double-sided #1 hit "Controversy/Let's Work". This set Prince up for his big breakthrough the next year. In 1982 he releas...

Hey gang, it's time for my top-100 tunes for the week...this week Muse claims the #1 spot for the first week, while the Swedish House Mafia (pictured above) jumps into the top-10. Former big hits by Florence + The Machine and Jason Aldean drop off my list, while songs by Pink, Calvin Harris w/Florence Welch, and Yoko Ono make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ). Gobble gobble! This Week            Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Madness - Muse (2) 2. I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons (1) 3. Gangnam Style - PSY (3) 4. Some Nights - fun (4) 5. Skyfall - Adele (6) 6. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - Pink (5) 7. Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) - Ne-Yo (7) 8. Too Close - Alex Clare (8) 9. Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia f/John Martin (13) 10. Ho Hey - ...

Today, November 23rd, marks Miley Cyrus' 20th birthday... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Thomas Dolby - " She Blinded Me With Science " from the album The Golden Age Of Wireless (1983) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5 (four weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 15 Today's Song of the Day is by synthesizer whiz Thomas Dolby , who was actually born with the last name Robertson in London (not Cairo, Egypt, as he once claimed). After building up experience doing session work (like doing keyboards on Foreigner's 4 and Def Leppard's Pyromania albums), he released his debut album, The Golden Age Of Wireless , in 1982, albeit without the iconic hit he's most known for. The first single he released, the bouncy " Europa & The Pirate Twins ", was a minor hit in Britain, peaking at #48, and actually made the rock radio chart at #37 in 1982. The followup, the bleak wartime piece " One Of Our Submarines ", did even better in the US making the top-20 on the rock chart, while in Britain, his " Windpower " became his first UK top-40 ...

Hey gang, Happy (American) Thanksgiving, it's time to trot out eight more nuggets from the 80s, and this time I'm back in 1987, the year of the Iran-Contra scandal in the White House... Five Star - "If I Say Yes" from the album Silk & Steel (1986) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #67 You cannot imagine how much I was obsessed about this British family group. I loved them, have every album of theirs, even the crazy Japan-only ones... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

It's time for this week's trip back to the 70s, and this time out I'm back at 1977, the year Roots is televised on ABC. Carly Simon - " Nobody Does It Better " from the album The Spy Who Loved Me (Soundtrack) (1977) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2 After "Goldfinger", my second-favorite Bond track. Adele settles in at #3... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, November 22nd, marks actress/sometimes singer Scarlett Johansson's 28th birthday... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Michael Jackson - " Beat It " from the album Thriller (1982) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (three weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 18 Today's Song of the Day is by Michael Jackson, who by the spring of 1983 was in full gear with two huge singles released from his landmark album Thriller . The first, the saccharine duet " The Girl Is Mine " with Paul McCartney cornered the adult-contemporary market, while the second, " Billie Jean ", became a pop and R&B classic, as well as opened up MTV to black artists. For Jackson's amazing hat trick, he recruited Eddie Van Halen to lay down a guitar solo that would anchor and give credibility to Michael's foray into rock music, "Beat It". Written by Jackson after being prompted by producer Quincy Jones to include a rock song in the album, the song was as energetic and angry as "Billie Jean" was sparse and paranoid. And to top it off, Jackson self-financed a music video that not on...