by Fred Bronson |
February 13, 2009 12:19 EST
GREEN INITIATIVE
Hi Fred,
After being mesmerized by Al Green's performance of "Let's Stay Together" on the Grammys, I started wondering about that song's success. I was pretty sure I was more familiar with another version of the song, but it wasn't until I looked through my CDs that I remembered it was Tina Turner's take on it that had caught my attention years and years ago.
How many runs has "Stay" had on the pop chart? Did anybody ever take it to the top of the Hot 100? I would also thank you if you could enlighten us about Green's biggest hits on The Billboard Hot 100.
Your knowledge is always appreciated.
Thank you very much,
Gustavo Pessoa
Dear Gustavo,
I thought that was an amazing performance of “Let’s Stay Together,”: especially considering Al Green was asked just two hours before the telecast if he would perform the song, after Chris Brown and Rihanna dropped out of the show.
Al Green’s original take on the song was his only No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. It was his fourth chart entry and his first to reach the top 10. It spent one week in pole position, exactly 37 years ago (on the chart dated Feb. 12, 1972).
Green went on to have seven more top 10 songs. Here they are:
No. 1: “Let’s Stay Together” (1972)
No. 3: “I’m Still in Love With You” (1972) No. 3: ‘You Ought to be With Me” (1972) No. 4: “Look What You Done for Me” (1972) No. 7: “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)” (1974) No. 9: “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” (1989) [Annie Lennox and Al Green] No. 10: “Call Me (Come Back Home)” (1973) No. 10: “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” (1973)
Most of Green’s hits were released on the Memphis-based Hi label. He made his Hot 100 debut the week of Dec. 9, 1967 with “Back Up Train,” released on the Hot Line label. The billing was “Al Greene & the Soul Mates.” His 20th and final chart hit to date was the duet with Annie Lennox on Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” taken from the “Scrooged” soundtrack and issued on A&M.
I’m sure most people remember when Tina Turner had her first No. 1 single with “What’s Love Got to Do With It” in 1984. It was considered her comeback single and came soon after she signed with Capitol. But that label issued one single prior to “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and that was her remake of “Let’s Stay Together.” That single debuted the week of Jan. 21, 1984, and peaked at No. 26 the week of March 24.
“Let’s Stay Together” has been recorded by a great number of artists, but only three versions have appeared on the Hot 100. Green’s single spent its last week on the chart the week of March 18, 1972. Two weeks later, a cover version by Isaac Hayes was a new entry. It had a seven-week run, peaking at No. 48 the week of April 29.
IT DOESN’T JUST STAND FOR THE AUTO CLUB
Hi Fred!
I want to know what is the Triple A Chart? Here in Argentina "la triple A" was a [far-right organization that killed people in the mid-1970s].
Best!
Eduardo Campero
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Dear Eduardo,
I can assure you that this chart has no relationship whatsoever with Argentina’s AAA death squad. Nor does it have anything to do with an organization known as the AAA in the United States – the American Automobile Association.
I thought the best person to describe the Triple A tally would be that chart’s manager, Anthony Colombo.. Here’s what Anthony had to say:
“Triple A stands for Adult Album Alternative, which harkens back to the format’s origins when it was more of an album-based format. Today, Triple A stations can vary greatly from market to market with some focusing on an adult-leaning alternative base featuring artists such as Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Keane and Snow Patrol. Others rely more on classic rock roots with compatible current hits from artists like Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen and U2. Still others lean more towards Adult Top 40 and play more female artists such as Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, Duffy and Ingrid Michaelson.”
THE LADY RULES
Hi Fred:
I just noticed that on this week's Billboard Dance Charts, Lady Gaga is the absolute queen.
She's on top with "Poker Face" on Hot Dance Club Play and Dance Airplay and she stays No. 1 with "Just Dance" on the Hot Dance Single Sales chart. Her album, “The Fame,” remains at the summit on Top Electronic Albums.
That's quite an accomplishment for a new artist. Has it happened before?
I know Kelly Osbourne went to number one in the same week on three of these charts with "One Word."
Thanks for your time
Jaime Puentes
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Dear Jaime,
Lady GaGa is the first artist to rule all four dance charts since the week of March 18, 2006, when Madonna was No. 1 on those same four charts.
Her single “Sorry” pulled the hat trick and her album “Confessions on a Dance Floor” gave her a fourth No. 1 that week.
Hi Fred,
After being mesmerized by Al Green's performance of "Let's Stay Together" on the Grammys, I started wondering about that song's success. I was pretty sure I was more familiar with another version of the song, but it wasn't until I looked through my CDs that I remembered it was Tina Turner's take on it that had caught my attention years and years ago.
How many runs has "Stay" had on the pop chart? Did anybody ever take it to the top of the Hot 100? I would also thank you if you could enlighten us about Green's biggest hits on The Billboard Hot 100.
Your knowledge is always appreciated.
Thank you very much,
Gustavo Pessoa
Dear Gustavo,
I thought that was an amazing performance of “Let’s Stay Together,”: especially considering Al Green was asked just two hours before the telecast if he would perform the song, after Chris Brown and Rihanna dropped out of the show.
Al Green’s original take on the song was his only No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. It was his fourth chart entry and his first to reach the top 10. It spent one week in pole position, exactly 37 years ago (on the chart dated Feb. 12, 1972).
Green went on to have seven more top 10 songs. Here they are:
No. 1: “Let’s Stay Together” (1972)
No. 3: “I’m Still in Love With You” (1972) No. 3: ‘You Ought to be With Me” (1972) No. 4: “Look What You Done for Me” (1972) No. 7: “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)” (1974) No. 9: “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” (1989) [Annie Lennox and Al Green] No. 10: “Call Me (Come Back Home)” (1973) No. 10: “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” (1973)
Most of Green’s hits were released on the Memphis-based Hi label. He made his Hot 100 debut the week of Dec. 9, 1967 with “Back Up Train,” released on the Hot Line label. The billing was “Al Greene & the Soul Mates.” His 20th and final chart hit to date was the duet with Annie Lennox on Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” taken from the “Scrooged” soundtrack and issued on A&M.
I’m sure most people remember when Tina Turner had her first No. 1 single with “What’s Love Got to Do With It” in 1984. It was considered her comeback single and came soon after she signed with Capitol. But that label issued one single prior to “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and that was her remake of “Let’s Stay Together.” That single debuted the week of Jan. 21, 1984, and peaked at No. 26 the week of March 24.
“Let’s Stay Together” has been recorded by a great number of artists, but only three versions have appeared on the Hot 100. Green’s single spent its last week on the chart the week of March 18, 1972. Two weeks later, a cover version by Isaac Hayes was a new entry. It had a seven-week run, peaking at No. 48 the week of April 29.
IT DOESN’T JUST STAND FOR THE AUTO CLUB
Hi Fred!
I want to know what is the Triple A Chart? Here in Argentina "la triple A" was a [far-right organization that killed people in the mid-1970s].
Best!
Eduardo Campero
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Dear Eduardo,
I can assure you that this chart has no relationship whatsoever with Argentina’s AAA death squad. Nor does it have anything to do with an organization known as the AAA in the United States – the American Automobile Association.
I thought the best person to describe the Triple A tally would be that chart’s manager, Anthony Colombo.. Here’s what Anthony had to say:
“Triple A stands for Adult Album Alternative, which harkens back to the format’s origins when it was more of an album-based format. Today, Triple A stations can vary greatly from market to market with some focusing on an adult-leaning alternative base featuring artists such as Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Keane and Snow Patrol. Others rely more on classic rock roots with compatible current hits from artists like Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen and U2. Still others lean more towards Adult Top 40 and play more female artists such as Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, Duffy and Ingrid Michaelson.”
THE LADY RULES
Hi Fred:
I just noticed that on this week's Billboard Dance Charts, Lady Gaga is the absolute queen.
She's on top with "Poker Face" on Hot Dance Club Play and Dance Airplay and she stays No. 1 with "Just Dance" on the Hot Dance Single Sales chart. Her album, “The Fame,” remains at the summit on Top Electronic Albums.
That's quite an accomplishment for a new artist. Has it happened before?
I know Kelly Osbourne went to number one in the same week on three of these charts with "One Word."
Thanks for your time
Jaime Puentes
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Dear Jaime,
Lady GaGa is the first artist to rule all four dance charts since the week of March 18, 2006, when Madonna was No. 1 on those same four charts.
Her single “Sorry” pulled the hat trick and her album “Confessions on a Dance Floor” gave her a fourth No. 1 that week.
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