WCBS-FM N.Y. TOP 500 COUNTDOWN RESULTS-LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2009

#1 on the WCBS-FM-101.1 New York Top 500 Countdown for Labor Day Weekend 2009 = "Thriller" by Michael Jackson featuring Vincent Price from 1984.

There's one song missing somewhere between #96 & #56 that I couldn't find on www.yes.com or www.mediabasemusic.com or the "recently played" Mediabase listing on the www.wcbsfm.com website. If anyone knows what it is, let me know & I'll readjust the list.

101: The Spiral Starecase - More Today Than Yesterday 1969 05.09.2009 8:34am
100: Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain 1970 05.09.2009 8:36am
99: Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay 1968 05.09.2009 8:40am
98: Eric Burdon & War - Spill The Wine 1970 05.09.2009 8:43am
97: Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds Of Silence 1965/66 05.09.2009 8:47am

95: Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville 1977 05.09.2009 8:58am
94: Frankie Valli - My Eyes Adored You 1975 05.09.2009 9:02am
93: The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye 1971 05.09.2009 9:05am
92: Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale 1967 05.09.2009 9:09am
91: Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run 1975 05.09.2009 9:12am
90: Gallery - Nice To Be With You 1972 05.09.2009 9:16am
89: Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender 1956 05.09.2009 9:19am
88: The Beatles - A Day In The Life 1967 05.09.2009 9:29am
87: The Archies - Sugar, Sugar 1969 05.09.2009 9:34am
86: The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin 1972 05.09.2009 9:37am
85: The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 1965 05.09.2009 9:44am
84: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Old Time Rock & Roll 1979/1983 05.09.2009 9:46am
83: Edward Bear - Last Song 1973 05.09.2009 9:57am
82: Dion - The Wanderer 1962 05.09.2009 10:00am
81: The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You 1970 05.09.2009 10:03am
80: Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light 1972 05.09.2009 10:06am
79: The Beatles - Twist And Shout 1964 05.09.2009 10:09am
78: The Drifters - Up On The Roof 1963 05.09.2009 10:11am
77: Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right 1976 05.09.2009 10:15am
76: Journey - Don't Stop Believin' 1981/82 05.09.2009 10:17am
75: Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You 1967 05.09.2009 10:22am
74: The Zombies - Tell Her No 1965 05.09.2009 10:32am
73: Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel 1962 05.09.2009 10:34am
72: Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Light 1978 05.09.2009 10:37am
71: Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock 1957 05.09.2009 10:45am
70: The Brotherhood Of Man - United We Stand 1970 05.09.2009 10:48am
69: The Beach Boys - God Only Knows 1966 05.09.2009 10:51am
68: George Harrison - My Sweet Lord 1970/71 05.09.2009 11:01am
67: Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant 1977 05.09.2009 11:04am
66: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline 1969 05.09.2009 11:12am
65: Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You 1970 11:15am
64: B.W. Stevenson - My Maria 1973 05.09.2009 11:18am
63: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman 1964 05.09.2009 11:20am
62: The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun 1970 05.09.2009 11:31am
61: Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride 1970 05.09.2009 11:34am
60: USA For Africa - We Are The World 1985 05.09.2009 11:37am
59: Sweet - Little Willy 1973 05.09.2009 11:43am
58: The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) 1955 05.09.2009 11:46am
57: The 4 Seasons - I've Got You Under My Skin 1966 05.09.2009 11:50am

56: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes 1969 05.09.2009 12:01pm
55: The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road 1970 05.09.2009 12:09pm
54: Stampeders - Sweet City Woman 1971 05.09.2009 12:12pm
53: The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations 1966 05.09.2009 12:15pm
52: Harry Chapin - Taxi 1972 05.09.2009 12:19pm
51: The Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me 1969 05.09.2009 12:33pm
50: Del Shannon - Runaway 1961 05.09.2009 12:39pm
49: The Beatles - She Loves You 1964 05.09.2009 12:42pm
48: Richard Harris - MacArthur Park 1968 05.09.2009 12:44pm
47: The 4 Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) 1976 05.09.2009 12:59pm
46: The Turtles - Happy Together 1967 05.09.2009 1:03pm
45: The Association - Cherish 1966 05.09.2009 1:06pm
44: Rod Stewart - Maggie May 1971 05.09.2009 1:10pm
43: The Duprees - You Belong To Me 1962 05.09.2009 1:15pm
42: The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash 1968 05.09.2009 1:18pm
41: John Lennon - Imagine 1971 05.09.2009 1:21pm
40: Michael Jackson - Billie Jean 1983 05.09.2009 1:31pm
39: Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 1970 05.09.2009 1:36pm
38: Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds 1969 05.09.2009 1:41pm
37: Dion - Runaround Sue 1961 05.09.2009 1:45pm
36: The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand 1964 05.09.2009 1:48pm
35: Billy Joel - Piano Man 1974 05.09.2009 1:58pm
34: Jigsaw - Sky High 1975/76 05.09.2009 2:04pm
33: Jim Croce - I Got A Name 1973 05.09.2009 2:07pm
32: The Partridge Family - I Think I Love You 1970/71 05.09.2009 2:10pm
31: The Beatles - Something 1969 05.09.2009 2:12pm
30: Zager & Evans - In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) 1969 05.09.2009 2:16pm
29: Climax - Precious And Few 1972 05.09.2009 2:19pm
28: The Grass Roots - Midnight Confessions 1968 05.09.2009 2:29pm
27: Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind 1966 05.09.2009 2:32pm
26: Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror 1988 05.09.2009 2:35pm
25: The Marmalade - Reflections Of My Life 1970 05.09.2009 2:40pm
24: King Harvest - Dancing In The Moonlight 1973 05.09.2009 2:44pm
23: The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You 1959 05.09.2009 2:47pm
22: Chicago - Beginnings 1971 05.09.2009 2:58pm
21: The Beatles - Yesterday 1965 05.09.2009 3:02pm
20: The 4 Seasons - Dawn (Go Away) 1964 05.09.2009 3:04pm
19: The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody 1965/1990 05.09.2009 3:07pm
18: Jay & The Americans - Cara, Mia 1965 05.09.2009 3:11pm
17: The Beatles - Let It Be 1970 05.09.2009 3:14pm
16: The 4 Seasons - Sherry 1962 05.09.2009 3:18pm
15: Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven 1971 05.09.2009 3:28pm
14: Abba - Dancing Queen 1977 05.09.2009 3:36pm
13: The Cuff Links - Tracy 1969 05.09.2009 3:40pm
12: The Eagles - Hotel California 1977 05.09.2009 3:42pm
11: Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) 1972 05.09.2009 3:48pm
10: The Temptations - My Girl 1965 05.09.2009 3:59pm
9: Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife 1959 05.09.2009 4:02pm
8: The Beatles - In My Life 1965 05.09.2009 4:06pm
7: Don McLean - American Pie 1971/72 05.09.2009 4:08pm
6: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love 1961/62 05.09.2009 4:17pm
5: The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 1965 05.09.2009 4:27pm
4: The 4 Seasons - Rag Doll 1964 05.09.2009 4:31pm
3: The Beatles - Hey Jude 1968 05.09.2009 4:34pm
2: The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night 1956 05.09.2009 4:42pm
1: Michael Jackson - Thriller 1984 05.09.2009 4:53pm

They're done already? The weekend just started.

They roll thru the Countdown twice. 1st run-thru was from 9AM on Thu. 9/3/09 to 5PM on Sat. 9/5/09 with "timeouts" for overnights Midnight-6AM & 5+ hours for a N.Y. Giant football preseason game broadcast. 2nd run-thru will be from 5PM on Sat. 9/5/09 to about just before Midnight on Mon. 9/7/09, allowing for similar "timeouts" for overnight & specialty programming.

this is what I see...

Rank Song Artist

1 Thriller Michael Jackson

2 In the Still of the Night The Five Satins

3 Hey Jude The Beatles
4 Rag Doll The Four Seasons
5 Satisfaction The Rolling Stones

6 Can't Help Falling In Love
Elvis

7 American Pie Don McLean
8 In My Life The Beatles
9 Mack the Knife Bobby Darin

10 My Girl The Temptations
11 Brandy Looking Glass
12 Hotel California The Eagles
13 Tracy Cuff-Links
14 Dancing Queen ABBA
15 Stairway to Heaven Led Zepplin
16 Sherry The Four Seasons
17 Let It Be The Beatles
18 Cara Mia Jay & the Americans
19 Unchained Melody Righteous Brothers
20 Dawn The Four Seasons
21 Yesterday The Beatles
22 Beginnings Chicago
23 I Only Have Eyes For You The Flaimngos
24 Dancing in the Moonlight King Harvest
25 Reflections of My Life The Marmalade
26 Man in the Mirror Michael Jackson
27 Summer Wind Frank Sinatra
28 Midnight Confessions The Grass Roots
29 Precious and Few Climax
30 In the Year 2525 Zager & Evans
31 Something The Beatles
32 I Think I Love You The Partridge Family
33 I Got a Name Jim Croce
34 Sky High Jigsaw
35 Piano Man Billy Joel
36 I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles
37 Runaround Sue Dion
38 Suspicious Minds Elvis
39 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel
40 Billie Jean Michael Jackson

41 Imagine John Lennon
42 Jumpin' Jack Flash The Rolling Stones
43 You Belong To Me The Duprees
44 Maggie May Rod Stewart
45 Cherish The Association
46 She'd Rather Be With Me The Turtles
47 December 1963 (Oh What A Night) The Four Seasons
48 MacArthur Park Richard Harris
49 She Loves You The Beatles
50 Runaway Del Shannon
51 My Way Evis
52 Smile a Little Smile Flying Machine
53 Taxi Harry Chapin
54 Good Vibrations The Beach Boys
55 Sweet City Woman The Stampeders
56 Long & Winding Road The Beatles
57 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
58 I've Got You Under My Skin The Four Seasons
59 Earth Angel The Penguins
60 Little Willy The Sweet
61 We Are the World USA for Africa
62 Ride Captain Ride Blues Image
63 We've Only Just Begun The Carpenters
64 Oh Pretty Woman Roy Orbison
65 My Maria BW Stevenson
66 The Wonder of You Elvis
67 Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
68 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Billy Joel
69 My Sweet Lord George Harrison
70 God Only Knows The Beach Boys
71 United We Stand Brotherhood of Man
72 Jailhouse Rock Elvis
73 Paradise by the Dashboard Light Meatloaf
74 Johnny Angel Shelly Fabres
75 Tell Her No The Zombies
76 Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You Frankie Valli
77 Don't Stop Believin' Journey
78 Moonlight Feels Right Starbuck
79 Up On the Roof The Drifters
80 Twist & Shout The Beatles
81 I Saw the Light Todd Rundgren
82 Close To You The Carpenters
83 The Wanderer Dion
84 Last Song Ed Bear
85 Old Time Rock 'n Roll Bob Seger
86 Can't Help Myself The Four Tops
87 Nights in White Satin Moody Blues
88 Sugar Sugar The Archies
89 A Day in the Life The Beatles
90 Love Me Tender Elvis
91 Nice To Be With You Gallery
92 Born to Run Bruce Springsteen
93 Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum
94 Never Can Say Goodbye The Jackson Five
95 My Eyes Adored You Frankie Valli
96 Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett
97 Sounds of Silence Simon & Garfunkel
98 Spill the Wine War
99 Dock of the Bay Otis Redding
100 Kentucky Rain Elvis

(91-100 - does that help?? )

Thanks Andrea! Plus now that the full list has been posted to the WCBS-FM website at the following link: http://wcbsfm.com/pages/5118510.php, the mystery of the "missing" song is solved! It's actually #51: Elvis Presley - My Way (Live) - 1977. (Bumps every song from #52-#95 up a notch on my original listing - but obviously easier to just view the full list at the CBS-FM link.) I thought I had it right below #57 ...darn, oh well...back to learning how to use my abacus! :-[

Note: for folks who rely on websites like www.yes.com & www.mediabasemusic.com for song tracking info, beware of some missing and/or misidentified tracks. For example, I found that a few of Elvis Presley's songs (like "My Way" & "Kentucky Rain") were missing from one site or the other when trying to compile the original list for this forum. Also, "In The Still Of The Night" by The Five Satins didn't show on the yes.com listing for Sat. 9/5/09 when it aired.
Check the Philadelphia board for a thread re: AC WBEB listed as playing a thrash-metal explicit song on yes.com. A poster was concerned that this song was actually played on-air & would alienate WBEB's listeners. Several responses allayed the poster's fears that this didn't actually occur.

So, Andrea, you Oldies Diva, you! ;D What's your overall reaction to the 2009 Top 500?

After I gave it a close look: when you consider that the list was based on voting thru the CBS-FM website (which used to mean that the users would skew younger; probably not so much now), you'd have to think that more titles from the 1980's/1990's/dare I say 2000's would have been voted for & placed on this countdown, especially with the expected decline in 1950's/early 1960's titles.
I'd have trouble giving total credit to the voters who would be so focused as to vote right in step with what is mostly CBS-FM's usual programming:

-just the right sprinkling of 1950's tunes (mostly Elvis Presley & Buddy Holly) without "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets - 1955, a countdown standard bearer, but...ok, I'll let that one slide...older classics do drop off these lists at some point;
-a large block of songs focused on the years 1962-1979 with a few "Oh Wow!" titles thrown in for good measure;
-just the right sprinkling of 1980's tunes (more than on past lists but not overwhelming), with an expected larger than normal dose of Michael Jackson songs (including #1);
-the only 1990's/2000's titles are #327 "Smooth" by Santana feat. Rob Thomas - 1999/2000 & #175 "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley vs. JXL - 2002 (just because the songs are by heritage artists in the format);
-a few "classic rock" tracks that one wouldn't normally associate with this format or with CBS-FM in particular (although some have aired on the "A-Z"/"Z-A" countdowns) such as #68 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel - 1977, #156 Baba O'Riley - The Who - 1971, #184 Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones - 1968, #202 Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1974/75 (single)/1973 (album) [may have appeared on previous lists], #257 Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who - 1971 [may have appeared on previous lists], #356 Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones - 1969, # 406 New York State Of Mind - Billy Joel - 1976 [this one gets a pass since I'm certain it's appeared on previous lists, especially being by a local artist, of local interest & post-9/11], #440 Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John - 1973.

High placements for songs like #13 Tracy - The Cuff Links - 1969, #34 Sky High - Jigsaw - 1975/76 & #55 Sweet City Woman - The Stampeders - 1971 and some others smack of internet over-voting, although some of these songs have received regular play on CBS-FM, so maybe they're somewhat legit.

Breakdown of songs by decade: 1950's = 27, 1960's = 197, 1970's = 224, 1980's = 50, 1990's = 1, 2000's = 1.

While there's definitely turnover on the CBS-FM list from approximately 8+ years ago (the last time it was "officially" listener voted), it seems the older songs have been replaced with not-quite-as-old songs or other songs from the same time period (mostly 1970's), rather than something more recent. In the early versions of the CBS-FM Top 500 (1973-1975-1977), it would be commonplace to see more current, top-of-mind fickle selections on the list, keeping in mind that the oldies format of that period had a total of 18-22 years of music to draw from, as opposed to the (theoretical) 55 years now. Not that I'd want today's oldies/classic hits station to have an all-time countdown that looked like the people voting for it were all listeners of current contemporary hit radio. ["That was the #2 Song Of All Time: I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas, now here's #1 Of All Time: Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas!!!"]
If you're looking for almost complete stagnancy, look at the Top 100-200 on most Classic Rock stations listener-selected lists: virtually the same warhorses appear year after year, slightly reshuffled, with the average year probably around 1971-1973.

As much as we'd like to believe that these countdowns are on the up & up and totally listener-selected, it's easy to figure that stations have filters in place to remove songs that "are not consistent with the format" (paraphrasing an old pre-2005 CBS-FM disclaimer used during the now-discontinued weekly Top 20 Countdown specialty show). Just by accident there should be more songs from the past 20+ years on this year's list. Then again, the station plays very few songs from this period, so the argument could be made that their loyal audience is unfamiliar with most of these songs & thus won't vote for them. It can't be that all of CBS-FM's listeners are over 35, or are they? This points out the Catch-22 that this format is in: how to move forward in time while largely ignoring the last 20+ years (and growing) of CHR music which should be part of the oldies/classic hits of today while also trying to grab a younger audience. Of course a case could be made that unlike the early days of oldies stations (early 1970's) there are more stations/formats available now for the music of the past 20+ years besides the oldies/classic hits outlets, what with the various forms of the A/C format plus (to a lesser degree) classic rock.

As written by our friend David Eduardo on the NYC Board:

DavidEduardo said:

scooty430 said:

David, I don't think you get how the CBS-FM countdown worked. It was voted on by listeners, they counted up the votes, and they played the tunes.

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I have some beachfront property in Burkina Faso I'd like to sell to you at a great price...

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