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Listen to Five Seconds of Every #1 Pop Single from 1956 to 1992

Hugo Keesing‘s Chartsweep is comprised of five seconds of every #1 pop single in the history of the charts from 1956′s “Memories Are Made of This” by Dean Martin to Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” from 1992.

The concept and term “Chartsweep” both originated in the late 60s with a syndicated radio show called “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” I listened to it on WOR-FM in New York and recorded portions of it on an old Wollensack reel-to-reel tape recorder. As you know, the ‘sweep presented segments of every Billboard #1 single starting with “Memories Are Made of This” (Jan 1956). I don’t recall where it stopped, but it was around 1968/69. Six years later I began teaching an American Studies course at the University of Maryland called “Popular Music in American Society.” To provide a setting for each class I dusted off the concept, took it back to January 1950, added a number of songs based on Joel Whitburn’s re-definition of #1 songs, and continued where the original had stopped. I added each new #1 until fall, 1991 when I stopped teaching the course.

Listen below: (Or at least jump around through it: The whole thing is 74 minutes long, after all)

Part 1:

Part 2:

(Ubu via Joe. My. God. via BuzzFeed)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1251841310 ‘Jeannie Daniels-Ardizzone

    If you have 74 minutes to kill…
    Hugo Keesing’s Chartsweep is comprised of five seconds of every #1 pop single in the history of the charts from 1956’s “Memories Are Made of This” by Dean Martin to Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” from 1992.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1251841310 ‘Jeannie Daniels-Ardizzone

    If you have 74 minutes to kill…
    Hugo Keesing’s Chartsweep is comprised of five seconds of every #1 pop single in the history of the charts from 1956’s “Memories Are Made of This” by Dean Martin to Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” from 1992.

  • Hibweat

    Any chance of getting a copy of this?

  • Virgored

    Use the links on the actual page to download: http://www.ubu.com/sound/keesing.html

  • Kitten

    I would actually like this to be a gigantic playlist so I couls listen to the whole of each song cuz I love almost all of those songs and I grew up listening to oldies stations.

  • Dandilion

    Wow! I just saw my whole life pass before my ears!

  • Ramslt4x4

    I have the complete song on my computer for every song that charted from 1955 through 1969 on the hot 100 list which amounts to 9220 songs. Not just the number 1 song but all from 1-100. Next I will go after 1970-1979 and 1980-1989 and probably stop there because to a 65 year old person, I have very little interest in most of the songs past that point.

  • http://twitter.com/robotduck Ben Pitt

    That’s funny, because as a 33 year old person, I have very little interest in most chart songs past that point too!

  • http://twitter.com/robotduck Ben Pitt

    That’s funny, because as a 33 year old person, I have very little interest in most chart songs past that point too!

  • John

    That download link is dead. Any chance of finding another one?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1372293492 Mary McManus

    sadly, this is my life

  • Polestar452000

    Love this, while away an airport standby …. A1

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gordon-Christie/100001532797537 Gordon Christie

    thats sad im 42 and still like some music thats out now even tho nothing originals been out since 1987. Mind you a lot of stuff that was popular wasnt my thing anyway

  • Rachel

    Kind of reminds me of watching a Time Life informercial….I loved it though!

  • Komi Moss

    Lol, the only song i recognized was billy jean

  • Harri

    Would love to hear all ltlhe songs I grew up with TY

  • sherry

    great. this brings back a lot of memories, good, bad, and sad. but still great to hear. !!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Rousseau/684942165 Karen Rousseau

    Awsome, I was born in 58, so this was very COOL!

  • Erin

    Hahahaaa :) I’m 15, and I probably knew half these songs!

  • angelofroy

    Makes me want to listen to my LPs and cassettes

  • Martha Morin

    I was born in 1951 and this is fantastic!! I know just about every one and can sing along with it.
    I only wish it was the complete songs. Wonderful memories. I’m sharing with my friends. :)

  • Drail117

    I am only 19 and I do actually know a very large portion of these songs. Only a handful I couldn’t remember/sing along too.

  • Graf43479

    Where is playlist? I need full names of the artists and songs!  

  • Graf43479

    Where is playlist? I need full names of the artists and songs!  

  • jean
  • Top43

    идите на хуй

  • Graf43479

    Jean, great thanks!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Жека-Мандрегель/100001870194834 Жека Мандрегель

    как узнать название трека???

  • Gerry

    Boy these are all great songs

  • Linda

    this is awsome sure brings back a lot of memories

  • Artyjaydee1

    A OK       thanks

  • Sherri

    I have almost NO interest in them either! My kids told me that this was OLD music!! Then, a few weeks later, I heard a song they were listening to, and it was a remake of one I listened to back in the “OLD DAYS”!!! I just laughed, and told them  guess I’m not so old after all!!!

  • Sherri

    Any chance I could get a copy!!! I would LOVE to have a copy to listen to!

  • JewishDJ

    Great, but why are the songs sped-up???

  • Marylibz

    This is priceless. I grew up in the 50′s & 60′s listening 1st to my parent’s music then my own choices. This compilation takes me back to happy times!


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