Beech Tree News Network

Last week was part one of my “songs that peaked at #2” series.  This week, I’ll begin with “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan.  This song stayed at #2 for two weeks.  The song that kept it out of the top spot? “Help!” by The Beatles.  The accolades for “Like A Rolling Stone” are endless.  Rolling Stone ranked it #1 on their 2004 and 2010 versions of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Checking in at #7 is 1968’s “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. It spent three weeks at #2 and was kept out of the top spot by The Rascals’ “People Got To Be Free”.  This biker anthem was covered by such artists as Etta James, The Cult, INXS, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Springsteen, Slayer, Blue Oyster Cult and Status Quo.

Next up on songs that peaked at #2 is Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic “What’s Going On”.  This song spent three weeks in the runner-up position.  The classic that kept it out of the top spot? “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me” by the Temptations for a week and “Joy To The World” by Three Dog Night for two weeks.  You know you had gold when your song’s opening line was “Jeremiah was a bullfrog”. “What’s Going On” sold over 2 million copies and was #4 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and 2011. 

Next on the list is “Live And Let Die” by Wings.  The greatest bond theme ever deserved better than being runner-up to Maureen McGovern’s “The Morning After (1 week), “Touch Me In The Morning” by Diana Ross(1 week) and “Brother Louie” by Stories( 1 week).  Another Bond theme is next on the list, as 1977’s “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon and written by Marvin Hamlisch was kept out by “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone.  Boone’s song spent 10 weeks at the top.  The song also stole the Oscar from Hamlisch. 

Up next is a staple of sporting events.  The Village People’s “Y.M.C.A” spent three weeks at #2, having been kept out by Chic’s “Le Freak” (1 week) and Rod’s Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy(2 weeks).  Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” spent two weeks at #2 and was denied by Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff”.  “We Are Family” is part of The National Recording Registry.  It was written by Chic’s Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers and was also used by the Pittsburgh Pirates during their unlikely World Series comeback that year.  A little too late, as it peaked at #2 in early summer. 

Next up is Foreigner’s classic “Waiting For A Girl Like You”.  This song spent an astonishing 10 weeks at #2.  It was denied by the late Olivia Newton-John’s Physical”(9 weeks) and “I Can’t Go For That(No Can Do) by Hall & Oates(1 week).  One of the most popular power-ballads ever is up next, as Journey’s smash “Open Arms” was certified Gold by the recording industry but had a 6-week run as a bridesmaid thanks to Blues-turned-Pop band J Geils Band’s “Centerfold” (3 weeks) and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “I Love Rock & Roll (3 weeks).  We’re in the home stretch and you’ll get the conclusion of this list of top 20 #2 hits…. next week! Here are the links to my podcast, Blendertainment:

 https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5ZEI-wzQ

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172