With A Bullet - Breaking Down The Charts
By Matt Golden
With A Bullet - Breaking Down The ChartsSep 10, 2020
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part VI (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: September 11, 1999)
This is the sixth and final installment of our series on the decline of alternative rock radio and we are going to discuss Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from September 11, 1999... We have Fred Durst's cookie, crying dolphins, Shrek, streaking pop punkers, two 60s covers, lots of nu metal, a pimp from the Detroit suburbs, and much more...
As a bonus, here's a playlist of nearly every song that's discussed in the series. Enjoy!
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part V (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: September 12, 1998)
It's the penultimate episode of the series and we're going to be discussing Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from September 12, 1998... The swing revival, nu metal, outlandish rumors, hearts in blenders, songs about dragonflies, Twin Cities heroes, Christian rock, prison escapes, Mulder & Scully, and "frat party hip hop acoustic jam band blues". It's all here.
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part IV (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: September 13, 1997)
This is the fourth installment of our series on the decline of alternative rock radio and for this episode we're going to check out Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from September 13, 1997... We have tons of ska, lots and lots of bands that sound like Live, Live, Blur, Oasis, Radiohead, the Dandy Warhols/Brian Jonestown Massacre feud, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Sarah McLachlan, and much much more.
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part III (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: December 7, 1996)
We're still on the sinking ship that was alternative rock radio and we've managed to make it to 1996. This episode covers Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from December 7, 1996 and we're going to talk about vanishing grunge acts, Nebraskan reggae, Tarantino samples, forgettable Brit-Pop, posthumous singles, half assed Ohio Players covers, and much much more!
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part II (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: September 16, 1995)
This is the second installment of our look back at 90s alternative rock radio and for this episode we're going to check out Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from September 16, 1995... We have the death of Lollapalooza, a look into the sex life of a Full House star, grunge copycats, Aussie teenagers, novelty groups, jam bands, industrial era Bowie, hits from a Liv Tyler movie, and much, much more!
The Decline of Alternative Rock Radio, Part I (Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs: September 10, 1994)
This is the first part of our six part series on 90s Alternative rock radio and we're starting out with a look back at Billboard's Top 40 Alternative Songs from September 10, 1994... Joining us on this chart, we have Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Green Day, Seal... and Sheryl Crow? Yes, Sheryl Crow, along with many others... It's all downhill from here.
Roulette!
This is our most random episode, mainly because all of the music was chosen at random... No charts! No notes! No research! 100% live!
Sky Rockets In Flight (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: August 1976, Part Four)
It's the final installment of our Super Chart from August 1976!
Our top 13 artists include a couple of disco kings, some funky white boys, a guy who looks "boss", a band that broke up in 1970, and a band that probably should have broken up in 1970...We also discuss Steve Railsback for some reason.
With A Bullet CXXIII (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: August 1976, Part Three)
We're on to the third installment of our Super Chart from August of 1976. This episode covers our top artists from #26 to #14 and we're going to discuss the founding fathers, bicentennial cash ins, what makes yacht rock yacht rock, an album that "rocks", blocks of precious metal, and much much more...
The Mothership Connection (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: August 1976, Part Two)
Hop aboard the mothership for the second installment of our Super Chart from August 1976! Along our journey we'll discuss sweathogs, Irish cowboys, the works of Fred Dreyer, Beethoven, defunct car makes, former Atlanta Brave Otis Nixon, Ole Miss football, and fashion icons England Dan & John Ford Coley.
More, More, More (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: August 1976, Part One)
What do a porn star, two knights, and the star of Balto 3 have in common? Well, they're all part of our first group of artists from our Super Chart from August 1976!
Everybody Wants To Rule The World (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: July 1985, Part Four)
We're wrapping up our journey back into 1985 with some of the most ubiquitous acts of the mid-80s. We'll also discuss a former policeman’s foray in jazz, the original MTV VJs, video cameos by future Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul stars, two artists with very similar career trajectories, a massive hit that wasn’t eligible for the charts, and a total obscurity named Whitney.
That Ain't Workin' (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: July 1985, Part Three)
We got to move these refrigerators, we got to move these color TVs... And while we're doing that, we're going to discuss supergroups, blue collar rock, inoffensive bands, Miami Vice, a potential battle royale between smooth R&B stars, and George Michael going to China.
The Power of Love (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: July 1985, Part Two)
This week we have James Bond, Mad Max, Vietnam, the wonders of Delaware, Harts, Hearts, a song American foreign policy in Latin America, drive in movies, and Todd does a passable imitation of Pete Burns... You don't need a credit card to ride this train.
Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: July 1985, Part One)
We're back an we're heading to the summer of '85! On our first installment, we have a couple of comebacks by sixties mainstays, the last gasps of a couple of early 80s stars, some old school rap, slow jams, Christian pop, and much much more!
And yes, that is a picture of both of us from July of '85...
The Age of Aquarius (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: June 1969, Part Four)
It's the final installment of our Super Chart from June of 1969! We have some heavy hitters and some big surprises for you this week, along the way we'll discuss swamp rock, Swamp Thing, psychedelic soul, astrology (again), obscure dance crazes, gospel crossovers, bagism, bed ins, and much much more.
Hail Atlantis! (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: June 1969, Part Three)
We're onto our third installment of our Super Chart from June 1969 and this week we're talking about astrology, lost continents, "instrumental gold", Memphis classics, a band that got dissed by Woodstock, Wisconsin tourist traps, and Todd's newest music genre "golf".
Puff The Magic Dragon (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: June 1969, Part Two)
We're back with the second installment of our Super Chart from June of 1969! This week we're going to investigate a children's song that's definitely not about drugs, go above one Tennessee city and below another, sample the far out sounds of the Moog synthesizer, visit the soulful prairies of Manitoba, and find out what Krusty the Clown has to do with The Chairman of the Board.
The LSD For Lunch Bunch (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart: June 1969, Part One)
We’re taking a trip (Get it, a trip...) into the world of June of 1969 and it is freaking us out!!! Actually, it’s not…But anyway, our first segment covers our top artists from #50 through #40 and we're going to talk about bubblegum, rock operas, hippie musicals, reggae classics, a future Branson theater owner, B-movie soundtrack gems, and much more!
Feels So Good (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, May 1978, Part Four)
We've finally reached the top of the 1978 mountain, and it feels so good!!! Smooth jazz, smooth southern rock, Midwestern prog, a big country crossover, and the total domination of the charts by a single family. This episode covers our top 13 artists of the month...
Keep Reaching for the Stars! (With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, May 1978, Part Three)
We're onto our third installment of the Super Chart from May of 1978 and this week we're going to discuss mercenaries, Jack Horkheimer, near death experiences, nursery rhymes, and our top artists from #26 to #14.
"They've Got A Name For The Winners In The World..." : With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, May 1978 (Part Two)
We're on to the second installment of our Super Chart for May of 1978. This week we're going to discuss disco chants, wolves, Muppets, theme restaurants, and Bear Bryant... You'll just have to listen find out what these things have to do with our top artists from #39 to #27.
With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, May 1978 (Part One)
Another month, another chart... This time we're moving on to May of 1978! We have blockbuster soundtracks, Beatles spoofs, multiple members of the Crofts family, P-Funk off shoots, some big dumb rock, and more! This episode covers our top artists from #50 to #40.
With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, April 1982 (Part Four)
We are sprinting to the finish of our first Super Chart, join us this week for our Top 13 artists of April 1982!
With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, April 1982 (Part Three)
Laser guitars, polling controversies, dorm shenanigans, and April of 1982’s top artists from #26 to #14!
With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, April 1982 (Part Two)
Arcades, sex dwarves, pop prog, the Kentucky Derby, and the L.A. Lakers...All in the second edition of our Super Chart from April 1982!
The With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart, April 1982 (Part One)
We got bored with all of the other charts, so we started our own. Welcome to the first edition of The With A Bullet Top 50 Super Chart! We're kicking it off with part one of our chart from April 1982, which was when Falklands War happened...
The Bicentennial (Hot 100: January 31, 1976)
The CB craze, junk food, children's disco albums, urban legends, Neil Diamond rejects, and lots of rants about a certain News Radio cast member (Hint: It's not Dave Foley).
Live At The Mall (Billboard 200 Albums: January 23, 1988)
Rap feuds, intra-band feuds, claymation, Freddy Krueger, and yes, shopping malls. All on this week's With A Bullet.
Canadian Content (RPM 100 Hit Tracks: January 13, 1997)
We're taking a trip up north this week to sample some mid-90s CanCon. And we included enough where this show actually meets CanCon standards... Join us as we discuss The Tragically Hip, Sloan, Rheostatics, Moist, and more!
The Windy City (WLS Chicago's Top 45 Survey: January 8, 1977)
We're taking a trip to Chicago! The Second City, the City of the Big Shoulders... And while we're down there chowing down on Italian beef, Chicago dogs, and grotesque deep dish pizzas, we're going to find out what the locals were listening to in 1977.
The John Gielgud Episode (Hot 100: January 3, 1981)
It's our 100th episode! And for some reason John Gielgud gets brought up a lot, but we also discuss hits by AC/DC, Devo, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, and many others...
WELL TONIGHT THANK GOD IT'S THEM INSTEAD OF YOU (Cashbox Top 100 Singles: December 29, 1984)
It's Christmas time 1984 and the stars of Britain are teaming up to save the people of Ethiopia, Madonna's making her way through the wilderness, Duran Duran is getting "wild", New Edition is playing "cool", Morris Day is making his way through the "jungle", and Billy Ocean is either staying in Europe or heading off to the Caribbean.
To Everything There Is A Season (Hot 100: December 18, 1965)
TIME LIFE PRESENTS THE SIXTIES!!! FEATURING ORIGINAL HITS BY THE BYRDS, THE FOUR TOPS, THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL, THE SUPREMES, THE FOUR SEASONS, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, AND MANY MORE! HERE'S HOW TO ORDER...
Untitled (Billboard 200 Albums: December 12, 1970)
Rooftop concerts, home recordings, the birth of metal, gnostic deities, record company snafus, the Coen Brothers, record clubs, and The Bible? All on this week's With A Bullet.
Turn Around Bright Eyes (Hot 100: December 3, 1983)
Tributes to Cleveland and the Three Stooges, British street urchins, break dancers, superstar duets, and possibly the weirdest video ever made. All on this week's With a Bullet!
The White Strokes (2001 Pazz and Jop Critics Poll)
It's almost the end of the year, so we're looking back at what the critics thought were the best albums from twenty years ago. Garage rock revival, 9/11, Canadian elementary school kids, indie rock icons, bluegrass, French cyborgs...It's all here on this week's With A Bullet.
The Present (Hot 100: November 6, 2021)
We're taking a journey into the music of today...And oh, what a journey it is! We're going to examine bro-country odes to Applebee's, try figure out exactly what Kanye's deal is, find out what the western Milwaukee suburbs have to do with cough syrup, mostly ignore a groan inducing right wing meme, and brace ourselves for the oncoming early 00s nostalgia wave.
Whatever Happened To My Transylvania Twist? (Hot 100: November 3, 1962)
Join us this week as we delve into monster parties, communications satellites, bull fighting, Communist rally songs, roller rinks, and girl group imposters.
The Autumn of '69 (Hot 100: October 25, 1969)
Join us as we have some seasonal fun with Sly and the Family Stone, check out Riverdale's hottest band, discuss the Temptations Character Universe, witness the dawn of The Stones' classic period, and head to the swamp with Tony Joe White. Plus appearances by The Beatles, Funkadelic, The Cowsills, Isaac Hayes, Lou Christie, and more!
Funky (Top 50 R&B Singles: October 23, 1971)
We're getting funky in the early 70s with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Rufus Thomas, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, and many more!
Calhoun Hall (Top 40 Alternative Songs: October 12, 1996)
Matt reminisces about the soundtrack of his early college days and Todd wasn't there, so he mainly grumbles about everything... With appearances by Beck, Sublime, Nas, Cake, Kula Shaker, 311, and many more!
A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away (Billboard 200 Albums: October 8, 1977)
Star Wars! Fleetwood Mac! Big Dumb Rock! Posthumous Hits! The True Identities of Pablo Cruise and Marshall Tucker!
The Knack And How to Get It (Hot 100: September 29, 1979)
This week, we have what's argueably the commercial peak of power pop and pub rock, the bassline that put hip-hop on the map, a duel with the devil, the rise of Michael Jackson as a solo artist, and Herb Alpert's "Rise".
Sad But True (Billboard 200 Albums: September 28, 1991)
We are plunging into the depths of 1991 with this one. The rise of Metallica and Garth Brooks, an early grunge breakthrough, socially conscious prog-metal, Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves, funk-metal, UK rave teen idols, cartoon cats, and the Geto Boys go trick or treating.
The House of the Rising Sun (Hot 100: September 12, 1964)
The British Invasion, muscle cars, short lived dance crazes, Motown, Hawaiian folk songs, James Bond, and more!
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (Billboard Hot Country Songs: September 13, 1975)
Outlaws, rhinestones, rodeo clowns, cheap motels, chain gangs, mamas, trains, trucks, getting drunk...Are you sure Hank done it this way?
The Battle of Britpop (Top 100 UK Singles: August 27-September 2, 1995)
Blur vs. Oasis!!! Who will come out on top? Plus a battle of Alices, a bunch of Euro-Disco, a song that Supergrass wrote about arthritis medication or Frosted Mini Wheats, "Scat World", and much much more...
Rock and Roll Hell (Cashbox Top 100 Singles: August 24, 1974)
America take a journey to The Tropic of Sir Galahad, Paper Lace kills Chicago, Paul Anka has a baby, and the Righteous Brothers put together a really weird band... Plus Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Dave Loggins, The Commodores, Loretta Lynn, and more!
The Summer of Love (Hot 100: August 19, 1967)
The Beatles teach the world about love via satellite, Brian Wilson goes off the deep end, The Doors play with fire, Donovan finds a mountain, and Bobbie Gentry tells us all about Choctaw Ridge. Plus Harleys, sunshine pop, 007, Star Trek, Dean Martin, Cole Porter, and more!