Sep 22 | This week in 1970

#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Green-Eyed Lady” by Denver’s Sugarloaf for a second week. KRIZ, of course, played the entire seven-minute album version while rival KRUX aired the truncated single edit. Jumping from #16 to #4 is next week’s #1 song, “I’ll… Continue reading

Aug 18 | This week in 1966

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Yellow Submarine” backed with “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles, rocketing up from #17 last week. The two-sided hit is culled from the Revolver LP, often cited as the best album of all time. Critics have said each… Continue reading

Apr 28 | This week in 1968

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “The Good, The Bad And The Ugly,” title song from the latest Clint Eastwood film, by Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra — back in the days when instrumentals could be chart-toppers. The “spaghetti western” movie theme knocks… Continue reading

Mar 10 | This week in 1966

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Ballad of the Green Berets” by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, whose parents were born in Phoenix. He grew up in various places throughout the Southwest — including Arizona — and lived in Tucson during the 1970s. Although this Vietnam… Continue reading

Jan 27 | This week in 1972

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Without You” by acclaimed songwriter (Harry) Nilsson — but this one is a Badfinger cover — from the great Nilsson Schmilsson album. Badfinger themselves are at #10 with “Day After Day,” produced by George Harrison, who also… Continue reading

Dec 30 | The Top 100 of 1970

#1 song of the year at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Let It Be” by the Beatles. The Fab Four were followed by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Close To You” by the Carpenters. These were the top three songs of… Continue reading

Aug 26 | This week in 1967

#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Words” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” another two-sided hit by the Monkees. The Pre-Fab Four again hold off the Fab Four, as the Beatles’ double-sided single “All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man” remains… Continue reading

Jun 17 | This week in 1971

#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “It’s Too Late” by Carole King, the lead single and instant classic from her landmark Tapestry album. She also wrote the song at #9, up from #21 last week: “You’ve Got A Friend” by James Taylor. Other… Continue reading

May 06 | This week in 1966

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Monday, Monday,” second hit for the Mamas and the Papas following “California Dreaming.” The songs would end up at #1 and #2 on the year-end KRUX chart for 1966. Holding at #2 is Bob Dylan with “Rainy… Continue reading