In 2008, readers said the most radio-neglected tune was "Can't Find the Time" by Orpheus, while last year, Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" topped the survey. That no doubt surprised younger listeners who may have thought the Boss's tune reached No. 1 during its initial 1975 release.
While "Born to Run" certainly qualifies as an originally overlooked oldie - it peaked at No. 23 - its popularity on the "IRS" countdown could at least partially be attributed to the large pocket of voters from Springsteen's home base of New York-New Jersey. That also accounts for the inclusion of many Four Seasons tunes that just missed the Top 10, and "Mr. Dieingly Sad" by the Critters, a New Jersey band.
Although Appel can't pinpoint the number of Western Pennsylvania voters, it's large contribution is evident in the results, which include the Critters song (a huge KQV hit), as well as "Oh My Angel" by Bertha Tillman and Pittsburgh staples, "Right on the Tip of My Tongue" by Brenda and the Tabulations, "Love Power" by the Sandpebbles and "I'm a Happy Man" by the Jive Five.
Appel said votes came in from as far away as the United Kingdom, and from a wide swath of people both inside and outside the music industry, adding that people who aren't in radio tend to be more passionate about their music.
Still, the element of surprise is what drives the interest in the non-Top 10 list.
"During the countdown, we received phone calls asking, 'How was that song NOT a top 10 hit?,' Appel says. One of those songs was Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," which was never released as a single. " I'm surprised it didn't finish higher than No. 46," Appel offered, "but many readers discounted songs that weren't released as commercial 45s even though any song that never made the Top 10 nationally is fair game."
There is not, Appel says, a blanket explanation for radio ignoring or overlooking what now seem like slam dunk hits when they were released back in the day.
He notes that some were simply overlooked by Top 40 radio - Etta James' "At Last," The Romantics' "What I Like About You," and Billy Joel's "Piano Man" among them. Many also were bigger on album rock radio back in the day but live on classic rock radio today in fairly high rotation, such as Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town," and Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son." Conversely, there are a lot of No. 1 hits that never get heard on radio today because they are period pieces, novelties or pre-teen driven, such as "Disco Duck" or "Ballad of the Green Berets."
Appel says the list never fails to surprise him. "Among this year's surprises," he said, "are three instrumentals, where there were none that made the cut either of the first two years. The biggest of the three, the 1968 French export, 'Soul Coaxing,' was basically another label's response to Paul Mauriat's 'Love Is Blue.' Another instrumental to make the list, the Nite-liters' 'K-Jee'' was, in 1971, way ahead of its time, arguably the first disco hit. Seeing Marcia Griffiths' 1990 single, 'Electric Boogie' (aka the electric slide) make the list surprised me just because it's a more recent entry even though it's become a wedding staple."
"Soul Coaxing,"" as those of a certain age may recall, made the Pittsburgh Top 10, but peaked at No. 37 nationally.
Were this a strictly Pittsburgh list, it would no doubt be clogged with doo-wop oddities such as "Arabia" by the Delcos and "High on a High" by Scott English. But we've been there, done that. What's refreshing on this list is the number of '60s, '70s and '80s tunes that have become oddities in their own right in various parts of the U.S. (There are even a few that the 'Burgh somehow missed!)
When I found the request for submissions on a radio website, I offered up "Out of the Blue" by Tommy James & the Shondells, "Chicago" by Graham Nash and "Shame Shame" by Magic Lanterns as songs that deserved more airplay. Only "Shame Shame" made the list - this year.
Appel says the number of songs nominated increased 113 percent in 2010, with more than 250 of them receiving at least two votes - quite an accomplishment when considering how many songs never scratched the Top 10.
While Appel hosts two weekend radio shows in the New Jersey area, and has authored books on '60s and '70s music, it's clear Hz So Good is his passion. You can get in on the vote and the newsletter by e-mailing him at audiot.savant@verizon.net.
We'll also take your votes here, where I suspect Donnie Iris will rule.