WSAI 1360 Cincinnati, Ohio
1964-1966
The Fabulous 40 Survey

Like most markets in the 60s, radio station music surveys tracked the rise and fall of local hit records. Since these surveys were based on local record sales and popularity, they were often quite different from the national charts. WSAI published a weekly "Fabulous 40" Survey every week. Copies could be picked up at local record stores after the weekly Saturday morning "Countdown" show. The color of the survey changed every week which made it easy to see if you had the latest version. The entire look of the weekly surveys changed several times during the decade. Most featured photographs of the WSAI "Good Guys" and many had copy or pictures promoting appearances, upcoming shows or merchandise.

January 17, 1964  ... The outside looked like it could be any other week...

NOTE: The "WSAI Good Guys" at the time were:
Dick Wagner - 6 to 9 AM
Steve Kirk - 9 AM to Noon
Paul Purtan - Noon to 3 PM
Mark Edwards - 3 to 6 PM
Ron Britain - 6 to 9 PM
Dusty Rhodes - 9 PM to Midnight
Mike Sherman - Midnight to 6 AM

But Inside... The start of a musical revolution ... In Cincinnati at least.
(Check out the new entry at #40.)

1964 was an important year in popular music. If for no other reason than it was the year of the English Invasion. On this third week in January, The Beatles first US hit entered the Fabulous 40 chart at #40. ("Beattles" may have been a misspelling from an earlier release on Vee Jay which did not make the WSAI charts... They got the name spelled right the following week.)

Capitol Records released the "Meet The Beatles" LP on January 20, 1964. By January 31st, I Want To Hold Your Hand was #1 on WSAI and She Loves You premiered at #40. On March 27th, after national appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, the first two Beatles 45s were still in the top five, at #2 and #4, along with Please Please Me at #5 and Twist & Shout at #1. That week, they added Do You Want To Know A Secret (#30) and Can't Buy Me Love (#33), giving them six songs in the top 40 in one week! (We Love You Beatles, by the Carefrees, was a "Pick Hit" at #28.) By the end of the year, The Beatles had ten of WSAI's "Top 64 of 64." It was an impressive flood of material from a single act, and the music world would never be the same.

On New Year's Day, like many stations, WSAI counted down the biggest hits of the past year. Copies of their annual survey were sometimes (but not always) distributed to the public. Here are the Top 100 (or top 64) Countdowns for the three middle years of the decade... 1964, 1965 & 1966.
WSAI Cincinnati's "Top 64 of 64"
This chart appeared on the back of the weekly "Fabulous 40" survey for January 2, 1965.
1.
 I Want To Hold Your Hand / I Saw Her Standing There The Beatles
2.
 She Loves You The Beatles
3.
 Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin
4.
 A Hard Day's Night / I Should Have Known Better The Beatles
5.
 Hey Da Da Dow The Dolphins
6.
 I Get Around / Don't Worry Baby The Beach Boys
7.
 P.S. I Love You / Love Me Do The Beatles
8.
 Twist And Shout The Beatles
9.
 Pretty Woman Ray Orbison
10.
 Please Please Me The Beatles
11.
 Suspicion Terry Stafford
12.
 Last Kiss J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers
13.
 Louie Louie The Kingsmen
14.
 Dead Man's Curve Jan and Dean
15.
 Do You Want To Know A Secret / Thank You Girl The Beatles
16.
 Haunted House Gene Simmons
17.
 Dang Me Roger Miller
18.
 I Feel Fine / She's A Woman The Beatles
19.
 A Thing Called Sadness Chuck Howard
20.
 Do Wah Diddy Diddy Manfred Mann
21.
 Surfin' Bird The Trashmen
22.
 Chapel Of Love The Dixie Cups
23.
 A World Without Love Peter & Gordon / Bobby Rydell
24.
 House Of The Rising Sun The Animals
25.
 Rag Doll The Four Seasons
26.
 Can't Buy Me Love The Beatles
27.
 For You Rick Nelson
28.
 Dawn The Four Seasons
29.
 Memphis Johnny Rivers
30.
 Leader Of The Pack The Shangri-Las
31.
 Mr. Lonely Bobby Vinton
32.
 You Don't Own Me Lesley Gore
33.
 She's Not There The Zombies
34.
 My Guy Mary Wells
35.
 Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) Jan and Dean
36.
 Hi Heel Sneakers Tommy Tucker
37.
 Rock Me Baby B. B. King
38.
 Come See About Me The Supremes
39.
 Can't You See That She's Mine The Dave Clark 5
40.
 Have I The Right The Honeycombs
41.
 Hey Little Cobra The Rip Chords
42.
 Diane The Bachelors
43.
 We'll Sing In The Sunshine Gale Garnett
44.
 Callfornia Sun The Riverias
45.
 What'd I Say / Viva Las Vegas Elvis Presley
46.
 Ringo Lorne Greene
47.
 Chug A Lug Roger Miller
48.
 I Love You More And More Every Day Al Martino
49.
 Stay The Four Seasons
50.
 Drag City Jan and Dean
51.
 Under The Boardwalk The Drifters
52.
 Tobacco Road The Nashville Teens
53.
 Don't Make My Baby Blue Lonnie Mack
54.
 Baby Love The Supremes
55.
 You Really Got Me The Kinks
56.
 Glad All Over The Dave Clark Five
57.
 Need To Belong Jerry Butler
58.
 I'm Gonna Be Strong Gene Pitney
59.
 Navy Blue Diane Renay
60.
 Wishin' And Hopin' Dusty Springfield
61.
 If I Fell / And I Love Her The Beatles
62.
 G.T.O. Ronnie & Daytonas
63.
 Amen The Impressions
64.
 Out Of Limits The Marketts

WSAI'S Top 100 of 1965 in Cincinnati
We couldn't find a printed copy of this survey, so we wrote down all
100 tunes as they were played on the radio. We missed one (#99).
Songs marked with "*" were popular by more than one artist.
1.
 Hang On Sloopy The McCoys
2.
 Yesterday The Beatles
3.
 Down In The Boondocks Billy Joe Royal
4.
 Ticket To Ride The Beatles
5.
 Wooly Bully Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
6.
 Satisfaction The Rolling Stones
7.
 I've Got You Babe Sonny & Cher
8.
 Lover's Concerto The Toys
9.
 Get Off My Cloud The Rolling Stones
10.
 Help Me Rhonda The Beach Boys
11.
 I Can't Help Myself The Four Tops
12.
 Help! The Beatles
13.
 Stop In The Name Of Love The Supremes
14.
 This Diamond Ring Gary Lewis & The Playboys
15.
 Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers
16.
 Mr. Tambourine Man The Byrds
17.
 Eight Days A Week The Beatles
18.
 1... 2... 3 Len Barry
19.
 Taste Of Honey Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
20.
 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling The Righteous Brothers
21.
 Birds And The Bees Jewel Akens
22.
 Let's Hang On The Four Seasons
23.
 Henry Viii Herman's Hermits
24.
 She's About A Mover The Sir Douglas Quintet
25.
 Crying In The Chapel Elvis Presley
26.
 I'm Telling You Now Freddy & The Dreamers
27.
 Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter Herman's Hermits
28.
 Back In My Arms Again The Supremes
29.
 Game Of Love Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
30.
 Yes I'm Ready Barbara Mason
31.
 Make The World Go Away Eddy Arnold
32.
 I Hear A Symphony The Supremes
33.
 Save Your Heart For Me Gary Lewis & The Playboys
34.
 Like A Rolling Stone Bob Dylan
35.
 Shotgun Jr. Walker & The All Stars
36.
 I Know A Place Petula Clark
37.
 Turn Turn Turn The Byrds
38.
 Keep On Dancing The Gentrys
39.
 Eve Of Destruction Barry McGuire
40.
 Boy From New York City The Ad Libs
41.
 Liar Liar The Castaways
42.
 Rescue Me Fontilla Bass
43.
 Name Game Shirley Ellis
44.
 Can't You Hear My Heartbeat Herman's Hermits
45.
 In Crowd Ramsey Lewis
46.
 Count Me In Gary Lewis & The Playboys
47.
 My Girl The Temptations
48.
 Downtown Petula Clark
49.
 King Of The Road Roger Miller
50.
 Love Potion #9 The Searchers
51.
 Theme From A Summer Place The Lettermen
52.
 I've Got A Tiger By The Tail Buck Owens
53.
 Papa's Got A Brand New Bag James Brown
54.
 All I Really Want To Do The Byrds
55.
 You Were On My Mind We Five
56.
 Treat Her Right Roy Head
57.
 You're The One The Vogues
58.
 It's Not Unusual Tom Jones
59.
 Fever The McCoys
60.
 Everybody Loves A Clown Gary Lewis & The Playboys
61.
 Do You Wanna Dance The Beach Boys
62.
 Just Once In My Life The Righteous Brothers
63.
 I Knew You When Billy Joe Royal
64.
 Thou Shalt Not Steal Dick And Dee Dee
65.
 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me Mel Carter
66.
 It Ain't Me Babe The Turtles
67.
 Everyone's Gone To The Moon Jonathan King
68.
 Cara Mia Jay & The Americans
69.
 Hold What You've Got Joe Tex
70.
 Wonderful World Herman's Hermits
71.
 California Girls The Beach Boys
72.
 Baby Don't Go Sonny & Cher
73.
 Come See About Me The Supremes
74.
 I Feel Fine / She's A Woman The Beatles
75.
 Don't Just Stand There Patty Duke
76.
 For Your Love The Yardbirds
77.
 I'll Never Find Another You The Seekers
78.
 Come Home The Dave Clark Five
79.
 Red Roses For A Blue Lady Bert Kaempfert *
80.
 Catch Us If You Can The Dave Clark Five
81.
 Run Baby Run The Newbeats
82.
 Laugh Laugh Beau Brummels
83.
 The Race Is On Jack Jones
84.
 Peaches And Cream The Ikettes
85.
 You've Got To Hide Your Love Away Sylkie
86.
 Clapping Song Shirley Ellis
87.
 Since I Lost My Baby The Temptations
88.
 Over And Over Dave Clark Five
89.
 Amen The Impressions
90.
 Too Many Rivers Brenda Lee
91.
 Keep Searchin' Del Shannon
92.
 Little Things Bobby Goldsboro
93.
 Action Freddy Cannon
94.
 Do You Believe In Magic The Lovin' Spoonful
95.
 England Swings Roger Miller
96.
 Land Of 1000 Dances Cannibal & The Headhunters *
97.
 Jolly Green Giant The Kingsmen
98.
 You Turn Me On Ian Whitcomb
99.
 (Unknown - Nobody wrote this one down.) (Unknown)
100.
 Twine Time Alvin Cash & The Crawlers

WSAI'S Top 100 of 1966 in Cincinnati
We got a duplicated (ditto) copy of the chart from the radio station.
1.
 Winchester Cathedral The New Vaudeville Band
2.
 96 Tears ? & The Mysterians
3.
 Soul And Inspiration The Righteous Brothers
4.
 Last Train To Clarksville The Monkees
5.
 These Boots Are Made For Walkin' Nancy Sinatra
6.
 Cherish The Association
7.
 Poor Side Of Town Johnny Rivers
8.
 Sunny Bobby Hebb
9.
 Born A Woman Sandy Posey
10.
 Hanky Panky Tommy James & The Shondells
11.
 Lightnin' Strikes Lou Christie
12.
 I'm A Believer The Monkees
13.
 Monday Monday The Mamas & The Papas
14.
 Walk Tall The 2 of Clubs
15.
 Ballad Of The Green Berets Barry Sadler
16.
 Paperback Writer / Rain The Beatles
17.
 Wipe Out The Surfaris
18.
 We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper The Beatles
19.
 Groovy Kind Of Love Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
20.
 Good Vibrations The Beach Boys
21.
 Li'l Red Riding Hood Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
22.
 Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers
23.
 See You In September The Happenings
24.
 Eleanor Rigby / Yellow Submarine The Beatles
25.
 You Can't Hurry Love The Supremes
26.
 When A Man Loves A Woman Percy Sledge
27.
 Sweet Pea Tommy Roe
28.
 Snoopy Vs Red Baron The Royal Guardsmen
29.
 Michelle David & Jonathon
30.
 Kicks Paul Revere & The Raiders
31.
 Pied Piper Crispian St. Peters
32.
 Red Rubber Ball The Cyrkle
33.
 California Dreaming The Mamas & The Papas
34.
 Gloria The Shadows of Knight
35.
 Wild Thing The Troggs
36.
 Good Lovin' The Young Rascals
37.
 Rainy Day Women Bob Dylan
38.
 Psychotic Reaction The Count Five
39.
 Tell It Like It Is Aaron Neville
40.
 Paint It Black Rolling Stones
41.
 Listen People Herman's Hermits
42.
 Sloop John B The Beach Boys
43.
 Nowhere Man The Beatles
44.
 Don't Bring Me Down The Animals
45.
 Barbara Ann The Beach Boys
46.
 My Love Petula Clark
47.
 Reach Out I'll Be There The Four Tops
48.
 Hi, Hi, Hazel Gary & The Hornets
49.
 Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye The Casinos
50.
 You Keep Me Hanging On The Supremes
51.
 Just Like Me Paul Revere & The Raiders
52.
 Double Shot The Swingin' Medallions
53.
 God Only Knows The Beach Boys
54.
 Summer In The City The Lovin' Spoonful
55.
 I'm So Lonesome B.J. Thomas
56.
 Strangers In The Night Frank Sinatra
57.
 No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) The T-Bones
58.
 Devil With A Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly
 Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
59.
 Sunshine Superman Donovan
60.
 Working In A Coal Mine Lee Dorsey
61.
 How Does That Grab You Darlin' Nancy Sinatra
62.
 Lady Godiva Peter & Gordon
63.
 Heart The 2 of Clubs
64.
 Time Won't Let Me The Outsiders
65.
 I Am A Rock Simon & Garfunkel
66.
 Sweet Dreams Tommy McLain
67.
 Single Girl Sandy Posey
68.
 Sounds Of Silence Simon & Garfunkel
69.
 Mellow Yellow Donovan
70.
 Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind The Lovin' Spoonful
71.
 If I Were A Carpenter Bobby Darin
72.
 Barefootin' Robert Parker
73.
 Woman Peter & Gordon
74.
 Dandy Herman's Hermits
75.
 They're Coming To Take Me Away Napoleon XIV
76.
 I Fought The Law The Bobby Fuller Four
77.
 Ain't Gonna Lie Keith
78.
 Little Black Egg The Nightcrawlers
79.
 Little Girl The Syndicate of Sound
80.
 Crying Time Ray Charles
81.
 Almost Persuaded David Houston
82.
 Paint Me A Picture Gary Lewis & The Playboys
83.
 Bang Bang Cher
84.
 Uptight Stevie Wonder
85.
 Sandy Ronny & The Daytonas
86.
 Hooray For Hazel Tommy Roe
87.
 19th Nervous Breakdown The Rolling Stones
88.
 Men In My Little Girl's Life Mike Douglas
89.
 Sure Gonna Miss Her Gary Lewis & The Playboys
90.
 Leaning On The Lamp Post Herman's Hermits
91.
 What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted Jimmy Ruffin
92.
 I Saw Her Again The Mamas & The Papas
93.
 Peter Rabbit D.J. & The Runaways
94.
 Hungry Paul Revere & The Raiders
95.
 Must To Avoid Herman's Hermits
96.
 Walk Away Renee The Left Banke
97.
 Black Is Black Los Bravos
98.
 Homeward Bound Simon & Garfunkel
99.
 Jenny Take A Ride Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
100.
 Respectable The Outsiders



 

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