WLOF #1 Hits That Missed The Billboard Hot 100

Here are more than a dozen records that not only were played on WLOF, and not only were hits on the station, but made it all the way to NUMBER ONE… despite completely missing the Billboard Magazine Hot 100.   I’ve listed them in chronological order.   An asterisk denotes a Florida-based artist (though not necessarily Central Florida.)  You can click on the images to view them full size.

Liverpool Five enjoyed huge success on WLOF

LIVERPOOL FIVE – HEART (5/6/66)

WLOF played no less than six different records by this London band that had relocated to Burbank, California.   “Heart” was co-written by British superstar Petula Clark, and was also recorded by artists ranging from the Remains to the 2 Of Clubs.

This was WLOF’s copy of the Clee Shays record, rotation markings and all. Notice the sticker that denotes that it was the station’s 74th biggest hit in1966.

THE CLEE-SHAYS – THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (5/20/66)

Bill Vermillion had a hunch that this TV theme would break big, and it did in Orlando — just not anywhere else.   The group included members of the Challengers, from California.

A Bob Dylan composition that was top ten all throughout Florida, including the top spot on WLOF Channel 95.

LYME & CYBELLE – IF YOU GOTTA GO, GO NOW (8/5/66)

“Follow Me” made the Billboard charts, but the duo’s second release (featuring a young Warren Zevon) didn’t match the success of its predecessor — even though it managed to make the top ten on both WFUN and WQAM in Miami.   The song had previously charted in Florida by Manfred Mann and the aforementioned Liverpool Five.

Hey Joe, where are you going with that record in your hand? This was WLOF’s rotation copy until it reached #2 (see sticker) when it was replaced by a fresher copy.

TIM ROSE – HEY JOE (YOU SHOT YOUR WOMAN DOWN) (11/25/66)

Tim Rose was a major star in WLOF-land, scoring six top 40 hits over a 4 1/2 year period.   Rose’s slowed-down version of “Hey Joe” would influence Jimi Hendrix and many cover bands in the Orlando area.

This Northwest garage band classic was way too wild for most Top 40 stations… but not WLOF.

THE SONICS – PSYCHO (4/22/67)

Bill Vermillion saw parallels between the Orlando and Seattle markets, and would occasionally jump on songs that were happening in the Pacific Northwest.   This garage punk classic is at the top of the list.

WLOF didn’t wait until the midnight hour to play this regional #1 song. Another one-time Channel 95 rotation copy…

THE BERRYS – MIDNIGHT HOUR (5/25/67)

Several artists competed for supremacy in the “Midnight Hour” sweepstakes, but in Orlando, it was the Berrys that broke free of the pack.  The band came from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Bill Vermillion loved the Standells, and why not? This was also a smash hit on WQAM and WFUN in Miami.

THE STANDELLS – TRY IT (6/1/67)

Bill Vermillion thought this cool garage raver would duplicate the success of “Dirty Water”.   It didn’t, but it did become a major hit in many parts of the Sunshine State.

This B-side thought it was an A-side… and so did many of Channel 95’s listeners.

THE YOUNG RASCALS – IT’S LOVE (7/22/67)

Yes, it was the B-side of “A Girl Like You”, but as Vermillion noted on July 3, 1967, “we started on the plug side, then started playing both sides.  A check with stores indicates that most buyers are requesting the B-side.  This is also being borne out by requests at the station.”

WLOF is believed to be the first top 40 station in America on which Jimi Hendrix reached #1.

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – THE WIND CRIES MARY (8/26/67)

A giant hit in Orlando that knocked “My Mammy” by the Happenings out of the #1 spot.   Yes, Top 40 was all about variety in those days.

Bill Vermillion used to rave about Bob Seger, back when very few outside of Michigan had heard of him.

BOB SEGER SYSTEM – 2+2=? (5/18/68)

This was the third, and by far the biggest early Seger hit on WLOF.   Vermillion really believed in Seger’s talent, and that faith was later rewarded.

It took a while for this moody ballad to catch on, but once it did it went all the way to the top.

THE PEDESTRIANS – THINK TWICE (6/20/68)

Here’s what Vermillion wrote to WAPE’s Ike Lee and WUWU’s Bob Dennis back on May 13, 1968:  “Another record you should get on is ‘Think Twice’ by the Pedestrians.  It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to break.   If you hear it and don’t like it, listen again.  It was number one for the year in Grand Rapids, #2 for the year in Fort Wayne, and headed up the charts in Orlando now.”  Just over a month later, it hit number one, and was eventually named WLOF’s number 10 song for the year.

Bee Gees influenced pop by a band that was also known as The British Casuals

THE CASUALS – JESAMINE (A BUTTERFLY CHILD) (12/2/68)

A British hit that zoomed up the local charts, eventually being named WLOF’s #4 single for the year 1968 (behind only “Hey Jude”, “Love Is Blue”, and “The Horse”).   Paul Weller of the Jam has listed “Jesamine” as one of his favorite songs.

“We Can’t Go On This Way” was a two-time top ten hit in Orlando, including this version at number one.

THE UNCHAINED MYNDS – WE CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY (7/18/69)

This Wisconsin band bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100, but couldn’t quite break through to the main chart.   This was the second time this song reached the WLOF top ten — it hit #8 for Massachusetts’ Teddy & the Pandas during the week of November 11, 1966.

HONORABLE MENTION:
THE BEATLES – RUBBER SOUL ALBUM (12/24/65)

Yes, it hit number one for two weeks, but it shared the billing with the group’s current single, “We Can Work It Out”/”Day Tripper”.  Would the album have made it to the top of the singles chart without that double-sided smash?   We may never know.  “Girl” and “Michelle” were the most played tracks off the album.

Those are the number ones.   Now here are four number two’s that completely missed the Billboard Hot 100.

The Beatles didn’t need any “help” in conquering the WLOF Channel 95 charts.

THE BEATLES – YOU’RE GONNA LOSE THAT GIRL (LP CUT) (10/8/65)

This Beatles album track got huge requests, enough to drive it to the runner-up spot behind “Run Baby Run” by the Newbeats.  Two Florida bands, the Villagers and the Pagans, covered the tune and had regional hits, but neither could compare to the original recording off the Beatles’ Help! soundtrack.

THE ASTRONAUTS – THE LA LA LA SONG (10/15/65)

An unexpected local smash hit by a Colorado band, with a song whose co-writers included Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

The highest-charting song by an Orlando band that hit the WLOF charts with every release.

WE THE PEOPLE… – THE DAY SHE DIES (1/20/68)

We The People had no less than seven local hit records, and this gorgeous, moody Tommy Talton composition was the biggest of them all.  It’s hard to believe that the song that kept this out of the top spot was Harper’s Bizarre’s remake of “Chattanooga Choo Choo”!

One-time WLOF rotation copy of this local #2 smash. Notice the “B” rotation sticker from its climb up the charts.

FLASH & THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – I PRAY FOR RAIN (2/12/68)

The first of two Central Florida hits by a Memphis band that was produced by co-writer Dan Penn.  Their follow-up, “Busy Signal”, only reached number 30.

While I’m at it, I might as well break down the songs that peaked at numbers 3, 4, and  5.   With the exception of the album cuts, all of these were huge regional hits that barely had a pulse on America’s top 40 stations upon their release.

#3 peak on WLOF

MAMAS & THE PAPAS – I CALL YOUR NAME (LP CUT) (5/27/66)

ILLUSIONS* – I KNOW (8/5/66)

MONKEES – I WANNA BE FREE (LP CUT) (12/2/66)

WE THE PEOPLE* – ST. JOHN’S SHOP (1/13/67)

TROPICS* – TIME (2/10/67)

BRAM RIGG SET – I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU EVERYTHING (5/9/67)

CREAM – STRANGE BREW (9/23/67)

PLANT LIFE* – FLOWER GIRL (9/30/67)

COUNT FIVE – MAILMAN (7/18/69)

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#4 peak on WLOF

CHARLIE RICH – I CAN’T GO ON (1/15/66)

JAMES GANG – GEORGIA PINES (1/28/66)

WAYNE COCHRAN* – GET DOWN WITH IT (6/3/66)

GAYLE HANESS – JOHNNY ANDER (12/16/66)

MONKEES – SHE/WHEN LOVE COMES KNOCKING (LP CUTS) (2/10/67)

TROGGS – ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME (5/20/67)

BOB SEGER & THE LAST HEARD – HEAVY MUSIC (9/16/67)

THE NICE – AMERICA & 2nd AMENDMENT (1/21/69)

KINGSTON TRIO – SCOTCH AND SODA (live version) (5/13/69)

GEORGE HARRISON – DEEP BLUE (9/17/71)

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#5 peak on WLOF

LORNE GREENE – SAND (5/14/65)

PUSSYCATS – I WANT YOUR LOVE (5/28/65)

BIRDWATCHERS* – I’M GONNA LOVE YOU ANYWAY (9/16/66)

MONTANAS – THAT’S WHEN HAPPINESS BEGAN (12/23/66)

COUNT FIVE – YOU MUST BELIEVE ME (4/22/67)

HARDLY-WORTHIT PLAYERS – THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (6/10/67)

LAST WORD* – I WISH I HAD TIME (1/27/68)

BARRY LEE SHOW – I DON’T WANT TO LOVE YOU (3/25/68)

MOVERS* – BIRMINGHAM (10/5/68)

DICK DODD – LITTLE SISTER (12/2/68)

WILLIAM TRUCKAWAY – BLUEGREENS ON THE WING (12/5/69)

Keep reading for a look at where WLOF got the many 45s that it played… and check out the dozens of other posts on the SAVAGE LOST blog.