FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 17, 2016

DEAR JERRY: What are some less successful tunes to appear in the Top 100 among the vinyl era's most famous recording artists?
—Dale Kauffman, Jackson, Tenn.

DEAR DALE: Because of the strikingly similar inquiry that follows, I will apply these parameters to both topics:

Must have lasted only one week on a national Top 100 chart; is a standard two-track 45 rpm (no EPs); is not the flip-side of a chart hit, unless both sides qualify; is not a holiday song; and not a reissue of a previous chart record.

Our C&W, R&B, and M-O-R titles likely fared much better in those arenas, but this list is strictly based on Pop charts.

This is merely a sampler, limited to some well-known names. There are many more.

It is alphabetical by artist, with the peak chart position shown.

Vicki Anderson & James Brown (1967): "Think" (98)
Joan Baez (1963): "We Shall Overcome" (90)
Bobby Bare (1964): "Have I Stayed Away Too Long" (94)
Count Basie (1958): "Going to Chicago Blues" (100)
Beatles (1964): "Why" (88)
Beatles (1964): "Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You)" (97)
Tony Bennett (1955): "Don't Tell Me Why" (77)
Tony Bennett (1956): "Forget Her" (82)
Bobby "Blue" Bland (1965): "Black Night" (99)
Bobby "Blue" Bland (1971): "I'm Sorry" (97)
James Brown (1963): "Every Beat of My Heart" (99)
James Brown (1966): "The New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (Part 1)" (100)
Solomon Burke (1971): "The Electronic Magnetism (That's Heavy, Baby)" (95)
Jerry Butler (1962): "Isle of Sirens" (89)
Jerry Butler (1964): "Ain't That Loving You Baby" (91)
Jerry Butler (1969): "A Brand New Me" (74)
Ace Cannon (1962): "Sugar Blues" (92)
Johnny Cash (1959): "Goodby Little Darlin'" (81)
Johnny Cash (1960): "Loading Coal" (94)
Johnny Cash (1961): "The Rebel - Johnny Yuma" (92)
Johnny Cash (1962): "Bonanza" (94)
Johnny Cash (1970): "Rock Island Line" (93)
Chad & Jeremy (1965): "Should I" (100)
Ray Charles (1961): "Am I Blue" (95)
Ray Charles (1967): "I Want to Talk About You" (98)
Cher (1969): "For What It's Worth" (89)
Lou Christie (1966): "Big Time" (95)
Cliques (1956): "The Girl in My Dreams" (45)
Clovers (1960): "Lovey" (98)
Coasters (1958): "The Shadow Knows" (89)
Eddie Cochran (1958): "Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie" (94)
Eddie Cochran (1959): "Teenage Heaven" (99)
Eddie Cochran (1960): "Three Steps to Heaven" (99)
Nat King Cole (1961): "Cappuccina" (78)
Sam Cooke (1959): "Summertime (Part 2)" (90)
Sam Cooke (1960): "No One (Can Ever Take Your Place") (95)
Sam Cooke (1960): "With You" (99)
Bobby Darin (1958): "Dealer in Dreams" (95)
Bobby Darin (1961): "Look for My True Love" (100)
Bobby Darin (1962): "I Found a New Baby" (90)
Sammy Davis Jr. (1957): "I'm Comin' Home" (85)
Del Vikings (1957): "Come Along With Me" (60)
Jackie DeShannon (1967): "Come on Down (From the Top of the Hill)" (99)
Fats Domino (1958): "Young School Girl" (92)
Fats Domino (1962): "Won't You Come on Back" (94)
Fats Domino (1964): "Heartbreak Hill" (99)
Doors (1968) "Love Street" (81)
Drifters (1962): "Stranger on the Shore" (73)
Drifters Featuring Clyde McPhatter (1954): "Honey Love" (77)
Duane Eddy (1961) "The Avenger" (93)
Duane Eddy (1962) "Stretchin' Out" (100)
Duane Eddy (1970) "Freight Train" (95)
Everly Brothers (1965): "That'll Be the Day" (90)
5th Dimension (1975): "No Love in the Room" (99)
Eddie Fisher (1957): "Sunshine Girl" (94)
Eddie Fisher (1962): "Arrivederci, Roma" (95)
Five Satins (1960): "Your Memory" (95)
Four Lovers (4 Seasons) (1956): "Honey Love" (82)
Connie Francis (1967): "Time Alone Will Tell" (94)
Connie Francis (1973): "Should I Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree?" (99)
Aretha Franklin (1962): "Don't Cry Baby" (92)
Aretha Franklin (1962): "Try a Little Tenderness" (100)
Aretha Franklin (1965): "(No, No) I'm Losing You" (100)
Gerry and the Pacemakers (1965): "You're the Reason" (91)
Bill Haley and His Comets (1958): "Whoa Mabel!" (94)
Hollies (1968): "Do the Best You Can" (93)
Buddy Holly (1958): "Love Me" (80)
Impressions (1962): "Grow Closer Together" (99)
Isley Brothers (1968): "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" (97)
Chuck Jackson (1961): "Mr. Pride" (91)
Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown (1965): "I Need You So" (98)
Jan & Dean (1962): "A Sunday Kind of Love" (91)
Joni James (1956): "Don't Take Your Love From Me" (82)
Joni James (1957): "Summer Love" (82)
Joni James (1958): "Dansero" (85)
Waylon Jennings (1976): "Can't You See" (97)
Kripp Johnson (Of the Dell-Vikings) (1957): "I'm Spinning" (84)
George Jones (1965): "The Race Is On" (96)
Frankie Laine (1957): "You Know How It Is" (82)
Steve Lawrence (1955): "Besame Mucho" (76)
Brenda Lee (1967): "Born to Be By Your Side" (93)
Peggy Lee (1956): "I Don't Know Enough About You" (73)
Peggy Lee (1963): "The Alley Cat Song" (92)
Manfred Mann (1965): "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (100)
Dean Martin (1962): "Tik-a-Tee, Tik-a-Tay" (100)
Dean Martin (1970): "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" (97)
Johnny Mathis (1961): "Wasn't the Summer Short?" (89)
Mills Brothers (1954): "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" (80)
Miracles (1960): "I Need a Change" (96)
Jaye P. Morgan (1956): "Johnny Casanova" (81)
Jaye P. Morgan (1956): "Just Love Me" (97)
Sandy Nelson (1962): "The Birth of the Beat" (75)
New Christy Minstrels (1962): "This Land Is Your Land" (93)
Wayne Newton (1968): "Husbands and Wives" (97)
Olympics (1961): "Dooley" (94)
Osmonds (1971): "I Can't Stop" (96)
Patti Page (1961): "A City Girl Stole My Country Boy" (90)
Peter Paul & Mary (1966): "The Other Side of Life" (100)
Wilson Pickett (1965): "It's All Over" (99)
Raiders (1970): "Gone Movin' On" (92)
Raindrops (1964): "One More Tear" (97)
Teddy Randazzo (1958): "It's Magic" (79)
Cliff Richard (1965): "The Minute You're Gone" (98)
Righteous Brothers (1966): "He Will Break Your Heart" (91)
Marty Robbins (1963): "No Signs of Loneliness Here" (87)
Tommy Roe (1963): "Gonna Take a Chance" (94)
Sam & Dave (1969): "Ooh, Ooh, Ooh" (98)
Linda Scott (1963): "Let's Fall in Love" (97)
Bob Seger (1969): "Ivory" (97)
Frank Sinatra (1959): "Song From 'Some Came Running' (To Love and Be Loved)" (100)
Joe South (1969): "Birds of a Feather" (96)
Spanky and Our Gang (1969): "And She's Mine" (97)
Spinners (1961): "Love (I'm So Glad) I Found You" (91)
Jo Stafford (1956): "All Night Long" (99)
Kay Starr (1963): "Make a Circle" (94)
Cat Stevens (1972): "Where Are You" (98)
Barbra Streisand (1964): "I Am Woman" (89)
Carla Thomas (1961): "(Mama Mama) Wish Me Good Luck)" (97)
Carla Thomas (1967): "When Tomorrow Comes" (99)
Carla Thomas (1968): "A Dime a Dozen" (99)
Hank Thompson (1957): "Rockin' in the Congo" (83)
Hank Thompson (1960): "She's Just a Whole Lot Like You" (98)
Conway Twitty (1957): "I Need Your Lovin' " (93)
Conway Twitty (1961): "A Million Teardrops" (89)
Billy Vaughn (1957): Johnny Tremain (85)
Bobby Vee (1965): "Cross My Heart" (99)
Ventures (1963): "Skip to M' Limbo" (89)
Bobby Vinton (1975): "Dick and Jane" (87)
Andy Williams (1969): "A Woman's Way" (91)
Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker (1966): "Think Twice" (93)

DEAR JERRY: I came across something that is either a misprint or a phenomena.

In 1958, Julius LaRosa's "Torero" spent only on week on the Billboard chart, but at No. 21.

Are there any other one-week wonders that peaked even higher?
—Bob Clark, Clearwater, Fla.

DEAR BOB: It's neither misprint nor phenomena.

But first, I am enthusiastically adding "one-week wonder" to our official music history vernacular. Thank you!

Your question indicates that the source of the "Torero" tidbit didn't paint the rest of the picture.

In the summer of 1958, when Julie's cover of "Torero" (RCA Victor 7227) came out, Billboard published three separate weekly charts for singles: "Top 100 Sides"; "Most Played by [Disc] Jockeys" (25 spots); and "Best Selling Pop Singles in Stores" (50 spots).

The only one of those surveys NOT based on sales is "Most Played by Jockeys," and that is where "Torero" appeared at No. 21 for the week June 16, 1958.

Meanwhile that week, the original version, by "Torero" co-writer Renato Carosone (Capitol 71080), was No. 20 on the Top 100 Sides.

Overall, the coveted one-week wonder champ is "The Girl in My Dreams" (Modern 987), by the Cliques (featuring Jesse Belvin). They debuted at No. 45 on the Top 100, the week of May 19, 1956.

The following week, "The Girl in My Dreams" inexplicably vanished.

I am especially grateful this week to chart analyst-archivist, Randy Price. Thanks for the valuable assistance!

IZ ZAT SO? Far less common than the above records are double-sided one-week wonders. Here are seven examples:

Paul Anka (1962): "I'm Coming Home" (94)/"Cry" (100)
Tony Bennett (1957): "Sold to the Man With the Broken Heart" (76)/"One Kiss Away From Heaven" (85)
Bobby "Blue" Bland (1960): "Hold Me Tenderly" (95)/"Lead Me On" (99)
Bobby "Blue" Bland (1963): "I Can't Stop Singing" (98)/"The Feeling Is Gone" (91)
Bobby "Blue" Bland (1965): "Ain't No Telling" (93)/"Dust Got in Daddy's Eyes" (99)
Nat King Cole (1964): "More and More of Your Amor" (97)/"Marnie" (96)
Perry Como (1959): "A Still Small Voice" (97)/"I May Never Pass This Way Again" (100)