Here's songs 12=22 on the 2021 Great 88:
"The Wayward Wind" by Gogi Grant (1956)
According to eminent author Mark Lewisohn, The Beatles performed The Wayward Wind live from 1960 through 1961 (in Hamburg and Liverpool and elsewhere). It is unclear whether the lead vocal was by John Lennon or Paul McCartney or both. No recorded version is known to survive. Lewisohn believes that the Gene Vincent 1958 record is the basis of the Beatles version but it may have also been the Tex Ritter one.
2020: #40, Highest Ranking: #40 in 2020
"Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly and the Crickets (1957)
This was one of the first pop songs to feature the "Bo Diddley" sound, a series of beats (da, da, da, da-da da) popularized by Diddley, who used it on his first single, the egotistically named "Bo Diddley."
2020: #8, Highest Ranking: #8 in 2020
"Let the Good Times Roll" by Shirley and Lee (1956)
The song was covered by Sonny & Cher (as Caesar and Cleo in 1964), Harry Nilsson on the album Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), The Youngbloods on the album Good and Dusty (1971), and was on English rock band Slade's third album titled Slayed? which was released in November 1972. It also appeared on a 2018 TV commercial for Walmart.
"Wait Till My Bobby Gets Home" by Darlene Love (1963)
Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. It was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles in May 1963 by Darlene Love with the lead vocals shared by Love and her sister Edna Wright. The song was arranged by Jack Nitzsche, Larry Levine was the engineer and Spector's Wall of Sound was played by The Wrecking Crew.[
2020: not on survey, Highest Ranking: first time on survey
"Wake Up Little Susie" by Everly Brothers (1957)
At an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show while campaigning for President in year 2000, George W. Bush was asked by Oprah what his favorite song was. He said: "Wake Up Little Susie – by Buddy Holly."
2020: not on survey, Highest Ranking: #1 in 2014
"Mockingbird" by Inez and Charlie Foxx (1963)
This is based on a traditional American folk song sometimes known as "Hush Little Baby." The song is a lullaby, intended to soothe a young child to sleep with promises of expensive gifts. Northern Mockingbirds were often kept as pets in America, which explains the significance of the lyrics.
2020: not on survey, Highest Ranking: #75 in 2019
"Mashed Potato Time" by Dee Dee Sharp (1962)
The song refers to the Mashed Potato dance move, which was a fad at the time. It was one of several songs that came out at that time that referenced the dance, another being James Brown's "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." The Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman" is mentioned in the lyrics and is copied in the arrangement. Also mentioned in the lyrics are the songs "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens and "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sharp recorded a follow up sequel to "Mashed Potato Time" called "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)".
"A Thousand Stars" by Kathy Young and the Innocents (1960)
Kathy Young rose to stardom in 1960, when producer Jim Lee of Indigo Records chose a Sun Valley-based band, The Innocents, to sing back-up vocals for her on a cover version of The Rivileers' 1954 recording of "A Thousand Stars". Two years earlier Lee had organized The Innocents for an appearance on Wink Martindale's pop music TV show.
"Everyday" by Buddy Holly (1957)
This is listed as being written by Charles Hardin and Norman Petty. Charles Hardin is actually Buddy Holly: his real name was Charles Hardin Holley. His version of this song never charted, but two others did. In 1972, John Denver took it to #81 US. Then in 1985, James Taylor made #61 with his cover.
"The One Who Really Loves You" by Mary Wells (1962)
The song, written by Smokey Robinson, talks about a woman who's telling her boyfriend not to fall for other girls, because they don't want him, and their love isn't true, but hers is, so she's telling him that he "better wake up" before they "break up". The single was the first of a trio of Top Ten hits with Robinson in the year (followed by "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "Two Lovers"). It featured vibraphone production and brought out a softer sound in Wells' voice that hadn't been shown in her earlier releases.
"Gum Drop" by The Crew Cuts (1955)
On the Disk Jockey chart, the peaked at #14; on the Best Seller chart, at #10; on the Juke Box chart, at #20; on the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached #80. The peak at #80 on the top 100 list is misleading, however, because this list was begun after the song had reached its popularity peak, so it was headed off the list at that point.
Check out all the songs that made the 2021 Great 88 here. You can also see the first round results here.
It's Saturday nights with. . .