TQR

That's all well and good @Paul Bearer, but you have to give minus points too. Six of them. EDIT: Done, cheers.

A mostly great top-7! Tell you what, the final's going to be, as old people say, a doozy. Right, here's the last qualifying round, with another 7 going through. Quite honestly, it's a shame it's not more; what a superb selection! 1958-59 Sat 31 Aug 21 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +1 21 Connie Francis — Who’s Sorry Now +1 21 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette +1 21 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife +1 20 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 20 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 20 Michael Holliday — The Story Of My Life 20 Perry Como — Magic Moments 20 Marvin Rainwater — Whole Lotta Woman 20 Vic Damone — On The Street Where You Live 20 Kalin Twins — When 20 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 20 Tommy Edwards — It’s All In The Game 20 Lord Rockingham’s XI — Hoots Mon 20 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Jane Morgan — The Day The Rains Came 20 Elvis Presley — One Night / I Got Stung 20 Shirley Bassey — As I Love You 20 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 20 Russ Conway — Side Saddle 20 Buddy Holly — It Doesn’t Matter Anymore 20 Elvis Presley — A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight 20 Russ Conway — Roulette 20 Craig Douglas — Only Sixteen 20 Jerry Keller — Here Comes Summer 20 Cliff Richard & The Shadows — Travellin’ Light 20 Adam Faith — What Do You Want? 20 Emile Ford — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? 14 Cliff Richard — Living Doll -6 Struggled to pick just four to give a point to. Had to give one to the Everly Brothers because even Claudette is good. Both of Bobby Darin's songs are right near the top of the whole game for me; Dream Lover is gorgeous and his Mack The Knife is the best version imo.

Sat 31 Aug 75 Roy Orbison - You Got It  75 New Order - Blue Monday 88 75 Queen - I Want It All 55 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart -6 25 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +1 25 Womack & Womack - Teardrops +3

Sat 31 Aug 65 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 48 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 48 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 36 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 35 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 34 Paul Anka — Diana 30 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 12 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy +4

Fri 30 Aug 75 Roy Orbison - You Got It  72 Queen - I Want It All 71 New Order - Blue Monday 88 63 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 52 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care 21 Womack & Womack - Teardrops +4 0 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Car -6

Fri 30 Aug 57 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 44 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 43 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 42 Paul Anka — Diana 36 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love +4 34 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 31 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 14 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 14 Andy Williams — Butterfly 11 Johnnie Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 10 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This

Looks set to be a pretty much perfect top-5 imo! Would be just as happy if it was Womack² instead of Aztec Camera or Transvision Vamp tbh but that's not looking terribly likely.

Thu 29 Aug 69 New Order - Blue Monday 88 69 Queen - I Want It All 69 Roy Orbison - You Got It  63 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 56 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +4 18 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car -3 18 Kim Wilde - You Came -3 18 Womack & Womack - Teardrops 04 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix)

Thu 29 Aug 53 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 43 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love +2 43 Paul Anka — Diana +2 41 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 41 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 30 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 25 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 20 Johnnie Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 20 Andy Williams — Butterfly 20 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 16 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This 09 Lonnie Donegan — Puttin’ On The Style / Gamblin’ Man 07 Johnnie Ray — Just Walking In The Rain

I really like 6 of the current top 7. It's easy to dismiss the 50s (as many people older than me do) as just a load of big band bullshit, crooner-y cobblers and that fucking silly sod Lonnie Donegan, but actually there are loads of gems from this era. I know a fair few fellow milennials who like this stuff, and the YouTube comments sections of these songs have just as many zoomers saying "I'm only x years old and I love this" as there are boomers saying "I still know the words 65 years later, they don't make music like this anymore etc etc." I wonder if the perceived age divide when it comes to music is actually predominantly one way. I'd kill to be able to sing along with my dearly departed nan in her kitchen to the likes of Frankie Lymon and Paul Anka and Bobby Darin, but in no parallel universe would said resurrected nan join me rocking out in the car to some Nothing But Thieves or at a 90s themed rave.

Wed 28 Aug 65 Roy Orbison - You Got It  65 New Order - Blue Monday 88 62 Queen - I Want It All 61 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 50 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +4 22 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car -6 22 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix) 21 Kim Wilde - You Came 20 Donna Summer - This Time I Know It’s For Real 14 Womack & Womack - Teardrops

Wed 28 Aug 45 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 39 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 39 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 38 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 33 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 32 Paul Anka — Diana 30 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues +4 25 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 21 Lonnie Donegan — Puttin’ On The Style / Gamblin’ Man 20 Andy Williams — Butterfly 17 Johnnie Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 17 Johnnie Ray — Just Walking In The Rain 16 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This 08 Frankie Vaughan — The Garden Of Eden  06 Lonnie Donegan — Cumberland Gap

Tue 27 Aug 39 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 36 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 35 Paul Anka — Diana 33 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 29 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This 28 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 25 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues +4 25 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 22 Lonnie Donegan — Cumberland Gap 21 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walking In The Rain 20 Frankie Vaughan — The Garden Of Eden 20 Andy Williams — Butterfly 20 Johnnie Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 20 Lonnie Donegan — Puttin’ On The Style / Gamblin’ Man 15 Anne Shelton — Lay Down Your Arms 14 Winifred Atwell — The Poor People Of Paris 06 Ronnie Hilton — No Other Love

Tue 27 Aug 62 Roy Orbison - You Got It 62 New Order - Blue Monday 88 55 Queen - I Want It All 52 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 49 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +4 30 Womack & Womack - Teardrops 29 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car 27 Madonna - Cherish 21 Kim Wilde - You Came 21 Donna Summer - This Time I Know It’s For Real -6 20 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix) 12 Sydney Youngblood — If Only I Could

Agree with this. I don’t know whether or not it was meant to be a parody of the (actually quite good) Guy Mitchell song but that’s certainly what it sounds like. Cuhahhnehhfohh thahahhneehhluuuu.

Mon 26 Aug 35 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons +1 35 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love +3 30 Paul Anka — Diana 29 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 28 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 25 Lonnie Donegan — Cumberland Gap 25 Doris Day — Up Yer Arse, Yer Arse -6 22 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 21 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 20 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walking In The Rain 20 Frankie Vaughan — The Garden Of Eden 20 Andy Williams — Butterfly 20 Johnnie Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 20 Lonnie Donegan — Puttin’ On The Style / Gamblin’ Man 18 Winifred Atwell — The Poor People Of Paris 16 Anne Shelton — Lay Down Your Arms 14 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen — Singing The Blues 12 Frankie Laine — A Woman In Love 12 Ronnie Hilton — No Other Love 10 Tab Hunter — Young Love

Mon 26 Aug 61 Roy Orbison - You Got It 55 New Order - Blue Monday 88 52 Queen - I Want It All 47 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 43 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +4 30 Womack & Womack - Teardrops 29 Donna Summer - This Time I Know It’s For Real 28 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car 24 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix) 23 Madonna - Cherish 21 Kim Wilde - You Came 17 Vanessa Paradis - Joe Le Taxi -6 16 Sydney Youngblood — If Only I Could 10 Paula Abdul - Straight Up 06 Soul II Soul - Get a Life

Righto, those there are off to the final! Moving swiftly on to the next round...bit up and down, this selection, but 58-59 will be worth the wait. 1956-57 Sun 25 Aug 24 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love +4 20 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 20 Dean Martin — Memories Are Made Of This 20 Dreamwavers — It’s Almost Tomorrow 20 Kay Starr — Rock And Roll Waltz 20 Winifred Atwell — The Poor People Of Paris 20 Ronnie Hilton — No Other Love 20 Pat Boone — I’ll Be Home 20 Anne Shelton — Lay Down Your Arms 20 Frankie Laine — A Woman In Love 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walking In The Rain 20 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 20 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen — Singing The Blues 20 Frankie Vaughan — The Garden Of Eden 20 Tab Hunter — Young Love 20 Lonnie Donegan — Cumberland Gap 20 Guy Mitchell & Jimmy Carroll — Rock-A-Billy 20 Andy Williams — Butterfly 20 Johnny Ray — Yes Tonight, Josephine 20 Lonnie Donegan — Puttin’ On The Style / Gamblin’ Man 20 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 20 Paul Anka — Diana 20 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 20 Harry Belafonte — Mary’s Boy Child 14 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6 When I was just a little boy, I asked my mother to shut the fuck up with that godawful song.

Sun 25 Aug 62 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 60 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 51 Tony Bennett — Stranger In Paradise 43 Rosemary Clooney — This Ole House  36 Johnston Brothers — Hernando’s Hideaway +4 26 Alma Cogan — Dreamboat 25 Eddie Calvert — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White 22 Jimmy Young — The Man From Laramie 21 Prez Prado & His Orchestra — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White -6

Sun 25 Aug 52 Roy Orbison - You Got It 52 New Order - Blue Monday 88 46 Queen - I Want It All 42 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +4 41 Womack & Womack - Teardrops 40 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 27 Vanessa Paradis - Joe Le Taxi 27 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car 26 Donna Summer - This Time I Know It’s For Real 25 Madonna - Cherish 21 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix) 21 Kim Wilde - You Came 20 Sydney Youngblood - If Only I Could 20 Soul II Soul - Get a Life 15 Sabrina - Boys (Summertime Love) 13 Paula Abdul - Straight Up 06 Danny Wilson - Mary’s Prayer -6 06 Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

Yeah, the thing with four rounds is it means more qualifiers, so some of them are bound to be wank. I think there's just enough decent stuff to make for an excellent final, though. The 50s No.2s game is so small, it's going to be done differently.

I know Roy is the least 80s of this bunch, but man I'm glad You Got It is doing well. Wonderful song, holds a lot of sentimental value for me.

I knew Bill Haley would be right at the top for much of this round, and I can't say I disagree. I am quite surprised, though, at how high Bennett's score is. I thought the song started off okay but it bored me extremely quickly. The polar opposite of Hernando's Hideaway, which had me wondering for the first 30 seconds what the fuck I was listening to, but won me over with its quirkiness.

Sat 24 Aug 49 New Order - Blue Monday 88 46 Roy Orbison - You Got It 42 Queen - I Want It All 40 Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care +2 39 Womack & Womack - Teardrops +2 37 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 32 Vanessa Paradis - Joe Le Taxi 26 Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car 24 Donna Summer - This Time I Know It’s For Real 23 Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (Ben Liebrand Remix) 23 Paula Abdul - Straight Up 23 Madonna - Cherish 21 Kim Wilde - You Came 20 Sydney Youngblood - If Only I Could 20 Soul II Soul - Get a Life 19 Sabrina - Boys (Summertime Love) 15 Danny Wilson - Mary’s Prayer -6 12 Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance 09 Everything But The Girl - I Don’t Want to Talk About It

Sat 24 Aug 56 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 51 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 47 Tony Bennett — Stranger In Paradise 39 Jimmy Young — The Man From Laramie 38 Prez Prado & His Orchestra — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White 35 Rosemary Clooney — This Ole House 32 Johnston Brothers — Hernando’s Hideaway +4 26 Alma Cogan — Dreamboat 24 Eddie Calvert — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White 14 Johnnie Ray — Such A Night 06 Doris Day — Secret Love -6