I am always looking for information about the music buying habits of today's music consumers. The other day I found an iTunes site that listed all of the music that iTunes currently sells by sub-groups. I first came across a list that was entitled "Adult Music" expecting to find singers and songs from the Great American Songbook but no... the list was for songs with lyrics that might not be appropriate for younger listeners. I did not know any of the songs so I searched on. I found two other lists that did contain songs I recognized. I want to talk about the first list that was titled "R & B/Soul Ballads". I was surprised to discover that the number one selling song was my all time favorite Golden Oldie, "In The Still Of The Night" by the Five Satins. Can you believe that a rock & roll song that was recorded over 50 years ago is the number one R & B/Soul Ballad song sold by iTunes in 2010. I loved it in the sixties and still love it today. Of the top 10 best selling songs, there was only one that I was not familiar with, "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace. It seems that Johnny Ace was a noted R & B singer in the fifties who committed suicide back stage on Christmas Eve in 1954. Mr Ace still commands interest from music fans to this day. Take a look at the list below and share any comment about the top 10 or other candidates you think should have made this list.
TOP 10 BEST SELLING R&B/SOUL BALLADS BY iTUNES
1. "IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT"- THE FIVE SATINS
2. "WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN"- PERCY SLEDGE
3. "I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG"- OTIS REDDING
4. "WHAT'S GOING ON"-MARVIN GAYE
5. "PLEDGING MY LOVE"- JOHNNY ACE
6. "I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU"-THE FLAMINGOS
7."CHAINS OF LOVE"-BIG JOE TURNER
8. "LET'S STAY TOGETHER"- AL GREEN
9. "STAND BY ME"-BEN E KING
10. "Ooo BABY BABY"-SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES
TOP 10 BEST SELLING R&B/SOUL BALLADS BY iTUNES
1. "IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT"- THE FIVE SATINS
2. "WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN"- PERCY SLEDGE
3. "I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG"- OTIS REDDING
4. "WHAT'S GOING ON"-MARVIN GAYE
5. "PLEDGING MY LOVE"- JOHNNY ACE
6. "I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU"-THE FLAMINGOS
7."CHAINS OF LOVE"-BIG JOE TURNER
8. "LET'S STAY TOGETHER"- AL GREEN
9. "STAND BY ME"-BEN E KING
10. "Ooo BABY BABY"-SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES