Chart Position – #1 US Billboard Hot 100 / #13 on UK Singles Chart
Did You Know?:
Alpert had several hits throughout his illustrious career including “This Guy’s Falling in Love with You” (#1 in 1968) – which he was vocalist – and “Diamonds” a 1987 collaboration with Janet Jackson and Lisa Keith that went to #5 in the US.
In all, Alpert had 18 Top 40 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 spanning from 1962-1987.
As a trumpeter, he was bandleader for Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass during the 1960’s. Their album Whipped Cream & Other Delights sold more than 6 million copies in the US. The album cover is considered iconic.
Alpert co-founded A&M Records in 1962 with Jerry Moss.
“Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione (1978)
Chart Position – #4 US Billboard Hot 100
Did You Know?:
“Feels So Good” is a staple on Sirius XM’s Yacht Rock channel.
Although the album version ran nearly 10 minutes long (9:42), the single version was edited down to 3:28.
The album Feels So Good, released in 1977, peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200.
Appeared on two albums as part of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers in 1966.
Wrote “Chase the Clouds Away” – which was featured in 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. His song “Give It All You Got” was the theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
“Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer (1985)
Chart Position – #1 US Billboard Hot 100 / Top 5 in Sweeden, Germany, New Zealand and UK
Did You Know?:
“Miami Vice Theme” was Hammer’s only charting single in the US.
His second single, also from Miami Vice, “Crockett’s Theme”, was a top 10 hit in The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, UK, West Germany and Switzerland.
Hammer was part of the original lineup for jazz fusion legends Mahavishnu Orchestra where he played keyboards on the first three albums from 1971-1973.
Played with Jeff Beck on his hit album Wired in 1976 as well as Jeff Beck With the Jan Hammer Group Live (1977), There & Back (1980), and Flash (1985).
Played keyboards on multiple albums with jazz fusion guitar legend Al Di Meola from 1977-1984.
In addition to playing on many great jazz records by Elvin Jones, Stanley Clarke and Tony Williams, Hammer appeared on several big albums including Mick Jagger’s She’s The Boss (1985), Joni Mitchell’s Mingus (1979), Tommy Bolin’s Teaser (1975) and Santana’s Love Devotion Surrender (1973).
“Axel F” by Harold Faltermeyer (1986)
Chart Position – #3 US Billboard Hot 100 / #2 UK / Top 10 in Australia, Austria, The Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium
Did You Know?:
“Axel F” was the theme song played in the smash hit comedy Beverly Hills Cop starring Eddie Murphy.
Faltermeyer’s only other charting single was “Fletch Theme” from the 1985 Chevy Chase comedy Fletch. Although it did not chart in the US, it landed at #74 on the UK singles chart.
Composed the film score for 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick with Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer.
Faltermeyer also composed “Top Gun Anthem” for the 1986 Tom Cruise movie Top Gun. Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens also appeared on the song.
Co-produced 1990 the Pet Shop Boys album Behaviour.
Played keyboards on Billy Idol’s 1986 Whiplash Smile album.
Collaborated with Donna Summer on two of her most successful albums – co-wrote songs on Bad Girls (1979) and The Wanderer (1980). Also played bass and keyboards.
Played keyboards on 1979’s Terminal Jive album by Sparks.
“Songbird” by Kenny G (1987)
Chart Position – #4 US Billboard Hot 100 / #22 on UK Singles Chart
Did You Know?:
Kenny G hit the US Top 40 on four other occasions including “Silhouette” (#13 in 1988) and “Forever in Love” (#18 in 1992).
The saxophonist started his music career playing for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973 when he was 17 and still in high school.
Graduated from University of Washington with a degree in accounting.
Has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Plays saxophone on a cover of Wham’s “Careless Whisper” from Train’s Greatest Hits album released in 2018.
Appears as a guest on “Use This Gospel” by Kanye West from his 2019 Jesus Is King album.
“Hill Street Blues” by Mike Post (1981)
Chart Position – #10 US Billboard Hot 100 / #25 UK
Did You Know?:
Mike Post is best known as a composer of TV themes including L.A. Law, The A-Team, and Law & Order.
Post also reached the Top 10 in 1975 with “The Rockford Files,” the theme song for the TV show The Rockford Files starring James Garner.
In addition to the chart success of “Hill Street Blues” and “The Rockford Files,” Post had a hit with “Magnum P.I.” theme song of the show starring Tom Selleck.
In 1969, Post produced and arranged “Classical Gas” a #2 hit in the US for Mason Williams. The song also featured members of the legendary session musicians The Wrecking Crew.
Post had a minor hit – “Afternoon of the Rhino” – in the UK in 1975 with his band the Mike Post Coalition.
Post also produced the first three albums by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition including the Top 5 hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).”
He also produced 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs; Dolly Parton’s 1981 hit album.
Produced Van Halen III (1997) by Van Halen.
“Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band (1974)
Chart Position – #1 US Billboard Hot 100 / #6 UK
Did You Know?:
Also known as AWB, Average White Band were a funk band from Scotland.
“Pick Up the Pieces” was the band’s first charting single and sold over 1 million copies in the US.
AWB released three consecutive albums that made the Top 10 album charts in the US – AWB (1974), Cut the Cake (1975) and Soul Searching (1976).
They hit the US Top 10 again in 1975 with “Cut the Cake.” Three more songs would land in the Top 40 between 1975 and 1976.
AWB are one of the most sampled artists of all time including samples used by Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Ice Cube and A Tribe Called Quest.
