Mike Riccio On The 27th Top 77 Songs Of All Time Of All time 2024

by Scott Benjamin 

 
Mike Riccio

In 1967 77 WABC was the most listened to station in the nation: Afternoon air personality Dan Ingram was even generating ratings in markets outside New York City and teens had a regular appointment on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. for Cousin “Brucie” Morrow’s countdown of top 20 hits music survey. 

Yet it wasn’t a more music station. 

It still aired the Breakfast Club for part of the morning and there was a nightly New Scope that lasted for more than an hour and made you think you had stumbled upon an all-news station. 

That probably meant that “To Sir With Love,” by Lulu – the top song for 1967 - could have been played at least two more times a day while it climbing the charts. 

That soon would change. 

On New Year’s Eve, Brucie hosted a remote broadcast from a hotel with some of the other air personalities making appearances to celebrate the more music era. The Breakfast Club was eliminated from the schedule and the News Scope became the 15-minute Six O’clock Report that included a sportscast from Howard Cosell. 

Survey Guy Mike Riccio started compiling the annual Top 77 Songs Of All Time Survey at Musicradio77.com and OldiesBoard.com in 1998. 

He recently told Musicradio77.com that almost every year, 1967 is the year that has the most songs selected 

“There could be several reasons why 1967 is such a popular year,” Mike stated in the  e-mail interview. 

“First off, it's right about in the middle of the first wave of rock and roll, which began in the late 50s and carried on into the 1970s before getting a harder edge into the 80,” he explained “It's about twelve years from the beginning of rock and roll in 1955 and twelve years from the start of the 1980s.” 

“In addition, it's right in the middle of the Beatles era (1964-1970) and in the heart of the infusion of acts and songs from the "British Invasion", which started in 1964 and continued until the end of the decade,” stated Mike. 

“And finally, it was at the heart of the "Summer of Love,” he added – making a reference to the atmosphere associated with the Beatles’ historic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. 

“All this blended together to bring good memories and good music that people remember, enjoy and become nostalgic over right around that 1967 timeframe,” Mike wrote. 

The Top 77 is modeled after WABC's Top 100 Songs Of The Year, which was annually featured from December 26 through New Year's Day from 1964 through 1981. 

Mike has said it was something special to look forward to at the end of the year, and he has attempted to recapture that feeling. 

Voting started on Saturday, October 19 – earlier this usual - and will continue through Sunday, December 8 – later than usual – which will provide about a week longer to cast a  ballot at OldiesBoard.com or Musicradio77.com for up to 10 songs ranked in order from the favorite on each voter’s select list to the least favorite on that list. 

The apparatus was developed by technical director and operations advisor Frank Thomas. 

Stated Mike, “He's the one that makes the site tick from behind the scenes. He developed the unique voting apparatus that "drives the system", so to speak, making it easier and more convenient to vote, and also easier to compile the results.”
“It's an incredible system unmatched by any other that I've ever seen,” he added. 

In 1998, when the Top  77 started, Mike was using index cards. 

Mike stated that in 2023 41 states and the District of Columbia were represented in the balloting  The states placing the most votes, in order were New York, New jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. 

Votes were cast from 12 countries. 

The Top 77 will be revealed by Musicradio77.com web master Allan Sniffen and Mike starting on Thursday, December 26, at noon at Rewound Radio.

“Then the entire list of every song that got a vote will be featured right through New Year’s Day with special live programming, including requests and special features,” wrote Mike, who has been an air personality at WBLI, WLIX and WGLI as well as doing occasional shows at C.W. Post University, his Long Island alma mater. 

“Hey Jude,” by the Beatles has placed first on the list in 24 of the 26 years. It also was  number one for 1968 on the WABC Top 100 Songs of the Year. 

Mike stated that the Beatles have posted the most songs on the Top 77, followed by the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and the Four Seasons. 

Mike wrote, “[The Beatles] popularity grew from the early 60s and continues through today. They touch the heart and souls across generations. Their music includes everything from the sweetest, simplest ballads to the hardest rock and roll ever put on record.”

He added, “This popularity still seems to be growing, and will likely make them a music force for decades to come.”