David Cassidy on the Web
TV On The Radio: Before There Was 'Glee' ...
April 27, 2010
By Gary Trust
www.billboard.com
As far as we know, the only class taught at William McKinley High School is Spanish.
Between show choir, cheerleading and football practice (and the occasional slushie in the face), there's not much time for other subjects.
A quick history lesson, then, as the success of the "Glee" cast pertains to Billboard charts. With the Fox series' third soundtrack, "Glee: the Music, the Power of Madonna," set to storm this week's Billboard 200 album chart, here is a look at previous acts that have blurred TV with music and risen to the head of the class on Billboard surveys.
The Monkees
Chosen from among 400 applicants, the quartet instantly dominated the Billboard 200, reigning with its first four albums for a total of 37 weeks. The Monkees enjoyed six Billboard Hot 100 top 10s, including the No. 1s "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer" and "Daydream Believer," between 1966 and 1968. A 20th anniversary reunion in 1986 proved the series' everlasting appeal and produced the No. 20 Hot 100 hit "That Was Then, This Is Now."
The Archies
The cartoon garage band of Archie, Reggie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica (and Hot Dog) faired quite well in the real world, topping the Hot 100 with "Sugar, Sugar" for four weeks in 1969. Follow-up "Jingle Jangle" reached No. 10 in 1970, after "The Archie Show" had wrapped its memorable 17-episode run as a Saturday morning series on CBS.
Sesame Street
"The Sesame Street Book & Record" peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 in 1970 and won a Grammy Award for best children's album. Ernie enjoyed sud-cess with the No. 16 Hot 100 hit, "Rubber Duckie," and, in 1979, multi-tasking "Sesame Street" spinoff favorite Kermit the Frog waded to No. 25 with "Rainbow Connection" from "The Muppet Movie." Smart E's' inventive "Sesame's Treet," a remix of the show's iconic theme song, reached No. 20 on Dance/Club Play Songs and No. 60 on the Hot 100 in 1992.
The Partridge Family
"I Think I Love You" topped the Hot 100 for three weeks in 1970, marking the first of seven hits for the ABC TV family. The group also placed seven albums on the Billboard 200 from 1970 to 1973. As a solo act, David Cassidy has inked four charted albums, most recently spending a week at No. 147 with "Then and Now" in 2002.
Editor's note: Other TV acts included in this article were: The Brady Bunch, Blues Brothers, The Dukes of Hazzard, Miami Vice, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, The Simpsons, Guys Next Door, The Heights, South Park, Making the Band, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Idol, Nashville Star, Family Guy, Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, Band From TV, Glee.
