Etta James 'At Last' is one of the greatest romantic songs of all time. Your comments about chart positions are very relevant.

Some songs landed pretty high on the U.S. national survey because of strong reported airplay in many markets, but in some cases not every market went on (played) a song.

Case in point, Billy Joe Royal's 'Cherry Hill Park' in 1969. The song landed in the national top 20 and would have gone higher except for the fact that WABC in New York never played it.

Thus you have the top station in the top market not giving the song any exposure. WABC was very influential (to say the least) in 1969 and had 'Cherry Hill' been added to Musicradio 77's playlist, the song could very well have made Top 10.

Then again, some songs made the top 25 and certain major markets never exposed them. I found this to be the case when I was in Seattle and talked oldies with several of the 'legendary' Top 40 guys from there. I would mention an artist like Ronnie Dove and they'd say they never heard of him, or at the very least, never played him.

Bob

• RE: RIP Etta James - At Last - 1960 - John 01/29/2012 10:06:07 EST (1)