Were these songs actually hits? (David Byrne, Steve Wynn)

[Bossy Monkey]

My favorite music site is http://www.top40db.org/ (which you should visit extensively regardless) but sometimes I have my doubts about their top 40 numbers. They have "Dirty Old Town" by David Byrne as having been #8 in 1989, and his "She's Mad" as #3 in 1992. They also have "Tears Don't Help" by Steve Wynn as a #10 in uh, 1990 I think it was. Now I bought Steve's first solo record when it came out because of the video for "Carolyn" which was played periodically on MTV at 4 in the morning that summer, but never saw/heard "Tears" at all. (I think about half my CDs come from that period, thanks to "It's Too Late" by Bob Mould and "That's A Lie" by Too Much Joy as well as Wynn.) I also bought "Uh-Oh" when it came out, but don't remember having to beat off the rampaging teenyboppers to get my copy. I appreciate that eventually the record companies discontinued selling singles and that the charts became a reflection of airplay and downloads, but I'm pretty sure this was sometime after 1992. Your thoughts?

[On the Road]

1. Those David Byrne Songs are New to Me

By no means do I have an encyclopedic knowledge of David Byrne with or without the Talking Heads. But I do like his stuff. Can't place those particular songs you mention, either.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. "She's Mad" as I mentioned is from "Uh-Oh" (the one with the cover

featuring the dog on heaven's throne, hence the title). Fine song and everything, but not remotely the most catchy song on the disk.

"Dirty Old Town" I never even heard as a studio tune. I downloaded it once from a record of a concert he and Richard Thompson did in Brooklyn (I think). Terrific song, but again extremely difficult to imagine on the radio or MTV.

[leftofthedial]

2. Don't believe anything the record companies say

nothing

[RandomKoolzip]

4. It's pre-Soundscan....

Are they using Billboard as a reference?

Other mags (Cashbox,etc) used things like the "College" chart back in the late 80's early 90's....maybe they're using that system as a reference.

Because no, there's no way in HELL all those odd songs I remeber from 120 Minutes were ever in the top 40 POP chart. No way.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Thanks RKZ; that's what I thought. Check out the site, it's interesting

and accurate through 1980 or so. Latest weird item are all the top 10 numbers for John Cougar Mellencamp. "What If I Came Knocking" made #1? Well maybe...

Anyway the lyrics are always correct, and there's no popups or malware, which makes up for the silly chart positions a little.

[Left Is Write]

5. Hits on what chart?

The songs you listed were not Billboard Top 40 chart hits.