# A Capella Top 40 Hits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577 "2001-09-03T22:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/1 "2001-09-03T22:19:50Z")
Is _Because I Got High_ the only _a capella_ song to make the Top 40? I’m thinking **real** hard right now, and I’m drawing a blank… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@Max\_Harvey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/2 "2001-09-03T22:33:05Z")
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/3 "2001-09-03T22:37:08Z")
According to a writeup at the Ultimate Band List, [http://www.ubl.com](http://www.ubl.com), “the Nylons hit the Top 30 with a remake of Steam’s ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.’” 1984-ish, I believe. I wouldn’t know where to actually verify this. - Dave ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/4 "2001-09-03T23:05:31Z")
**Prelude** had a British Top 40 entry with an _a capella_ version of Neil Young’s **After The Goldrush**. I think this was in 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/5 "2001-09-03T23:08:18Z")
Was Billy Joel’s “For the Longest Time” a top-40 hit? ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/6 "2001-09-04T01:28:06Z")
Yes, “Longest Time” was Top-40, but was not technically _a cappella_. It has a fairly pronounced bass accompaniment. - Dave ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/7 "2001-09-04T01:37:12Z")
Oddly enought, it seems that Judy Collins also hit the AT40 in Jan. 1971 with an _a cappella_ version of “Amazing Grace.” Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/8 "2001-09-04T02:29:30Z")
I would think that **Boyz II Men** had one or two… _It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday_ comes to mind. I’d think they had more, too…they were really popular for quite a few years. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/9 "2001-09-04T02:42:30Z")
**Boyz II Men** ’s remake of “In The Still Of The Night” was number one for a while, wasn’t it? BTW, I recall there were two versions of “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday”-- one was a capella, one wasn’t. How about **Huey Lewis And The News** ’s “It’s Alright”? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/10 "2001-09-04T02:54:24Z")
I was gonna add **4PM** ’s cover of “Sukiyaki”, but IIRC that one wasn’t entirely a capella either. The B-side song of the single was, though. **R. Kelly** ’s “Gotham City” from one of the Batman movies had an a capella version, but 1) I can’t remember if it was entirely a capella, and 2) I don’t know how well the song did on the charts. Then there are a capella versions of songs where the non-a capella version was the one that did well-- “Four Seasons of Loneliness” by **Boyz II Men** and “I Don’t Ever Want To See You Again” by **Uncle Sam** pop into mind. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/11 "2001-09-04T06:17:08Z")
The Housemartins’ **Caravan of Love** did quite well a while back. …which, I believe, was a cover, but I can’t be arsed to look up the original. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/12 "2001-09-04T08:12:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > \*\*Is _Because I Got High_ the only _a capella_ song to make the Top 40? I’m thinking **real** hard right now, and I’m drawing a blank… \*\* The version I hear has accompaniment, I haven’t heard a fully a capella version of this song yet. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/13 "2001-09-04T13:17:08Z")
I’m guessing that if you go back to the 1950’s, you’ll find a number of them. But I’m assuming you mean something more recent. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigGiantHead \* > **According to a writeup at the Ultimate Band List, [http://www.ubl.com](http://www.ubl.com), “the Nylons hit the Top 30 with a remake of Steam’s ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.’” 1984-ish, I believe. I wouldn’t know where to actually verify this.** Dunno how it ranked, but I’m pretty sure the Nylons use some sort of electronic drum machine/rhythm track in a lot of their songs. **The Flying Pickets** had a hit (at least in the UK) with an a cappella version of Yaz/Yazoo’s _Only You_. But, again, I think they had some electronic “help”. ---
**Author:** ![jpettigove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@jpettigove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jpettigove)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/14 "2014-09-25T16:36:06Z")
Longest time by Billie Joel in the 80’s - Awesome song ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/15 "2014-09-25T18:23:56Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m guessing that if you go back to the 1950’s, you’ll find a number of them. There were some doo-wop songs of that decade that were performed a cappella, but none to my knowledge that made the Top 40. Fact is, a number of songs that we consider today to be the finest exemplars of that genre didn’t do all that well on the _Billboard_ Hot 100. Perhaps the most iconic doo-wop song of all, The Five Satins’ “In the Still of the Nite,” only made it to #24. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/16 "2014-09-25T18:25:42Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > **Prelude** had a British Top 40 entry with an _a capella_ version of Neil Young’s **After The Goldrush**. I think this was in 1974. You beat me to this. This song also charted in the US, #22 on the Hot 100, and yes, in 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/17 "2014-09-25T18:30:31Z")
“If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai hit #2 in 1992 [according to Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Ever_Fall_in_Love) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/18 "2014-09-25T18:31:08Z")
> [@jpettigove](#): > > Longest time by Billie Joel in the 80’s - Awesome song Does it count as _a capella_ if it’s just the one guy, though? Joel mixed together 14 different tracks of his voice backing up his lead vocal recording. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/19 "2014-09-27T15:37:17Z")
_Steelyeye Span_’s version of “Gaudete” reached no 14 in the British charts in 1973. Not only was it sung _a cappella_, it was in Latin! ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577/20 "2014-09-27T15:40:26Z")
“It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye” by Boyz II Men went to #2. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-capella-top-40-hits/79577.md?page=2)