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I rarely mention sheet music sales when highlighting a Great Song, but today, it definitely bears mentioning...because 1979's "Music Box Dancer" by Canadian Frank Mills sold more than 3 MILLION copies of the sheet music alone...on top of 6 MILLION records!
"Music Box Dancer" was completely different than anything else heard on the radio in 1979, and it's lucky that it got any airplay at all. Here's how it happened:
The song was the "B" side of a single called "The Poet and I," and was first released to easy listening stations exclusively in Canada. By mistake, it was also sent to a pop station in Ottawa. The program director had no intention of playing "The Poet and I," but before he threw it in the trash, he flipped the single over...and fell in love!
In less than a month, "Music Box Dancer" was a huge hit in Ottawa...on its way to #3 on Canada's Easy Listening Chart.
Of course, radio stations here in the US picked up on it, and before long, it was sitting at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The single was later nominated for the "Best Instrumental" Grammy.
"Music Box Dancer" was also a hit in places like Switzerland (#1) and New Zealand (#2).
The song has been covered by a multitude of famous pianists, including Floyd Cramer, Richard Clayderman, and Roger Williams...as well as hundreds--maybe thousands--of students at piano recitals all over the world.
"Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills: It may have been a fluke, and it may have been different...but it was catchy and it sold a lot of records--and sheet music!
In my book, that makes it a Great Song of 1979!"
Tomorrow: Robbie Steals a hit?
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