Top 250 Number three Hits 1955-2011

Real McCoy Another Night Photo #1 On Chart

The Top 250 Number Three Hits 1955-2011 is a ranking of all the singles that peaked at the number three position on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart between 1955-2011. This chart will show the top 250 positions on how these songs ranked. You will know at a glance which #3 song fared during this era and if any of your favorites songs made the chart.

This chart will complement the others in which we have provided the singles that peaked at #1, and #2 positions on the Pop charts from 1890-2010. This chart is basically the “bronze” winners (those that finished in third place) of the rankings covering the period from 1955-2011.

During this period, there were a total of 486 charted singles that peaked at the number three position on the Hot 100 chart. We’ve expanded the chart to include the top 250 positions instead of the normal 100. Every year had at least one single to make the chart. The year with the most #3 hits to make the chart is 1978 with 13. The artist with the most hits on the chart is Olivia Newton-John with four. The record with longevity is 3 AM by Matchbox 20, with 58 weeks on the chart in 1998.

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The Ranking System Used

The ranking of the songs on this chart that was used is as follows:

Every song had to peak at the #3 position on the Hot 100 chart, and to break ties, the following was used:

Total weeks title held the #3 position
Total weeks title charted in Top 10
Total weeks title charted in Top 40
Total weeks title charted

If there were still ties among titles, a computerized inverse point system was used to calculate a point total for each hit based on its weekly chart position. For each week a title appeared on the charts, it was given points based on its chart position for that week (#1 = 100 points, #2 = 99 points, etc.). These points are added together to create a raw point total for each title, and was used to break any ties.

Interesting Facts

Here is some very interesting facts concerning this chart:

In order for a song to make the chart, it had to peak at the #3 position on the Hot 100 for two weeks or more.
To make the top 10, the song had to peak at #3 for 5 weeks or more.
To make the top 40, the song had to peak at #3 for 4 weeks or more.
To make the top 100, the song had to peak at #3 for 3 weeks or more.

Resource used in compiling the chart was “Pop Annual 8th Edition 1955-2011” by Joel Whitburn.

Oliva Newton-John Please Mr. Please Cover Photo #1 Artist With Most Songs on Chart

The Top 250 #3 Hits from 1955-2011

Below is the chart of the top 250 songs that peaked at the #3 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Included is the rank, title, artist, weeks at peak position (), and year of peak position. An instrumental song is indicated with an [I] after the title.

Rank Title/Artist / Peak Weeks () / Year of Peak Position

Another Night / Real McCoy (11) 1994
3 AM / Matchbox 20 (8) 1998
Pumped Up Kicks / Foster The People (8) 2011
Hey Lover / LL Cool J w/ Boyz II Men (8) 1995
Knockin’ Da Boots / H-Town (7) 1993
Head Over Feet / Alanis Morissette (6) 1996
My Humps / The Black Eyed Peas (6) 2005
Without You / Mariah Carey (6) 1994
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around / Joey Scarbury (6) 1981
Give Me One Reason / Tracy Chapman (5) 1996
Jumpin’ Jumpin’ / Destiny’s Child (5) 2000
Runaway / Janet Jackson (5) 1995
Where The Party At / Jagged Edge w/ Nelly (5) 2001
Fantastic Voyage / Coolio (5) 1994
I Wanna Love You Forever / Jessica Simpson (5) 1999
Uptown Girl / Billy Joel (5) 1983
It Will Rain / Bruno Mars (5) 2011
Let’s Groove / Stevie Nicks w/ Tom Petty (5) 1981
Milkshake / Kelis (5) 2003
Hey, Soul Sister/ Train (4) 2010
The Way I Are / Timbaland w/ Keri Hilson (4) 2007
Crush On You / Jennifer Paige (4) 1998
No Air / Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown (4) 2008
Lips Of An Angel / Hinder (4) 2006
I’d Die Without You / PM Dawn (4) 1992
Me & U / Cassie (4) 2006
Lose My Breath / Destiny’s Child (4) 2004
Just Can’t Get Enough / The Black Eyed Peas (4) 2011
Little Jeannie / Elton John (4) 1980
Don’t Stop The Music / Rihanna (4) 2008
Air Force Ones / Nelly w/ Kyjuan, Ali & Murphy Lee (4) 2003
Poison / Bell Div DeVoe (4) 1990
The Best Of Times / Earth, Wind & Fire (4) 1981
If I Were A Boy / Beyonce (4) 2008
I’m Gonna Sit Write Down And Write Myself A Letter / Billy Williams (4) 1957
Jenny From The Block / Jennifer Lopes w/ Jadakiss & Styles (4) 2002
Remember The Time / Michael Jackson (4) 1992
Love So Right / Bee Gees (4) 1976
Blue Bayou / Linda Ronstadt (4) 1977
Misty Blue / Dorthy Moore (4) 1976
Coward Of The County / Kenny Rodgers (4) 1980
Summer Girls / LFO (4) 1999
Bobby’s Girl / Marcie Blane (4) 1962
The Safety Dance / Men Without Hats (4) 1983
Heart Attack / Olivia Newton-John (4) 1982
The Main Event/Fight / Barbars Streisand (4) 1979
Let ‘Em In / Paul McCartney & Wings / (4) 1976
Lost In Love / Air Supply (4) 1980
She’s Just My Style / Gary Lewis & The Playboys (4) 1966
Kryptonite / 3 Doors Down (3) 2000
Breathe Again / Toni Braxton (3) 1994
Knock You Down / Keri Hilson w/ Kayne West & Ne-Yo (3) 2009
Hero / Enrique Iglesias (3) 2001
Lovers & Friends / Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz w/ Usher (3) 2005
Every Morning / Sugar Ray (3) 1999
Thong Song / Sisqo (3) 2000
Don’t Phunk With My Heart / The Black Eyed Peas (3) 2005
Thankyou / Dido (3) 2001
Whatta Man / Salt N Pepa w/ En Voge (3) 1994
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World / Prince (3) 1994
I Know What You Want / Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey (3) 2003
Standing On The Corner / The Four Lads (3) 1956
Lay Down Sally / Eric Clapton (3) 1978
In The Still Of The Nite / Boyz II Men (3) 1993
Holidae In / Chingy w/ Ludacris & Snoop Dogg (3) 2003
Can’t Smile Without You / Barry Manilow (3) 1978
My Life / Billy Joel (3) 1979
Sexual Healing / Marvin Gaye (3) 1983
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine / Jimmie Rodgers (3) 1957
Dirty Laundry / Don Henley (3) 1983
Ordinary World / Duran Duran (3) 1993
Say You’ll Be There / Spice Girls (3) 1997
I Feel For You / Chuka Khan (3) 1984
How Deep Is Your Love / Dru Hill w/ Redman (3) 1998
Hungry Like The Wolf / Duran Duran (3) 1983
Do Me! / Bell Div DeVoe (3) 1990
Peggy Sue / Buddy Holly (3) 1957
School Day / Chuck Berry (3) 1957
Ball Of Confusion / The Temptations (3) 1970
Eye In The Sky / Alan Parsons Project (3) 1982
She Works Hard For The Money / Donna Summer (3) 1983
Humpin’ Around / Bobby Brown (3) 1992
The Rose / Bette Midler (3) 1980
Sukiyaki / Styx (3) 1981
You Sexy Thing / Hot Chocolate (3) 1976
Secretly / Jimmy Rodgers (3) 1958
Topsy II [I] / Cozy Cole (3) 1958
What You Know / T.I. (3) 2006
Biggest Part Of Me / Ambrosia (3) 1980
She Bob / Cyndi Lauper (3) 1984
Fire And Rain / James Taylor (3) 1970
Spirit In The Sky / Norman Greenbaum (3) 1970
Lonely Night / Captain & Tennille (3) 1976
The Lion Sleeps Tonight / Robert John (3) 1972
Build Me Up Buttercup / The Foundations (3) 1969
Instant Karma / John Lennon (3) 1970
Yo-Yo / The Osmonds (3) 1971
Motownphilly / Boyz II Men (3) 1991
My Heart Is An Open Book / Carl Dobkins, Jr. (3) 1959
Talking In Your Sleep / The Romantics (3) 1984
Little Willy / The Sweet (3) 1973
All Around The World / Lisa Stansfield (3) 1990
How Much I Feel / Ambrosia (3) 1978
Come Back When Your Grow Up / Bobby Vee (3) 1967
I’ll Be Good To You / The Brothers Johnson (3) 1976
Stoned Soul Picnic / The 5th Dimension (3) 1968
Spooky / Classics IV (3) 1968
Good Timin’ / Jimmy Jones (3) 1960
I Got You / James Brown (3) 1965
I’ve Never Been To Me / Charlene (3) 1982
She’s Like The Wind / Patrick Swayze w/ Wendy Fraser (3) 1988
The Wanderer / Donna Summer (3) 1980
Miracles / Jefferson Starship (3) 1975
Union Of The Snake / Duran Duran (3) 1983
Tell Me Something Good / Rufus (3) 1974
Drive / The Cars (3) 1984
Dawn / The 4 Seasons (3) 1964
Light My Fire / Jose Feliclano (3) 1968
Jumpin’ Jack Flash / The Rolling Stones (3) 1968
I Got Rhythm / The Happenings (3) 1967
He’s So Shy / Pointer Sisters (3) 1980
Stray Cat Strut / Stray Cats (3) 1983
Downtown Train / Rod Stewart (3) 1990
Axel F / Harold Faltermeyer (3) 1985
True Blue / Madonna (3) 1986
Do You Love Me / The Contours (3) 1962
If I Had A Hammer / Trini Lopez (3) 1963
I Need To Know / Marc Anthony (2) 1999
Nobody / Keith Sweat w/ Athena Cage (2) 1996
Just A Dream / Nelly (2) 2010
Super Bass / Nicki Minaj (2) 2011
Wild Night / John Mellencamp & Me’shell (2) 1994
Kiss Me Thru The Phone / Souja Boy Tell’em w/ Sammie (2) 2009
Underneath It All / No Doubt w/ Lady Saw (2) 2002
Boombastic / Shaggy (2) 1995
Mambo No. 5 / Lou Bega (2) 1999
Harden My Heart / Quaterflash (2) 1982
Jump Around / House Of Pain (2) 1992
Naughty Girl / Beyonce (2) 2004
Like You / Bow Wow w/ Cars (2) 2005
4 Minutes / Modanna w/ Justin Timberlake (2) 2008
November Rain / Guns N’ Roses (2) 1992
Love Don’t Cost A Thing / Jennifer Lopez (2) 2001
I’m In Love Again / Fats Domino (2) 1956
Emotion / Samantha Sang (2) 1978
A Little More Love / Olivia Newton-John (2) 1979
The Shifting, Whispering Sands / Rusty Draper (2) 1955
Love Lockdown / Kanye West (2) 2008
Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On / Jerry Lee Lewis (2) 1957
Silhouettes / The Rays (2) 1957
Dedicated To The One I Love / The Shirelles (2) 1961
Big Man / The Four Preps (2) 1958
Hero / Chad Kroeger w/ Josey Scott (2) 2002
High Enough / Damn Yankees (2) 1991
Just The Way You Are / Billy Joel (2) 1978
Mr. Roboto / Styx (2) 1983
Jump / Jacksons w/ Mick Jagger (2) 1984
Lowdown / Boz Scaggs (2) 1976
Sometimes When We Touch / Dan Hill (2) 1978
Dazz / Brick (2) 1977
Hopelessly Devoted To You / Olivia Newton-John (2) 1978
Pink Shoe Laces / Doddie Stevens (2) 1959
Emotional Rescue / The Rolling Stones (2) 1980
Take A Chance On Me / Abba (2) 1978
I Don’t Need You / Kenny Rogers (2) 1981
Hot Blooded / Foreigner (2) 1978
The Big Hurt / Miss Toni Fisher (2) 1959
Boogie On The Reggae Woman / Stevie Wonder (2) 1975
Gypsy Woman / Brian Hyland (2) 1970
Candida / Dawn (2) 1970
I Don’t Want To Be Right / Luther Ingram (2) 1972
Have You Seen Her / Chi-Lites (2) 1971
Green-Eyed Lady / Sugarloaf (2) 1970
A Hundred Pounds Of Clay / Gene McDaniels (2) 1961
Please Mr. Please / Olivia Newton-John (2) 1975
That’s Rock N’ Roll / Shaun Cassidy (2) 1977
Guilty / Barbara Streisand & Barry Gibb (2) 1981
Hold Me Now / Thompson Twins (2) 1984
Rhythm Of The Night / DeBarge (2) 1985
Last Dance / Donna Summer (2) 1978
Take Your Time / The S.O.S. Band (2) 1980
Reminiscing / Little River Band (2) 1978
Stuck On You / Lionel Richie (2) 1984
Pillow Talk / Sylvia (2) 1973
Treat Her Like A Lady / Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (2) 1971
Who Loves You / The 4 Seasons (2) 1975
The Devil Went Down To Georgia / Charlie Daniels Band (2) 1979
Goodbye Cruel World / James Darren (2) 1961
The Entertainer [I] / Marvin Hamlisch (2) 1974
You Ought To Be With Me / Al Green (2) 1972
All Alone Am I / Brenda Lee (2) 1962
Precious And Few / Climax (2) 1972
Palisades Park / Freddy Cannon (2) 1962
You’re The Reason I’m Living / Bobby Darin (2) 1963
For All We Know / Carpenters (2) 1971
Little Woman / Bobby Sherman (2) 1969
A Beautiful Morning / The Rascals (2) 1968
Suspicion / Terry Stafford (2) 1964
Please Please Me / The Beatles (2) 1964
Worst That Could Happen / Brooklyn Bridge (2) 1969
Love Shack / The B-52’s (2) 1989
Someone To Call My Lover / Janet Jackson (2) 2001
I’ll Always Love You / Taylor Dayne (2) 1988
Rub You The Right Way / Johnny Gill (2) 1990
Alive & Kicking / Simple Minds (2) 1985
Hard Habit To Break / Chicago (2) 1984
It’s A Heartache / Bonnie Tyler (2) 1978
The Lady In Red / Chris DeBurgh (2) 1987
Secret Lovers / Atlantic Starr (2) 1986
You’re The Inspiration / Chicago (2) 1985
Mad About You / Belinda Carlisle (2) 1986
Never Surrender / Corey Hart (2) 1985
At Seventeen / Janis Ian (2) 1975
Don’t Stop / Fleetwood Mac (2) 1977
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free / Sting (2) 1985
Rose Garden / Lynn Anderson (2) 1971
The Loco-Motion / Kylie Minogue (2) 1988
Every Little Step / Bobby Brown (2) 1989
Here You Come Again / Dolly Parton (2) 1978
Smiling Faces Sometimes / The Undisputed Truth (2) 1971
In The Navy / Village People (2) 1979
Wheels [I] / The String-A-Longs (2) 1961
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours / Stevie Wonder (2) 1970
Last Song / Edward Bear (2) 1973
Fooled Around And Fell In Love / Elvin Bishop (2) 1976
Burning Bridges / Jack Scott (2) 1960
Ain’t No Sunshine / Bill Withers (2) 1971
The Birds And The Bees / Jewel Akens (2) 1965
I’m Gonna Get Married / Lloyd Price (2) 1959
It Must Be Him / Vicki Carr (2) 1967
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes / Bobby Vee (2) 1963
Sealed With A Kiss / Brian Hyland (2) 1962
Sing / Carpenters (2) 1973
Popsicles And Icicles (2) The Murmaids (2) 1964
Love Potion Number Nine / The Searchers (2) 1965
Everybody / Tommy Roe (2) 1963
Good Morning Starshine / Oliver (2) 1969
Time Of The Season / The Zombies (2) 1969
I’m Still In Love With You / Al Green (2) 1972
Tiger / Fabian (2) 1959
I Am A Rock / Simon & Garfunkel (2) 1966
Alvin’s Harmonica / The Chipmunks (2) 1959
Imagine / John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (2) 1971
Devil In Disguise / Elvis Presley (2) 1963
How Can I Fall? / Breathe (2) 1988
Angel / Aerosmith (2) 1988
If I Could Turn Back Time / Cher (2) 1989
Sky High / Jigsaw (2) 1975
Love On A Two Way Street / The Moments (2) 1970
Crush On You / The Jets (2) 1986

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