FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 22, 2004

DEAR JERRY: What the heck is the new music genre known as Crunk?
—Disconnected and Discrunked, York, Pa.

DEAR D&D: Been traveling in the deep south lately?

I ask that because, according to the Urban Dictionary, Crunk is a musical genre of hip hop formed and found mostly in southeastern states, especially Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Made popular by acts like Lil Jon & the Eastside Boys, David Banner, Youngbloodz, Pastor Troy, Lil Scrappy, Trillville, this style is loud and abrasive in nature.

Usually featuring heavy bass beats, and loud repetitive lyrics, Crunk is high energy and mostly heard in southern night clubs.

It would be a surprise to learn of a Crunk outbreak as far north as Pennsylvania.

DEAR JERRY: Which song spent the longest time as the No. 1 hit on the American Hits List in the 1960s?
—Shannon B., New Brunswick, Canada

DEAR SHANNON: Based on the number of weeks at No. 1, it is a tie between Percy Faith's “Theme from A Summer Place” (1960) and the Beatles' “Hey Jude” (1968). Each of these held the top spot for nine weeks.

One relevant detail is the retail boost “Hey Jude” received because of its very popular flip side, “Revolution,” whereas all sales of “Theme from A Summer Place” were for just that one track. “Go-Go-Po-Go,” while a pleasurable B-side instrumental, did nothing to further sales.

For about 22 years (1955-'77), only two records remained No. 1 longer than “Theme from A Summer Place” and “Hey Jude.” They are Elvis Presley's two-sided classic, “Don't Be Cruel” backed with “Hound Dog” (11 weeks), and Guy Mitchell's “Singing the Blues” (10 weeks). Both came out in 1956.

Among its many accolades, “Theme from A Summer Place” won the Grammy Award as Record of the Year for 1960.

DEAR JERRY: What was the cause of Ed Cobb's death? As you know, he was a member of the Four Preps.

I heard that he died in Hawaii in September of '99.
— Kathleen Rucker, Los Angeles, Calif.

DEAR KATHLEEN: Ed Cobb, bass singer and charter member of the Four Preps, died of leukemia on September 19, 1999, in Honolulu, at the age of 61.

DEAR JERRY: Your mention of the Dave Clark Five in a recent column prompts me to ask why a collection of their top hits is not available on CD.

Their music seems to be a staple of classic rock and oldies radio formats, so I'm wondering if there is some sort of legal problem causing the lack of their material being available to buy.
—Dan Long, Tacoma, Wash.

DEAR DAN: Hard to find, perhaps, but not impossible if you can get online.

The CD you seek is “History of the Dave Clark Five” (Hollywood 720616-14822-3), a two-disc, 50-track package.

On this 1993 issue, you will find most everything you always wanted but could not find by the DC5, the one inexplicable exception being the 1967 hit, “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby.” Otherwise, it includes the group's essential 1960s recordings for Epic.

Also in the package is an informative booklet.

As of this writing, there are about a dozen copies available just on Half.com alone, ranging from $35 to $70.

IZ ZAT SO? In 1940, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra had three consecutive No. 1 hits: “In the Mood; Tuxedo Junction;” and “The Woodpecker Song.”

Amazingly, Miller and the band did it again in '41: “Chattanooga Choo-Choo; Elmer's Tune;” and “A String of Pearls.”

Not until 1964 did anyone else so dominate in this manner.

That spring, the Beatles topped the charts with three in a row: “I Want to Hold Your Hand; She Loves You,” and “Can't Buy Me Love.”

In the 40 years since (1964 - 2004), no recording artist managed three consecutive No. 1 hits.