The Billboard Book of, tome 2 : Singles
Christopher G. Feldman2000

What do The Beatles «Twist and Shout», Martha and the Vandellas «Dancing in the street», Steppenwolf's «Born to Be Wild», The Village People's «Y.M.C.A» and Madonna's «Material girl» have in common ? Believe it or not, in addition to being some of the most popular and recognized singles in the history of pop music, these songs didn't reach the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100.
The singles that stopped at #2 have been instrumental to the history of pop music. They include such classics as Jerry Lee Lewis's «Great Balls of Fire» and Elvis Presley's «Burning love», and more recent biggies like Boys II Men's «It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday», Shania Twain's «You're Still the One», and Ricky Martin's «She's All I Ever Had». Some of the most significant recording artists of the past 45 years, such as Bob Dylan, Aaron Neville, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Isley Brothers, Johnny Cash, The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Carmen, Peter Frampton, Randy Newman, The Pointer Sisters, Journey, The Go-Go's, Bruce Springsteen, The Cure, En Vogue and Sheryl Crow, have never had a chart-topping single on the Hot 100. Their biggest hits have peaked at the runner-up position.