Chart Topping Music

[Fiveos22]

This is something that popped up in the Slashdot forums today while they were discussing (http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/07/01/25/1336208.shtml)[Slashdot forums] this article on iTunes' International music selling policy (http://www.slate.com/id/2158151/) [Slate.com].

Its a little biographical page about a Japanese song, "Sukiyaki", that briefly topped the American music charts. LINK (http://www.maddmansrealm.com/sukiyaki/) [maddmansrealm.com] The song is interesting, but from what I gather, its copyright has expired, and the website has a few versions of the song available for download (scroll down the page).

I'm always a sucker for free music...and I know there are a myriad of sites out there that allow you to download music for free, but what strikes me about this is that the song is an American chart topping song. I wonder if there are other sites out there that are legally hosting chart topping music for download.

I guess my questions are:
1) What's the copyright status of music (end of copyright period, what makes them public domain)?
2) Does anybody know of other chart-topping copyright free music that is available on the internets? And where is it?

If anything I hope you enjoy the link to this song.

[WildCowboy]

Determining what is in the public domain can be complicated, particularly for works originally published outside of the United States. Here (http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm) is a table showing the current state of affairs in the US.

[dllavaneras]

It's the first time I've heard of a legal, free download of a Chart topping song. Great find!