May 18, 1974 Part Two

And we don't stop, 'cause we won't stop.

20 - "Sundown," Gordon Lightfoot
19 - "For the Love of Money," The O'Jays
18 - "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me," Gladys Knight and the Pips
17 - "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," Stevie Wonder
16 - "Oh Very Young," Cat Stevens

The second half opens with Canuck folkie Lightfoot's biggest hit, about a mysterious "hard-lovin' woman" whom he doesn't want "creepin' 'round (his) back stair." Didn't know you were such a chick magnet, Gordo.

Then it's The O'Jays with what has become their best-know hit, what with it's rubbery grooves and "moneymoneymoneymoney, MONEY!" refrain. Of course, far from being a celebration of the "mean green," it's a warning about the harmful lengths people will go to for the almighty dollar. I wonder if Donald Trump realized that when he decided to use it as the theme for his reality show. Not that he'd care.

Next are Gladys and her fellas with another classic about how in spite of the ups and downs, the right relationship can mean everything. It would take several songs about the dark side of love to counter the effects of this track's positivity.

Then Stevie Wonder dips his toe into Latin sounds on this hit on which he pledges to have your back no matter what. Of course it's great. Lose your cares in it, and let Stevie worry about blank. (That's right, a Futurama reference.)

Finishing this section is Cat Stevens, who seems to be singing to the world's children with a message involving blue jeans and giant birds. I think it's a positive "seize the day" song, but it's not completely clear. This is the hippy-dippy side of Cat that I'm not such a big fan of. I like the "Peace Train" and "Wild World" version better.

15 - "Just Don't Want to be Lonely," The Main Ingredient
14 - "Help Me," Joni Mitchell
13 - "Tubular Bells," Mike Oldfield
12 - "I Won't Last a Day Without You," The Carpenters
11 - "T.S.O.P.," M.F.S.B.

This set begins with Cuba Gooding Sr. et al, declaring that they would really rather not be by their lonesomes if they had their druthers. Not a classic, but certainly better than most of Jr.'s movies.

Then it's Joni Mitchell with her only American Top Ten about the giddiness and caution involved with the first flush of love. It's pretty and nice, but I prefer my Joni with a little grit, like on "Free Man in Paris" or "Raised on Robbery."

Mike Oldfield was only 20 when he convinced young entrepreneur Richard Branson to allow him to record a nearly 50-minute instrumental piece at Branson's studio, and to have it released on Branson's fledgling Virgin Records label. The album's mix of rock and classical sounds became a hit in Oldfield's native Britain, and after parts of it were used in the smash horror film The Exorcist, a severely edited version was released as a single and went Top 10 in the U.S. Apparently, people really wanted to mentally relive watching Linda Blair vomit and do nasty things to a cross.

Karen and Richard show up yet again, and they're always welcome, especially when they bring good material like this song about feeling invincible in the company of one's beloved, and completely helpless alone. That Karen, she can even make scary levels of co-dependence sound endearing.

And this part concludes with Mothers Fathers Sisters Brothers and what they feel is a representative musical reflection of the City of Brotherly Love. And it was the theme from the legenday Soul Train. Just happy music.

10 - "You Make Me Feel Brand New," The Stylistics
I've said it before, but I love the falsetto in this song. It sounds like happiness and renewal. This is another slowdance contender for a hypothetical Glovehead nuptials.

9 - "(I've Been) Searching So Long," Chicago
I wasn't that familiar with this one, so I was a bit surprised that it was taking so long for the vocals to kick in. When they did, I found it okay. It's another ballad that at least has some color to it, unlike "If You Leave Me Now." I'm sorry, but I can't say enough how much I feel that that song is a blight on this entire decade.

8 - "Midnight at the Oasis," Maria Muldaur
Ms. Muldaur saw her greatest success with this sultry number about the fun that can be had in the desert. I'm sure this scenario is sexier in theory than in practice, but damn if Maria doesn't make you want to try it anyway.

7 - "Band on the Run," Wings
One of Paul's other band's biggest, a three-part story of a group escaping from some sort of prison, with apparent success. Although it's never made clear if they acted on the thought they had while incarcerated that upon getting out, they would give away all their possessions "to a registered charity." I'm guessing that didn't happen.

6 - "Bennie and the Jets," Elton John
Elton grooves hard while singing about killing fatted calves and electric boots. Could be his best song ever. "BEN-nay! BEN-nay! BEN-nay, BEN-nay, BEN-nay and the Jets!" Weird and wonderful indeed.

5 - "The Show Must Go On," Three Dog Night
More 3DN that I'm not very familiar with. Okay, the opening circus music is an interesting touch. And the guy who's singing also sang lead on "Joy to the World," so that's a good sign. And it's about wanting to escape the spotlight and crowds that are "after my blood." You know what? This is all right. Good on ya, 3DN.

4 - "The Loco-Motion," Grand Funk
Here they are in their wild, shirtless glory, covering an early 60s dance-craze hit. They add big beats and a nice guitar solo. All in all, not an essential cover, but a good one to haul out to set a big dumb party mood.

3 - "The Entertainer," Marvin Hamlisch
This was originally written by ragtime king Scott Joplin in 1902, but was revived by Hamlisch for the soundtrack of the Paul Newman/Robert Redford comedy The Sting. The movie was set in the 30s, but for some reason, it was decided that ragtime was the proper accompaniment. Ah, Marvin Hamlisch. I always lump him in my mind with Paul Williams in that they were both guys mainly known for songwriting, yet somehow managed to appear on TV a lot.

2 - "Dancing Machine," The Jackson 5
The last huge hit of the group's Motown tenure was this tribute to a lady who can really get down. Nothing really to say about it. Just find it and dig it, and maybe do one or two lame attempts at the Robot while you're at it.

1 - "The Streak," Ray Stevens
If the craze of running naked through public areas is remembered for two things, one is the time it happened at the Oscars, and the other is this novelty hit that gave the world the immortal phrase "Ethel, you shameless hussy!" I wonder if Ray is tempted to take time off from writing songs for Fox News fans and try to get back on the charts with a song about planking. Probably not. Anyway, this was featured on an LP that Homer Simpson thought his dog had buried. Actually, it was his lovely wife who put it in the ground.

The NotCaseys this week were "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett, "Save the Last Dance for Me," by The DeFranco Family, and "Already Gone" by the Eagles.

Back for more next week, because I just don't learn.