Finishing up.
20 - "Da Doo Ron Ron," Shaun Cassidy
19 - "Margaritaville," Jimmy Buffett
18 - "Looks Like We Made It," Barry Manilow
17 - "Hotel California," The Eagles
16 - "When I Need You," Leo Sayer
This part starts with Shaun Cassidy's debut single, a charttopping cover of the 1963 Phil Spector-produced Crystals classic. It gets by on the catchiness of the song, because Cassidy's voice isn't much, and the instrumentation is certainly no Wall of Sound. More like a speed bump.
Next is Jimmy Buffett with his biggest hit, which finds him drowning his sorrows in some sunny paradise with the aid of tequila-based cocktails. Despite the claims of some that a woman is the cause of his funk, Buffett eventually concedes that "it's my own damn fault." Anyway, as states of depression go, this one sounds remarkably upbeat.
Then it's Barry Manilow with a song in which he and an old lover congratulate each other on getting over their past fling and moving on with new partners. But there are more than a few hints that Barry just might not be as content as he sounds. Like "Born in the U.S.A.," it's a song whose big hook leaves it open to be interpreted as a triumphant anthem when underneath, there's a lot more going on.
The band whose one Greatest Hits compilation has sold nearly 30 million copies in the U.S. alone is back with their enigmatic look at Southern California. It's a song that I loved when it was out, kind of hated early in my adulthood, but now I think I'm back to liking it again.
Closing this bunch is Mr. Sayer with his ballad about his needs and how he relieves them. Apparently, Leo's one of the favorite singers of the man who taught Barney Gumble how to fly a helicopter.
15 - "Life in the Fast Lane," The Eagles
14 - "Heard it in a Love Song," The Marshall Tucker Band
13 - "Jet Airliner," The Steve Miller Band
12 - "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)," Joe Tex
11 - "Angel in Your Arms," Hot
The Eagles show up for a second time this week with one of their hardest rockers, a tale of sex, drugs and other assorted debauchery propelled by Joe Walsh's guitar. But I don't understand how people heard the title line as "Flies in the Vaseline."
Then it's Marshall Tucker and his band with their okay bit of light Southern rock. I must admit though, the flute solo was a bold choice.
Steve Miller's outfit is next with a song about a guy whose constantly on the road who'd really like to spend more time at home. Now this is a song whose chorus I misheard. I used to think it was "Big old Jan had the light out." It didn't make sense, but that's what I heard. Enunciate, Steve.
Joe Tex returns from last time with his pop chart curtain call, the song that advised caution when doing a dance called "The Bump." But it wouldn't have helped poor Ned Flanders. His issue didn't involve contact with a large woman, but rather a man of unspecified size. And thus began Timothy Lovejoy's downward spiral.
This group concludes with Hot and their slinky ballad about stepping out on a cheating lover. I had forgotten about this song, but now that it's back in my head, I can't get it out. And that's a good thing.
Ten to grow on:
10 - "Couldn't Get it Right," The Climax Blues Band
These Brits are back, looking for a sign in the middle of the night. Not really blues, but still, a more-than-worthy Top Ten.
9 - "Sir Duke," Stevie Wonder
Stevie again, with his rollicking tribute to the legends of jazz. That horn opening just grabs you and won't let you go. For me, the 80s "I Just Called to Say I Love You" era obscured the genius of his 70s output for far too long.
8 - "Undercover Angel," Alan O'Day
O'Day's one hit was this disco-lite tale of a man who is apparently visited by an angel who's mission on Earth was to have sex with him once and then tell him that there is a mortal woman out there for him. Kind of creepy, but at 6, I didn't know what was going on. I just thought it was catchy, and that the "What?/Ooo-ooo-ooo-wee!/All right!" part was fun to sing along with.
7 - "Lonely Boy," Andrew Gold
I still don't quite get the point of this song, but I will take the opportunity to say RIP to Mr. Gold, who died last week. I hope your at a party right now, and you're getting the biggest gift.
6 - "Lucille," Kenny Rogers
Kenny's first solo pop hit, in which his attempted pickup of a stranger in a Toledo dive is thwarted by the appearance of her heartbroken, gentle giant ex. Don't you just hate it when that happens?
5 - "Feels Like the First Time," Foreigner
The half-English, half-American group return with their chart debut, a driving rocker about love that makes one feel new again. Okay, but not even in my Foreigner Top 5. Maybe not even Top 10.
4 - "Theme from Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)," Bill Conti
Eventually, the official version of the theme from the movie that won John G. Avildsen a Best Director Oscar (ahead of Sidney Lumet for Network and a not-even-nominated Martin Scorsese for Taxi Driver) did come out, and was a huge hit for Conti, who would go on to score all the Rockys, and also compose music for The Right Stuff, The Karate Kid, and the theme from Dynasty.
3 - "Got to Give it Up (Part 1)," Marvin Gaye
Marvin's last hit of the decade was this #1 disco trifle in which he asks "Let me step into your erotic zone." Not many singers could get away with that, but this is Marvin fucking Gaye we're talking about.
2 - "Dreams," Fleetwood Mac
The second single from Rumours, and a Stevie Nicks tour de force. It's about romantic turmoil, like most Mac songs, but it's wrapped in such a warm, gorgeous package. But even though I've been out in the rain a few times in my life, I've never known it to wash me clean. But maybe someday, right Stevie?
And eclipsing all others in popularity this week 34 years ago was...
1 - "I'm Your Boogie Man," KC and the Sunshine Band
The fourth charttopper for Harry Casey and company, and for my money, far inferior to the three that came before it. It's just missing the oomph that the others had. It comes off as Sunshine-by-numbers. Uninspired, yet the formula powered it to the top, so I guess you win, Harry.
This week's NotCaseys were Heart's "Barracuda," "Easy," by the Commodores, and "Give a Little Bit" by Supertramp.
Be back with more of whatever this is next week.
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