As I wind down the 70s era of this endeavour, we take one last look at 1976. I was a month away from kindergarten, and Jimmy Carter was three months away from his own life-changing event. And this was the soundtrack:
40 - "Summer," War
39 - "A Little Bit More," Dr. Hook
38 - "C'mon Marianne," Donny Osmond
37 - "Shake Your Booty," KC and the Sunshine Band
36 - "Steppin' Out," Neil Sedaka
35 - "Who'd She Coo," The Ohio Players
34 - "Play That Funky Music," Wild Cherry
33 - "Another Rainy Day in New York City," Chicago
32 - "Take the Money and Run," The Steve Miller Band
31 - "Heaven Must be Missing an Angel," Tavares
We begin with pop-rock. War are in a mellower mood than usual on this leisurely, evocative jam that would qualify as a timeless anthem of the warmest of the seasons were it not for its references to 8-track tapes and CB radio. Wild Cherry came out of Steubenville, Ohio and gifted the world this one everlasting hit about a Caucasian learning the ways of the funk. And Steve Miller and his band scored their first hit since "The Joker" with the tale of lovers Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue, who, having "nothing better to do," decide to rob a rich man in El Paso, Texas, and wind up wanted fugitives. So that's what people did before the Internet.
The middle of the road never fails to be catered to. Dr. Hook entered the "Seals and Crofts wannabes" phase of their career with a promise to keep loving a woman even after "your body's had enough of me." Sounds creepy. Donny Osmond scraped into the Top 40 for the last time this decade as a solo artist with a cover of a 1967 Four Seasons hit. You wouldn't guess from its retro sound that this was a single from an album called Disco Train. Neil Sedaka ended his run of mid-70s hits with this piano boogie in which he offers his services to a young lady married to a rich old man who wants to "get a little action on the side." Neil Sedaka, gigolo. I don't see it. And Chicago are here with a deceptively chipper song about Big Apple precipitation. Radio wasn't too big on this song, but they did find another cut on the same album they felt was more commercial, so they played that instead. And that is how the world was cursed with "If You Leave Me Now."
The rest of this section falls into the disco/funk category. Harry Casey's Vitamin D-rich outfit are here with their famed celebration of wiggling one's butt. Unfortunately, Marge cut Homer off with news of Lisa's addiction to the Corey Hotline before he could demonstrate. The Ohio Players don't have much to say on their outing here; they just want you to do the "hoochie koo." I question why they had to spell it differently in the title. It just seems like cleverness for cleverness' sake. But it brings the funk, so all is forgiven. And Tavares turned one of the cheesiest pickup lines ever into a decent disco single. An accomplishment, I suppose.
30 - "Say You Love Me," Fleetwood Mac
29 - "Something He Can Feel," Aretha Franklin
28 - "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight," England Dan and John Ford Coley
27 - "The Boys are Back in Town," Thin Lizzy
26 - "Sophisticated Lady," Natalie Cole
25 - "I Need to Be in Love," The Carpenters
24 - "Young Hearts Run Free," Candi Staton
23 - "A Fifth of Beethoven," Walter Murphy
22 - "Last Child," Aerosmith
21 - "Baby, I Love Your Way," Peter Frampton
Rock kicks us off again. Fleetwood Mac are here with a Christine McVie-written song about being repeatedly seduced by a smooth-talking Lothario. Judging from her contributions to their catalogue, she seems to have been the most sex-obsessed member of the group. Ireland's Thin Lizzy had their only American hit with this familiar rocker about the titular males who bring action and excitement whenever they come into a certain municipality. Yes, I've heard it a lot, but the guitars never fail to move me. Aerosmith are here with a swampy boogie whose lyrics I don't quite understand, but Steven Tyler does refer to a woman as both "my sweet sassafrassy" and "my hot tail poon tang sweetheart," so all is right with the world. And Peter Frampton appears with the sweet, talk-box-free ballad that I'm sure was responsible for a large percentage of Frampton Comes Alive's monster sales. I imagine there was as much love made to it in the backs of vans back then as their was to "Dream Weaver." But I'll bet the "Dream Weaver" sex was better, on average.
We have three R&B ladies here. Aretha is here with her final 70s hit, a Curtis Mayfield-written sex ballad from the film Sparkle, which featured among its cast both Irene Cara of Fame fame and Phillip Michael "Tubbs" Thomas. Natalie Cole is here again, and for once, she's out of ballad territory, instead bringing us a funk strut about a "hip, slick sister." Definitely a welcome change of pace. And Candi Staton, whose first pop hit was a 1970 cover of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man," scored her second and last with this disco tune advising youth to explore the possiblities of life while they can. Definitely a top-flight example of the genre.
Easy listening is eternal. Dan Seals, brother of Crofts' buddy Jim, decided that he should form his own boring-ass pop duo, so he hooked up with schoolmate John Ford Coley. It took them awhile, but they finally broke through with this #2 about wanting to get together with an old female friend. Out of the whole Seals family oeuvre, this is clearly the best song. But that doesn't say much. And the Carpenters were losing commercial steam at this point, but Karen was still bringing the golden pipes on this song about keeping hope amid heartbreak. Her natural habitat.
I'll close with Walter Murphy's disco take on the old Ludwig Van. I covered it pretty well in our first '76 visit, but where it was beaten out by "Disco Duck" for the Uneasy Rider on that occasion, this time their are no dancing mallards to be found, and it wins. Congrats, Walter.
Tomorrow: Disco meets porn, a battle of the "Bea" bands, and the least sexy sex song ever.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
July 21, 1973 Part Two
The rest of the musical story of a week 38 years ago.
20 - "The Morning After," Maureen McGovern
19 - "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," Chicago
18 - "So Very Hard to Go," Tower of Power
17 - "Touch Me in the Morning," Diana Ross
16 - "Monster Mash," Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
The second half begins with Maureen McGovern's hit version of the theme from The Poseidon Adventure For a brief period afterward, she became the go-to vocalist for love songs from disaster movies. An interesting specialty, to say the least.
Then it's the bandsonification (yeah, I made that word up) of the Windy City with a song about how love makes one feel more vital and capable. I still think the ending is the best part, though. I could listen to that on a loop for hours.
The first time I came across this Tower of Power song, I don't think I gave it a fair hearing, obsessed as I was to connecting it to onetime member and steroid kingpin Victor Conte. This time I paid more attention, and I was rewarded with a very good R&B number about stepping aside for the good of someone you love. Fuck you, BALCO.
Next we have Diana, singing big and bold about an affair doomed to end. Again, I think I dismissed this before, but now I'm ready to declare it a top-of-the-line diva exercise. Which I'm sure was the objective.
Rounding out this bunch is Robert George Pickett's re-release of his 1962 #1 about a mad scientist whose creation doesn't terrorize the countryside, but rather entertains the monster community with his brand new dance craze. Even Dracula approves, in spite of his initial accusations of the whole thing being a ripoff of his Transylvania Twist. The idea of combining golden age horror with teenybopper rock is distinctive enough, but the fact that this reissue came in summer instead of Halloween cements Bobby "Boris'" receipt of this week's Uneasy Rider Award.
15 - "Behind Closed Doors," Charlie Rich
14 - "Money," Pink Floyd
13 - "Right Place Wrong Time," Dr, John
12 - "Long Train Running," The Doobie Brothers
11 - "Diamond Girl," Seals and Crofts
This last pre-Top 10 group begins with country's Silver Fox and his sultry ode to the things he and his lady do when no one's looking. And you know what that is, don't you? I sure do. At least I think so. But I'm too embarrassed to ask.
Then it's Pink Floyd, the prog-rock superstars who didn't get on AM radio too often in the decade, but did score one hit single with this celebration/denouncement of the pursuit of legal tender. Using a cash register as a percussion instrument was particularly inspired.
Next is New Orleans boogie pianist Mac Rebennack and his biggest hit, a song about habitually acting inappropriately for the situation. I didn't hear this song for the first time until well into adulthood. I mainly knew his voice from commercials. It was the same with Leon Redbone.
Then the pre-Michael McDonald Doobies show up with a blues rock locomotive that was originally called "Rosie Pig Moseley." Cool. It asks the question "Without love, where would you be now?" I shudder to think.
Finally we have Seals and Crofts, comparing a woman to a "precious stone." Maybe they did that in the hope of avoiding having to buy her one. I have a feeling those guys are cheap like that. No reason, just a hunch.
Way back when, these were The Ten:
10 - "Natural High," Bloodstone
This Kansas City vocal group had their biggest hit with this ballad about how a woman's love makes them want to "take to the sky." So if I've got this straight, instead of this being about drug-free intoxication, it's about joining the Mile High Club without a plane. Interesting.
9 - "Playground in my Mind," Clint Holmes
The return of the Buffalo-born singer's jaunty hit about flashing back to childhood. Instantly dated. And Casey, I love ya, but I didn't need to hear you try and sing the chorus. Just play 'em.
8 - "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," Bette Midler
This song about a jazz musician whose talents come in handy when he's drafted into the army was originally popularized by the Andrews Sisters in an Abbot and Costello movie. Three decades later, a young singer who first gained attention performing in a gay bathhouse in New York City would score her first Top Ten hit with her own version. She went on to a long and successful career, as did the man who accompanied her on piano in that bathhouse, Barry Manilow.
7 - "Smoke on the Water," Deep Purple
The biggest hit for these British hard rockers, with a riff that will not be forgotten as long as people learn electric guitar. But in spite of Homer Simpson's insistence, the line after the one about the gambling house burning down isn't "I am hungry for a candy bar, I think I'll eat a Mounds."
6 - "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," George Harrison
The quiet Beatle's second American charttopper. Like the one that preceded it, "My Sweet Lord," it's a prayer of sorts. It's just as good, with the added bonus of not having any copyright lawsuits attached to it.
5 - "Kodachrome," Paul Simon
Rhymin' Simon is here with my favorite of his, a song connecting his good and bad memories of youth to the camera he used to capture them. And in spite of his having new experiences and a state-of-the-art Nikon to shoot them with, he still desperately wants to hang on to his old Kodachrome. Another Top 20 of the decade contender.
4 - "Shambala," Three Dog Night
You know what? I might actually like this better than "Joy to the World." That's a fun song, but I think you have to be in a certain mood to really want to hear it, whereas "Shambala" seems like it would sound just as good anytime. Either way, this is prime 3DN.
3 - "Yesterday Once More," The Carpenters
I've enjoyed hearing so much Karen and Richard all these weeks, and here we are with the first one of theirs I covered, their tribute to the memories and emotions songs from the past can evoke. Nothing to say but "shoo-bee-doo-lang-lang."
2 - "Will it Go Round in Circles," Billy Preston
I'm determined not to use the nickname I always use when writing about one of Billy's songs as I cover this #1 about melody-free songs, stepless dances, and stories in which the bad guy wins. I'm just going to say that this is top-drawer early 70s funk, and that he had a truly magnificent Afro back in the day. Oh, and did you know he is sometimes referred to as "the fifth Beatle?" Dammit!
And ruling the charts on this occasion was...
1 - "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," Jim Croce
The biggest hit Croce was around to see, this tale of a man considered to be the toughest and smoothest in Chicago until the day a guy beat the shit out of him for hitting on his wife is a worthy heir to earlier chronicles of suave, violent men like "Stagger Lee" and "Mack the Knife." But I know I had no idea what was going on when I heard it as a child. I just thought those references to King Kong and junkyard dogs were pretty neat.
The NotCaseys this week were "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy, "Let's Get it On," by Marvin Gaye, and "Tequila Sunrise" by the Eagles.
The sands in our 70s hourglass are running low, but there's still a few more in there, and we'll watch them flow downward again next week.
20 - "The Morning After," Maureen McGovern
19 - "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," Chicago
18 - "So Very Hard to Go," Tower of Power
17 - "Touch Me in the Morning," Diana Ross
16 - "Monster Mash," Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
The second half begins with Maureen McGovern's hit version of the theme from The Poseidon Adventure For a brief period afterward, she became the go-to vocalist for love songs from disaster movies. An interesting specialty, to say the least.
Then it's the bandsonification (yeah, I made that word up) of the Windy City with a song about how love makes one feel more vital and capable. I still think the ending is the best part, though. I could listen to that on a loop for hours.
The first time I came across this Tower of Power song, I don't think I gave it a fair hearing, obsessed as I was to connecting it to onetime member and steroid kingpin Victor Conte. This time I paid more attention, and I was rewarded with a very good R&B number about stepping aside for the good of someone you love. Fuck you, BALCO.
Next we have Diana, singing big and bold about an affair doomed to end. Again, I think I dismissed this before, but now I'm ready to declare it a top-of-the-line diva exercise. Which I'm sure was the objective.
Rounding out this bunch is Robert George Pickett's re-release of his 1962 #1 about a mad scientist whose creation doesn't terrorize the countryside, but rather entertains the monster community with his brand new dance craze. Even Dracula approves, in spite of his initial accusations of the whole thing being a ripoff of his Transylvania Twist. The idea of combining golden age horror with teenybopper rock is distinctive enough, but the fact that this reissue came in summer instead of Halloween cements Bobby "Boris'" receipt of this week's Uneasy Rider Award.
15 - "Behind Closed Doors," Charlie Rich
14 - "Money," Pink Floyd
13 - "Right Place Wrong Time," Dr, John
12 - "Long Train Running," The Doobie Brothers
11 - "Diamond Girl," Seals and Crofts
This last pre-Top 10 group begins with country's Silver Fox and his sultry ode to the things he and his lady do when no one's looking. And you know what that is, don't you? I sure do. At least I think so. But I'm too embarrassed to ask.
Then it's Pink Floyd, the prog-rock superstars who didn't get on AM radio too often in the decade, but did score one hit single with this celebration/denouncement of the pursuit of legal tender. Using a cash register as a percussion instrument was particularly inspired.
Next is New Orleans boogie pianist Mac Rebennack and his biggest hit, a song about habitually acting inappropriately for the situation. I didn't hear this song for the first time until well into adulthood. I mainly knew his voice from commercials. It was the same with Leon Redbone.
Then the pre-Michael McDonald Doobies show up with a blues rock locomotive that was originally called "Rosie Pig Moseley." Cool. It asks the question "Without love, where would you be now?" I shudder to think.
Finally we have Seals and Crofts, comparing a woman to a "precious stone." Maybe they did that in the hope of avoiding having to buy her one. I have a feeling those guys are cheap like that. No reason, just a hunch.
Way back when, these were The Ten:
10 - "Natural High," Bloodstone
This Kansas City vocal group had their biggest hit with this ballad about how a woman's love makes them want to "take to the sky." So if I've got this straight, instead of this being about drug-free intoxication, it's about joining the Mile High Club without a plane. Interesting.
9 - "Playground in my Mind," Clint Holmes
The return of the Buffalo-born singer's jaunty hit about flashing back to childhood. Instantly dated. And Casey, I love ya, but I didn't need to hear you try and sing the chorus. Just play 'em.
8 - "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," Bette Midler
This song about a jazz musician whose talents come in handy when he's drafted into the army was originally popularized by the Andrews Sisters in an Abbot and Costello movie. Three decades later, a young singer who first gained attention performing in a gay bathhouse in New York City would score her first Top Ten hit with her own version. She went on to a long and successful career, as did the man who accompanied her on piano in that bathhouse, Barry Manilow.
7 - "Smoke on the Water," Deep Purple
The biggest hit for these British hard rockers, with a riff that will not be forgotten as long as people learn electric guitar. But in spite of Homer Simpson's insistence, the line after the one about the gambling house burning down isn't "I am hungry for a candy bar, I think I'll eat a Mounds."
6 - "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," George Harrison
The quiet Beatle's second American charttopper. Like the one that preceded it, "My Sweet Lord," it's a prayer of sorts. It's just as good, with the added bonus of not having any copyright lawsuits attached to it.
5 - "Kodachrome," Paul Simon
Rhymin' Simon is here with my favorite of his, a song connecting his good and bad memories of youth to the camera he used to capture them. And in spite of his having new experiences and a state-of-the-art Nikon to shoot them with, he still desperately wants to hang on to his old Kodachrome. Another Top 20 of the decade contender.
4 - "Shambala," Three Dog Night
You know what? I might actually like this better than "Joy to the World." That's a fun song, but I think you have to be in a certain mood to really want to hear it, whereas "Shambala" seems like it would sound just as good anytime. Either way, this is prime 3DN.
3 - "Yesterday Once More," The Carpenters
I've enjoyed hearing so much Karen and Richard all these weeks, and here we are with the first one of theirs I covered, their tribute to the memories and emotions songs from the past can evoke. Nothing to say but "shoo-bee-doo-lang-lang."
2 - "Will it Go Round in Circles," Billy Preston
I'm determined not to use the nickname I always use when writing about one of Billy's songs as I cover this #1 about melody-free songs, stepless dances, and stories in which the bad guy wins. I'm just going to say that this is top-drawer early 70s funk, and that he had a truly magnificent Afro back in the day. Oh, and did you know he is sometimes referred to as "the fifth Beatle?" Dammit!
And ruling the charts on this occasion was...
1 - "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," Jim Croce
The biggest hit Croce was around to see, this tale of a man considered to be the toughest and smoothest in Chicago until the day a guy beat the shit out of him for hitting on his wife is a worthy heir to earlier chronicles of suave, violent men like "Stagger Lee" and "Mack the Knife." But I know I had no idea what was going on when I heard it as a child. I just thought those references to King Kong and junkyard dogs were pretty neat.
The NotCaseys this week were "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy, "Let's Get it On," by Marvin Gaye, and "Tequila Sunrise" by the Eagles.
The sands in our 70s hourglass are running low, but there's still a few more in there, and we'll watch them flow downward again next week.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
July 21, 1973 Part One
Possibly our last trip to the first year I covered here. Ah, memories...
40 - "Frankenstein," The Edgar Winter Group
39 - "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare," Gladys Knight and the Pips
38 - "Angel," Aretha Franklin
37 - "Soul Makossa," Manu Dibango
36 - "I'll Always Love My Mama," The Intruders
35 - "How Can I Tell Her," Lobo
34 - "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby," Barry White
33 - "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," Al Green
32 - "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," The Spinners
31 - "Where Peaceful Waters Flow," Gladys Knight and the Pips
A bucketload of soul/funk/R&B in this group, so let's start with the two songs that don't fall into that category. Edgar Winter and band are back from May with the last gasp of their iconic monster-inspired instrumental. The sax part is underrated.
And Lobo is here again, trying to go all sensitive-guy to cover up the fact that he's a cheating dog. And not one named Boo, either.
We'll divide the R&B into group and solo categories. Gladys K. and her reinforcements are here twice. First, they come with a funky reminiscence of a father who was as loving and caring as you'd want a dad to be, but when angered, was capable of language that could peel the paint of the walls. Then they go into gospel mode on a song in which Gladys promises that when you're down and lonely, she will take you by the hand to a quiet place and "teach you how to smile." That may sound suggestive out of context, but it's just pure beautiful friendship. Lovely. Philly soul footnotes The Intruders reveal themselves to be big ol' mother lovers on a song in which they declare their undying devotion for the woman who "used to clean somebody else's house just to buy me a new pair of shoes." This was a big week for parental appreciation, apparently. And The Spinners are here with a typically smooth jam about the delights of romance. But there are some people who thought they heard lead singer Philippe Wynne sing "you just gotta fuck her," near the end. That's not smooth at all. Hearing the allegedly offending line, I must say, I can't make out what is being said, but I know in my soul that The Spinners would not Trojan horse vulgarity into one of their records. They're not the kind.
Closing this part out are the singletons. Aretha opens her entry here with a spoken word intro about her sister Carolyn calling her over to talk and telling her how badly she needs someone to love. Seems a little odd to be sharing a sister's romantic confessions, but since Carolyn co-wrote the song, I guess it's okay. Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango's example of the African dance genre "makossa" was discovered by prominent New York tastemakers, made its way to radio stations across the U.S.A., and is now regarded by many as one of the first disco hits. Fantastic. Barry White is here with his first hit, which introduced his smooth baritone and loverman rap to a receptive world. Like that kinda gothic opening. And Al Green returns with the song that prompted me to confess my ignorance of his oeuvre all those months ago. Have I learned as much about his work as I'd intended to since then. I can't say that I have. But I know more than I did. And I know he's an absolutely deserving legend.
30 - "Uneasy Rider," Charlie Daniels
29 - "Live and Let Die," Wings
28 - "Satin Sheets," Jeanne Pruett
27 - "If You Want Me to Stay," Sly and the Family Stone
26 - "I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)," Johnnie Taylor
25 - "Doin' it to Death," Fred Wesley and the J.B.s
24 - "Brother Louie," Stories
23 - "Misdemeanor," Foster Sylvers
22 - "Get Down," Gilbert O'Sullivan
21 - "My Love," Paul McCartney and Wings
We start with country. Charlie Daniels is here with the tale of a hippie's run-in with rednecks was on the first BGC chart, and it lives on in the weekly award for the song that most sticks out like a sore thumb on the chart. But no, it doesn't win this week. And Jeanne Pruett had by far her biggest hit with an old-school lament about a woman married to a man who gives her everything who longs to give it all up for the guy she really loves. I used to roll my eyes at songs that sounded like this, but I've grown to appreciate ones that are done really well. And this is one.
Then we rock. Wings are in this section twice, but only once with their leader getting featured billing. First they contribute one of the great Bond themes, with music and lyrics that evoke the proper amounts of action and intrigue. Then they're in ballad mode with a super sincere declaration of love for a woman. Could have been sappy, but it works fine. And "Brother Louie," you'll recall, was Number One that very first week, and I'm happy to say that this time, Casey played the unedited version of the tale of interracial romance. Good song, but still not convinced it's of #1 caliber.
The soul domination continues. Sly and his unrelated Family are back with their last big hit. Fittingly, it's a funky, laid-back song about a funky, laid-back departure. Love it. Johnnie Taylor is here with an atypically tender song about sharing a love that others don't think should be. This is better that 100 "Disco Lady"s. "Doin' it to Death," is a funky strut that's credited to trombonist Fred Wesley and James Brown's backup band, but James himself is present and correct, promising "a funky good time." And he delivers, with no small assistance from Wesley's prominent horn work. And before he joined the rest of his family on smashes like "Boogie Fever," young Foster Sylvers hit the charts with this fun little trifle in which he compares the theft of his heart by a girl to minor offenses like illegal parking or running a red light. It's like a poor-man's Michael Jackson single from that period, but I mean that in a good way.
We close with Gilbert O'Sullivan, who stands alone because I'm certainly not going to call him country, rock, and certainly not soul. I'm still not sure if "Get Down" is about a woman or a dog, but it doesn't really matter. I just find it incredibly odd that this guy of all people was one of the biggest pop stars in the world for a period of 12-18 months. It may be the biggest mystery I've come across in this whole process.
Tomorrow: a rare hit from one of the decade's biggest band's, a faux-physician from Louisiana, and for a few minutes, it's 1941 again.
40 - "Frankenstein," The Edgar Winter Group
39 - "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare," Gladys Knight and the Pips
38 - "Angel," Aretha Franklin
37 - "Soul Makossa," Manu Dibango
36 - "I'll Always Love My Mama," The Intruders
35 - "How Can I Tell Her," Lobo
34 - "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby," Barry White
33 - "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," Al Green
32 - "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," The Spinners
31 - "Where Peaceful Waters Flow," Gladys Knight and the Pips
A bucketload of soul/funk/R&B in this group, so let's start with the two songs that don't fall into that category. Edgar Winter and band are back from May with the last gasp of their iconic monster-inspired instrumental. The sax part is underrated.
And Lobo is here again, trying to go all sensitive-guy to cover up the fact that he's a cheating dog. And not one named Boo, either.
We'll divide the R&B into group and solo categories. Gladys K. and her reinforcements are here twice. First, they come with a funky reminiscence of a father who was as loving and caring as you'd want a dad to be, but when angered, was capable of language that could peel the paint of the walls. Then they go into gospel mode on a song in which Gladys promises that when you're down and lonely, she will take you by the hand to a quiet place and "teach you how to smile." That may sound suggestive out of context, but it's just pure beautiful friendship. Lovely. Philly soul footnotes The Intruders reveal themselves to be big ol' mother lovers on a song in which they declare their undying devotion for the woman who "used to clean somebody else's house just to buy me a new pair of shoes." This was a big week for parental appreciation, apparently. And The Spinners are here with a typically smooth jam about the delights of romance. But there are some people who thought they heard lead singer Philippe Wynne sing "you just gotta fuck her," near the end. That's not smooth at all. Hearing the allegedly offending line, I must say, I can't make out what is being said, but I know in my soul that The Spinners would not Trojan horse vulgarity into one of their records. They're not the kind.
Closing this part out are the singletons. Aretha opens her entry here with a spoken word intro about her sister Carolyn calling her over to talk and telling her how badly she needs someone to love. Seems a little odd to be sharing a sister's romantic confessions, but since Carolyn co-wrote the song, I guess it's okay. Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango's example of the African dance genre "makossa" was discovered by prominent New York tastemakers, made its way to radio stations across the U.S.A., and is now regarded by many as one of the first disco hits. Fantastic. Barry White is here with his first hit, which introduced his smooth baritone and loverman rap to a receptive world. Like that kinda gothic opening. And Al Green returns with the song that prompted me to confess my ignorance of his oeuvre all those months ago. Have I learned as much about his work as I'd intended to since then. I can't say that I have. But I know more than I did. And I know he's an absolutely deserving legend.
30 - "Uneasy Rider," Charlie Daniels
29 - "Live and Let Die," Wings
28 - "Satin Sheets," Jeanne Pruett
27 - "If You Want Me to Stay," Sly and the Family Stone
26 - "I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)," Johnnie Taylor
25 - "Doin' it to Death," Fred Wesley and the J.B.s
24 - "Brother Louie," Stories
23 - "Misdemeanor," Foster Sylvers
22 - "Get Down," Gilbert O'Sullivan
21 - "My Love," Paul McCartney and Wings
We start with country. Charlie Daniels is here with the tale of a hippie's run-in with rednecks was on the first BGC chart, and it lives on in the weekly award for the song that most sticks out like a sore thumb on the chart. But no, it doesn't win this week. And Jeanne Pruett had by far her biggest hit with an old-school lament about a woman married to a man who gives her everything who longs to give it all up for the guy she really loves. I used to roll my eyes at songs that sounded like this, but I've grown to appreciate ones that are done really well. And this is one.
Then we rock. Wings are in this section twice, but only once with their leader getting featured billing. First they contribute one of the great Bond themes, with music and lyrics that evoke the proper amounts of action and intrigue. Then they're in ballad mode with a super sincere declaration of love for a woman. Could have been sappy, but it works fine. And "Brother Louie," you'll recall, was Number One that very first week, and I'm happy to say that this time, Casey played the unedited version of the tale of interracial romance. Good song, but still not convinced it's of #1 caliber.
The soul domination continues. Sly and his unrelated Family are back with their last big hit. Fittingly, it's a funky, laid-back song about a funky, laid-back departure. Love it. Johnnie Taylor is here with an atypically tender song about sharing a love that others don't think should be. This is better that 100 "Disco Lady"s. "Doin' it to Death," is a funky strut that's credited to trombonist Fred Wesley and James Brown's backup band, but James himself is present and correct, promising "a funky good time." And he delivers, with no small assistance from Wesley's prominent horn work. And before he joined the rest of his family on smashes like "Boogie Fever," young Foster Sylvers hit the charts with this fun little trifle in which he compares the theft of his heart by a girl to minor offenses like illegal parking or running a red light. It's like a poor-man's Michael Jackson single from that period, but I mean that in a good way.
We close with Gilbert O'Sullivan, who stands alone because I'm certainly not going to call him country, rock, and certainly not soul. I'm still not sure if "Get Down" is about a woman or a dog, but it doesn't really matter. I just find it incredibly odd that this guy of all people was one of the biggest pop stars in the world for a period of 12-18 months. It may be the biggest mystery I've come across in this whole process.
Tomorrow: a rare hit from one of the decade's biggest band's, a faux-physician from Louisiana, and for a few minutes, it's 1941 again.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
July 14, 1979
Back to the end of the decade and cutoff shows. This week we get a Top 33.
33 - "Weekend," Wet Willie
32 - "Just When I Needed You Most," Randy Vanwarmer
31 - "Lead Me On," Maxine Nightingale
30 - "Up On the Roof," James Taylor
29 - "Love You Inside Out," The Bee Gees
28 - "People of the South Wind," Kansas
27 - "Shadows in the Moonlight," Anne Murray
26 - "The Main Event/Fight," Barbra Streisand
25 - "Getting Closer," Wings
We kick off with rock. Southern rockers Wet Willie had their biggest hit in 1974 with "Keep on Smilin'," but I'm more familiar with this one, in which they declare "you've gotta make the best of life while you're young." And while they try to stay true to their roots with not one but two harmonica solos, the beat, the strings, and the handclaps give this away as a leap onto the disco bandwagon. Kansas are back with one of their non-"Carry On Wayward Son"/"Dust in the Wind" hits. It's an upbeat song in which the singer longs to return to the titular people, but for some reason, he can't. The chorus is a bit hooky, but otherwise, this isn't much. And after going disco on the limp "Goodnight Tonight." Paul and his second band redeemed themselves with this straight-up rocker. It's got some strange lyrics, though. Paul refers to his beloved as "my salamander," and later, he for some reason warns, "Cattle, beware of snipers." These non-sequitirs, combined with a weak field of weirdness, combine to give Sir Paul and company this week's Uneasy Rider.
Then it's the light stuff. Randy Vanwarmer (still laughing at that name) returns to guilt trip a woman about her timing in breaking up with him. There are other ways to stay warm in a van, Randy, so lighten up on the lady. After three hitless years following her smash "Right Back Where We Started From," British singer Maxine Nightingale returned to the American charts with this ballad in which she seems to say, "I know you're not in love with me, but that's okay, I still wanna do it." But not that crassly, of course. James Taylor returns to his habit of slowing down and boring up old soul hits with this somnambulant cover of a 1962 Drifters classic. And Canada's Snowbird is here with a #1 country hit/booty call request. Anne, you minx you. But I still find it hard to differentiate it from Jennifer Warnes' "Right Time of the Night."
This section concludes with two pop acts gone disco. The Bee Gees, of course, had been doing this for years, reaping many #1s, including this one that I still say Feist improved 1000%. Barbra Streisand, on the other hand, was new to the genre when she recorded this theme tune for a movie in which she managed Ryan O'Neal's boxing career. But in the song, "the main event" is apparently "when we make love." If that's the case, Babs, I'm leaving during the undercard.
24 - "Do it or Die," The Atlanta Rhythm Section
23 - "Mama Can't Buy You Love," Elton John
22 - "I Was Made for Lovin' You," Kiss
21 - "Heart of the Night," Poco
20 - "Does Your Mother Know," ABBA
19 - "You Can't Change That," Raydio
18 - "Days Gone Down," Gerry Rafferty
17 - "I Can't Stand it No More," Peter Frampton
16 - "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," McFadden and Whitehead
Soft stuff leads off this bunch. The Atlanta Rhythm Section show up with this slow bit of encouragement to live life to the fullest. Sorry boys, I'm not motivated. Poco are back with more bland country rock that I remember but don't really care about one way or the other. And the late Gerry Rafferty had his next-to-last American hit with this warm little number about good times in the past and hope for the future. It isn't "Baker Street," but what is? It'll do.
Yes, we have rockers. Elton John had his first Top Ten in three years with this jaunty bit of funk produced by legendary Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell. It might be one of his last great singles. The four makeup-adorned New Yorkers who were so popular they had their own Army succumbed to disco with this pulsing track, but it must be said, the grimy sexuality that marked the best of the genre fit Kiss like a glove, so they hardly embarrassed themselves. In fact, it might be my favorite song of theirs. And Peter Frampton had his last hit with this simple rocker about leaving a woman because she doesn't treat him like his mama does (or something like that). After this dropped off the charts, "I Can't Stand it No More" was something most of the public said about his music.
We finish this group with disco and soul. ABBA are here with a song in which the lead vocal is sung not by one of the women, but by Bjorn Ulvaeus. In it, he comes off as a swarthy clubgoer debating whether or not to take home a girl who may not be of age. Creepy, cheesy fun. Ray Parker Jr.'s wacky punsters return with a vaguely stalkerish song that declares that no matter what the object of his obsession does, he loves her and only her. I know who I'm gonna call, Ray, and it ain't the Ghostbusters. And veteran R&B songwriters Gene McFadden and John Whitehead had their biggest hit as recording artists with this lush, optimistic disco production. Take note, Atlanta Rhythm Section. This is how you motivate people with music.
15 - "Dance the Night Away," Van Halen
14 - "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," Dr. Hook
13 - "Good Times," Chic
12 - "We are Family," Sister Sledge
11 - "The Logical Song," Supertramp
This quintet opens with Van Halen's second Top 40 hit, a song that David Lee Roth has claimed was inspired by a woman who ran into a bar the band was playing in with her pants on backwards because she was being chased by police for having sex in a public place. That doesn't enhance my enjoyment of this song at all. But it doesn't deter from it, either. It's good.
Then it's Dr. Hook, who by this time had lost both "The Medicine Show" and their soul. This flaccid disco track is about how awful life is when you're girlfriend is very attractive. The paranoia! The jealousy! You poor bastard. You should have listened to that song "If You Wanna be Happy (For the Rest of Your Life)." Apparently, you'd be much more content if you heeded that song's advice.
Chic show up with the second of their twin disco masterpieces, in which they combine old timey refenences to the jive, the jitterbug, and "the sporting life," with a state-of-the-art funk groove. This song alone is enough to counter a million "disco sucks" arguments.
Sister Sledge return with their bumping ode to blood ties, also produced by Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. This may have been the best time ever to be on a dance floor.
Lastly we have Supertramp and their song about trying to avoid being dulled by a system that prizes uniformity. I'm not sure if that's getting easier or harder.
Ten tunes that had greatness thrust upon them:
10 - "Gold," John Stewart
First of all, note the "h," those of you who want to make the cheap "Isn't he the guy from The Daily Show?" joke. This John Stewart was a veteran musician whose biggest career highlights were his late-period membership in The Kingston Trio and writing the Monkees hit "Daydream Believer." Then, as he neared 40, he wrote a song in which he noted, possibly with some bitterness, that "there's people out there turning music into gold." Two of those people were Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, and as luck would have it, those two would play guitar and sing backup, respectively, on Stewart's record. The result: a hit at last for Stewart, and a slow-burning rocker that I loved since the moment I heard it. Top 20 of the decade for me, easy.
9 - "Shine a Little Love," Electric Light Orchestra
Like many pop and rock artists at this time (a few of which we've encountered in this very countdown), ELO took a stab at incorporating disco into their sound. But given their natural love of using strings, it was probably an easier transition for them than for others. Anyway, this is the result, and it's pretty damn good. Spacey, just a little funky, and Jeff Lynne's falsetto works almost as well in this context as Barry Gibb's does. Almost.
8 - "I Want You to Want Me," Cheap Trick
This Rockford, Illinois band hadn't yet broken through in their home country in April of 1978, but they had gotten big enough in Japan to sell out the famed Budokan Hall in Tokyo, where they recorded a live album containing a version of this simple yet irresistable rocker. This version, powered in part by the enthusiasm of the Japanese crowd, finally got them an American hit. Sometimes you have to go halfway around the world to get love at home.
7 - "Makin' It," David Naughton
Here's the case for "disco sucks." Almost makes me ashamed to admit I like Dr. Pepper.
6 - "Boogie Wonderland," Earth, Wind and Fire with the Emotions
The funk superstars teamed up with the vocal group consisting of three Hutchinson sisters, for whom EWF leader Maurice White had written the 1978 #1 "Best of My Love," on this floor-filler. The title, of course, instantly dates it, but I doubt your butt would care if you were listening to it right now.
5 - "She Believes in Me," Kenny Rogers
Kenny's song about his songwriting struggles and the woman who endures them, martyrlike, in the name of love, is back. It's still okay.
4 - "Chuck E.'s in Love," Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee returns, playing it cool while singing about the laid-back dude who's got a crush on her. Still not sure how this got to be such a big hit, but I'm oh so glad it did.
3 - "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer
Donna doesn't want to go home alone tonight. And she's not going to, no matter what. This song proves that disco was able to project the urgency of lust as good or better than any musical genre ever invented.
2 - "Ring My Bell," Anita Ward
Ex-schoolteacher Ward was a one hit wonder, but that one hit was this disco classic that topped charts all around the world. The song has many beeps and jangles meant to simulate the sound of bells ringing, as well as "ding dong ding dong" contributions from the backup singers. But a close examinination of both the lyrics and Ward's sultry, girly vocals reveal that this song may not be about campanology, but rather, and I'm sure you'll never believe this but it's true, SEX! Shocked, I am.
And ruling the airwaves 32 years ago was...
1 - "Bad Girls," Donna Summer
On this number, Donna isn't the one on the prowl. Rather, she's describing the lives of others who are similarly inclined. She seems a little judgmental of them, but she also seems to empathize with them. Oh well, who cares, we're all too busy dancing and singing "Toot toot, ah, beep beep." And I believe this is probably the best use of the whistle as a musical instrument in all of the disco era.
The NotCaseys were songs 34 and 35 from this week's chart: "Sad Eyes" by Robert John and "Is She Really Going Out with Him" by Joe Jackson. Casey played two #1s from 1974: Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing" and Olivia Newton-John's "I Honestly Love You." And the Long Distance Dedication was "You are the Sunshine of My Life," sent out by a pastor and his wife to a young woman they befriended at the church they just left for another gig.
So anotther one's gone. The 70s continue next week, but the 80s are getting closer all the time. See ya.
33 - "Weekend," Wet Willie
32 - "Just When I Needed You Most," Randy Vanwarmer
31 - "Lead Me On," Maxine Nightingale
30 - "Up On the Roof," James Taylor
29 - "Love You Inside Out," The Bee Gees
28 - "People of the South Wind," Kansas
27 - "Shadows in the Moonlight," Anne Murray
26 - "The Main Event/Fight," Barbra Streisand
25 - "Getting Closer," Wings
We kick off with rock. Southern rockers Wet Willie had their biggest hit in 1974 with "Keep on Smilin'," but I'm more familiar with this one, in which they declare "you've gotta make the best of life while you're young." And while they try to stay true to their roots with not one but two harmonica solos, the beat, the strings, and the handclaps give this away as a leap onto the disco bandwagon. Kansas are back with one of their non-"Carry On Wayward Son"/"Dust in the Wind" hits. It's an upbeat song in which the singer longs to return to the titular people, but for some reason, he can't. The chorus is a bit hooky, but otherwise, this isn't much. And after going disco on the limp "Goodnight Tonight." Paul and his second band redeemed themselves with this straight-up rocker. It's got some strange lyrics, though. Paul refers to his beloved as "my salamander," and later, he for some reason warns, "Cattle, beware of snipers." These non-sequitirs, combined with a weak field of weirdness, combine to give Sir Paul and company this week's Uneasy Rider.
Then it's the light stuff. Randy Vanwarmer (still laughing at that name) returns to guilt trip a woman about her timing in breaking up with him. There are other ways to stay warm in a van, Randy, so lighten up on the lady. After three hitless years following her smash "Right Back Where We Started From," British singer Maxine Nightingale returned to the American charts with this ballad in which she seems to say, "I know you're not in love with me, but that's okay, I still wanna do it." But not that crassly, of course. James Taylor returns to his habit of slowing down and boring up old soul hits with this somnambulant cover of a 1962 Drifters classic. And Canada's Snowbird is here with a #1 country hit/booty call request. Anne, you minx you. But I still find it hard to differentiate it from Jennifer Warnes' "Right Time of the Night."
This section concludes with two pop acts gone disco. The Bee Gees, of course, had been doing this for years, reaping many #1s, including this one that I still say Feist improved 1000%. Barbra Streisand, on the other hand, was new to the genre when she recorded this theme tune for a movie in which she managed Ryan O'Neal's boxing career. But in the song, "the main event" is apparently "when we make love." If that's the case, Babs, I'm leaving during the undercard.
24 - "Do it or Die," The Atlanta Rhythm Section
23 - "Mama Can't Buy You Love," Elton John
22 - "I Was Made for Lovin' You," Kiss
21 - "Heart of the Night," Poco
20 - "Does Your Mother Know," ABBA
19 - "You Can't Change That," Raydio
18 - "Days Gone Down," Gerry Rafferty
17 - "I Can't Stand it No More," Peter Frampton
16 - "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," McFadden and Whitehead
Soft stuff leads off this bunch. The Atlanta Rhythm Section show up with this slow bit of encouragement to live life to the fullest. Sorry boys, I'm not motivated. Poco are back with more bland country rock that I remember but don't really care about one way or the other. And the late Gerry Rafferty had his next-to-last American hit with this warm little number about good times in the past and hope for the future. It isn't "Baker Street," but what is? It'll do.
Yes, we have rockers. Elton John had his first Top Ten in three years with this jaunty bit of funk produced by legendary Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell. It might be one of his last great singles. The four makeup-adorned New Yorkers who were so popular they had their own Army succumbed to disco with this pulsing track, but it must be said, the grimy sexuality that marked the best of the genre fit Kiss like a glove, so they hardly embarrassed themselves. In fact, it might be my favorite song of theirs. And Peter Frampton had his last hit with this simple rocker about leaving a woman because she doesn't treat him like his mama does (or something like that). After this dropped off the charts, "I Can't Stand it No More" was something most of the public said about his music.
We finish this group with disco and soul. ABBA are here with a song in which the lead vocal is sung not by one of the women, but by Bjorn Ulvaeus. In it, he comes off as a swarthy clubgoer debating whether or not to take home a girl who may not be of age. Creepy, cheesy fun. Ray Parker Jr.'s wacky punsters return with a vaguely stalkerish song that declares that no matter what the object of his obsession does, he loves her and only her. I know who I'm gonna call, Ray, and it ain't the Ghostbusters. And veteran R&B songwriters Gene McFadden and John Whitehead had their biggest hit as recording artists with this lush, optimistic disco production. Take note, Atlanta Rhythm Section. This is how you motivate people with music.
15 - "Dance the Night Away," Van Halen
14 - "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," Dr. Hook
13 - "Good Times," Chic
12 - "We are Family," Sister Sledge
11 - "The Logical Song," Supertramp
This quintet opens with Van Halen's second Top 40 hit, a song that David Lee Roth has claimed was inspired by a woman who ran into a bar the band was playing in with her pants on backwards because she was being chased by police for having sex in a public place. That doesn't enhance my enjoyment of this song at all. But it doesn't deter from it, either. It's good.
Then it's Dr. Hook, who by this time had lost both "The Medicine Show" and their soul. This flaccid disco track is about how awful life is when you're girlfriend is very attractive. The paranoia! The jealousy! You poor bastard. You should have listened to that song "If You Wanna be Happy (For the Rest of Your Life)." Apparently, you'd be much more content if you heeded that song's advice.
Chic show up with the second of their twin disco masterpieces, in which they combine old timey refenences to the jive, the jitterbug, and "the sporting life," with a state-of-the-art funk groove. This song alone is enough to counter a million "disco sucks" arguments.
Sister Sledge return with their bumping ode to blood ties, also produced by Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. This may have been the best time ever to be on a dance floor.
Lastly we have Supertramp and their song about trying to avoid being dulled by a system that prizes uniformity. I'm not sure if that's getting easier or harder.
Ten tunes that had greatness thrust upon them:
10 - "Gold," John Stewart
First of all, note the "h," those of you who want to make the cheap "Isn't he the guy from The Daily Show?" joke. This John Stewart was a veteran musician whose biggest career highlights were his late-period membership in The Kingston Trio and writing the Monkees hit "Daydream Believer." Then, as he neared 40, he wrote a song in which he noted, possibly with some bitterness, that "there's people out there turning music into gold." Two of those people were Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, and as luck would have it, those two would play guitar and sing backup, respectively, on Stewart's record. The result: a hit at last for Stewart, and a slow-burning rocker that I loved since the moment I heard it. Top 20 of the decade for me, easy.
9 - "Shine a Little Love," Electric Light Orchestra
Like many pop and rock artists at this time (a few of which we've encountered in this very countdown), ELO took a stab at incorporating disco into their sound. But given their natural love of using strings, it was probably an easier transition for them than for others. Anyway, this is the result, and it's pretty damn good. Spacey, just a little funky, and Jeff Lynne's falsetto works almost as well in this context as Barry Gibb's does. Almost.
8 - "I Want You to Want Me," Cheap Trick
This Rockford, Illinois band hadn't yet broken through in their home country in April of 1978, but they had gotten big enough in Japan to sell out the famed Budokan Hall in Tokyo, where they recorded a live album containing a version of this simple yet irresistable rocker. This version, powered in part by the enthusiasm of the Japanese crowd, finally got them an American hit. Sometimes you have to go halfway around the world to get love at home.
7 - "Makin' It," David Naughton
Here's the case for "disco sucks." Almost makes me ashamed to admit I like Dr. Pepper.
6 - "Boogie Wonderland," Earth, Wind and Fire with the Emotions
The funk superstars teamed up with the vocal group consisting of three Hutchinson sisters, for whom EWF leader Maurice White had written the 1978 #1 "Best of My Love," on this floor-filler. The title, of course, instantly dates it, but I doubt your butt would care if you were listening to it right now.
5 - "She Believes in Me," Kenny Rogers
Kenny's song about his songwriting struggles and the woman who endures them, martyrlike, in the name of love, is back. It's still okay.
4 - "Chuck E.'s in Love," Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee returns, playing it cool while singing about the laid-back dude who's got a crush on her. Still not sure how this got to be such a big hit, but I'm oh so glad it did.
3 - "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer
Donna doesn't want to go home alone tonight. And she's not going to, no matter what. This song proves that disco was able to project the urgency of lust as good or better than any musical genre ever invented.
2 - "Ring My Bell," Anita Ward
Ex-schoolteacher Ward was a one hit wonder, but that one hit was this disco classic that topped charts all around the world. The song has many beeps and jangles meant to simulate the sound of bells ringing, as well as "ding dong ding dong" contributions from the backup singers. But a close examinination of both the lyrics and Ward's sultry, girly vocals reveal that this song may not be about campanology, but rather, and I'm sure you'll never believe this but it's true, SEX! Shocked, I am.
And ruling the airwaves 32 years ago was...
1 - "Bad Girls," Donna Summer
On this number, Donna isn't the one on the prowl. Rather, she's describing the lives of others who are similarly inclined. She seems a little judgmental of them, but she also seems to empathize with them. Oh well, who cares, we're all too busy dancing and singing "Toot toot, ah, beep beep." And I believe this is probably the best use of the whistle as a musical instrument in all of the disco era.
The NotCaseys were songs 34 and 35 from this week's chart: "Sad Eyes" by Robert John and "Is She Really Going Out with Him" by Joe Jackson. Casey played two #1s from 1974: Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing" and Olivia Newton-John's "I Honestly Love You." And the Long Distance Dedication was "You are the Sunshine of My Life," sent out by a pastor and his wife to a young woman they befriended at the church they just left for another gig.
So anotther one's gone. The 70s continue next week, but the 80s are getting closer all the time. See ya.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
July 8, 1972 Part Two
Concluding 1972. In July. Yes, I can do that.
20 - "Alone Again (Naturally)," Gilbert O' Sullivan
19 - "Where is the Love," Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
18 - "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Michael Jackson
17 - "Take it Easy," The Eagles
16 - "School's Out," Alice Cooper
This bunch begins with Gilbert O'Sullivan's hugely successful depiction of a man who feels abandoned by the world around him, and even God. So he's decided to kill himself. And by the end of the song, we're given no comforting assurance that he changed his mind. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: 1972 must have been the most depressing summer ever.
Next are Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, singing out their frustrations over lovers who won't leave their current partners for them. Again, not a happy song, but coming right after that downer Gil, it sounds postively sprightly.
Then it's young Michael with a jazzy little gem about a guy who now realizes he was wrong to leave his beloved. And despite his youth, you believe his passion. The kid had it right from the womb.
The Eagles had their first hit with this country song about scolds, girls in Ford trucks, and lovers who won't blow covers and possess love sweet enough to save a life. Glenn Frey co-wrote it with fellow California easy rocker Jackson Browne. It's a nice little nugget, with little hint of the pretentions to come. The time when they could still lighten up was starting to run out.
Last in this set are Alice Cooper (it was still the original band at this point, not just the former Vincent Furnier, going by that name), with the song that surely got its annual bump in airplay a couple weeks ago. If you try to listen with fresh ears, you can hear the menace that people probably sensed upon its intial release. But of course, Alice is a cartoon character now. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes one needs a reminder that this guy was once considered genuinely threatening.
15 - "Layla," Derek and the Dominos
14 - "Too Young," Donny Osmond
13 - "How Do You Do," Mouth and MacNeal
12 - "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," The Looking Glass
11 - "Nice to Be With You," Gallery
We begin this group with the band that was really just Eric Clapton and some of his friends, with the song known for three things: the iconic opening guitar riff, the epic piano breakdown at the end (cut off on this version), and the fact that it was written about Patti Boyd, who was then married to Clapton's friend George Harrison. Not much more to say about it. Good song, and much better in this version than that unplugged one from the 90s that got played to death.
Then it's the child cover machine from Utah, this time taking on Nat King Cole. Can't blame Donny, he sings it all right. But the arrangement is much too bombastic for my taste. The song would have been better served if they'd toned it down for once.
Next are Dutch male-female duo of Mouth and MacNeal (shockingly, neither's real name) with their only American hit, a song about a couple that decides the best way to rescue their relationship is to literally reintroduce themselves to each other. The structure of the song is quite interesting: the verses are blues-rock, then the choruses open with a kind of classical violin sound and then morph into almost a German oompah band thing. Oddly cool.
Ah, "Brandy," we meet again. If you go back here, you'll discover the depth of my distaste for this song, and my suggestions on how it could have been improved. I have nothing more to add. The lest time I spend thinking about that song, the better.
This quintet concludes with Gallery and their song that I thought I hated, but it's growing on me. The singer's even pretty good for a poor man's Neil Diamond. I think I confused it with "Precious and Few," which, for the record, still sucks.
And now, the ten pillars that held up pop this particular week:
10 - "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right," Luther Ingram
Soul music and adultery: Two great tastes that taste great together. This is definitely a challenger for "Me and Mrs. Jones"' place on top of that particular heap.
9 - "I Need You," America
But I don't need you, America. Not on this slab of raw boredom.
8 - "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast," Wayne Newton
The Vegas icon with his biggest pop hit, a melodrama about a guy whose stopped from leaving his wife by the cries of his daughter. Too overwrought to provoke genuine tears. But I bet Wayne kills this live.
7 - "Rocket Man," Elton John
One of Elton's standards, a ballad that re-imagines astronauts as blue collar wage slaves who don't know how they get to space, they just do their jobs and miss their wives and decry the lack of good intergalactic child care. Genius.
6 - "Troglodyte (Cave Man)," The Jimmy Castor Bunch
These funk jesters return with their "history lesson" about how the earliest men found mates. Almost certainly inaccurate, because science has yet to prove the existence of Bertha Butt or her sisters. But fun nonetheless.
5 - "The Candy Man," Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy's back, swingin' and paying tribute to the magical powers of the confectioner. I don't know about you, but I could go for a groovy lemon pie right about now.
4 - "Too Late to Turn Back Now," Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
This smooth little love song was the biggest hit for Carter, Eddie and Rose Cornelius. I don't feel passionate about it either way. Sorry.
3 - "Song Sung Blue," Neil Diamond
Neil's not-so-sad tribute to sad songs. Although, contrary to his assertion here, I've never known any gardens that grew one.
2 - "Outa-Space," Billy Preston
The Fifth Beatle gets cosmic. I haven't been able to come up with much to say about it the first couple times it's come up, and the streak continues.
And the song that rocked more worlds than any other 39 years ago was...
1 - "Lean on Me," Bill Withers
Good old Bill and his warm, timeless assurance of rock-solid friendship, no matter what the future brings. The immediate future would bring tons and tons of airplay for Gilbert O.'s glorified suicide note, so I suspect this song was leaned on pretty hard in the months that followed.
The NotCaseys this week were "You Dont Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce, "It's Too Late" by Carole King, and "Popcorn" by Hot Butter.
Back with more Me Decade madness next week.
20 - "Alone Again (Naturally)," Gilbert O' Sullivan
19 - "Where is the Love," Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
18 - "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Michael Jackson
17 - "Take it Easy," The Eagles
16 - "School's Out," Alice Cooper
This bunch begins with Gilbert O'Sullivan's hugely successful depiction of a man who feels abandoned by the world around him, and even God. So he's decided to kill himself. And by the end of the song, we're given no comforting assurance that he changed his mind. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: 1972 must have been the most depressing summer ever.
Next are Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, singing out their frustrations over lovers who won't leave their current partners for them. Again, not a happy song, but coming right after that downer Gil, it sounds postively sprightly.
Then it's young Michael with a jazzy little gem about a guy who now realizes he was wrong to leave his beloved. And despite his youth, you believe his passion. The kid had it right from the womb.
The Eagles had their first hit with this country song about scolds, girls in Ford trucks, and lovers who won't blow covers and possess love sweet enough to save a life. Glenn Frey co-wrote it with fellow California easy rocker Jackson Browne. It's a nice little nugget, with little hint of the pretentions to come. The time when they could still lighten up was starting to run out.
Last in this set are Alice Cooper (it was still the original band at this point, not just the former Vincent Furnier, going by that name), with the song that surely got its annual bump in airplay a couple weeks ago. If you try to listen with fresh ears, you can hear the menace that people probably sensed upon its intial release. But of course, Alice is a cartoon character now. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes one needs a reminder that this guy was once considered genuinely threatening.
15 - "Layla," Derek and the Dominos
14 - "Too Young," Donny Osmond
13 - "How Do You Do," Mouth and MacNeal
12 - "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," The Looking Glass
11 - "Nice to Be With You," Gallery
We begin this group with the band that was really just Eric Clapton and some of his friends, with the song known for three things: the iconic opening guitar riff, the epic piano breakdown at the end (cut off on this version), and the fact that it was written about Patti Boyd, who was then married to Clapton's friend George Harrison. Not much more to say about it. Good song, and much better in this version than that unplugged one from the 90s that got played to death.
Then it's the child cover machine from Utah, this time taking on Nat King Cole. Can't blame Donny, he sings it all right. But the arrangement is much too bombastic for my taste. The song would have been better served if they'd toned it down for once.
Next are Dutch male-female duo of Mouth and MacNeal (shockingly, neither's real name) with their only American hit, a song about a couple that decides the best way to rescue their relationship is to literally reintroduce themselves to each other. The structure of the song is quite interesting: the verses are blues-rock, then the choruses open with a kind of classical violin sound and then morph into almost a German oompah band thing. Oddly cool.
Ah, "Brandy," we meet again. If you go back here, you'll discover the depth of my distaste for this song, and my suggestions on how it could have been improved. I have nothing more to add. The lest time I spend thinking about that song, the better.
This quintet concludes with Gallery and their song that I thought I hated, but it's growing on me. The singer's even pretty good for a poor man's Neil Diamond. I think I confused it with "Precious and Few," which, for the record, still sucks.
And now, the ten pillars that held up pop this particular week:
10 - "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right," Luther Ingram
Soul music and adultery: Two great tastes that taste great together. This is definitely a challenger for "Me and Mrs. Jones"' place on top of that particular heap.
9 - "I Need You," America
But I don't need you, America. Not on this slab of raw boredom.
8 - "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast," Wayne Newton
The Vegas icon with his biggest pop hit, a melodrama about a guy whose stopped from leaving his wife by the cries of his daughter. Too overwrought to provoke genuine tears. But I bet Wayne kills this live.
7 - "Rocket Man," Elton John
One of Elton's standards, a ballad that re-imagines astronauts as blue collar wage slaves who don't know how they get to space, they just do their jobs and miss their wives and decry the lack of good intergalactic child care. Genius.
6 - "Troglodyte (Cave Man)," The Jimmy Castor Bunch
These funk jesters return with their "history lesson" about how the earliest men found mates. Almost certainly inaccurate, because science has yet to prove the existence of Bertha Butt or her sisters. But fun nonetheless.
5 - "The Candy Man," Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy's back, swingin' and paying tribute to the magical powers of the confectioner. I don't know about you, but I could go for a groovy lemon pie right about now.
4 - "Too Late to Turn Back Now," Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
This smooth little love song was the biggest hit for Carter, Eddie and Rose Cornelius. I don't feel passionate about it either way. Sorry.
3 - "Song Sung Blue," Neil Diamond
Neil's not-so-sad tribute to sad songs. Although, contrary to his assertion here, I've never known any gardens that grew one.
2 - "Outa-Space," Billy Preston
The Fifth Beatle gets cosmic. I haven't been able to come up with much to say about it the first couple times it's come up, and the streak continues.
And the song that rocked more worlds than any other 39 years ago was...
1 - "Lean on Me," Bill Withers
Good old Bill and his warm, timeless assurance of rock-solid friendship, no matter what the future brings. The immediate future would bring tons and tons of airplay for Gilbert O.'s glorified suicide note, so I suspect this song was leaned on pretty hard in the months that followed.
The NotCaseys this week were "You Dont Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce, "It's Too Late" by Carole King, and "Popcorn" by Hot Butter.
Back with more Me Decade madness next week.
July 8, 1972 Part One
And now we go back to' 72. It's only been a month, but enough has changed that I'm doing the usual two parts. So let us go back to a time just before Tom Eagleton became the biggest joke of a VP nominee in U.S. presidential election history (pre-Palin, of course).
40 - "Hold Your Head Up," Argent
39 - "Hold Her Tight," The Osmonds
38 - "Mary Had a Little Lamb/Little Woman Love," Wings
37 - "Superwoman," Stevie Wonder
36 - "Sealed with a Kiss," Bobby Vinton
35 - "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.," Donna Fargo
34 - "Coconut," Harry Nilsson
33 - "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)," The Hollies
32 - "How Can I Be Sure," David Cassidy
31 - "People Make the World Go Round," The Stylistics
This week we start with rock. Ex-Zopmbie Rod Argent is the first of many returnees from our first visit to '72 last year with his band's exhortation for one to keep looking proudly ahead. Paul McCartney, reportedly in response to the controversy caused by his new band's first single "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," followed it up with a straight version of the children's nursery rhyme. A lot of American radio stations chose to play the flip side, "Little Woman Love," but Casey went ahead and played the A. Which is good for Paul and co., because despite a couple solid challengers, they take down this week's Uneasy Rider. And the Hollies return with their tale about danger and romance during Prohibition. It has it all. Has it all!
As usual, the soft parade runs through this section. The Osmonds try their hardest to rock on "Hold Her Tight," but you can just tell the wholesomeness that's been bred into them is holding them back. Still waiting for "Crazy Horses," though. Bobby Vinton's pointless take on Bryan Hyland's song about teenage love threatened by the summer break is another blast from BGC's past. As is Donna Fargo's moony ode to her idyllic life as a housewife to a really, really, really great guy. I do think she's setting herself up for future heartbreak. Harry Nilsson is here with one of those songs that fell just short of the Uneasy Rider, the reggaeish novelty that warned a generation of the dangers of drinking lime and coconut simultaneously. You'll only just have to...drink them both together again. And David Cassidy was at the height of his teen idol powers when he released this cover of a 1967 Top Ten by The Young Rascals. It was also around this time that he was the subject of a Rolling Stone cover story in which he shockingly tried to reject his wholesome TV image, and even more shockingly was photographed apparently nude, because the top of his pubic hair was visible. Wonder what Reuben Kincaid thought of that?
We close with soul. Stevie Wonder is here with a song about trying to love a woman whose ambitions have overwhelmed her love for him. It's good, but it loses something without the second half of the piece, "Where Were You When I Needed You." And the Stylistics had one of their lesser hits with a song that reminds us that things happen in the world because people make them happen. Even the things that suck. Sad but true.
30 - "Living in a House Divided," Cher
29 - "Sylvia's Mother," Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
28 - "Day by Day," The Godspell Cast
27 - "I've Been Lonely for So Long, Frederick Knight
26 - "All the King's Horses," Aretha Franklin
25 - "I'll Take You There," The Staple Singers
24 - "Oh Girl," The Chi-Lites
23 - "(Last Night)I Didn't Get To Sleep at All," The 5th Dimension
22 - "Conquistador," Procol Harum
21 - "Amazing Grace," The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
We start with the people who make it easy on our tender ears. Cher is back from last time (not the first time) with a song about a once-happy couple who are now "the king and queen of emptiness." I wonder how autobiographical that was at the time. The musical Godspell, another theatrical retelling of the story of Jesus hot on the heels of Jesus Christ Superstar, produced a hit single with this gentle song about taking one's faith one day at a time. I don't know who was in this particular cast, but I do know that the show's 1972-73 Toronto run featured Gilda Radner and four future SCTV cast members. Marilyn, Billy and the others return with their tune about not being able to turn in due to loneliness. Marilyn McCoo's voice is growing on me, I must admit. And those Scottish pipers, drummers, and other assorted musicians return with their surprising hit hymn. But no Uneasy Rider repeat for them.
Just two bits o' rock here. Dr. Hook and cohorts return with their heartbreaking attempt to reach out to an old lover one last time. That Mrs. Avery, what a bitch. And after not being heard from much since 1967's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," British prog-rockers Procol Harum returned briefly to the charts with this elaborate tale of knights and swords and such, enhanced by the backing of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. That was probably the first time many people outside of Canada had heard of Edmonton. But, thanks to that Gretzky kid, it wouldn't be the last.
Again, soul closes the show. Frederick Knight is back with his unjustly forgotten tale of deep, deep loneliness. Been there and back, Fred. Aretha is here with this chart's second spin on a nursery rhyme. In lesser hands, the Humpty Dumpty metaphor for a breakup, in which a wall of happiness and love comes crumbling down, would seem strained. But Aretha sold me. And lastly, The Staples family returns with their lovely promise to take you to a place of truth and joy, as do the Chi-Lites, who beg their lover not to leave at this time, lest their pain increase 100%.
Tomorrow: suicidal depression, youthful elation, and my archenemy song returns.
40 - "Hold Your Head Up," Argent
39 - "Hold Her Tight," The Osmonds
38 - "Mary Had a Little Lamb/Little Woman Love," Wings
37 - "Superwoman," Stevie Wonder
36 - "Sealed with a Kiss," Bobby Vinton
35 - "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.," Donna Fargo
34 - "Coconut," Harry Nilsson
33 - "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)," The Hollies
32 - "How Can I Be Sure," David Cassidy
31 - "People Make the World Go Round," The Stylistics
This week we start with rock. Ex-Zopmbie Rod Argent is the first of many returnees from our first visit to '72 last year with his band's exhortation for one to keep looking proudly ahead. Paul McCartney, reportedly in response to the controversy caused by his new band's first single "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," followed it up with a straight version of the children's nursery rhyme. A lot of American radio stations chose to play the flip side, "Little Woman Love," but Casey went ahead and played the A. Which is good for Paul and co., because despite a couple solid challengers, they take down this week's Uneasy Rider. And the Hollies return with their tale about danger and romance during Prohibition. It has it all. Has it all!
As usual, the soft parade runs through this section. The Osmonds try their hardest to rock on "Hold Her Tight," but you can just tell the wholesomeness that's been bred into them is holding them back. Still waiting for "Crazy Horses," though. Bobby Vinton's pointless take on Bryan Hyland's song about teenage love threatened by the summer break is another blast from BGC's past. As is Donna Fargo's moony ode to her idyllic life as a housewife to a really, really, really great guy. I do think she's setting herself up for future heartbreak. Harry Nilsson is here with one of those songs that fell just short of the Uneasy Rider, the reggaeish novelty that warned a generation of the dangers of drinking lime and coconut simultaneously. You'll only just have to...drink them both together again. And David Cassidy was at the height of his teen idol powers when he released this cover of a 1967 Top Ten by The Young Rascals. It was also around this time that he was the subject of a Rolling Stone cover story in which he shockingly tried to reject his wholesome TV image, and even more shockingly was photographed apparently nude, because the top of his pubic hair was visible. Wonder what Reuben Kincaid thought of that?
We close with soul. Stevie Wonder is here with a song about trying to love a woman whose ambitions have overwhelmed her love for him. It's good, but it loses something without the second half of the piece, "Where Were You When I Needed You." And the Stylistics had one of their lesser hits with a song that reminds us that things happen in the world because people make them happen. Even the things that suck. Sad but true.
30 - "Living in a House Divided," Cher
29 - "Sylvia's Mother," Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
28 - "Day by Day," The Godspell Cast
27 - "I've Been Lonely for So Long, Frederick Knight
26 - "All the King's Horses," Aretha Franklin
25 - "I'll Take You There," The Staple Singers
24 - "Oh Girl," The Chi-Lites
23 - "(Last Night)I Didn't Get To Sleep at All," The 5th Dimension
22 - "Conquistador," Procol Harum
21 - "Amazing Grace," The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
We start with the people who make it easy on our tender ears. Cher is back from last time (not the first time) with a song about a once-happy couple who are now "the king and queen of emptiness." I wonder how autobiographical that was at the time. The musical Godspell, another theatrical retelling of the story of Jesus hot on the heels of Jesus Christ Superstar, produced a hit single with this gentle song about taking one's faith one day at a time. I don't know who was in this particular cast, but I do know that the show's 1972-73 Toronto run featured Gilda Radner and four future SCTV cast members. Marilyn, Billy and the others return with their tune about not being able to turn in due to loneliness. Marilyn McCoo's voice is growing on me, I must admit. And those Scottish pipers, drummers, and other assorted musicians return with their surprising hit hymn. But no Uneasy Rider repeat for them.
Just two bits o' rock here. Dr. Hook and cohorts return with their heartbreaking attempt to reach out to an old lover one last time. That Mrs. Avery, what a bitch. And after not being heard from much since 1967's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," British prog-rockers Procol Harum returned briefly to the charts with this elaborate tale of knights and swords and such, enhanced by the backing of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. That was probably the first time many people outside of Canada had heard of Edmonton. But, thanks to that Gretzky kid, it wouldn't be the last.
Again, soul closes the show. Frederick Knight is back with his unjustly forgotten tale of deep, deep loneliness. Been there and back, Fred. Aretha is here with this chart's second spin on a nursery rhyme. In lesser hands, the Humpty Dumpty metaphor for a breakup, in which a wall of happiness and love comes crumbling down, would seem strained. But Aretha sold me. And lastly, The Staples family returns with their lovely promise to take you to a place of truth and joy, as do the Chi-Lites, who beg their lover not to leave at this time, lest their pain increase 100%.
Tomorrow: suicidal depression, youthful elation, and my archenemy song returns.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Top 40 Recording Acts of the 1980s as of July 1983, Part Two
And this week's long journey hits the home stretch.
20 - KOOL AND THE GANG
To this point in the decade: They began the 80s by switching from a harder funk sound to a more dance-pop direction. The results so far: Eight Top 40s, four Top 10s, and the #1 "Celebration."
My favorite of theirs from this decade: 1982's #10 "Get Down on It."
How they finished the decade: Eight more hits between '84 and '87, including the #2 ballads "Joanna" and "Cherish."
19 - BILLY JOEL
To this point in the decade: Another example of late-70s momentum carrying into the new decade. The piano man had so far racked up eight Top 40s, two Top Tens, and the first song Casey played, the #1 "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." (The second? 1983's #17 "Allentown").
My favorite The new wave-embracing "Pressure" (#20, 1982).
How he finished: The second half of '83 saw the release of the album An Innocent Man, which produced six Top 40 hits. After that, he had six more, for a total of 12, with seven Top Tens and two #1s: 1983's "Tell Her About It" and 1989's "We Didn't Start the Fire."
18 - PAUL MCCARTNEY (#3 on the 70s list)
To this point: Sir Paul only had four Top 40 hits to this point in the decade, but all were Top 10s, one was the #2 duet with Michael Jackson, "The Girl is Mine," and the other two topped the charts: "Ebony and Ivory" (with Stevie Wonder) and "Coming Up" (the latter of which Casey played).
My favorite: "Coming Up" pretty much by default.
How he finished: The second half of '83 brought another Jackson duet, "Say Say Say," and this time the duo hit #1. After that, five more Top 40s, including the Top Tens "No More Lonely Nights" and "Spies Like Us."
17 - JOHN COUGAR
To this point: The rootsy Indianan made his Top 40 debut with 1979's "I Need a Lover." (#28), and then built on that in the early 80s with five Top 40s, including a #2 in the song Casey played, "Hurts So Good," and a #1 in "Jack and Diane."
My favorite: The understatedly intense "Ain't Even Done with The Night" (#17, 1981).
How he finished: Building on the multi-platinum success of the American Fool LP, he'd tack his real surname, Mellencamp, onto his stage name, organize the annual Farm Aid concerts, and pick up a dozen more Top 40s, including seven Top Tens and the #2 "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
16 - KIM CARNES
To this point: The raspy-voiced Californian had been recording for nine years when she finally scored a hit in 1980 with the Kenny Rogers duet "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer." She had hit the 40 four more times by this time. Two of those reached the Top Ten, and one of those was the nine-week chart-topping blockbuster Casey played, "Bette Davis Eyes."
My favorite: "Bette Davis Eyes," easy. An indisputable pop classic.
How she finished, Three more Top 40s, one of which was "What About Me" (#15, 1984) which also feature Kenny Rogers and James Ingram. Her last hit was the next year's #15 "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)."
15 - EDDIE RABBITT
To this point: This Brooklyn-born country-pop songwriter had his first success writing "Kentucky Rain," a 1970 Top 20 hit for Elvis Presley. In the mid-70s, he was a regular on the country charts, and made his first pop chart appearance in 1979 with "Every Which Way But Loose." But in the early 80s, he became a crossover superstar, Four of his six pop Top 40s made the Top Ten, and one, 1981's "I Love a Rainy Night," hit #1. Not surprisingly, that was the one Casey chose to play.
My favorite: The rockin' "Drivin' My Life Away" (#5, 1980)
How he finished: He continued to be a country hit machine, but further pop success eluded him.
14 - BLONDIE
To this point: After breaking through in 1979 with "Heart of Glass," the New York New Wavers conitinued hot into the new decade. Three of their five Top 40 singles from this time hit #1: "Rapture," and the two Casey played, "Call Me" and "The Tide is High."
My favorite: "Rapture." Debbie Harry sets the bar for all future white rappers.
How they finished: Internal tensions and the serious illness of guitarist Chris Stein caused the band to go their separate ways shortly after their last hit, 1982' "Island of Lost Souls" (#37).
13 - BOB SEGER
To this point: Detroit's Styx is yet another example of momentum from the late 70s propelling early 80s success. To date, Seger had seven Top 40s in the 80s, including four Top Tens and the 1982 #2 "Shame on the Moon." Casey played 1980's "Against the Wind" (#5).
My favorite: I suppose it'd be "Fire Lake" (#6, 1980).
How he finished: Four more Top 40s, including future truck jingle "Like a Rock" (#12, 1986), and his first and only #1, 1987's "Shakedown."
12 - NEIL DIAMOND (#16)
To this point: Neil continued making hits into a third decade, picking up nine Top 40s and four Top Tens, including the 1980 #2 Casey played, "Love on the Rocks."
My favorite: For cheese value, his #5 E.T. tribute from 1982, "Hearlight."
How he finished: He continued to record and tour, but his days as a Top 40 regular were over.
11 - STEVIE WONDER (#5)
To this point: The one time "12-year-old genius" was still a master hitmaker into his 30s. To date in the eighties, Stevie had put 6 singles into the Top 40. Four of those made the Top Five, including his #1 with Paul McCartney "Ebony and Ivory." Casey played his 1982 #4 "That Girl."
My favorite: The spirited reggae bumper "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (#5, 1980).
How he finished: He was mainly an easy listening artist for the rest of the decade, but it was a lucrative direction for him, producing three #1s: "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "Part Time Lover," and the all-star benefit collaboration with Elton John, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight "That's What Friends are For."
10 - JUICE NEWTON
To this point: Arguably the early-80s answer to Shania Twain in terms of country-pop line-straddling, Ms. Newton had seven Top 40s in this time period. Four of those made the Top Ten, the biggest of which was the 1981 #2 Casey played, "Queen of Hearts."
My favorite: "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" (#7, 1982)
How she finished: Like Eddie Rabbitt, she continued to score on the country charts, but she wouldn't crack the Top 40 again after 1983's #27 Zombies cover "Tell Her No."
9 - RICK SPRINGFIELD
To this point: The Australian who at the turn of the decade seemed desperate to be remembered only as a one-hit wonder and the star of a short-lived Saturday morning cartoon turned things around with a starring role on a soap and seven Top 40 singles, including four Top tens and the 1981 #1 Casey played, "Jessie's Girl."
My favorite: How can you deny a song like "Jessie's Girl"?
How he finished: With nine more Top 40s, but just one more Top Ten, 1984's "Love Somebody" (#5) from his failed attempt to launch a movie career, Hard to Hold.
8 - JOURNEY
To this point: The San Francisco rockers broke through in a big way in the early 80s, during which they accumulated nine Top 40s and four Top Tens, the biggest of which being one of the songs Casey played, "Open Arms" (#2, 1982). He also played "Any Way You Want It" (#23, 1980).
My favorite: "Any Way You Want It," the song Mr. Burns' son Larry once used to start an impromptu party in downtown Springfield.
How they finished: Six more top 40s, but just one more Top 10 in 1986 with "Be Good to Yourself." Lead singe Steve Perry also picked up four solo hits, including the 1984 #3, "Oh Sherrie." And at the end of the decade, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain had a #1 with "When I See You Smile" as part of the band Bad English.
7 - CHRISTOPHER CROSS
To this point: This native of San Antonio, Texas became an MOR giant right from the beginning of the decade, with seven Top 40 hits, including the #2 Casey played, "Ride Like the Wind," and two #1s: 1980's "Sailing, and the next year's, "Arhtur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)."
My favorite: I guess "Ride Like the Wind." It's the rare song he did where it seemed like he had a pulse/
How he finished: One more hit in '84, the Top Ten "Think of Laura," then obscurity beckoned.
6 - MICHAEL JACKSON
To this point: I know what you're thinking, "Only Number Six?" But remember, we were only a few months into Thriller's record run, so he was only three singles deep into it, and so those and hits from Off the Wall were all he had in the bank at this time. But it was still a pretty strong resume. Six Top Tens, three of which went to Number 1: "Beat It" and the two Casey played, "Rock with You" and "Billie Jean."
My favorite: The unstoppable "Billie Jean."
How he finished: Twelve more Top 40s, including five more #1s, all from 1987's Bad. Also, a reunion with his brothers that produced two more hits, but also the commercial shoot in which his hair caught fire. Plus the 3D short film for Disney theme parks, Capatain EO. All in all, a busy decade for the man.
5 - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (#22)
To this point: The 70s sweetheart kept producing hits into the new decade, with seven Top 40s, five Top Tens, and two #1s, 1980's "Magic," and the one from next year that Casey played, the ten-week charttopper "Physical."
My favorite: Her #8 collaboration with Electric Light Orchestra, the title song from the notorious 1980 movie Xanadu.
How she finished: Just three more Top 40s, including the 1983 Top 5 "Twist of Fate. She disappeared from the pop charts after 1985's "Soul Kiss" (#20).
4 - KENNY ROGERS
To this point: The country crossover king was all over pop radio in this time period, racking up ten Top 40s, four Top 10s, and the #1 Casey played, 1980's "Lady."
My favorite: 1980's "Coward of the County" (#3).
How he finished: A bunch more country hits, but only two more Top 40s. However, one of those was his #1 duet with Dolly Parton, "Islands in the Stream."
3 - AIR SUPPLY
To this point: The Aussie MOR duo were a formidable force for these three-and-a-half years, with seven of their eight Top 40s making the Top Five (including their first, "Lost in Love," which Casey played), and 1981's "The One that You Love" hitting #1.
My favorite: 1980's #2 "All Out of Love," with that marathon note-hold at the end.
How they finished: The second half of '83 brought a #2 in the Jim Steninman epic "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," but their Top 40 days ended after 1985's "Just as I Am" (#19).
2 - DIANA ROSS (#12)
To this point: The ex-Supreme kept on rolling in the 1980s. To date, she had registered eight Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and two #1s: the Lionel Richie duet "Endless Love" and the song Casey played for her, 1980's "Upside Down."
My favorite: "I'm Coming Out" (#5, 1980), with or without Notorious B.I.G.
How she finished: Just four more Top 40s, the last of which was her 1984 Top Ten tribute to her late friend Marvin Gaye, "Missing You."
And the biggest act of the 1980s up until this moment in time was...
1 - DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES
To this point: Some may have thought that this Philadelphia duo's biggest hits were behind them as the 80s dawned, but this was most definitely not the case. The stats thus far: Eleven Top 40s, eight Top Tens, and four Number Ones: "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," and the one Casey played, "Maneater."
My favorite: The Mike Oldfield cover "Family Man," (#6, 1983)
How they finished: Pretty well, with ten more Top 40s, including five Top Tens and one more #1, 1984's "Out of Touch."
And finally, here are all of the NotCasey extras. The 70s: "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand, "Over My Head" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Super Bad" by James Brown. The 80s: "We Got the Beat" by the Go-Gos, "Young Turks" by Rod Stewart, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, and "I Can't Tell You Why" by the Eagles.
And that concludes this long long week. There will be less to read here next week. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to you.
20 - KOOL AND THE GANG
To this point in the decade: They began the 80s by switching from a harder funk sound to a more dance-pop direction. The results so far: Eight Top 40s, four Top 10s, and the #1 "Celebration."
My favorite of theirs from this decade: 1982's #10 "Get Down on It."
How they finished the decade: Eight more hits between '84 and '87, including the #2 ballads "Joanna" and "Cherish."
19 - BILLY JOEL
To this point in the decade: Another example of late-70s momentum carrying into the new decade. The piano man had so far racked up eight Top 40s, two Top Tens, and the first song Casey played, the #1 "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." (The second? 1983's #17 "Allentown").
My favorite The new wave-embracing "Pressure" (#20, 1982).
How he finished: The second half of '83 saw the release of the album An Innocent Man, which produced six Top 40 hits. After that, he had six more, for a total of 12, with seven Top Tens and two #1s: 1983's "Tell Her About It" and 1989's "We Didn't Start the Fire."
18 - PAUL MCCARTNEY (#3 on the 70s list)
To this point: Sir Paul only had four Top 40 hits to this point in the decade, but all were Top 10s, one was the #2 duet with Michael Jackson, "The Girl is Mine," and the other two topped the charts: "Ebony and Ivory" (with Stevie Wonder) and "Coming Up" (the latter of which Casey played).
My favorite: "Coming Up" pretty much by default.
How he finished: The second half of '83 brought another Jackson duet, "Say Say Say," and this time the duo hit #1. After that, five more Top 40s, including the Top Tens "No More Lonely Nights" and "Spies Like Us."
17 - JOHN COUGAR
To this point: The rootsy Indianan made his Top 40 debut with 1979's "I Need a Lover." (#28), and then built on that in the early 80s with five Top 40s, including a #2 in the song Casey played, "Hurts So Good," and a #1 in "Jack and Diane."
My favorite: The understatedly intense "Ain't Even Done with The Night" (#17, 1981).
How he finished: Building on the multi-platinum success of the American Fool LP, he'd tack his real surname, Mellencamp, onto his stage name, organize the annual Farm Aid concerts, and pick up a dozen more Top 40s, including seven Top Tens and the #2 "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
16 - KIM CARNES
To this point: The raspy-voiced Californian had been recording for nine years when she finally scored a hit in 1980 with the Kenny Rogers duet "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer." She had hit the 40 four more times by this time. Two of those reached the Top Ten, and one of those was the nine-week chart-topping blockbuster Casey played, "Bette Davis Eyes."
My favorite: "Bette Davis Eyes," easy. An indisputable pop classic.
How she finished, Three more Top 40s, one of which was "What About Me" (#15, 1984) which also feature Kenny Rogers and James Ingram. Her last hit was the next year's #15 "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)."
15 - EDDIE RABBITT
To this point: This Brooklyn-born country-pop songwriter had his first success writing "Kentucky Rain," a 1970 Top 20 hit for Elvis Presley. In the mid-70s, he was a regular on the country charts, and made his first pop chart appearance in 1979 with "Every Which Way But Loose." But in the early 80s, he became a crossover superstar, Four of his six pop Top 40s made the Top Ten, and one, 1981's "I Love a Rainy Night," hit #1. Not surprisingly, that was the one Casey chose to play.
My favorite: The rockin' "Drivin' My Life Away" (#5, 1980)
How he finished: He continued to be a country hit machine, but further pop success eluded him.
14 - BLONDIE
To this point: After breaking through in 1979 with "Heart of Glass," the New York New Wavers conitinued hot into the new decade. Three of their five Top 40 singles from this time hit #1: "Rapture," and the two Casey played, "Call Me" and "The Tide is High."
My favorite: "Rapture." Debbie Harry sets the bar for all future white rappers.
How they finished: Internal tensions and the serious illness of guitarist Chris Stein caused the band to go their separate ways shortly after their last hit, 1982' "Island of Lost Souls" (#37).
13 - BOB SEGER
To this point: Detroit's Styx is yet another example of momentum from the late 70s propelling early 80s success. To date, Seger had seven Top 40s in the 80s, including four Top Tens and the 1982 #2 "Shame on the Moon." Casey played 1980's "Against the Wind" (#5).
My favorite: I suppose it'd be "Fire Lake" (#6, 1980).
How he finished: Four more Top 40s, including future truck jingle "Like a Rock" (#12, 1986), and his first and only #1, 1987's "Shakedown."
12 - NEIL DIAMOND (#16)
To this point: Neil continued making hits into a third decade, picking up nine Top 40s and four Top Tens, including the 1980 #2 Casey played, "Love on the Rocks."
My favorite: For cheese value, his #5 E.T. tribute from 1982, "Hearlight."
How he finished: He continued to record and tour, but his days as a Top 40 regular were over.
11 - STEVIE WONDER (#5)
To this point: The one time "12-year-old genius" was still a master hitmaker into his 30s. To date in the eighties, Stevie had put 6 singles into the Top 40. Four of those made the Top Five, including his #1 with Paul McCartney "Ebony and Ivory." Casey played his 1982 #4 "That Girl."
My favorite: The spirited reggae bumper "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (#5, 1980).
How he finished: He was mainly an easy listening artist for the rest of the decade, but it was a lucrative direction for him, producing three #1s: "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "Part Time Lover," and the all-star benefit collaboration with Elton John, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight "That's What Friends are For."
10 - JUICE NEWTON
To this point: Arguably the early-80s answer to Shania Twain in terms of country-pop line-straddling, Ms. Newton had seven Top 40s in this time period. Four of those made the Top Ten, the biggest of which was the 1981 #2 Casey played, "Queen of Hearts."
My favorite: "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" (#7, 1982)
How she finished: Like Eddie Rabbitt, she continued to score on the country charts, but she wouldn't crack the Top 40 again after 1983's #27 Zombies cover "Tell Her No."
9 - RICK SPRINGFIELD
To this point: The Australian who at the turn of the decade seemed desperate to be remembered only as a one-hit wonder and the star of a short-lived Saturday morning cartoon turned things around with a starring role on a soap and seven Top 40 singles, including four Top tens and the 1981 #1 Casey played, "Jessie's Girl."
My favorite: How can you deny a song like "Jessie's Girl"?
How he finished: With nine more Top 40s, but just one more Top Ten, 1984's "Love Somebody" (#5) from his failed attempt to launch a movie career, Hard to Hold.
8 - JOURNEY
To this point: The San Francisco rockers broke through in a big way in the early 80s, during which they accumulated nine Top 40s and four Top Tens, the biggest of which being one of the songs Casey played, "Open Arms" (#2, 1982). He also played "Any Way You Want It" (#23, 1980).
My favorite: "Any Way You Want It," the song Mr. Burns' son Larry once used to start an impromptu party in downtown Springfield.
How they finished: Six more top 40s, but just one more Top 10 in 1986 with "Be Good to Yourself." Lead singe Steve Perry also picked up four solo hits, including the 1984 #3, "Oh Sherrie." And at the end of the decade, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain had a #1 with "When I See You Smile" as part of the band Bad English.
7 - CHRISTOPHER CROSS
To this point: This native of San Antonio, Texas became an MOR giant right from the beginning of the decade, with seven Top 40 hits, including the #2 Casey played, "Ride Like the Wind," and two #1s: 1980's "Sailing, and the next year's, "Arhtur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)."
My favorite: I guess "Ride Like the Wind." It's the rare song he did where it seemed like he had a pulse/
How he finished: One more hit in '84, the Top Ten "Think of Laura," then obscurity beckoned.
6 - MICHAEL JACKSON
To this point: I know what you're thinking, "Only Number Six?" But remember, we were only a few months into Thriller's record run, so he was only three singles deep into it, and so those and hits from Off the Wall were all he had in the bank at this time. But it was still a pretty strong resume. Six Top Tens, three of which went to Number 1: "Beat It" and the two Casey played, "Rock with You" and "Billie Jean."
My favorite: The unstoppable "Billie Jean."
How he finished: Twelve more Top 40s, including five more #1s, all from 1987's Bad. Also, a reunion with his brothers that produced two more hits, but also the commercial shoot in which his hair caught fire. Plus the 3D short film for Disney theme parks, Capatain EO. All in all, a busy decade for the man.
5 - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (#22)
To this point: The 70s sweetheart kept producing hits into the new decade, with seven Top 40s, five Top Tens, and two #1s, 1980's "Magic," and the one from next year that Casey played, the ten-week charttopper "Physical."
My favorite: Her #8 collaboration with Electric Light Orchestra, the title song from the notorious 1980 movie Xanadu.
How she finished: Just three more Top 40s, including the 1983 Top 5 "Twist of Fate. She disappeared from the pop charts after 1985's "Soul Kiss" (#20).
4 - KENNY ROGERS
To this point: The country crossover king was all over pop radio in this time period, racking up ten Top 40s, four Top 10s, and the #1 Casey played, 1980's "Lady."
My favorite: 1980's "Coward of the County" (#3).
How he finished: A bunch more country hits, but only two more Top 40s. However, one of those was his #1 duet with Dolly Parton, "Islands in the Stream."
3 - AIR SUPPLY
To this point: The Aussie MOR duo were a formidable force for these three-and-a-half years, with seven of their eight Top 40s making the Top Five (including their first, "Lost in Love," which Casey played), and 1981's "The One that You Love" hitting #1.
My favorite: 1980's #2 "All Out of Love," with that marathon note-hold at the end.
How they finished: The second half of '83 brought a #2 in the Jim Steninman epic "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," but their Top 40 days ended after 1985's "Just as I Am" (#19).
2 - DIANA ROSS (#12)
To this point: The ex-Supreme kept on rolling in the 1980s. To date, she had registered eight Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and two #1s: the Lionel Richie duet "Endless Love" and the song Casey played for her, 1980's "Upside Down."
My favorite: "I'm Coming Out" (#5, 1980), with or without Notorious B.I.G.
How she finished: Just four more Top 40s, the last of which was her 1984 Top Ten tribute to her late friend Marvin Gaye, "Missing You."
And the biggest act of the 1980s up until this moment in time was...
1 - DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES
To this point: Some may have thought that this Philadelphia duo's biggest hits were behind them as the 80s dawned, but this was most definitely not the case. The stats thus far: Eleven Top 40s, eight Top Tens, and four Number Ones: "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," and the one Casey played, "Maneater."
My favorite: The Mike Oldfield cover "Family Man," (#6, 1983)
How they finished: Pretty well, with ten more Top 40s, including five Top Tens and one more #1, 1984's "Out of Touch."
And finally, here are all of the NotCasey extras. The 70s: "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand, "Over My Head" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Super Bad" by James Brown. The 80s: "We Got the Beat" by the Go-Gos, "Young Turks" by Rod Stewart, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, and "I Can't Tell You Why" by the Eagles.
And that concludes this long long week. There will be less to read here next week. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to you.
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Top 40 Recording Acts of the 1980s as of July 1983, Part One
Okay, now we're on to the list of who ruled the first three-and-a-half years of the 80s. This is an interesting snapshot of a time when the recording industry was slumping along with the rest of the economy until a certain single-gloved superstar made a record pretty much everyone bought. Let's have a look. (For those acts who made the 70s list as well, their 70s ranking will appear beside their name.)
40 - FLEETWOOD MAC
To this point in the decade: In spite of Rumours' monster sales, this drama-plagued Anglo-American outfit didn't make the 70s list. But with the singles from 1979's Tusk bleeding into this decade, they managed to scrape onto this countdown. The numbers: Six Top 40s, including three Top Tens, the biggest of which was the song Casey played, 1982's "Hold Me" (#4).
My favorite of theirs from this time: As a kid, I liked "Hold Me" enough to buy the Mirage cassette, but now, I'm a much bigger fan of "Tusk" (#8).
How they finished the decade: They weren't heard from again until 1987's Tango in the Night, which produced four hits, including the Top Fives "Big Love" and "Little Lies."
39 - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
To this point: The ex-guitarist for the all-female rock band The Runaways, Jett burst onto the pop charts with the #1 smash Casey played, "I Love Rock n' Roll." Four more Top 40s followed, including a #7 cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover."
My favorite: I, like everyone else, was hooked by "I Love Rock n' Roll," but it's since been surpassed in my esteem by "Fake Friends" (#35, 1983).
How they finished: They went though a mid-decade drought, but in 1987, Jett sang on the #33 title track to the film Light of Day, in which she costarred with Michael J. Fox. The next year, the Blackhearts returned to the charts with "I Hate Myself for Loving You" (#8) and "Little Liar" (#19).
38 - DONNA SUMMER
To this point: Because this disco legend had most of her hits at the tail end of the decade, she missed out on the last chart. But even with disco on the wane, she managed to have enough success to get on this list. Her stats: Eight Top 40s, three Top 5s (including the song Casey played "On the Radio"), and the Number One duet with Barbra Streisand, "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" (yes, it hit #1 in late '79, but it was counted as 1980 for the purpose of that year's year-end chart, so I'm counting it).
My favorite: The spacey rock of "The Wanderer" (#3, 1980).
How she finished: A #3 in the second half of '83 with "She Works Hard for the Money," followed the next year by "There Goes My Baby" (#21). But then there was a five year hit drought before she hooked up with the British production team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman for the comeback smash "This Time I Know It's for Real" (#7).
37 - THE POLICE
To this point: Sting and his reggae-inspired mates first cracked America in 1979 with "Roxanne," but it wasn't until the next decade dawned that they really hit their stride, with five Top 40s, four of which hit the Top Ten, with the latest, "Every Breath You Take," (which Casey played) spending eight weeks at #1.
My favorite The paranoid sexual psychodrama "Don't Stand So Close to Me" (#10, 1981).
How they finished: Three more hit singles from Synchronicity, the album that produced "Every Breath You Take" (biggest of those, "King of Pain" [#3]). Then they broke up, and Sting began a lucrative solo career. The band briefly reunited in '86 to record a darker version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" for a greatest hits album, but it fell just short of the Forty.
36 - ELTON JOHN (#1)
To this point: The first of our 70s holdovers, Sir Elton wasn't nearly the hit machine he was in the previous decade, but he was still doing all right, with seven Top 40s including the 1980 #3 Casey played, "Little Jeannie." Because of the length of the show, Casey played two songs for some artists, and Elton was the first of these; the other one was "Blue Eyes" (#12, 1982)
My favorite: The defiant rocker "I'm Still Standing" (#12, 1983)
How he finished: As a steady presence on the charts, with thirteen more Top 40s and five Top Tens, the biggest of which was 1988's #2 "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That."
35 - FOREIGNER
To this point: This band came on strong in the last three years of the 70s with seven hits, then kept on in the first three of the eighties with five more. Two made the Top Five, and one of those, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (which Casey played), held down the #2 spot for a record ten weeks.
My favorite: "Urgent" (#4, 1981) with its Junior Walker sax solo.
How they finished: Four more Top 40s, including three Top Tens and their first and only #1, 1984's "I Want to Know What Love Is."
34 - THE POINTER SISTERS
To this point: After a smattering of hits in the seventies, most notably the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Fire," siblings Ruth, June and Anita had more frequent success in the early 80s. They hit the 40 five times, and twice reached the Top Five, with 1980's "He's So Shy" (#3) and the following year's #2 "Slow Hand" (which Casey played).
My favorite: I don't like any of these nearly as much as "Fire," but of this lot, I'll take "He's So Shy."
How they finished: '84 and '85 were big years for the group, with four of their five hit singles reaching the Top Ten, including a remix of their 1982 #30 "I'm So Excited." But after the 1986 #33 "Goldmine," they would never grace the chart again.
33 - THE LITTLE RIVER BAND
To this point: The bland Australians continued their run from the late 70s into the new decade with six Top 40s and three Top Tens, the biggest of which Casey played, "The Night Owls (#6, 1981)
My favorite: Don't have one. It'd be like having a favorite shade of beige.
How they finished: One more Top 40 in late '83, then they mercifully disappeared from the U.S. charts forever.
32 - PAT BENATAR
To this point: The classically-trained Brooklyn rocker broke through right at the turn of the decade, and had up until now scored nine Top 40s. Only one reached the Top Ten (1980's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot) but Casey opted to play her first hit, "Heartbreaker" (#23).
My favorite: I endorse Casey's choice. "Heartbreaker" is just a killer rock song.
How she finished: With six more Top 40s, including her only two Top Fives: "Love is a Battlefield" and "We Belong."
31 - THE J. GEILS BAND
To this point: The Boston party-rockers had a decent following in the 70s, but they only produced three pop hits. Then they became household names upon the release of 1981's Freeze Frame album. Their totals: six Top 40s and two Top Fives, one of which was the monster #1 Casey played, "Centerfold."
My favorite: The pre-Freeze Frame "Love Stinks" (#38)
How they finished: Singer Peter Wolf left in 1983, and went on to bag three solo hits. The band carried on for one more album, but couldn't regain their mojo.
30 - TOTO
To this point: These L.A. lite-rockers built on the success of 1978's "Hold the Line" in the new decade. They only had five Top 40s to date, but their three Top Tens included a #1 in "Africa" and the #2 Casey played, "Rosanna."
My favorite: "Africa." Great chorus to sing along to.
How they finished: Just four more Top 40s, the biggest being 1986's #11 "I'll Be Over You."
29 - THE ROLLING STONES
To this point: Mick, Keith and the boys surprisingly fell short of the 70s list, but they're continued hitmaking prowess landed them solidly on this one. The stats: Six Top 40s, including two Top Fives, the biggest of which was one of the songs Casey played, 1981's #2, "Start Me Up." He also played another hit from Tattoo You, "Waiting on a Friend." (#13)
My favorite: The slow burn of "Waiting on a Friend."
How they finished: In between Mick's two solo albums and Keith's one, they managed five more hits, including the Top Fives "Harlem Shuffle" and "Mixed Emotions."
28 - BARBRA STREISAND
To this point: Another act surprisingly missing from the 70s show, Babs makes this list on the strength of five Top 40s, four Top Tens, and two #1s: the Donna Summer duet "No More Tears", and the song Casey played, 1980's "Woman in Love."
My favorite: "No More Tears." Qu'ien es mas diva?
How she finished: Only two more Top 40s: a song from Yentl and a duet with then-boyfriend Don Johnson(!). But 1985's The Broadway Album was a multi-platinum smash, so she was doing okay.
27 - JOHN LENNON
To this point: 1980 looked to be the start of big things for the Smart Beatle, with the fall release of his return to recording after a five-year hiatus, Double Fantasy. But on December 8 of that year, he was murdered on his doorstep. But after his death, three singles from his album made the Top Ten, including the #2 "Woman" and the charttopper Casey played, "(Just Like) Starting Over."
My favorite: The relaxed, reflective "Watching the Wheels" (#10).
How he finished: One more posthumous hit, the 1984 #5, "Nobody Told Me" and the critically acclaimed 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon.
26 - STYX
To this point: The Bob Seger of Chicago are yet another example of an act carrying their late 70s momentum into the new decade. Five of their six Top 40s reached the Top Ten, including the late-'79 #1 "Babe" and the #3 Casey played, "The Best of Times."
My favorite: The delightfully daft Devo knockoff "Mr. Roboto" (#3, 1983).
How they finished: Just one more hit in the decade, the even-more-blatant Devo soundalike "Music Time" (#40, 1984).
25 - MEN AT WORK
To this point: These Aussies only came on the American scene in 1982, but all three of their hits to this point had reached the Top Three: "Overkill" and the two #1s Casey played: "Who Can it Be Now" and "Down Under."
My favorite: The giddy paranoia of "Who Can it Be Now."
How they finished: Two more hits from 1983's sophomore effort Cargo, "It's a Mistake" (#6) and "Dr Heckyll and Mr. Jive (#28). But 1985's Two Hearts LP flopped, and they broke up. Singer Colin Hay's 1987 solo album didn't fare much better.
24 - REO SPEEDWAGON
To this point: It took them nine years, but these Illinois rockers finally became pop stars, scoring six Top 40s, three Top tens, and the #1 Casey played, "Keep on Loving You."
My favorite: "Take it on the Run" (#5, 1981)
How they finished: Seven top 40s, including the 1985 #1 "Can't Fight This Feeling."
23 - QUEEN
To this point: Freddie Mercury's theatrical rockers only had four Top 40s in this time period, but two were #1s in 1980: "Another One Bites the Dust" and the song Casey played, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
My favorite: The funky, Chic bassline-borrowing "Another One Bites the Dust."
How they finished: With a bunch of hits in the U.K., but only one U.S. Top 40, 1984's "Radio Ga Ga" (#16).
22 - DAN FOGELBERG
To this point: The soft-rocker from Peoria lulled the music consuming public into giving him eight Top 40s in these 42 months. Four went Top 10, and the one Casey played, 1980's "Longer," hit #2.
My favorite: Not much of a fan, but if I have to choose, I'll go with 1980's New Years Eve tale "Same Old Lang Syne." (#9).
How he finished: One more Top 40, 1984's #13 "The Language of Love." After that, his airplay was restricted to those radio stations that get played in waiting rooms.
21 - LIONEL RICHIE
To this point: After topping the charts in 1981 with his duet with Diana Ross "Endless Love," Richie decided to leave the Commodores and go solo. The results thus far: three more Top Fives, and another #1 in the song Casey played "Truly."
My favorite: I guess, "You Are" (#4, 1983)
How he finished: Extremely strong, with nine of his ten Top 40s reaching the Top Ten, and three going to #1: "All Night Long," "Hello," and "Say You, Say Me."
Tomorrow (or maybe Thursday): The final chapter of this epic.
40 - FLEETWOOD MAC
To this point in the decade: In spite of Rumours' monster sales, this drama-plagued Anglo-American outfit didn't make the 70s list. But with the singles from 1979's Tusk bleeding into this decade, they managed to scrape onto this countdown. The numbers: Six Top 40s, including three Top Tens, the biggest of which was the song Casey played, 1982's "Hold Me" (#4).
My favorite of theirs from this time: As a kid, I liked "Hold Me" enough to buy the Mirage cassette, but now, I'm a much bigger fan of "Tusk" (#8).
How they finished the decade: They weren't heard from again until 1987's Tango in the Night, which produced four hits, including the Top Fives "Big Love" and "Little Lies."
39 - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
To this point: The ex-guitarist for the all-female rock band The Runaways, Jett burst onto the pop charts with the #1 smash Casey played, "I Love Rock n' Roll." Four more Top 40s followed, including a #7 cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover."
My favorite: I, like everyone else, was hooked by "I Love Rock n' Roll," but it's since been surpassed in my esteem by "Fake Friends" (#35, 1983).
How they finished: They went though a mid-decade drought, but in 1987, Jett sang on the #33 title track to the film Light of Day, in which she costarred with Michael J. Fox. The next year, the Blackhearts returned to the charts with "I Hate Myself for Loving You" (#8) and "Little Liar" (#19).
38 - DONNA SUMMER
To this point: Because this disco legend had most of her hits at the tail end of the decade, she missed out on the last chart. But even with disco on the wane, she managed to have enough success to get on this list. Her stats: Eight Top 40s, three Top 5s (including the song Casey played "On the Radio"), and the Number One duet with Barbra Streisand, "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" (yes, it hit #1 in late '79, but it was counted as 1980 for the purpose of that year's year-end chart, so I'm counting it).
My favorite: The spacey rock of "The Wanderer" (#3, 1980).
How she finished: A #3 in the second half of '83 with "She Works Hard for the Money," followed the next year by "There Goes My Baby" (#21). But then there was a five year hit drought before she hooked up with the British production team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman for the comeback smash "This Time I Know It's for Real" (#7).
37 - THE POLICE
To this point: Sting and his reggae-inspired mates first cracked America in 1979 with "Roxanne," but it wasn't until the next decade dawned that they really hit their stride, with five Top 40s, four of which hit the Top Ten, with the latest, "Every Breath You Take," (which Casey played) spending eight weeks at #1.
My favorite The paranoid sexual psychodrama "Don't Stand So Close to Me" (#10, 1981).
How they finished: Three more hit singles from Synchronicity, the album that produced "Every Breath You Take" (biggest of those, "King of Pain" [#3]). Then they broke up, and Sting began a lucrative solo career. The band briefly reunited in '86 to record a darker version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" for a greatest hits album, but it fell just short of the Forty.
36 - ELTON JOHN (#1)
To this point: The first of our 70s holdovers, Sir Elton wasn't nearly the hit machine he was in the previous decade, but he was still doing all right, with seven Top 40s including the 1980 #3 Casey played, "Little Jeannie." Because of the length of the show, Casey played two songs for some artists, and Elton was the first of these; the other one was "Blue Eyes" (#12, 1982)
My favorite: The defiant rocker "I'm Still Standing" (#12, 1983)
How he finished: As a steady presence on the charts, with thirteen more Top 40s and five Top Tens, the biggest of which was 1988's #2 "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That."
35 - FOREIGNER
To this point: This band came on strong in the last three years of the 70s with seven hits, then kept on in the first three of the eighties with five more. Two made the Top Five, and one of those, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (which Casey played), held down the #2 spot for a record ten weeks.
My favorite: "Urgent" (#4, 1981) with its Junior Walker sax solo.
How they finished: Four more Top 40s, including three Top Tens and their first and only #1, 1984's "I Want to Know What Love Is."
34 - THE POINTER SISTERS
To this point: After a smattering of hits in the seventies, most notably the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Fire," siblings Ruth, June and Anita had more frequent success in the early 80s. They hit the 40 five times, and twice reached the Top Five, with 1980's "He's So Shy" (#3) and the following year's #2 "Slow Hand" (which Casey played).
My favorite: I don't like any of these nearly as much as "Fire," but of this lot, I'll take "He's So Shy."
How they finished: '84 and '85 were big years for the group, with four of their five hit singles reaching the Top Ten, including a remix of their 1982 #30 "I'm So Excited." But after the 1986 #33 "Goldmine," they would never grace the chart again.
33 - THE LITTLE RIVER BAND
To this point: The bland Australians continued their run from the late 70s into the new decade with six Top 40s and three Top Tens, the biggest of which Casey played, "The Night Owls (#6, 1981)
My favorite: Don't have one. It'd be like having a favorite shade of beige.
How they finished: One more Top 40 in late '83, then they mercifully disappeared from the U.S. charts forever.
32 - PAT BENATAR
To this point: The classically-trained Brooklyn rocker broke through right at the turn of the decade, and had up until now scored nine Top 40s. Only one reached the Top Ten (1980's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot) but Casey opted to play her first hit, "Heartbreaker" (#23).
My favorite: I endorse Casey's choice. "Heartbreaker" is just a killer rock song.
How she finished: With six more Top 40s, including her only two Top Fives: "Love is a Battlefield" and "We Belong."
31 - THE J. GEILS BAND
To this point: The Boston party-rockers had a decent following in the 70s, but they only produced three pop hits. Then they became household names upon the release of 1981's Freeze Frame album. Their totals: six Top 40s and two Top Fives, one of which was the monster #1 Casey played, "Centerfold."
My favorite: The pre-Freeze Frame "Love Stinks" (#38)
How they finished: Singer Peter Wolf left in 1983, and went on to bag three solo hits. The band carried on for one more album, but couldn't regain their mojo.
30 - TOTO
To this point: These L.A. lite-rockers built on the success of 1978's "Hold the Line" in the new decade. They only had five Top 40s to date, but their three Top Tens included a #1 in "Africa" and the #2 Casey played, "Rosanna."
My favorite: "Africa." Great chorus to sing along to.
How they finished: Just four more Top 40s, the biggest being 1986's #11 "I'll Be Over You."
29 - THE ROLLING STONES
To this point: Mick, Keith and the boys surprisingly fell short of the 70s list, but they're continued hitmaking prowess landed them solidly on this one. The stats: Six Top 40s, including two Top Fives, the biggest of which was one of the songs Casey played, 1981's #2, "Start Me Up." He also played another hit from Tattoo You, "Waiting on a Friend." (#13)
My favorite: The slow burn of "Waiting on a Friend."
How they finished: In between Mick's two solo albums and Keith's one, they managed five more hits, including the Top Fives "Harlem Shuffle" and "Mixed Emotions."
28 - BARBRA STREISAND
To this point: Another act surprisingly missing from the 70s show, Babs makes this list on the strength of five Top 40s, four Top Tens, and two #1s: the Donna Summer duet "No More Tears", and the song Casey played, 1980's "Woman in Love."
My favorite: "No More Tears." Qu'ien es mas diva?
How she finished: Only two more Top 40s: a song from Yentl and a duet with then-boyfriend Don Johnson(!). But 1985's The Broadway Album was a multi-platinum smash, so she was doing okay.
27 - JOHN LENNON
To this point: 1980 looked to be the start of big things for the Smart Beatle, with the fall release of his return to recording after a five-year hiatus, Double Fantasy. But on December 8 of that year, he was murdered on his doorstep. But after his death, three singles from his album made the Top Ten, including the #2 "Woman" and the charttopper Casey played, "(Just Like) Starting Over."
My favorite: The relaxed, reflective "Watching the Wheels" (#10).
How he finished: One more posthumous hit, the 1984 #5, "Nobody Told Me" and the critically acclaimed 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon.
26 - STYX
To this point: The Bob Seger of Chicago are yet another example of an act carrying their late 70s momentum into the new decade. Five of their six Top 40s reached the Top Ten, including the late-'79 #1 "Babe" and the #3 Casey played, "The Best of Times."
My favorite: The delightfully daft Devo knockoff "Mr. Roboto" (#3, 1983).
How they finished: Just one more hit in the decade, the even-more-blatant Devo soundalike "Music Time" (#40, 1984).
25 - MEN AT WORK
To this point: These Aussies only came on the American scene in 1982, but all three of their hits to this point had reached the Top Three: "Overkill" and the two #1s Casey played: "Who Can it Be Now" and "Down Under."
My favorite: The giddy paranoia of "Who Can it Be Now."
How they finished: Two more hits from 1983's sophomore effort Cargo, "It's a Mistake" (#6) and "Dr Heckyll and Mr. Jive (#28). But 1985's Two Hearts LP flopped, and they broke up. Singer Colin Hay's 1987 solo album didn't fare much better.
24 - REO SPEEDWAGON
To this point: It took them nine years, but these Illinois rockers finally became pop stars, scoring six Top 40s, three Top tens, and the #1 Casey played, "Keep on Loving You."
My favorite: "Take it on the Run" (#5, 1981)
How they finished: Seven top 40s, including the 1985 #1 "Can't Fight This Feeling."
23 - QUEEN
To this point: Freddie Mercury's theatrical rockers only had four Top 40s in this time period, but two were #1s in 1980: "Another One Bites the Dust" and the song Casey played, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
My favorite: The funky, Chic bassline-borrowing "Another One Bites the Dust."
How they finished: With a bunch of hits in the U.K., but only one U.S. Top 40, 1984's "Radio Ga Ga" (#16).
22 - DAN FOGELBERG
To this point: The soft-rocker from Peoria lulled the music consuming public into giving him eight Top 40s in these 42 months. Four went Top 10, and the one Casey played, 1980's "Longer," hit #2.
My favorite: Not much of a fan, but if I have to choose, I'll go with 1980's New Years Eve tale "Same Old Lang Syne." (#9).
How he finished: One more Top 40, 1984's #13 "The Language of Love." After that, his airplay was restricted to those radio stations that get played in waiting rooms.
21 - LIONEL RICHIE
To this point: After topping the charts in 1981 with his duet with Diana Ross "Endless Love," Richie decided to leave the Commodores and go solo. The results thus far: three more Top Fives, and another #1 in the song Casey played "Truly."
My favorite: I guess, "You Are" (#4, 1983)
How he finished: Extremely strong, with nine of his ten Top 40s reaching the Top Ten, and three going to #1: "All Night Long," "Hello," and "Say You, Say Me."
Tomorrow (or maybe Thursday): The final chapter of this epic.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Top 40 Recording Acts of the 1970s as of July 1978, Part Two
Finishing up the list of the biggest singles acts of the 70s with eighteen months to go, according to Casey K. and the Billboard crew.
20 - THE SPINNERS
To this point of the decade: The Motown castoffs-turned-Atlantic hitmakers were a chart staple for much of the 70s, putting together a group of 13 Top 40 hits that included five Top Fives but just one #1, the Dionne Warwick collaboration "Then Came You."
My favorite of theirs from this time: It's close, but I've got the smooth shuffle "(They Just Can't Stop it the) Gsmes People Play," (#5, 1975) just fractionally above the springy "Rubberband Man" (#2, 1976). The latter is the song Casey played
How they finished the decade: With a couple minor R&B hits, then releasing the future #2 "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl" in November of '79.
19 - MARVIN GAYE
To this point: After being a steady hitmaker for Motown in the 60s, Marvin matured artistically in the new decade, but was still commercial enough to hit the Top 40 twelve times. 6 of those hits went Top Ten, and two made it all the way: 1973's "Let's Get it On" and 1977's "Got to Give it Up."
My favorite: Casey played it, 1971's groundbreaking #2 "What's Going On."
How he finished: No hits, but he did get attention in late '78 by releasing the album Here, My Dear to raise money to pay his divorce settlement.
18 - BARRY MANILOW
To this point: Until 1974, Barry Alan Pincus was known for writing commercial jingles and playing bathhouses with Bette Midler. But then "Mandy" came out and shot to #1, and he became a steady radio presence. His totals at this time: eleven Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and two more #1s: "I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It."
My favorite: "Mandy," of course. It allowed Barry to unleash all of his Barryness like he never would again.
How he finished: Four more hits, including three top tens, the best of which was the #8 "Copacabana."
17 - ARETHA FRANKLIN
To this point: Her late 60s roll continued into the 70s, with fifteen Top 40 hits. No #1s, but five Top Tens, including the 1971 #2 "Spanish Harlem" and the song Casey played "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (#3, 1973).
My favorite: The sunny, lovey-dovey "Day Dreaming" (#5, 1972).
How she finished: Only a few minor R&B hits. Her last Top 40 of the decade was '76's "Something He Can Feel."
16 - NEIL DIAMOND
To this point: The ex-college fencing star also continued a run from the 60s. Seventeen Top 40 hits. Just four Top Tens, but all of those were Top Fives, and two went to #1: "Cracklin' Rosie" (which Casey played) and "Song Sung Blue."
My favorite: The 1970 re-release of 1966's "Solitary Man," which missed the Top 40 the first time but went to #20 in its second chance.
How he finished: With the #1 duet with Barbra Streisand "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and the Top 20 "Forever in Blue Jeans."
15 - JOHN DENVER
To this point: Henry John Deutchendorf emerged as the bespectacled, nature-boy folkie superstar the decade had to have. He hit the Top 40 twelve times, with seven Top Tens and four #1s: "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Annie's Song," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," and the double-sided "I'm Sorry/Calypso." Casey played his first hit, the #2 "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
My favorite: "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." It's the only hoedown song you need.
How he finished: No hits after 1976's "Like a Sad Song" (#36), but he was on TV a lot, including the classic 1979 special John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.
14 - THE EAGLES
To this point: The L.A. folk-rockers cranked out the hits beginning in 1972 with "Take it Easy" (#12). The tally thus far: Eleven Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and four #1s: "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "Hotel California," and the one Casey played, "New Kid in Town."
My favorite: As I've said before, I don't really feel strongly about Eagles songs, but I'll say "Take it to the Limit," (#4, 1975).
How they finished: They ended '78 with the #18 holiday single "Please Come Home for Christmas," and the next year ended with them near the top of the charts with "Heartache Tonight."
13 - AL GREEN
To this point: He was the decade's smoothest soul man, with thirteen Top 40 singles. Seven made the Top Ten, and the song Casey played, "Let's Stay Together" was his only #1.
My favorite: Yes, it's the one I've known the longest, but still, I'm sticking with "Let's Stay Together."
How he finished: No more pop hits after 1976's #37 "Keep Me Cryin'." He kept recording and touring, but after a stage accident in 1979, he abandoned secular music to concentrate on being a pastor and recording gospel.
12 - DIANA ROSS
To this point: The turn of the decade coincided with the beginning of her post-Supremes career. The haul so far:fourteen Top 40s. Only four Top 10s, but all of those were #1s: "Touch Me in the Morning," "Theme from Mahogany," "Love Hangover," and her first, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," which Casey played.
My favorite: Ummm...I guess "Last Time I Saw Him," (#14, 1974) because I remember her doing it on The Muppet Show.
How she finished: A #19 in '79 with "The Boss," and a starring role in the 1978 movie musical The Wiz.
11 - TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN
To this point: Orlando, who hadn't had much success on his own in the 60s, became a star after hooking up with backup singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent. They hit the Top 40 fourteen times, the Top Ten six times, and Number One three times with "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and, conveniently enough, the one Casey played, "Knock Three Times."
My favorite: "Knock Three Times." Silly fun.
How they finished: Broken up.
10 - HELEN REDDY
To this point: The Australian dynamo who was a little too feisty to be called "middle-of-the-road" was the decades biggest solo female, racking up fourteen Top 40s, six Top Tens, and three #1s: "I Am Woman," "Delta Dawn," and "Angie Baby." Casey, however, decided to play it safe by going with the sweet song that featured a cameo from her daughter Traci, "You and Me Against the World" (#9, 1974).
My favorite: Do you really have to ask? If you do, you're living in a world of make believe...well, maybe.
How she finished: The hits dried up after 1977's "You're My World (#18.) But in the fall of '78, I'm sure many a rocker was surprised to find her singing backup on "True Confessions," a track from the Gene Simmons solo album.
9 - GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS
To this point: Hailing from Atlanta, Ms. Knight, her brother "Bubba," and two of their cousins had some hits in the 60s, but it was in this decade when they really became superstars, registering fifteen Top 40s, six Top Tens, and the #1 Casey played, "Midnight Train to Georgia."
My favorite: I've got to go, I've got to go, I've got to go with "Midnight Train to Georgia."
How they finished Forced apart by contractual issues for the last few years of the decade, Gladys recorded solo records, and the Pips put out their own albums. The were able to get back together by the time the 80s began, fortunately.
8 - THREE DOG NIGHT
To this point: For the first few years of the seventies, 3DN were a dominant chart force. The numbers: Seventeen Top 40s, eight Top Tens, and three #1s: "Joy to the World," "Black and White," and the one Casey played, "Mama Told Me Not to Come."
My favorite: "Joy" just edges out "Mama Told Me."
How they finished: They broke up in '76, a year after their last hit, "'Til the World Ends" (#32).
7 - CHICAGO
To this point: The jazz-pop megaband were inescapable for much of the decade, picking up nineteen Top 40s and twelve Top Tens. But it wasn't until they let Peter Cetera unleash his inner sapmeister that they scored a #1 with 1976's "If You Leave Me Now."
My favorite: The pure joy of the song Casey played, 1972's "Saturday in the Park (#3).
How they finished: With the Top 20s "Alive Again" and "No Tell Lover."
6 - THE JACKSON 5/THE JACKSONS
To this point: Diana Ross' discoveries were arguably the greatest boy band ever, and the last genuine superstars produced by Motown. At Hitsville U.S.A., they went to #1 with their first four singles: "ABC," "The Love You Save," "I'll Be There," and the one Casey played, "I Want You Back." They didn't top the charts again for Motown, but they hit the Top 40 twelve more times, and made it to #2 three times. After leaving Motown and replacing Jermaine with younger brother Randy, they added two more top 40s, including a #6 in 1976's "Enjoy Yourself."
My favorite:One of the #2s, 1971's "Never Can Say Goodbye."
How they finished: One hit in '79, the Top Ten "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). And at the end of that year, Michael released a little solo album called Off the Wall, which did okay as I recall.
5 - STEVIE WONDER
To this point: The former Steveland Morris took greater control of his career at the start of the decade, and this led to the greatest artistic and commercial run he'd ever have. His seventies stats to this date: Seventeen Top 40s, eleven Top Tens, and five #1s: "You are the Sunshine of My Life," "You Haven't Done Nothin'." "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and the one Casey played, "Superstition."
My favorite: So much good to choose from, but the one I love best is "Living for the City" (#8, 1974)
How he finished: One more Top Five in 1979 with "Send One Your Love."
4 - THE CARPENTERS
To this point: Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter were the king and queen of easy listening in the 70s, soft-rocking their way to eighteen Top 40 singles, including eleven Top Tens and three #1s: "Top of the World," "Please Mr. Postman," and the one Casey played, "(They Long to Be) Close to You."
My favorite: Their last Top 40 of the decade, 1977's delightfully strange "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (#32).
How they finished: With their chart fortunes waining, they put out a Christmas album which sold well. Richard took 1979 off to recover from drug addiction, while Karen worked on a solo album that wouldn't be released until 1996.
3 - PAUL MCCARTNEY
To this point: Combining singles credited to himself alone, him and Linda, and Wings, the Cute Beatle's 70s output had thus far reaped nineteen Top 40s, fourteen Top Tens, and six #1s: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," "My Love," "Silly Love Songs," "Listen to What the Man Said," "With a Little Luck,' and the one Casey played, "Band on the Run."
My favorite: There are four or five that swap the top spot amongst themselves, but at the moment, I'm feeling "Let 'em In" (#3, 1976)
How he finished: With five more Top 40s, the biggest by far being "Goodnight Tonight" (#5)
2 - THE BEE GEES
To this point: The Brothers Gibb had a mere five top 40s in the first half of the decade, but then over next three-and-a-half, they added ten. The totals thus far: Fifteen Top 40s, nine Top Tens, and six #1s: "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart," "You Should Be Dancing," "How Deep is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," and the one Casey played, "Jive Talkin'."
My favorite: The funky strut "Nights on Broadway" (#7, 1975).
How they finished: Extremely strong. Three hits, all #1s: "Too Much Heaven," "Tragedy," and "Love You Inside Out." On the strength of those, they would end up finishing first for the whole decade, overtaking...
1 - ELTON JOHN
To this point: The future knight born Reggie Dwight went from nowhere to everywhere just months into the decade. His tally for these 8 1/2 years: Twenty-one Top 40s, fifteen Top Tens, and six Number Ones: "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "Island Girl," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee), and the song Casey played, "Philadelphia Freedom."
My favorite: Again, a lot to choose from, but I'll go with "Levon" (#24, 1971).
How he finished: Two more hits: "Part-Time Love" (#22) and "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (#9).
Tomorrow: Yes, there's more. We'll start looking at the Top 40 artists of the first third of the 1980s.
20 - THE SPINNERS
To this point of the decade: The Motown castoffs-turned-Atlantic hitmakers were a chart staple for much of the 70s, putting together a group of 13 Top 40 hits that included five Top Fives but just one #1, the Dionne Warwick collaboration "Then Came You."
My favorite of theirs from this time: It's close, but I've got the smooth shuffle "(They Just Can't Stop it the) Gsmes People Play," (#5, 1975) just fractionally above the springy "Rubberband Man" (#2, 1976). The latter is the song Casey played
How they finished the decade: With a couple minor R&B hits, then releasing the future #2 "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl" in November of '79.
19 - MARVIN GAYE
To this point: After being a steady hitmaker for Motown in the 60s, Marvin matured artistically in the new decade, but was still commercial enough to hit the Top 40 twelve times. 6 of those hits went Top Ten, and two made it all the way: 1973's "Let's Get it On" and 1977's "Got to Give it Up."
My favorite: Casey played it, 1971's groundbreaking #2 "What's Going On."
How he finished: No hits, but he did get attention in late '78 by releasing the album Here, My Dear to raise money to pay his divorce settlement.
18 - BARRY MANILOW
To this point: Until 1974, Barry Alan Pincus was known for writing commercial jingles and playing bathhouses with Bette Midler. But then "Mandy" came out and shot to #1, and he became a steady radio presence. His totals at this time: eleven Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and two more #1s: "I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It."
My favorite: "Mandy," of course. It allowed Barry to unleash all of his Barryness like he never would again.
How he finished: Four more hits, including three top tens, the best of which was the #8 "Copacabana."
17 - ARETHA FRANKLIN
To this point: Her late 60s roll continued into the 70s, with fifteen Top 40 hits. No #1s, but five Top Tens, including the 1971 #2 "Spanish Harlem" and the song Casey played "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (#3, 1973).
My favorite: The sunny, lovey-dovey "Day Dreaming" (#5, 1972).
How she finished: Only a few minor R&B hits. Her last Top 40 of the decade was '76's "Something He Can Feel."
16 - NEIL DIAMOND
To this point: The ex-college fencing star also continued a run from the 60s. Seventeen Top 40 hits. Just four Top Tens, but all of those were Top Fives, and two went to #1: "Cracklin' Rosie" (which Casey played) and "Song Sung Blue."
My favorite: The 1970 re-release of 1966's "Solitary Man," which missed the Top 40 the first time but went to #20 in its second chance.
How he finished: With the #1 duet with Barbra Streisand "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and the Top 20 "Forever in Blue Jeans."
15 - JOHN DENVER
To this point: Henry John Deutchendorf emerged as the bespectacled, nature-boy folkie superstar the decade had to have. He hit the Top 40 twelve times, with seven Top Tens and four #1s: "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Annie's Song," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," and the double-sided "I'm Sorry/Calypso." Casey played his first hit, the #2 "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
My favorite: "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." It's the only hoedown song you need.
How he finished: No hits after 1976's "Like a Sad Song" (#36), but he was on TV a lot, including the classic 1979 special John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.
14 - THE EAGLES
To this point: The L.A. folk-rockers cranked out the hits beginning in 1972 with "Take it Easy" (#12). The tally thus far: Eleven Top 40s, seven Top Tens, and four #1s: "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "Hotel California," and the one Casey played, "New Kid in Town."
My favorite: As I've said before, I don't really feel strongly about Eagles songs, but I'll say "Take it to the Limit," (#4, 1975).
How they finished: They ended '78 with the #18 holiday single "Please Come Home for Christmas," and the next year ended with them near the top of the charts with "Heartache Tonight."
13 - AL GREEN
To this point: He was the decade's smoothest soul man, with thirteen Top 40 singles. Seven made the Top Ten, and the song Casey played, "Let's Stay Together" was his only #1.
My favorite: Yes, it's the one I've known the longest, but still, I'm sticking with "Let's Stay Together."
How he finished: No more pop hits after 1976's #37 "Keep Me Cryin'." He kept recording and touring, but after a stage accident in 1979, he abandoned secular music to concentrate on being a pastor and recording gospel.
12 - DIANA ROSS
To this point: The turn of the decade coincided with the beginning of her post-Supremes career. The haul so far:fourteen Top 40s. Only four Top 10s, but all of those were #1s: "Touch Me in the Morning," "Theme from Mahogany," "Love Hangover," and her first, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," which Casey played.
My favorite: Ummm...I guess "Last Time I Saw Him," (#14, 1974) because I remember her doing it on The Muppet Show.
How she finished: A #19 in '79 with "The Boss," and a starring role in the 1978 movie musical The Wiz.
11 - TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN
To this point: Orlando, who hadn't had much success on his own in the 60s, became a star after hooking up with backup singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent. They hit the Top 40 fourteen times, the Top Ten six times, and Number One three times with "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and, conveniently enough, the one Casey played, "Knock Three Times."
My favorite: "Knock Three Times." Silly fun.
How they finished: Broken up.
10 - HELEN REDDY
To this point: The Australian dynamo who was a little too feisty to be called "middle-of-the-road" was the decades biggest solo female, racking up fourteen Top 40s, six Top Tens, and three #1s: "I Am Woman," "Delta Dawn," and "Angie Baby." Casey, however, decided to play it safe by going with the sweet song that featured a cameo from her daughter Traci, "You and Me Against the World" (#9, 1974).
My favorite: Do you really have to ask? If you do, you're living in a world of make believe...well, maybe.
How she finished: The hits dried up after 1977's "You're My World (#18.) But in the fall of '78, I'm sure many a rocker was surprised to find her singing backup on "True Confessions," a track from the Gene Simmons solo album.
9 - GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS
To this point: Hailing from Atlanta, Ms. Knight, her brother "Bubba," and two of their cousins had some hits in the 60s, but it was in this decade when they really became superstars, registering fifteen Top 40s, six Top Tens, and the #1 Casey played, "Midnight Train to Georgia."
My favorite: I've got to go, I've got to go, I've got to go with "Midnight Train to Georgia."
How they finished Forced apart by contractual issues for the last few years of the decade, Gladys recorded solo records, and the Pips put out their own albums. The were able to get back together by the time the 80s began, fortunately.
8 - THREE DOG NIGHT
To this point: For the first few years of the seventies, 3DN were a dominant chart force. The numbers: Seventeen Top 40s, eight Top Tens, and three #1s: "Joy to the World," "Black and White," and the one Casey played, "Mama Told Me Not to Come."
My favorite: "Joy" just edges out "Mama Told Me."
How they finished: They broke up in '76, a year after their last hit, "'Til the World Ends" (#32).
7 - CHICAGO
To this point: The jazz-pop megaband were inescapable for much of the decade, picking up nineteen Top 40s and twelve Top Tens. But it wasn't until they let Peter Cetera unleash his inner sapmeister that they scored a #1 with 1976's "If You Leave Me Now."
My favorite: The pure joy of the song Casey played, 1972's "Saturday in the Park (#3).
How they finished: With the Top 20s "Alive Again" and "No Tell Lover."
6 - THE JACKSON 5/THE JACKSONS
To this point: Diana Ross' discoveries were arguably the greatest boy band ever, and the last genuine superstars produced by Motown. At Hitsville U.S.A., they went to #1 with their first four singles: "ABC," "The Love You Save," "I'll Be There," and the one Casey played, "I Want You Back." They didn't top the charts again for Motown, but they hit the Top 40 twelve more times, and made it to #2 three times. After leaving Motown and replacing Jermaine with younger brother Randy, they added two more top 40s, including a #6 in 1976's "Enjoy Yourself."
My favorite:One of the #2s, 1971's "Never Can Say Goodbye."
How they finished: One hit in '79, the Top Ten "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). And at the end of that year, Michael released a little solo album called Off the Wall, which did okay as I recall.
5 - STEVIE WONDER
To this point: The former Steveland Morris took greater control of his career at the start of the decade, and this led to the greatest artistic and commercial run he'd ever have. His seventies stats to this date: Seventeen Top 40s, eleven Top Tens, and five #1s: "You are the Sunshine of My Life," "You Haven't Done Nothin'." "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and the one Casey played, "Superstition."
My favorite: So much good to choose from, but the one I love best is "Living for the City" (#8, 1974)
How he finished: One more Top Five in 1979 with "Send One Your Love."
4 - THE CARPENTERS
To this point: Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter were the king and queen of easy listening in the 70s, soft-rocking their way to eighteen Top 40 singles, including eleven Top Tens and three #1s: "Top of the World," "Please Mr. Postman," and the one Casey played, "(They Long to Be) Close to You."
My favorite: Their last Top 40 of the decade, 1977's delightfully strange "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (#32).
How they finished: With their chart fortunes waining, they put out a Christmas album which sold well. Richard took 1979 off to recover from drug addiction, while Karen worked on a solo album that wouldn't be released until 1996.
3 - PAUL MCCARTNEY
To this point: Combining singles credited to himself alone, him and Linda, and Wings, the Cute Beatle's 70s output had thus far reaped nineteen Top 40s, fourteen Top Tens, and six #1s: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," "My Love," "Silly Love Songs," "Listen to What the Man Said," "With a Little Luck,' and the one Casey played, "Band on the Run."
My favorite: There are four or five that swap the top spot amongst themselves, but at the moment, I'm feeling "Let 'em In" (#3, 1976)
How he finished: With five more Top 40s, the biggest by far being "Goodnight Tonight" (#5)
2 - THE BEE GEES
To this point: The Brothers Gibb had a mere five top 40s in the first half of the decade, but then over next three-and-a-half, they added ten. The totals thus far: Fifteen Top 40s, nine Top Tens, and six #1s: "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart," "You Should Be Dancing," "How Deep is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," and the one Casey played, "Jive Talkin'."
My favorite: The funky strut "Nights on Broadway" (#7, 1975).
How they finished: Extremely strong. Three hits, all #1s: "Too Much Heaven," "Tragedy," and "Love You Inside Out." On the strength of those, they would end up finishing first for the whole decade, overtaking...
1 - ELTON JOHN
To this point: The future knight born Reggie Dwight went from nowhere to everywhere just months into the decade. His tally for these 8 1/2 years: Twenty-one Top 40s, fifteen Top Tens, and six Number Ones: "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "Island Girl," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee), and the song Casey played, "Philadelphia Freedom."
My favorite: Again, a lot to choose from, but I'll go with "Levon" (#24, 1971).
How he finished: Two more hits: "Part-Time Love" (#22) and "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (#9).
Tomorrow: Yes, there's more. We'll start looking at the Top 40 artists of the first third of the 1980s.
The Top 40 Recording Acts of the 1970s as of July 1978, Part One
Okay, here's the deal. For the 4th of July holiday (which also happens to be the anniversary of the first AT40 in 1970), Casey always used to take a break from counting down the hits of the week to do special theme shows. So for this week's 70s show, we're getting a 1978 show in which Casey counted down the Top 40 artists of the decade to that point. The ranking was based on a point system using the singles charts. So for the next few days, I'm going to first go through this list, artist by artist, and then I'll cover this week's 80s show, which ran down the Top 40 artists of the 80s as of July 1983. So here we go:
40 - EARTH, WIND AND FIRE
To this point in the decade: Since first charting in 1974 with "Mighty Mighty," the funk stars had totalled ten Top 40 singles,including the '75 #1 "Shining Star," and the song Casey played this week, their #5 of that year, "Sing a Song. The rest fell short of the Top 10.
My favorite of theirs from this time: Probably the #12 ballad "That's the Way of the World." Just simple and good.
How they finished out the decade: Four Top 40s, all of which went Top 10: "Got to Get You Into My Life," "September," "Boogie Wonderland" (with the Emotions) and the #2 ballad "After the Love has Gone."
39 - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
To this point: Jeff Lynne and his symphonic rockers broke America with the #9 "Can't Get it Out of My Head." Six Top 40s followed, including the Top Tens "Telephone Line," and the song Casey played, "Evil Woman."
My favorite: "Livin' Thing" (#13), but only because "Mr. Blue Sky," didn't crack the Top 40 until about a month after this.
How they finished: Five more top 40s, including two Top Tens: "Shine a Little Love" and their only U.S. Top Five, "Don't Bring Me Down."
38 - GRAND FUNK (RAILROAD)
To this point: The Flint, Michigan rock machine reached the 40 nine times, going Top 5 four times and hitting #1 twice with "The Loco-Motion," and the song Casey played: "We're an American Band."
My favorite: "We're an American Band," obviously. Sleaze and debauchery all the way.
How they fininshed: Apart. They broke up in 1977.
37 - ABBA
To this point: Ten top 40s for the Swedish quartet, starting in 1974 with the Top Ten Casey played "Waterloo." They hit the top 5 twice, with "Take a Chance on Me" and their only #1 "Dancing Queen."
My favorite: The lovely desperation of "SOS" (#15)
How they finished: Just two more top 40s, "Chiquitita" and the fun disco cheese slice "Does Your Mother Know."
36 - THE STEVE MILLER BAND
To this point: Seven Top 40s for the San Franciscans, including four Top Tens, a #2 ("Fly Like an Eagle") and two charttoppers (their first hit "The Joker," and the song Casey played "Rock'n Me").
My favorite: Their only Top 40 that missed the Top 20, the raucous #23 "Jungle Love."
How they finished: They put out a Greatest Hits in the fall of '78, then took a break until the early 80s.
35 - RINGO STARR
To this point: The surprising second-biggest solo Beatle of the decade made the 40 nine times. Seven of those hit the Top 10, with both "You're Sixteen" and "Photograph" making it all the way to the top.
My favorite: The #4 "It Don't Come Easy" So catchy, and it always makes me think of Marge Simpson trying to paint Mr. Burns.
How he finished: No hits after 1976's "A Dose of Rock n' Roll
34 - THE CAPTAIN AND TENILLE
To this point: The Dragons didn't hit the charts until '75, but they did so in a big way with that year's biggest hit "Love Will Keep Us Together." They followed with five more Top 40s, four of which made the Top Five.
My favorite: Gotta be the "Am I really listening to a song about rodent romance?" pleasures of "Muskrat Love" (#4)
How they finished: One more hit in the second half of '78, the #10 "You Never Done it Like That." At the tail end of 1979, they put out "Do That to Me One More Time," but that didn't become their second and final #1 until February 1980.
33 - THE STYLISTICS
To this point: Ten Top 40s for the Philly soulsters, including five Top 10s, the biggest of which was the #2 "You Make Me Feel Brand New." For some reason, Casey played the uncharacteristically upbeat "Rockin' Roll Baby" (#14).
My favorite: "You Make Me Feel Brand New." That falsetto blew my mind as a kid.
How they finished: Not great. All their pop hits came between '71 and '74, and in the last 18 months of the seventies, they only made the Top 100 once...on the R&B charts.
32 - CARLY SIMON
To this point: Since debuting in 1971 with the #10 relationship drama "That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be" (which Casey played), the New York singer-songwriter racked up a total of nine Top 40s, including five Top Tens, the #2 Bond theme "Nobody Does it Better," and the classic #1 smash "You're So Vain."
My favorite: "You're So Vain," easy. Sass, attitude, and Mick Jagger on backup. What's not to like?
How she finished: Just one more hit, the #36 duet with James Taylor, "Devoted to You."
31 - DONNY OSMOND
To this point: The young star of Utah's answer to The Jackson 5 was an even more formidable hitmaker on his own, hitting the Top 40 eleven times with a series of oldies covers. Five of these made the Top Ten, and his first hit "Go Away Little Girl" (which Casey played) was his only #1.
My favorite: Not my cup of tea at all, but if I have to pick, I'll go with his satisfactorily desperate take on "Puppy Love" (#3).
How he finished: His last hit, a 1976 cover of the Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne," just scraped in at #38. As for July '78-December '79, he went through the flop of his and Marie's comedy film Goin' Coconuts and then the cancellation of their variety show. So this was a down time for the man, to say the least.
30 - LINDA RONSTADT
To this point: The pride of Tucson, Arizona, had become the biggest female rock singer of her time, with ten Top 40 singles. Five reached the Top Ten, including a #2 in "When Will I be Loved" and a #1 in "You're No Good" (the latter of which Casey played).
My favorite: Her cover of the fantastic Warren Zevon song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (#31).
How she finished: Two more hit covers: Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A" (#16) and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "Ooh Baby Baby," (#7). Plus, dating Jerry Brown.
29 - ROD STEWART
To this point: The Scottish playboy and frustrated footballer first hit in the U.S with the song Casey played, the #1 "Maggie May." He'd chart nine more times. Only two made the top ten, but both were Top Five, and "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) was a monster #1.
My favorite: The sweet but not sappy love song "You Wear it Well" (#13).
How he finished: Another huge charttopper with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," followed by the minor hit "Ain't Love a Bitch" (#22).
28 - ROBERTA FLACK
To this point: The daughter of musical parents, Flack had only seven Top 40 hits in the decade so far, and three of those were duets with Donny Hathaway. But two of those duets went Top Five (including the recent #2 "The Closer I Get to You"), and three of her four solo hits went all the way to #1: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Feel Like Makin' Love," and the track Casey played, "Killing Me Softly."
My favorite: "Killing Me Softly," in spite of its later Fugees overkill.
How she finished: Just one more hit, "If I Ever See You Again," (#24), written by Joe "You Light Up My Life" Brooks.
27 - THE TEMPTATIONS
To this point: The Motown stars of the 60s stayed hot into the next decade, with fourteen Top 40 singles, including five Top Tens and two #1s: "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."
My favorite: Gotta be the 1970 #3 "Ball of Confusion." I first heard it through the Love and Rockets cover in the 80s, but the original has blown that version out of my head.
How they finished: Off of Motown, in the middle reaches of the R&B charts.
26 - JAMES TAYLOR
To this point: The Boston-born, North Carolina-raised folkie had, including collaborations with wife Carly Simon and buddies Simon and Garfunkel, eleven Top 40 singles, including six Top Fives and the #1 Casey played, "You've Got a Friend."
My favorite: His first hit, "Fire and Rain." (#3)
How he finished: "Devoted to You," with Carly Simon, and a 1979 cover of the Drifters' "Up on the Roof," (#28).
25 - PAUL SIMON
To this point: Garfunkel's old running buddy had successfully struck out on his own, and scored ten Top 40 singles. Among his five Top Fives were two #2s ("Kodachrome" and the song Casey played, "Loves Me Like a Rock"), and a #1 in "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."
My favorite: The bouncy ode to photography "Kodachrome," barely noses out "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" (#22).
How he finished: No further hits, but in 1979 he did switch record labels (Columbia to Warner Bros.) and sign on to star in the movie One-Trick Pony, which came out the next year.
24 - WAR
To this point:This California band was originally put together as a group built around ex-Animals singer Eric Burdon, and in that incarnation, they hit #3 in 1970 with "Spill the Wine." Burdon left the next year, but the band continued on and scored eleven more Top 40 hits, including five Top Tens, the biggest of which was the #2 "The Cisco Kid," which Casey played.
My favorite: "Why Can't We Be Friends" (#6). Catchy, a good message, and rhyming "CIA" with "Mafia"? Genius.
How they finished: No more hits after early '78's #39 "Galaxy."
23 - BREAD
To this point: The L.A, soft rockers seemed boring to me, but they had a formula that worked. They debuted in 1970 with the #1 Casey played, "Make it With You." Eleven more Top 40s followed, but while five of those hit the Top Ten, they didn't top the chart again.
My favorite: 1972's #11 "The Guitar Man." One of the few times they showed signs of life.
How they finished: Broken up for the second time, while singer David Gates' solo career was quickly running out of steam.
22 - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
To this point: The Australian songbird took America by storm with a dozen Top 40 hits, including six Top Tens and three Number Ones: "Have You Never Been Mellow," "You're the One that I Want" (with Grease costar John Travolta), and the one Casey played, "I Honestly Love You."
My favorite: "Have You Never Been Mellow." Just warm and comforting and good.
How she finished: Very strong. She was credited on two more Top Fives from Grease: "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Summer Nights," then she charted twice more with "A Little More Love" (#3) and "Deeper Than the Night (#11).
21 - ELVIS PRESLEY
To this point: The King may have fattened up and gone to Vegas, but he was still putting out records at an impressive clip, and many found their way onto the charts. He had a whopping 20 Top 40 hits in this decade. But only two of them made the Top Ten: the 1970 #9 hit that Casey played, "The Wonder of You," and 1972's immortal #2 smash "Burning Love."
My favorite: His first hit of the decade, "Kentucky Rain" (#16). A dramatic ballad about a man searching for his runaway bride. He would never use his voice better again, as far as I'm concerned.
How he finished: He didn't, unfortunately.
Next time: The 20 biggest. If you've been following BGC from the start, I'm sure you can figure out most of who's still to come.
40 - EARTH, WIND AND FIRE
To this point in the decade: Since first charting in 1974 with "Mighty Mighty," the funk stars had totalled ten Top 40 singles,including the '75 #1 "Shining Star," and the song Casey played this week, their #5 of that year, "Sing a Song. The rest fell short of the Top 10.
My favorite of theirs from this time: Probably the #12 ballad "That's the Way of the World." Just simple and good.
How they finished out the decade: Four Top 40s, all of which went Top 10: "Got to Get You Into My Life," "September," "Boogie Wonderland" (with the Emotions) and the #2 ballad "After the Love has Gone."
39 - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
To this point: Jeff Lynne and his symphonic rockers broke America with the #9 "Can't Get it Out of My Head." Six Top 40s followed, including the Top Tens "Telephone Line," and the song Casey played, "Evil Woman."
My favorite: "Livin' Thing" (#13), but only because "Mr. Blue Sky," didn't crack the Top 40 until about a month after this.
How they finished: Five more top 40s, including two Top Tens: "Shine a Little Love" and their only U.S. Top Five, "Don't Bring Me Down."
38 - GRAND FUNK (RAILROAD)
To this point: The Flint, Michigan rock machine reached the 40 nine times, going Top 5 four times and hitting #1 twice with "The Loco-Motion," and the song Casey played: "We're an American Band."
My favorite: "We're an American Band," obviously. Sleaze and debauchery all the way.
How they fininshed: Apart. They broke up in 1977.
37 - ABBA
To this point: Ten top 40s for the Swedish quartet, starting in 1974 with the Top Ten Casey played "Waterloo." They hit the top 5 twice, with "Take a Chance on Me" and their only #1 "Dancing Queen."
My favorite: The lovely desperation of "SOS" (#15)
How they finished: Just two more top 40s, "Chiquitita" and the fun disco cheese slice "Does Your Mother Know."
36 - THE STEVE MILLER BAND
To this point: Seven Top 40s for the San Franciscans, including four Top Tens, a #2 ("Fly Like an Eagle") and two charttoppers (their first hit "The Joker," and the song Casey played "Rock'n Me").
My favorite: Their only Top 40 that missed the Top 20, the raucous #23 "Jungle Love."
How they finished: They put out a Greatest Hits in the fall of '78, then took a break until the early 80s.
35 - RINGO STARR
To this point: The surprising second-biggest solo Beatle of the decade made the 40 nine times. Seven of those hit the Top 10, with both "You're Sixteen" and "Photograph" making it all the way to the top.
My favorite: The #4 "It Don't Come Easy" So catchy, and it always makes me think of Marge Simpson trying to paint Mr. Burns.
How he finished: No hits after 1976's "A Dose of Rock n' Roll
34 - THE CAPTAIN AND TENILLE
To this point: The Dragons didn't hit the charts until '75, but they did so in a big way with that year's biggest hit "Love Will Keep Us Together." They followed with five more Top 40s, four of which made the Top Five.
My favorite: Gotta be the "Am I really listening to a song about rodent romance?" pleasures of "Muskrat Love" (#4)
How they finished: One more hit in the second half of '78, the #10 "You Never Done it Like That." At the tail end of 1979, they put out "Do That to Me One More Time," but that didn't become their second and final #1 until February 1980.
33 - THE STYLISTICS
To this point: Ten Top 40s for the Philly soulsters, including five Top 10s, the biggest of which was the #2 "You Make Me Feel Brand New." For some reason, Casey played the uncharacteristically upbeat "Rockin' Roll Baby" (#14).
My favorite: "You Make Me Feel Brand New." That falsetto blew my mind as a kid.
How they finished: Not great. All their pop hits came between '71 and '74, and in the last 18 months of the seventies, they only made the Top 100 once...on the R&B charts.
32 - CARLY SIMON
To this point: Since debuting in 1971 with the #10 relationship drama "That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be" (which Casey played), the New York singer-songwriter racked up a total of nine Top 40s, including five Top Tens, the #2 Bond theme "Nobody Does it Better," and the classic #1 smash "You're So Vain."
My favorite: "You're So Vain," easy. Sass, attitude, and Mick Jagger on backup. What's not to like?
How she finished: Just one more hit, the #36 duet with James Taylor, "Devoted to You."
31 - DONNY OSMOND
To this point: The young star of Utah's answer to The Jackson 5 was an even more formidable hitmaker on his own, hitting the Top 40 eleven times with a series of oldies covers. Five of these made the Top Ten, and his first hit "Go Away Little Girl" (which Casey played) was his only #1.
My favorite: Not my cup of tea at all, but if I have to pick, I'll go with his satisfactorily desperate take on "Puppy Love" (#3).
How he finished: His last hit, a 1976 cover of the Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne," just scraped in at #38. As for July '78-December '79, he went through the flop of his and Marie's comedy film Goin' Coconuts and then the cancellation of their variety show. So this was a down time for the man, to say the least.
30 - LINDA RONSTADT
To this point: The pride of Tucson, Arizona, had become the biggest female rock singer of her time, with ten Top 40 singles. Five reached the Top Ten, including a #2 in "When Will I be Loved" and a #1 in "You're No Good" (the latter of which Casey played).
My favorite: Her cover of the fantastic Warren Zevon song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (#31).
How she finished: Two more hit covers: Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A" (#16) and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "Ooh Baby Baby," (#7). Plus, dating Jerry Brown.
29 - ROD STEWART
To this point: The Scottish playboy and frustrated footballer first hit in the U.S with the song Casey played, the #1 "Maggie May." He'd chart nine more times. Only two made the top ten, but both were Top Five, and "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) was a monster #1.
My favorite: The sweet but not sappy love song "You Wear it Well" (#13).
How he finished: Another huge charttopper with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," followed by the minor hit "Ain't Love a Bitch" (#22).
28 - ROBERTA FLACK
To this point: The daughter of musical parents, Flack had only seven Top 40 hits in the decade so far, and three of those were duets with Donny Hathaway. But two of those duets went Top Five (including the recent #2 "The Closer I Get to You"), and three of her four solo hits went all the way to #1: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Feel Like Makin' Love," and the track Casey played, "Killing Me Softly."
My favorite: "Killing Me Softly," in spite of its later Fugees overkill.
How she finished: Just one more hit, "If I Ever See You Again," (#24), written by Joe "You Light Up My Life" Brooks.
27 - THE TEMPTATIONS
To this point: The Motown stars of the 60s stayed hot into the next decade, with fourteen Top 40 singles, including five Top Tens and two #1s: "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."
My favorite: Gotta be the 1970 #3 "Ball of Confusion." I first heard it through the Love and Rockets cover in the 80s, but the original has blown that version out of my head.
How they finished: Off of Motown, in the middle reaches of the R&B charts.
26 - JAMES TAYLOR
To this point: The Boston-born, North Carolina-raised folkie had, including collaborations with wife Carly Simon and buddies Simon and Garfunkel, eleven Top 40 singles, including six Top Fives and the #1 Casey played, "You've Got a Friend."
My favorite: His first hit, "Fire and Rain." (#3)
How he finished: "Devoted to You," with Carly Simon, and a 1979 cover of the Drifters' "Up on the Roof," (#28).
25 - PAUL SIMON
To this point: Garfunkel's old running buddy had successfully struck out on his own, and scored ten Top 40 singles. Among his five Top Fives were two #2s ("Kodachrome" and the song Casey played, "Loves Me Like a Rock"), and a #1 in "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."
My favorite: The bouncy ode to photography "Kodachrome," barely noses out "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" (#22).
How he finished: No further hits, but in 1979 he did switch record labels (Columbia to Warner Bros.) and sign on to star in the movie One-Trick Pony, which came out the next year.
24 - WAR
To this point:This California band was originally put together as a group built around ex-Animals singer Eric Burdon, and in that incarnation, they hit #3 in 1970 with "Spill the Wine." Burdon left the next year, but the band continued on and scored eleven more Top 40 hits, including five Top Tens, the biggest of which was the #2 "The Cisco Kid," which Casey played.
My favorite: "Why Can't We Be Friends" (#6). Catchy, a good message, and rhyming "CIA" with "Mafia"? Genius.
How they finished: No more hits after early '78's #39 "Galaxy."
23 - BREAD
To this point: The L.A, soft rockers seemed boring to me, but they had a formula that worked. They debuted in 1970 with the #1 Casey played, "Make it With You." Eleven more Top 40s followed, but while five of those hit the Top Ten, they didn't top the chart again.
My favorite: 1972's #11 "The Guitar Man." One of the few times they showed signs of life.
How they finished: Broken up for the second time, while singer David Gates' solo career was quickly running out of steam.
22 - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
To this point: The Australian songbird took America by storm with a dozen Top 40 hits, including six Top Tens and three Number Ones: "Have You Never Been Mellow," "You're the One that I Want" (with Grease costar John Travolta), and the one Casey played, "I Honestly Love You."
My favorite: "Have You Never Been Mellow." Just warm and comforting and good.
How she finished: Very strong. She was credited on two more Top Fives from Grease: "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Summer Nights," then she charted twice more with "A Little More Love" (#3) and "Deeper Than the Night (#11).
21 - ELVIS PRESLEY
To this point: The King may have fattened up and gone to Vegas, but he was still putting out records at an impressive clip, and many found their way onto the charts. He had a whopping 20 Top 40 hits in this decade. But only two of them made the Top Ten: the 1970 #9 hit that Casey played, "The Wonder of You," and 1972's immortal #2 smash "Burning Love."
My favorite: His first hit of the decade, "Kentucky Rain" (#16). A dramatic ballad about a man searching for his runaway bride. He would never use his voice better again, as far as I'm concerned.
How he finished: He didn't, unfortunately.
Next time: The 20 biggest. If you've been following BGC from the start, I'm sure you can figure out most of who's still to come.
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