Wrapping up.
20 - "A Song of Joy," Miguel Rios
19 - "Lay a Little Lovin' on Me," Robin McNamara
18 - "I Just Can't Help Believin'," B.J. Thomas
17 - "Ohio," Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
16 - "Teach Your Children," Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
The second half begins with Miguel Rios, who is considered to have been one of Spain's first rock stars. On his only American hit, he sets a typical-for-the-times folk tune about freedom, love and understanding to the tune of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." At a couple points, it breaks out into a full orchestral performance. Casey declared it "the most unusual song on the charts this week." I guess he gave it his own Uneasy Rider award. Sorry Case, but I'm sticking with the Pipkins.
Then it's Robin McNamara, who from what I'm seen and heard seems to be a woman, even if her Wikipedia entry indicates otherwise for some reason. Anyway, her only hit was this okay pop rocker in which she demands affection because "doggone it, I depend upon it." I don't know why, but I like that turn of phrase in this context.
Next is MOR machine B.J. Thomas with more innocuous fare. On this one, he's trying to convince himself that his latest flame is going to stay "for more than just a day." I have my doubts, Beej. You bore me to death, and I imagine women feel the same.
We close this section with back-to-back hits from that supergroup of supergroups, CSNY. First is their angry, grinding protest anthem about the fatal shooting that May of anti-Vietnam protesters by members of the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University. They're aren't many lyrics, but what's there packs a wallop. This is immediately followed by the kinder, gentler "Teach Your Children," a simple plea for both parents and offspring to learn from each other and recognize that their love is precious and unconditional. The difference between the two is jarring, but the fact that they come from the same source isn't. Both the anger and the love come from wanting to make the world better. This was at a time when pop musicians still seriously thought they could do that with their music.
15 - "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," Melanie
14 - "Are You Ready?" Pacific Gas and Electric
13 - "Hitchin' a Ride," Vanity Fare
12 - "War," Edwin Starr
11 - "Ride Captain Ride," Blues Image
This quintet opens with the folky Ms. Safka, backed by the gospel group The Edwin Hawkins Singers (of "Oh Happy Day" fame), with a song she wrote after being inspired by the sight of the thousands she performed for at Woodstock the previous year. It celebrates the peaceful vibe of that concert, although a casual listener might think otherwise while hearing lyrics like "We bled inside each other's wounds/We had all caught the same disease." But it works, somehow.
Next is the only hit for a blues-rock group named after a California utility company. This is a hard-rockin' tune with overt gospel overtones, asking people suffering through the world's misery, unrest and pollution if they are prepared "to sit by His throne." It's a pretty rousing number, and I think Casey made a good choice to give the full seven-plus-minute version an airing. Another uncovered gem.
Then it's Britain's Vanity Fare and they're only American hit, a jaunty ode to thumbing lifts from complete strangers. People don't do that so much today. I really don't have much more to say about this. It's not that substantial a song.
Motown second-stringer Edwin Starr had by far his biggest hit with this out-and-out protest soul stirrer about the futility of Vietnam speci73fically and war in general. Some of the barest, truest words ever spoken on the subject, including "friend only to the undertaker," and "war can't give life, it can only take away." Timeless, unfortunately.
Closing this chapter is the only hit by Tampa band Blues Image, a mild rocker about 73 men on a "mystery ship" sailing from San Francisco to some unspecified happy port. A song I generally don't give a shit about, but for some reason, I think I'd miss it if it didn't exist.
Like a soccer team who has a player red-carded, we're down to ten:
10 - "O-o-h Child," The Five Stairsteps
The only Top 40 hit for the five Burke siblings, an uplifting, hopeful message to a child that in spite of dark times, he or she will one day "walk in the rays of a beautiful sun." Certainly a message that resonated then, and definitely does now.
9 - "Tighter, Tighter," Alive and Kicking
This Brooklyn band's only hit was written by Tommy James, who originally wrote "Crystal Blue Persuasion" for them, but then decided to keep it for himself and gave them this instead. I think it worked out well for them. This is catchy and upbeat, and I think it's easier to break through that way than with a ballad. And Casey said it was his favorite song on this week's chart, so there's that.
8 - "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)," The Temptations
Possibly the best topical soul song of the time, this Temps hit covers all the world's major ills at the time: war, poverty, racism, drug abuse, corruption, population growth, the economy, and many many more. But it's still fun to sing along to while it makes you think.
7 - "Spill the Wine," Eric Burdon and War
Ex-Animal Eric Burdon and his new, predominantly American band, with their trippy description of a guy having a wet dream while lying in a field. Do you think Burdon thought War would have a much brighter future than himself when he left? Me neither
6 - "The Love You Save," The Jackson 5
The third #1 out of the box for Michael and bros., in which they advise a girl who's flirting with multiple boys to slow down and consider settling with one. Preferrably a Jackson. In the midst of all the serious stuff Motown was putting out, the J5's hits were a welcome respite of fun, and I'm sure this contributed to the group's red-hot beginning.
5 - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," Stevie Wonder
More upbeat Motown, this time from a guy who was about to get more serious than anyone on the label, both lyrically and musically. But that doesn't downgrade this raucous devotion declaration at all. He was proclaimed a "genius" at 12, and for my money, he has never made anyone doubt that he deserves that label.
4 - "Band of Gold," Freda Payne
A song about the most doomed marriage imaginable. A classic. With the theroretical future Mrs. Glovehead's permission, I think I'll insist this gets played at my wedding, just in case anyone picks up on the irony. I'd like to think that among the people we'd invite, someone would.
3 - "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," Three Dog Night
One of 3DN's high point's, this cover of a Randy Newman song describes "the craziest party that could ever be." Maybe it's just me, but I'm thinking that this, in fact, is the way to have fun, son.
2 - "Make it With You," Bread
The first single by David Gates and his MOR hit factory, this went all the way to the top. Considering how I feel about this band, I should hate this, but I don't quite. Also, I think I'd like to use the phrase "I may be climbing on rainbows, but here goes," in conversation some day.
And on top of the heap of vinyl 41 years ago was...
1 - "(They Long to Be) Close to You," The Carpenters
This is best known as the first hit for Karen and Richard, but it was actually written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1963, and before the siblings that would rule 70s easy-listening put it on wax, there were other recorded versions: one by Bacharach himself, another by Dionne Warwick, and yet another, in fact the first, by...Richard Chamberlain. That's right. Dr. Kildare. The dude I knew from early-80s miniseries like Shogun and The Thorn Birds. I should try and track his version down sometime. I won't, though.
No NotCasey contributions this week. Instead, we got four original extras from the man himself: "I'm Walkin'" by Fats Domino, "Can't Buy Me Love" by the Beatles, "Gentle on My Mind" by Glen Campbell, and "Alley Oop" by the Hollywood Argyles.
Next week is kind of a big deal. Not only will my next post be #100, it's also going to be the last regular 70s entry before we move up a decade. You've gotta be here for that, dont'cha?
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