At last, the second part of our 70s clean-up job.
June 24, 1972
35 - "Immigration Man," Graham Nash and David Crosby
In addition to their work with Stills and Young, these two recorded several albums as a duo. The only Top 40 hit these collaborations produced was this ode to the hassles that customs agents can put one through while travelling. Doesn't sound much different to the stuff they did with S&Y. But that's not a bad thing.
Nov.18, 1972
38 - "Dialogue (Parts I and II)," Chicago
One of the band's more interesting singles, this song (over seven minutes long in its full version), this song is sung by two characters. The first, played by Terry Kath, asks his acquaintance if he's worried about the problems in the world, such as war, poverty, and repression. The other man, voiced by Peter Cetera, says that he doesn't pay attention to such things, and as far as he's aware, "everything is fine." At the end of part one, this denial of the harsh realities of life by Cetera wears Kath down to the point where he seems to agree that ignorance and apathy are the way to go. But then in part two, the two of them are singing together about how they actually can change the world. All in all, the first part is much more interesting and fleshed-out, but I guess the second part was necessary to make it clear to listeners that not caring isn't the ideal. It's a cool listen.
Jan. 20, 1973
40 - "I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time of Storm)," Luther Ingram
This Tennessee native's only other pop Top 40 (which followed his #3 smash "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right)") was a soulful pledge of support along the same lines as Bill Withers' "Lean On Me." Ingram's voice is suitably reassuring. This does the trick.
March 24, 1973
33 - "Give Me Your Love," Barbara Mason
Philadelphia R&B singer Mason had two pop Top 40s in the 60s, then two more in the 70s. The first of the latter was this cooing, sexy plea for affection/pledge of dedication. The heavy breathing at the end might not work in other hands, but Barbara pulls it off.
35 - "Hello Hooray," Alice Cooper
Written by a Canadian named Rolf Kempf, this song about the excitement of performance (I think that's it) was first recorded by Judy Collins in 1968, then taken into the Top 40 as the second single from Alice's only #1 LP, Billion Dollar Babies. A great vehicle for Alice's theatrical side.
37 - "Good Morning Heartache," Diana Ross
In 1972, Diana Ross made her film acting debut portraying jazz legend Billie Holiday in the movie Lady Sings the Blues. Her performance earned her an Oscar nomination, and the soundtrack album featuring her versions of many Holiday standards went to #1, and she cracked the pop singles chart with this cover of a ballad about loneliness that Billie first recorded in 1946. Ross basically sings it in her own voice without trying too hard to imitate the original, which is for the best, because she just doesn't have that same rich, world-weary tone. I'll take Billie on this every day of the week, but Miss Ross does well in her own way, and if her doing this introduced people to the brilliance of one of the all-time greats, all the better.
May 19, 1973
33 - "Superfly Meets Shaft," John and Ernest
John Free and Ernest Smith made their only major impact on pop with this "break-in" record (produced by the inventor and master of the form himself, Dickie Goodman) about the former blaxploitation icon going missing, a crisis that causes the President to turn to the one and only "black private dick who's a sex machine to all the chicks." The title songs to both characters' movies are employed, as well as other top R&B hits of the day by James Brown, The Temptations, The Spinners, and others. The story doesn't really go anywhere. By the end, Superfly is still on the loose, while Shaft and the President seem to be developing a surprising bond. Basically, the sort of silly, disposable fun most of these kind of "songs" provide.
34 - "Teddy Bear Song," Barbara Fairchild
Arkansas-born country singer Fairchild had several country hits between 1969 and 1976, but her only major pop hit with this odd number about wishing one was a stuffed animal on a store shelf because that seems preferable to a human existence filled with mistakes and heartbreak. Kind of existential for country. Fairchild's voice is solid yet unremarkable, but I have to say I like this one.
38 - "Hearts of Stone," The Blue Ridge Rangers
The second single by this "band" (actually John Fogerty's first solo album, on which he sang and played all the instruments) was this cover of a 1954 hit by the doo-wop group Otis Williams and The Charms. This is a chugging country take on a song about the dangers of caring for those with less-than-caring natures. Anything Fogerty does is usually worth a listen, and this is no exception.
June 30, 1973
40 - "Time to Get Down," The O'Jays
The third pop hit for these Canton, Ohio soulsters was this danceable request to stop a-fussin' and a-feudin' and get to the lovin'. Simple solid seventies soul
Nov. 3, 1973
38 - "Check it Out," Tavares
The first hit for these five Massachusetts brothers was this ballad on which they offer "a strong hand to guide you through the night." I guess that would be a good thing, if that's what you're into. Bu all in all, a good opening to a nice little career.
Feb. 9, 1974
38 - "I Shall Sing," Art Garfunkel
The second hit for Artie G. sans Simon was this jaunty cover of a Van Morrison song about declaring loudly and proudly that one's voice will be heard. Probably my favorite of the solo stuff of his that I've heard to date.
May 25, 1974
38 - "Save the Last Dance for Me," The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco
The last major hit for this family band out of Port Colborne, Ontario was this cover of a 1958 hit by The Drifters about a guy who hopes that his lady friend remembers who she came with after cutting rugs with other patrons of a particular gathering. Reportedly, the song's co-writer, Doc Pomus, wrote it on his wedding day, which took place while he was in a wheelchair due to polio. It makes much more sense when you know that, don't you think?
39 - "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock," Bill Haley and His Comets
One of the first major rock n' roll hits, this classic about a non-stop party scraped back into the Top 40 twenty years after its original release thanks to its use in both the hit film American Graffiti and the then-new TV sitcom Happy Days. Put your glad rags on and enjoy.
40 - "Daybreak," Nilsson
Harry's final Top 40 was this sunny pop song from a film called Son of Dracula, in which Nilsson himself played the title role and Ringo Starr played his advisor. Not surprisingly, the tune is about an aversion to sunlight. Very good song. The movie is apparenly much less so.
Aug. 31, 1974
31 - "Don't Change Horses (In The Middle of the Stream)," Tower of Power
The third and last Top 40 for this horn-driven Oakland outfit was this funk-soul tune that uses an old cliche about staying the course to convince his lover to stay with him. The "giddy-up"s and "Hi-ho Silver!"s are a little cheesy, but they work. My favorite of their major hits. But their best single, for my money, is "What is Hip."
37 - "Sugar Baby Love," The Rubettes
In spite of their name, this English vocal group were made up of four men. Their only major American hit was attempt to cross doo-wop with glam rock. It didn't turn out too sweet to my ears.
Oct. 12, 1974
26 - "Give it to the People," The Righteous Brothers
The RiBros. follow-up to "Rock and Roll Heaven" had them continuing in a celestial vein, as it's about how the two of them "made a deal with the angel of music" to allow them to perform for crowds all around the world. Not quite as cornball as their previous single, but still, nothing special.
29 - "Straight Shootin' Woman," Steppenwolf
This band's last hit found them in a bluesier mode than their harder, bigger hits. And the lyrics are incredibly suggestive, making reference to female anatomy in lines like "these Hollywood women, they pack a pistol between their toes," and "she keeps her cylinder greased and loaded." Kind of like a bawdy R&B number from the 40s that somehow snuck onto 1974 radio.
31 - "Kings of the Party," Brownsville Station
The Michiganders behind "Smokin' in the Boys' Room" managed one more Top 40 with this hard rock boogie about how fun it is to play live. Like its predecessor, it has a spoken word opening, but this one goes on for over a minute. Dumb fun party music.
35 - "Devotion," Earth, Wind and Fire
The band's second pop hit was this ballad about how music can soothe your soul and even provide "deliverance from the fruits of evil." A lot to ask from a song, but I wouldn't bet agains EWF providing it.
37 - "Higher Plane," Kool and the Gang
The band's fourth pop Top 40 is just high-powered funk positivity. More goodness from the time when they wouldn't have dreamed of doing pap like "Cherish."
39 - "Papa Don't Take No Mess (Part 1)," James Brown
JB's final pop Top 40 of this decade was another slick funk strut about, well, a papa, who, apparently has a low tolerance for, um, mess. He will drink and gamble occasionally, though. And while he doesn't swear, but he believes in corporal punishment for childhood wrongdoing. But he's a softie at heart. All in all, sounds like a decent enough fella, and if James likes him, that's good enough for me.
Nov. 23, 1974
25 - "Touch Me," Fancy
After scoring a hit with a lascivious cover of The Troggs' "Wild Thing," this British band changed singers, replacing a former Penthouse Pet with a musical-theatre actress. But their ensuing second hit was still a pretty sexually suggestive hard-rocker. The new girl's rasp hits all my chick-rock sweet spots. Like it a lot.
30 - "La La Peace Song," Al Wilson
The third of four Top 40s for Mississippi soul man Wilson (best known for the #1 "Show and Tell") was this tune about all the bad that was going on in the world (war, injustice, hijackings), and wondering why we can't all just get along. About in the middle of the pack among this type of song.
36 - "Three Ring Circus," Blue Magic
On their biggest hit "Sideshow," this Philly soul band imagined an exhibition of lonely people. On their only other pop Top 40, they continue the travelling showbiz theme on a ballad about someone going through life trying to make people happy through his own tears. I think that's it. Anyway, if "carny soul" is a genre, these guys are the masters.
39 - "Let's Straighten it Out," Latimore
The biggest pop hit by this R&B singer (first name Benjamin) is this spare groover about a man wanting to learn what the problem is in his relationship and begin the process of fixing it. He's got a smooth speaking voice (there's a long spoken intro), and his singing voice has a cool, unique quality. Another cool discovery.
In Part III:' 75, '76, and maybe even a little '77
