April 1977. On the date of this chart, Englishman John Spencer defeated Canadian Cliff Thorburn to win the World Snooker Championship in the first one held at it’s now-permanent home, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. So let’s cue up the popular songs of the day.
40 - “Chanson D’Amour,” The Manhattan Transfer
Our second look at the New York jazzers’ only charttopper. Still like the Edith Piaf vibe of it. Probably the best thing they ever did.
39 - “Rio,” Michael Nesmith
The Monkee with the most musical cred, Nesmith picked up a solo hit here with this country/bossa nova hybrid about dreaming of the beaches of Brazil. A sweet little reverie that makes you wonder what kind of career he would have had if he’d skipped that audition.
38 - “Mah Na Mah Na,” Piero Umiliani
We meet again with the nonsensical classic, originally written for an exploitative documentary about sex in Sweden and popularized by Jim Henson’s puppets. That explanation of why we all know the song somehow makes less sense than the lyrics.
37 - “Love Hit Me,” Maxine Nightingale
In between her two biggest hits “Right Back Where We Started From” and “Lead Me On,” the Londoner went to #11 here with this sprightly, Motowny love song. It’s right up there with the other two in quality. She should have been a bigger star.
36 - “You’re My Life,” Barry Biggs
The third and last hit here for the Jamaican best known for his cover of Blue Magic’s “Sideshow” was this very bland ballad. The only thing interesting is how his voice is even higher than it was on his bigger hit. There are moments that threaten to veer into castrato territory.
35 - “Southern Nights,” Glen Campbell
The Arkansan’s surprising dip into New Orleans R&B topped the charts in North America, but only got to #28 here. I had imagined at least a Top Ten placing here, but oh well. It still gives me all the joy, as the kids probably say.
34 - “Moody Blue,” Elvis Presley
This was the last Top Ten he had during his lifetime, and it’s a worthy one. A good song about trying to understand a women, and his performance splits the difference between Memphis and Vegas. I also have a soft spot for this because it shares its name with a cheap wine my parents used to drink in the 70s. Although that was apparently named for the band.
33 - “Together,” O.C. Smith
Nine years after hitting #2 in America with “Little Green Apples” and turning the same trick here with “The Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp,” Louisianan Smith charted again with this Barry White-ish number about romantically dedication. Sexy soul from a veteran, That usually turns out well.
32 - “7000 Dollars and You,” The Stylistics
The last hit for the Philly soul singers was this Latin-tinged tune about what the singer would do with various amounts of money and the love of his life. With seven grand, he’d get her fancy clothes and rent a Cadillac. With 100 Gs, they’d fly to Spain every weekend on his private jet. And with a million...surprise twist ahead...he wouldn’t even need her. Men, am I right?
31 - “Where is the Love (We Used to Know),” Delegation
The biggest hit for this British contingent was this disco breakup lament. They’re kind of like the O’Jays less nourishing substitutes, the O’Drinks.
30 - “Marquee Moon,” Television
The first hit for these influential New York art punks was this ten-minute-plus epic (divided in half to fit both sides of a 7-inch). Its stuttery guitars, jazz-influenced cadences, and Tom Verlaine’s anguished singing about the danger and mystery of the night make it one of the most interesting pure pieces of music punk ever produced, and it works just fine as a record to rock out to as well. Definitely a band worth checking out, even for punk skeptics.
29 - “Another Funny Honeymoon,” David Dundas
The other hit for “Jeans On” hitmaker/future British Lord was this piano-driven track about someone who drove his lover away by indulging in drugs and drink. It’s like something Gilbert O’Sullivan would do if he was the slightest bit interesting.
28 - “Good Morning Judge,” 10cc
Another spin of they’re jaunty rocker about an irredeemable scoundrel. Another intelligent pop master class. They did it, they were there, and thank God for that.
27 - “Smoke on the Water,” Deep Purple
Four years after the studio version of the rock standard went Top Five in America, a live version from a concert in Osaka, Japan in 1972 finally made it a hit single here. That Swiss guy with the flare gun turned out to be rock’s version of the butterfly flapping its wings.
26 - “Sound + Vision,” David Bowie
Another visit with Bowie’s last Top Five of the 70s. It must be one of the best pop hits where the lead vocals come in almost halfway through the song.
25 - “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born),” Barbra Streisand
The closest Babs came to a Triple Crown before she finally got one with “Woman in Love.” I’ve never seen this or any of the other versions of this movie, but I think I will eventually give the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga one a look. I can imagine that being really good.
24 - “Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman),” Joe Tex
This disco novelty was the soul vet’s only hit here, reaching #2. I would have thought the Northern Soul scene would have found him before this. You can’t assume anything.
23 - “Rock Bottom,” Lynsey De Paul and Mike Moran
More Eurovision, as this composition by Londoner De Paul and Leeds’ Moran was this year’s British entry. This piano boogie about being joyfully pragmatic about being poor only finished ninth. That was about right for this bit of sub-Mungo Jerry fluff.
22 - “The Shuffle,” Van McCoy
The slower, busier “Hustle.” A very worth second Top Five for Van. A good walking song.
21 - “Hotel California,” Eagles
#1 in North America, their only Top Ten here. Sometimes I think they’d be better thought of if this was their only hit. But maybe it would be the opposite.
In Part Two: we climb a hill only to find a red light at a dead end.
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