I'm going to do something a little different this time: I'm adding the chart movements and trivia where noteworthy to give a more complete perspective on what was moving up and down the chart.
40. ROCKY, Austin Roberts [biggest drop within the countdown: 25 notches] 39. LETTING GO, Paul McCartney & Wings [debut] 38. THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY, Smokey Robinson 37. JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE, Melissa Manchester 36. EIGHTEEN WITH A BULLET, Pete Wingfield [debut] 35. MR. JAWS, Dickie Goodman 34. THERE GOES ANOTHER LOVE SONG, Outlaws 33. SWEET STICKY THING, Ohio Players 32. FLY, ROBIN, FLY, Silver Convention [highest debut] 31. BLUE EYES CRYIN' IN THE RAIN, Willie Nelson
30. NIGHTS ON BROADWAY, Bee Gees 29. FAME, David Bowie [[AT40 Oldie: SOMETHING STUPID, Frank & Nancy Sinatra (1967) -- only duo who had a No. 1 hit and who each had No. 1s on their own.]] 28. ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD, John Fogerty (his first post-Creedence hit) 27. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU, Art Garfunkel 26. BORN TO RUN, Bruce Springsteen (historical perspective: 1975 was the year Bruce was proclaimed "the future of rock 'n' roll.") 25. SKY HIGH, Jigsaw 24. WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES, Esther Phillips (has been hitting the soul chart since 1950, longer than any other female performer) 23. YOU, George Harrison 22. AIN'T NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY, Helen Reddy 21. CAROLINA IN THE PINES, Michael Murphey
20. SOS, Abba 19. LOW RIDER, War 18. THE WAY I WANT TO TOUCH YOU, Captain & Tennille 17. LADY BLUE, Leon Russell 16. THIS WILL BE, Natalie Cole 15. SOMETHING BETTER TO DO, Olivia Newton-John [debuted at No. 19 two weeks ago; oddly, for such a high debut, it would reach only No. 13] [[Trivia: Instrumentalists with the most Top 40 hits during the Rock Era: Herb Alpert and Duane Eddy (13 apiece), Roger Williams (7).]] 14. DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA, People's Choice 13. DANCE WITH ME, Orleans 12. LOVE IS A ROSE/HEATWAVE [double-sided hit], Linda Ronstadt 11. BRAZIL, Ritchie Family
10. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE, Tavares 9. BALLROOM BLITZ, Sweet 8. ISLAND GIRL, Elton John [biggest mover in the countdown: up a whopping 28 notches] 7. WHO LOVES YOU, Four Seasons 6. FEELINGS, Morris Albert 5. JUST CAN'T STOP IT (THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY), Spinners 4. LYIN' EYES, Eagles 3. MIRACLES, Jefferson Starship 2. CALYPSO/I'M SORRY [double-sided hit], John Denver [jhit No. 1 five weeks ago and has spent the last four weeks at No. 2] 1. BAD BLOOD, Neil Sedaka [in its third and final week at No. 1]
Nobody seems drawn to '75, so I'm going to post a few thoughts before moving on to whatever chart airs tomorrow:
At the time, my favorite records would have been
35. MR. JAWS, Dickie Goodman -- a wonderful novelty hit with snippets from many currently popular records serving as "dialogue" in the story. 1. BAD BLOOD, Neil Sedaka -- just an all around awesome song from the guy who wrote many popular hits of the '60s -- and it features Elton John on backing vocals. 2. CALYPSO, John Denver -- another all around awesome song that celebrates undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau; one of the catchiest songs Denver ever wrote. (I googled "I'm Sorry," but I don't remember it at all.) 9. BALLROOM BLITZ, Sweet -- my most enduring favorite on the list. What can I say? Guitar crunch, haunting fantasy lyrics, and the "Are you ready, Steve" intro (the aural equivalent of a selfie?) . . . a ball of energy that still sounds good today. 25. SKY HIGH, Jigsaw -- another irresistibly catchy tune that sounds a lot like the Beatles. 32. FLY, ROBIN, FLY, Silver Convention -- only six unique words in the entire song, but the vocals and sweeping instrumentation are hypnotic. 20. SOS, Abba 19. LOW RIDER, War -- both just standout pop songs 8. ISLAND GIRL, Elton John -- I had no idea what this song was about at the time (see below), but its upbeat tempo and hooks made it instantly recognizable. 4. LYIN' EYES, Eagles -- everything the Eagles touched sounded good on the radio.
Songs which later became favorites
3. MIRACLES, Jefferson Starship -- as big as JS later became to me, I don't think I was aware of this song for antoher 3-4 years. 29. FAME, David Bowie -- perhaps because of its somewhat graphic lyrics ("Is it any wonder I reject your breast?"), I don't think this got much airplay on my local AM station, but it's a classic. Co-written by John Lennon, who sings back-up. 30. NIGHTS ON BROADWAY, Bee Gees -- as with all of the Bee Gees' hits, it makes you want to groove and get up and dance.
The Can-you-be-more-obvious? Department
18. THE WAY I WANT TO TOUCH YOU, Captain & Tennille 33. SWEET STICKY THING, Ohio Players 8. ISLAND GIRL, Elton John -- perhaps not so obvious, but the song is about a dark-skinned prostitute (see also: "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle), sung by Elton in quasi-Jamaican accent. It borders on the offensive (see also: "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones), but shows how far artists were willing to go to get one past the censors by '75.
The Annoying Songs Award
6. FEELINGS, Morris Albert -- much made fun of at the time. 23. YOU, George Harrison -- sounds like George was taking stuttering lessons.
Songs I have no memory of
40. ROCKY, Austin Roberts 39. LETTING GO, Paul McCartney & Wings -- one of Paul's least memorable hits. 38. THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY, Smokey Robinson 37. JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE, Melissa Manchester 36. EIGHTEEN WITH A BULLET, Pete Wingfield -- googled this a few years ago; a doo-wop throwback. The most interesting thing about it is that it actually hit No. 18 with a bullet a few weeks later. 24. WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES, Esther Phillips 21. CAROLINA IN THE PINES, Michael Murphey 15. SOMETHING BETTER TO DO, Olivia Newton-John 14. DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA, People's Choice 10. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE, Tavares 5. JUST CAN'T STOP IT (THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY), Spinners
FLY ROBIN FLY... in elementary school we took lots of field trips and we were on one (to THE zOO? MOST LIKELY) and in the parents' car I rode in this day, this song was on the radio, the kids blasted it and were singing along but in 1975 I would have been solidly into A.M. COUNTrY radio aND DIDN'T KNOW the song, since it wasn't by Dave and Sugar or jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, lol. But I liked it and never forgot it.
(Not a memory but a fact, SOS is beyond doubt my favorite ABBA song)
LYIN EYES... after my parents' divorced I'd go to dad's on weekends, room there had a lil a.m. radio, I got to go to sleep with it plying beside me. it seemed every weekend I went to sleep to the soothing strains of lYIN' EYES. it was lengthy for a radio tune and never failed to lulll me to sleep.
Lash, you reminded me that, at this point in the '70s, country music was just another part of what was on the radio--in northwestern Missouri, at least. Listening to these old broadcasts reminds me of how diverse music was back then.
I think the next chart I post will reflect this . . .
It's been awhile since I've done this--interest in the charts seemed to have died down. But 1973 is one of my favorite years in music. This chart shows why: Many of these songs formed the soundtrack of my formative years, and they reflect the great diversity in music back them: country music, soul, rock, novelty hits, instrumentals . . . a cornucopia of styles that seems lost (or at least greatly segregated) today.
I hope you find something (or a lot of things) you connect with.
40. DANNY'S SONG--Anne Murray 39. FUNNY FACE--Donna Fargo 38. BIG CITY MISS RUTH ANN--Gallery 37. I'M NEVER GONNA BE ALONE ANYMORE--Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose 36. I GOT ANTS IN MY PANTS (AND I WANT TO DANCE) (PT. 1)--James Brown 35. DON'T LET ME BE LONELY TONIGHT--James Taylor 34. LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER--Fifth Dimension 33. PEACEFUL EASY FEELING--Eagles 32. ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA - BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU--Johnny Rivers 31. HARRY HIPPIE--Bobby Womack
30. THE COVER OF THE ROLLING STONE--Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show 29. REELIN' & ROCKIN'--Chuck Berry 28. CLAIR--Gilbert O'Sullivan 27. DREIDEL--Don McLean 26. DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?--Bette Midler 25. YOU TURN ME ON, I'M A RADIO--Joni Mitchell 24. SEPARATE WAYS--Elvis Presley 23. SUPERFLY--Curtis Mayfield 22. LOVE TRAIN--O'Jays 21. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)--Blue Ridge Rangers
20. ME AND MRS. JONES--Billy Paul 19. LAST SONG--Edward Bear 18. DADDY'S HOME--Jermaine Jackson 17. HI, HI, HI--Paul McCartney & Wings 16. LOVE JONES--Brighter Side of Darkness 15. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--Roberta Flack 14. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT--King Harvest 13. YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE--Loggins & Messina 12. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--John Denver 11. DUELING BANJOS--Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
10. COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--Spinners 9. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--Lobo 8. TROUBLE MAN--Marvin Gaye 7. THE WORLD IS A GHETTO--War 6. DO IT AGAIN--Steely Dan 5. SUPERSTITION--Stevie Wonder 4. OH, BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?--Hurricane Smith 3. WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER--Timmy Thomas 2. YOU'RE SO VAIN--Carly Simon 1. CROCODILE ROCK--Elton John
Lots in there that I was listening to for the first time. In fact, I really knew of Superstition from the The Thing movie and Duelling Banjos from Deliverance 3,14 & 15 I'd heard after listening to covers.
Quite a laid back lot, but not shoved in an "easy listening" category. Lots of big names in this top 40 too.
Only 1,2,4 and 21 were ones I'd not listen to anytime soon. 1 & 2 have never been favs.
I particularly liked Don McLean, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Joni Mitchell and Curtis Mayfield.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
I like "Crocodile Rock." As a kid, though, I had no idea what he was singing!
Glad you liked this, thoth. As long as there is interest in the charts, I'll continue.
This list is full of favorites of mine at the time and even now, including 39, 32 (probably my absolute favorite then), 30, 22, 13, 12, 11, 10, 6, 5, and, yes, even 2 and 1.
I heard "You're So Vain" on the radio the other day, before this program aired, and found myself singing along with it. The lyrics are clever and pointed ("I bet you think this song is about you, don't you?"), and Carly's delivery is in your face. This song seems like a classy precursor to Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know."
My sixth grade music teacher had us singing "Killing Me Softly With His Song." That's my fondest memory of this tune.
Although I'm a big McCartney fan, I hadn't heard "Hi, Hi, Hi" until I bought Wings' Greatest Hits in 1978.
Other songs I have no memory of: 38 (really like it, though), 37, 36, 34, 31 (also like this one), 27 (ditto), 19 (Edward Bear had an interesting but brief history; I spent an hour researching them last night), 16 (well, we had "Basketball Jones," so why not "Love Jones"?), 9, 8, 4, and 3. The last two really surprise me since they were such huge hits. I agree with LYL: No. 3 is too distinctive to forget.
LOVE TRAIN would be a favorite of mine current day. I've made a few 70s collections in the past couple years, and it is always a go-to. It ha the perfect blend of message and groove.
Add me to the pro YOU'RE SO VAIN people. That's one great song and i'm convinced it was the cleverly written lyrics that resonated so well with the people of 1973 (and continue to resonate to this day).
KILLING ME SOFTLY, i bought the 45 after the fact. all remakes have always been about the diva wailing. the diva wailing can make or break the song, but the lyric are extremely clever.
I don't know that I've heard any covers of "Killing Me Softly," but Flack's understated, moving version is the only one I need to hear. And, yes, the lyrics are poignant and powerful.
I don't understand your parenthetical question, thoth.
I understand your point about "Your So Vain," though. A reputation which precedes a song or anything can easily color our perceptions of it. For years, I refused to watch the movie "E.T." because my family raved about how good it was and how I was the only person in America who hadn't seen it (a distinction I wore with bemused pride). When I finally did see it, within the last 20 years, I thought it was charming but did not live up to the hype. How could it?
"Love Train" is one of those timeless classics that makes me wish I were in a conga line every time I hear it.
I don't understand your parenthetical question, thoth.
Whoops. Mustn't type random thoughts when I'm in a hurry
Donald Fagen did a song called Tomorrow's Girls. As I was typing the above I thought of its Legion connotations and wondered whether it was something that could be added to Antennae Boy's radio on the homepage...or not.
We now return you to your scheduled thread
EDIT: I've still not seen E.T.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
I don't think I knew the title of this song until this broadcast aired on Sunday, even though I'd heard it for years. The chorus in undeniably memorable ("Even though we ain't got money . . .")
34. LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER--Fifth Dimension
This was the highest of four debuts that week (the others being 40, 38, and 36). Ironically, it would only climb two notches higher during a four-week run.
21. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)--Blue Ridge Rangers
This "group" is really John Fogerty in his first post-CCR project.
15. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--Roberta Flack
This song was the biggest mover in the countdown--up 19 notches. It had debuted the previous week at No. 34.
11. DUELING BANJOS--Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
Another big mover, this one debuted at No. 18 the previous week. (A movie tie-in always helps.)
5. SUPERSTITION--Stevie Wonder
Casey pointed out that Wonder hit No. 1 with his first single release, "Fingertips, Pt. 2" nine and a half years earlier, but did not top the chart again until "Superstition," his 28th single release. (Of course, he had many other big hits in between.)
2. YOU'RE SO VAIN--Carly Simon
According to Casey, this song has spent nine weeks in the Top 40, eight of those in the Top 10, three at No. 1 and the last three at No. 2. (So maybe it earned it's reputation!)
1. CROCODILE ROCK--Elton John
At this point, Casey and his staff were taking bets (no money, I'm sure) as to which song would be No. 1. The staff accurately predicted "Crocodile Rock" would be No. 1 for the second week in a row. They also predicted it would be No. 1 again next week, which it was.
Interesting tidbit about "Jambalaya": At that time, it had charted more than any other song in versions by different artists--six times. For comparison, here is Hank Williams' original from 1952:
I agree that Fogerty's version isn't particularly memorable.
Four years later, there was quite a change. There isn't as much diversity here--a lot of white guys and white groups dominate, and there's a "mainstream" feel to this list. But there is still some good solid rock to keep it interesting.
40. SAY YOU'LL STAY UNTIL TOMORROW, Tom Jones 39. CRACKERBOX PALACE, George Harrison 38. LIVIN' THING, Electric Light Orchestra 37. MOODY BLUE, Elvis Presley 36. STAND TALL, Burton Cummings 35. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT, Rod Stewart 34. SATURDAY NITE, Earth, Wind & Fire 33. AFTER THE LOVIN', Engelbert Humperdinck 32. LONG TIME, Boston 31. SOMEBODY TO LOVE, Queen
30. CARRY ON WAYWARD SON, Kansas 29. LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE, Smokie 28. RICH GIRL, Daryl Hall & John Oates 27. THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, 10cc 26. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR (TO BE IN MY SHOW), Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. 25. SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY, Stephen Bishop 24. DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY, Thelma Houston 23. JEANS ON, David Dundas 22. BOOGIE CHILD, Bee Gees 21. AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING, Donny & Marie Osmond
20. GO YOUR OWN WAY, Fleetwood Mac 19. YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING, Leo Sayer 18. WALK THIS WAY, Aerosmith 17. HARD LUCK WOMAN, Kiss 16. DANCING QUEEN, ABBA 15. YEAR OF THE CAT, Al Stewart 14. NIGHT MOVES, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band 13. WEEKEND IN NEW ENGLAND, Barry Manilow 12. HOT LINE, Sylvers 11. FLY LIKE AN EAGLE, Steve Miller Band
10. LOST WITHOUT YOUR LOVE, Bread 9. I LIKE DREAMIN', Kenny Nolan 8. I WISH, Stevie Wonder 7. ENJOY YOURSELF, Jacksons 6. DAZZ, Brick 5. EVERGREEN (LOVE THEME FROM A STAR IS BORN), Barbra Streisand 4. CAR WASH, Rose Royce 3. BLINDED BY THE LIGHT, Manfred Mann's Earth Band 2. NEW KID IN TOWN, Eagles 1. TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS, Mary MacGregor
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3,14 & 15 I'd heard after listening to covers.
As a kid, though, I had no idea what he was singing!
