For the week ending January 6, 1973:
Happy New Year, everybody! It's great to hear and critique regular countdown shows again, especially fine ones like this one. And I want to give a shout out to mmb, you wrote a great critique. I hope to read more from you. And how about a shoutout to those Colts, upsetting our former QB in Denver! We are one Tom Brady upset away from a third Super Bowl appearance! YEE HAA! OK, I'm finished gloating. Let the countdown begin.
40. Reelin' & Rockin'/Chuck Berry--This live cover song demonstrates clearly, for better or worse, the loosening of restrictions on the lyrical content of songs played on Top 40 radio between 1958-73. The original studio recording of this song (released in '58) had fairly innocent lyrics that implied that the title referred only to dancing. But on this concert performance, did ol' Chuck ever drop the pretense of what he intended this song to be about all along, with his substituting far raunchier lyrics! And, apparently, some radio stations embraced this version, a version which would NEVER have been played by any DJ fifteen years earlier.
39. Corner Of The Sky/The Jackson 5--This sweet, well-produced lost hit is, IMHO, better than many of this group's bigger, better-known hits. I especially love the harpsichord-like keyboard riff played throughout.
38. You Turn Me On (I'm A Radio)/Joni Mitchell--Although Joni provides some fine vocals, this song is so-so, at best.
37. Jambalaya/The Blue Ridge Rangers (or John Fogarty solo)--This cover version is OK, but I prefer Hank Sr's raw, earthy original better. Better still, I'd rather just EAT jambalaya than listen to it.
36. If You Don't Know Me By Now/Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes--A masterful, lush, stirring soul ballad, which, along with "Backstabbers" and "Me & Mrs Jones", established Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International record label as the hottest thing going in soul music and pop, as well.
35. Rocky Mountain High/John Denver--Although I've declared "Calypso" as my favorite John Denver song, this signature song of his is a close second. The relaxed yet upbeat acoustic guitar, John's clear-as-a-bell tenor vocals, and the slight echo chamber-like production come together for a powerful, dramatic, highly enjoyable hit.
34. Dancin' In The Moonlight/King Harvest--I really don't care much for this song, mainly because when it was a hit, I liked it a little too much. You see, being the clueless dork that I was at age eight, I used to do the dorkiest dance to this song. Those memories are so embarrassing, they have ruined this song for me.
33. I Can See Clearly Now/Johnny Nash--Except for the dramatic bridge, I find this song rather mediocre.
32. Love Jones/The Brighter Side Of Darkness--Several months ago, when I reviewed the "Basketball Jones" parody, I referred to this as a gag-a-maggot song, or something to that effect. Well, maybe I was a little harsh. Instrumentally, it's exquisite and well-arranged, and the spoken word lyrics aren't THAT embarrassing. But I still cringe at that cutesy Michael Jackson-wannnabee singer in the chorus.
31. Do It Again/Steely Dan--This sharp, jazzy hit launched the career of one of the greatest bands of the seventies. (I'm curious; was there ever a time on AT40 where Casey or someone else even remotely alluded to the origin of this band's name? Or did they understandably choose not to ever go there?)
30. The World Is A Ghetto/War--It's slightly bouncy and catchy, but otherwise mediocre.
29. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes/Blue Haze--This wonderful single was far and away the most pleasant surprise of the countdown. Although not quite as great as the Platters' classic version (especially since it lacked the powerful dramatic ending), this cover version is beautifully-produced and well sung. (But doggone it, I wish that Henny Youngman's version had hit the Top 40.)
28. Separate Ways/Elvis Presley--A decent version of a perennial country classic. I seem to remember several country artists performing this song on TV in the seventies, and I was always touched by the profound sadness in the lyrics.
27. Papa Was A Rolling Stone/The Temptations--Another sad song, this time about the shame that a recently deceased ne'er-do-well father brought on a family. The brooding, ominous arrangement augments greatly the melancholy theme.
26. Trouble Man/Marvin Gaye--This had a nicely smooth yet funky arrangement and nice falsetto vocals by Gaye.
25. Oh Babe, What Would You Say/Hurricane Smith--This is a very unique and enjoyable near-novelty hit. I love the sweet, lush strings, the sax solo which provides an intriguing contrast, and the artist's so-bad-its-good big band-style vocals.
24. Been To Canaan/Carole King--This is a sharp, well-produced slice of lite rock comfort food that is rarely served, er played on the radio anymore, which is a shame.
23. I Wanna Be With You/The Raspberries--This smooth, well-produced song is basically "Go All The Way, Pt Deux", but without the hard rockin' instrumental parts.
22. Hi, Hi, Hi/Paul McCartney & Wings--I was amused at Casey relaying Sir Paul's insistence that no, this song isn't about drugs, just about sex. I personally don't care much for this song, mainly due to the embarrassing lyrics. I mean, "Wanna do you, sweet banana", are you KIDDING? I don't think the typical girlfriend would consider that invitation for sex to be very a-PEEL-ing.
21. Pieces Of April/Three Dog Night--This nearly-forgotten gem just may be Three Dog Night's greatest hit single. The "water sound" guitar opening sets the perfect haunting tone, the vocalist (Chuck, Danny, or Corey) sings in just the right mellow yet soulful style, and the piano parts inject the right amount of drama. And that lush fadeout, with the vocalist repeating "a mornin' in May" is just spectacular.
20. Sweet Surrender/Bread--This is truly one of the all time greatest and most gut-wrenching love songs ever. It describes a man who was afraid to let a good woman love him. Ultimately, his love for her pushed him to finally surrender to her and make her his woman. I find it gut-wrenching because this song describes yours truly; I have had that same fear all my life, sadly.
19. Why Can't We Live Together/Timmy Thomas--The cheesy, staccato organ intro is the only thing about this release I find interesting.
18. Sittting/Cat Stevens--I was unfamiliar with this particular Cat Stevens release. And while I thought the piano accompaniment was nice, I was otherwise unimpressed.
17. Walk On Water/Neil Diamond--What is this, like, the twentieth countdown in a row featuring a mediocre Neil Diamond song? At least this song did get somewhat upbeat and interesting after a minute or so.
16. Something's Wrong With Me/Austin Roberts--Like I said when critiquing this song on the last '72 countdown of last year, this is a delightfully dramatic and earnestly-sung release that I remember well back in the day and, save for AT40, the '70's, I would NEVER get the chance to hear on the radio today.
15. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight/James Taylor--So-so, at best.
14. I Am Woman/Helen Reddy--A powerfully dramatic, assertive megahit that celebrates womanhood. Like I said a few weeks ago, I find it so perplexing that Ms Reddy would follow this worthy hit with songs like "Ruby Red Dress" and "Angie Baby", which describe pathetic psycho women, thus undermining the positive message of this song.
13. Crocodile Rock/Elton John--In the winter of '73, this was probably my favorite song on the radio. I was especially drawn to the "La-a-a-a-a, la,la,la,la,la" parts at the end of each chorus. And although my feelings for the song have cooled somewhat, I still somewhat like it.
12. Living In The Past/Jethro Tull--A delightfully smooth, yet catchy jazz-pop classic with irresistible flute playing by Ian Anderson.
11. Keeper Of The Castle/The Four Tops--Levi Stubbs and company, on this great release, prove that there is life--and career success--after Motown. I especially love the uber-assertive string riff used throughout, not to mention the always timely message urging fathers to never abandon their families.
10. You Ought To Be With Me/Al Green--Good, but not great, Stax-influenced soul number.
9. Superfly/Curtis Mayfield--The funky, urban-sounding arrangement of this movie hit delves into the serious topic of drug dealing and other inner city crimes.
8. Your Mama Don't Dance/Loggins & Messina--This is a song that, after all these years, I still find irresistibly fun and catchy. The part where I believe Messina growls "Out of the car, longhair!" still cracks me up.
7. Rockin' Pneumonia--Boogie Woogie Flu/Johnny Rivers--Although I still don't like this whinefest any better than I did two months ago (when doing the '72 critique), at least mga707 assured me Johnny wasn't singing about the john being too small, but rather the joint (establishment) being too small. Chalk it up to another example of misheard lyrics.
6. It Never Rains In Southern California/Albert Hammond--Speaking of whinefests, this sappy tale of a failure who begs to go home is still as cringeworthy as two months ago.
5. Funny Face/Donna Fargo--Man, who says that the best songs rise to the top? Good grief, back-to-back sapfests in the top 10!
4. Superstition/Stevie Wonder--Ah, leave it to good ol' Stevie Wonder to save us from the incessant whiny mush. This is one irresistible hit, with that tight R&B guitar riff and the powerful climactic endings of each verse.
3. Me & Mrs Jones/Billy Paul--A stellar, intricately lush Philly Soul ballad that gave Philadelphia International its first chart topping single.
2. Clair/Gilbert O'Sullivan--A gently sweet, innocent (if taken at pure face value) bouncy little ditty that I used to hate but whose charms I finally surrendered to.
1. You're So Vain/Carly Simon--A fine song with intriguing lyrics which have had millions speculating on who is being referred to as being "so vain". I personally have always been fixated by the mention of "Clouds in my coffee", that line always making me chuckle even to this day.
And my favorite song of the countdown (drum roll):
Although I'm tempted to declare the winner to be the gorgeous "Pieces Of April", for once I'm basing my choice on romantic lyrics and choosing "Sweet Surrender" , which melts my heart every time I hear it.
Thank you for reading. Have a good night.