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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 13:24:18 GMT -5
Well, yeah, it is from 1972's original and best "The Poseidon Adventure" starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson and Leslie Nielsen! Well, yeah, I think Casey made it clear where it came from. My post was in reference to the prior comment about it being a downer and not listening to it when feeling depressed. When it is actually an uplifter and should be listened to when feeling down. Well, yeah, I knew that, but I'd also referenced the film where it came from because its passengers were escaping a bad situation with confidence and hope by Gene Hackman's character!
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Post by slf on Jul 13, 2014 19:02:55 GMT -5
29. The Morning After/Maureen McGovern--This is a beautiful, stirring, well-sung release. But may I add one caveat. It is also a rather sad song (in the same vein as Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park"). If one is already in a depressed mood, both songs should be avoided at all costs! This song is about the confidence of escaping a bad situation. It's one of the most hopeful and inspiring songs ever released. Actually, your point is 100% spot on. I guess, for me, the song has an aura of sadness about it. (And, to be fair, didn't Shelly Winter's character die in the movie, so there was some tragedy.) I suppose I should have said that I, not necessarily everyone, should avoid this song when in a depressed mood.
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Post by mga707 on Jul 14, 2014 2:02:28 GMT -5
Well, yeah, I think Casey made it clear where it came from. My post was in reference to the prior comment about it being a downer and not listening to it when feeling depressed. When it is actually an uplifter and should be listened to when feeling down. Well, yeah, I knew that, but I'd also referenced the film where it came from because its passengers were escaping a bad situation with confidence and hope by Gene Hackman's character! ...or they all were just bound and determined to get away from Shelly Winters' character or die trying! Been decades since I've seen the flick, but I do remember that her character was one disagreeable lady.
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Post by slf on Jul 15, 2014 20:54:14 GMT -5
For week ending July 16, 1983:
Well, for the first time since writing these critiques, I'm gonna pull a double--two critiques in one week! I just love the music of 1983 too much not to comment on it, and what a summer it was! The Thriller juggernaut was as formidable as ever, the '80's British Invasion was in full swing, Stalker's Anthem was in the middle of a eight week run at No. 1, and pop music royalty had one of my favorite songs of the decade in the countdown. This countdown had to be one of the definitive ones of the '80's.
40. Lawyers In Love/Jackson Browne--It had a nice melody and arrangement. (I especially was fixated by Browne's near-falsetto vocals followed by the whistling occurring twice in the song.)
39. Salt In My Tears/Martin Briley--I was unimpressed with the song and though Martin had a somewhat irritating voice. Do you remember, though, another episode which featured this song in which Casey told the story of Briley being the student of a certain college professor by the name of Arthur Brown (yes, the self-professed "God Of Hell Fire" in his one hit from '68, "Fire")? Casey, for possibly the only time, actually played a snippet from that song (the frightful intro, no less).
38. The Border/America--I didn't care for it at the time, but I find it energizing and enjoyable now.
37. Always Something There To Remind Me/Naked Eyes--I have always loved this song. When I first heard it in the spring of '83, feelings of deja vu took over. I thought "This is a remake of some forgotten song from years ago that I have completely forgotten about". (Indeed, it had been recorded years earlier by Lou Johnson, Sandie Shaw, Dionne Warwicke, and R. B. Greaves) I think those subconscious memories of the song created a major bond between me and this well-crafted cover version, with its soulful vocals and its masterful use of the synthesizer.
36. Roll Me Away/Bob Seger--A fairly dramatic arrangement and souful vocals make this Seger release above-average, but not great.
35. I'll Tumble 4 Ya/Culture Club--I didn't much like Boy George & Co. at the time, mainly because of the front "man's" androgynous nature. But, over the years, I have gradually, and begrudgingly, come to the opinion that, yes, many of their songs, including this one, were fun, upbeat, and somewhat enjoyable. (Their song later in the countdown is even better.)
34. Affair Of The Heart/Rick Springfield--Most of his hits, including this, I can take or leave. However, there's one of his songs that I absolutely DESPISE! It's coming up later in the year, and I'll definitely do a critique that week to vent about that repellent song.
33. Beat It/Michael Jackson--For a long time, I had a hard time enjoying Michael's hits from Thriller on. (When a celebrity is accused of the crimes he was accused of , whether the stories were true or not, that can adversely affect one's enjoyment of his body of work. ) I guess after he died, I shook off some of those feelings and started enjoying his songs again, including this infectiously catchy, energetic dance hit.
32. Stop In The Name Of Love/The Hollies--Just because I love most of the Hollies' hit of the '60's, and just because I love the original version of this song by the Supremes, doesn't mean that I love the pairing of the two. I was really excited about the Hollies making an '80's comback, but, try as I may, I couldn't get myself to love this cover hit. Oh, it's not bad; just disappointing.
31. China Girl/David Bowie--I kind of like the campiness of this song, with its oriental musical arrangement and the way Bowie says, "Just you shut your mouth".
30. Rock And Roll Is King/ELO--It's somewhat upbeat and enjoyable, but they've had so much better songs. In fact, this group has one of my FAVORITE songs of the decade, which, I think, is coming up in a show later in the year, another one which I'll make sure to critique.
29. Rock Of Ages/Def Leppard--It's a fun rocker, but, to me, the only song worthy of this title begins "Rock of ages, cleft for me" (It can be found in almost any church hymnal.)
28. Saved By Zero/The Fixx--So-so, at best. Fortunately, in the case of this group, one SONG leads to another, the followup being vastly superior to this and, in fact, one of the best songs of the year.
27. Take Me To Heart/Quarterflash--Nice midtempo rocker, but not exceptional
26. Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)/A Flock Of Seagulls--I don't remember this when it was a hit. However, I recognized it as one of the songs played in regular rotation at a certain Meijer supercenter I spend much time at. (My part time job involves stocking bread items for Aunt Millie's Bakeries, and the store I spend the most time doing this is this particular Meijer.) Oh, it's a pretty good song.
25. It's A Mistake/Men At Work--I can take it or leave it. I didn't realize it until an old friend pointed it out to me that this song is about a friendly fire attack during a war.
24. (Keep Feeling) Fascination/The Human League--Other than the horn riffs (real or synthesized), there is nothing really interesting about this song. Their only above-average song is their follow-up, "Mirror Man".
23. She's A Beauty/The Tubes--Other than the opening guitar riff, there's nothing really interesting about this song. (At least musically; I am somewhat amused by the description of a pretty girl showcased behind glass as if she were a sideshow attraction.)
22. Family Man/Hall & Oates--I can take it or leave it.
21. Hot Girls In Love/Loverboy--Another tiresome "lust" song. Ho Hum.
20. Cuts Like A Knife/Bryan Adams--It's a fun, sing-a-long rocker by an underrated rock singer. (Are you listening, R&R Hall Of Fame committee? He's been eligible for several year now. Just sayin'.)
19. Maniac/Michael Sembello--Once again, a song that I can take or leave.
18. Don't Let It End/Styx--A somewhat pretty, stirring power ballad. It's hard to believe a fairly normal song like this was on the same album as the truly bizarre "Mr. Roboto" (A song that I love, but lots of people hate.)
17. All This Love/DeBarge--A little too boring to me. It's weird that, on the other hand, I like their follow-up "Time Will Reveal" a lot, even though they aren't all that different from each other. Go figure.
16. Baby Jane/Rod Stewart--Another dull Rod Stewart '80's release.
15. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)/The Eurythmics--This is one of the best songs of the years. The rhythm of the song is delightfully hypnotic, and Annie approaches each line in the song, especially in the chorus, as if she's approaching a juicy steak, sinking her teeth into each line voraciously. (Or if she's a vegan, a juicy tofu burger.)
14. She Works Hard For The Money/Donna Summer--That summer, when I first saw that Donna had release a single with this title, the cynical me thought "Oh, here we go again, another Donna Summer song about a hooker!". I was soon relieved to learn that, no; this catchy dance number was a straight-up song saluting the average woman who sweats away at an honorable job all day and who deserves respect for doing so. (But by then, Donna had already become a born-again Christian and, consequently, her songs had become more family friendly.)
13. 1999/Prince--It's almost magical how a simple funky keyboard riff played over and over can be the backbone for a truly outstanding pop song. Well, this pop hit is arguably the perfect example of that. Add to that the bouncy rhythm and the clever melody line change when he sings "2000, zero, zero party's over--oops, out of time" and you have a dance classic for the ages, one that I have yet to get tired of. (The only thing that bothers me about the song is his reference to judgement day. I hope he was speaking figuratively, and not about the Judgment Day in the Bible.)
12. I'm Still Standing/Elton John--It's a catchy toe-tapper; one of his better '80's hits.
11. Stand Back/Stevie Nicks--I like this dramatic release, especially when she and the backup singers do the bouncy "standin in the line/(standin in the line)" call-and-response.
10. Time (Clock Of The Heart)/Culture Club--This is another of the group's songs that I have warmed up to in recent years. It has an upbeat sparkle to it, especially the song's opening.
9. Is There Something I Should Know/Duran Duran--This is another group who I didn't like back then, but most of whose songs I like or even love now. This is in the "Like" category, fairly enjoyable, but not as good as their two earlier hits. I am amused, however, by the line "You're about as easy as a nuclear war". Talk about hyperbole.
8. Our House/Madness--Good song. It starts out with a powerful bass keyboard line, then the horns blast out the song's inventive rhythm and the song's high energy doesn't let up.
7. Too Shy/Kajagoogoo--Although I don't mind the song now, I didn't like the song then, mainly because the chorus seemed to hit home with me, because I felt I, indeed, was "too shy" , especially around girls I was attracted to.
6. Come Dancing/The Kinks--It's OK, but far from great. I'm not much of a Kinks fan; the only one of their songs I like very much is "Til The End Of The Day", an obscure '60's release that didn't even crack the Top 40.
5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'/Michael Jackson--Great song and probably the most frenetic, danceable song from Thriller. But does ANYBODY know the meaning of "Mama say mama sa da makusa"? I've waited 31 year to know the secret to that piece of gibberish.
4. Never Gonna Let You Go/Sergio Mendez--It has sweet, heartfelt lyrics, but is only so-so, musically. And, yes, it was quite overplayed at the time.
3. Flashdance...What A Feeling/Irene Cara--I was lukewarm to it at the time, but I've grown to appreciate the dramatic tension in the production and in Irene's voice. And it is more interesting than the overrated "Maniac".
2. Electric Avenue/Eddy Grant--I somewhat liked it at the time, but it has lost its appeal in recent years, except maybe its limited campiness. Eddy just sounds too abrasive and angry.
1. Every Breath You Take/The Police--Ah, yes, here it is. In the year of Thriller, this was actually the biggest hit of the year. I think you know why I referred to it in my intro as "Stalker's Anthem". (Sting himself freely admits it is an evil song about jealousy and surveillance.) That say, I confess that I still can't get enough of the song , with its infectious guitar riff and its repetitive ending. It's simply a well-produced song, regardless of the toxic theme.
And my favorite song of the countdown (drum roll):
We just gotta party like it's "1999"!
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Post by mga707 on Jul 15, 2014 22:36:48 GMT -5
5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'/Michael Jackson--Great song and probably the most frenetic, danceable song from Thriller. But does ANYBODY know the meaning of "Mama say mama sa da makossa"? I've waited 31 year to know the secret to that piece of gibberish. I've always thought it was merely a 'tip o' the hat' by Michael and/or Quincy Jones to 1973's "Soul Makossa", one of the most influential 'underground' dance hits of the pre-disco early '70s. The above phrase is repeated in the original "Makossa", which also happens to be in last week's '73 show, in the '30s.
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Post by dukelightning on Jul 16, 2014 16:01:11 GMT -5
I don't remember hearing "Soul Makoosa" on the 7/14/73 show at all. According to my records it debuted the week of 7/21/73 at 37. But yes there is a definite connection between the 2 songs. I even thought there was a lawsuit involved.
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Post by mga707 on Jul 16, 2014 17:10:17 GMT -5
I don't remember hearing "Soul Makoosa" on the 7/14/73 show at all. According to my records it debuted the week of 7/21/73 at 37. But yes there is a definite connection between the 2 songs. I even thought there was a lawsuit involved. You're right. I missed most of last week's 1973 show. I knew the song charted (briefly) in July and assumed it was in it. Should've gone back one page and checked the critique.
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 18, 2014 0:39:56 GMT -5
Yes, Michael got sued for lifting the line. Settled out of court with Manu Dibango.
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Post by jamie9012 on Jul 18, 2014 12:02:03 GMT -5
37. Always Something There To Remind Me/Naked Eyes--I have always loved this song. When I first heard it in the spring of '83, feelings of deja vu took over. I thought "This is a remake of some forgotten song from years ago that I have completely forgotten about". (Indeed, it had been recorded years earlier by Lou Johnson, Sandie Shaw, Dionne Warwicke, and R. B. Greaves) I think those subconscious memories of the song created a major bond between me and this well-crafted cover version, with its soulful vocals and its masterful use of the synthesizer. A few months ago, I bought an Album from The Carpenters, which featured the song "Rainy Days And Mondays". The Album also features a version of "Always Something There To Remind Me" in a Medley of other songs on one of the tracks. I also really like this song, especially the Bells (?) that ring during the Chorus before it fades out.
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Post by Hervard on Jul 19, 2014 19:04:31 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - July 19, 2014
This week's presentation - July 23, 1977
Droppers: I'M YOUR BOOGIE MAN - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (38) - This was so/so, but I preferred their next Top 40 hit "Keep It Comin' Love", which would debut on the chart three months later. DEVIL'S GUN - CJ & CO. (36) - This song was OK, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. It sure got a lot of mileage on the chart; even though it spent two weeks in the Top 40, it lasted 29 weeks on the Hot 100 - good enough to land it at #100 on Billboard's year-ender. LUCILLE - KENNY ROGERS (35) - Good song, but not one of my favorites from him. LOVE'S GROWN DEEP - KENNY NOLAN (28) - Good song. This one sounded much like "I Like Dreamin'". FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME - FOREIGNER (27) - Great song! I liked this and their next hit, "Cold As Ice" about the same. LIFE IN THE FAST LANE - THE EAGLES (24) - Great song! Kind of hard to believe that this didn't hit the Top Ten, considering all the airplay it receives on oldies stations!
40: (REMEMBER THE DAYS OF) THE OLD SCHOOL YARD – CAT STEVENS (debut) - Wow, here's a Cat Stevens song I never heard. My mom had several of his records and played them every now and then when I was really young, but she must not have had this one. Anyway, it was a great song! 39: SLIDE - SLAVE (debut) - This was OK, but nothing special. 38: BLACK BETTY – RAM JAM (debut) - I was never crazy about this one - way too repetitive. 37: ON AND ON – STEPHEN BISHOP (debut) - Great song! Possibly his best song ever! 36: WAY DOWN – ELVIS PRESLEY (40) - This was pretty good, but I preferred his other 1977 hit. 35: SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE - THE SANFORD-TOWNSEND BAND (39) - Great song! Too bad this band, who sounded a lot like Hall & Oates, didn't have any other hits. 34: HOW MUCH LOVE – LEO SAYER (debut) - Great song! My favorite of his 1977 hits! 33: ARIEL – DEAN FRIEDMAN (37) - Great song! This song appeared to be getting a second wind, as it had peaked at #26 several weeks before and had fallen out of the Top 40, but the previous week, it returned to the chart and was moving up this week. It would hit #32 two weeks later before disappearing for good. The song ranked at #69 on Billboard's Top 100 of 1977; kind of a surprise that it didn't make an appearance on the AT40 version of the chart. 32: DREAMS – FLEETWOOD MAC (22) - This song was pretty good, but definitely one of my favorites from them. 31: DON’T STOP – FLEETWOOD MAC (debut) - See my opinion for the above song. Not sure which song I prefer. 30: THE KILLING OF GEORGIE – ROD STEWART (32) - Good song, though I prefer many others from him. 29: TELEPHONE LINE – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (33) - Great song! One of my favorites from them! 28: TELEPHONE MAN – MERI WILSON (30) - This wasn't bad, but a little goofy sounding. OPTIONAL EXTRA: STAR WARS (MAIN TITLE) - LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Great song! This one hit the Top Ten, but as soon as Meco's discofied version came along, it fell fast. I personally preferred this one. 27: GIVE A LITTLE BIT - SUPERTRAMP (31) - Great song! One of their best! 26: HANDY MAN – JAMES TAYLOR (34) - Great song! I actually preferred this over the original. 25: LUCKENBACH, TEXAS (BACK TO THE BASICS OF LOVE) – WAYLON JENNINGS (25) - Good song, but I preferred the Dukes Of Hazzard theme. 24: JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (29) - Great song! One of my favorites from them! 23: BARRACUDA - HEART (26) - Good song, though I preferred many others from them, especially their more "poppy" songs from the 80s. 22: HIGH SCHOOL DANCE – THE SYLVERS (17) - This song was OK, but nothing special. 21: IT’S SAD TO BELONG – ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY (23) - Great song! Too bad this one wasn't as successful as most of their other Top 40 hits. 20: GOT TO GIVE IT UP PART 1 – MARVIN GAYE (19) - I'm generally not a huge fan of this type of hit, but for some reason, I like this one. 19: GONNA FLY NOW (THEME FROM “ROCKY”) – BILL CONTI (11) - Great song! I did slightly prefer the Maynard Ferguson version. 18: YOU’RE MY WORLD – HELEN REDDY (20) - Good song. This one has sort of a fifties flavor to it. 17: EASY – THE COMMODORES (21) - Great song! One of my favorites from them! 16: YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC – THE BAY CITY ROLLERS (18) - Although I'm not a huge Rollers fan, this was a good one. 15: JET AIRLINER – THE STEVE MILLER BAND (8) - Great song! My second favorite of their four 1977 hits, behind "Fly Like An Eagle". 14: KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU - ABBA (16) - Great song, but it doesn't hold a candle to their other big 1977 hit. OPTIONAL EXTRA: COLD AS ICE - FOREIGNER - Hey, what do you know - I mentioned this song when I was going over the droppers and it was one of the Extras. As I said, I liked this and "Feels Like The First Time" pretty much equally. 13: YOU AND ME – ALICE COOPER (15) - Great song! One of my favorites from him, right up there with "Only Women". 12: WHATCHA GONNA DO – PABLO CRUISE (14) - Great song! Definitely one of their best hits! 11: (YOUR LOVE HAS LIFTED ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER – RITA COOLIDGE (13) - Great song! An interesting rendition of the Jackie Wilson classic. 10: BEST OF MY LOVE – THE EMOTIONS (12) - Wow, lots of songs moving up two spots in this area of the chart. Anyway, this was a great song, and sort of interesting that this hit #1, fell out, and rebounded to the top of the soul chart, as it would do the same on the Hot 100. 9: DO YOU WANNA MAKE LOVE – PETER McCANN (10) - Good song. Even though this and "Goodbye Girl" by David Gates sound similar, I preferred the latter. 8: MARGARITAVILLE – JIMMY BUFFETT (9) - Wow, now songs are moving up one spot. And, seeing as we have yet to hear last week's top seven songs, the next song is either a dropper or standing still. Anyway, this song was pretty good, but I preferred a few of Buffett's other songs, such as "Cheeseburger In Paradise" and "Fins". 7: UNDERCOVER ANGEL – ALAN O’DAY (3) - And it's a dropper! And it's a great one - definitely one of my favorite #1 songs of 1977! 6: ANGEL IN YOUR ARMS - HOT (6) - Good song. As this song was this high up in its seventeenth week on the charts, it seemed to be a cinch to make it to 20 weeks, but this song fell fast after this and only lasted for two additional weeks. That didn't stop it from being Billboard's fifth biggest hit of 1977 - one spot higher than its peak on the weekly charts. 5: MY HEART BELONGS TO ME – BARBRA STREISAND (7) - Great song! I liked her two big 1977 hits about the same. 4: I’M IN YOU – PETER FRAMPTON (5) - Great song! My favorite song by him! 3: DA DO RON RON – SHAUN CASSIDY (1) - Great song! One of several instances where I prefer the remake over the original. OPTIONAL EXTRA: BOOGIE NIGHTS - Meh, I was never a big fan of this one. 2: I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING – ANDY GIBB (4) - Great song! Very likely my all-time favorite from him. 1: LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT – BARRY MANILOW (2) - Ah, great way to end the show, with two great songs! This is definitely one of my favorites from Manilow!
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Post by chrislc on Jul 20, 2014 7:25:39 GMT -5
Well, yeah, I knew that, but I'd also referenced the film where it came from because its passengers were escaping a bad situation with confidence and hope by Gene Hackman's character! ...or they all were just bound and determined to get away from Shelly Winters' character or die trying! Been decades since I've seen the flick, but I do remember that her character was one disagreeable lady. I believe they all were quite understandably upset with her for causing the ship to flip over when she boarded. I haven't seen the film but that is my understanding.
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Post by chrislc on Jul 20, 2014 7:31:59 GMT -5
29. The Morning After/Maureen McGovern--This is a beautiful, stirring, well-sung release. But may I add one caveat. It is also a rather sad song (in the same vein as Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park"). If one is already in a depressed mood, both songs should be avoided at all costs! This song is about the confidence of escaping a bad situation. It's one of the most hopeful and inspiring songs ever released. I remember being so angry when it hit #1 - I could not stand the song back then - I was 16 so I guess I didn't appreciate it. On the other hand I'm still angry that the Harris MacArthur Park didn't make #1 - although it took a really good song to keep it out. MacArthur Park was knocked out of #2 by The Horse galloping up 13 big notches - which baffles me - what about The Horse would cause such a leap? But I went out and bought it back then so I guess I heard something in it as so many others apparently did. I think I actually owned all of the Top 3 singles that week - I don't believe I ever did that again.
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Post by chrislc on Jul 20, 2014 7:48:54 GMT -5
>38. The Border/America--I didn't care for it at the time, but I find it energizing and enjoyable now.< This song needed Michael McDonald singing backup. And they should have just used the original lyrics instead of the very slight changes they made.
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Post by slf on Jul 20, 2014 8:37:15 GMT -5
For the week ending July 23, 1977 40. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard/Cat Stevens--It was pretty fun and energetic, uncharacteristically so for a Cat Stevens song. This was the last we'd here from him before he converted to Islam and converted his name to Yusuf Islam. 39. Slide/Slave--A rather generic, unimpressive dance song. 38. Black Betty/Ram Jam--Although it is catchy and I'm intrigued by its unique, spacey sound effects, I still think it's rather overrated. This Leadbelly song is quite a bit randier than "Goodnight, Irene", that's for sure. 37. On And On/Stephen Bishop--A somewhat soothing ballad with interesting lyrics and a nice shout-out to Old Blue Eyes. 36. Way Down/Elvis Presley--One of his better latter-day hits, with a fun bass vocal part. (Who did those vocal?) Who could have known that during this song's Top 40 run, we'd lose the King of Rock 'n Roll. 35. Smoke From A Distant Fire/Sanford Townsend Band--It's an upbeat, infectious song. I'm most intrigued by the lyrics. This guy is ANGRY and has had enough of his cheating girlfriend! (It was years before I made out the funny line "Don't let the screen door hit you on your way out!".) 34. How Much Love/Leo Sayer--I could take it or leave it at the time, but I have grown to like it a lot in recent years, particularly the tension-filled chorus. It's probably my favorite song of his. 33. Ariel/Dean Friedman--Ah, yes, another song saluting the typical teenage fantasy of smoking pot and having sex. At least this song brings a sense of humor to the mix. 32. Dreams/Fleetwood Mac--Although the group's biggest hit and only No. 1 song, it's too dull and overplayed, in my opinion. I've read that, in the midst of the breakup in Stevie Nicks' relationship with Lindsey Buckingham, this was her parting shot to him, and "Go Your Own Way" was his parting shot to her. 31. Don't Stop/Fleetwood Mac--Much more upbeat and fun than the previous song. I get the feeling that Lindsey meant for this song to be a peace offering to Stevie, as if to say "Let's bury the hatchet and at least remain friends". Is I disagreeessment correct? 30. The Killing Of Georgie/Rod Stewart--This is a very touching, heartfelt tribute to a murdered friend. Does anybody know whether it was about a real friend of Rod's? 29. Telephone Line/ELO--Another great song by a great rock group. It's full of grandeur and tension, and has another of those choruses that I could just listen to over and over again. 28. Telephone Man/Meri Wilson--This is basically "Pillow Talk" meets "My Ding-A-Ling". To all those living next to Alexander Graham Bell's gravesite, beware of unexplained seismic activity. 27. Give A Little Bit/Supertramp--A somewhat pleasant midtempo classic rocker. 26. Handy Man/James Taylor--So-So at best. Although I'm probably in the minority, I like the more lively versions by Jimmy Jones and Del Shannon much better. 25. Luckenbach, Texas (Getting Back To The Basics Of Love)/Waylon Jennings--So-so musically, but it has interesting lyrics and a good message. 24. Just A Song Before I Go/Crosby, Stills, and Nash--Snoozer 23. Barracuda/Heart--A fun rocker with a killer rhythm and guitar riff. 22. High School Dance/The Sylvers--So-so at best. I bet those kids at that one school who won the contest to get this group to perform at their dance have severe cases of writer's cramp. I figured each student had to have written over a thousand ballots. OUCH! 21. Sad To Belong/England Dan & John Ford Coley--Although I love this group in general, this song has rather stupid lyrics. Here we have a stupid, fickle guy already in a solid relationship who would like to throw it all away after exchanging glances with a woman who he perceives as his "real" soulmate he's waited his whole life for. Hey, guy! Those feelings are fleeting. Let them pass. Everybody will be better off in the long run. 20. Got To Give It Up/Marvin Gaye--This song is OK, but I'll say it again; all of Marvin Gaye's truly great songs came before 1972. 19. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")/Bill Conti--Although I never say the original "Rocky" and don't like boxing in general, this is one glorious, beautiful record. The heart-pounding tension just keeps building, complete with lofty, angelic vocals, until the abrupt ending. 18. You're My World/Helen Reddy--Another glorious, stirring song, a remake of a fine song by British singer Cilla Black. It also has a delightfully bombastic close, although more gradual and not so sudden. 17. Easy/The Commodores--A little too easy for me. 16. You Made Me Believe In Magic/The Bay City Rollers--These guys were unfairly dismissed as bubble-gum performers, but they did have some fine rockin' hits. This is the greatest of them all. This is two and a half minutes of sunshine on wax. The chorus is especially enjoyable, with its tight harmony and rocking rhythm section. My only complaint is that it's just too short a song. Something this great should have had an extra verse tacked on. 15. Jet Airliner/The Steve Miller Band--This is one of their more enjoyable classic rock staples, with a fun opening guitar riff. 14. Knowing Me, Knowing You/ABBA--Another of their fine, well-produced hits. 13. You And Me/Alice Cooper--A sweet, sentimental love song, most likely about a married couple. I am intrigued by why Alice seemingly did a about face around 1975 in the nature of his hits, going from the ridiculous to the sublime. And did he do both kinds of song together in concert? 12. Whatcha Gonna Do/Pablo Cruise--A good, but not great, song. His song from the following summer, "Love Will Find A Way", was much better. 11. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher/Rita Coolidge--An enjoyable remake of the Jackie Wilson oldie, probably better than the original. 10. Best Of My Love/The Emotions--An exciting disco classic that would eventually hit No. 1 and deservedly so. I especially love the two tension-filled bridges. 9. Do You Wanna Make Love/Peter McCann--Not with you I don't! 8. Margaritaville/Jimmy Buffett--Boy, critiquing this song is almost like critiquing "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "Happy Birthday", it's that ubiquitous (translation: overplayed). That said, it's still somewhat likeable and pleasant, although hedonistic, like many of his songs. 7. Undercover Angel/Alan O'Day--Just as obnoxious as No. 9. 6. Angel In Your Arms/Hot--A rather interesting sing-a-long song about lover's revenge. 5. My Heart Belongs To Me/Barbara Streisand--Too slow and boring for me. 4. I'm In You/Peter Frampton--Although I like or love the Frampton Comes Alive releases better, I cannot knock this powerfully dramatic love ballad. 3. Da Doo Ron Ron/Shaun Cassidy--Although I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, this bubblegum charttopper is somewhat fun and enjoyable. 2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything/Andy Gibb--Boy, did this hit have staying power; it was in the middle of a sixteen week run in the Top Ten. (Many charttoppers don't even spend this much time in the top 40.) But given the fine vocals and the breezy, yet danceable production of this fine song, its longevity is understandable. 1. Looks Like We Made It/Barry Manilow--Although Barry was, for years, the prime target for lambasting by the musically correct rock establishment, we all got to swallow hard and admit that Barry Manilow has a catalog of masterfully-produced modern day pop standards, like this glorious song. And my favorite song of the countdown (drum roll): I just cannot choose between "Gonna Fly Now" and "You Made Me Believe In Magic", so, for the first time, I'm declaring a tie. I love them both equally.
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Post by Hervard on Jul 20, 2014 12:31:27 GMT -5
31. Don't Stop/Fleetwood Mac--Much more upbeat and fun than the previous song. I get the feeling that Lindsey meant for this song to be a peace offering to Stevie, as if to say "Let's bury the hatchet and at least remain friends". Is I disagreeessment correct? You mean "Is my a$$essment correct? 21. Sad To Belong/England Dan & John Ford Coley--Although I love this group in general, this song has rather stupid lyrics. Here we have a stupid, fickle guy already in a solid relationship who would like to throw it all away after exchanging glances with a woman who he perceives as his "real" soulmate he's waited his whole life for. Hey, guy! Those feelings are fleeting. Let them pass. Everybody will be better off in the long run. Daniel Broderick, anyone?
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