Post by slf on Nov 16, 2014 10:17:24 GMT -5
For the week ending November 18, 1972:
Man, mga707, you just keep raising the bar of excellence with your critiques, I don't know if I can keep up. But I'll never know until I try, so here goes.
40. Sweet Surrender/Bread--This is another 45 single my dad owned and played back in the day. Even then I was blown away by the sentimental lyrics. It's one powerful love song. Too bad I didn't hear it yesterday, as I was a little late in successfully streaming WUPE-FM. (I didn't connect until the following song.)
39. Me & Mrs Jones/Billy Paul--For years I didn't care for this song because of the adulterous nature of it. Then, in the late '80's, I happened to hear it crystal clear, in full stereo, on headphones connected to a walkman-style device. And even though I was well familiar with the song, the song's lush, orchestral arrangement, for the first time ever, make its impact on me. Now I love this Philly soul ballad, in spite of the subject matter. And, really, it's a rather tame cheating song; all the couple does is hold hands and make plans, in a public place. Heck, Archie Bunker and the waitress went further than that (although even with them, "The sex act was never constipated".)
38. Dialogue I & II/Chicago--I forgot how this sounded, as it's actually a Top 40 song by this legendary group that gets almost no airplay, and, thus, I have never gotten a change to become familiar with it. But I remember it having that bold, assertive horn-based arrangement I know and love.
37. All The Young Dudes/Mott The Hoople--Although it has a somewhat enjoyable arrangement and good guitar work, I find the song, especially Ian Hunter's vocals, somewhat obnoxious. (Although another of their songs, "All The Way From Memphis", fun and enjoyable.
36. Corner Of The Sky/The Jackson Five--I forgot how this sounded, also, but I remember it being pretty, bouncy, and energetic.
35. Ben/Michael Jackson--Although the object of his love and devotion is ludicrous and laughable, I can't help but love this pretty love ballad. (Hey, here's a theory that may explain Michael's latter-day eccentricities: Ben bit him and gave him some mysterious disease.)
34. Don't Do It/The Band--Mildly catchy rocker, but not as good as "The Weight" and "Up On Cripple Creek".
33. I Believe In Music/Gallery--This slice of musical comfort food has a pleasant upbeat arrangement, smooth solo and harmony vocals, a positive message, and an intriguing synthesizer part in the instrumental passage before the third verse.
32. Rockin' Pneumonia--Boogie Woogie Flu/Johnny Rivers--I have never been a fan of this song.
All he seems to do is whine about not being able to win over the object of his affection. And am I hearing that early line correctly, "I wanna holler, but the john's too small". Uh, he isn't talking about a toilet, is he?
31. Spaceman/Nilsson--I remember this as being so-so, at best.
30. Rock 'N Roll Soul/Grand Funk Railroad--I remember this, on the other hand, as being a nice, rollicking rocker.
29. Something's Wrong With Me/Austin Roberts--This is another of those songs I remember vividly when they were hits but are never played anymore. Thank goodness for AT40, the '70's.
This dramatic, stirring love song still gets to me after all these years. I especially love how he draws out the word "wrong" at the end of the closing chorus. It's goosebump-inducing.
28. Clair/Gilbert O'Sullivan--OK, I give up! For years I have hated this song for its sappiness and the potentially creepy ideas it inadvertently implies. But after hearing it in the countdown yesterday and after it forming the soundtrack in my mind for my bread-stocking weekend job, I have been officially won over by its happy, bouncy rhythm and arrangement and its sweet harmonica parts. And I think I can accept the completely innocent nature of this sweet song without letting cynicism creep in.
27. American City Suite/Cashman & West--This was only the second time I had heard this record (both times on AT70, the '70's, as I flew under my radar back in the day). But, wow, what an amazing song, or suite of songs. The first section is as chirpy and cheerful as a song can get; the second section is still upbeat (with a stronger rock arrangement), but with ominous lyrics. But the bottom really falls out in the third section, when the somber ballad kicks in and the singer tells about a friend who's dying. Maybe I missed it, but what supposedly happened to this friend? Was she the victim of a violent crime, or did she overdose?
26. Elected/Alice Cooper--This fun, infectious rocker is probably my favorite Alice Cooper hit. I especially love how he vocally draws out the title in the chorus for several seconds with his band backing him up in dramatic fashion.
25. Funny Face/Donna Fargo--Another amazing study in contrasts. Were there really stations that had both of these songs in rotation simultaneously? Anyway, what's even more amazing is that the same singer who gave us the fun, catchy "Happiest Girl In The Whole USA" also gave us this pile of sappy mush. And I agree with you, mga707; her lisp is embarrassing and distracting on this record.
24. Crazy Horses/The Osmond Brothers--This fun record is proof positive that this family could indeed rock out. The horn sounds imitating a horse's whinny is straight out of Cliff Nobles' "The Horse" and the lyrics seem to borrow the imagery from the classic "Ghost Riders In The Sky".
23. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues/Danny O'Keefe--This dreary depressing single makes "My Little Town" sound like Pharrell William's "Happy".
22. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)/Jim Croce--This is one of Croce's best hit songs, definitely his most creative. The vocals are heartfelt, the guitar work is sweet, and the lyrics are sharp and insightful. But the most intriguing thing about this song, if you will notice, is the chorus. Its melody is nicely complex, it just seems to go in several directions.
21. It Never Rains In Southern California/Albert Hammond--Although this song has a sharp, rich arrangement, the wimpy, sappy lyrics have always made me cringe and Albert sings them in a wimpy, whiny vocal style. The second verse is especially intolerable. ("I'm underloved, I'm underfed, I WANNA GO HO-O-O-OME!") UGH!
20. I'm Stone In Love With You/The Stylistics--This ranks right behind "Betcha By Golly Wow" as my favorite song by this smooth-as-silk group. I love the slightly staccato rhythm and the lead singer's sincere, urgent vocals.
19. Burnin' Love/Elvis Presley--This is one fun, rollicking rocker. I especially love the piano riff throughout and the Jordanaires-inspired background singers. And, indeed, this song should have gone to #1, and it's so ironic that another '50's rock pioneer shut it out, albeit with a naughty novelty song.
18. Ventura Highway/American--This is my favorite song by this group. It has a nice acoustic guitar riff throughout, and its laid-back, yet flowing nature permeates every aspect of this song.
The song reaches it zenith in the chorus, when they dramatically sing "I know-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh (followed by that mighty acoustic guitar); then in the chorus climax, when they dramatically sing about the alligator lizards "in the air, in the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-air".
17. Thunder And Lightning/Chi Coltrane--Sometimes one just has to scratch his head and wonder how some "one-hit wonders" never went any further. Chi Coltrane is perfect case-in-point. This majestic single starts out fairly mellow and her vocals are smooth but subdued. But then she lets loose and unleashes her passion ("I-I-I-I-I-I I can feel it happen-n-n-n-n! It's thunder and lightnin'!") in each of the three verses. The song's title is so appropo, as this bundle of talent and soul puts on a breathtaking performance on this song, like a musical thunderstorm. I would loved to have heard more from this lady.
16. Listen To The Music/The Doobie Brothers--It's somewhat catchy and enjoyable, but very overplayed.
15. You Ought To Be With Me/Al Green--It's a fairly enjoyable, urgent-sounding Stax-influenced soul number.
14. My Ding-A-Ling/Chuck Berry--Ah, yes, the Father Of Rock And Roll's biggest hit and yet, according to most, his worst song. I really ought to hate this dirty ditty, but the naughty kid in me is still drawn to it, sadly. Short story: do you all remember about 20 yrs ago, then Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders had to resign when she suggested that teens should be taught how to, let's say, pleasure themselves. Well, as a parting tribute, Rush Limbaugh, on his show, played this song in its entirety. Quite appropriate, you gotta admit.
13. If You Don't Know Me By Now/Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes--Philadelphia International Records follows the success of the splendid "Back Stabbers" with this lush, passionate number, with powerful vocals by Mr Pendergrass. It has a similarly gorgeous arrangement as labelmate Billy Paul's "Me And Mrs. Jones", only this song condemns infidelity, which is a positive.
12. Garden Party/Rick Nelson--A nice, mellow song with Rick's trademark smooth vocals. Supposedly, it was inspired by Rick getting boooed at an oldies show at Madison Square Garden when he performed the Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman". However, I once heard another account of the incident in which, actually, the boos were not directed at Rick, but towards something or someone else.
11. If I Could Reach You/The Fifth Dimension--Another breathtaking vocal performance by Marilyn McCoo. I don't think she could sing badly if she tried.
10. Summer Breeze/Seals & Crofts--Although this is far from the greatest example of their brand of laidback soft rock, it is nicely mellow and enjoyable, just the same.
9. Witchy Woman/The Eagles--I can take it or leave it.
8. Convention '72/The Delegates--As I said before, I am a sucker for these break-in records! Unlike "Mr Jaws" or "Superfly Meets Shaft" I don't remember this when it was a hit. But it's just as hilarious as those other two. (Who would have known that Henry Kissenger was so horny!)
7. Freddie's Dead/Curtis Mayfield--This has a very lively, funky, urban-sounding arrangement and a very sobering message about the dangers of heroin addiction and the drug-dealing lifestyle in general.
6. Papa Was A Rolling Stone/The Temptations--This powerful epic release has a similar funky yet ominous arrangement and similarly serious subject matter, this time about trying to learn the truth about a ne'er-do-well deadbeat father who just died.
5. Nights In White Satin/The Moody Blues--Although not my absolutely favorite song by this great band, I still love its dramatic, bombastic orchestral arrangement. (Although I do admit, by the time I'm invited to "Breath deep the gathering gloom", the song's pretentiousness gets to be a bit much. At least I didn't have to hear that part of the song yesterday.)
4. I Am Woman/Helen Reddy--No, I Am Man, but that's OK. I still like this song's elaborate arrangement and positive message. I also like that the song is pro-women' rights without engaging in male-bashing.
3. I'll Be Around/The Spinners--From the subdued but soulful opening guitar riff to Philip Wynne's sweet vocals, to the fine harmonies, to the instrumental battle between those amazing strings and punchy horns, this is almost as fine a Philly Soul number as anything coming from Gamble and Huff.
2. I'd Love You To Want Me/Lobo--Sweet, sincere love ballad.
1 I Can See Clearly Now/Johnny Nash--I can take it or leave it. It's a shame that this mediocre song spent four weeks at the top spot, but so many other more worthy songs on this countdown fell short.
And my favorite song of the countdown (drum roll):
For example, the breathtaking "Thunder And Lightning" , which should have topped the chart, in stead of peaking at a pathetic #17.
Thank you for reading.