And now, a little more love for Spring 1974. I was 9, and just beginning to really dig the far out sounds coming out of my little orange Radio Shack Flavoradio.
40 – Touch a Hand, Make a Friend – Staple Singers
Probably Mavis's most restrained vocal among their string of classic hits (at least until she lets loose on the fade-out), but nonetheless oozing with sublime soul. The flute riffs are a beautiful touch.
39 – My Girl Bill – Jim Stafford
Rather clever, certainly charming & enjoyably risque in a quaint way. No doubt the cause of a lot of juvenile snickering at the time. His best was yet to come that summer, with a song about a certain plant.
38 – Thanks For Saving My Life – Billy Paul
And thanks for (barely) saving Mr. Paul from being a one-hit wonder. A listenable but unremarkable up-tempo R&B workout. From the album
War Of The Gods, which I picked up for a dime at the Salvation Army, and the title track (and cover art) of which really blew my mind coming from the “Me & Mrs. Jones” guy.
37 – I'm A Train – Albert Hammond
I'm with my fellow critiquers on this one – might as well be titled “I'm Inane”. It rather sounds like he's ripping off chart-mate Cat Stevens' “Peace Train”, as well as “Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard”.
36 – I'm In Love – Aretha Franklin
At this point, Lady Soul was incapable of a bad performance, even on fairly average material like this. Mga, it's actually her 2nd to last Atlantic top 40, as “Something He Can Feel” went to #28 in 1976.
35 – Mighty Mighty – Earth, Wind & Fire
Indeed it is. This is where EWF started perfecting their bulletproof formula, after a half-decade of rather uneven work. I'll bet Phil Bailey wishes he could still hit those stratospheric high notes.
34 – Tell Me a Lie – Sami Jo
Doing my research, I was surprised to find out that this was a bigger pop than C&W hit – it didn't even hit the country top 40. A not-bad track highlighted by a strong vocal.
33 – Mockingbird – Carly & James
They're clearly having fun, & it's infectious. Sung like a couple newly wed a year ago & expecting their first child. Really dig the way Dr. John makes the organ trill like a bird toward the end.
32 – For the Love of Money – The O'Jays
Solid gold! Right in the middle of a five-year stretch where these guys were so good it was almost scary. Even 4 decades of overuse in commercials can't kill this one.
31 – A Very Special Love Song – Charlie Rich
Awwww yeah. Mercy sakes, the Silver Fox had a magic touch with ballads, and this may well be his finest. The whole thing practically shimmers with class.
30 – The Payback (Part 1) – James Brown
My theory as to why JB fell off after '74 is that with this track he finally maxed it out – here, he got so BAAAD, so MEAN, so FUNKY that he hit the very limit of those concepts. Incredible stuff. Best heard in the full version, where he claims he doesn't know karate but he knows ka-razy, & his shouts become the sonic equivalent of Bruce Lee's fists.
29 – Let It Ride – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Their first hit, and in many ways superior to their bigger ones. The guys demonstrate that they didn't misname their band, kicking it into rock n' roll overdrive with a Mack truck sound.
28 – Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
I have a soft spot for this, partly out of sympathy that it gets kicked around so much, but also because there's something indefinable about the sound of this record that makes me smile.
27 – Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing – Stevie Wonder
The worst track on
Innervisions, but that's only because even on a perfect album, one has to be ranked last. Let's just call it the least perfect. Always fun to hear Stevie goofing around like he does on the intro, & the Latin spice is very nice.
26 - Keep On Singing – Helen Reddy
It's supposed to be inspiring & heartwarming, but it's laid on so thick that it becomes overbearing.
25 – The Lord's Prayer – Sister Janet Mead
The good Sister might have called them “rock masses”, but her voice compares favorably to British folk songstresses such as Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior & Anne Briggs.
24 – Oh Very Young – Cat Stevens
Another folkie. The adjective that comes to mind for this performance is “exquisite”. The choir-like female backup vocals add a splendid touch. Yusuf was at the top of his game by this point – unfortunately, it was just before he became disillusioned.
23 – Help Me – Joni Mitchell
There is no help for me when this song starts, because I immediately & invariably fall into a state of entranced bliss. Today was a hard listen thinking about what she's going through health-wise, but she STILL blissed me out, bless her.
22 – Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings
After 40 years of constant rotation, I can't remember the last time I was genuinely glad to hear this come on, but for what it's worth I still sing along.
21 – I Won't Last A Day Without You – Carpenters
One of their classics, as well as one of Paul Williams' best compositions, but I want to remark on the chart performance – back then, it was unheard of to pull 5 singles from an album, let alone have that 5th single nearly go top 10 – almost 2 years after it's album was released and AFTER that album's follow-up.
20 – Sunshine On My Shoulders – John Denver
Like John, I'm a big “high on nature” kinda guy, so I'm on his wavelength here. What doesn't get me high is that overwrought string arrangement. Just him and his guitar was all that was needed.
19 – My Mistake Was To Love You – Marvin & Diana
Top-notch vocals, of course, but I just can't get past the way it rehashes the melody from “Reach Out (I'll Be There)”, the harmonica vibe from “Have You Seen Her” & the general vibe of “Ain't No Mountain High Enough”.
18 – Lookin' For A Love – Bobby Womack
While I prefer the original Valentinos version, the update is still awesome – bringing back the doo-wop was a must, but it would've been fine without the synth line. As usual, Bobby burns down the house vocally. It's not screaming, it's soul shouting!
17 – You Make Me Feel Brand New – The Stylistics
Mga, the vocalist on the verses was Airrion Love. Solid gold sweet soul perfection, & rightfully their biggest hit.
16 – I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song – Jim Croce
A very wise choice, Jim, as it's impossible to imagine her being able to resist such a warm, heartfelt performance. The track is also a good lesson in proper use of a string section to enhance a ballad.
15 – Midnight At The Oasis – Maria Muldaur
More instant bliss – I don't know if my old heart can take all this joy. Another one of those records where the sound has an indescribable element of magic to it. Amos Garrett's guitar solo is legendary.
14 – Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
Can't really critique such an all-time classic, so I'll just say my mind was blown upon fairly recently finally hearing the album version after all these years and discovering it has an awesome doo-wop opening & a blazing extended fade-out.
13 – Oh My My – Ringo Starr
One of the lesser Beatle solo singles, but it still gets over on Ringo's charm alone. Nice to know that the boogie can cure whatever ails ya – I'll have to remember that next time my knee acts up.
12 – (I've Been) Searchin' So Long – Chicago
The gradual build-up of dynamics on this song really is amazing, and Terry Kath suddenly blasting out that incredible solo near the climax just amps me up to no end.
11 – The Entertainer – Marvin Hamlisch
I've extensively explored the roots of jazz, soul & blues and there are only two styles I've never really connected with: Dixieland & Ragtime. This one certainly doesn't do the trick for the latter.
10 – Just Don't Want To Be Lonely – The Main Ingredient
I'm in agreement that this is preferable to “Everybody Plays the Fool”. I'm assuming this is one of the last hit records that uses prominent electric sitar, a sound that was beginning to sound dated by '74.
9 – The Show Must Go On – Three Dog Night
Personally amusing that this is at #9, as I was 9 at the time and the tune hooked me, no doubt thanks to the calliope refrain. Alas, TDN only had 3 more weeks in the Top Ten, a place they'd consistently called home for the previous 5 years.
8 – Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield
Think I might finally sit down and listen to the whole album a bit later (I always thought Hipgnosis did the cover, but it turns out not). Mike definitely has a Steve Reich influence going on, so I should dig it.
7 – Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede
Yeah, the ooga-chucka is gimmicky, but it's otherwise a very enjoyable slice of Swedish ska.
6 – The Streak – Ray Stevens
Sure, it's fun, but that it kept “Dancing Machine” out of the top spot is sheer madness. I did spot a few streakers back in the day, including a couple of female instances, but my tender young brain was incapable of processing the significance of those, and I'm sure my memories of the sight are embellished by the mists of time. Good lord, a Ray Stevens tune has me musing profoundly.
5 – Dancing Machine – The Jackson 5ive
And lo and behold, the tune that wuz robbed by #6. Michael's voice hadn't yet fully changed, but that was about the only element that harkened back to their early glory days – the track is a sizzling booty shaker that was equally at home on Soul Train & Bandstand. I always wondered if the Dancing Machine ever hooked up with the Miracles' Love Machine from the following year.
4 – Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – Gladys Knight & The Pips
And Gladys' voice is one of the best things that ever happened to a pop music fan. It saves a tune that could've easily been schmaltzy in the hands of a lesser performer. Speaking of great voices, the legendary Ray Price did a cover of this and he does the same trick.
3 – Bennie & The Jets – Elton John
Way too classic to critique, & another one with a “magic” sonic ambience.
2 – TSOP – MSFB
Time for another ride on the big train. Now here's your host, Don Cornelius! My brain really can't grasp it as an entity separate from Soul Train, and is so synonymous that it now feels downright weird hearing the show's first theme on the early broadcasts. An unstoppable behemoth of the Philly sound.
1 – The Loco-Motion – Grand Funk
I must strenuously argue for the superiority of the Little Eva version, & declare this remake pointless! Looking at their chart history, it's fascinating to note how they got huge on the pop charts after removing the “Railroad” from their name and completely slumped after restoring it.