Post by blackbowl68 on Jul 29, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -5
Chart Critique for AMERICAN TOP 40: The 70's - July 29, 2012
This week's countdown for the week ending ýJuly ý27, 1974
PERSONAL: I was still living in England at this time, but our family was about to pack our bags and move to Fairfield, CA. (My first time living in the US.)
DROPPERS:
BALLERO - WAR (33) Don't think I've ever heard this one, partly because it was live cut.
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT - WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (27) Song that kinda inspired lots of sales on low riders, despite being written by a Jehovah Witness.
SUNDOWN - GORDON LIGHTFOOT (12) Wow! What a major chart collapse for a former #1.
40: BAND ON THE RUN - PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (26) Title track from what is likely his best commerical album since the Beatles breakup. Three piece number was still holding fort.
39: BILLY, DON'T BE A HERO - BO DONALDSON & THE HEYWOODS (13) The winner of one of the silliest cover battle in history takes the biggest drop of the week. Let's give one last listen.
38: RUB IT IN - BILLY 'CRASH' CRADDOCK (DEBUT) Killer country song that still holds up today - even in NYC.
37: WORKIN' AT THE CAR WASH BLUES - JIM CROCE (40) Posthumous boogie rocker gives a reprieve after it was about make an exit. Good song but timing made it feel like overkill.
36: HANG ON IN THERE BABY - JOHNNY BRISTOL (39) Man who recorded original version of "Someday We'll Be Together" has a hit of his own (finally).
35: COME MONDAY - JIMMY BUFFETT (30) Blue country song where he sounds like Charlie Rich. Probably may have done better had charted in the wintertime.
34: (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY - PAUL ANKA (with ODIA COATES) (DEBUT) The song that got this Canadian superstar in hot water!
33: HOLLYWOOD SWINGING - KOOL & THE GANG (38) Classic funk song that Feels So Good. The late Ricky West sings the one verse in their building block years.
32: I'M LEAVING IT ALL UP TO YOU - DONNY & MARIE OSMOND (DEBUT) Compared to the original Dale & Grace charttopper, this pairing sounds a little stronger here. Still, the song pales in comparison to the group's hits.
31: YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD - HELEN REDDY (37) Poignant number that has been a source of many LDDs. Sonically, not one of her best but is lyrically superb.
30: ROCK ME GENTLY - ANDY KIM (36) The real Andy Kim came out and gave us this great cruncher that would eventually go to #1.
29: YOU WON'T SEE ME - ANNE MURRAY (8) Countrified version of Beatles...uh...filler from Rubber Soul. I'll just leave it at...decent.
28: SHININ' ON - GRAND FUNK (34) Midwest rocker that kicks better than previous charttopper.
27: IF YOU LOVE ME (LET ME KNOW) - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (10) Australian lass still succeeding with her country roots. Sounds a little better than her previous hit.
AT40 EXTRA: NOTHING FROM NOTHING - BILLY PRESTON - Circus-like number from the man with an afro larger than Angela Davis. I just realized this song was his prequel of "Ain't Nothing Goin' On But the Rent."
26: FISH AIN'T BITIN' - LAMONT DOZIER (29) Wow! Nixon must've really pissed off Detroit this time. (And Stevie Wonder was about to chart with his jab.) Good thing they were about to get the last laugh.
25: SURE AS I'M SITTING HERE - THREE DOG NIGHT (31) Decent follow-up to "The Show Must Go On." Group's hit streak came to an end with this song.
24: THIS HEART - GENE REDDING (24) Great song from new artist and new label. Too bad he never had another.
23: TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD - RUFUS (25) First major pop hit for Chicago 'crud' band written by the Wonder Man. Chaka & Stevie would team up for another monster hit 10 years.
22: MACHINE GUN - THE COMMODORES (22) Instrumental funk classic that gives no hint of what was to come many years later.
21: IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP - ELVIS PRESLEY (21) The King was still showing some royalty with this number about sneaking around. One of his better 70s hits.
20: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS - BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE (20) Enduring song that some may say is the Canadian group's signature track. Still prefer future charttopper though.
19: KEEP ON SMILIN' - WET WILLIE (28) Biggest & somewhat lost hit for Southern boogie band. Always liked this track.
18: WILDWOOD WEED - JIM STAFFORD (35) You can say I get high on this guilty pleasure written by Casey alumni, Don Bowman.
17: FINALLY GOT MYSELF TOGETHER (I'M A CHANGED MAN) - THE IMPRESSIONS (17) Chicago soul group's first without Jerry Butler or Curtis Mayfield. Must've been a big seller because it doesn't sound like a big pop record.
16: ONE HELL OF A WOMAN - MAC DAVIS (14) The Mac puts on his B. W. Stevenson hat for this swaggering country rocker.
15: WATERLOO - ABBA (18) The winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest makes its way up the US charts. The template for most of their hits, they're now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
14: THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED - PAPER LACE (32) The loser of the aforementioned cover battle at #39 has a hit of their own with this rather inaccurate account.
13: RADAR LOVE - GOLDEN EARRING (15) Aggressive rocker by Dutch band that hits hard on US shores.
AT40 EXTRA: BEACH BABY - FIRST CLASS - American summer song by British studio group which was Tony Burrows' fifth chart act. They actually cut out a verse to accomodate the album ending.
12: ON AND ON - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (5) Funky single from the movie Claudine written by Curtis Mayfield. Great choice.
11: SIDESHOW - BLUE MAGIC (11) First major hit for Philadelphia soul group that bested the Stylistics by topping the soul charts. You don't need to pay 50¢ to see this show; just watch CNN.
10: CALL ON ME - CHICAGO (23) As much as I detest Peter Cetera, I heard this recently on a Classic Soul station & nearly scratched my head. But by the song's strong Latin-tinged percussion ending, it made perfect sense to me.
9: PLEASE COME TO BOSTON - DAVE LOGGINS (19) Decent MOR song. After hearing Casey's story, I'm wondering, how do closely related individuals to spend almost a lifetime without meeting each other?
8: ROCK THE BOAT - THE HUES CORPORATION (6) The one-two punch that launched the disco movement. Carribean-flavored number from California group in which I prefer the original album version with the tams.
7: THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - THE HOLLIES (9) I was never really a fan of this Albert Hammond song.
Listener question: What album stayed on the chart the longest?
6: FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE - ROBERTA FLACK (16) Her only song to top both the pop & soul charts.
Answer: Johnny Mathis' Greatest Hits with 419 weeks!
5: RIKKI, DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER - STEELY DAN (7) Biggest hit & rather abstract song from edgy jazz-rock band.
4: ROCK YOUR BABY - GEORGE McCRAE (1) Fantastic dance song written by Harry Wayne Casey done with George's falsetto vocal. This was almost was recorded by Jimmy 'Bo' Horne.
3: ROCK & ROLL HEAVEN - THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS (3) A comeback of sorts for 60s duo written by then-unknown Alan O'Day. Great song that needs a part 2 and 3.
AT40 EXTRA: CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN - GUESS WHO - While Randy Bachman was making better records at this time, His former group paid tribute to the Wolfman. Thank God for the Canadian Quotient.
2: DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - ELTON JOHN (4) Lead track from Caribou that is another lengthy composition. Almost a charttopper first time around, finally reached the summit for George Michael with Elton as guest.
1: ANNIE'S SONG - JOHN DENVER (1) Soft number written for John's wife, Annie, but was lyrically ambiguous that be could be used to express love to any suitor.
SYNOPSIS: Apparently, President Nixon wasn't the only one in deep trouble at this time. Several record labels with songs on this list were about to close their doors. They also got their first taste of the disco boom was about to take place.
This week's countdown for the week ending ýJuly ý27, 1974
PERSONAL: I was still living in England at this time, but our family was about to pack our bags and move to Fairfield, CA. (My first time living in the US.)
DROPPERS:
BALLERO - WAR (33) Don't think I've ever heard this one, partly because it was live cut.
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT - WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (27) Song that kinda inspired lots of sales on low riders, despite being written by a Jehovah Witness.
SUNDOWN - GORDON LIGHTFOOT (12) Wow! What a major chart collapse for a former #1.
40: BAND ON THE RUN - PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (26) Title track from what is likely his best commerical album since the Beatles breakup. Three piece number was still holding fort.
39: BILLY, DON'T BE A HERO - BO DONALDSON & THE HEYWOODS (13) The winner of one of the silliest cover battle in history takes the biggest drop of the week. Let's give one last listen.
38: RUB IT IN - BILLY 'CRASH' CRADDOCK (DEBUT) Killer country song that still holds up today - even in NYC.
37: WORKIN' AT THE CAR WASH BLUES - JIM CROCE (40) Posthumous boogie rocker gives a reprieve after it was about make an exit. Good song but timing made it feel like overkill.
36: HANG ON IN THERE BABY - JOHNNY BRISTOL (39) Man who recorded original version of "Someday We'll Be Together" has a hit of his own (finally).
35: COME MONDAY - JIMMY BUFFETT (30) Blue country song where he sounds like Charlie Rich. Probably may have done better had charted in the wintertime.
34: (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY - PAUL ANKA (with ODIA COATES) (DEBUT) The song that got this Canadian superstar in hot water!
33: HOLLYWOOD SWINGING - KOOL & THE GANG (38) Classic funk song that Feels So Good. The late Ricky West sings the one verse in their building block years.
32: I'M LEAVING IT ALL UP TO YOU - DONNY & MARIE OSMOND (DEBUT) Compared to the original Dale & Grace charttopper, this pairing sounds a little stronger here. Still, the song pales in comparison to the group's hits.
31: YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD - HELEN REDDY (37) Poignant number that has been a source of many LDDs. Sonically, not one of her best but is lyrically superb.
30: ROCK ME GENTLY - ANDY KIM (36) The real Andy Kim came out and gave us this great cruncher that would eventually go to #1.
29: YOU WON'T SEE ME - ANNE MURRAY (8) Countrified version of Beatles...uh...filler from Rubber Soul. I'll just leave it at...decent.
28: SHININ' ON - GRAND FUNK (34) Midwest rocker that kicks better than previous charttopper.
27: IF YOU LOVE ME (LET ME KNOW) - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (10) Australian lass still succeeding with her country roots. Sounds a little better than her previous hit.
AT40 EXTRA: NOTHING FROM NOTHING - BILLY PRESTON - Circus-like number from the man with an afro larger than Angela Davis. I just realized this song was his prequel of "Ain't Nothing Goin' On But the Rent."
26: FISH AIN'T BITIN' - LAMONT DOZIER (29) Wow! Nixon must've really pissed off Detroit this time. (And Stevie Wonder was about to chart with his jab.) Good thing they were about to get the last laugh.
25: SURE AS I'M SITTING HERE - THREE DOG NIGHT (31) Decent follow-up to "The Show Must Go On." Group's hit streak came to an end with this song.
24: THIS HEART - GENE REDDING (24) Great song from new artist and new label. Too bad he never had another.
23: TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD - RUFUS (25) First major pop hit for Chicago 'crud' band written by the Wonder Man. Chaka & Stevie would team up for another monster hit 10 years.
22: MACHINE GUN - THE COMMODORES (22) Instrumental funk classic that gives no hint of what was to come many years later.
21: IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP - ELVIS PRESLEY (21) The King was still showing some royalty with this number about sneaking around. One of his better 70s hits.
20: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS - BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE (20) Enduring song that some may say is the Canadian group's signature track. Still prefer future charttopper though.
19: KEEP ON SMILIN' - WET WILLIE (28) Biggest & somewhat lost hit for Southern boogie band. Always liked this track.
18: WILDWOOD WEED - JIM STAFFORD (35) You can say I get high on this guilty pleasure written by Casey alumni, Don Bowman.
17: FINALLY GOT MYSELF TOGETHER (I'M A CHANGED MAN) - THE IMPRESSIONS (17) Chicago soul group's first without Jerry Butler or Curtis Mayfield. Must've been a big seller because it doesn't sound like a big pop record.
16: ONE HELL OF A WOMAN - MAC DAVIS (14) The Mac puts on his B. W. Stevenson hat for this swaggering country rocker.
15: WATERLOO - ABBA (18) The winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest makes its way up the US charts. The template for most of their hits, they're now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
14: THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED - PAPER LACE (32) The loser of the aforementioned cover battle at #39 has a hit of their own with this rather inaccurate account.
13: RADAR LOVE - GOLDEN EARRING (15) Aggressive rocker by Dutch band that hits hard on US shores.
AT40 EXTRA: BEACH BABY - FIRST CLASS - American summer song by British studio group which was Tony Burrows' fifth chart act. They actually cut out a verse to accomodate the album ending.
12: ON AND ON - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (5) Funky single from the movie Claudine written by Curtis Mayfield. Great choice.
11: SIDESHOW - BLUE MAGIC (11) First major hit for Philadelphia soul group that bested the Stylistics by topping the soul charts. You don't need to pay 50¢ to see this show; just watch CNN.
10: CALL ON ME - CHICAGO (23) As much as I detest Peter Cetera, I heard this recently on a Classic Soul station & nearly scratched my head. But by the song's strong Latin-tinged percussion ending, it made perfect sense to me.
9: PLEASE COME TO BOSTON - DAVE LOGGINS (19) Decent MOR song. After hearing Casey's story, I'm wondering, how do closely related individuals to spend almost a lifetime without meeting each other?
8: ROCK THE BOAT - THE HUES CORPORATION (6) The one-two punch that launched the disco movement. Carribean-flavored number from California group in which I prefer the original album version with the tams.
7: THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - THE HOLLIES (9) I was never really a fan of this Albert Hammond song.
Listener question: What album stayed on the chart the longest?
6: FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE - ROBERTA FLACK (16) Her only song to top both the pop & soul charts.
Answer: Johnny Mathis' Greatest Hits with 419 weeks!
5: RIKKI, DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER - STEELY DAN (7) Biggest hit & rather abstract song from edgy jazz-rock band.
4: ROCK YOUR BABY - GEORGE McCRAE (1) Fantastic dance song written by Harry Wayne Casey done with George's falsetto vocal. This was almost was recorded by Jimmy 'Bo' Horne.
3: ROCK & ROLL HEAVEN - THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS (3) A comeback of sorts for 60s duo written by then-unknown Alan O'Day. Great song that needs a part 2 and 3.
AT40 EXTRA: CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN - GUESS WHO - While Randy Bachman was making better records at this time, His former group paid tribute to the Wolfman. Thank God for the Canadian Quotient.
2: DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - ELTON JOHN (4) Lead track from Caribou that is another lengthy composition. Almost a charttopper first time around, finally reached the summit for George Michael with Elton as guest.
1: ANNIE'S SONG - JOHN DENVER (1) Soft number written for John's wife, Annie, but was lyrically ambiguous that be could be used to express love to any suitor.
SYNOPSIS: Apparently, President Nixon wasn't the only one in deep trouble at this time. Several record labels with songs on this list were about to close their doors. They also got their first taste of the disco boom was about to take place.