My Chart Critique for American Top 40 - The 70's: August 25, 2012
Countdown for the week ending August 28, 1971
PERSONAL: I was a young tot living in England occasionally visiting extended family in Queens & Brooklyn, NY.
DROPPERS:
DOUBLE BARREL - DAVE & ANSIL COLLINS (40) Before there was hip hop, there was this toaster's anthem...and it is magnificent. BTW, Dave's last name is NOT Collins.
MOTHER FREEDOM - BREAD (37) I believe this one was a hard rocker like the Rascals' "Come On Up."
I'M LEAVIN' - ELVIS PRESLEY (36) The departure of this song from the countdown may have been extra incentive for this week's AT40 special.
MOON SHADOW - CAT STEVENS (32) I believe I've heard this one only once.
DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE - HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLDS (31) This great pop record still gets lots of recurrent airplay.
Note: IMO, a chart critique carries some credibility when you show you bought the record in question when originally released. Therefore, titles are color coated to indicate my family bought the
single or
album. Also I tend to lean soul or R&B, but try to give every song a fair shot.
40: WHERE YOU LEAD - BARBRA STREISAND (debut) Good song with a little country twang in the middle section. First of many on this show written by Carole King.
39:
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND - ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY (29) Soul version of Carole King original competing with Taylor's pop hit single. For obvious reasons, I prefer this take.
38: SATURDAY MORNING CONFUSION - BOBBY RUSSELL (debut) This song is a perfect example of why we really listen to classic American Top 40. Bobby nails what's it's like being a young suburban kid at home on said morning right on the head. It may sound a bit cheesy, but it's so point you can't turn away.
37: LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH - ISLEY BROTHERS (28) Soul remake of Stephen Stills number which I prefer chiefly because of the key the brothers do this song in.
36: MAGGIE MAY/REASON TO BELIEVE - ROD STEWART (debut) We all know how this fared. Considering this song's subject matter, the latter song (the original A-side) must not have been very good.
35: TIRED OF BEING ALONE - AL GREEN (39) The song that launched a string of hits. Memphis 70's soul at its finest.
34: MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY - B.J. THOMAS (34) Great sounding song. I wonder if the gospel group named themselves after this song. It sounds inspirational enough.
33: THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN - JOAN BAEZ (debut) I know many believe Baez wrecked the Band's concert staple, but I like this version as it sounds much more commercial.
32: GO DOWN GAMBLIN' - BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS (33) Great gruff track from the jazz-rock ensemble. I believe David Clayton Thomas left the group after this hit.
31: BANGLA DESH - GEORGE HARRISON (debut) For a single whose proceeds went to famine relief in western Asia, it must not have helped much. The record didn't even go gold or make the top 20.
30:
MAYBE TOMORROW - JACKSON FIVE (20) The song that broke the family group's string of top 5 hits. Probably a little too MOR for their reportoire.
29: RINGS - CYMARRON (26) Like #38, another reason we really listen the classic show. But for me...no, just no.
28: BRING THE BOYS HOME - FREDA PAYNE (25) From the H-D-H factory, a very pleading number to get our troops out of a losing war.
AT40 SPECIAL: HOUND DOG - ELVIS PRESLEY - When I was learning about rock 'n' roll, this was his signature song for me. Times have changed.
27: STICK-UP - HONEY CONE (38) Another hit from the H-D-H factory. While a great sounding record, you can tell it was somewhat poorly written. It's a rewrite of what eventually became "Want Ads."
26: IF NOT FOR YOU - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (27) First top 40 hit for Australian lass with Bob Dylan composition, giving it a twangy country feel.
25: I WOKE UP IN LOVE THIS MORNING - PARTRIDGE FAMILY (35) Another teeny bopper from the TV show family. Better than their previous hit.
24: NEVER ENDING SONG OF LOVE - DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS (18) OK song that sounds like something you hear in front of a campfire.
23: WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN - THE WHO (30) It's bittersweet to hear this one, as CBS did not renew CSI: Miami for another season.
22: HOT PANTS (PART #1) - JAMES BROWN (15) One of his best dance records with many copycat songs to come. When you got to use what you got to get what you want, James will write a song about you.
21:
IT'S TOO LATE/I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE - CAROLE KING (13) One of four songs (Casey said three) Carole had a hand in writing. While a great record, her best composition on the countdown is doubled up. B-side is also a sizable hit.
20: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE / ABRAHAM MARTIN & JOHN - TOM CLAY (17) A very compelling and intense record! Two classic songs that came to life in this early "mashup." Prototype of the future hit, "19."
19: INDIAN RESERVATION - RAIDERS (11) Remake of Don Fardon's hit gets a more deserving treatment to emphasize awareness of Cherokee plight. They got rewarded with their first and only #1 hit.
18:
I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE - RARE EARTH (22) Motown rock band brings an air positive energy after two intense countdown records. Best song to hear after leaving a funeral. Yes, this is what the single version really sounds like.
17: DRAGGIN' THE LINE - TOMMY JAMES (9) First bona fide solo hit for 60's hitmaker. Is this what the single really sounds like?
16:
WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET - DRAMATICS (19) Detroit meets Memphis and makes great funky soul. I do know this is what the single sounds like.
15: RIDERS ON THE STORM - THE DOORS (16) Considering leader Jim Morrison had died recently, you'd think the group's next release would at worst reach the Top 10. No such luck here and the single itself may be why. This eerie number sounds perfect for the opening sequence of the future thriller,
The Hitcher.
AT40 EXTRA: RAIN DANCE - THE GUESS WHO - I would've considered this song a lost hit fifteen years ago. A closer listen tells why; it's a very dark record.
14:
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND - JAMES TAYLOR (5) Hit version of Carole King original that became Taylor's biggest hit. Song would inspire many more covers.
13: AIN'T NO SUNSHINE - BILL WITHERS (23) Breakthrough hit for the "Troubador of Soul." Sad blues number that has been frequently covered and sampled. And he was still working his day job at the time.
12: UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY - PAUL & LINDA McCARTNEY (21) The American single from
Ram. One of his better singles that was about to make chart history.
11: BEGINNINGS/
COLOR MY WORLD - CHICAGO (7) Single version of jazz rock opus from a two-year debut album. Tend to prefer this song due to Terry Kath lead. B-side was first issued on "Make Me Smile."
10: GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL - DONNY OSMOND (24) The week's biggest mover, and the song Casey forgot was a Carole King cowrite. First song in Hot 100 history to have two versions top the chart. Both versions sound a little cheesy; better by the Happenings and Marlena Shaw.
9: SPANISH HARLEM - ARETHA FRANKLIN (14) Lady Soul goes to the Ben E. King songbook one more time and gives this chestnut a deserved update.
8:
SMILING FACES SOMETIMES - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (12) Stronger version of social conscious song originally meant to be the Temptations follow-up to "Just My Imagination." Became this group's only major hit.
7:
LIAR - THREE DOG NIGHT (10) Another great song to continue the group's hit streak. Written by Russ Ballard, single version is very bad, if this was the way it was first issued.
6: SWEET HITCH-HIKER - CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (6) Last top 10 hit for California swamp rock band. Barroom song that I was never crazy about.
5:
MR. BIG STUFF - JEAN KNIGHT (2) Great song recorded at the same session as King Floyd's "Groove Me."
4:
MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY) - MARVIN GAYE (4) 2nd single from what has become the greatest soul album of all time,
What's Going On.
3: SIGNS - FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND (8) Big leap for rather poignant song at the time that unfortunately has a timeless message. Biggest hit for Canadian rock band.
AT40 EXTRA: THE STORY IN YOUR EYES - MOODY BLUES - It's a good song, very enjoyable.
2: TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS - JOHN DENVER with FAT CITY (3) First hit for Colorado native that was in its 19th chart week. This set the stage for a possible chart record to occur.
1: HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART - BEE GEES (1) The song that indicated a new phase of their career was about to begin...or was it? I actually prefer the Al Green album cover from later in the year.
SYNOPSIS: This was one of most well put together shows in the early years of American Top 40. It seemed like so many flowed right into each other creating a great mix. I do need to criticize Premiere's choice of optional extras as drawing too much from FM rock radio.