jcs72
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Posts: 141
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Post by jcs72 on Aug 26, 2012 21:08:36 GMT -5
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. Is it me, or was this song sped up a little? Or am I confusing it with George Harrison's version?
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jcs72
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Posts: 141
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Post by jcs72 on Aug 26, 2012 21:10:21 GMT -5
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. They cut out the second verse! It's not "Stairway to Heaven" or "American Pie", you know.
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jcs72
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Posts: 141
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Post by jcs72 on Aug 26, 2012 21:17:22 GMT -5
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. I don't think they cut anything out of this song despite it being almost 5 minutes long (4:39 IIRC from when I used to take a stopwatch and take times of songs). Way to go, Premier!
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Post by blackbowl68 on Aug 26, 2012 22:10:01 GMT -5
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. They cut out the second verse! It's not "Stairway to Heaven" or "American Pie", you know. They cut the second verse in BOTH versions of the song in the countdown. 17: DRAGGIN' THE LINE - TOMMY JAMES (9) First bona fide solo hit for 60's hitmaker. Is this what the single really sounds like? 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. What is the difference between the single version of DRAGGIN THE LINE versus the LP cut? As for LIAR, I never heard the LP version, but I am aware Three Dog Nights singles usually got remixed for 45 version. Also what is the meaning of the song RAIN DANCE? Been bugging me for many many years. Is it about a guy who wants to do a pistrol draw with a bar patron? Many of the commercial 45s released around 1971 were issued in mono or fake electronic stereo (whatever that means). This is what American Top 40 usually played back then on the show. By the mid-1980s, many oldie stations mostly played stereo versions (or remasters) of these hits. Every time I heard DRAGGIN' THE LINE, it had a fuller horn section instead of a two-note blow after the bass-voiced title line was sung. I'm not sure if that's the album version, but if so, it would likely be in stereo. Regarding Three Dog Night, I heard at least three completely different mixes of all three of the 1971 hits, depending on the stations playing them.
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jcs72
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Posts: 141
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Post by jcs72 on Aug 26, 2012 22:23:34 GMT -5
They cut out the second verse [of "You've Got A Friend"]! It's not "Stairway to Heaven" or "American Pie", you know. They cut the second verse in BOTH versions of the song in the countdown. I was referring to the verse that goes "If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds ...". I was using "STH" and "AP" because those are eight-minute songs, songs I expect to be edited down for their length, unlike "YGAF".
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Post by blackbowl68 on Aug 26, 2012 22:40:39 GMT -5
I was referring to the verse that goes "If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds ...". I was using "STH" and "AP" because those are eight-minute songs, songs I expect to be edited down for their length, unlike "YGAF". If you read my critique, there were TWO versions of "You've Got A Friend" in the countdown. The same verse was cut from both versions. Also, they played the Tom Clay record (almost six minutes long), the Rod Stewart song (almost five minutes), and the Paul & Linda McCartney song (almost five minutes) in full.
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Post by at40petebattistini on Aug 27, 2012 4:17:56 GMT -5
A mini-critique... #22 -- "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday I was blown away the first time I heard this song back in 1982. What a voice! Where had she been up until that point? And after reaching the Top 40, why wasn't this song a Top 10 record? It's a wonder how this artist never had another Top 40 record -- a one-hit wonder? #14 -- "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar "...suckin' on chili dogs outside the Tastee Freeze..." Never mind the song, whatever happened to Tastee Freeze?
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Post by doomsdaymachine on Aug 27, 2012 4:30:30 GMT -5
A mini-critique... #22 -- "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday I was blown away the first time I heard this song back in 1982. What a voice! Where had she been up until that point? And after reaching the Top 40, why wasn't this song a Top 10 record? It's a wonder how this artist never had another Top 40 record -- a one-hit wonder? Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Ms. Holliday: Broadway actress Jennifer landed her first big role on Broadway in 1979. At age 19, she landed a part the same day she auditioned for the Broadway production of Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.[1] Her performance in that musical earned her a 1981 Drama Desk nomination. Her next role, which she began to act at 21, was the role for which she became best known: the role of Effie Melody White in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Jennifer originated the role of Effie and remained with the show for nearly four years after its December 20, 1981 opening. Her performance in the role was widely acclaimed, particularly in her iconic performance of the musical number that ends Act I, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Among the acclaim was Holliday's sweep of awards in 1982, including the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a Grammy award for her recorded version of the song, and Drama Desk and Theater World awards for her acting performance. Holliday also performed in the touring company of Sing, Mahalia, Sing in 1985. In 1998 Holliday was featured on the album "My Favorite Broadway Ladies" notice as one of "The Queens of Broadway." Recording artist Jennifer Holliday's version of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" made her a star on Broadway and catapulted her to national stardom. Her version of the song was enjoyed so much by many fans that Holliday was encouraged to transform the song into a hit on the Billboard charts. In 1982, a pop version of the song was released as a single. The song became very successful, peaking at number-one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. She continued to have success as a recording artist through the rest of the decade. Her follow-up song, "I Am Love", became another hit in 1983. Holliday's later R&B hits included. "Hard Time For Lovers" (1985), "No Frills Love" (1985), "Heart on the Line" (1987), "I'm on Your Side" (1991) and "A Woman's Got the Power" (2000). "A Woman's Got the Power" charted at #7 in summer of 1999. However, it recharted the following year, peaking at #1. She continued to appear on the charts throughout the 1990s, but never had the same level of success she had in the 1980s. Holliday was a featured vocalist on the #1 single "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner in 1985. A number of her songs became hits on the US Dance charts as well. In fact, a dance version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" would peak at #6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2001. *** By the way, I too was blown away the first time I heard "And I Am Telling You" on AT40. Sadly, AT40 was the *only* place I heard it back then as my local Top 40 station ignored the song.
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Post by dukelightning on Aug 27, 2012 7:30:45 GMT -5
I can attest to the 'only heard it on AT40 because my local station did not play it' comment. It applied to many R&B songs during that time frame. I remember earlier that summer eagerly waiting for AT40 to hear Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots" because stations would not play it, for example.
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Post by saltrek on Aug 27, 2012 8:39:45 GMT -5
Miami was one of the markets that made up for those markets not playing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". It was a top 10 record there.
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Post by mkarns on Aug 27, 2012 12:16:22 GMT -5
#14 -- "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar "...suckin' on chili dogs outside the Tastee Freeze..." Never mind the song, whatever happened to Tastee Freeze? There are still some; I drove past one in Virginia a couple of weeks ago. There are none in John's native Indiana, but a bunch in Illinois. TF also sells a lot of its products at Wienerschnitzel and Hamburger Stand locations, mostly in western states and Texas.
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Post by pgfromwp on Aug 27, 2012 15:22:56 GMT -5
Decided to try my hand at rating the AT40 from 8/28/71, as follows: (5) Outstanding, a classic through the years; (4) Very good, a fave of mine; (3) Good, listenable tune; (2) Just ok; (1) No, just no. These ratings are influenced by my preference for mainstream top 40 music.
40: Where You Lead - Barbra Streisand (3) -- First time hearing this song; liked it. 39: You've Got A Friend - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (3) -- See me comment for #40. Donny left us way to soon. 38: Saturday Morning Confusion - Bobby Russell (2) -- The humorous lyrics are this song's saving grace, IMHO. 37: Love the One You're With - Isley Brothers (3) -- Like it. 36: Maggie May - Rod Stewart (3) -- This future #1 has been played to death over the decades, yet it's listenable. 35: Tired of Being Alone - Al Green (2) -- Don't enjoy it as much as his several 1972 hits. 34: Mighty Clouds of Joy - BJ Thomas (2) -- Decent, but not one of my favorites by this artist. 33: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Joan Baez (3) -- Almost a 4 rating; the song's pace drags too much. 32: Go Down Gamblin' - Blood Sweat & Tears (2) -- See my comment for #34. 31: Bangla Desh - George Harrison (1) -- Believe this single was released primarily to raise funds for the relief effort and not based on its artistic merit, IMHO. 30: Maybe Tomorrow - Jackson 5 (3) -- See my comment for #40. 29: Rings - Cymarron (3) -- Like it. 28: Bring the Boys Home - Freda Payne (4) -- Really like this soulful plea to end our participation in a questionable war effort, whose message still has meaning today. 27: Stick Up - Honey Cone (4) -- A very nice upbeat melody with interesting lyrics. 26: If not for You - Olivia Newton John (2) -- See my comment for #34. 25: I Woke up in Love This Morning - Partridge Family (1) -- Yet I do like "I Think I Love You" and "I'll Meet You Halfway". 24: Never Ending Song of Love - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (3) -- Like it. 23: Won't Get Fooled Again - Who (4) -- A very like-able tune from the band's classic "Who's Next" album. 22: Hot Pants (Part 1) - James Brown (3) -- Like it, especially the catchy line "she use what she got to get what she wants". 21: It's Too Late - Carole King (3) -- See my comment to #36, just replace "future" with "past". 20: What the World Needs Now is Love / Abraham Martin & John - Tom Clay (3) -- Powerful message overrides the song's basic harmonies; yet I like it. 19: Indian Reservation - Raiders (5) -- Have always loved this one. 18: I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth (3) -- Like it. 17: Draggin' the Line - Tommy James (3) -- Liked it more when I was younger; suppose it hasn't aged as well as others with me. 16: Whatcha See is Whatcha Get - Dramatics (3) -- Like it. 15: Riders on the Storm - Doors (3) -- Like it, though the tempo drags too much in comparison with other songs by this group. 14: You've Got A Friend - James Taylor (3) -- Like it; though apparently not as much as the summer 1971 record buying public. 13: Ain't no Sunshine - Bill Withers (3) -- See my comment to #35, yet like it nevertheless. 12: Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney (3) - A like-able tune that was headed for a short stint at #1. 11: Beginnings - Chicago (4) -- My favorite single from this band that began recording as Chicago Transit Authority. 10: Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond (3) -- Like it better than the prior version by Steve Lawrence (which, btw, also hit #1). 9: Spanish Harlem - Aretha Franklin (4) -- Like it a lot. 8: Smiling Faces Sometimes - Undisputed Truth (3) -- Like it and wonder if it inspired the O'Jays to record "Backstabbers" in 1972. 7: Liar - Three Dog Night (3) -- Like it; just not one of several faves of mine (Shambala, Out in the Country) from this group. 6: Sweet Hitch Hiker - CCR (3) -- Like it. 5: Mr Big Stuff - Jean Knight (3) -- Like it; catchy tune. 4: Mercy Mercy (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye (3) -- Like it; we also lost this talented R&B artist way too soon. 3: Signs - Five Man Electrical Band (3) -- Like-able tune that I might have rated higher if not having been played to death over the years. 2: Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver (w/Fat City) (5) -- Like #19, have always loved this song. Probably never made #1 on Billboard due to public familiarity with the group to follow. 1: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart -- Bee Gees (3) -- See my comment to #14.
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Post by dukelightning on Aug 27, 2012 18:22:21 GMT -5
Nice critique pgfromwp.
This week's regular Premiere shows feature an oddity, the last week before and the first week after the Temptations 6 year absence from the top 40. In the 8/30/75 show is their hit about to fall out of the 40, "Glasshouse" at #37 and the 9/5/81 show features their first appearance in the 40 since, backing up Rick James on the week's highest debut record, "Super Freak".
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Post by pgfromwp on Aug 28, 2012 12:32:04 GMT -5
^Dukedeb, thanks for the kind comment .
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 29, 2012 20:57:53 GMT -5
Here's my critique of the countdown from 9/5/81 which Premiere is airing this weekend: #40-"The Night Owls"-Little River Band-Great song that never receives recurrent airplay. #39-"Nicole"-Point Blank-The only top forty hit for this Southern rock band from Irving,TX-Great song that should've been a bigger hit. #38-"Some Days Are Diamonds"-John Denver-One of his lesser known hits-Decent song. #37-"You Could Take My Heart Away"-Silver Condor-The only top forty hit for this NYC based group that featured Joe Cerisano on lead vocals-Decent song. #36-"Chloe"-Elton John-See critique of "Some Days Are Diamonds". #35-"Don't Give It Up"-Robbie Patton-The only top forty hit for this English singer-songwriter-Great song-FYI:Two members of Fleetwood Mac were involved in this project-Christine Mc Vie produced it & Lindsay Buckingham played guitar. #34-"It's Now Or Never"-John Schneider-The only top forty hit for this actor & singer from Mount Kisco,NY who is best remembered for his portrayal of Bo Duke on the hit TV series "Dukes Of Hazzard"-Decent rendition of an Elvis Presley classic from 1960. #33-"Super Freak"-Rick James-His signature song & a bonafide classic. #32-"Draw Of The Cards"-Kim Carnes-Decent follow up to "Bette Davis Eyes". "AT40 Archive"-"Ode To Billie Joe"-Bobbie Gentry-This was the first & biggest hit for this native of Chickasaw County,MS whose real name is Roberta Lee Streeter-Great story song that eventually became a movie in 1976. #31-"Elvira"-Oak Ridge Boys-A bonafide classic. #30-"Breaking Away"-Balance-The only top forty hit for this NYC based group-Great song-FYI:Lead singer Peppy Castro had previously hit The Billboard "Hot 100" in late 1966-early 1967 with his previous band The Blues Magoos-They had a top five smash called "We Ain't Got Nothin Yet". #29-"Start Me Up"-Rolling Stones-The initial release from the album "Tattoo You"-A bonafide classic. #28-"In Your Letter"-REO Speedwagon-The fourth & final release from the album "High Infidelity"-Great song. #27-"Hearts"-Marty Balin-The first of two top forty solo hits for this founding member of The Jefferson Airplane & The Jefferson Starship-A timeless Classic. #26-"Love On A Two Way Street"-Stacy Lattisaw-Decent rendition of a song that was a top five hit for The Moments in 1970. #25-"I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)"-Lulu-The final top forty hit for this Scottish singer-Great song that radio has chosen to ignore-FYI:Lulu's biggest hit was one of the featured "AT40 Archive" songs on the 9/5/81 show-More about that later. #24-"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"-Christopher Cross-His second #1 hit-A timeless classic that was featured in the Dudley Moore movie "Arthur". #23-"For Your Eyes Only"-Sheena Easton-This was featured in the James Bond movie of the same name-Great song. #22-"The Voice"-Moody Blues-The second release from the album "Long Distance Voyager"-Great song. "AT40 Archive"-"The Letter"-Box Tops-The first & biggest hit for this blue eyed soul group from Memphis,TN which featured Alex Chilton (1950-2010) on lead vocals-A timeless classic that was later covered by The Arbors (1969) & Joe Cocker (1970). #21-"That Old Song"-Ray Parker Jr.& Raydio-One of their lesser known hits-Great song. #20-"Feels So Right"-Alabama-The first pop crossover smash for this legendary country group-A timeless classic. #19-"The Beach Boys Medley"-Beach Boys-This features eight of their well known songs-A bonafide classic. #18-"Hold On Tight"-Electric Light Orchestra-Great song. #17-"Fire & Ice"-Pat Benatar-Great song. #16-"Really Wanna Know You"-Gary Wright-His third & final top forty hit-Another great song that radio has chosen to ignore. #15-"The Breakup Song"-Greg Kihn Band-The first top forty hit for this group that was based in Berkeley,CA-A bonafide classic. #14-"Boy From New York City"-Manhattan Transfer-Their biggest hit overall-Great rendition of a song that was originally a hit for The Ad Libs in 1965. #13-"Cool Love"-Pablo Cruise-Their final top forty hit-Great song. #12-"Step By Step"-Eddie Rabbitt-Great song that was a hit on both the pop & country chart. #11-"I Don't Need You"-Kenny Rogers-See critique of "Step By Step". "AT40 Archive"-"To Sir With Love"-Lulu-Her biggest hit overall-It spent five weeks at #1 in 1967 & wound up being the biggest hit for the entire year-A timeless classic that was featured in the movie of the same name that starred Sidney Poitier. #10-"Theme From The Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not)"-Joey Scarbury-The only top forty hit for this native of Ontario,CA-A bonafide guilty pleasure-FYI:This was played as a Long Distance Dedication on the countdown from 8/28/82 which Premiere featured last weekend. #9-"Jessie's Girl"-Rick Springfield-A former #1 hit & a bonafide 80's classic. #8-"Lady You Bring Me Up"-Commodores-One of their best songs. #7-"Who's Crying Now"-Journey-The initial release from the album "Escape"-A timeless classic. #6-"Queen Of Hearts"-Juice Newton-Great song. #5-"No Gettin Over Me"-Ronnie Milsap-His biggest hit on the pop chart-Great song that spent two weeks at #1 on the country chart. #4-"Urgent"-Foreigner-The initial release from the album "4"-Great song that featured the late Junior Walker on saxophone. #3-"Stop Draggin My Heart Around"-Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty-The initial release from her album "Bella Donna"-Another bonafide classic. #2-"Slow Hand"-Pointer Sisters-A timeless classic. #1-"Endless Love"-Diana Ross & Lionel Richie-This timeless classic was featured in a movie of the same name that starred Brooke Shields-Unfortunately,it tanked at the box office-In 1994,Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey had a pop & adult contemporary smash with their rendition-It recently became a hit for the third time on the AC chart for both Lionel Richie & Shania Twain.
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