AT40 May 14, 1977
40: SLOWDOWN – JOHN MILES - His one and only top 40 hit on his own. Nice disco record, there.
39: JET AIRLINER – STEVE MILLER BAND - Good song with their consistent sound letting fans know who they are.
38: BACK IN THE SADDLE - AEROSMITH - It may not be their biggest hit, but I'll say it's one of their best tracks.
EXTRA: THEME FROM “SHAFT” – ISAAC HAYES - Premiere skipped this one and left the teaser in. How much sense does that make? I didn't think so. Anyway may he rest in peace, his death was a huge surprise.
37: MAINSTREET – BOB SEGER - Nothing special, he's had better.
36: SLOW DANCIN’ – ADDRISI BROTHERS - Their 2nd top 40 hit and their only top 20. Good song.
35: LOVE’S GROWN DEEP – KENNY NOLAN - This song helped him become this year's "Best New Pop Singles Artist". Excellent song and absolutely soulful.
34: CINDERELLA - FIREFALL - Meh, not my cup of tea.
33: MARGARITAVILLE – JIMMY BUFFETT - You know when I worked at Johnny Rockets this was always on the jukebox. But guess what I still like it as if it was on over 30 years ago.
32: MY SWEET LADY – JOHN DENVER - His death was so tragic. His father, Henry John Deutschendolf, Sr. is known as a record breaking jet flyer. Unfortunately John's experimental jet, the Long-Z, crashed into the Pacific. As for the song I'm most impressed with the song's lyrics. Why ,it was a remake originally made by Cliff DeYoung!
31: DON’T GIVE UP ON US – DAVID SOUL - He really thought that he was going to have a successful career in music. This song was his only hit and even this one is unimpressive by my standards.
30: UPTOWN FESTIVAL (PART 1) - SHALAMAR - This is by a hired group of studio session singers, not the Shalamar we all knew them for hits that include "Second Time Around" and "Dead Giveaway". Great sound, but I really do not like this record, it's horrible for the most part.
29: SHOW YOU THE WAY TO GO – THE JACKSONS - The disbanded Motown group from the 1990s named Ladae! sampled this on their 1996 smash "Party 2 Nite". I think this is one the Jackson's better songs with that Philly sound.
28: UNDERCOVER ANGEL – ALAN O’DAY - Unforgettable song, this one is a classic!
27: YOUR LOVE – McCOO & DAVIS - Great song!
26: WHODUNIT - TAVARES - I have always been into this song. The first time that I really heard this was back in 1994 when it played on a radio show that played "retro" hits from the disco era each week. This song cracks me up each time I hear it, though.
25: HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG – MARSHALL TUCKER BAND - No. Just no.
24: DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY – THELMA HOUSTON - Brilliant! Love this song and then the Communards 1986 #1 UK cover just as well. The latter only spent one week on AT40 and Casey Kasem was absent the week it was in the top 40, sadly.
23: DANCIN’ MAN - Q - This is their peak week and it's their one and only chart single. And I say that the song is pretty tight.
22: AIN’T GONNA BUMP NO MORE (WITH NO BIG FAT WOMAN)– JOE TEX - Classic soul/disco record there. I remember hearing this at the gym about four years ago.
21: GONNA FLY NOW – BILL CONTI - Oh, yes. I couldn't resist I had to turn this sucker up in my car and roll down the windows! Embarrassing or not, they needed to hear a classic smash! I call this one of the ultimate "exercise" songs!
20: ANGEL IN YOUR EYES - HOT - I knew this was soulful, but I had a gut feeling it also had that twang. Little did I know that it was covered by a hand full of country acts such as Reba McIntire. Excellent song and it's the first time I have ever heard this song.
19: FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME - FOREIGNER - One of their best rock uptempo numbers!
18: I’VE GOT LOVE ON MY MIND – NATALIE COLE - Whoa hoa hoa! This is one unforgettable soul song! Brilliant and one of her best songs from the 70s. I mist accustomed to her late 80s dance jams.
17: HELLO STRANGER – YVONNE ELLIMAN - Carrie Lucas (wife of Dick Griffey of Solar Records) covered this in 1985. This cover isn't bad either, in fact I like this one just as well. The song itself has been covered several times.
LISTEN TO THIS: JAMIE – EDDIE HOLLAND - Skipped.
16: CALLING DR. LOVE - KISS - This is OK, but I'd take "Crazy Crazy Nights" over this any ole' day.
15: LONELY BOY – ANDREW GOLD - One of his best records, it's a masterpiece!
14: DREAMS – FLEETWOOD MAC - My favourite song by them, it's also a masterpiece especially with Stevie Nicks singing lead!
13: CAN’T STOP DANCIN’ – THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE - They've had better, this one really doesn't do it for me. I prefer their other big hits such as "Love Will Keep Us Together".
12: LUCILLE – KENNY ROGERS - No. Just no.
11: LIDO SHUFFLE – BOZ SCAGGS - For a long time I thought that it was Billy Joel, it sure sounds like it. Nonetheless this another hot one I've enjoyed for what...33 years!?
10: I WANNA GET NEXT TO YOU – ROSE ROYCE - Phenomenal slow jam for this group known for that "Car Wash" song. I actually like this a little bit more than their big hit.
9: GOT TO GIVE IT UP (PART 1) – MARVIN GAYE - Why the heck were they spinning part 2? Part 1 was one that was most popular, right? Yes for part one and no for part two, for it's hella boring.
8: I’M YOUR BOOGIE MAN – K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND - Oh, time to get down once again. Too bad there's only five disco records. Hot song!
7: SO INTO YOU - ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION - Excellent song and it was their only appearance on the "Soul" charts.
6: RIGHT TIME OF THE NIGHT – JENNIFER WARNES - I wish that this woman would have had more solo smash hits to her resume'. This is one of her best records.
5: COULDN’T GET IT RIGHT – THE CLIMAX BLUES BAND - Brilliant song, though I really prefer "I Love You".
4: SOUTHERN NOGHTS – GLEN CAMPBELL - A multi-chart #1 there (country, AC, and pop) what an achievement for such a brilliant cut. I may just download this later on.
3: HOTEL CALIFORNIA – THE EAGLES - Classic track, there. You can never get away from this one.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT - BARRY MANILOW - What a sad sad song. I actually like this song even though Barry Manilow is on my "do not play" list.
2: SIR DUKE – STEVIE WONDER - Classic soul 8 track flashback for ya. My parents had this on one of their blue coloured 8 track tapes. I remember always hearing this with my family inside our '76 Oldsmobile.
1: WHEN I NEED YOU – LEO SAYER - 2nd #1 hit in a row for this Englishman. I prefer "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" and "More Than I Can Say".