Alright guys. I gotta post this.
CHART CRITIQUE OF CASEY KASEM'S AMERICAN TOP 40: THE 70'S – June 15, 2013
This presentation is the countdown for the chart week ending June 12, 1971 (Show B)
PERSONAL: I was living in England as a young tot being carefree swaying on the swings. Also, I realized that I hadn't started posting chart critiques when this show came up in 2011.
Falling out of the top 40 this week are....
I DON'T BLAME YOU AT ALL - SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (38)
I LOVE YOU FOR ALL SEASONS - THE FUZZ (33)
TIMOTHY - THE BUOYS (32)
STAY AWHILE - THE BELLS (24)
Let's begin the countdown...
40: TOAST AND MARMALADE FOR TEA – TIN TIN (34) Decent number for Australian duo that likely served as a testing ground for what became the Bee Gees first #1.
39:
REACH OUT I’LL BE THERE – DIANA ROSS (39) Dramatic reading of Four Tops’ classic that was overshadowed by her former group’s current release.
38:
(FOR GOD’S SAKE) GIVE MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE – THE CHI-LITES (26) Chicago soul group takes a socially conscious departure from “Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)” and finally hits paydirt.
37: PUPPET MAN – TOM JONES (debut) Ok rendition of 5th Dimension template. Unfortunately both versions have gotten lost through time.
36: THE DRUM – BOBBY SHERMAN (29) Weak take of Alan O’Day composition from teen idol heartthrob.
35: LOWDOWN - CHICAGO (37) Funky jam from Windy City jazz rock outfit.
34: ALBERT FLASHER – THE GUESS WHO (debut) Cool piano driven single from Canadian band.
Listener question: What record spent the most consecution weeks @ #1?33:
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE – ISAAC HAYES (debut) Black Moses challenges the Motown original with emotionally charged jazzy version of current hit.
Answer: Goodnight Irene - The Weavers. (It was #1 for 13 weeks in a row in 1951.)32: WOODSTOCK – MATTHEWS’ SOUTHERN COMFORT (27) Slow version of song written by a Canadian about an American event done by a British group. Decent, but not as good as the hit version from the year before.
31: THAT’S THE WAY I’VE ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE – CARLY SIMON (35) Breakthrough single for NYC singer about the observation on the quality of life.
30: DON’T PULL YOUR LOVE – HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLDS (debut) Great hard driving number by former members of the T-Bones.
29: COOL AID – PAUL HUMPHREY & his COOL AID CHEMISTS (30) Detroit drummer with an OK soul instrumental that has no spike.
28: I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM – YVONNE ELLIMAN (31) Original version of
Jesus Christ Superstar ballad by Mary Magdalene actress which was mildly overshadowed.
PREMIERE OPTIONAL AT40 SPECIAL: PAPERBACK WRITER – THE BEATLES (1966) What may be their last charttopper of their wholesome years.
27:
SHE’S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN – 8th DAY (36) Holland-Dozier-Holland issues this funky 100 Proof Aged In Soul track as a single under this name.
26: FUNKY NASSAU (PART 1) – THE BEGINNING OF THE END (40) Groovin' Carribean funk jam from Bahamas family group.
25: IF - BREAD (18) Although not their biggest (& not their most impressive for me), this seems to be this LA soft rock quartet's most played song via LDDs in the 80's.
24: PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HAND - OCEAN (12) Spiritually based number from Canadian pop group capitalizing on the rock opera genre.
23:
RIGHT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE – BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS (23) Great song from Philadelphia soul group with completely different lineup from first hit.
22: HERE COMES THE SUN – RICHIE HAVENS (16) Great live folk rendition of George Harrison composition for recently deceased New York native.
21: LOVE HER MADLY – THE DOORS (19) Great pop record from Jim Morrison & company that missed the top 10.
20: CHICK-A-BOOM (DON'T YA JES LOVE IT) – DADDY DEWDROP (17) Great commercial hit version of bubblegum pop song first used in the cartoon The Groovie Ghoulies.
19:
NATHAN JONES – THE SUPREMES (21) Motown supergroup led by Jean Terrell with great funky jam that uses phasing.
18: WHEN YOU’RE HOT, YOU’RE HOT – JERRY REED (28) Country singer uses his swagger against the fuzz for this dance groove with a Bo Diddley variation.
17: DON’T KNOCK MY LOVE (PART 1) – WILSON PICKETT (20) The Wicked Pickett strikes again with this Philadelphia based winner.
16: DOUBLE LOVIN’ – THE OSMONDS (22) Moderate sound-alike follow-up for Ogden family of brothers.
15: SUPERSTAR – MURRAY HEAD with THE TRINIDAD SINGERS (14) Third time is the charm for this
title track from spiritual rock opera.
14:
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE – THE JACKSON 5 (8) Motown family group still holds up with original version of Clifton Davis just missing the top spot.
PREMIERE OPTIONAL AT40 SPECIAL: MOODY RIVER – PAT BOONE (1961) I actually like the sound of this track but not the implausible story by today's standards.
13: I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM – HELEN REDDY (13) Australian lass deservedly wins the cover battle on this
Jesus Christ Superstar ballad and launches her career.
12: ME & YOU & A DOG NAMED BOO - LOBO (10) Fun track from Florida native serving as his breakthrough.
11: INDIAN RESERVATION (LAMENT OF THE CHEROKEE) – THE RAIDERS (25) Punchier rendition of 1968 chestnut from 60's teen rock group.
10:
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - ARETHA FRANKLIN (6) Great midtempo gospel oriented rendition of Simon & Garfunkel masterpiece.
AT40 SPECIAL: THE WAYWARD WIND – GOGI GRANT (1956) Interesting charttopper from an era well gone by.
9: I’LL MEET YOU HALFWAY – THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY (11) TV family group with a well written song that should've strengthened their chart momentum.
8: TREAT HER LIKE A LADY – CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE (15) Groovin' first hit from soul family group from Florida with some worldly advice.
Listener question: What record stayed in the top 40 & Top 100 the longest?7:
SWEET AND INNOCENT – DONNY OSMOND (7) While his family group's current hit surges, the youngest member issues a poppy update of obscure Roy Orbison track. I prefer the flip side, "Flirtin'" by the group.
6:
IT’S TOO LATE – CAROLE KING (9) Brooklyn singer/songwriter with signature single from her landmark album
Tapestry. Great flip side in "I Feel The Earth Move."
Answer: Blue Tango - Leroy Anderson. (Record remained on the charts for 40 weeks!)5:
JOY TO THE WORLD – THREE DOG NIGHT (2) LA septet with Hoyt Axton song that is now their biggest & signature hit.
4: IT DON’T COME EASY – RINGO STARR (4) George Harrison wrote this breakthrough hit for his former band’s drummer and stills kicks today.
3: RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS – THE CARPENTERS (5) Richard & Karen score another winner with what I think is one of their lighter numbers.
PREMIERE OPTIONAL EXTRA:
MR. BIG STUFF - JEAN KNIGHT – Recorded on the same session as “Groove Me,” this Mississippi recording is the one of the best kiss-offs of the rock era.
2: BROWN SUGAR – THE ROLLING STONES (1) The bad boys of the British Invasion fall from the top with this ode to a loose dark skinned woman.
1: WANT ADS – THE HONEY CONE (3) The Supremes in hot pants score their only #1 pop hit a track that could serve as an answer to last week’s charttopper.
SYNOPSIS: Many remakes were charting at this time, but this period seemed to have many cover battles. You also get a sense that a generational torch was about to be passed on.