Chart Critique for CASEY KASEM’S AMERICAN TOP 40: The 70's - August 3, 2013
This week's countdown is for the Billboard chart week ending August 4, 1973
PERSONAL: I was still living in England as a young tot playing on the swings in the neighborhood.
Falling off the countdown are...
I'LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - THE INTRUDERS (40)
ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - THE SPINNERS (37)
DOING IT TO DEATH - FRED WESLEY & the J.B.'S (34)
Here we go with this week's countdown...
40: MY LOVE - PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (31) Former Beatle is still hanging on with great ballad to his wife Linda.
39: THE HURT - CAT STEVENS (debut) British singer songwriter gets a bit frustrated on this release.
38: RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME - DR. JOHN (33) New Orleans pianist feels a bit unfortunate on this funky shuffler.
37: LONG TRAIN RUNNIN' - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (26) San Jose band rocks on down the highway with this barroom classic.
36: YOUNG LOVE/A MILLION TO ONE - DONNY OSMOND (debut) AT40 played the former of this 2-sided single: his dry rendition of the 1957 Sonny James crossover ballad.
35: SOUL MAKOSSA - MANU DiBANGO (35) Long before “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” or “Don’t Stop the Music,” this French import from Cameroon, Africa native was a monster club in NYC & inspired Kool & the Gang’s next album.
34: PLAYGROUND IN MY MIND - CLINT HOLMES (14) Love this fun kiddie track from British native.
Listener question: Has an artist ever have the #1 song of the year twice in a row?33:
GYPSY MAN - WAR (debut) Considering I’ve heard the parent album, this cut would not have made a great choice for a single, but apparently the public thought otherwise.
Answer: No, but two artists have had the top song of the year more than once: Percy Faith & the Beatles.32: MISDEMEANOR - FOSTER SYLVERS (22) The cartoon voice of Michael Jackson scores with an intriguing bubblegum soul hit that ironically became autobiographical.
31: GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH) - GEORGE HARRISON (10) The quiet Beatle pleads for universal content on this plaintive charttopper.
30: ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH - THE 4 TOPS (38) Detroit vocal group gets tough on this bold single from
Shaft In Africa.
29: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - CHARLIE RICH (27) The Silver Fox shows how frisky his lady gets on this country ballad.
28: WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (28) Atlanta family group reaches for another Jim Weatherly number for first Buddah single & kinda misses the mark a bit.
PREMIERE OPTIONAL EXTRA: MY MARIA - B. W. STEVENSON – After losing the cover battle to Three Dog Night on previous single, Dallas native gets the jump with this new release.
27: HOW CAN I TELL HER - LOBO (29) Florida native with another soft rock number.
26: ANGEL - ARETHA FRANKLIN (30) Soul ballad written by her sister Carolyn desiring the right partner.
25: SO VERY HARD TO GO - TOWER OF POWER (17) Bay area jazz soul band with superb single led by Lenny Williams.
24: SAY, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY SWEET GYPSY ROSE - DAWN featuring TONY ORLANDO (39) The entertaining pop trio gives the public another decent ragtime jolly like their previous hit,
23:
NATURAL HIGH - BLOODSTONE (15) Kansas City soul band with sweet ballad that was their breakthrough.
22: DELTA DAWN - HELEN REDDY (32) Australian lass with her rendition of Tanya Tucker single versed country single.
21: KODACHROME - PAUL SIMON (7) Rhymin’ Simon gives us a great little snapshot of chart success.
20: IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (25) Psychedelic soul superstar makes a solo cut using new synthesizer technology
19: HERE I AM (COME & TAKE ME) - AL GREEN (24) Soul giant with a good gem that sounded better in 1991 by UB40.
18: MONEY - PINK FLOYD (13) British album rock favorites finally breakthrough to the singles market with strong ditty.
17:
LET'S GET IT ON - MARVIN GAYE (36) Motown superstar is now in the mood for love & a huge winner for the year.
16: BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - BETTE MIDLER (8) I can imagine what the boys in the Continental Baths were doing when they heard her do this oldie but goodie.
15: UNEASY RIDER - CHARLIE DANIELS (23) Country rock fiddler unleashes a wild tale Casey said had such a great lyric. (WHAT!?
)
PREMIERE OPTIONAL EXTRA: WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND - GRAND FUNK – Single released on colored vinyl that became Flint, MI hard rock band’s first top ten hit.
14: GET DOWN - GILBERT O' SULLIVAN (18) My favorite single from Welsh star and a danceable jam at that.
13: I BELIEVE IN YOU (YOU BELIEVE IN ME) - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (19) “The Soul Philosopher” delivers another great message to the masses.
12: MONSTER MASH - BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT & THE CRYPT KICKERS (12) Halloween favorite gets second life in the summertime likely thanks to syndicated reruns of various monster series.
11: FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY - CHICAGO (16) Another weak number from jazz rock band with Peter Cetera on lead.
10:
SHAMBALA - THREE DOG NIGHT (3) I checked out B.W. Stevenson’s rendition of this song & realized he didn’t have a chance against this incredible hit version.
9:
WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - BILLY PRESTON (5) Nice showtune like ditty from Houston organ player coming down from the top.
8: BROTHER LOUIE - STORIES (20) NYC band with new rendition of Hot Chocolate’s story of interracial love.
7:
TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING - DIANA ROSS (11) Motown’s Lady Di hits with rather compelling song about dying love.
6: DIAMOND GIRL - SEALS & CROFTS (6) Texas duo sure does shine with this wonderful mid-tempo number.
5: YESTERDAY ONCE MORE - CARPENTERS (2)
Casey’s guess for this week’s #1 falls short as this soft rock duo gets nostalgic on this easy pop ditty.
4: SMOKE ON THE WATER - DEEP PURPLE (4) How could anyone have known this track would contain the most famous guitar riff future players would practice their skills on.
3: LIVE AND LET DIE - WINGS (21) This big chart leaper was actually an excellent James Bond movie theme…until lyrics were put on it.
PREMIERE OPTIONAL EXTRA: SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING - ELTON JOHN – The Rocket Man wails on this rocker designed to cause chaos & mayhem.
2: BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN - JIM CROCE (1) Great song from Philadelphia singer about tough character who apparently loved to fight.
1: THE MORNING AFTER - MAUREEN McGOVERN (9) Big leap to the top for songstress with theme from
The Poseidon Adventure was short and sweet.
Next Week’s #1 Prediction: Live & Let Die - WingsSYNOPSIS: The chart movement this week seems to suggest there was a "summer cleaning." The music we have come to associate as classic rock was on a major high. Many artists on the show were on their way to superstar status. Motown was about to experience a new spike in success after its full relocation to Los Angeles. Despite much expected success for most hit records, there are also a few surprises.