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Post by mga707 on Nov 24, 2012 23:02:34 GMT -5
Would have been more fun if Vicki Lawrence had credited the song to her character "Thelma Harper" from "Mama's Family" I'm not a "Carol Burnett Show" expert, but I'm certain that the "Mama's Family" recurring skits started to appear on the Burnett show at least a few years after "Georgia"s spring '73 chart run. |
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Post by mkarns on Nov 24, 2012 23:12:33 GMT -5
Would have been more fun if Vicki Lawrence had credited the song to her character "Thelma Harper" from "Mama's Family" I'm not a "Carol Burnett Show" expert, but I'm certain that the "Mama's Family" recurring skits started to appear on the Burnett show at least a few years after "Georgia"s spring '73 chart run. You're right; the "Mama's Family" sketches began in 1974 or 1975 (not sure exactly when), and in the 1980s became its own sitcom. |
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Post by bottlerocket on Nov 25, 2012 4:44:13 GMT -5
The bell tolls for thee, Chuck Berry. "My Ding-aLing" commanded 80% of the vote.
I've been turning this over in my mind all day. There are definitely a number of contenders. I think I might have said "Brother Louie" a few years back but now that it's the theme song to Louis C.K.'s show it probably gets more exposure than most. "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" would be such a perfect pick if Vicki Lawrence wasn't associated with the song. There's probably at least a scintilla of interest because of it. It hurts me that I have to go with the one I am choosing cause it's a great song, embedded deep in my childhood, but to be honest, I never hear Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl".
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Post by chrislc on Nov 25, 2012 5:32:23 GMT -5
I didn't choose The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia, for one reason, because country stations play the Reba McEntire version a lot. It was a hit for her twenty years ago.
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Post by at40petebattistini on Nov 25, 2012 8:29:24 GMT -5
The comments about the Vickie Lawrence record were enlightening. My suggestion was based purely on personal observation. I never hear it on the radio. But I also never hear the Charlie Rich song.  |
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Post by matt on Nov 25, 2012 15:41:02 GMT -5
1970: "Everything Is Beautiful" Ray Stevens
1971: "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" Cher - didn't know this song existed until I started listening to the AT40 reruns.
1972: "My Ding-a-Ling" Chuck Berry - along with 1970, the year with the most obvious choice.
1973: "Half Breed" Cher - see 1971 - not to pick on Cher, but her solo songs from the early 70's are never played anymore...and for obvious reasons.
1974: "Having My Baby" Paul Anka and Odia Coates - I think this is one most people want to forget...nudges out Cher...barely
1975: "I'm Sorry" John Denver - mostly because he had a handful of other big hits that have remained classics over time. This is another one I'd never heard before until the AT40 reruns...and never really need to hear again.
1976: "Kiss and Say Goodbye" Manhattans - I love their hit "Shining Star", but still can't figure out how this song spent two weeks at #1.
1977: "Don't Give Up On Us" David Soul
1978: "MacArthur Park" Donna Summer - see 1975 - she had way too many other big hits besides this one - I had to download from Napster a few years ago to remember what this song sounded like.
1979: "Still" Commodores - see 1978 and '75 - another one of those where you hear it and say to yourself: "This song went to #1? Really?"
1980: "Coming Up" Paul McCartney - tough year to pick, and I actually really like this song...but you never hear it in recurrent airplay. A close runner up would be "Woman In Love".
1981: "Medley" Stars on 45 - I think everyone agrees on this one--it's never played anymore, but probably not a surprise since most people would probably just play the actual songs themselves, rather than a medley of them.
1982: "Ebony and Ivory" McCartney and Wonder - hard to say that this song is forgotten, since most of us who listened to the radio regularly when it was out remember just how much it was played. Doesn't get played much if at all anymore.
1983: "Baby Come To Me" Patti Austin and James Ingram - in a year of so many classic hits, this one is almost too obvious.
1984: "I Just Called To Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder - again, not to pick on Stevie since I love a number of his hits, but another song that seemed to fall off the face of the earth once it's run was done.
1985: "Miami Vice Theme" Jan Hammer - not as memorable of a TV/movie theme as most of the others that hit #1 (Note: even though it's never played anymore, I don't think that "We Are the World" can be chosen here due to the special circumstances of its release. In addition, whether you like this song or hate it, can you really say it's forgotten?)
1986: "Amanda" Boston - classic rock stations often play Boston ad nauseum, but this is not one of the songs they play. Nor do very many other classic hits stations. '86 has about 4 or 5 #1 songs that could qualify for this list.
1987: Tie between "Shake You Down" by Gregory Abbott and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" by Michael Jackson..."Shake You Down" is another one where I can't figure out how it made #1. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" only made it to #1 because it was the first release off the hotly anticipated follow up to Thriller, but let's face it: it was not a very good song, especially compared to the huge number of other big hits he had.
1988: "Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley" Will To Power - I liked this song at the time it was out, but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I heard it. Again, most people would rather hear the original Frampton and Skynyrd versions of these two songs rather than an obscure medley of them by a band that had what...two hits? (the other of which was also a remake btw)
1989: "Rock On" Michael Damian - Wow...looking down the list of #1's, this year was a total grease fire as far as pop music goes. Milli Vanilli, New Kids On the Block, Paula Abdul, Sheriff, and Roxette...kind of fitting that Damian's banal remake of "Rock On" made it to #1. A close runner up goes to the Bangles' "Eternal Flame" - this band made several good songs during their career, but this one is somewhat cringe worthy - not surprising they broke up soon after.
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Post by mrjukebox on Nov 25, 2012 15:51:28 GMT -5
How about Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" from 1977?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 16:16:28 GMT -5
The comments about the Vickie Lawrence record were enlightening. My suggestion was based purely on personal observation. I never hear it on the radio. But I also never hear the Charlie Rich song. As a side note, the Electric Light Orchestra released a live album in 1974 that spoofs "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" with its title The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach! |
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Post by matt on Nov 25, 2012 17:42:30 GMT -5
How about Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" from 1977? Well...many of us may want to forget that song, but hard to say that the #1 song of the entire decade can qualify as being "most forgotten". |
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Post by seminolefan on Nov 25, 2012 18:07:53 GMT -5
I wouldn't say "Shake You Down" is that forgotten, as Urban AC still plays it regularly.
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Post by mga707 on Nov 25, 2012 19:54:42 GMT -5
1984: "I Just Called To Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder - again, not to pick on Stevie since I love a number of his hits, but another song that seemed to fall of the face of the earth once it's run was done. Guess you've never seen "High Fidelity"? ;D |
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Post by bottlerocket on Nov 26, 2012 8:00:32 GMT -5
With half the votes, Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl" is the most forgotten song of 1973.
There are a number doozies in 1974 among which to choose. I made my choice after thinking about my cousin who ten years ago at the age of 20 was a huge fan of the 60s. She knew every Beatle song and loved anything from the decade. That is until I explained to her that the 60s didn't begin in 1964. I made her listen to early 60s music which was quite an eye-opener for her. The song that shocked her most was "Mr. Custer". She couldn't fathom that for a week in this country's history this was the most popular song. The idea of a novelty song being so popular seemed entirely foreign to her existence. I imagine a 20y/o today would feel the same. I think they would scratch their heads to know that a song called "The Streak" topped the charts for three straight weeks. I can't imagine where they might hear it today.
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Post by pgfromwp on Nov 26, 2012 13:42:20 GMT -5
Re: wahoo's comment -- Ummm...why do I get the feeling you aren't a Prince fan?? While "Batdance" may qualify, there is no way "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss" have any business being mentioned on this thread. Both are absolute classics of the rock era. It's probably a generational thing; I stopped following top 40 music near the end of the 1980's so the stations I was listening to at the time through the current date likely play fewer to no Prince songs than do contemporary rock stations. I've always liked "Raspberry Beret"; maybe that gets me some Prince points?  |
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Post by bottlerocket on Nov 27, 2012 5:13:27 GMT -5
Paul Anka and Odia Coates have the most forgotten song of 1974 with "You're Having My Baby" with 50% of the vote.
35 songs to choose from but it's pretty clear to me. I would pick this song as the most unknown song of the 70 overall. I have never heard it up til a few years ago and besides AT40 and my own collection of #1 songs not once has it played. My vote goes to "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender.
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Post by chrislc on Nov 27, 2012 7:27:16 GMT -5
With half the votes, Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl" is the most forgotten song of 1973. There are a number doozies in 1974 among which to choose. I made my choice after thinking about my cousin who ten years ago at the age of 20 was a huge fan of the 60s. She knew every Beatle song and loved anything from the decade. That is until I explained to her that the 60s didn't begin in 1964. I made her listen to early 60s music which was quite an eye-opener for her. The song that shocked her most was "Mr. Custer". She couldn't fathom that for a week in this country's history this was the most popular song. The idea of a novelty song being so popular seemed entirely foreign to her existence. I imagine a 20y/o today would feel the same. I think they would scratch their heads to know that a song called "The Streak" topped the charts for three straight weeks. I can't imagine where they might hear it today. Only my opinion, of course, but The Streak is A Day In The Life compared to Mr Custer. How in the world did Mr Custer make #1? That says a lot about the state of pop music in 1960. |
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