Personal Song Charts

[bobbo428]

PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM 1977

1/8 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing Leo Sayer
1/15 I Wish Stevie Wonder
From the opening acoustic guitar riff, this funky pop/soul jam had me hooked right away, and I soon bought the record. The tune featured excellent brass and keyboards, as well as a killer hook. “Isn’t She Lovely” received a great deal of airplay shortly after the release of Songs in the Key of Life. It had an early summer feel, as well as Wonder’s caressing trademark harmonica. Lyrically, it was a song of thanks to God for blessing Wonder and his wife with a child. thought it would be the next single, but it remained an album cut. The crying baby in the background can be a bit annoying, however.
1/29 Blinded by the Light Manfred Mann's Earth Band
This Springsteen composition was a spellbinding story with a lot of suspense and a driving beat and hook.
2/5 Dazz Brick
A jazz-influenced disco-funk tune (hence the title), this featured memorable flute interlude, as well as brass, acoustic guitar, and booming percussion hooks.
2/19 Torn Between Two Lovers Mary MacGregor
2/26 New Kid in Town Eagles
Victim of Love
3/5 Dancing Queen Abba
3/19 Fly Like an Eagle Steve Miller Band
4/16 Don’t Give Up on Us David Soul
4/23 Hotel California Eagles
This excellent rock track saw the band at their creative and commercial peak—the guitar work by new member Joe Walsh was impeccable. The lyrics used a hotel as a metaphor for west-coast decadence. This song reminded me of mid-spring, when temperatures reached the 70s and 80s regularly.
4/30 I’ve Got Love on My Mind Natalie Cole
Slow jam ballad that builds to a great, gospel-tinged crescendo

6/4 Sir Duke Stevie Wonder
Spirited tribute to the seminal jazz legend who had died in 1974; not surprisingly, this tune had a big-band feel to it. It also had a springtime feel and a good dance beat. Around this time I received Songs in the Key of Life as a birthday gift, and enjoyed such tracks as
*”Ngiculela/Es Una Historia/I Am Singing,” a plea for peace sung in Swahili, Spanish, and of course, English.
Village Ghetto Land, a symphonic piece that was so haunting I had to play it many times—it reminded me of Elvis Presley’s 1969 hit “In the Ghetto.”
6/11 Dreams/ Songbird Fleetwood Mac
The A-side was a well-written song, sung wistfully by Stevie Nicks, expressing crushing dismay over the end of her relationship with Lindsey Buckingham. “Dreams” ended up being the band’s biggest pop hit ever. “Dreams” was a simple melody but filled with the regret and tension of unfulfilled expectations. “Songbird” was a sparse piano ballad with a forlorn, winter Sunday night feel to it.
6/18 I’m Your Boogie Man K.C. & the Sunshine Band
Another perfect pop song had well-placed brass hooks and a fun vocal delivery—the song made me think of late spring and 80-degree days.

6/25 Got to Give It Up Marvin Gaye

7/9 Theme from Rocky (Gonna Fly Now) Bill Conti
Rousing, inspiring movie theme flew straight to the top. This song helped me psych myself up for a final exam in a math class.
7/16 Undercover Angel Alan O’Day
7/23 Looks Like We Made It/ New York City Rhythm Barry Manilow
The A-side was a sweeping ballad and one of his biggest hits; the B-side was a rollicking, Latin-flavored tune.
7/30 I’m In You Peter Frampton
Piano ballad had a subtle hook—it was his biggest pop hit.
8/21 Best of My Love Emotions
The pop breakthrough for this R&B vocal group, this was written and produced by Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White and had a strong, funky vibe—but was soft enough to become an adult contemporary favorite as well.
9/10 Keep It Comin’ Love K.C. & the Sunshine Band
Another tasty slice of funk-pop that seemed like the continuation of “I’m Your Boogie Man.”
9/17 Strawberry Letter 23 Brothers Johnson
1967 saw the Beatles score with “Strawberry Fields Forever, and 1987 saw Daryl Strawberry star with the New York Mets. In 1977 we had the infectious hit by this funky duo, with an irresistible keyboard riff that sent this song sky high that summer.
9/24 Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band Meco
Disco version of the blockbuster movie theme also featured a humorous interlude from the droid R2D2. this was one of my favorite hits of the year.
10/15 Boogie Nights Heatwave
Irresistibly catchy R&B/disco number that was one of my favorites of the year.
10/29 You Light Up My Life Debby Boone
An adult contemporary staple--a schmaltzy but heartfelt performance by Debby Boone, one of the most notorious one-hit wonders.
11/19 I Feel Love Donna Summer
12/17 Sentimental Lady Bob Welch
Originally done by Fleetwood Mac

[bobbo428]

PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM 1976

1/3 Saturday Night Bay City Rollers
Footstomping teen rocker was a huge party hit with a late-autumn feel.
1/17 Love Rollercoaster Ohio Players
This blockbuster hit saw the Players at their commercial peak, as this song became an instant smash. There are some good brass and guitar hooks here. You can't help but sing along with this song, as a classmate named Scott did one day in school.
1/31 You Sexy Thing Hot Chocolate
Pop rock group’s biggest hit had a disco/R&B beat to it, as well as risqué lyrics. Advertisers would discover this song in a big was two decades later.
2/7 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Paul Simon
A bit cynical and offhand in delivery, this was nonetheless a likable pop ditty that wound up being his biggest solo hit.
2/21 All By Myself Eric Carmen
Classical-influenced piano pop ballad about a man who longed for romance to relieve his loneliness; Celine Dion would have a big hit with her overwrought remake in 1997.
2/28 December 1963 (Oh What a Night) Four Seasons
3/6 Love Machine Miracles
3/20 Dream On Aerosmith
4/10 Disco Lady Johnnie Taylor
4/17 Dream Weaver Gary Wright:
5/1 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen
5/15 Love Hangover Diana Ross
Disco-pop tune had two distinct phases: the first part was mellow and seductive, while the second was full-throttle disco with a funky beat. The song would be sampled in Monica’s 1998 hit “The First Night” and Will Smith’s 2000 single “Freak This.”

5/22 Boogie Fever Sylvers
This R&B bubblegum hit had an irresistible chorus that was the perfect complement to a warm spring day.
6/12 Silly Love Songs Wings
This potshot at a John Lennon remark had a strong hook that stayed with you a long time—the melody had a simple yet long-lasting late spring appeal: love outlasts cynicism..
6/19 Happy Days (From the Paramount TV Series) Pratt & McClain
This instantly recognizable song was the theme from one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade. The show's central character, The Fonz, was the prototype for "coolness" in the mid-'70s, and there was a lot of peer pressure to be like Arthur Fonzarelli (played by Henry Winkler), who was the opposite of a nerd.
6/26 More, More, More Andrea True Connection
Disco tune had an irresistible pop hook, though the lyrics were suggestive.
7/10 I'll Be Good to You Brothers Johnson
Infectious soul-funk number produced by Quincy Jones; I would soon buy this 45 because of its sincere lyrics and insistent hook.
7/24 Love Is Alive Gary Wright
Pop rock tune with an irresistible hook, it was one of my favorites of the year.
7/31 Let 'Em In Wings
Innocent-sounding pop ditty made ample use of bells and a marching band motif.
8/7 Don't Go Breaking My Heart Elton John & Kiki Dee
From the urgent-sounding opening strings, this pop duet had me hooked.
9/4 You Should Be Dancing Bee Gees
Rhythmic tune was a thumping disco beat
9/11 (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty K.C. & the Sunshine Band
The irresistible hooks continued for this disco band, and I bought the 45 just a few days before starting high school. In Latin class I can recall learning that language's word for booty, which was praeda. One day Nancy, a girl in our Latin class, was singing, "Shake your praeda” because we had just learned that that was the Latin word for booty.
9/25 Play That Funky Music Wild Cherry
This funk-rock song was all over the radio from August to November 1976, and it remains a retro-show staple. The song was remade in an execrable version by ephemeral rapper Vanilla Ice in 1990.
10/9 A Fifth of Beethoven Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band
Disco version of the classical composer’s Fifth Symphony had a strong beat.
10/23 Disco Duck Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
Humorous disco novelty was a guilty pleasure of mine—verses had an ominous, autumn-like feel.
11/13 The Rubberband Man Spinners
This song had an irresistible bass, as well as impeccable vocals--it sounds like a Friday night in fall.
11/20 Do You Feel Like We Do/ Penny for Your Thoughts Peter Frampton
I enjoyed this song because of its insistent, engaging chorus. This helped propel Frampton's live album even further and helped make him become the phenomenon of the year.
The short B-side instrumental featured an acoustic guitar.
12/4 Love So Right Bee Gees
12/18 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) Rod Stewart
His comeback hit had a strong sense of suspense and anticipation, both in the vocals and instrumental hooks..

[bobbo428]

PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM 1975

JANUARY

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Elton John
This was actually my first introduction to this Lennon/McCartney song, since I was too young to remember the original Beatles version from Sgt. Pepper. The Elton John rendition was an extravagant production, with a sweeping performance that was an instant hit.


Bungle in the Jungle Jethro Tull

Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd
When I first heard this song I thought it could be a smash. I bought the 45 in mid-January because I enjoyed the soaring vocals, as well as the guitar work. I had no idea that it would end up being one of the most requested classic rock songs of all time.
Mandy Barry Manilow
This was our first introduction to one of the most successful adult contemporary artists of all time. "Mandy" was a dramatic ballad that built to an emotional climax. The song was actually a remake of a very minor hit, "Brandy," by Scott English in 1972.


FEBRUARY


Pick Up the Pieces Average White Band
When I first heard this funky white soul instrumental, I was immediately hooked. I hoped it would be a hit, and it was a smash.
Fire Ohio Players
A brassy funk song that took the charts by storm that winter, this was the song that made this R&B group a household name.
You’re No Good Linda Ronstadt
This was Ronstadt's solo pop breakthrough, and it featured searing guitar work, defiant vocals, and an ominous interlude that propelled it to the top of the chart.
Lady Styx
Another song title caught my attention in the store that day in 1975:. Both the title and the artist had brief, four-letter titles. I didn't know if it would be a hit--I had not heard of either the song or the band. They ended up becoming a supergroup, and I bought the 45 "Lady" in March. When I first heard this, I was impressed by the lead singer's clear-sounding vocals and the song's upbeat, springlike sound. The song builds to an anthem-like climax, and it was irresistible to my ears. I ended up buying the 45 in March.

MARCH

Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
This song was one of the catchiest of the year--it had a springlike feel to it. In addition, it borrowed a riff from the Beatles' 1964 hit, "I Feel Fine." This Sugarloaf song told the story of a recording act's struggles to be heard by a record company executive.
Express B.T. Express
Disco/R&B tune with a truckin’ beat and a good hook
Lady Marmalade LaBelle
An irresistible R&B/funk number, I found this song to have a springlike, footstomping appeal to it. I ended up buying the single in May.
Have You Never Been Mellow Olivia Newton-John
Caressing pop song with a strong hook and a reassuring early spring feel.
Lovin’ You Minnie Riperton
R&B/pop song featured some vocal histrionics that Mariah Carey would emulate in the 1990s.



Number 1 hits on song chart--my first ever personal song chart was on April 12, 1975.

4/12 No No Song/Snookeroo Ringo Starr
The A-side was a humorous anti-drug song about a guy who kept having pot and cocaine shoved in his face; the B-side was also catchy.
4/19 Philadelphia Freedom Elton John
A vocal and musical tour de force, this sweeping pop rocker was one of the biggest hits of his career.
5/10 I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone Paul Anka
Catchy piano ballad also featured Odia Coates on harmony vocals; was much more enjoyable than their previous hit.
5/17 He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) Tony Orlando & Dawn
Remake of Jerry Butler’s “He Will Break Your Heart,” this was a pop tune with a catchy hook.
5/24 Shining Star Earth, Wind & Fire
5/31 Jackie Blue Ozark Mountain Daredevils

6/14 Bad Time Grand Funk
Pop rocker with a strong hook; it reminded me of the crush I had on a girl named Shelly—unfortunately, I would go the entire summer without running into her.
7/12 Love Will Keep Us Together The Captain & Tennille
Happy-go-lucky summer tune was co-=written by Neil Sedaka
7/19 The Hustle Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
This irresistible song was one of the summer's biggest hits and touched off a big dance craze with the disco crowd.
7/26 Listen to What the Man Said Paul McCartney & Wings
A summer singalong, this was a big hit in July. I recall being unable to decide one Sunday whether to buy this song or "The Hustle." Fortunately, my father said I could buy both--and I did. I had twice as much fun, though I recall my team losing a doubleheader that afternoon.

8/2 One of These Nights Eagles
8/9 Jive Talkin’ Bee Gees
Disco/R&B-influenced tune marked a major shift for the brothers—and a strong comeback hit.
8/16 Someone Saved My Life Tonight Elton John
A melancholy song, it is about a man being rescued from a suicide. When listening to the lyrics, I thought he had been rescued by the Sugar Bear character from the cereal. Actually, he was using the pet name Sugar Bear in referring to his ex.
8/30 Could It Be Magic Barry Manilow
I really enjoyed this song's piano intro. The vocals were earnest, and the song had an autumnal flavor to it. It reminded me of Shelly, a girl I had a crush on at the time.

9/13 Get Down Tonight K.C. & the Sunshine Band
This was my first introduction to the irresistibly catchy sound of this disco/funk act. This song was one of the fastest selling records of the year and helped make disco a phenomenon.
9/27 Fame David Bowie
Bass-driven, autumnal-sounding rocker with an R&B edge, this was Bowie’s biggest pop hit ever (along with 1983’s “Let’s Dance.”)

10/18 Ballroom Blitz Sweet
This raucous song rocked much harder than their bubblegum-flavored 1973 hit "Little Willy.”

11/1 Who Loves You Four Seasons
This was the New Jersey group's first hit in many years, and they adapted to the times well, straddling the line between disco and mainstream pop. I enjoyed the tense interlude in this song, which unleashes a rousing climax at the end.
11/15 Island Girl Elton John
Red hot rocker was at his commercial peak with this immediately catchy song.
11/22 That's the Way (I Like It) K.C. & the Sunshine Band
A lot of teenagers liked this song back in 1975, and I was no exception: The hook was unbeatable. I remember singing this nonstop with a classmate named Fran in school for five minutes one December day.

12/6 Fly, Robin, Fly Silver Convention
One of the best disco records, it made good use of strings, brass, vocals, and—of course—bass.

[OnWithTheCountdown]

I noticed three songs that also would've topped my personal chart (if I was old enough - was just a few weeks old then), that didn't hit #1 on AT40. Those are: "Jackie Blue", "Bad Time", and "Who Loves You". Three of my favorite tunes from 1975 - #1's in my book.

Thanks for sharing all those.

[dukelightning]

Yes thanks a lot for sharing. I thought I liked more songs that anyone else on this board, but I seem to have met my match in that regard with you. Neither is a fave but I don't hate "You Light Up My Life" and "State of Shock" as most people here do and neither do you.
A few specific comments....
Did not think that "Gold" was ever an AOR hit. Did you mean MOR? Btw, your typing and choice of certain words is impressive. 'ubiquitous' describing "Hungry Heart" is a good example.
Not sure if you realized that Bob Welch also sang lead on the original Fleetwood Mac version of "Sentimental Lady".
'Motown-influenced pop with retro feel' for "Time(Clock of the Heart)" actually makes me of their later 1983 hit "Church of the Poisoned Mind" even more.
'Urgent-sounding hit with tension in the lyrics' is a recipe for a great song IMO. You attached it to "Love is a Battlefield" btw but all songs with those characteristics get my attention. So does Casey when he has his urgent delivery of the early 70s.

[bobbo428]

Nov 11, 2017 8:48:24 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

Yes thanks a lot for sharing. I thought I liked more songs that anyone else on this board, but I seem to have met my match in that regard with you. Neither is a fave but I don't hate "You Light Up My Life" and "State of Shock" as most people here do and neither do you.
A few specific comments....
Did not think that "Gold" was ever an AOR hit. Did you mean MOR? Btw, your typing and choice of certain words is impressive. 'ubiquitous' describing "Hungry Heart" is a good example.
Not sure if you realized that Bob Welch also sang lead on the original Fleetwood Mac version of "Sentimental Lady".
'Motown-influenced pop with retro feel' for "Time(Clock of the Heart)" actually makes me of their later 1983 hit "Church of the Poisoned Mind" even more.
'Urgent-sounding hit with tension in the lyrics' is a recipe for a great song IMO. You attached it to "Love is a Battlefield" btw but all songs with those characteristics get my attention. So does Casey when he has his urgent delivery of the early 70s.

Thanks so much for your comments--I have been so busy working on my music books in recent months that I have been on this site very infrequently. My current music book covers 1980-99 and is a sequel to my first book, which had covered 1955-79. I've been so busy with my book that I've been missing most of Casey's countdowns as well because I have to listen to so many obscure songs from the '80s and '90s. And that affects the number of new songs I can listen to. My song chart of currents has slowed down as well. Almost none of my personal favorites makes any Billboard chart now, and almost every radio format's playlists are unfamiliar to me (I am almost 57, so there is no commercial format of new songs for the 55-plus demographic.)

[doofus67]

Mine was the top 20 songs in the fictitious country of Bakerland.  My inspiration was the Weekly Top 30 with the late, great Mark Elliott, which was just a few months old when I started my chart.  It would change names twice, first in 1981, when I shortened it from The Top 20 Hits in Bakerland to Bakerhits, then again in 1985, when it became the pop chart from BEAM, the Bakerland Entertainment and Arts Magazine.

Off the top of my head, I don't recall my first #1.  What does stand out in my memory is that, there for a couple of years, my fascination with heavy metal was visibly reflected in my rankings.  AC/DC, Van Halen, Ozzy, and Rush could do no wrong, racking up big hit after big hit.  In fact, my longest running #1 was AC/DC's "Guns for Hire," with 13 weeks at the top.  (In retrospect, not one of their better singles.)

Some Billboard #1s that missed my chart altogether:
"Do That to Me One More Time"
"Woman in Love"
"Morning Train"
"The One That You Love"
"Up Where We Belong"
"Truly"
"Africa"
"Baby, Come to Me"
"Islands in the Stream"
"Hello"
"Can't Fight This Feeling"

Now I look at some of those and say, what the heck was wrong with that song?  Especially "Woman in Love" and "Africa"!