Time Machine week 14

Today is July 25, 1972.  Today word of the infamous Tuskegee Study was published from a whistleblowers' report by the Washington Star.  For those not in the know, this was basically a blind study on syphilis in poor black populations which basically gave "free treatment" and free burial to those who agreed to be examined, tested, and eventually autopsied- but not treated (though they didn't know that).  It started in 1932 with 399 active syphilis subjects (and 201 non-cases), ran through the point where 250 of them were told they were sick in 1942 when they tried to join the armed forces ( and the CDC tried to keep them from said treatment), past 1947 when it was proven that penicillin would have cured them But they didn't get any), past the sixties when several in the government and the project tried to get CDC to shut it down, right up to when the expose forced their hand 40 years after it started- and save for that, would have kept going until all subjects had died and been autopsied.  As it was, 325 of them had died- 128 by syphilis or complications thereof- 40 wives had been infected, and 19 children had been born with it.

On the other end of the spectrum, George McGovern's running mate Elliot Richardson admitted TO having treatment- for mental issues.  He was successfully treated, and McGovern was ready to keep on the ticket- but the now-predatory press, having whetted their appetite on Nixon's blood, would circle and bite until Richardson stepped down on his own.

That's okay, buddy... I wouldn't have voted for you anyway...

Welcome to Time Machine for the week of July 25, 1972- the week that saw Bread's Guitar Man, the Bee Gee's Run To Me, and Uriah Heap's Easy Livin' all hit the charts for the first time.  This week, a six degrees with a new top ten song; a tune that would've made you happy to go to bed, back in the day; and the Top Top Ten from 1965- which includes no less than FIVE British supergroups!  Lie down on the couch, and let's begin...

I think this week we'll start with the top 40 debuts, and they start with the one I warned you would be here this week- last week's biggest mover in the countdown, Sailcat's Motorcycle Mama.  Next up is a tune I don't know from a singer I know quite well.  She was an associate member of the Rat Pack long before becoming Serta's Perfect Sleeper- Miss Joey Heatherton.

Joey makes the chart with a remake of a song Ferlin Husky took to #4- and #1 country- in 1957.





Rod Argent makes the top 40 this week at 37, up six, with Hold Your Head Up.  It's the late great Jim Croce at 34, up a touchdown and extra point (AKA 7 notches) with You Don't Mess Around With Jim.  And the high debut this week is one notch higher- moving from 44 to 33, the Carpenters with Goodbye To Love.  And speaking of high, this week's biggest mover within the countdown belongs to the disreputable Gary Glitter and his sports arena anthem Rock And Roll, Part 1- 36 notches from 97 allllllll the way to #41 this week.  


Next up, I believe (without checking my arcane stats) that this week's feature on the Top Top Ten- from the first week of May, 1965- was the first one cut from the top ten by year.  As I mentioned in the tease, it has 5 British supergroups, not to mention a lady from the Martin Hall Of Fame!  Here we go:

10- The Last Time, Rolling Stones.  Sure it was, if you don't count the next 21 top tens and 8 #1s.

9- Ticket To Ride, The Beatles.  A comment I saw on the Youtube video of this made a very correct statement for us old timers- every Beatles song you hear is your favorite of theirs- until you hear the next one.

8- Go Now!, Moody Blues.  Their first big hit- and almost their last, before Days Of Future Past remade their career.

7- I'll Never Find Another You, the Seekers.  Have I mentioned I love Judith Durham lately?

6- Count Me In, Gary Lewis And The Playboys.  Gary, with all the help and the overdubbing, beat out Elvis and Sinatra for Male Vocalist Of The Year for 1965 on Cashbox.

5- Tired Of Waiting For You, the Kinks.  Believe it or not, this is the one pre-Lola song of theirs I remember from when it came out.  I was 3, but I knew what I liked.

4- I'm Telling You Now, Freddie and the Dreamers.  This group actually had three songs on the hot 100 this week- including Do The Freddie, which was also on the charts by Chubby Checker for some odd reason.

3- The Game Of Love, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders.  The way I get it, Wayne's mind was already bent by this point...

2- I Know A Place, Petula Clark.   Me too, my dear.  Me too.

Just lead the way...

  Annnnnnnd #1 this time around...

....Herman's Hermits with Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Now, the clean-up list before we get to the top ten.  On You Peaked, we have a pair of tunes- Elton John's Rocket Man sputtered out at 11 last week, and Aretha Franklin's All The King's Horses got thrown at 20.  And with two new top tens, we have two droppers- Outa-Space (4 to 16) and Song Sung Blue (7 to 26).

And with the start of the top ten, I bend the rules to allow an up-and-coming to get the six degrees, and it climbed 7 spots TO #10 this week- Looking Glass with Brandy (You're A Fine Girl).

The lead singer of Looking Glass was one Elliot Lure- who would leave the band to go on to a career in the music of movie soundtracks.  The rest of the band:  Keyboard Larry Gonsky, Bass Peter Swervil, and drummer Jeff Grob ( under the pseudonym of Joe X. Dube), recruited a new singer named Michael Lee Smith and became the Fallen Angels.  When Gonsky left, he was replaced by a dude that had been with the Stories  (after Brother Louie hit the top) named Richie Ranno.  At this point they renamed themselves Starz, and on their second album they cracked the top 40 at #33 with this:





It would be their only trip past #66 on Billboard, though, and Smith would go on to join another hard rock group named for it's leader and his brother.... are you ready for this?

... the band was Rex; the brother Rex Smith, would would be known most famously for the decidedly un- hard rock You Take My Breath Away.  This was in 1976, and by the time Rex had went limp  soft, Michael had reformed Starz- with Dube the only Looking Glasser left.  And to my best report, they are still together.


Back to this week's top ten:

The Eagles climb one to #9 with Take It Easy.

As does Donny Osmond with Too Young.

As does Michael Jackson with I Wanna Be Where You Are.

Zooming into the ten a strong 7 to #6, Gilbert O'Sullivan with Alone Again Naturally.

Luther Ingram moves a spot to 5 with If Loving You Is Wrong, etc.

Jimmy Castor finally starts dropping, from 2 to 4 with Troglodyte (Cave Man).

Wayne Newton slows down so the kid can catch up, just a pair this time to #3 with Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast.

The Cornelius Bros and Sister Rose pull into the runner up spot with Too Late To Turn Back Now.

And at #1 for a second week..................

Yes, that's the Cornelius Bros and Sister Rose.  But why them?  Because, you never get the same act twice on the #1 picture, or later on we'd have 8 weeks of Debbie Boone.  Also, why are there TWO sisters?  Because Cornelius Bros and Sister Rose and Sister Billie Joe was just too clunky.

.............  Once again, Bill Withers and Lean On Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Okay, another one is in the can!  See you next time!