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Today we go out to the stadium on May 29th, 1974- Arlington Stadium, where the following incident set the Rangers and the visiting Indians- and the fans- to blows...
As you can see, It was problem child Lenny Randle who sparked it all, and featured a trip by Tribe catcher Dave Duncan into the stands. 5 days later, they were in Cleveland when 10 cent beer night sparked fan attacks on OF Jeff Burroughs and an ump, who awarded a forfeit to the visiting Rangers. 10 cent beer almost anywhere isn't a real bright idea, so we'll file this with other great 1970's baseball bad ideas like free agency and Disco Demolition Night.
Welcome to Time Machine, where there won't be 10 cent beer- although I am drinking a free one as I type! This week, I remembered the 6D, and we'll have that along with a Thumbs segment and a new definition of M10 superstar- and why it matters this week in particular. Plus, Edgar Winter! It will be a real hit!
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Let's start out with that 'new definition' I was talking about. Let's just say, I set an arbitrary number of M10 hits an act has to get to attain 'superstar status.' Let's say we make it 7- you need seven M10 chart hits to be an M10 superstar. How many acts would make the cut?
Well, that would bring in Alvvays. And Beach House. And Agnes Obel. And that would be it...
...until this week, when not one, but TWO acts debut their seventh M10 hit! And the first one, at #10, is the Jayhawks...
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Hello, Mr Winter, so glad to meet you!
You can call me Edgar, bud.
Thank you. So in perusing your bio, I see three things that really impressed me- first is the sheer amount of talent who has played in your bands...
Yeah, I love working with the best. Derringer, Montrose, Dan Hartman...
The second was the fact that, basically, if it can be played, you can play it! Organ, ARP 2600 synthesizer, piano, clavinet, marimba, mellotron, saxophone, timbales...
Yes, I've been known for that shoulder-strap keyboard thing and guitar, but I've also done a lot of sax work....David Lee Roth, Meat Loaf, Tina Turner...
But the best part is how you aren't afraid to explore every style out there.
Part of what my career has been about is trying to broaden musical horizons and awareness and to try to break down what I consider to be musical prejudices that exist between different forms of music. I love all forms of music. I see no reason why people who appreciate classical can’t like rock, or why people who like jazz can’t get along with country. *
(*From a 2014 interview with Barbara Flaska on PopMatters)
Hey, wait- I'm going to say that in the future? That's pretty good, I better write that down!
Nardole! The perception filter's down again! Anyway, so this week we had a mere fifteen contestants who got 51 votes. Unfortunately for challenge's sake, the winner was two votes away from lapping the field, so what I like to do in that case is something other than make you go, "Gee, I bet it will be whatever was #1 on Cashbox this week".
Even though it IS what's #1 on Cashbox this week.
Precisely. So what I'll have you do is give the top 5, in alphabetical order by singer- and then have everyone try to guess which one was the #1 song, and thus the next POTM!
Sounds fair. Let's see the list. Hey, you don't have them in order!
I just came up with the idea...
Well, never let it be said that Edgar Winter can't alphabetize a list! Hmmm...
Marvin Hamlisch, The Entertainer...
Jackson Five, Dancing Machine...
Maria Muldaur, Midnight At The Oasis...
Ray Stevens, The Streak...
...and Wings, Band On The Run!
This week's top five, which pulled in 34 of the 51 votes- all but 10 by the #1 song of the week! So put em in order, write em down, and see if you can get the list right! Meanwhile....
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You might be familiar with the name of former backup singer, former groupie, and former drug dealer, Cathy Smith. She was the one who served time for famously admitting to injecting John Belushi with the drug mix that ended his life. Maybe you didn't know that she also had another claim to fame- she was the "hard-lovin'" inspiration- supposedly- for Gordon Lightfoot's song Sundown. She dated Gordon on either side of carrying on with The Band and it's several members. But before we toddle off with her, let's get back to Sundown. The lp of the same name had several tracks where percussion and congas were played by one Milt Holland- a legendary performer who is a story all his own. But for the purposes of today's story, he was one of the inspirations behind Jeff Porcaro's iconic drum line in the song Africa by his band Toto. Also playing on that #1 single was one James Pankow- the longtime trombonist for Chicago, and the co-writer on the highest song this week without a Panel vote- the #8 I've Been Searching So Long.
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This week, another act also scores their 7th M10 hit- and it comes in at #8. Here are The Shacks...
I discovered along the way an interesting tidbit- the song was originally done by Sunny Ozuna of Sunny and the Sunglows, a Chicano band who had a top 20 hit in 1963 with Talk To Me.
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I almost missed the cover of the week here- it was by a band called Wednesday, who had also cover J Frank Wilson's Last Kiss. This time, they took a shot at rock classic Teen Angel- and here's what we thought.
Laurie- Just judging on the music and not comparing to the original, I liked it!
Chris- I loved the music, BUT... switching genders, and "...teen angel, can you hear US..." just rubbed me wrong.
In the mean time, the stat pack says...
Big mover- Cher, Train of Thought, 21 spots from 75- 54.
Charts across the English speaking world- at #1...
Australia- Suzy Quatro, Devil Gate Drive...
Canada- "finalist" The Entertainer...
South Africa- Dobie Gray, Loving Arms...
The Laurenco Marques song of the week, Hot Chocolate's Emma, which wouldn't reach the States until next year...
...and in the UK, the Rubettes with Sugar Baby Love. The Rubettes did hit here, and they and Dobie Gray are worth a listen for the curious.
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The remaining M10...
Maybird edges up one to #9 with Fried Dead Moth...
Alkonost holds at 7 with Where The Winds Live...
The country entrants flip spots- Jana Kramer down to 6 with Untouchable, and falling former #1 I Don't Need To Know back up a spot to 5 for Maddie and Tae.
The Stones fall back a pair to #4 with Living In A Ghost Town... Likewise last week's #1, Deradoorian's Monk's Robes, to 3.
Sass Jordan up 2 to #2 with High Road Easy... which leaves the new number one...
...The Pretenders and You Can't Hurt A Fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, for that top five:
At #5, with 3.9%, Midnight At The Oasis...
At #4, the vote runner up with 7.8%, Band On The Run...
At #3, one of 2 songs with 5.88%, Dancing Machine...
At #2, with a single vote for 1.9%, The Entertainer....
And the #1 and next week's POTM, with 47.05%....
Ray Stevens and The Streak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So be prepared next week, with me and Ray, even with clothes on, things could get ugly!
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