Tilting at Windmills: Time Machine co-ordinates VICLXIII647101669

Friday, October 16, 2020

Time Machine co-ordinates VICLXIII647101669

Today, October 16, 1969, the New York Mets won game 5 of the World Series to become the first team established after 1905 to win it all with a 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

The sportswriters were saying, in the first year of 6-team divisions, the Mets would likely finish fourth- and at the start, it looked like they might be right. But they came on in the end to post a 100-62 record, the first time in their 7-year history they topped 73 wins.

And speaking of races, we actually have a good one for the Panel winner, a couple of new M10 songs- one of which will require a disclaimer- and if I don't snap this keyboard in two for the wrong keys jumping into the path of my two typing fingers, maybe a live 6D! And the Beatles are here to celebrate their 12th win- 2nd with Hey Jude! So let's get the party started!

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And to kick it off, with their first time on the M10, but their 36th year hitting the chart, here's new Bon Jovi...

Beautiful Drug is off the new lp Bon Jovi:2020 and comes in at #10!

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Gentlemen, nice to see you again!

R: About time! How long has it been?

Over half a year, actually! And congratulations on what is likely the biggest victory margin ever!

J: Well, it's really no surprise, people had taste back in those days...

P: John, it's only been the one year for us...

J: Are you still here? I thought you were off with Camera Girl recording that new disc of drivel...

Um, guys, I realize I didn't bring you here at the best time in your group dynamic, but for the sake of the children...

J: Oh, look who's intellectual now! "Group dynamic", indeed.

R: Hey, what children?

P: He means you...

Guys, can't we get along? George, help me out here!

G: (Looking up from a note pad) I'm sorry, what? I was distracted...

J: He's also putting together some magic Hare Krishna stuff...

G: Well, excuse me, let's bow down to the atheist with the homely girlfriend/spirit guide.

Okay, we're getting a little personal here...

R: Oi, and thanks for the tarts! Elvis didn't bake these, did he?

P: C'mon, you know he's sore because we beat him all the time.

R: I don't know why he minds it being second, Jagger doesn't...

All right, before you lot start a feud with the Stones as well, maybe we could get to the Panel. We have 33 contestants from 87 stations...

P: Any of our songs in it?

Uh, Come Together got 2 votes, and Something got 1...

J: Magnificent! I'm sure that put us right in the finals! There goes that chance to beat Elvis' three weeks in a row he got a while back...

P: Well, it's not like the band will be together for two more years...

G: Good on that! I for one am tired of tripping over empty lo mein boxes and stepping on chopsticks!

J: Now, see here! Yoko does not leave...

R: Er, I think he means me. Sorry, George!

Okay, guys, focus! I have five finalists for you to announce...

P: Maybe you should leave one off. We fight over everything these days.

I'll do the first one. Choose from:

The Archies and Sugar Sugar, #3 on the Cashbox chart this week. Who's next?

J: Let Paul have it- after all, he won't get much more happiness from music once he's on his own, doing those silly love songs...

P: I'll take it, because they'll be a refreshing change from oriental mood music! Next is Mr Presley, where ever he's off moping at, with Suspicious Minds at #6...

G: Next is this chap Bobby Goldsboro with Little Woman at #1. Richard?

R: Next is Olivier...

J: That's Oliver, fool...

R: Ah, yes, Olivier with Jean...

P: That's Oliver, like Oliver Hardy, with Jean like Jean Nate, not Jean like Jean-Paul Getty...

R: Oh, honest mistake. Anyway, that French classic is at #2...

J: And just to get this over with, the 5th Dimension with Wedding Bell Blues at #24.

R: I'd be blue as well, if I were marrying...

J: DON'T say it!

For once, I agree with John! BTW, this was a close race that had a chance of going to a run-off! Moving right along though, here comes that disclaimer. It seems like most times I find something new I like from Shilpa Ray, I have to preface it with a caution, and this one is no exception. I like this song, but beware- the message is about abusive relationships, the title isn't something you'd normally want on a t-shirt- and the second verse puts things in a way... well, let's just say this is NOT a song for children. That said, coming in all the way up at #5...

BTW, the song is part of a concept theme she's putting together using herself as the Marilyn-esque Debbie Daydream, and her ex-BF, Lenny LaDouche...

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The 33 hits on the Panel this week were a mix of 17 hot 100s, one flip side, 2 songs that don't chart till next month, one that charted in July, one bubble-under, and at least 4 contenders for the Australian #1- Russel Morris's Part 3 Into Paper Walls and The Girl That I Love, Johnny Farnham with One, and Matt Flinders's Picking Up Pebbles.

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One of the many places I wouldn't have expected to find the late David Cassidy is at the front of this particular 6D. I found him as a backing vocalist on an lp called Sweet Salvation by guitarist Jim Krueger. Jim didn't have anything apparently notable on that lp except a cover of Dave Mason's hit We Just Disagree- a hit that Jim, while playing in Dave's band, wrote for the group. Now Dave did some notable writing of his own, including a song best known in Joe Cocker's version, Feelin' Alright. It was also the lead track on our victim's lp Suitable For Framing. That lp had a plethora of songs written by famous others- Laura Nyro, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Sam Cooke. But our subject was a song first featured in the musical Hair. That's right, it's ~~the 5th Dimension~~ (hah, fooled ya!) Three Dog Night with their version of Easy To Be Hard, #4 this week without a Panel vote.

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Overseas, if you please: In Australia, the official #1 this week was Part 3 Into Paper Walls; New Zealand was rocking to Shane and his song Saint Paul; South Africa had Jackie DeShannon's Put A Little Love In Your Heart; in Canada, it was Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin'; and the UK had Bobbie Gentry's version of I'll Never Fall In Love Again.

And the big mover moved like a ball of fire 30 spots from 66-36- it was Tommy James and the Shondels with, well, Ball Of Fire.

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The rest of the M10 this week:

9- 10 weeks on for Hazel English and Off My Mind- and a #9 spot leaves her in a 4-way tie for 12th all time.

8- Dent May slips out with one song, and from 5 with Pour Another Round.

7- Castlecomer up one more to 7 with Runaway.

6- Former #1 On Your Side by The Innocence Mission is down 3.

4- BOC up 2 more with Tainted Blood.

3- Saintseneca continues to have a resurgence, returning this week to #3 with In A Van.

2- Holding is America's Remembering.

Which means a second week at the top for...