The Great Seventies countdown- the end of the road

"So now you've seen the progression, from songs that just sounded neat, to songs attached to certain places, events, and sometimes people, to those that began to symbolize the early teenage angst of the day,"says the Host.  "More of the window into me.  And now we come to the end of our journey- the songs that meant the most from the time that meant the most.  I am reminded of the immortal words of Baz Luhrman in the classic Wear Sunscreen: Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

And with that, we move on one last time.

10-  (They Long To Be) Close To You, the Carpenters, #1, 1970.  I have vivid memories of listening to the light music of what was then WFWR at Dr. Dahling's office.  There were two songs that I always counted on hearing while I was there.  This was one.  Also, I remember that there was one of those Ronco lps out there that featured Ed Ames doing this song.  Ed was Mingo on the Daniel Boone show, and that explains that.




9- We've Only Just Begun, the Carpenters, #2, 1970.  And this was the other.  So far above the commercial for a bank that this song began life as.



Okay, I'm tearing up already, thank you.

8- Shannon, Henry Gross, 1976, #6.  By 1976, I had this thing in my mind that "the next Beach Boys" would soon arrive and make beautiful music for us again.  Not surprisingly, the best two examples (the other one is coming) both featured vocal assists from- the Beach Boys.  You can't do it better than they did, and Henry Gross proves it here.




7- Listen To What The Man Said, Wings, #1, 1975.  I mentioned a love for Linda McCartney last time.  I usually spend my time on this song just trailing her vocals. Here I found a somewhat faster-paced version of this classic.




6- Wishing You Were Here, Chicago, #11, 1974.  This is the other Beach Boys-assisted tune.  I used to go with my sister's family up to her in-laws place on Snow Lake.  This song, playing on the 8-track as we glided through the channel to Lake James in the speedboat is like a pillar that my memories rest on.



5- Superstar, the Carpenters, #2, 1971.  These guys again?  The oboe and horns at the beginning of this song are the easiest way to bring me to complete silence.  Another of those songs that I attach a reverence to.



God, I miss Karen.  Don't you?

Okay, now we enter the Holy of Holies, so to speak.

4- Nights Are Forever Without You, England Dan and John Ford Coley, #10, 1976.  My favorite memory from the Mike Douglas Show (and there are a lot of them) was watching Dan and John sing this.



Man, I could use a Pepsi right now!

3- Mandy, Barry Manilow, #1, 1974.  The first song I ever officially said was my favorite.  In a day when 45s were much cheaper, I paid my niece a whole dollar for this.  Has there ever been a more powerful vocal, really?



2- Strange Magic, Electric Light Orchestra, #14, 1976.  On the original, the ending with the magical keyboard progression, Jeff's vocal, the female vocal, the band's "na-na-na", and everything else going on, I just get lost.  "You, walking meadows in my mind... making waves across my time... oh, no... oh, no..."  This video is from the Zoom concert, with Jeff and Richard Tandy being the only originals here, and the girl was Jeff's GF at the time.



And now, we come to the end of this journey.  No matter if I do every countdown that I can think of, it will never be as good, or so bittersweet to pass, as is this moment.  Enjoy, one last time, the number one song.

1- No Time, The Guess Who, #5, 1970.  No time for a summer friend, no time for the love you send.  Seasons change and so did I- you need not wonder why...



And there you have it.  The eighties countdown will be along after while when I'm satisfied I have gotten the kinks all ironed out.  But it will never be as good, or as fun, as this one was.  Thanks to all of you who have commented and apreciated this labor of love.  See you when the world turns back around to our time...

The Great Seventies coundown - 20 to 11

"That is NOT the time," The Host says, "but the numbers that we will count down here on our next to last week.  Unless it is the time when you are reading the text, which is entirely up to you.  Ten songs stand between us and the final, top ten.  Let us proceed..."

20- I'll Be Good To You, Brothers Johnson, #3, 1976.  One of my favorite hooks is the progression in the chorus' "I'll-be-good".  I could hear that forever.

19- Old Days, Chicago, #5, 1975.  Part of the Mythical Top Ten.  My earliest memories, embarrassingly enough, were of a love song to "Goldy".  Shoulda had my ears checked even then.

18- Blinded By The Light, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, #1, 1977.  Springsteen should have had Manfred Mann cover ALL his songs.

17- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Paul and Linda McCartney, #1, 1977.  My falling in love with Linda began here.

16- Hello It's Me, Todd Rundgren, #5, 1973.  You should know that someone who has Utopia songs in the countdown will have this one pretty high.  A song that never ceases growing on me.

15- My Little Town, Simon and Garfunkel, #9, 1975.  Deep piano chords always sounded best at night echoing across my room.  For Garfunkel, being a Jew,  "pledging allegience to the wall" meant the Western Wall;  for me, it meant you weren't paying attention to the flag as you recited.  Worked either way.

14- Sister Golden Hair, America, #1, 1975.  Another Mythical Top Ten member.  And she did have golden hair...

13- Telephone Line, Electric Light Orchestra, #7, 1977.  Tuesday, I hear the song for the first time.  Thursday, it debuts at #1 on my top ten- one of only 2 do do so in 6 or seven years worth of charts.  Sunday, I owned the 45.

12- Nights On Broadway, the Bee Gees, #7, 1975.  Saw this done on Mike Douglas too.  And the Midnight Special.

11- Summer Breeze, Seals and Crofts, #6, 1972.  Absolutely the most image-inducing song of my life. I picture the whole scene every time.

 

"Ten songs remain," The Host says, and then the show that never really ends closes... for now.  "Come back next week, to see which song... plays last."

The Great Seventies countdown- the top 40 begins...

"Today, we enter the last three espisodes of the countdown" The Host tells the assembled multitiude.  "We have heard the thunder of the songs of my heart.  Here begins the lightning."

40- SOS, ABBA, 1975, #15.  This song inspired today's lead in.  The chorus always seemed vocal lighntning to me on long nights listening to Ron Gregory on WOWO.

39- Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, BJ Thomas, 1970, #1.  I've mentioned before,some songs just engender a certain respect- almost reverence- for what they are or what they stand for.  This song, the first #1 of the decade, fits that bill.

38- It Don't Come Easy, Ringo Starr, 1971, #4.  One of my all time favorite guitar solos with George Harrison, interwoven with the backing vocals from Badfinger and Stephen Stills on piano.

37- Dream Weaver, Gary Wright, 1975, #2.  My first "space song".  Much like ELO's Eldorado, a plea to let the dreamer go on dreaming.

36- Seasons In The Sun, Terry Jacks, 1974, #1.  See the comment on #39.  The ultimate when-you-want-to-cry song.  Much better lyrics than the original French.

35- So Far Away, Carole King, 1971, #14.  This song is why her voice is like the Jazzman:  "She can cry like a fallen angel..."

34- The Chain, Fleetwood Mac,  1977, unreleased.  Never has their been so much of the musicians' personal emotions poured into a song.  With every member of the band in the midst or on the edge of a personal break up at the time, all that angst made this so much more powerful.




33- If, Bread, 1971, #4.  My first memories of this song were of its use on a Miss Fort Wayne pageant ad.  The pictures and song wove together something special for me.

32- Could This Be The Magic, Barry Manilow, 1975, #6.  Here is where it really becomes hard for me to not see these songs higher.  Each one from here on is a whisker from being in the top ten.

31- Carry On, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, 1970, non-charting.  Re-introduced to me by a high school teacher, along with Jesus Christ Superstar.  Amazing harmony.




30- Dance With Me, Orleans, 1975, #6.  One of the charter members of the Mythical Top Ten (see previous posts for this concept).

29- Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Elton John, 1975, #4.  All of you patiently waiting for that third EJ song, here you go.  So it wasn't Daniel or Tiny Dancer or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.  Once again a personal-angst song for the artist, and it really comes through.

28- Baby Blue, Badfinger, 1971, #14. The best song of a cursed band.

27- Misty, Ray Stevens, 1975, #14.  Ray  was always so much better on his serious songs.  Grammy winner for best arraingement, if you're into such things.



26- American Pie, Don McLean, 1972, #1.  You can see how much the rest of these songs mean to me if this, the greatest of American compositions, is way back here.  Another "reverence" song.

25- Falling In Love, Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds, 1975, #1.  I could easily just listen to the instrumental track all day.

24- Nights In White Satin/Late Lament- Moody Blues, 1972, #2.  The most beautiful of orchestral pieces of work, from the first strings to the final gong.

23- Yesterday Once More, the Carpenters, 1973, #2; and
22- Only Yesterday, the Carpenters, 1975, #4.  Not trying to be cheap on the descriptions, but I grew up in love with Karen Carpenter, and my focus has always been to what has been, and this applies to both songs.  And since I ranked them next to each other, you only have to hear it once.

21- Fool If You Think Its Over, Chris Rea, 1978, #12.  "I'll buy your first good wine, Ooh we'll have a real good time/ save your crying for the day... that may not come..."

"Next week, you will only get ten songs," The host says, "and in two weeks we'll finish out with the top ten.  And to go home today, here's a movie clip you'll find interesting..."

The great seventies countdown week 15

"Just to update you all, "  The Host says, "the eighties countdown is progressing... well, as well as can be expected.  It will be shorter, and the lineup from 1987-9 is quite... ah, weak...  and it will be more rock, and more country, than you've become accustomed to.  Still, it should be quite entertaining.   And, of course, the tickets are free, so it's a good price.  At any rate, back to our countdown."

60- Magic, Pilot, 1975, #5.  A song that was overplayed here at the time, but ended up growing on you.  Brings to mind memories of camping at Fawn Forest and the bird that bombed my niece's shoulder with blueberry-flavored (or at least colored) poop within 2 minutes of arrival.

59- Stand Tall, Burton Cummings, 1976, #10.  You had to know a Guess Who fan like me would have this up here.  "Sometimes, late at night... when there's nothing here except my old piano/ I'd almost give my hands to make you see my way..."

58- Me And My Arrow, Harry Nilsson, 1971, #34.  If you don't remember the animated ABC movie of the week The Point, which featured this song, do yourself a big treat.  You can find it on youtube in about 4 sections.  One of the coolest things from my childhood.

57- Love Is The Answer, England Dan And John Ford Coley, 1979, #10.  Originally a song from Todd Rundgren's Utopia from the lp Oops! Wrong Planet, this cover proves what you can do with a great song.

56- Winners And Losers, Hamilton, Joe Frank, And Reynolds, 1976, #21. Fell in love with this, as I did many songs, after watching it done on the Mike Douglas Show.  God, I miss that.



55- Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Steely Dan, 1974, #4.  If you're a long time reader of Time Machine, you've heard me mention the "mythical top ten"- an ever-changing list of songs that were my very favorites.  This was a member of that never-enumerated club.

54- Hello Stranger, Yvonne Elliman, 1977, #15.  Did I mention the big crush I have on Yvonne?

53- Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels), Jim Croce, 1972, #17.  I realize this was just his second single (You Don't Mess Around With Jim was first), but come ON!!! Number seventeen???  What the hell was wrong with you 45-buyers back then?

52- Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Marvin Gaye, 1971, #4.  I remember how it was back then.  I remember the ads about Lake Erie being "dead" and the Indian asking us to "pitch in, to clean up America."  To our credit, we listened for the most part.

51- If You Don't Know Me By Now, Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes, 1972, #3. If nothing else, researching these charts has taught me that the Bluenotes should be numbered among the greatest soul groups of all time.

50- Tapestry, Carole King, 1971, unreleased.  The title track to one of the greatest lps of all time.



49- I'm Easy, Keith Carradine, 1976, #17.  I think this was top ten in Fort Wayne.  He sang this in the movie Nashville.

48- Sail On Sailor, Beach Boys, 1973 (#79) and 1975 (#49).  Again, long time Time Machiners know how I felt about the low charting of one of the Beach Boys' best tunes.  This is my "when the whole world's against me" song.



47- Top Of The World, The Carpenters, 1973, #1.  Another of those songs that found itself wrapped around a certain girl in grade school.  Hmm, and most of those songs were Carpenters tunes...

46- The Long And Winding Road, The Beatles, 1970, #1.  An appropriate ending for the Beatles, and my favorite no matter what Paul thinks.

45- Bad Time, Grand Funk Railroad, 1975, #4.  When I awoke from getting my appendix out, and got ahold of my transistor radio, this was the first good song I heard.

44- Fooled Around And Fell In Love, Elvin Bishop Band, 1976, #3.  Our first taste of Mickey Thomas, and a song that still grows on me.  Makes me feel summer.

43- Love Will Keep Us Together, The Captain and Tennille, 1975, #1.  This was the.. excuse me, THE song of summer '75.  Great in Spanish too.

42- It Never Rains In Southern California, Albert Hammond, 1972, #5.  Did you grow up with this song?  You still sing along every time, don't you?

41- Feelings, Morris Albert, 1976, #6. Another star for longtime Time Machiners.  Up, down, up, down.  The original Grandpa chair-sitter.  I always remember the radio ad for the single, which talked about Morris Albert "Conquering South America" with this song.

"The top 40 begins next week," The Host says as the lights come down.  "And to send you on your way, here's something soft... and easy..."

The Gret Seventies coutdown, week 14

"I have two announcements," the host says.  "One good, one not so much.  The good one is that, as we speak, the Great Eighties countdown is in development."  He pauses for applause...  "The second, some idiot on our staff thought that "70" came after 70... as a result, you'll see some of the numbers looking eerily familiar this week.  The song list hasn't changed though, so just go back and add 10 (update: Make that 11... sigh...) to every number before today and we'll all be all right.  (Pauses for boos...)  And now, on with the show."

81- They Just Can't Stop It (AKA Games People Play), The Spinners, 1975, #5. I meantioned last week about my take on this band- they just do feel-good music.

80- After The Gold Rush, Prelude, 1974, #22.  An A Cappella version of a Neil Young classic.



79- Show Me The Way, Peter Frampton, 1976, #6. You that lived that summer, lived this song.  You that came later, hear a chunk of our lives.

78- Tracks Of My Tears, Linda Ronstadt, 1975, #25.  I've said before on Time Machine, I fail to understand how the buying public dumped on both this and Smokey's original so bad.  "Take a good look at my face..."

77- Breakaway, Art Garfunkel, 1975, #39.  One of my "chillin' with Ron Gregory at night" songs.  "I see the distant lights out on the runway... disappear into the evening sky... Oh. you know I'm with you on your journey... never can say goodbye..."

76-  Jackie Blue, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, 1975, #3.  One of my favorite verses of any song gets edited out of the single:  "Making love is like sifting through sand/ ooh Jackie, it slips through your hands/ Every day in your indigo eyes/ I see the sunset, but I don't see it rise/ Moonlight and stars in your strawberry wine/ you'll take the world but you won't take the time..."

75- The City Of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie, 1972, #18.  Pretty high placement for someone who hates getting stuck by trains as much as I do.  Fact- Arlo never rode the train in question until 2005!

74- Miss You, Rolling Stones, 1978, #1.  This song re-made the Stones a force for the next decade.  My best karaoke tune.

73- Ariel, Dean Friedman, 1977, #26.  I saw this on King's Dpt. Store's top twenty list, but it never played here (Probably that "I said, "hi", she said, "Yeah, I guess I am" line).  I heard it yeeeeeeaaaars later and fell in love.



72- I Saw The Light, Todd Rundgren, 1972, #16.  Todd may be a bit odd, but he wrote three of the best songs of all time- Love Is The Answer, Hello It's Me (which will come up... eventually...) and this one.

71- The Way That I Want To Touch You, the Captain and Tennille, 1975, #4.  There was just something in the way this song was recorded that touched me.  Never have been able to explain it.

70-  Then Came You, Dionne Warwick and the Spinners, 1974, #1.  Together?  Are you serious?!  Hard to believe this was Dionne's first #1.

69- Who Loves You?, The Four Seasons, 1975, #3.  Another "nights with Ron Gregory on WOWO" song.  You know me and the Seasons.

68- Heat Wave, Linda Ronstadt, 1975, #5.  And by now, you know me and Linda.

67- What's Going On, Marvin Gaye, 1970, #2.  Berry Gordy's take on Marvin doing songs like this leads me to question his sanity.  One of the most powerful songs of all time.

66- Changes In Latitude, Changes In Attitude, Jimmy Buffett, 1977, #37.  I had a friend who was a parrothead, and one of the coolest people I ever met.  He died much too young, and was buried in a Harley -Davidson t that said Never Forget, with a sonogram of his soon-to-be-born first child on his chest.  For years, I never passed a barroom jukebox without playing this song and drinking one for him.



65- The Grooveline, Heatwave, 1978, #7. I pretty much told this song's story last week, in it's rivalry with Player's This Time I'm In It For Love on my charts.

64- I'm Just A Singer In A Rock'nRoll Band, Moody Blues, 1973, #12. "A thousand pictures can be drawn from one word/Only who is the artist,We got to agree/A thousand miles can lead so many ways/
Just to know who is driving,What a help it would be/So if you want this world of yours to turn about you/And you can see exactly what to do, please tell me..."

63- Roundabout, Yes, 1971, #13.  Just a day at the lake...

62- Fly Away, John Denver with Olivia Newton-John, 1975, #13.  You should check out the Fly Away story here if you haven't heard it already.  You'll have to scroll down a ways, but well worth it.

61- Too Late To Turn Back Now, Corneilius Brothers and Sister Rose, 1972, #2.  I'd love this song if there was NO vocal.

"And so- and I hesitate to add, at last,"  The host says, "We are finally on the right number.  As I've said before, NEXT WEEK we'll be into the top fifty.  For now, though, here is a little something to glide home on..."

Time Machine week 5

Well, if Bobby G. had his way, you are all here to see my thoughts on the death of Monkee Davy Jones.  This is a sad moment that cut across the generations, and nothing I can say on that subject can do justice.  The Monkees did all the things we wish we could do and still be cool.  And I’m not going into the behind the scenes stuff.  This moment doesn’t deserve the acrimony and harshness that would bring.  But I do have some fun stuff planned, including a set of Monkee trivia questions and my top ten Monkees songs, as well as their top ten hits by chart position.  Plus the usual fun and games.  Annnd away we go!

So, just so you have enough time, let’s hit the trivia questions which I will (maybe) answer as we go on.
1. Name the Monkee who sang lead on the most songs on their 5 first albums.
2. What was the reason that Mickey played the drums on screen when Davy was better at them?
3. How did the Monkees indirectly cause the formation of the Archies.
4.How many tracks on their very first album did any of the Monkees play an instrument?
5.I’ll give you four cities- you tell me which monkee was born there. (Davy’s a gimme, but the others might make you work.)
a. Los Angeles
b. Manchester
c. Washington, DC
d. Houston


Okay, now back to business.  We had eleven hot 100 debuts this week in 1970, but the only one I knew was the moving Reflections Of My Life by Marmalade, coming in at 93.  Which brings us to our birthday list, which is also a bit sparse.  Turning 30 this week is Paul Davis’ ‘65 Love Affair and Kool and the Gang’s get Down On It.  35 years ago this week, When I Need You by Leo Sayer hit the hot 100.  45 years ago, the Five Americans’ Western Union debuted.  And reaching their 50th birthday are Rick Nelson’s Young World and Shelley Fabres’ Johnny Angel.  Blow out the candles…

The big mover down this week goes to Jay and the Americans’ Walking In The Rain, drizzling down 18 to #39 (yeah, I know I’m supposed to save top 40 movers for the top 40 segment, but they only missed by 2), while the fast comer is Neil Diamond and Until It’s Time For You To Go, climbing 29 spots to #60.

Answer to #3:  Don Kirchner, who helped put the Monkees together, crossed the line with the boys when he released their second lp, More Monkees, with out permission, input, or even giving the band a copy. (They had to go buy one at a record shop!)  The infighting became so bad that Mike punched a hole in an office wall and warned Kirchner his head could be next.  Finally, Kirchner breached his end of their contract and was fired.  Furious over having to deal with artists who exercised their own opinions, Kirchner went on to create a group that would never give him backtalk- an animated cartoon band- the Archies.

Our Where Are They Now segment once again takes a detour into the afterlife.  Jr. Walker and the All-Stars- most famous for their big hit Shotgun, and this week at #50 with Gotta Hold On To This Feeling- were on the way down in 1970, but Junior himself stayed active well into the proceeding decades, including doing the sax solo on Foreigner’s Urgent in 1981.  Original drummer Tony Washington is the only surviving member.  His replacement James Graves died in a car wreck in 1967; Junior passed of cancer in 1995.  Guitarist Willie Woods died in 1997, and piano man Vic Thomas died in 2010.

Answer to #2:  The producers were concerned that the short Davy wouldn’t be seen over the drum kit, so they shoehorned Mickey into it.  The band members agreed that the best line-up would have had Mickey out front and Davy at the sticks.

In the interests of keeping things moving, and a tip of the hat to Bobby G., my look at past #1s (more of a blink this time) shows us that this week in 1966, Ssgt. Barry Sadler was at the top with The Ballad Of The Green Berets.

Since I was just about to forget all the things I promised, howsabout we do the top charting Monkees songs?  (I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone was #10; 1986’s comeback hit That Was Then, This Is Now at #9; D.W. Washburn #8; Seventh was Words; #6 is Pleasant Valley Sunday; #5 was Valleri; at number four we have A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You; Last Train To Clarksville was #3; Daydream Believer at #2; and their biggest hit, of course, was I’m A Believer.

Top 40 debuts this week: Moving up 13 to #40 is Edison Lighthouse with Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes.  Bobby Sherman enters at 34, up a dozen with Easy Come, Easy Go.  James Brown comes in at 33, climbing 9 with It’s A New Day.  And the high debut is good ol’ Aretha Franklin with Call Me.  I’m listening to the JB song right now, and not terribly surprising I don’t know it; I’ll play Aretha when he’s done screaming.  OOPS, he just got done.  Excuse me while I cue up Aretha…  done.

Answer to #5: Davy, the lone Englishman, hails from Manchester; Mickey was born in L.A.; despite errant press releases, Peter was born in Washington, DC; and Mike was calved in Houston.

An almost but not quite shoutout to Joe South and the Believers, who peak at 12 with Walk A Mile In My Shoes.  And with 2 songs into the top ten, two fall out.  Dropping are I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (10 to 25) and Arizona (9 to 16).

Answer to #4- One.  Peter played guitar on Papa Gene’s Blues.

Moving up 4 notches to lead off the top ten is Ma Belle Ami by Tee Set.  Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, but still hang on in the top 10, dropping 2 more to #9.  Shocking Blue drops 5 to #8 with former top dog Venus.

ANNND now, My favorite Monkees tunes.  At #10, the spoken word Zilch (if you don’t know it, google it for your own insanity).  #9, Words.  #8, Pleasant Valley Sunday. #7, Papa Gene’s Blues (which I have the hardest time remembering by name).  #6, Take A Giant Step.  #5, Valleri.  #4, I’m A Believer.  #3, For Pete’s Sake.  #2 What Am I Doing Hanging ‘Round.  And #1 by the slimmest of gossamer margins, Last Train To Clarksville.

Up a big 6 spots to #7 is CCR with Travellin’ Band.  Up 2 to #6, Brooks Benton and Rainy Night In Georgia.  And rising one to #5, the Temps with Psychedelic Shack.

The answer to question #1- Mickey, 25; Davy, 21; Mike, 11; more than one lead vocal, 5; and Peter, 2.

The Guess who hold at 4 with No Time.  And that brings us to Sly And The Family Stone, slipping to #3 (down from the top) with Thank You Fallettenme Be Mice Elf Again- the six degrees victim.

Sly Stone was rasied in the gospel atmosphere of the Church of God in Christ.  One of the stars of his band was Larry Graham, a Jehovah’s Witness who converted Prince to the JWs.  Among Larry’s many projects was the debut funk lp by Betty Davis, an ex-wife of jazz man Miles Davis.Miles had been introed to some off-the-beaten-jazz trail melodies by Graham’s Boss Sly Stone, as well as by Jimi Hendrix.  Hendrix allegedly was having an affair with Betty while the recording sessions for Miles’ classic Bitches’ Brew (Which apparently was named by, and not about, Betty).  Though Jimi didn’t live long enough to record with Miles, among the many talents on BB was fellow jazz star Chick Corea, who to complete our trio within a sextet, was a Scientologist.

And that, at last leaves us with the top 2.  At the runner-up spot, Eddie Holman pauses for a second week with Hey There Lonely Girl.  Which means the new top dog is….



Simon and Garfunkel, up 4 to the top with Bridge Over Troubled Waters!!!

And that wraps up this tribute.  Tune in tomorrow for the seventies countdown, and see you next week right here.

The Great seventies countdown week 13

"We are burrowing deep into the best songs of all time, "  The Host says.  "At least the best of the era, to me.  Next week at this point, we will be inside the top fifty at the end.  So sit back, and enjoy, for our time together in this auditorium of time... grows short..."

90- Vincent (Starry Starry Night), Don McLean, 1972, #12.  The first side of American Pie was one of the greatest pieces of music in history.  "Starry starry night... portraits hung in empty halls... frameless heads on nameless walls... with eyes that watch the world and can't forget/ Like the strangers that you've met... the ragged men in ragged clothes... the silver thorn, the bloody rose... lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow..."

89- Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, The Spinners, 1972, #4.  The Spinners have a sound that just makes me relax and feel good.

88- Green Eyed Lady, Sugarloaf, 1970, #3.  Those close to me have heard me use the line "Child of nature, friend of man" for dozens of different circumstances.

87- Jet, Paul McCartney and Wings, 1973, #7.  One of the best non-guitar bridges on the list.

86- This Time I'm In It For Love, Player, 1978, #10.  This song did battle with Heatwave's The Grooveline for my #1 all through the early summer of '78.  Right at the climax of the battle, my dad and I went to stay with my sister in Florida for three weeks- and my radio choices became a) one station that was nothing but gold records- and those that "somebody" thought had the potential (IOW I heard the two songs a grand total of one time) and b) an all Elvis all the time channel.  BTW- yes the second guy on the left WAS Ridge Forrester on The Bold And The Beautiful.



85- Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady, Helen Reddy, 1975, #8.  Another of my many crushes with another of her "dysfunctional persons" songs- this time, it's the guy, though.

84- The Times Of Your Life, Paul Anka, 1975, #7.  As a toddler and a young child, I often paid more attention to commercials than the show.  So when this went from Kodak (RIP) commercial to hit song, it was like the best of both worlds.

83- Liar, Three Dog Night, 1971, #7.  Running a special on #7's today, eh?  Best song ever recorded in a restroom.

82- My Sweet Lord, George Harrison, 1970, #1.  I just turn the "hare krishnas" into more "alleluias".  Either way, it's so fine. (Cryptic joke alert!)

81- Crystal Ball, Styx, 1977, #109.   One-oh-nine?  Someone was NOT paying attention here!



80- Last Song (I'll Ever Write For You), Edward Bear, 1971, #3.  The band was named for Winnie the Pooh, whose proper name was, apparently, Edward Bear.  Another great Canadian band, eh?

79- Living Thing, Electric Light Orchestra, 1977, #13.  Top ten in the entire English speaking world, France, and on the Cashbox chart.  BOOOOO, Billboard!!

78- Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow, 1978, #3.  Can you believe this song was done by the Carpenters first, and was the flip side of Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft? Hmm, perhaps another b-side that should have been flipped by DJs...

77- Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat, DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco,  1973, #3.  Tony was a teenager when he sang this; now he's a real estate agent with Sotheby in California.

76- A Rock And Roll Fantasy, The Kinks, 1978, #30.  "Dan is a man who lives for our music, it's the only thing that gets him by/ He's watched us grow, and he's seen all our shows/he's seen us low and he's seen us high/ Oh, but you and I keep thinking that the world's just passing us by..."  Don'tcha love autobiographical songs?

75- Don't Look Back, Boston, 1978, #4.  If their whole second album had half met the potential of this one song, they'd be in the Hall Of Fame.

74- Share The Land, The Guess Who, 1970, #10.  Ever since hearing this on the way to my baby niece's funeral, I want this played at my own funeral.  If it isn't I will haunt you all forever.




73- Don't Pull Your Love, Hamilton, Joe Frank, And Reynolds, 1971, #4.  HJF&R was one act I really wish could've done more songs.  The three they hit with are classics.

72- Come And Get It, Badfinger, 1970, #7.  Gotta get one last #7 in.  Anyone else remember this being used as an Army recruitment commercial theme?  I do!

"And quite out of character,"  The Host says, " Our last song for today shall also be our go home song for the day.  See you here next week!"

71- The Story In Your Eyes, The Moody Blues, 1971, #23.  Just a good MB song - until you REALLY listen to the words.  Then it becomes one of their most powerful tunes.

Time Machine week 4

We have a trip this week that’s all over the board, from Vaudeville to WWF wrestling, from Nashville to Detroit, from Jay and the Americans’ last top 40 hit to Led Zeppelin as an opening act!  Intrigued?  Good! Then I won’t have to tease the six degrees that will take us from Ray Stevens to the devil!  Not much of a stretch, you say?  Well, stay tuned!

We lead off with another big week of 18 hot 100 debuts, but we feature but 5 of them.  Norman Greenbaum debuts at 97 with Spirit In The Sky.  I thought it odd that a practicing (then and now)Jew should write a song about Jesus- and when I hit the odder explanation which included westerns, Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton, and “being buried with my boots on”, I just gave up.  Neil Diamond comes in at 96 with Shilo, which was a long-delayed autobiographical account of Neil’s imaginary childhood friend.  And no, I don’t think this week’s episode is going to get any more normal.  The Carpenters hit the pool at #91 with their cover of Ticket To Ride, the only thing odd therein was that Laurie never realized this was a Beatles original.  After a plethora of other tunes I didn’t really know, John Lennon and his Plastic Ono Nuclear Band comes in at #72 with Instant Karma (We All Shine On)- and John makes his own oddity.  Finally, way up at 67 is the high debut, Three Dog Night with Celebrate (which I learned was recorded with a large section of Chicago’s horn section.

All of which leads us to a heaping helping of birthdays this week.  Stevie Nicks’ classic Edge Of Seventeen turns 30 this week.  Turning 35 is Glen Campbell’s Southern Nights.  Turning 40 are Donnie Osmond’s cover of Puppy Love, the Stylistics’ Betcha By Golly Wow, and America’s A Horse With No Name.  Reaching 45 this week are the Beatles’ double-sided Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane, The Mamas and the Papas’ Dedicated To The One I Love, and the poorly named 59th Street Song- better known by the tagline “Feeling Groovy”- by the equally curiously-named Harper’s Bizarre.  And finally, you American Graffiti fans, the Dell-Vikings Come Go With Me turns 55 this week.  Blow out the candles…

Man, this week’s show is packed tight!  Next up are the big movers.  On the downward spiral, Englebert Humperdink’s Winter World Of Love melts down 19 notches to #41; the aforementioned Mr. Campbell, along with Bobby Gentry, shoots up 24 to #58 with All I Have To Do Is Dream.

Speaking of Gentrys, it is the Gentrys, currently at #50 with Why Should I Cry, who get the Where Are They Now spotlight.  The Gentrys, best known for the hit Keep On Dancing (#4 in 1965), Had two notable members.  One was Larry Raspberry (a notable name all by itself), who is basically the one member who has carried on in the business, still active with his band the Highsteppers.  The other is Jimmy “the Mouth of the South” Hart- yes, that Jimmy Hart, member of the Hart Foundation, wrestler and promoter.  He’s also an accomplished writer of his fellow wrestler’s theme songs, including those for his own Hart Foundation, the Honky-Tonk Man, Brutus Beefcake, the Legion of Doom, Ted DiBiase, Shawn Michaels, and Hulk Hogan.  Hart is currently back, it seems, under the WWF umbrella after years of coming and going between WWF and TNA.

Next up are the top 40 debuts- all SEVEN of them, all but two of which I had to listen to to try and remember.  Coming in at 39, up 3 spots, is the studio band Steam with their follow up to Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, called I’ve Gotta Make You Love Me.  Zooming into the 40 on a 22-notch climb to #38, is Detroit rockers Frijid Pink with their cover of House Of The Rising Sun.  These guys were so popular in the Motor City that a newly minted Led Zeppelin opened for them at the Grand Ballroom in Detroit!  How’d you like to have a ticket stub from THAT show to post on eBay?   Then comes Lulu at 37, up 9 with Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby), which is much better than that clunky title.  Stevie Wonder chimes in at 35, also up 9, with Never Had A Dream Come True.  Then with one of the 2 I actually recognized, the Hollies debut at 34, up a big fifteen spots with He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother  ( a song I usually replace “my brother” with the name of a former boss who could have went to Halloween as Barney with nothing but purple body paint).  Mama Cass pokes into the countdown next, climbing 8 to #33 with New World Coming.  And at long last, the last debut is the King, Elvis Presley, with Kentucky Rain, rising 14 spots to #31.

The weekly perusal of the #1s of ancient history this week nets us the original Puttin’ On The Ritz.  It was #1 this week in 1930 for one Henry Richman, a multi-talented individual who paid his dues on Vaudeville as the piano accompanist for Mae West, among others.  Talented enough, in fact, to give him his own movie, for which Ritz was both title and theme song.  Acting, though, did not prove to be his forte- years later, Leonard Maltin’s review of the film went: “ A songwriter drinks and goes blind- after seeing this, you’ll want to do the same.”  He was apparently better at flying than acting.  He was co-pilot with Dick Merrill on the first trans-Atlantic  round-trip flight.  He packed the plane with ping pong balls (to float it if it should splashdown), and was selling autographed balls from the plane until his death in 1972.

An almost but not quite shout out to Jay and his friggin’ Americans (not a big fan, as you might guess) as their hit, a cover of the Ronettes’ Walkin’ In The Rain, peaked last week at 14 and slips this week to #21.  This would be their last time in the top 40.

Three songs blast- and I mean blast- their way into the top 10, three songs plummet- and I mean plummet- to make room.  The droppers are I Want You Back (from 3 to 15), Without Love (There Is Nothing) (from 6 to 20), and Whole Lotta Love (10 to 22).

Dionne Warwick leads off the top ten, dropping 3 to #10 with I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.  Mark Lindsay holds at 9 with Arizona.  Brooks Benton is the first of our “blasters”, jumping 7 to land at #8 with Rainy Night In Georgia.  And falling three to #7 is our six degrees victim.

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (our grandpa chair song at 18 weeks), as longtime readers know, was offered to Bob Dylan before BJ Thomas.  But, what you might not’ve known is that it was first offered to Ray Stevens.  Stevens turned it down to record a new Kris Kristofferson song- Sunday Morning Coming Down.  He managed to ride it not very far- #55 on the country charts and #81 on the hot 100.  (Of course, Johnny Cash soon took it to #1 on C&W and #46 on the pop charts.)

Kristofferson recorded it for his self-titled debut album, along with an amazing array of his compositions that became classics- for someone else.  Besides Sunday Morning, Kristofferson the album also contained Me And Bobby McGee (#1 pop for Janis Joplin), Help Me Make It Through The Night (which Dottie West turned down- “my greatest regret”- and Sammie Smith took to #1 C&W and #8 pop), and For The Good Times ( #1 C&W and #11 pop for Ray Price).  Apparently the only cut Kris released was a tune called To Beat The Devil (hence the tease) which failed to chart on either list.  In fact, the album tanked until Joplin died and went to #1; then it was re-titled Me And My Bobby McGee and re-released, making #10 C&W and #43 on the top 200 albums.

The other two “blasters” are next:  The Temptations jump 5 to #6 with Psychedelic Shack; and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters moves from 18 to #5.  The Guess Who  shoot from 8 to #4 with No Time. Former top dog Venus by Shocking Blue slips to #3.  Eddie Holman moves up from 5 to #2 with Hey There Lonely Girl.  And this week’s new top dog:


Sly Stone and the Family with Thank You Fallettenme Be Mice Elf Again!

Woof, that was a workout!  See you Saturday for the seventies countdown.

The Great Seventies Countdown week 12

"Today, I've lined up something very special for the end of the show, "  The Host says as applause dies down.  "It's getting harder now to find the more obscure pieces of music to show you... but you'll find our last one qualifies.  Now, on with the show."

110- Danny's Song, Anne Murray, 1972, #7.  Just as good is Kenny Loggins' original.  Both are on the BIG list I did earlier.

109- Love Machine, the Miracles, 1975, #1.  Billy Griffin took over when Smokey left in the 70's, and this was their big- and only- top 40 hit.

108-Keep It Coming, Love, KC And The Sunshine Band, 1977, #2.  Heard it the first time one night on the Midnight Special.  Never really cared for the band before that point. Funny how watching some songs live can change things.

107-Tequila Sunrise, The Eagles, 1973, #64.  "Take another shot of courage... wonder why the right words never come, you just get numb..."

106- Fox On The Run, Sweet, 1975, #5.  One of those songs that I had a "love-hate" relationship back then.  Love won.

105- The Love You Save, Jackson Five, 1970, #1.  Admit it.  If you were a kid back then, you watched the cartoon.  Probably the Osmonds cartoon, too.  And the Archie show...

104- Holding On To Yesterday, Ambrosia, 1975, #17.  Probably the most depressing song not on an Eric Carmen album ever for me...

103- One Less Bell To Answer, the Fifth Dimension, 1970, #2.  Marilyn at her very best.

102- We're All Alone, Boz Scaggs, 1976, flip side of Lido Shuffle.  I think this is our first double-dipper on the countdown.  Boz wrote it, he does it best.  See....




101- Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty, 1978, #2.  One of those songs you kinda liked, liked a little more, and the next thing you knew, it was at the top.

100- Nadia's Theme, Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin JR, 1976, #8.  At the beginning, we were all "The Young And The Restless" heads.  Snapper, Katherine, and of course, Victor Newman, okay?

99- Daybreak (the live version), Barry Manilow, 1977, #23.  As depressing as Ambrosia was on their song, this one is the opposite end of the spectrum.  Brings me up from even my lowest.

98- Band On The Run, Wings, 1974, #1.  "If I ever get out of here/gonna give it all away/to a registered charity/ all I need is a pint a day..."

97- Pretty Maids All In A Row, The Eagles, 1977, flip side of Hotel California.  My favorite Eagles or Joe Walsh song.



96- Saturday In The Park, Chicago, 1973, #3.  I don't know how this wasn't a #1.  It sure was around here. But, "A bronze man still can tell stories his own way.  Listen, children! All is not lost! All is not lost!"

95- Get Down, Gilbert O'Sullivan, 1973, #7.  I still remember arguing with my niece that it wasn't Gilbert AND Sullivan.  Another one of those "love-hate" songs that turned out good.

94- Snowbird, Anne Murray, 1970, #8.  I suppose I'm as surprised as anybody to see Anne Murray twice in one week,  but this one will usually find me teary-eyed by the end.

93- Sylvia's Mother, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, 1972, #5.  The most heartbreaking vocal ever.  The operator was gouging him, man.



92- Aubrey, Bread, 1972, #15.  Boy, Breakfast At Tiffanys sure spawned a lot of songs.  I've always empathised with songs about loves you never meet.  Other examples being Genesis' Turn It On Again and Counting Crows' Mrs. Potter's Lullabye.

91- Racing In The Streets, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, 1978, unreleased.  Okay, I'm cheating a bit here.  The live version that I love the best (off Springsteen Live) was recorded in 1981, but the studio version was a 1978 release.  The long ending is one of those pieces of music I wish could go on forever.

"And so we reach the end of another show,"  The Host says, "And I promised you something special.  At least to me, it is.  For a year or so, CBS "jazzed up" the intros to there soap operas by putting words to the themes.  Here is that version of Nadia's theme.  (I actually almost put up David Hasselhoff's version that was a hit in Japan, but frankly, it sucked.)  Enjoy. Until next week..."

Time Machine week #3

I kinda think that three weeks in, I can drop the “new”.  Now it’s just like the trick the comic book companies do- when sales slump, re-number to #1 and pretend there was some reason to start over.  Except I had a good reason, and this week is especially special because we’re going to celebrate the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary with some extra bon mots, including a 6 8 degrees on some Beach Boys members that you might never have known about.  Along with a lot of our usual fooferall including a trip through the legend of Billy Jack.  Hop in, belt up, and flip the switch!

We had an amazing 18 debuts on the hot 100 this week- but despite new music by such luminaries as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, the Grass Roots, the 5th Dimension, Tommy James and the Shondells, and Paul Revere and the Raiders, I knew only 3 (count ‘em, 3) of them.  At 82- and the only way I knew this one was from owning a Glen Campbell’s greatest hits tape, is the man himself with Bobbi Gentry redoing the Everlys’ All I Have To Do Is Dream.  At #70 is the peripatetic Tony Burrows and Edison Lighthouse and Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes, which always reminds me of Foster Brooks on some skit slurring, “Where Bambi goes, nothin’ grows!” for some odd reason.  And all the way up at #45, ta da daaaaah- the King, Elvis Presley, and Kentucky Rain.  Quality over quantity, I suppose.

Birthdays this week:  Turning 30 are Van Halen’s cover of Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman, along with Foreigner’s Jukebox Hero.  Turning 35 are the live version of Wings’ Maybe I’m Amazed, along with the Climax Blues Band’s hit Couldn’t Get It Right.  And finally, Mr. Orbison himself debuted with Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) 50 years ago this week.  Blow out the candles…

Speaking of birthdays, I’m not alone in celebrating the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary.  A new studio album is being recorded, and a 44-city tour starting in April, by the band’s most original lineup possible: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks.  Brian, Mike, and David were originals, Al was David’s replacement when he proved too young to tour.

Our big dropper this week is courtesy of Johnny Taylor, who would in a few years give us the classic Disco Lady.  His tune Love Bones falls 42 spots to #74 this week.  The big jumper- well, it’s in the top 40.  WAAAAY up in the top 40.  So we’ll see it later.

One thing I wanted to do was a list of the Boys’ all time best sellers.  However, that info has proven… difficult.  However, I did find that 4 of their songs (as of November 2003) had played at least 3 million times on the radio.  3 of them shouldn’t be that hard to guess- the fourth was actually the b-side of another of their big hits.  I’ll give you some time to guess before I let the cat outta the bag.

The Where Are They Now victim at #50 this week is the song One Tin Soldier- not the Coven version that was on the Billy Jack movie, but the original by… er… Original Caste.  OC was a Canadian folk band basically consisting of leader Bruce Innes, vocalist (and at some point between 1967 and 1970, Mrs. Innes) Dixie Lee Stone, Graham Bruce, and Bliss Mackie (who is not affiliated with Brown Mackie College).  Their take on the song was top ten in Canada in ‘70, and it would hit #34 here.  In ‘71, vocalist Jinx Dawson of Coven recorded it for the Billy Jack soundtrack on the condition that it be listed on album, single, and movie as Coven.  The single, in some kind of attempt to skirt royalty issues, was labeled One Tin Soldier (The Legend Of Billy Jack), and had made it to #26 before the production company pulled it because their dastardly doings failed.  The full band put it on their album (With their faces cleverly whited out on the cover) and it re-charted in 1973 and ‘74.  It was eventually named the most request song of the year in both 1971 and 1973.  OC went on to have some more hits in Canada- as well as Japan- but never hit in the US of A again.  The band shrank to just Bruce and Dixie in 1972, and was finally shelved when they divorced in 1980.  Dixie dropped out of the biz and became a social worker;  Bruce stayed in and eventually formed a new “Original Caste” in the early 2000’s.

Dixie Lee Stone Innes of Original Caste

Jinx Dawson of Coven- ooooh!

We had 7 top 40 debuts this week.  Soul  singer Joe Simon moonwalked into the top 40, going up one to the leadoff spot, with Moon Walk.  Coming up 6 to #39 was a catchy little soul/dance number by the Dells, Oh, What A Day.  Roaring into the top 40 at 38, up 17 notches, is Santana with Evil Ways.  Coming up 9 to #37 is last week’s big mover, the Chairmen Of The Board’s Give Me Just A Little More Time.  Also up 9 to come in at 35 is two weeks ago’s Where Are They Now victim, Lenny Welch’s Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (which is a pretty faithful precursor to Neil Sedaka’s upcoming slow version).  Shooting up 14 spots to #28 is Donnie Iris and the Jaggerz with The Rapper.  Which leaves the high debut and this week’s biggest mover- up 32 spots to #18- Simon And Garfunkel with Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was last week’s WANT victim.  Fifty’s getting to be a popular launching pad, eh?

Have you guessed at the 4 3-million-listens yet?  One of them is (unfortunately) their biggest seller of all time, Kokomo.  The #1 Good Vibrations and the #3 California Girls  should have been pretty easy to get.  But the fourth?  It was the b-side of I Get Around- Don’t Worry Baby.

Two songs enter the top ten, two fall out.  Vanity Fare retreats after their one-week peek into the ten, dropping from 10 to 26 with Early In The Morning.  And, Elvis in, Elvis out- Don’t Cry Daddy slips from 9 to 24.

We lead off the top ten with Led Zep’s Whole Lotta Love slipping from 7 to #10.  Mark Lindsay of the aforementioned Raiders moves up 2 to #9 with Arizona.  The Guess Who stalls at #8 with No Time.  Dionne Warwick’s I’ll Never Fall In Love Again falls a notch to #7; as does Tom Jones’ Without Love (There Is Nothing) to #6.

And now, in chronological order, 8 people you might never have guessed were Beach Boys:
GLEN CAMPBELL- He toured in Brian’s spot while Brian worked on Pet Sounds back home.

CHARLES MANSON- well, not exactly, but while he spent some time freeloading out at Dennis’ place, he, with help from Dennis and Terry Melcher, wrote a song he called Cease To Exist, which morphed later on into Never Learn Not To Love on the album 20/20.

DARYL (“THE CAPTAIN”) DRAGON- Was the touring keyboardist an a couple of stints, the first from 1967-72.

BLONDIE CHAPLIN- a buddy of Carl’s, he was lead vocal on Sail On Sailor and a few others.

GERRY BECKLEY- the former vocalist from America(I Need You, Sister Golden Hair) was the one who finished Carl’s last tour for him in 1980.

JOHN STAMOS- Has pitched in at various levels since 1990, is going to be part of the upcoming tour, and if you have any doubts about his abilities, catch his lead vocal on the song Forever.  This should have been a top ten hit, if negative critics didn’t have much of the world brainwashed against them.

PHIL BARDOWELL-  after one of his stints in the touring band, he joined Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, became a Christian, and has had several Christian releases.  Oh, and he’s in on the tour as well.

JOHN COWSILL- drummer for the family act in the ‘60s (Hair, Indian Lake), founding member of Tommy Tutone (867-5309/Jenny) in the 80’s, member of the band in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Crashing the top ten party at #5, up 7 big notches, is Eddie Holman with Hey There Lonely Girl.  From here on out it gets very familiar-  Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head holds at 4, I Want You Back at 3, Thank You Falletenme Be Mice Elf Again at 2, and Shocking Blue takes the top with Venus for a third week.

Tune in next week for more fun and games, and tomorrow for the seventies countdown.

The great seventies countdown week 11

The host's voice is growly as he approaches the mike.  "Almost didn't make it, " he says, "A cold is no way to enjoy this.  But I feel a little better now than I did most of the night, so here we go..."

130- Sugar Mountain, Neil Young, 1970, B-side of The Loner.  This song was never on an album until Decade in 1977, but has been a cult favorite since The Loner missed the charts back in 1970.  Live at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, MI in November of 1968. "You can't be 20 on Sugar Mountain... though you're thinkin' that you're leaving there too soon..."

129- Live And Let Die, Paul McCartney And Wings,  1973, #2.  Another song that oddly enough never saw an lp until years later (on 1978's Wings Greatest), it was the biggest Bond theme at that time.  Wasn't he great with this on the Super Bowl halftime years back?

128- Last Night (I Didn't Get To Sleep At All), the Fifth Dimension, 1972, #8.  I so wish that Billy Davis would have let Marilyn have the lead part on You Don't Have To Be A Star.  It would have been a far better song, maybe even like this one.

127- Bungle In The Jungle, Jethro Tull, 1975, #12. This kinda fits the trend the first two started; it was one of three songs left over from what would have been the follow-up to Thick As A Brick.  A nifty allegory of life at the office.

126- Rhinestone Cowboy, Glenn Campbell, 1975, #1.  More 8-track at the lake fun.  This whole album was great.

125- Rhiannon, Fleetwood Mac, 1975, #11.  Fleetwood Mac had that incredible 2 album run in the mid seventies, but the songs on Fleetwood Mac often get overshadowed by the ones on Rumours.  This was my favorite.

124- Carefree Highway, Gordon Lightfoot, 1974, #10.  "... I wonder how the old folks are tonght... Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face..."  well, almost.

123- Summer, War, 1976, #7.   Take a trip through the lyrics of this one and you'll see why.



122- Emotion, Samantha Sang, 1977, #3.  Real name Cheryl Lau Sang, had some mid-sixties hits in her homeland of Australia under the name Cheryl Gray, and hit it big under Barry Gibb's wing as Samantha Sang. George Bitzer's keyboards made this.

121- The Things We Do For Love, 10cc, #5.  The anthem of my freshman year of high school.

120- Island Girl, Elton John, 1975, #4.  A lot of good but ubiquitous songs didn't make my chart.  Thus you don't see Stevie Wonder much, and EJ only three times.  The more hits you had, the more they had to stand out.

119- Couldn't Get It Right, Climax Blues Band, 1977, #3.  One of those songs that did a long, slow, grow-on-you sort of thing.

118- Best Of My Love, The Eagles, 1974, #1.  This was the best song on the first album I ever bought- Eagles Greatest Hits.

117- Rock Me Gently, Andy Kim, 1974, #1.  I had a mini-crush on a certain girl all through grade school.  This is one of "her" songs.

116- The Needle And The Damage Done, Neil Young, 1972, unreleased.  Like other Neil songs, you gotta pay attention to the lyrics (particularly the last line) to get this one.




115- No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, The Guess Who, 1970, #1 (as the b-side to American Woman on Billboard) or #39 (on its own on Cashbox, both without New Mother Nature attached).  I'm not sure why it was ever seperated one from the other.  They sound naked apart.  Just listen to the album cut.

114- A Trick Of The Tail, Genesis, 1976, non-charting.  A delightful faerie tale which, according to our theme of the day, was mostly wrote in 1972 and intended for the lp Foxtrot.





113- Sweet City Woman, The Stampeders, 1971, #8.  #1 in Canada, both on their pop and country charts.  I still don't know what a macaroon is, honestly.

112- Just Remember I Love You, Firefall, 1977, #11.  I didn't know then the rich history that ran through Firefall- elements of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, and Poco.  I just knew that "when you feel like sorrow is you're only friend/knowing that tomorrow you'll feel this way again" resonated with me, and I could have used someone to remind me I was loved.

111- Only 16, Dr. Hook, 1976, #6.  This song has me at the opening chords.

"Yes, I was much too young to... AHEM", the host says as he realizes the mike's gone live.  "Next week, we'll be entering the top 100- where it will be very much like 93 songs fighting for spots 10, 9, 8, and 7.  Until then, may your highways be... care free."

The new time machine week two

First of all I’d like to make a hearty thank you to Bobby G., who has managed to pass his sinus cold through the WWW to me.  So if I get off track, lose my place, or generally sound like sneezing my head right off my body would be a good thing, blame him.

That said, we have a really big shuuuue for you today, that will include the Denver Nightingale (?), the Cuff Links revisited, the very first Beach Boys song, and a six degrees that covers Bananarama to the Stones.  Let’s do this before my eyes remove themselves from my forehead, shall we?

We had 8 debuts on the hot 100 this week, and I’ll stop off at 4 of them.  Badfinger enters the national consciousness at #100 with their debut single Come And Get It.  And two spots later, if you’d forgotten we’re going back to 1970 now, you’ll remember when I say the name… Bobby Sherman, who debuts with Easy Come Easy Go.  94 is a debut by Fleetwood Mac, pre- Nicks/Buckingham, with their first American single, Oh Well.  And waaaaay up at #76, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition come in with Something’s Burning.

All of which brings us to our birthday songs this week.  Turning thirty are Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ I Love Rock And Roll and Huey Lewis and the News’ Do You Believe In Love.  Reaching the age of 35 are Natalie Cole’s I’ve Got Love On My MInd, Jennifer Warnes’ Right Time Of The Night, and ELO’s redux of the old Move song Do Ya.  Hitting 40 are BJ Thomas’ Rock’n’Roll Lullabye, Yes’ Roundabout, and that song that in a few short years has went from song your mom won’t let you play to halftime marching band staple, Black Sabbath’s Iron Man.  Turning 45 are Herman’s Hermits’ version of There’s A Kind Of Hush and Leslie Gore’s California Nights.  And turning the big 5-0 is the very first Beach Boys single- Surfin’. 

One comedic (to me) moment on that last week was Bobby Rydell who debuted at 74 with a song called I’ve Got Bonnie; then, seemingly in response, debuted at 76 with one called Lose Her.  Well, I thought it was funny.

Our big dropper this week revisits our friends from last week, the Cuff Links (AKA Ron Dante), who fall (falls?) 53 spots from a peak at 31 all the way to 84 with When Julie Comes Around.  The high climber is a little less dramatic- the Chairmen of the Board climb 19 to #46 with Give Me Just A Little More Time (Brrdrrdrrdrrdrr…).

Our Where Are They Now contestants this week almost got double billing as the high climber, moving up 16 spots.  And that would be Simon And Garfunkel with Bridge Over Troubled Water.  The boys actually had a tour set up in 2010, starting in March; sadly, years of smoking led to Art getting a bad case of vocal paresis, and after several delays cancelled the tour altogether in June.  Art put away the smokes then; and he announced in November 2010 he was nearly well enough to go back on the road.  Paul of course didn’t let the grass grow under his feet; among his recent events was performing at Ground Zero on the 10th anniversary of 9-11.

Which brings us to our top 40 debuts this week.  Sly and the Family Stone, whom we’ll “hear” later with Thank You Fallettenme Be Mice Elf Again, hits with the flip side of that same 45, Everybody Is A Star.  It moves up 3 to lead off the top 40.  Up thirteen to #39 is Dutch band the Tee Set with Ma Belle Ami.  An international hit, they also hit #1 in their homeland with the follow-up  She Likes Weeds; this song, however, got banned in the US of A, for...er...drug references.  Guess we know which weeds she likes, eh? One notch ahead at 38 we have Johnny and June Carter Cash with one of the many versions of the song If I Were A Carpenter.  The Delfonics come in at 36, up 5 with Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time.  RB Greaves, best known for his Take A Letter Maria, comes in at 35, up a dozen, with Always Something There To Remind Me (Which I didn’t know was the song’s only top 40 appearance until the Naked Eyes version- I remembered it from Dionne Warwick, who cut it a a b-side and only got to #65).  And finally the highest debut, rising 11 spots to come in at 33, CCR with Who’ll Stop The Rain?

Our look back in time takes us back to the first decade of the 1900’s and the Denver Nightingale.  Billy Murray was a vaudevillian and a very popular recording artist of the day, with a slight comedy sound to his tenor.  He was not only an artist who recorded on most of the major labels of the day, but was a huge baseball fan, alleged to have played a game or two with his favorite team, the future New York Yankees (then known as the Highlanders).  From Wikipedia:

He also supposedly sometimes called in sick to recording sessions in order to go to the ballpark. Murray recorded "Tessie, You Are the Only, Only, Only", which became the unofficial theme of the 1903 World Series, when the words were changed from "Tessie, you know I love you madly," to "Honus, why do you hit so badly?" (A reference to Pirate shortstop and hall of famer Honus Wagner.)

Billy was at #1 this week in 1908 with Under Any Old Flag At All, and in 1905 with Come Take A Trip In My Air-Ship.  A neat song, but when a guy sings a girl’s lyrics and doesn’t switch genders, I get a little uncomfortable.

Our first Almost But Not Quite of the new show goes to Arnold Dorsey AKA Englebert Humperdink, who stops at #13 with Winter World Of Love.  And dropping from the top ten this week are :  Someday We’ll Be Together, from 5 to 21; and Jingle Jangle, falling from 8 to 16.

Vanity Fare brings its baroque stylings into the top ten with Early In The Morning moving up a notch to #10. The King slips from 6 to #9 with Don’t Cry Daddy.  Exploding into the top ten, jumping 7 spots to #8, the Guess Who and No Time.  Led Zep holds at 7 with Whole Lotta Love.  Dionne Warwick’s I’ll Never Fall In Love Again jumps 4 big notches to #6, as does Tom Jones with Without Love (There Is Nothing) at #5.  Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head slips grudgingly down a notch to #4 for BJ Thomas.  The Jackson Five also slip a notch to #3 with I Want You Back.  Climbing over them to #2 was the aforementioned Sly and the Family Stone and Thank You, etc.  Which brings us to the repeat #1 song and the six degrees victim- Shocking Blue’s Venus. 

When this song came out, it hit #1 in 5 nations:  the US of A, Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain (but curiously not in their own country).  It of course was covered in 1984 by Bananarama, who hit #1 in SIX countries- the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Switzerland.  Curiously again, BOTH versions hit #8 on the UK charts.  The girls of Bananarama wanted to make it a dance song.  Their producers resisted, and so they switched to production/songwriting team of Mike Stock, Matt Aiken, and Pete Waterman, who also fought them before giving in.  Stock-Aiken-Waterman made their rep here on the single You Spin Me Round Like A Record by Dead Or Alive (Which hit #11 here in 1984).  DOA’s other accomplishment of note in the USA was a cover of KC and the Sunshine Band’s That’s The Way I Like It.  And percussionist for the Sunshine Band was one Ollie Brown, who had credits ranging from being a member of touring Rolling Stones in the mid ‘70s to drummer on the first Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio lp.

God, I made it!  Enjoy, my friends.  I’m going to take more good drugs and go back to bed.

And now… the NEW time machine week 1

Guess what?  I was trying to come up with a filler for time machine by using the site that first led me to Cashbox, Alaska Jim.  Well, Jim apparently got tired of waiting around for CB as well, and found a dude going by Tropical Glen (Oh, what irony!) who has the charts on his site.  So with a little extra work, we can get back to where we were.

Except…

I’ve been debating a change for a while.  We’ve reached on Time Machine the point where A) I was keeping my own top ten, and thus it was becoming less of an exploration for me to do; B) I was in High School, with attendant bad memories; and C) let’s face it, music was going a bit downhill- the really good songs were getting fewer and farther between, and disco was about to rear its ugly head.  Therefore, we are resetting the dials and starting anew.

Welcome, my friends to the 5th week of 1970.  Today we get a visit from Mr. Pina Colada, Ruppert Holmes; a buttpile of birthdays; and the third number one of the decade.  Plus the same features you’ve come to know and love.  Watch your step, here we go!

Ten songs debuted on the hot hundred this week in 1970, and we’ll look at 3 of them.  At #84 was the Polish Prince, Bobby Vinton, with his rendition of My Elusive Dreams.  At #64 came Santana with Evil Ways; and the high debut was the classic Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Simon and Garfunkel.

Now these songs are celebrating their 42nd birthdays; lets check out the other birthdays this week, and there’s quite a few.  Turning 35 this week are David Soul’s Don’t Give Up On Us, George Harrison’s autobiographical Crackerbox Palace, and Jackson Browne’s Here Come Those Tears Again.  Turning forty is Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold; turning 45 are Sock It To Me Baby from Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Disadvantages Of You by the Brass Ring (hands up those who remember the theme to the old Benson and Hedges 100s cigarette commercials), and Johnny Rivers’ cut of Baby I Need Your Lovin’.  Hitting the big 5-0 are Sam Cooke’s Twisting The Night Away and the doo-wop classic by Don and Juan, What’s Your Name?

I almost forgot our big movers for the week.  Coming down, Tommy James and the Shondells She falls 18 to #40; going up, the Delfonics with Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time zipping up 32 to #46.  And we have a whole set of people in the grandpa chair at a paltry 15 weeks- however, they are all in the top 40, so we’ll get them later.

Today’s look back in time had me catching my eye on an instrumental big-band hit called Wabash Blues, which hit the top in 1922 for a bandleader named Isham Jones.  Isham was born in the southern Ohio mining town of Coalton and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan.  He was just getting started out when he met music teacher and fellow saxaphonist Joseph Edgar Maddy.  Maddy had been playing a piece he called The Trombone Jazz; Jones revised it put in a “dueling saxes” bit between himself on alto and Maddy on tenor, and soon later the re-christened Wabash Blues was in the midst of six weeks at the top, the first of his 6 chart-toppers.

That brings us to #50 and the Where Are They Now segment.  I didn’t recognize the name Lenny Welch at first, who was at the magic number with a cover of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.  But, I soon remembered the voice which had a #4 smash in 1963 with Since I Fell For You- which was also a name I didn’t recognize until I heard “You-oooo… made me leave my happy ho-ooome…”  Lenny was an old timey crooner who was on his way to becoming the next Johnny Mathis until A) the owner of Cadence Records abruptly closed up shop in 1964, leaving him without a contract; B) he got drafted and served a hitch in the military; and C) then took some time off to get his head together and polish his image.  Timing is everything, and though he’s still a popular “Vegas and Love Boat” act, he never again really caught fire.  His website says he branched into acting, making several appearances on General Hospital, but I could not confirm that on IMDB.

Four songs work their way into the top forty this week. A bubble gum tune called Jennifer Tompkins by an “act” called Street People comes in at 38, up 8.  The force behind this song was Ron Dante, better known as “the Cuff Links” and “The Archies.” Dante as the Cuff Links had the big hit Tracy, and then had to throw together an album.  The lp was all him, but he put together a touring band (which he was NOT in) and sent them on their way.  In the meantime, Dante as the Archies had just signed a new contract that made him exclusive- thus no more Cuff Links.  Unfortunately for the multi-talented multi-personality, the Cuff Links label demanded one more lp- one he could not be in.  He did the lp, the other label said, “Not so fast, my friend”. They erased his vocals and added those of neophyte producer Ruppert Holmes to most of the album, including Jennifer Tompkins.  For whatever reason, they decided not to release it as a Cuff Links single, therefore, Holmes released it on his own as Street People.  Thus the Street People single and the Cuff Links album track are “virtually identical”.

Where were we?  Oh, yes, the other debuts.  And these are by no means as obscure.  At #34, up 8, the legend, the man BB King with The Thrill Is Gone; at 33, blasting up 17 spots, Brook Benton’s Rainy Night In Georgia; and at 32, up an even dozen, CCR with Travellin’ Band.  Coolest thing in that song is “state militia” rather than “national guard”. Different name, amazing results.

One song joins the top ten this week, one drops out.  Falling from 7 to 19 is Tommy Roe’s Jam Up Jelly Tight.

Our first top ten in the new format (TA-DAHH!) Leads off with 3 songs holding their positions.  The first at #10 is Miss Dionne Warwick with I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.  The second at #9 is Tom Jones’ cover of Without Love (There Is Nothing).  And the third at #8 is Ron Dante as the Archies with Jingle Jangle.  After peaking at #2, Led Zeppelin drops from #4 to 7 with Whole Lotta Love.  Then we have 2 more frozen in place; at #6, the King, Elvis Aaron Presley, with the heartbreaking Don’t Cry Daddy (I don’t know if he could do it, but I can’t); and at #5 the former top dog Someday We’ll Be Together by Diana Ross and (nod, nod, wink, wink) the Supremes.  Slamming up 9 notches from #13 all the way to #4, Sly and the Family Stone with Thank You (Fallettenme Be Mice Elf Again).  At #3 and holding, the first #1 of the decade- BJ Thomas’ Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, which is one of the three in the grandpa chair (the others being Peter Paul and Mary’s Leaving On A Jet Plane at #22 and She Belongs To Me by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band at #30).  That brings us to #2, and our six degrees victim of the week.

Slipping a notch to the runner-up spot was I Want You Back, the first #1 for the Jackson 5.  The quintet were discovered by Gladys Knight while on tour with her Pips in support of the Diana Ross and the Supremes farewell tour ( though Berry Gordy, always trying to find new ways to kiss Diana’s butt, made it seem that Diana had found them).  That farewell tour ended on January 14th of 1970 in a show in which Berry introed Jean Terrell as the new Supreme.  He then had second, or possibly fourth, thoughts, and went back to first choice Syreeta Wright to join Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, but Mary vetoed it.  Suddenly Gordy “washed his hands” of the group, Mary, Cindy, and Jean slogged on alone, and Syreeta met up with rising star Stevie Wonder.  Stevie was approaching his 21st birthday, and in order to get more artistic freedom (a battle Gordy was already losing with the Supremes and Marvin Gaye), he was going to exercise the clause in his contract that let him void it on reaching majority.  He encouraged Syreeta to start writing, and her first fruits were their collaboration on It’s A Shame, which would soon be the Spinner’s swan song with Motown.  Stevie put together an lp that Berry had no choice but to release (as it was the last one he’d get from Wonder) called Where I’m Coming From, and it’s big single was another collaboration- this time both writing and singing- called If You Really Love Me.  The pair were married soon later.

And that leaves us with the new number one song.  And that is…


Mariska Veres and Shocking Blue with Venus!

Well, what do ya think of the new TM?  Let me know, and tune in tomorrow for the 70’s countdown!

The great seventies countdown week 8

"Yesterday, "  the host tells us, " the following message appeared at Cashbox.com:
Thank you for visiting Cashbox Magazine U.S.A. We are currently working on a new look and an updated Cashbox Magazine...  Check back with us soon to see the new website and thank you for the continued support.  Therefore, our sister program will perhaps be up and running soon... though, I am told, in a VASTLY different form.  However, we are not bound by such constraints, and the Countdown rolls on.  Please extinguish your cell phones, sit back, and enjoy... why? Because it's a no-smoking theatre, and you cannot extinguish your cigarettes if you do not have them!"

190- Get Ready, Rare Earth, #4, 1970.  The best non-live live song in history (beating out Louie Louie and Benny And The Jets).

189- Lonely Night (Angel Face), The Captain and Tennille, 1976, #3.  These two had a two year run were they could do no wrong.  Then they started releasing Toni's version of smaultz-pop and lost me.

188- Hold The Line, Toto, 1978, #5.  This song blasted like a rocket into the top ten, and brought with it a debut lp full of good songs and a band that had been "everybody's backing band" (notably Boz Scaggs') for years.

187- Guns Guns Guns, The Guess Who, 1972, #70.  Another of those 8-tracks-on-Snow-Lake songs.



186- Boy Blue, Electric Light Orchestra, 1975, non-charting.  From Eldorado, a great anti-war song.
"So my friends, who are gathered today/hear this clear, for I'll not further say/that no man shall cause me to pick up arms again..."
185- At Seventeen, Janis Ian, 1975, #3.  And it wasn't much better for the guys in that position, Janis.

184- Theme To Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To), Diana Ross, 1975, #1.  For me, the best thing she ever did.

183- I Don't Know How To Love Him, Yvonne Elliman, 1971, #28.  Most people preferred Helen Reddy's cover that climbed the charts at the same time (#13).  As you know by now, I'm not most people.  I'll take the original from Jesus Christ Superstar any day.

182- Edge Of The Universe, Bee Gees, 1977, #26.  The studio version was the b-side of Nights On Broadway, the charting single was from Here At Last... Live.  Blue Weaver on keyboards.



181- Weekend In New England, Barry Manilow, 1977, #10.  As I told on the last Time Machine, this was the first #1 when I started keeping my own top 10 35 years ago this month.

180- Lost Her In The Sun, John Stewart, 1979, #28.  I didn't know John died of a stroke in 2008.  Second single from the lp with maybe my all time favorite title- Bombs Away Dream Babies.  This was the imagery from hearing it as the sun set out my bedroom window, on a fading AM radio station.

179- How Do You Do, Mouth And McNeal, 1972, #8.  Maggie McNeal's real name?  Sjoukje van't Spijker.  There's a, er, mouthful.

178- Night Fever, Bee Gees, 1978, #1.  Always remember it was just climbing the charts when my alma mater, Heritage High School, was celebrating making the final four in Girls Basketball.  A couple hours of dancing and music in the cafetorium when we were supposed to be learning.

177- She's Gone, Hall And Oates, 1974 (#60) and 1976 (#7).  From one of the better albums you've never heard, Abandoned Luncheonette.  Long version far superior.

176- Dreamboat Annie, Heart, 1976, #42.  At 2:40, probably the shortest song on the countdown.  My all time best Heart song.



175- What Is Life, George Harrison, 1971, #10.  From All Things Must Pass, the best post-Beatles lp by any of the Fab Four.

174- Dancing In The Moonlight, King's Harvest, 1972, #13.  You are kidding me.  A song that played this much only hit 13?  The prototype early seventies song.

173- Slow Train Coming, Bob Dylan, 1979, non-charting.  From his first Christian lp, the powerful title track.

172- Please Mr. Postman, Carpenters, 1974, #1.  A great song in 1961 , a great song in 1974. And a great song now.

171- Loves Me Like A Rock, Paul Simon with the Dixie Hummingbirds, 1973, #2.  A real welcome song from Rhymin' Simon after the bitterness of Kodachrome and I Am A Rock and the like.

With the crowd settling down from the Gospel swaying, the lights come up a bit and the host ventures out.  "I'm glad you enjoyed the show, "  he says.  "Be sure to be here next week.  And now, one more song to fade out on..."



(Note:  I was going to have Lost Her In The Sun here, but all I could find was a really lousy live recording and some guy who thought we'd like to hear him sing over Stewart's music.  So I picked this, and there were three videos with just one unchanging picture and another with a couple of floating seahorses on a continuous loop.  Between earbud malfunctions, losing a page of songs, copying the WRONG page of songs, I'm not real surprised this happened today.)