July 1978 -- disco heaven

Strangely unheard:  the Wings and Barbra Striesand
Music trends -- country has a big lull, and even teh rolling stones record sounds like disco.
Disco rules with Evelyn King, Taste of Honey, and the debut of the Village People -- all with iconic disco songs
No Bee Gees, but their little brother has two on the countdown, including #1.

Favorites -- no 5-star songs, but strong 4's from Andy Gibb, baker street, grease, commodores, last dance, abba, Chris Rea, and bonnie tyler.  Best of the week:  Take a Chance on Me.

1 1 SHADOW DANCING –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -16 (7 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 BAKER STREET –•– Gerry Rafferty (United Artists) -15 (2)
3 3 MISS YOU –•– Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones) -10 (3)
4 5 LAST DANCE –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca) -12 (4)
5 6 GREASE –•– Frankie Valli (RSO) -10 (5)
6 10 THREE TIMES A LADY –•– The Commodores (Motown) -7 (6)
7 4 STILL THE SAME –•– Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol) -12 (4)
8 8 USE TA BE MY GIRL –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International) -14 (4)
9 7 THE GROOVE LINE –•– Heatwave (Epic) -13 (7)
10 11 LOVE WILL FIND A WAY –•– Pablo Cruise (A&M) -9 (10)

11 14 HOT BLOODED –•– Foreigner (Atlantic) -5 (11)
12 13 RUNAWAY –•– Jefferson Starship (Grunt) -10 (12)
13 15 COPACABANA (At the Copa) –•– Barry Manilow (Arista) -8 (13)
14 17 LIFE’S BEEN GOOD –•– Joe Walsh (Asylum) -8 (14)
15 18 MY ANGEL BABY –•– Toby Beau (RCA) -9 (15)
16 20 MAGNET AND STEEL –•– Walter Egan (Columbia) -10 (16)
17 9 TAKE A CHANCE ON ME –•– Abba (Atlantic) -15 (3)
18 21 I’M NOT GONNA LET IT BOTHER ME TONIGHT –•– The Atlanta Rhythm Section (Polydor) -8 (18)
19 12 IT’S A HEARTACHE –•– Bonnie Tyler (RCA) -19 (3)
20 16 DANCE WITH ME –•– Peter Brown with Betty Wright (Drive) -22 (8)

21 19 BLUER THAN BLUE –•– Michael Johnson (EMI-America) -15 (12)
22 23 FM (No Static At All) –•– Steely Dan (MCA) -9 (22)
23 27 STAY / THE LOAD-OUT –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum) -8 (23)
24 26 KING TUT –•– Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons (Warner Brothers) -10 (24)
25 25 SONGBIRD –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia) -7 (25)
26 35 HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU –•– Olivia Newton-John (RSO) -4 (26)
27 30 I’VE HAD ENOUGH –•– Wings (Capitol) -7 (27)
28 36 BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE –•– A Taste Of Honey (Capitol) -6 (28)
29 40 AN EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -3 (29)
30 32 CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS –•– Todd Rundgren (Bearsville) -10 (30)

31 22 THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY –•– Love and Kisses (Casablanca) -13 (22)
32 34 LOVE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists) -9 (32)
33 37 SHAME –•– Evelyn “Champagne” King (RCA) -7 (33)
34 38 STUFF LIKE THAT –•– Quincy Jones (A&M) -8 (34)
35 43 YOU –•– Rita Coolidge (A&M) -5 (35)
36 49 FOOL (If You Think It’s Over) –•– Chris Rea (United Artists / Magnet) -4 (36)
37 39 RIVERS OF BABYLON –•– Boney M (Sire / Hansa) -9 (37)
38 46 TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE –•– Eddie Money (Columbia) -6 (38)
39 44 MR. BLUE SKY –•– The Electric Light Orchestra (Jet) -6 (39)
40 48 MACHO MAN –•– The Village People (Casablanca) -6 (40)

July 1986 -- An MTV Pop high point

A solid top 40 this week, 19 July 1986, as broadcast on SiriusXM 80's on 8, with a big week for emerging superstars: 

Janet Jackson's found her "nasty" groove," at #3 with only her 2nd hit of a chain that would last another 15 years.  Madonna was on album #3 of hits, with hit #10, in what would be her 4th #1 of 12.  Belinda Carlisle has her first of many top 10 hits away from the Go-Go's, and Simply Red (marking the beginning of "sophisti-pop") had just fallen from #1 with their first hit, just behind Billy Ocean, still on his big run.  Wham was on their way up with their last hit as a group.

Veterans were still doing very well -- regular long-time hit-makers Michael McDonald, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Van Halen, Kenny Loggins, Journey, Lionel Richie, and Bob Seger were joined by big hits from artists with roots to the 60's -- the Moody Blues (who had precisely one top 10 in the 60's, 70's, and 80's), Patti Labelle, and Peter Cetera with his first big hit away from Chicago.

Not much in the quirky MTV songs... a slightly retro GTR went big, serious cheese from El Debarge (whose family was one of the strangest  successes of the MTV era), a Madonna-wannabe Regina was marching up to the top 10.  Not much R&B, not much big-hair rock....yet

And in the top 2 positions, a veteran band having their one and only week at #1, and a former bandmate.  Never happened before.  In a few weeks, Peter Gabriel will be replaced at #1 by a namesake, Peter Cetera, which had not happened either.

In this sea of good, only a few favorites for me: Dreams, When the Heart Rules the Mind, Invisible Touch, Mad About You, Papa Don't Preach, Diggin' Your Scene, -- but Opportunities was my favorite of the week!

1 2 INVISIBLE TOUCH –•– Genesis – 8 (1)
2 6 SLEDGEHAMMER –•– Peter Gabriel – 11 (2)
3 4 NASTY –•– Janet Jackson – 10 (3)
4 7 DANGER ZONE –•– Kenny Loggins – 11 (4)
5 1 HOLDING BACK THE YEARS –•– Simply Red – 16 (1)
6 5 WHO’S JOHNNY –•– El DeBarge – 13 (3)
7 11 GLORY OF LOVE –•– Peter Cetera – 7 (7)
8 3 THERE’LL BE SAD SONGS –•– Billy Ocean – 14 (1)
9 9 YOUR WILDEST DREAMS –•– Moody Blues – 14 (9)
10 17 LOVE TOUCH –•– Rod Stewart – 8 (10)

11 18 MAD ABOUT YOU –•– Belinda Carlisle – 10 (11)
12 24 PAPA DON’T PREACH –•– Madonna – 4 (12)
13 16 OPPORTUNITIES –•– Pet Shop Boys – 8 (13)
14 14 WHEN THE HEART RULES THE MIND –•– GTR – 11 (14)
15 19 MODERN WOMAN –•– Billy Joel – 7 (15)
16 12 LIKE A ROCK –•– Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – 9 (12)
17 22 WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF –•– Jermaine Stewart – 10 (17)
18 21 DIGGING YOUR SCENE –•– Blow Monkeys – 12 (18)
19 8 NO ONE IS TO BLAME –•– Howard Jones – 15 (4)
20 10 TUFF ENUFF –•– Fabulous Thunderbirds – 14 (10)

21 26 SECRET SEPARATION –•– The Fixx – 9 (21)
22 23 DREAMS –•– Van Halen – 9 (22)
23 13 ON MY OWN –•– Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald – 18 (1)
24 15 CRUSH ON YOU –•– The Jets – 15 (3)
25 30 YOU SHOULD BE MINE (THE WOO WOO SONG) –•– Jeffrey Osborne – 9 (25)
26 20 LIKE NO OTHER NIGHT –•– .38 Special – 12 (14)
27 34 HIGHER LOVE –•– Steve Winwood – 6 (27)
28 33 RUMORS –•– Timex Social Club – 6 (28)
29 35 TAKE IT EASY –•– Andy Taylor – 8 (29)
30 37 SUZANNE –•– Journey – 5 (30)

31 41 THE EDGE OF HEAVEN –•– Wham! – 3 (31)
32 39 SWEET FREEDOM –•– Michael McDonald – 6 (32)
33 36 HYPERACTIVE –•– Robert Palmer – 7 (33)
34 43 VENUS –•– Bananarama – 4 (34)
35 40 ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD –•– The Outfield – 7 (35)
36 38 ONE STEP CLOSER TO YOU –•– Gavin Christopher – 9 (36)
37 25 MOUNTAINS –•– Prince & The Revolution – 9 (23)
38 48 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY –•– Berlin – 5 (38)
39 47 BABY LOVE –•– Regina – 5 (39)
40 — DANCING ON THE CEILING –•– Lionel Richie – 1 (40)

Succeed yourself at #1

Casey answered a question this week (back in 1975) about artists replacing themselves at #1.  In ordinary times of the 70's and 80's, it seems possible but unlikely.  A follow-up song would have to be released while the earlier record was either on its way up or already #1, potentially stealing some of the sales or airplay from the earlier record.   Runs at #1 were also quite short in this time frame.

Also, until the early 2000's, "releasing" a record involved printing physical copies and shipping them to record stations and record stores.  This led to even very popular artists who pulled off multiple #1's from an album usually separated by at least a few months.

Casey noted the two times it had happened, both involving unusual breakouts by artists.  The first was Elvis, whose first top 100 hit went all the way to #1 -- "Heartbreak Hotel."  The releases then came fast and furious, and while "Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog" perched at #1 for 11 weeks, "Love me Tender" climbed and succeeded it on all the component charts.

The next run was in 1964 when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" spurred the release of all sorts of Beatles records which were owned by various labels.  In the scrum that followed, the Beatles at one point held the top 5 positions on the chart (still unmatched), and had 3 back-to-back #1's after "She Loves You" and "Can't Buy Me Love" ascended to the top.

Casey predicted this wouldn't happen again for a LONG, LONG time, and he was right!

Even just to have two #1's back to back was quite rare through the rest of the century.  Later that very year, back to back #1's were by Neil Sedaka and then Elton John.  But Sedaka's "Bad Blood" had Elton John on backing vocals.  Today, he certainly would've been credited as "featuring."

A few have come close due to huge surge in popularity -- The Bee Gees only had a couple week pause each between their 3 #1s from "Saturday Night Fever"  (including a week with all 3 in the top 10).  Donna Summer had a short gap and held 2 of the top 3 with "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff."  Michael Jackson missed by only one week in 1983 between Billie Jean and Beat it, thwarted by "Come on Eileen."

It wasn't until 1994 that Boyz II Men hit #1 with "I'll Make Love to You" and stayed at #1 a record-tying 14 weeks, allowing "On Bended Knee" to climb and replace it.  That was made possible partly by chart methodologies changing so that airplay and sales were measured electronically rather than reported by record stores and stations (who often stopped reporting songs that they were still playing/selling to make room for new songs).

Since then, two other big changes have made replacing yourself at #1 easier...the aforementioned tidal wave of "featured" artists, and then the advent of releasing songs digitally, which avoids many time delays of the old system.  Under this new reality, for instance, Ja Rule replaced himself at #1 having been featured on Ashanti's and J' Lo's two #1's.  

Two artists have looked like they've had 3 in a row, but not quite:  Usher's big year of 2004 had "Yeah," replaced by "Burn" which was directly replaced* by "Confessions."  The asterisk?  It's because "Burn" was interrupted by a week by one of the American Idol winners, Fantasia.

Likewise, this year Drake's "God's Plan" was replaced by "Nice for What" which was replaced ultimately by "In My Feelings."  Alas, "Nice for What" was interrupted by 4 different songs!

So, you're right, Casey, but just by a hair, nearly 50 years on...

July 1975 -- disco in earnest

I got to listen to most of Casey Kasem's replay of the top 40 from 19 July 1975.

We've come a long way from the adult-contemporary dominated 1972, or the R&B-dominated 1973, with the emergence of country-pop of Charlie Rich, Glen Campbell, and Freddie Fender, all of whom would have #1 pop hits.  Country flavored songs by Olivia Newton John and the Eagles were also doing very well.

Adult contemporary was hardly absent with the chart debut of Ambrosia, and bit hits by Melissa Manchester, James Taylor, Michael Martin Murphy, and the Captain and Tennille.  60's style rock was completely gone, with Aerosmith representing the edge of mid-late 70's classic rock that we still hear on such stations today.  Little did Casey know they'd go on to 20 years worth of hits, spurred on by MTV.

Elton John was on fire -- 17th top 40 hit in just 5 years.  Two Beatles were featured, including the 4th of ultimately 9 #1s by Paul McCartney.  

I'd never heard the song Michael Jackson song at #34.  Casey called him "little" :-)  The Commodores were still very new, having only had one instrumental hit before this one, their first vocal.  Again, hard to imagine Casey seeing Lionel Richie's domination of the mid-80's charts.

But the big story was disco -- a year after the first disco song was #1, two iconic disco records were in top 10 at the same time, both poised to hit #1.

Favorite: Country-crossover classic, "Rhinestone Cowboy" heading to #1.

1 3 LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID –•– Paul McCartney and Wings (Capitol)-8 (1 week at #1)
2 2 THE HUSTLE –•– Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony (Avco)-14
3 10 I’M NOT IN LOVE –•– 10 c.c. (Mercury)-10
4 7 ONE OF THESE NIGHTS –•– The Eagles (Asylum)-8
5 6 PLEASE MR. PLEASE –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-7
6 5 MAGIC –•– Pilot (EMI)-16
7 8 SWEARIN’ TO GOD –•– Frankie Valli (Private Stock)-10
8 1 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-14
9 22 JIVE TALKIN’ –•– The Bee Gees (RSO)-8
10 11 ROCKIN’ CHAIR –•– Gwen McCrae (Cat)-10

11 15 MIDNIGHT BLUE –•– Melissa Manchester (Arista)-11
12 13 THE WAY WE WERE / TRY TO REMEMBER (Medley) –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Buddah)-13
13 16 DYNOMITE (Part 1) –•– Bazuka (Tony Camillo’s) (A&M)-14
14 14 MISTY –•– Ray Stevens (Barnaby)-13
15 25 SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT –•– Elton John (MCA)-3
16 17 WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS –•– War (United Aritsts)-12
17 21 THE ROCKFORD FILES –•– Mike Post (MGM)-10
18 19 I’M ON FIRE –•– The Dwight Twilley Band (Shelter)-13
19 20 RHINESTONE COWBOY –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-8
20 43 HOW SWEET IT IS (To Be Loved By You) –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-5

21 4 WILDFIRE –•– Michael Murphy (Epic)-17
22 26 EVERYTIME YOU TOUCH ME (I Get High) –•– Charlie Rich (Epic)-8
23 9 WHEN WILL I BE LOVED / IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-15
24 34 MORNIN’ BEAUTIFUL –•– Tony Orlando and Dawn (Elektra)-5
25 28 SLIPPERY WHEN WET –•– The Commodores (Motown)-11
26 12 LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT –•– Major Harris (Atlantic)-17
27 18 I’M NOT LISA –•– Jessi Colter (Capitol)-16
28 32 DISCO QUEEN –•– Hot Chocolate (Big Tree)-8
29 27 HEY YOU –•– Bachman Turner Overdrive (Mercury)-10
30 36 FIGHT THE POWER (Part 1) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-5

31 31 IT’S ALL DOWN TO GOODNIGHT VIENNA / OO-WEE –•– Ringo Starr (Apple)-6
32 39 AT SEVENTEEN –•– Janis Ian (Columbia)-6
33 57 FALLIN’ IN LOVE –•– Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (Playboy)-5
34 38 JUST A LITTLE BIT OF YOU –•– Michael Jackson (Motown)-7
35 41 SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL –•– Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA)-6
36 40 SWEET EMOTION –•– Aerosmith (Columbia)-6
37 45 HOLDIN’ ON TO YESTERDAY –•– Ambrosia (20th Century)-6
38 46 WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-5
39 24 GET DOWN, GET DOWN (Get On the Floor) –•– Joe Simon (Spring)-16
40 51 COULD IT BE MAGIC –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-4

July 1992 -- ...the end of the road for many from the 80's

A switch from my usual 1970's and 1980's top 40 countdowns, I listened to Downtown Julie Brown's playing of the top 30 hits from this week in 1992.  It's similar in format to the ones that the gang from 80's on 8 do, though she gives a lot less commentary, especially on chart position.

The charts were in a transition...in late 1991, Billboard stopped receiving reports from radio stations and record stores of what they were playing ans selling and instead monitored it independently.  This led to a big change in what had traditionally charted, adding a lot more urban records to the mix, the occasional country hot seller, and downplaying much of the 80's pop/rock and adult contemporary.

Biggest casualties -- 80's stars Genesis, Richard Marx, George Michael, and Lionel Richie all having the biggest hits they would ever have again.  Likewise for the white "girl groups" like Expose with the final hurrah by the Cover Girls.

By this point, big hair rock had died with the arrival of alternative rock, with Guns & Roses marking the end of that era, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers representing the new.  But rock was barely represented compared to the 70's and 80's.

Light adult contemporary largely went away (no more Michael Bolton or Kenny G), as marked by Vanessa Williams' last hit, with the crazy exception of Celine Dion who had a great decade.

Other 80's hitmakers pressed through just fine -- Madonna, Janet, Whitney -- alongside an onslaught of  R&B from Mariah Carey, TLC, En Vogue, Jodeci, and one-offs like Kris Kross and the embarrassing "Baby Got Back."

It would be another year before the Gin Blossoms brought a brighter pop-rock sound to the charts that so many people associate with the 90's alongside Hootie, Goo Goo Dolls, Sugar Ray, etc...

1 1 BABY GOT BACK –•– Sir Mix-A-Lot – 14 (1)
2 2 I’LL BE THERE –•– Mariah Carey – 7 (1)
3 3 UNDER THE BRIDGE –•– Red Hot Chili Peppers – 15 (2)
4 5 IF YOU ASKED ME TO –•– Celine Dion – 12 (4)
5 6 DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER –•– Sophie B. Hawkins – 13 (5)
6 7 ACHY BREAKY HEART –•– Billy Ray Cyrus – 10 (6)
7 4 JUMP –•– Kris Kross – 15 (1)
8 9 TENNESSEE –•– Arrested Development – 14 (8)
9 8 MY LOVIN’ (YOU’RE NEVER GONNA GET IT) –•– En Vogue – 17 (2)
10 10 WISHING ON A STAR –•– Cover Girls – 7 (10)

11 13 JUST ANOTHER DAY –•– Jon Secada – 13 (11)
12 14 LIFE IS A HIGHWAY –•– Tom Cochrane – 9 (12)
13 12 TOO FUNKY –•– George Michael – 5 (12)
14 11 THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE –•– Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson – 7 (10)
15 16 BABY-BABY-BABY –•– TLC – 6 (15)
16 15 HOLD ON MY HEART –•– Genesis – 11 (12)
17 35 THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND –•– Madonna – 2 (17)
18 17 COME & TALK TO ME –•– Jodeci – 15 (16)
19 20 FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE –•– The Cure – 5 (19)
20 26 NOVEMBER RAIN –•– Guns N’ Roses – 3 (20)

21 21 WARM IT UP –•– Kris Kross – 6 (21)
22 19 SLOW MOTION –•– Color Me Badd – 10 (18)
23 23 KEEP ON WALKIN’ –•– Ce Ce Peniston – 8 (23)
24 30 GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL –•– En Vogue – 6 (24)
25 18 LIVE AND LEARN –•– Joe Public – 18 (4)
26 27 JUST FOR TONIGHT –•– Vanessa Williams – 8 (26)
27 34 THEY WANT EFX –•– Das EFX – 10 (27)
28 33 TAKE THIS HEART –•– Richard Marx – 5 (28)
29 25 DO IT TO ME –•– Lionel Richie – 11 (21)

30 36 GOOD STUFF –•– The B-52’s – 4 (30)

June - July 1972 -- how slow can you go?

70's on 7 played two 1972 countdowns in close proximity to each other, and I'd also listened to one when I first got my car a year ago to fill in my impressions of the period.  The chart below is from 17 June 1972.

Within in the first 5 songs were two by superstar artists, the Supremes and Aretha Franklin that I hadn't heard before.  Hard to believe another 13 years later Aretha would be an MTV favorite with a great run of top 10 hits.  I didn't get to hear the Michael Jackson tune, but the name isn't familiar.

What's notable this week is the power of adult contemporary and light R&B -- I nearly fell asleep with Bread, Cat Stevens, the Carpenters, Roberta Flack, and Bill Withers nearly back to back.  Further down are Wayne Newton, two Osmonds, America, David Cassidy, and Harry Chapin.  Further up are R&B classics by the 5th dimension, the Chi-lites, and the Staple Singers.  And at #1, of all things, "Candy Man."  You could run an elevator company on this chart.

It wasn't a uniform chart though...we have a drum and bugle corps playing "Amazing grace" (an utterly inexplicable hit since it sounds like every other rendering of it on bagpipes), a novelty rock song about cave men and another about a car, and a couple classic rock staples in "Layla", "Isn't Life Strange," and "Tumbling Dice."

Favorite:  while I'm partial to "Oh Girl," my favorite made a huge debut... "Too Late to Turn Back Now"

1 1 THE CANDY MAN –•– Sammy Davis Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation (MGM)-15 (2 weeks at #1)
2 2 I’LL TAKE YOU THERE –•– The Staple Singers (Stax)-11
3 4 SONG SUNG BLUE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-7
4 3 OH GIRL –•– The Chi-Lites (Brunswick)-11
5 6 NICE TO BE WITH YOU –•– Gallery (Sussex)-17
6 9 OUTA-SPACE / I WROTE A SIMPLE SONG –•– Billy Preston (A&M)-14
7 13 TROGLODYTE (Cave Man) –•– The Jimmy Castor Bunch (RCA)-6
8 10 (Last Night) I DIDN’T GET TO SLEEP AT ALL –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-12
9 5 SYLVIA’S MOTHER –•– Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (Columbia)-12
10 20 LEAN ON ME –•– Bill Withers (Sussex)-9

11 7 THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-16
12 12 IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-8
13 8 MORNING HAS BROKEN –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-12
14 11 TUMBLING DICE –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-8
15 15 DIARY –•– Bread (Elektra)-9
16 16 I SAW THE LIGHT –•– Todd Rundgren (Bearsville)-11
17 19 AMAZING GRACE –•– The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (RCA)-5
18 14 WALKIN’ IN THE RAIN WITH THE ONE I LOVE –•– Love Unlimited (Uni)-12
19 22 I NEED YOU –•– America (Warner Brothers)-5
20 23 ROCKET MAN (I Think It’s Gonna Be A long, Long Time) –•– Elton John (Uni)-7

21 18 HOT ROD LINCOLN –•– Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (Paramount)-13
22 17 LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE FOR ME –•– Al Green (Hi)-12
23 42 TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW –•– Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose (United Artists)-4
24 33 LIVING IN A HOUSE DIVIDED –•– Cher (Kapp)-5
25 25 SOMEDAY NEVER COMES –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-7
26 36 DADDY DON’T YOU WALK SO FAST –•– Wayne Newton (Chelsea)-9
27 35 HOW CAN I BE SURE –•– David Cassidy (Bell)-5
28 24 TAXI –•– Harry Chapin (Elektra)-15
29 29 ISN’T LIFE STRANGE –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-9
30 27 ASK ME WHAT YOU WANT –•– Millie Jackson (Spring)-13

31 32 I’VE BEEN LONELY FOR SO LONG –•– Frederick Knight (Stax)-9
32 44 LAYLA –•– Derek and the Dominos (Atco)-16
33 38 I WANNA BE WHERE YOU ARE –•– Michael Jackson (Motown)-4
34 50 HOW DO YOU DO –•– Mouth and MacNeal (Philips)-8
35 72 TOO YOUNG –•– Donny Osmond (MGM)-2
36 37 IMMIGRATION MAN –•– Graham Nash and David Crosby (Atlantic)-7
37 40 AUTOMATICALLY SUNSHINE –•– The Supremes (Motown)-7
38 39 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL / MOTHER OF MINE –•– Little Jimmy Osmond with the Mike Curb Congregation (MGM)-9
39 21 LITTLE BITTY PRETTY ONE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-9
40 49 ALL THE KING’S HORSES –•– Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)-3

July 1983 -- peak MTV

As much as I love the music of 1981 and appreciated the huge variety, this week on July 1983 is another standout favorite.  Back in the day, I ranked songs in half-point increments from 0 to 10, with both ends exceedingly rare, but I would purchase a single if it was an 8.5 or above, unless I had it on an album.  

Looking down this list, these would've been in the 9.0 or higher:  I loved "Flashdance," "Stand Back," "I'm Still Standing," "Wishing," "Time,"  "The Border," "Beat It," and "Don't Let it End."  Not far behind were "Never Gonna Let You Go," "Fascination," "Roll Me Away."

Gone completely are the awkward early-80's adult contemporary and country, replaced by the hippest of MTV stars (Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Eurthymics, the Fixx, Men at Work), MTV-driven few-hit-wonders (Kajagoogoo, Madness, Eddy Grant, the Tubes, Naked Eyes), soundtrack songs, breakout releases (Prince, Bryan Adams, Loverboy), and even the relative veterans sound like they're with the program (Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Hall and Oates, David Bowie, ELO, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger). 

The only really out of place songs are an odd revival by the Hollies, a Christopher Cross rip-off by America, and the super-slow Debarge song, which they somehow turned into a hit and then a career.  I certainly didn't like all these songs back then, but most have gotten better with time (Eddy Grant).

Alas, this is goodbye to the Flock of Seagulls...

1 1 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE –•– The Police (A&M)-7 (2 weeks at #1) (1)

2 2 ELECTRIC AVENUE –•– Eddy Grant (Portrait)-14 (2)

3 3 FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING –•– Irene Cara (Casablanca)-16 (1)
4 4 NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO –•– Sergio Mendes (with Joe Pizzulo & Leza Miller) (A&M)-14 (4)
5 6 WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-8 (5)
6 8 COME DANCING –•– The Kinks (Arista)-11 (6)
7 5 TOO SHY –•– Kajagoogoo (EMI-America)-13 (5)
8 10 OUR HOUSE –•– Madness (Geffen)-11 (8)
9 13 IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-7 (9)
10 7 TIME (Clock Of the Heart) –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-14 (2)

11 14 STAND BACK –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-7 (11)
12 12 I’M STILL STANDING –•– Elton John (Geffen)-11 (12)
13 15 **1999** –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-19 (13)
14 18 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY –•– Donna Summer (Mercury)-8 (14)
15 20 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) –•– The Eurythmics (RCA)-10 (15)
16 19 BABY JANE –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-8 (16)
17 17 ALL THIS LOVE –•– DeBarge (Gordy)-13 (17)
18 9 DON’T LET IT END –•– Styx (A&M)-12 (6)
19 25 MANIAC –•– Michael Sembello (Casablanca)-7 (19)
20 22 CUTS LIKE A KNIFE –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-6 (20)

21 23 HOT GIRLS IN LOVE –•– Loverboy (Columbia)-6 (21)
22 11 FAMILY MAN –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-12 (6)
23 16 SHE’S A BEAUTY –•– The Tubes (Capitol)-15 (10)
24 28 (Keep Feeling) FASCINATION –•– The Human League (A&M)-8 (24)
25 32 IT’S A MISTAKE –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-3 (25)
26 26 WISHING (If I Had a Photograph Of You) –•– A Flock Of Seagulls (Jive)-10 (26)
27 29 TAKE ME TO HEART –•– Quarterflash (Geffen)-5 (27)
28 30 SAVED BY ZERO –•– The Fixx (MCA)-8 (28)
29 34 ROCK OF AGES –•– Def Leppard (Mercury)-6 (29)
30 39 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS KING –•– ELO (Jet)-4 (30)

31 38 CHINA GIRL –•– David Bowie (EMI-America)-7 (31)
32 35 STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE –•– The Hollies (Atlantic)-7 (32)
33 24 BEAT IT –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-21 (1)
34 21 AFFAIR OF THE HEART –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-14 (9)
35 48 I’LL TUMBLE 4 YA –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-3 (35)
36 27 ROLL ME AWAY –•– Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)-8 (27)
37 33 ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME –•– Naked Eyes (EMI-America)-19 (8)
38 44 THE BORDER –•– America (Capitol)-5 (38)
39 43 THE SALT IN MY TEARS –•– Martin Briley (Mercury)-9 (39)
40 59 LAWYERS IN LOVE –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-2 (40)

July 1980 -- Missing Record

Wanting to hear a bit about Frank Sinatra, I looked for the YouTube Clip of the original 1980 American Top 40 from July 5th that I'd just listened to with the SiriusXM DJs.  A great many of these countdowns are available, unfortunately without the songs due to copywrite -- it's Casey's commentary only.  But the 5 July 1980 original countdown wasn't available as Casey hosted a special countdown of older records that had set various chart milestones.

The interesting upshot of that was that on July 5th, Alice Cooper's song at #40, "(We're All) Clones" only was in the 40 that one week, so he had a dubious honor of hitting the top 40 without being on American Top 40.

Listening to the survey just after a week earlier, Casey mentioned a chart record for most top 40 hits from soundtracks...8!  Urban Cowboy had 3, plus American Gigolo, Xanadu, and others.  Casey also mentioned how Genesis had been around a long time to only have two top 40 hits...little did he know the onslaught to come.

It was also odd then for Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes to be on the chart with a duet while each of them also had a solo top 40.

I'm now also convinced that alongside some of my favorite songs of the decade, those songs by Mickey Gilley, Rodney Crowell, and Neil Sedaka are all likely in my BOTTOM ten for the decade.

July 1980 -- variety in style and in quality

I love the early 80's countdowns, with a special place for ones from 1980 as these pre-date my own listening to Casey Kasem, so I always hear something new.  It's also part of the ultimate music whiplash you could get in the early 80's.

For a bit of both phenomena, in the first 5 songs played were two I'd never hears:  #40 by Alice Cooper (!!) then country artist Rodney Crowell 3 songs later.  "Ashes by Now" was redone years later by Leann Womack much more effectively -- why in the world this was a crossover hit I don't know.  (Mickey Gilley also charted a terrible version of "Stand by Me" this week!).  Also in the bottom five were songs I did know, but check out the variety:  Journey classic rock, Blondie new Wave, and then Frank Sinatra!

Sinatra's song was the last of its kind to hit the top 40, with another 30 years to go before Michael Buble crooned into the top 40.  In between only the barest handful of artists from the 50's hit the top 40, mostly with re-releases (Ben E King, Louis Armstrong) and none with an original big-band-style song.  Another 50's artist, Neil Sedaka had his last top 40 his this week in a terrible, embarrassing ballad with his daughter.

By contrast, this top 40 has a solid ten songs I've given the highest rating in my iTunes library: Manhattans, Brothers Johnson, the Spinners, SOS Band, Bette Midler, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Pure Prairie League, "Call Me", and Christopher Cross.

The Empire Strikes Back bounded in very high by Meco, another song I'd never heard, just behind the Blues Brothers.

1 1 COMING UP / COMING UP (Live At Glasgow) –•– Paul McCartney and Wings (Columbia)-11 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 FUNKYTOWN –•– Lipps, Inc. (Casablanca)-15 (1)
3 3 THE ROSE –•– Bette Midler (Atlantic)-16 (3)
4 4 IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-7 (4)
5 6 LITTLE JEANNIE –•– Elton John (MCA)-10 (5)
6 5 AGAINST THE WIND –•– Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)-10 (5)
7 7 STEAL AWAY –•– Robbie Dupree (Elektra)-13 (7)
8 9 CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME (Medley) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-8 (8)
9 8 BIGGEST PART OF ME –•– Ambrosia (Warner Brothers)-14 (3)
10 11 LET’S GET SERIOUS –•– Jermaine Jackson (Motown)-15 (10)

11 12 LET ME LOVE YOU TONIGHT –•– The Pure Prairie League (Casablanca)-9 (11)
12 13 SHINING STAR –•– The Manhattans (Columbia)-11 (12)
13 10 SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-12 (10)
14 16 MAGIC –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-7 (14)
15 18 TIRED OF TOEIN’ THE LINE –•– Rocky Burnette (EMI-America)-9 (15)
16 17 ONE FINE DAY –•– Carole King (Capitol)-8 (16)
17 14 CARS –•– Gary Numan (Atco)-21 (9)
18 21 I’M ALIVE –•– Electric Light Orchestra (MCA)-7 (18)
19 19 SHOULD’VE NEVER LET YOU GO –•– Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka (Elektra)-15 (19)
20 25 IN AMERICA –•– The Charlie Daniels Band (Epic)-6 (20)

21 23 MORE LOVE –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-6 (21)
22 29 GIMME SOME LOVIN’ –•– The Blues Brothers (Atlantic)-6 (22)
23 36 TAKE YOUR TIME (Do It Right) (Part 1) –•– The S.O.S. Band (Tabu)-6 (23)
24 34 LOVE THE WORLD AWAY –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists)-3 (24)
25 31 ALL NIGHT LONG –•– Joe Walsh (Asylum)-8 (25)
26 15 CALL ME –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-21 (1)
27 20 DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH A DREAMER –•– Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (United Artists)-15 (4)
28 24 STOMP! –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-17 (7)
29 47 EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (Medley) –•– Meco (RSO)-4 (29)
30 30 TWO PLACES AT THE SAME TIME –•– Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio (Arista)-12 (30)

31 35 MISUNDERSTANDING –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-7 (31)
32 37 STAND BY ME –•– Mickey Gilley (Full Moon)-8 (32)
33 — EMOTIONAL RESCUE –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-1 (33)
34 53 SAILING –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-4 (34)
35 50 LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR –•– Pete Townshend (Atco)-4 (35)
36 33 THEME FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK –•– Frank Sinatra (Reprise)-10 (32)
37 39 ASHES BY NOW –•– Rodney Crowell (Warner Brothers)-9 (37)
38 44 WALKS LIKE A LADY –•– Journey (Columbia)-7 (38)
39 40 ATOMIC –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-8 (39)
40 41 CLONES (We’re All) –•– Alice Cooper (Warner Brothers)-8 (40)