March 1978 — The Bee Gees shall rule them all,

They picked an extraordinary chart this week with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack 9 weeks into its run at #1.  The whole chart was good— classics of yacht rock, general adult contemporary, dance, rock classic, even R&B and a little country.  Not an awkward song in the bunch.

But the only story that mattered was The Bee Gees.  They had a clear hand in 6 top 40 hits, three of which were there own.  They knocked their own brother from the top spot, and with a resurgent Stayin' Alive, managed to have the top 2 spots on the chart for the first time since the Beatles did so in 1964.  And they were background vocalists on the song at #3.   For that season in 1978: it was The Bee Gees total domination, the likes of which even Michael Jackson couldn’t pull off in 1983.

In other news chuck Mangione debuts, starting a run of jazz-influenced pop that lasted through 1982. 

Crazy out of place:  Lay Down Sally amidst all the disco and pop.

First timers:  Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio, Van Halen
Casey's false prediction:  Barry Manilow would hit #1.

Favorites:  many 4-stars, with the top 2 being 5 stars, but my favorite overall is "If I Can't Have You"

1 2 NIGHT FEVER –•– The Bee Gees (RSO) -7 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 6 STAYIN’ ALIVE –•– The Bee Gees (RSO) -15 (1)
3 4 EMOTION –•– Samantha Sang (Private Stock) -18 (3)
4 5 LAY DOWN SALLY –•– Eric Clapton (RSO) -11 (4)
5 1 (Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -20 (1)
6 10 CAN’T SMILE WITHOUT YOU –•– Barry Manilow (Arista) -7 (6)
7 8 I GO CRAZY –•– Paul Davis (Bang) -30 (7)
8 3 SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH –•– Dan Hill (20th Century) -17 (3)
9 7 DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) –•– Chic (Atlantic) -21 (6)
10 9 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE –•– Billy Joel (Columbia) -19 (3)

11 14 THUNDER ISLAND –•– Jay Ferguson (Asylum) -14 (11)
12 12 THE NAME OF THE GAME –•– Abba (Atlantic) -13 (12)
13 13 WHAT’S YOUR NAME –•– Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA) -16 (13)
14 21 IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU –•– Yvonne Elliman (RSO) -8 (14)
15 17 FALLING –•– LeBlanc and Carr (Big Tree) -23 (15)
16 16 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY –•– The Little River Band (Harvest) -14 (16)
17 18 WONDERFUL WORLD –•– Art Garfunkel with James Taylor and Paul Simon (Columbia) -9 (17)
18 19 OUR LOVE –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol) -10 (18)
19 22 JACK AND JILL –•– Raydio (Arista) -10 (19)
20 20 THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO –•– Rita Coolidge (A&M) -10 (20)

21 23 ALWAYS AND FOREVER –•– Heatwave (Epic) -11 (21)
22 24 EBONY EYES –•– Bob Welch (Capitol) -8 (22)
23 25 DUST IN THE WIND –•– Kansas (Kirshner) -8 (23)
24 28 GOODBYE GIRL –•– David Gates (Elektra) -14 (24)
25 37 RUNNING ON EMPTY –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum) -6 (25)
26 39 WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE AGAIN –•– England Dan and John Ford Coley (Big Tree) -4 (26)
27 29 THEME SONG FROM “WHICH WAY IS UP” –•– Stargard (MCA) -8 (27)
28 30 FLASH LIGHT –•– Parliament (Casablanca) -6 (28)
29 32 SWEET TALKIN’ WOMAN –•– The Electric Light Orchestra (Jet) -5 (29)
30 33 BEFORE MY HEART FINDS OUT –•– Gene Cotton (Ariola America) -7 (30)

31 34 LADY LOVE –•– Lou Rawls (Philadelphia International) -9 (31)
32 11 PEG –•– Steely Dan (ABC) -18 (11)
33 35 HOT LEGS –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers) -6 (33)
34 36 THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND –•– Andrew Gold (Asylum) -6 (34)
35 15 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE –•– The Bee Gees (RSO) -26 (1)
36 26 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS / WE WILL ROCK YOU –•– Queen (Elektra) -22 (4)
37 38 YOU REALLY GOT ME –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers) -8 (37)
38 40 IT’S YOU THAT I NEED –•– Enchantment (Roadshow) -7 (38)
39 48 THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU –•– Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway (Atlantic) -5 (39)
40 44 FEELS SO GOOD –•– Chuck Mangione (A&M) -6 (40)

March 1984...the very end of the 70's

They love 1984 on this station -- so many of these songs are still played on 80's on 8.

But the big distinctive of this chart is the extraordinary number of prominent artists with their last chart appearance -- some of the biggest names of the 70s and early 80's:
K.C., this time without the Sunshine Band
Kenny Rogers, after an amazing run of pop/country/AC which wouldn't return until the Faith Hill days in the last 90's.
Dan Fogelburg -- the end of singer/songwriter AC.  But lest you think him not cool enough in the MTV era, this was the week of the first MTV video countdown, and he was in the top 5!
Queen, mocking radio with their last top 40 hit
Manfred Mann -- with a one-off late career hit, 20 years after first hitting #1...just like: 

John Lennon -- with a posthumous hit

The Police...before their breakup.

To replace them, were debut or breakthrough hits for Genesis, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Thompson Twins, Paul Young, Wang Chung, Howard Jones, Tina Turner (whose resurgence might not have been predicted by the modest success of "Let's Stay Together")

"Thriller" was the 7th top 10 hit from the album of the same name.  No one to date had had more than 4, so this was stunning, and 17 months after the album's release...without any modern tricks of re-releasing the album with "extra" songs (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga).  In 1982, he wrote and recorded a song that held up in 1984 and has recharted many Octobers since.

Bruce Springsteen had no #1's, but did log 7 top 10's from "Born in the USA."  Janet matched this feat a few years later, with all hitting the top 5.  Drake topped them all, in an utterly different era including streaming and YouTube, with 7 top 10's at the same time in 2018, all appearing on "Scorpion."

Many 4-stars on this chart, plus 3 5-stars:  debuting Phil Collins, retreating Yes, and Thriller.  Favorite:  Thriller!

1 1 JUMP –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-9 (3 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-13 (2)
3 2 99 LUFTBALLONS –•– Nena (Epic)-14 (2)
4 4 THRILLER –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-5 (4)
5 7 SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME –•– Rockwell (Motown)-7 (5)
6 5 NOBODY TOLD ME –•– John Lennon (Polydor)-8 (5)
7 10 I WANT A NEW DRUG –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-9 (7)
8 11 HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-7 (8)
9 16 FOOTLOOSE –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-7 (9)
10 6 KARMA CHAMELEON –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-15 (1)

11 8 WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER –•– The Police (A&M)-10 (8)
12 13 NEW MOON ON MONDAY –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-9 (12)
13 9 LET THE MUSIC PLAY –•– Shannon (Mirage)-18 (8)
14 17 GOT A HOLD ON ME –•– Christine McVie (Warner Brothers)-7 (14)
15 21 AUTOMATIC –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-7 (15)
16 18 THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon / Epic)-6 (16)
17 25 ADULT EDUCATION –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-4 (17)
18 14 AN INNOCENT MAN –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-13 (10)
19 12 JOANNA –•– Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)-19 (2)
20 24 GIVE IT UP –•– K.C. (Meca)-12 (20)

21 19 YAH MO B THERE –•– James Ingram (with Michael McDonald) (Qwest)-14 (19)
22 15 THAT’S ALL –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-16 (6)
23 23 THIS WOMAN –•– Kenny Rogers (RCA)-9 (23)
24 34 HOLD ME NOW –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-5 (24)
25 28 ALMOST OVER YOU –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-14 (25)
26 29 THE POLITICS OF DANCING –•– Re-Flex (Capitol)-16 (26)
27 40 MISS ME BLIND –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-2 (27)
28 31 BACK WHERE YOU BELONG –•– 38 Special (Capitol)-6 (28)
29 32 RUNNER –•– Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (Arista)-8 (29)
30 30 LET’S STAY TOGETHER –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-8 (30)

31 33 NEW SONG –•– Howard Jones (Elektra)-8 (31)
32 36 COME BACK AND STAY –•– Paul Young (Columbia)-6 (32)
33 35 LIVIN’ IN DESPERATE TIMES –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-5 (33)
34 47 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take A Look At Me Now) –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-3 (34)
35 38 RADIO GA-GA –•– Queen (Capitol)-4 (35)
36 20 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP –•– The Romantics (Nemperor)-23 (3)
37 50 HELLO –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-3 (37)
38 39 GIRLS –•– Dwight Twilley (EMI-America)-4 (38)
39 22 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART –•– Yes (Atco)-19 (1)
40 41 DON’T LET GO –•– Wang Chung (Geffen)-6 (40)

March 1979 -- all time icons in lots of genres

Unfortunately, I only got to hear the first 2/3 of the countdown today -- it had plenty of movement down the charts, making room for some of the most iconic songs of the era to crowd the top 10 -- can you believe that top 10!  Yacht Rock, disco, pure pop...and classic rock & country further down:

1 1 DA YA THINK I’M SEXY? –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-11 (4 weeks at #1) (1)
3 4 I WILL SURVIVE –•– Gloria Gaynor (Polydor)-12 (3)
4 6 TRAGEDY –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-4 (4)
7 7 LE FREAK –•– Chic (Atlantic)-19 (1)
8 5 Y.M.C.A. –•– The Village People (Casablanca)-20 (2)
10 23 WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-7 (10)
13 29 SULTANS OF SWING –•– Dire Straits (Warner Brothers)-4 (13)
16 17 THE GAMBLER –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists)-18 (16)
24 38 KNOCK ON WOOD –•– Amii Stewart (Ariola America)-6 (24)

Meanwhile, even Casey was taken aback a bit at the debut of a very country sounding Eddie Rabbitt, not knowing he'd be at #1 within 2 years!

I'm a fan of Neil Diamond, but he sounded very out of place amidst all these disco records.

Favorites all over the place, but  three 5-stars:  Nicolette Larson, Donna Summer, and the Bee Gees.  Tough call, but I'm going with the Nicolette -- it's gonna take a lotta love...

1 1 DA YA THINK I’M SEXY? –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-11 (4 weeks at #1) (1)

2 2 FIRE –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-17 (2)
3 4 I WILL SURVIVE –•– Gloria Gaynor (Polydor)-12 (3)
4 6 TRAGEDY –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-4 (4)
5 3 A LITTLE MORE LOVE –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-15 (3)
6 11 HEAVEN KNOWS –•– Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams (Casablanca)-8 (6)
7 7 LE FREAK –•– Chic (Atlantic)-19 (1)
8 5 Y.M.C.A. –•– The Village People (Casablanca)-20 (2)
9 8 LOTTA LOVE –•– Nicolette Larson (Warner Brothers)-15 (8)
10 23 WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-7 (10)

11 18 SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING –•– Peaches and Herb (Polydor)-12 (11)
12 12 GOT TO BE REAL –•– Cheryl Lynn (Columbia)-14 (12)
13 29 SULTANS OF SWING –•– Dire Straits (Warner Brothers)-4 (13)
14 15 NO TELL LOVER –•– Chicago (Columbia)-11 (14)
15 16 BLUE MORNING, BLUE DAY –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-11 (15)
16 17 THE GAMBLER –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists)-18 (16)
17 19 DON’T CRY OUT LOUD –•– Melissa Manchester (Arista)-16 (17)
18 20 DANCIN’ SHOES –•– Nigel Olsson (Bang)-12 (18)
19 22 EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU –•– The Babys (Chrysalis)-9 (19)
20 26 WHAT YOU WON’T DO FOR LOVE –•– Bobby Caldwell (Clouds)-11 (20)

21 24 LADY –•– Little River Band (Harvest)-9 (21)
22 27 I JUST FALL IN LOVE AGAIN –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-6 (22)
23 51 BIG SHOT –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-4 (23)
24 38 KNOCK ON WOOD –•– Amii Stewart (Ariola America)-6 (24)
25 28 CRAZY LOVE –•– Poco (ABC)-7 (25)
26 10 I WAS MADE FOR DANCIN’ –•– Leif Garrett (Scotti Brothers)-17 (10)
27 31 HAVEN’T STOPPED DANCING YET –•– Gonzalez (Capitol)-9 (27)
28 34 FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-6 (28)
29 33 SONG ON THE RADIO –•– Al Stewart (Arista)-6 (29)
30 37 STUMBLIN’ IN –•– Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman (RSO)-6 (30)

31 9 SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-12 (9)
32 32 STORMY –•– Santana (Columbia)-9 (32)
33 13 SHAKE IT –•– Ian Matthews (Mushroom)-16 (13)
34 14 SOUL MAN –•– The Blues Brothers (Atlantic)-13 (14)
35 30 TOO MUCH HEAVEN –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-16 (1)
36 36 YOU MAKE ME FEEL (Mighty Real) –•– Sylvester (Fantasy)-8 (36)
37 39 MAYBE I’M A FOOL –•– Eddie Money (Columbia)-6 (37)
38 41 I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S RIGHT –•– Evelyn “Champagne” King (RCA)-9 (38)
39 43 EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-7 (39)
40 45 MUSIC BOX DANCER –•– Frank Mills (Polydor)-6 (40)

March 1986 — mid decade blahs

It’s early 1986, and it’s hard to draw a lot of conclusions since the charts are a reasonable mix of rock, dance, pop, and adult contemporary, with a touch of jazz.  It’s a lull in hard rock, country is long gone.  The slow songs are really slow (Sara), and the upbeat are really so.

Whitney is storming the charts with her first album full of hits, as is Gloria Estefan as well as inxs.  Sophisti-pop has established a foothold with Sade and dream academy in the top 10.  Middle of the road pop is doing fine with billy ocean and mr. Mister.  Quite a few notable one hit wonders...dream academy, Charlie Sexton, Baltimora, Faldo, Robert tapper, Marilyn Martin, sly fox, 

 Some veterans are running out of steam...ELO most notably, while the breakthrough 2nd life for heart is about to lead to their first #1.

But overall, I get bored just reading this chart!  Not that I hated every song, but especially the big hits are rather bland, if not deadly slow -- Mr Mister, Starship, Heart, Loverboy, Dionne and Friends, Elton John...  Throw in sophisticated, but slow records, and ZZZZZZ

To liven things up, we have the biggest hit (though last ever) by James Brown, who had enormous numbers of hits, but mostly in the 20's to 30's on the chart...debuting Falco...

Favorite:  Aretha Franklin!


1 2 KYRIE –•– Mr. Mister – 11 (1)
2 1 HOW WILL I KNOW –•– Whitney Houston – 13 (1)
3 4 SARA –•– Starship – 10 (3)
4 5 LIVING IN AMERICA –•– James Brown – 13 (4)
5 6 THE SWEETEST TABOO –•– Sade – 15 (5)
6 3 WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING –•– Billy Ocean – 14 (2)
7 7 LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN –•– Dream Academy – 14 (7)
8 8 SILENT RUNNING –•– Mike + The Mechanics – 15 (8)
9 11 SECRET LOVER –•– Atlantic Starr – 10 (9)
10 14 THESE DREAMS –•– Heart – 7 (10)

11 12 A LOVE BIZARRE –•– Sheila E – 16 (11)
12 17 KING FOR A DAY –•– Thompson Twins – 7 (12)
13 16 TARZAN BOY –•– Baltimora – 20 (13)
14 9 BURNING HEART –•– Survivor – 18 (2)
15 15 CONGA –•– Miami Sound Machine – 20 (10)
16 19 RUSSIANS –•– Sting – 7 (16)
17 26 R.O.C.K. IN THE U.S.A. –•– John Cougar Mellencamp – 5 (17)
18 18 DAY BY DAY –•– The Hooters – 12 (18)
19 22 NIKITA –•– Elton John – 7 (19)
20 10 THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR –•– Dionne & Friends – 17 (1)

21 24 SANCTIFY YOURSELF –•– Simple Minds – 6 (21)
22 23 STAGES –•– ZZ Top – 7 (22)
23 28 WHAT YOU NEED –•– INXS – 7 (23)
24 13 I’M YOUR MAN –•– Wham! – 14 (3)
25 27 THIS COULD BE THE NIGHT –•– Loverboy – 7 (25)
26 29 BEATS SO LONELY –•– Charlie Sexton – 12 (26)
27 33 (HOW TO BE A) MILLIONAIRE –•– ABC – 7 (27)
28 21 DIGITAL DISPLAY –•– Ready For The World – 13 (21)
29 40 ROCK ME AMADEUS –•– Falco – 4 (29)
30 35 LET’S GO ALL THE WAY –•– Sly Fox – 10 (30)

31 34 ANOTHER NIGHT –•– Aretha Franklin – 7 (31)
32 20 THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. –•– A-Ha – 14 (20)
33 39 MANIC MONDAY –•– The Bangles – 6 (33)
34 38 NIGHT MOVES –•– Marilyn Martin – 7 (34)
35 25 HE’LL NEVER LOVE YOU (LIKE I DO) –•– Freddie Jackson – 12 (25)
36 43 GOODBYE IS FOREVER –•– Arcadia – 5 (36)
37 46 NEEDLES AND PINS –•– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers & Stevie Nicks – 5 (37)
38 44 NO EASY WAY OUT –•– Robert Tepper – 6 (38)
39 47 TENDER LOVE –•– Force MD’s – 5 (39)
40 50 CALLING AMERICA –•– Electric Light Orchestra – 5 (40)