June 1971 -- The Countdown where Casey talked about Jesus

We're back in the first year of American Top 40, Casey's voice sounded unnaturally deep, and he's talking about Jesus!  While much of the countdown was the usual mix of R&B, political commentary, adult contemporary, and some rock, it was also during the Jesus People movement of the early 70's.  Three songs were from "Jesus Christ Superstar," with the title song getting an interesting explanation from Casey about Judas Iscariot wrestling with who Jesus was.  After that was the 2nd of two versions of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (which Casey oddly did not acknowledge) and then "Put Your Hand in the Hand" which is about trusting Jesus also, "the man who calmed the sea."

Less of a big deal, but Michael Jackson and rival Donny Osmond were back to back.  And clearly not-rivals Bread and the Doors were too :-)

I was a long way up the countdown thinking how few songs I recognized, or how few went on to be big hits.  Ends up Carole King was about to rule for awhile, followed by the Raiders.  And speaking of strangely unheard songs, the first 5 had hits by Smokey Robinson, Chicago, and Diana Ross -- all unfamiliar.

First hit:  Carly Simon debuts!

Not a great countdown for favorites, especially since I didn't even know so many.  The only song with even 4 stars was "It's Too Late."

1 1 BROWN SUGAR –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-6 (2 weeks at #1)
2 2 JOY TO THE WORLD –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-13
3 4 WANT ADS –•– The Honey Cone (Hot Wax)-9
4 5 IT DON’T COME EASY –•– Ringo Starr (Apple)-6
5 11 RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-4
6 7 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER / BRAND NEW ME –•– Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)-8
7 8 SWEET AND INNOCENT –•– Donny Osmond of the Osmonds (MGM)-11
8 3 NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-10
9 21 IT’S TOO LATE / I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE –•– Carole King (Ode)-5
10 9 ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO –•– Lobo (Big Tree)-10

11 18 I’LL MEET YOU HALFWAY –•– The Partridge Family (Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy) (Bell)-5
12 6 PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HAND –•– Ocean (Kama Sutra)-13
13 15 I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-16
14 14 SUPERSTAR –•– Murray Head and the Trinidad Singers (Decca)-28
15 19 TREAT HER LIKE A LADY –•– Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose (United Artists)-9
16 16 HERE COMES THE SUN –•– Richie Havens (Stormy Forest)-12
17 10 CHICK-A-BOOM (Don’t Ya Jes’ Love It) –•– Daddy Dewdrop (Sunflower)-14
18 13 IF –•– Bread (Elektra)-11
19 12 LOVE HER MADLY –•– The Doors (Elektra)-9
20 22 DON’T KNOCK MY LOVE (Part 1) –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-7

21 27 NATHAN JONES –•– The Supremes (Motown)-5
22 39 DOUBLE LOVIN’ –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-4
23 24 RIGHT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE –•– Brenda and the Tabulations (Top & Bottom)-10
24 17 STAY AWHILE –•– The Bells (Polydor)-14
25 38 INDIAN RESERVATION (The Lament Of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) –•– The Raiders (Columbia)-9
26 26 (For God’s Sake) GIVE MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE –•– The Chi-Lites (Brunswick)-9
27 23 WOODSTOCK –•– Matthews’ Southern Comfort (Decca)-14
28 32 WHEN YOU’RE HOT, YOU’RE HOT –•– Jerry Reed (RCA)-5
29 31 THE DRUM –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-6
30 33 COOL AID –•– Paul Humphrey and His Cool Aid Chemists (Lizard)-13

31 35 I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM –•– Yvonne Elliman (Decca)-7
32 30 TIMOTHY –•– The Buoys (Scepter)-17
33 28 I LOVE YOU FOR ALL SEASONS –•– The Fuzz (Calla)-20
34 20 TOAST AND MARMALADE FOR TEA –•– Tin Tin (Atco)-10
35 43 THAT’S THE WAY I’VE ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE –•– Carly Simon (Elektra)-8
36 45 SHE’S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN –•– The 8th Day (Invictus)-4
37 40 LOWDOWN –•– Chicago (Columbia)-5
38 25 I DON’T BLAME YOU AT ALL –•– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Tamla)-12
39 29 REACH OUT I’LL BE THERE –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-6
40 44 FUNKY NASSAU (Part 1) –•– The Beginning Of the End (Alston)-5