July 1970 -- where it all began

Over July 4th weekend, SiriusXM traditionally plays the very first American Top 40, which was broadcast July 4th, 1970.  Somehow I missed it these last two years, but I caught it today.  Just stunning how professional it sounded and with so, so many of the little bits and phrases we've some to know over the years.

The biggest difference between this and every other chart is that Casey had very little to say regarding songs that debuted or moved up, though he still noted a few for unusual chart movement.

While not everyone on this chart is a superstar, it ended up being quite an array of 60's and 70's stars.  The Beatles and Elvis were both in the top 10.  Legends from the 60s:  The Temptations, Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.   70's icons the Carpenters, Three Dog Night, Stevie Wonder, and the Jacksons.

A remarkable collection of big artists missed being played on the first AT40 by a single week -- Bobby Sherman, Joe Cocker, Chicago, Sly & the Family Stone, Simon & Garfunkel, and Credence Clearwater Revival.  Wow!  All would make further appearances.  The week before, the last artist to miss ever being played on AT40 departed:  the Sandpipers, with their last hit, "Come Saturday Morning."

Unusual chart action for any week:  two hits by Crosby, Stills, and Nash, with both climbing (very rare!)  A top 40 debut way up in the top 20 by Bread, with their first hit no less -- so quite a splashy AT40 debut.  Eric Burden & War also debuted with their first of many hits.

To other early 70's trends on day 1:  A distinctly Christian record (Ray Stephens) and some explicit political protest.  I think one song was also an instrumental

Biggest new artists:  Carpenters, War, Bread
Last hits: the Beatles (barring re-releases and medleys)

I think Casey would have been surprised to know how many of these artists charted into the late 80s, and I expect he might've guessed Michael Jackson would've had the most longevity.

Favorite:  Jackson 5!

1 2 MAMA TOLD ME (Not To Come) –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-8 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 THE LOVE YOU SAVE / I FOUND THAT GIRL –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-7 (1)
3 3 BALL OF CONFUSION (That’s What the World Is Today) –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-8 (3)
4 6 RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE –•– Blues Image (Atco)-10 (4)
5 7 BAND OF GOLD –•– Freda Payne (Invictus)-12 (5)
6 8 LAY DOWN (Candles In the Rain) –•– Melanie with the Edwin Hawkins Singers (Buddah)-12 (6)
7 14 (They Long To Be) CLOSE TO YOU –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-4 (7)
8 4 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD / FOR YOU BLUE –•– The Beatles (Apple)-8 (1)
9 9 THE WONDER OF YOU / MAMA LIKED THE ROSES –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-9 (9)
10 5 HITCHIN’ A RIDE –•– Vanity Fare (Page One)-17 (5)

11 12 GIMME DAT DING –•– The Pipkins (Capitol)-8 (11)
12 18 O-O-H CHILD / DEAR PRUDENCE –•– The Five Stairsteps (Buddah)-15 (12)
13 10 GET READY –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-18 (4)
14 13 UNITED WE STAND –•– The Brotherhood Of Man (Deram)-13 (13)
15 17 A SONG OF JOY –•– Miguel Rios (A&M)-5 (15)
16 15 MY BABY LOVES LOVIN’ –•– White Plains (Deram)-13 (13)
17 20 TIGHTER, TIGHTER –•– Alive and Kicking (Roulette)-6 (17)
18 19 LOVE LAND –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-14 (18)
19 29 ARE YOU READY –•– Pacific Gas and Electric (Columbia)-7 (19)
20 44 MAKE IT WITH YOU –•– Bread (Elektra)-5 (20)

21 23 MISSISSIPPI QUEEN –•– Mountain (Windfall)-13 (21)
22 16 LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET –•– The Moments (Stang)-14 (3)
23 11 WHICH WAY YOU GOIN’ BILLY –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-16 (2)
24 30 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN –•– Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (Atlantic)-6 (24)
25 25 SUGAR SUGAR / COLE, COOKE AND REDDING –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-15 (25)
26 39 SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I’M YOURS –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-3 (26)
27 21 QUESTION –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-11 (21)
28 28 CHECK OUT YOUR MIND –•– The Impressions (Curtom)-9 (28)
29 22 EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL –•– Ray Stevens (Barnaby)-15 (1)
30 49 OHIO –•– Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Atlantic)-3 (30)

31 32 SAVE THE COUNTRY –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-5 (31)
32 24 IT’S ALL IN THE GAME –•– The Four Tops (Motown)-12 (24)
33 34 WESTBOUND #9 –•– The Flaming Ember (Hot Wax)-8 (33)
34 36 MISSISSIPPI –•– John Phillips (Dunhill)-9 (34)
35 31 SPIRIT IN THE DARK –•– Aretha Franklin with the Dixie Flyers (Atlantic)-8 (23)
36 53 I JUST CAN’T HELP BELIEVING –•– B.J. Thomas (Scepter)-4 (36)
37 37 GO BACK –•– Crabby Appleton (Elektra)-10 (37)
38 60 SPILL THE WINE –•– Eric Burdon and War (MGM)-8 (38)
39 47 SILVER BIRD –•– Mark Lindsay (Columbia)-5 (39)
40 48 THE END OF OUR ROAD –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-5 (40)