Today's American Top 40 from 1977 was ordinary in many ways -- not many big debuts or movers. But up at the top was one of the great intros that made Casey such a radio icon. He starts with the story of how ABBA, despite being one of the biggest pop acts in the world had yet to tour America. They were quoted as saying they were waiting for their first #1 hit, like they'd had in other countries.
"Well, Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, and Anni-Fred...you can start packing! [timpani roll] You've got the #1 song in America...Dancing Queen!"
What Casey of course didn't know was that not only would that be their first week at #1, but also their last. Fell the next week to #4, and they never got higher than #3 again.
And yes, they did come to America in 1979, and other articles about this one and only U.S. concert tour emphasized they wanted to be the featured artist, not an opening act.
Casey also mentioned how slowly the top 10 was moving, and thus he expected "Hotel California" to hit #1 quickly. Well, it took awhile... as songs #2, #3, and #5 each spent a lone week at #1. Since #4 and #9 already had, this is a remarkably hit-packed top 10, with a classic each in adult contemporary, classic rock, and disco (x2, arguably)
1 2 DANCING QUEEN –•– Abba (Atlantic)-18 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 3 DON’T GIVE UP ON US –•– David Soul (Private Stock)-11 (2)
3 4 DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY –•– Thelma Houston (Tamla)-17 (3)
4 1 RICH GIRL –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-12 (1)
5 6 SOUTHERN NIGHTS –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-9 (5)
6 7 THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE –•– 10cc (Mercury)-14 (6)
7 8 HOTEL CALIFORNIA –•– Eagles (Asylum)-7 (7)
8 9 I’VE GOT LOVE ON MY MIND –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol)-11 (8)
9 5 LOVE THEME FROM “A STAR IS BORN” (Evergreen) –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-18 (1)
