Casey's only 4 years into AT40, and I can clearly tell the difference between now and when I listened in the 80's. A major difference is the commentary on potential further movement or not on the chart.
He started with a very positive story about how Three Dog Night had had 18 top 20 hits in a row. Quite an achievement for any artist. But he then followed with the unfortunate fact that their current single was only up 1 to #33 and how it would need new momentum. In fact, #33 was its peak, and not only did this song miss the top 20, they never hit the top 30 again -- quite a steep fall from grace from a group that had had such a long steady streak.
The next candid comment was in introducing Jim Weatherly as a very successful songwriter for Gladys Knight, and also a "pretty good singer" -- listening to the record, that was as nice a thing as could be said!
He then predicted all sorts of songs to hit #1 -- Neil Diamond, Billy Swan, Bobby Vinton, and BT Express.... and given the way songs were plummeting from #1 in this period, that's no surprise. Only Billy Swan made it, and Casey made no particular comment on Kung Fu Fighting (who was #1 in a mere 3 weeks), Angie Baby, Cats in the Cradle, or Laughter in the Rain though all did.
He ended with a big lead up to the first #1 for the last Beatle to make it to the top, John Lennon. All 4 Beatles ended up with multiple number ones -- Starr (2), Lennon (2), Harrison (3), and McCartney (9). Together, that's still fewer than their 20 as a group! For Lennon, this was the only week at #1 for him before he died in 1980. His 2nd #1 was heading up the chart when he was murdered, but it's hard to say whether "(Just Like) Starting Over" would've made it otherwise.
Favorites: Laughter in the Rain, When Will I See You Again,
1 3 WHATEVER GETS YOU THRU THE NIGHT –•– John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band (Apple)-8 (1 week at #1) (1)
3 6 MY MELODY OF LOVE –•– Bobby Vinton (ABC)-9 (3)
4 4 TIN MAN –•– America (Warner Brothers)-13 (4)
5 5 BACK HOME AGAIN –•– John Denver (RCA)-9 (5)
6 15 I CAN HELP –•– Billy Swan (Monument)-8 (6)
7 13 LONGFELLOW SERENADE –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-7 (7)
8 9 LIFE IS A ROCK (But the Radio Rolled Me) –•– Reunion (RCA)-11 (8)
9 11 EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Carl Carlton (Back Beat)-9 (9)
10 10 CAREFREE HIGHWAY –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise)-11 (10)
11 2 JAZZMAN –•– Carole King (Ode)-12 (2)
12 1 YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET / FREE WHEELIN’ –•– Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Mercury)-9 (1)
13 14 THE NEED TO BE –•– Jim Weatherly (Buddah)-10 (13)
14 8 THE BITCH IS BACK –•– Elton John (MCA)-11 (4)
15 17 LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY (Part 1) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-9 (15)
16 20 WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN –•– The Three Degrees (Philadelphia International)-8 (16)
17 19 I’VE GOT THE MUSIC IN ME –•– The Kiki Dee Band (Rocket)-10 (17)
18 22 ROCKIN’ SOUL –•– The Hues Corporation (RCA)-6 (18)
19 25 WISHING YOU WERE HERE –•– Chicago (Columbia)-5 (19)
20 26 ANGIE BABY –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-5 (20)
21 27 SHA-LA-LA (Make Me Happy) –•– Al Green (Hi)-8 (21)
22 29 CAT’S IN THE CRADLE –•– Harry Chapin (Elektra)-7 (22)
23 23 SO YOU ARE A STAR –•– The Hudson Brothers (Casablanca)-9 (23)
24 24 PEOPLE GOTTA MOVE –•– Gino Vannelli (A&M)-9 (24)
25 30 AFTER THE GOLDRUSH –•– Prelude (Island)-7 (25)
26 32 YOU GOT THE LOVE –•– Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (ABC)-6 (26)
27 33 KUNG FU FIGHTING –•– Carl Douglas (20th Century)-6 (27)
28 12 YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN’ –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-16 (1)
29 37 PROMISED LAND –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-4 (29)
30 38 LA LA PEACE SONG –•– Al Wilson (Rocky Road)-7 (30)
31 42 TOUCH ME –•– Fancy (Big Tree)-6 (31)
32 40 FAIRYTALE –•– The Pointer Sisters (Blue Thumb)-7 (32)
33 34 PLAY SOMETHING SWEET (Brickyard Blues) –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-8 (33)
34 36 YOU CAN HAVE HER –•– Sam Neely (A&M)-9 (34)
35 35 DORAVILLE –•– The Atlanta Rhythm Section (Polydor)-7 (35)
36 46 YOU’RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING –•– Barry White (20th Century)-3 (36)
37 47 I FEEL A SONG (In My Heart) / DON’T BURN DOWN THE BRIDGE –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Buddah)-6 (37)
38 18 OVERNIGHT SENSATION (Hit Record) –•– The Raspberries (Capitol)-10 (18)
39 50 LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN –•– Neil Sedaka (Rocket)-5 (39)
40 64 AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-2 (40)
