Early Installment Weirdness

One of the TV/movie tropes on a website I like is called Early Installment Weirdness where an episode early in the run of (especially) a long-running series, just seems out of place as the characters still develop and the writers work out some things.

Applied to American Top 40, the earliest shows definitely are American Top 40 with a remarkable similarity to the shows of the 80's, but some of the features that disappeared over time:

- radio station DJs doing their own name check, rather than Casey

- predicting next weeks' #1

- playing a track off that week's #1 album

and perhaps most oddly as I heard this week, Casey encouraging young people to register to vote (!!)

Longest #1 song titles

"American Pie" was the longest #1 hit single for a long time, but its title was of normal length.  On this week's top 40 replay from 1972, Casey was asked who had the longest song title to hit #1.  At that point, it was Brian Hyland from 1960 with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini." (41 letters) After Casey answered the question, he resumed the countdown with B.J. Thomas'' "Rock and Roll Lullaby"

But what Casey didn't know is that the record for longest #1 song title would be broken by...B.J. Thomas! In 1975, Thomas made it to the top with "Hey, Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (49!)

The current record holder is a medley, known in 1981 as "Medley" or colloquially "The Beatles Medley" by Stars on 45, a studio cover band.  The full official title on the label of the single and listed in Billboard was a mouthful:  "Medley: Intro 'Venus' / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45."

Among non-medleys, no one has yet to beat Thomas.

December 1972 -- some new songs for me

Late 1972 this week on the random AT40 replay on Thursdays, and a good one for me.  I especially enjoy countdowns with songs I don't recall hearing before.  This week had a couple by artists I have complilations for:

1. Dennis Yost and Classics IV, whose "Spooky" and "Stormy" were on a mini-disc I bought that fit nicely in the smaller notch in the tray where you'd put a CD (which you perhaps had not noticed).  I only owned a couple of those, and for the Classics IV with only 4 top 40 hits, that was perfect!  What Casey didn't know is that they would not chart again after "What am I Crying For."

2.  The Bee Gees:  they would chart, but after "Alive" which I'd never heard, they went on a multi-year drought before "Jive Talkin'" in 1975 began one of the great streaks in pop music... the first of 8 #1's in 4 years.

1 2 I AM WOMAN –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-16 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 PAPA WAS A ROLLIN’ STONE –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-9 (1)
3 5 IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY NOW –•– Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Philadelphia International)-11 (3)
4 3 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW –•– Johnny Nash (Epic)-14 (1)
5 7 YOU OUGHT TO BE WITH ME –•– Al Green (Hi)-8 (5)
6 13 ME AND MRS. JONES –•– Billy Paul (Philadelphia International)-6 (6)
7 8 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA –•– Albert Hammond (Mums)-8 (7)
8 10 VENTURA HIGHWAY –•– America (Warner Brothers)-8 (8)
9 12 CLAIR –•– Gilbert O’Sullivan (MAM)-7 (9)
10 11 I’M STONE IN LOVE WITH YOU –•– The Stylistics (Avco)-9 (10)
11 6 SUMMER BREEZE –•– Seals and Crofts (Warner Brothers)-14 (6)

12 20 FUNNY FACE –•– Donna Fargo (Dot)-11 (12)
13 16 SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH ME –•– Austin Roberts (Chelsea)-9 (13)
14 15 CRAZY HORSES –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-8 (14)
15 19 ROCKIN’ PNEUMONIA – BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU –•– Johnny Rivers (United Artists)-10 (15)
16 4 I’D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME –•– Lobo (Big Tree)-12 (2)
17 18 OPERATOR (That’s Not the Way It Feels) –•– Jim Croce (ABC)-9 (17)
18 9 I’LL BE AROUND / HOW COULD I LET YOU GET AWAY –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-17 (3)
19 22 CORNER OF THE SKY –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-7 (19)
20 24 SWEET SURRENDER –•– Bread (Elektra)-5 (20)
21 14 IF I COULD REACH YOU –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-14 (10)
22 31 SUPERFLY –•– Curtis Mayfield (Curtom)-4 (22)
23 27 WALK ON WATER –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-5 (23)
24 26 DIALOGUE (Parts 1 and 2) –•– Chicago (Columbia)-7 (24)
25 32 KEEPER OF THE CASTLE –•– The Four Tops (Dunhill)-5 (25)
26 30 LIVING IN THE PAST –•– Jethro Tull (Chrysalis)-6 (26)
27 35 SITTING –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-4 (27)
28 21 CONVENTION ’72 –•– The Delegates (Mainstream)-8 (8)
29 34 YOUR MAMA DON’T DANCE –•– Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina (Columbia)-5 (29)
30 33 LONG DARK ROAD –•– The Hollies (Epic)-6 (30)
31 29 ROCK ‘N ROLL SOUL –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-12 (29)
32 43 SUPERSTITION –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-4 (32)
33 47 PIECES OF APRIL –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-4 (33)
34 36 SUNNY DAYS –•– Lighthouse (Evolution)-10 (34)
35 37 ALIVE –•– The Bee Gees (Atco)-4 (35)
36 38 I DIDN’T KNOW I LOVED YOU (‘Till I Saw You Rock and Roll) –•– Gary Glitter (Bell)-6 (36)
37 45 I WANNA BE WITH YOU –•– The Raspberries (Capitol)-3 (37)
38 39 THEME FROM “THE MEN” –•– Isaac Hayes (Enterprise)-8 (38)
39 41 WHAT AM I CRYING FOR –•– Dennis Yost and the Classics IV (MGM South)-8 (39)
40 50 BEEN TO CANAAN –•– Carole King (Ode)-3 (40)

April 1976 -- O What a Night

 In 1976 today, and it was a particularly good week for things Casey didn't know.

At #39, Hall and Oates made a modest debut with their first hit, and Casey couldn't have known how after a respectable string of hits for the next 5 years, they would explode into the biggest act of the early 80's.  In fact, they're in the top 5 of any list I've seen of 80's artists, but they're often forgotten often in comparison to the flashier MTV icons.  But to be fair, their greatest hits is in the top 200 here in 2023...

At #33, Casey remarked how it was 4 in a row for Freddy Fender, all #1 country hits...except in this case, it was his last #1 country and pop top 40.

He wished Carole King "Happy Anniversary" for 5 years on the album charts with "Tapestry" -- it would hang out for the rest of 1976, ending the streak with over 300 weeks, which at the time put in in 4th place among solo artists.  What Casey didn't know was that once the album charts moved to electronic counting, rather than sales reports...and further decided to not shunt off older albums arbitrarily, 300 weeks is now far from unusual.  This week's top 100 here in 2023 has _19_ albums with over 300 weeks, led by Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" which is closing in on 1,000 weeks.  The highest with at least 300 weeks is Taylor Swift's "1989" way up at #22.

At #27, Elvin Bishop debuted with "his" first hit, "Fooled Around And Fell in Love" -- Casey clearly wouldn't know that it would be prominently featured in a quirky Marvel blockbuster, "Guardians of the Galaxy" 40 years later!  Casey called Bishop a group, since Bishop didn't sing lead... he'd have been surprised to know that the uncredited lead vocalist Mickey Thomas would 3 years later begin to lead (Jefferson) "We Built This City" Starship through the 80's.

At #22, the Miracles were easing down the chart with their recent #1, "Love Machine"....and they were to never hit the top 100 again, much less the top 40, though their former lead singer Smokey Robinson had a good run through the 80's.  Early 70's icons the Carpenters and John Denver were on the chart, but wouldn't go top 10 again.

The Four Seasons were enjoying a resurgence in the mid-70's, but it was the "Jersey Boys" that turned them into a 1990's phenomenon, with "December 1963" adding a second 27-week chart run in 1994/5.  It was recently among the top 10 hits in a Sirius SX user survey of 70's songs, which I don't believe would've been true had the survey been done in, say, 1990.

Casey commended the Eagles for being at #1 with their greatest hits the past 4 weeks.  Would he guess it would go on to sell 29 million copies, being the biggest selling album of all time at one point?  And yes, it also happens to be on this week's Top 200 chart in 2023, sharing space with its rival "Thriller" by Michael Jackson in the bottom half.

1 5 DISCO LADY –•– Johnnie Taylor (Columbia)-9 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 DREAM WEAVER –•– Gary Wright (Warner Brothers)-14 (2)
3 3 LONELY NIGHT (Angel Face) –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-11 (3)
4 8 LET YOUR LOVE FLOW –•– The Bellamy Brothers (Warner Brothers / Curb)-10 (4)
5 6 SWEET THING –•– Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (ABC)-14 (5)
6 9 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM –•– Maxine Nightingale (United Artists)-8 (6)
7 7 DREAM ON –•– Aerosmith (Columbia)-22 (7)
8 1 DECEMBER, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) –•– The Four Seasons (Warner Brothers / Curb)-15 (1)
9 10 MONEY HONEY –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-9 (9)
10 11 GOLDEN YEARS –•– David Bowie (RCA)-17 (10)

11 13 ONLY SIXTEEN –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-14 (11)
12 15 SWEET LOVE –•– The Commodores (Motown)-15 (12)
13 18 SHOW ME THE WAY –•– Peter Frampton (A&M)-7 (13)
14 14 DEEP PURPLE –•– Donny and Marie Osmond (MGM)-17 (14)
15 17 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY –•– Queen (Elektra)-14 (15)
16 25 BOOGIE FEVER –•– The Sylvers (Capitol)-8 (16)
17 24 THERE’S A KIND OF HUSH (All Over the World) –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-6 (17)
18 19 TANGERINE –•– The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul)-11 (18)
19 4 ALL BY MYSELF –•– Eric Carmen (Arista)-16 (2)
20 16 TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT –•– Eagles (Asylum)-16 (4)

21 23 ACTION –•– Sweet (Capitol)-8 (21)
22 21 LOVE MACHINE (Part 1) –•– The Miracles (Tamla)-24 (1)
23 12 FANNY (Be Tender With My love) –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-15 (12)
24 20 JUNK FOOD JUNKIE –•– Larry Groce (Warner Brothers / Curb)-13 (9)
25 26 GOOD HEARTED WOMAN –•– Waylon and Willie (RCA)-9 (25)
26 36 I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO –•– Abba (Atlantic)-8 (26)
27 41 FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE –•– Elvin Bishop (Capricorn)-5 (27)
28 30 ONLY LOVE IS REAL –•– Carole King (Ode)-8 (28)
29 34 LOOKING FOR SPACE –•– John Denver (RCA)-5 (29)
30 33 LOVE FIRE –•– Jigsaw (Chelsea)-9 (30)

31 37 LIVIN’ FOR THE WEEKEND –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-5 (31)
32 27 LOVE HURTS –•– Nazareth (A&M)-20 (8)
33 35 YOU’LL LOSE A GOOD THING –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-8 (33)
34 50 SHANNON –•– Henry Gross (Lifesong)-6 (34)
35 39 LORELEI –•– Styx (A&M)-8 (35)
36 38 HE’S A FRIEND –•– Eddie Kendricks (Tamla)-8 (36)
37 40 FOPP –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-7 (37)
38 42 WE CAN’T HIDE IT ANYMORE –•– Larry Santos (Casablanca)-8 (38)
39 43 SARA SMILE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-10 (39)
40 44 HIT THE ROAD JACK –•– The Stampeders (Quality)-6 (40)

Top 10's per album

This week Casey noted the then historic accomplishment of Fleetwood Mac having four hits that made the top 10, all originating from one album, Rumours.  He claimed it was the first album of the 70's to do such, implying an act like the Beatles might've had more.  The "originating" word would leave out compilation/Greatest Hits albums or live versions on a concert album.

Michael Jackson would be the first to match that accomplishment with four top 10 hits in 1979-80 with "Off the Wall," and he then crushed the record in 1982-1984 with 7 top 10 hits from "Thriller" which broke open the floodgates for hit albums suddenly having 5 or more singles released, with 4 top 10's being done by rather ordinary artists like Richard Marx or Expose....and the standard became 4 or 5 number one singles from an album (Michael Jackson again, George Michael, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul).

The arrival of the "Soundscan" era of actually counting singles and sales in 1991 brought an end for awhile to such huge numbers of even top 10's, making even 2 #1's from an album a serious accomplishment and the top 10's per album were likewise limited as the charts slowed way down.

That all flipped around again when then whole idea of a single was challenged with streaming music and digital downloads of tracks from albums.  Now, for a big name artist like Drake (the master of this!) or Taylor Swift, or even SZA, your opening week for an album might carry many of the tracks into the Hot 100...with Taylor Swift in late 2022 pulling off the ultimate -- she claimed the entire top 10, with only one of those being a traditional radio-pushed single "Anti-Hero."

Ten does seem the natural limit -- to get to 11, you'd have to do the Taylor trick of covering the top 10 your first week then push one of the rest of the tracks later to radio eventually get to top 10 status, knowing that on initial release, it was not a fan favorite.

Given that Thriller only had 9 tracks to begin with, it demonstrates how fundamentally music purchasing and marketing has changed. 

November 1974 -- more Candid Casey

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)

2 7 DO IT (‘Til You’re Satisfied) –•– B.T. Express (Scepter)-8 (2)
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)

January 1972 -- Michael Jackson gets rolling

This week's AT40 was from January 1972, when Michael Jackson was enjoying his first solo top 40 hit "Got to Be There."  Casey highlighted how he already had 4 #1 hits to his credit (with his brothers, who were also on the countdown with "Sugar Daddy") and he wasn't even a teenager!

What Casey didn't know was that in the next 50 years anyway, the Jackson 5 would never hit #1 again, but Michael would hit #1 by year's end with "Ben," have a little gap, then begin a huge streak in 1979 through 1995, ending with 13 solo #1's (including two duets) plus the work with his brothers.

He was also the first artist to debut* at #1 with "You are Not Alone" (* before chart rules changed to allow radio-only songs to chart)

At the time, it was quite unknown if Jackson or Donny Osmond would end up the bigger hitmaker, but let's just say it wasn't close...

1 2 AMERICAN PIE (Parts 1 and 2) –•– Don McLean (United Artists)-8 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 BRAND NEW KEY –•– Melanie (Neighborhood)-12 (1)
3 4 LET’S STAY TOGETHER –•– Al Green (Hi)-7 (3)
4 7 SUNSHINE –•– Jonathan Edwards (Capricorn)-10 (4)
5 3 FAMILY AFFAIR –•– Sly and the Family Stone (Epic)-11 (1)
6 6 SCORPIO –•– Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band (Sussex)-12 (6)
7 8 I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING (In Perfect Harmony) –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-7 (7)
8 5 GOT TO BE THERE –•– Michael Jackson (Motown)-12 (4)
9 10 HEY GIRL / I KNEW YOU WHEN –•– Donny Osmond (MGM)-8 (9)
10 13 CLEAN UP WOMAN –•– Betty Wright (Alston)-8 (10)
11 11 YOU ARE EVERYTHING –•– The Stylistics (Avco)-11 (11)
12 12 SUGAR DADDY –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-6 (12)
13 14 I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING (In Perfect Harmony) –•– The Hillside Singers (Metromedia)-8 (13)
14 16 DAY AFTER DAY –•– Badfinger (Apple)-7 (14)
15 15 ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW (Part 1) –•– The Honey Cone (Hot Wax)-9 (15)
16 17 DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE –•– Joe Simon (Spring)-8 (16)
17 9 CHERISH –•– David Cassidy (Bell)-11 (9)
18 24 NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-4 (18)
19 18 AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-10 (4)
20 22 HEY BIG BROTHER –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-8 (20)
21 25 IT’S ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS (Yes Love) –•– The Partridge Family (Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy) (Bell)-5 (21)
22 23 ANTICIPATION –•– Carly Simon (Elektra)-6 (22)
23 26 ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND –•– Think (Featuring Lou Stallman) (Laurie)-7 (23)
24 20 ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU –•– Sonny and Cher (Kapp)-14 (7)
25 27 KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNIN’ –•– Charley Pride (RCA)-9 (25)
26 19 HAVE YOU SEEN HER –•– The Chi-Lites (Brunswick)-13 (3)
27 29 THE WITCH QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS –•– Redbone (Epic)-9 (27)
28 30 WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES –•– Bullet (Big Tree)-11 (28)
29 21 RESPECT YOURSELF –•– The Staple Singers (Stax)-14 (12)
30 35 LEVON –•– Elton John (Uni)-5 (30)
31 37 THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT ‘CHA –•– Bobby Womack and Peace (United Artists)-6 (31)
32 38 MAKE ME THE WOMAN THAT YOU GO HOME TO –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Soul)-5 (32)
33 42 BLACK DOG –•– Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)-4 (33)
34 28 AN AMERICAN TRILOGY (Dixie / Battle Hymn Of the Republic / All My Trials) (Medley) –•– Mickey Newbury (Elektra)-11 (26)
35 46 STAY WITH ME –•– The Faces (Warner Brothers)-3 (35)
36 54 WITHOUT YOU –•– Nilsson (RCA)-5 (36)
37 51 FIRE AND WATER –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-4 (37)
38 33 GEORGE JACKSON –•– Bob Dylan (Columbia)-7 (33)
39 48 LOOKING FOR A LOVE –•– The J. Geils Band (Atlantic)-7 (39)
40 43 ME AND BOBBY McGEE –•– Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury)-8 (40)

Most charted Songs (Elvis vs Drake)

By the time AT40 started in July 1970, Elvis' biggest charting days were behind him, but he'd already wracked up over 100 Hot 100 hits, clearly leading the pack of all artists.  Casey acknowledged this in his intro for "The Wonder of You" this week in 1970 (the 3rd episode of AT40), and as Elvis kept charting through the 70's, Casey normally acknowledged how Elvis kept breaking his own record, up to this week in 1977 when Elvis had his "134th chart record."

What Casey said less often, but did this week in 1970, was guessing no one would _ever_ break the record.  At the time, Ray Charles and James Brown were his nearest competition, and they were also past their peak.

As late as 2010 (the year of my latest Top Pop Singles book), Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Jay-Z had the most of active artists, each with about 50 hits.  Joel Whitburn, the author of Top Pop Singles, did not count any song an artist was "featured" on (which in the industry is a step below being the lead, or "with" or "&" another artists, but became commonplace in the 2000s.)  Even including the "featuring"s, would've only taken Jay-Z to 76.  In all cases, double-sided hits count as two.

But then around 2010, with the breakout of digital releases, the chart records were all re-written.  The Glee Cast alone charted over 200 songs, as an entire episode's worth of songs would all drop on one day.  The next week another batch would drop, driving the previous ones off the chart.  None hit #1, and none charted more than a few weeks, but each was legitimately among the top 100 in sales/airplay for that week....without the trouble of having to actually physically make, ship, and market a 45-rpm record around the country.

Another repercussion with the digital revolution was that artists could drop an album's worth of material with no designation of which were "singles"...then the buying public could download (and later stream) the songs they liked the best, and for the biggest artists, 10 or more songs on an album might make enough of an impact to be on the top 100 for a week or two during the initial surge.  The top performers would give record executives great data about what songs to release to radio.  Taylor Swift, Adele, and Mumford and Sons have all charted dozens of songs this way.

But the King of these developments is clearly Drake.  From his own albums as lead artist, he's beaten Elvis with 195 songs, but I feel safe characterizing over 100 of them as fundamentally album tracks, not singles.  But, throw in the "featurings" (of which Elvis had none, nor even a duet!), he picks up another 86 songs, which are indeed overwhelmingly actual singles.

My bottom line -- Casey was obviously wrong in his predictions in the strict sense of counting Hot 100 entries, but even counting songs intended as singles, Drake's got Elvis beat.  Casey himself, I expect, would've counted all duets and "featuring"s.

Someday, I'll do the analysis to include group participation to see where Paul McCartney falls.

July 1970 -- part 2 -- Casey looking for his groove

SiriusXM 70's on 7 traditionally plays the inaugural broadcast of American Top 40 on July 4th weekend, which is nice, but it means that the next 7 or 8 shows from 1970 never get played since they try to spread out the weekly countdown replays by year.  This year, they changed, playing the inaugural show as a "extra" show on the Thursday before, leaving them free this week to play the overall 3rd episode of AT 40.

In this countdown, it was more clear that Casey hadn't found his groove in a few ways.  First obvious one was that when he previewed that an artist was coming up who clearly loved songs about states.  But when John Phillips' "Mississippi" came up, he mentioned that he'd hit #1 previously with "California Dreamin'" when he was with the Mamas and the Papas, but he did not explicitly repeat the state reference.  In later years, his previews always explicitly connected.

Then, before playing "Mississippi Queen" he informed the audience that besides singers and musicians, he'd occasionally talk about a record's producers as well (which he certainly did in years to come).  Unfortunately, and uncharacteristically, he came across as apologetic, including a couple of stammering "um"s which I'd never heard before!

I also smiled when he made reference to the personal life of Mark Lindsey, particularly his valuable hub caps.  By as early at 1972, that would've been very odd.  If a record was expensive, maybe... but not the wealth, children, or marriages of artists...unless that child or spouse was also a recording artist.

As for songs, the Delfonics debuted and peaked this week with their only hit of the AT40 era.  It was also the last weeks for John Phillips, White Plains, and Crabby Appleton tying all four as the first artists to disappear from AT40.  The Beatles also depart next week with their last regular release, but they appeared later in re-releases, medleys, and solo Beatle songs having the other members add their parts....and countless special countdowns, long-distance dedications, and retrospectives of #1s.

June 1976 -- Icons return & more TV themes

Great countdown today, and Casey was very excited today as of the 5 debuts, one was by the Beach Boys and another by the Beatles!   Despite being 10 years old, "Got to Get You Into My Life" doesn't sound dated at all -- another sign of genius of the Beatles.  Both will eventually make the top 10.

Meanwhile, joining the Happy Days theme, the theme from the spin-off show "Laverne and Shirley" --- "Making Our Dreams Come True" is at #32.  John Travolta (then a TV star) and his show "Welcome Back, Kotter"'s theme song both charted as well, along with Baretta's great theme.

Another disco classic "Turn the Beat Around" entered, as did one of the few outdated songs, a Tony Orlando throwback "Save your Kisses for Me."

Bolting up the chart were two other 70's classics "Moonlight Feels Right" and "Afternoon Delight," two I clearly remember from the radio that summer.

At the top, Wings in is third non-consecutive week at #1 -- meaning the same person (Paul McCartney) is singing lead for two different groups on the same countdown.  I've heard of a solo artist co-charting with their main band (Lionel Richie, Phil Collins), but never two bands.

Wings was interrupted at #1 by Diana Ross.  Casey mentioned how she'd hit the top 10 four times as a solo artist, each of them hitting #1...and she'd go 5 for 5 in 1980 with "Upside Down."  "Love Hangover" was also the song that broke the tie with Cher, Helen Ready, Roberta Flack, and Connie Francis for most solo #1's by a female...a trivia question he'd answered in 1972 when only Francis even had 3.  I doubt Casey would've guessed that Mariah Carey would one day have 19!

19 first-timers on the chart today, including Hall & Oates

No 5-star songs today, but 4-stars from Nightingale, Carmen, the Beatles, Robinson, Seals and Crofts, and the Starland Vocal Band.

1 1 SILLY LOVE SONGS –•– Wings (Capitol)-11 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 GET UP AND BOOGIE (That’s Right) –•– Silver Convention (Midland International)-15 (2)
3 3 MISTY BLUE –•– Dorothy Moore (Malaco)-14 (3)
4 4 LOVE HANGOVER –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-12 (1)
5 7 SARA SMILE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-21 (5)
6 6 SHANNON –•– Henry Gross (Lifesong)-17 (6)
7 8 SHOP AROUND –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-8 (7)
8 9 MORE, MORE, MORE (Part 1) –•– The Andrea True Connection (Buddah)-15 (8)
9 25 AFTERNOON DELIGHT –•– The Starland Vocal Band (Windsong)-7 (9)

10 13 I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-8 (10)

11 5 HAPPY DAYS –•– Pratt and McClain (Reprise)-12 (5)
12 21 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE –•– The Manhattans (Columbia)-10 (12)
13 15 LOVE IS ALIVE –•– Gary Wright (Warner Brothers)-10 (13)
14 16 TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-10 (14)
15 17 MOVIN’ –•– Brass Construction (United Artists)-12 (15)
16 18 I WANT YOU –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-9 (16)
17 19 NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN –•– Eric Carmen (Arista)-8 (17)
18 24 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT –•– Starbuck (Private Stock)-10 (18)
19 23 TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-7 (19)
20 20 BARETTA’S THEME (“Keep Your Eye On the Sparrow”) –•– Rhythm Heritage (ABC)-11 (20)

21 10 FOOL TO CRY / HOT STUFF –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-9 (10)
22 26 THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN –•– Thin Lizzy (Mercury)-6 (22)
23 11 RHIANNON (Will You Ever Win) –•– Fleetwood Mac (Reprise)-16 (11)
24 12 WELCOME BACK –•– John Sebastian (Reprise)-13 (1)
25 14 BOOGIE FEVER –•– The Sylvers (Capitol)-19 (1)
26 30 GET CLOSER –•– Seals and Crofts (Featuring Carolyn Willis) (Warner Brothers)-10 (26)
27 32 YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND –•– Queen (Elektra)-5 (27)
28 34 THAT’S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO –•– The Trammps (Atlantic)-11 (28)
29 54 GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE –•– The Beatles (Capitol)-2 (29)

31 36 LET HER IN –•– John Travolta (Midland International)-8 (31)
32 38 MAKING OUR DREAMS COME TRUE –•– Cyndi Grecco (Private Stock)-7 (32)
33 37 TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER (Give Up the Funk) –•– Parliament (Casablanca)-6 (33)
34 22 FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE –•– Elvin Bishop (Capricorn)-16 (3)
35 42 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME –•– The Brotherhood Of Man (Pye)-7 (35)
36 41 TURN THE BEAT AROUND –•– Vicki Sue Robinson (RCA)-11 (36)
37 40 I’M EASY –•– Keith Carradine (ABC)-7 (37)
38 27 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM –•– Maxine Nightingale (United Artists)-19 (2)
39 43 MAMMA MIA –•– Abba (Atlantic)-5 (39)
40 58 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC –•– The Beach Boys (Brother)-3 (40)

April 1977 -- ABBA on top!

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)

February 1973 -- an Oddity or two

Fun countdown today as Casey made a couple comments that 50 years later really resonated.  First up was David Bowie (which he pronounced Boo'-ee), who debuted with his first top 40 hit, "Space Oddity," in its 3rd release in 5 years.  While it made a respectable #15, what Casey didn't know is that he would go on to 2 #1s and become a rock icon.  He also didn't connect that the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey was also charting, and I think the movie helped Bowie's song.

He also made a big deal out of the 5th Dimension going on an eastern Europe goodwill tour...but he didn't know that that was his last opportunity to talk about it.  They never spent another week in the top 40.  By contrast, the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, newcomer Bette Midler would have hit songs through 1990, despite not exactly hot starts.

He made a big deal about the Barbara Mason record being a most unusual third hit from the same soundtrack.  Little did know that Saturday Night Fever, Urban Cowboy, and Footloose were coming down the pike....with 6 each.

Funny connections to the parallel 80's-on-8 broadcast from 1980, where they mentioned Barbara Mason and Deodato!

1 5 KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-5 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 4 DUELING BANJOS –•– Deliverance (Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell) (Warner Brothers)-7 (2)
3 1 CROCODILE ROCK –•– Elton John (MCA)-12 (1)
4 2 YOU’RE SO VAIN –•– Carly Simon (Elektra)-13 (1)
5 7 COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-9 (5)
6 6 DO IT AGAIN –•– Steely Dan (ABC)-15 (6)
7 13 LAST SONG –•– Edward Bear (Capitol)-11 (7)
8 8 DON’T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND –•– Lobo (Big Tree)-9 (8)
9 15 LOVE TRAIN –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-6 (9)
10 10 ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH –•– John Denver (RCA)-14 (10)
11 3 OH, BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY –•– Hurricane Smith (Capitol)-13 (3)
12 16 DADDY’S HOME –•– Jermaine Jackson (Motown)-12 (12)
13 14 DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT –•– King Harvest (Perception)-18 (13)
14 9 WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER –•– Timmy Thomas (Glades)-14 (3)
15 19 THE COVER OF “ROLLING STONE” –•– Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (Columbia)-13 (15)
16 18 JAMBALAYA (On the Bayou) –•– The Blue Ridge Rangers (Fantasy)-13 (16)
17 12 SUPERSTITION –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-15 (1)
18 25 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) –•– Deodato (CTI)-4 (18)
19 22 DO YOU WANT TO DANCE –•– Bette Midler (Atlantic)-10 (19)
20 11 THE WORLD IS A GHETTO –•– War (United Artists)-15 (7)
21 23 DREIDEL –•– Don McLean (United Artists)-10 (21)
22 28 I’M JUST A SINGER (In a Rock and Roll Band) –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-4 (22)
23 20 LOVE JONES –•– Brighter Side Of Darkness (20th Century)-12 (16)
24 29 PEACEFUL EASY FEELING –•– Eagles (Asylum)-9 (24)
25 17 TROUBLE MAN –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-11 (7)
26 35 DANNY’S SONG –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-8 (26)
27 36 AUBREY –•– Bread (Elektra)-4 (27)
28 30 I GOT ANTS IN MY PANTS (And I Want To Dance) (Part 1) –•– James Brown (Polydor)-6 (28)
29 34 BIG CITY MISS RUTH ANN –•– Gallery (Sussex)-9 (29)
30 21 YOUR MAMA DON’T DANCE –•– Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina (Columbia)-16 (4)
31 40 NEITHER ONE OF US (Wants To Be the First To Say Goodbye) –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Soul)-5 (31)
32 32 LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-8 (32)
33 38 HUMMINGBIRD –•– Seals and Crofts (Warner Brothers)-6 (33)
34 41 GIVE ME YOUR LOVE –•– Barbara Mason (Buddah)-7 (34)
35 37 JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-11 (35)
36 42 SPACE ODDITY –•– David Bowie (RCA)-5 (36)
37 43 DON’T CROSS THE RIVER –•– America (Warner Brothers)-5 (37)
38 24 HI, HI, HI –•– Wings (Apple)-11 (10)
39 46 AIN’T NO WOMAN (Like the One I Got) –•– The Four Tops (Dunhill)-4 (39)
40 47 DEAD SKUNK –•– Loudon Wainwright III (Columbia)-5 (40)

October 1973 -- Soul Train

Big soul week in October 1973 -- with Marvin, Gladys, Isleys, Eddie Kendricks, and Stevie Wonder all in the top 10 -- but lots of other styles, and along the way we have some fun convergences:

Cher and her one-time husband Gregg Allman were back to back 2 & 3; Simon and Garfunkel did the same at 13 & 14.  Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye chart both as a duo and each as soloists.

First hit: Kool and the Gang, Marie Osmond, 

Favorites (4-star) Allmans, Doobies, Ringo, Blue Notes, and the best "All I Know" (5-star)

1 5 ANGIE –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-7 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 HALF-BREED –•– Cher (MCA)-12 (1)
3 2 RAMBLIN’ MAN –•– The Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn)-9 (2)
4 3 LET’S GET IT ON –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-15 (1)
5 8 MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Buddah)-8 (5)
6 6 THAT LADY (Part 1) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-15 (6)
7 9 KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (Part 1) –•– Eddie Kendricks (Tamla)-9 (7)
8 4 HIGHER GROUND –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-10 (4)
9 12 HEARTBEAT-IT’S A LOVEBEAT –•– The DeFranco Family Featuring Tony DeFranco (20th Century)-7 (9)
10 13 PAPER ROSES –•– Marie Osmond (MGM)-6 (10)

11 11 YES WE CAN CAN –•– The Pointer Sisters (Blue Thumb)-10 (11)
12 10 WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND –•– Grand Funk (Capitol)-13 (1)
13 19 ALL I KNOW –•– Garfunkel (Columbia)-6 (13)
14 7 LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK –•– Paul Simon (with the Dixie Hummingbirds) (Columbia)-12 (2)
15 17 BASKETBALL JONES FEATURING TYRONE SHOELACES –•– Cheech and Chong (Ode)-7 (15)
16 20 KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR –•– Bob Dylan (Columbia)-8 (16)
17 14 FREE RIDE –•– The Edgar Winter Group (Epic)-11 (14)
18 15 CHINA GROVE –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-10 (15)
19 16 MY MARIA –•– B.W. Stevenson (RCA)-13 (9)
20 26 SPACE RACE –•– Billy Preston (A&M)-5 (20)

21 23 WHY ME –•– Kris Kristofferson (Monument)-29 (21)
22 40 I GOT A NAME –•– Jim Croce (ABC)-3 (22)
23 24 ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY –•– Joe Walsh (Dunhill)-11 (23)
24 18 DELTA DAWN –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-18 (1)
25 29 HURTS SO GOOD –•– Millie Jackson (Spring)-7 (25)
26 35 YOU’RE A SPECIAL PART OF ME –•– Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye (Motown)-3 (26)
27 33 SUMMER (The First Time) –•– Bobby Goldsboro (United Artists)-9 (27)
28 43 JUST YOU ‘N’ ME –•– Chicago (Columbia)-4 (28)
29 60 PHOTOGRAPH –•– Ringo Starr (Apple)-3 (29)
30 31 WE MAY NEVER PASS THIS WAY (Again) –•– Seals and Crofts (Warner Brothers)-5 (30)

31 56 TOP OF THE WORLD –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-3 (31)
32 32 FUNKY STUFF –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-7 (32)
33 38 JESSE –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-5 (33)
34 28 GET IT TOGETHER –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-8 (28)
35 21 SAY, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY SWEET GYPSY ROSE –•– Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando (Bell)-15 (3)
36 36 LET ME IN –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-7 (36)
37 50 THE LOVE I LOST (Part 1) –•– Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Philadelphia International)-4 (37)
38 22 BROTHER LOUIE –•– The Stories (Kama Sutra)-18 (1)
39 27 YOU’VE NEVER BEEN THIS FAR BEFORE –•– Conway Twitty (MCA)-11 (22)
40 25 TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-21 (1)

October 1978 -- A Yacht-Rock break from Disco

Great late-70's countdown this week.  We're past the Saturday Night Fever surge and now on the tail end of "Grease" with Olivia Newton John logging two records in the top 10.  Joining is in the top 10 is minimal disco collection with more yacht rock.  A little country is sprinkled in the countdown as usual, plus some classic rock, adult contemporary, and just a little R&B, plus yet another late 70's Wings track I've never heard.

First/Last hits:  none that I see

Favorites (5-star) : none, 4-star:  Boston, Andy Gibb, Kenny Loggins, 

1 1 KISS YOU ALL OVER –•– Exile (Warner Brothers / Curb) -15 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 HOT CHILD IN THE CITY –•– Nick Gilder (Chrysalis) -19 (2)
3 2 BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE –•– A Taste Of Honey (Capitol) -17 (1)
4 4 DON’T LOOK BACK –•– Boston (Epic) -9 (4)
5 6 REMINISCING –•– The Little River Band (Harvest) -12 (5)
6 9 YOU NEEDED ME –•– Anne Murray (Capitol) -14 (6)
7 8 LOVE IS IN THE AIR –•– John Paul Young (Scotti Brothers) -14 (7)
8 10 WHENEVER I CALL YOU “FRIEND” –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia) -12 (8)
9 5 SUMMER NIGHTS –•– John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Cast (RSO) -11 (5)
10 7 HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU –•– Olivia Newton-John (RSO) -15 (3)

11 21 MacARTHUR PARK –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca) -6 (11)
12 12 HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS –•– Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol) -10 (12)
13 14 RIGHT DOWN THE LINE –•– Gerry Rafferty (United Artists) -10 (13)
14 16 HOW MUCH I FEEL –•– Ambrosia (Warner Brothers) -7 (14)
15 17 GET OFF –•– Foxy (Dash) -13 (15)
16 18 BACK IN THE U.S.A. –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum) -9 (16)
17 19 SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN –•– Billy Joel (Columbia) -10 (17)
18 20 YOU NEVER DONE IT LIKE THAT –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M) -11 (18)
19 22 WHO ARE YOU –•– The Who (MCA) -8 (18)
20 26 DOUBLE VISION –•– Foreigner (Atlantic) -4 (20)

21 11 THREE TIMES A LADY –•– The Commodores (Motown) -18 (1)
22 24 I LOVE THE NIGHT LIFE (Disco ‘Round) –•– Alicia Bridges (Polydor) -15 (22)
23 25 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP –•– Crystal Gayle (United Artists) -12 (23)
24 27 BEAST OF BURDEN –•– Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones) -6 (24)
25 30 IT’S A LAUGH –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) -8 (25)
26 29 JOSIE –•– Steely Dan (ABC) -8 (26)
27 28 5.7.0.5 –•– City Boy (Mercury) -10 (27)
28 13 AN EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -14 (5)
29 43 I JUST WANNA STOP –•– Gino Vannelli (A&M) -6 (29)
30 34 DANCE (Disco Heat) –•– Sylvester (Fantasy) -9 (30)

31 39 READY TO TAKE A CHANCE AGAIN –•– Barry Manilow (Arista) -5 (31)
32 35 I WILL STILL LOVE YOU –•– Stonebolt (Parachute) -11 (32)
33 33 ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE –•– Michael Johnson (EMI-America) -10 (33)
34 15 OH DARLING –•– Robin Gibb (RSO) -10 (15)
35 23 COME TOGETHER –•– Aerosmith (Columbia) -11 (23)
36 38 TOOK THE LAST TRAIN –•– David Gates (Elektra) -10 (36)
37 48 SHARING THE NIGHT TOGETHER –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol) -5 (37)
38 40 SWEET LIFE –•– Paul Davis (Bang) -8 (38)
39 42 LONDON TOWN –•– Wings (Capitol) -6 (39)
40 37 HEARTBREAKER –•– Dolly Parton (RCA) -8 (37)

October 1979 -- 70's almost over, the decade of Michael Jackson begins

The 70's are almost over, and it's the usual fun mix of yacht rock, disco, classic rock. country, early new wave, jazz, and some pop/soul -- 5 past, present, or future #1's are in the top 10.  KC and the Sunshine band nudge up just a couple, though they too will hit #1 in months to come.

Strangely never heard -- Wings, Sniff n' the Tears,

First hit: Stephanie Mills, and Journey
Last hit: Lobo
Favorites:  (5-star) Don't Bring Me Down, and my favorite, Charlie Daniels.

1 2 SAD EYES –•– Robert John (EMI-America)-21 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 4 DON’T STOP ‘TIL YOU GET ENOUGH –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-11 (2)
3 3 RISE –•– Herb Alpert (A&M)-11 (3)
4 1 MY SHARONA –•– The Knack (Capitol)-16 (1)
5 8 SAIL ON –•– The Commodores (Motown)-9 (5)
6 6 LONESOME LOSER –•– The Little River Band (Capitol)-12 (6)
7 7 I’LL NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN –•– Dionne Warwick (Arista)-16 (7)
8 11 POP MUZIK –•– M (Sire)-9 (8)
9 5 AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (ARC)-14 (2)
10 19 DIM ALL THE LIGHTS –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca)-7 (10)

11 10 DON’T BRING ME DOWN –•– The Electric Light Orchestra (Jet)-10 (4)
12 12 CRUEL TO BE KIND –•– Nick Lowe (Columbia)-11 (12)
13 13 HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENT YOU –•– Bonnie Pointer (Motown)-17 (13)
14 14 BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU (Doctor, Doctor) –•– Robert Palmer (Island)-12 (14)
15 15 DRIVER’S SEAT –•– Sniff ‘n’ the Tears (Atlantic)-12 (15)
16 16 BORN TO BE ALIVE –•– Patrick Hernandez (Columbia)-16 (16)
17 9 THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA –•– The Charlie Daniels Band (Epic)-16 (3)
18 18 DIFFERENT WORLDS –•– Maureen McGovern (Warner Brothers / Curb)-14 (18)
19 21 THE BOSS –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-13 (19)
20 24 SPOOKY –•– The Atlanta Rhythm Section (Polydor)-9 (20)

21 23 LOVIN’, TOUCHIN’, SQUEEZIN’ –•– Journey (Columbia)-12 (21)
22 22 WHAT CHA GONNA DO WITH MY LOVIN’ –•– Stephanie Mills (20th Century)-12 (22)
23 26 GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME –•– Gerry Rafferty (United Aritsts)-9 (23)
24 27 DIRTY WHITE BOY –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-5 (24)
25 30 YOU DECORATED MY LIFE –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists)-5 (25)
26 28 DEPENDIN’ ON YOU –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-9 (26)
27 29 GOOD GIRLS DON’T –•– The Knack (Capitol)-6 (27)
28 31 WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS FALLING IN LOVE –•– Lobo (MCA)-11 (28)
29 17 LEAD ME ON –•– Maxine Nightingale (Windsong)-20 (5)
30 33 ARROW THROUGH ME –•– Wings (Columbia)-7 (30)

31 34 ROLENE –•– Moon Martin (Capitol)-8 (31)
32 40 COME TO ME –•– France Joli (Prelude)-6 (32)
33 36 I KNOW A HEARTACHE WHEN I SEE ONE –•– Jennifer Warnes (Arista)-15 (33)
34 42 HOLD ON –•– Ian Gomm (Stiff / Epic)-6 (34)
35 37 THIS NIGHT WON’T LAST FOREVER –•– Michael Johnson (EMI-America)-10 (35)
36 38 MIDNIGHT WIND –•– John Stewart (RSO)-7 (36)
37 39 PLEASE DON’T GO –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-7 (37)
38 25 GOOD TIMES –•– Chic (Atlantic)-17 (1)
39 50 GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY –•– Bob Dylan (Columbia)-5 (39)
40 41 GOOD FRIEND –•– Mary MacGregor (RSO)-9 (40)

September 1972 -- A bit of nostalgia

Fun countdown today filled with little interesting facts, and I almost got to hear every song. A few key veterans were charting well, including Rick Nelson's nostalgic comeback record, Elvis on his way to his last top 10, and Chuck Berry on his way to his only #1 hit with a naughty little novelty record.

Michael Jackson was also heading for his first solo #1, and he'd be the only person (check this) to have #1 featuring a man's name and then also a woman's name ("Billie Jean.")

Having their very first hit, the Doobie's went on to a solid decade of fame, the Raspberries lead singer Eric Carmen would do the same, and more oddly, there's Rick Springfield with a country-tinged song about prayer (!!).  Jim Croce would only live one more year, sadly.

Casey made a big point about a recent survey naming Moody Blues as the best group in rock -- they took "Nights" with a full symphony orchestra to #2, their only top 10 in the 70's (matched by one each in the 60's and 80's), despite being first released in 1968!

Favorites:  Jim Croce (4) and Nights in White Satin (5)

1 2 BABY DON’T GET HOOKED ON ME –•– Mac Davis (Columbia)-13 (1 week at #1)

2 1 BLACK & WHITE –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-7
3 4 SATURDAY IN THE PARK –•– Chicago (Columbia)-8
4 5 BACK STABBERS –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-10
5 3 ALONE AGAIN (Naturally) –•– Gilbert O’Sullivan (MAM)-15
6 13 BEN –•– Michael Jackson (Motown)-8
7 16 EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL –•– The Main Ingredient (RCA)-10
8 9 HONKY CAT –•– Elton John (Uni)-7
9 12 GO ALL THE WAY –•– The Raspberries (Capitol)-13
10 7 ROCK AND ROLL (Part 2) –•– Gary Glitter (Bell)-10

11 14 POWER OF LOVE –•– Joe Simon (Spring)-12
12 17 PLAY ME –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-7
13 25 USE ME –•– Bill Withers (Sussex)-5
14 18 POPCORN –•– Hot Butter (Musicor)-12
15 15 BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY –•– Daniel Boone (Mercury)-17
16 19 RUN TO ME –•– The Bee Gees (Atco)-9
17 20 NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN –•– The Moody Blues (Deram)-8
18 22 BURNING LOVE / IT’S A MATTER OF TIME –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-6
19 23 SPEAK TO THE SKY –•– Rick Springfield (Capitol)-8
20 26 MY DING-A-LING –•– Chuck Berry (Chess)-8

21 6 LONG COOL WOMAN (In a Black Dress) –•– The Hollies (Epic)-14
22 33 GARDEN PARTY –•– Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band (Decca)-9
23 8 BRANDY (You’re a Fine Girl) –•– Looking Glass (Epic)-15
24 24 POP THAT THANG –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-13
25 11 THE GUITAR MAN –•– Bread (Elektra)-9
26 31 THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS –•– Arlo Guthrie (Reprise)-9
27 39 YOU WEAR IT WELL –•– Rod Stewart (Mercury)-5
28 35 GET ON THE GOOD FOOT (Part 1) –•– James Brown (Polydor)-8
29 29 YOU’RE STILL A YOUNG MAN –•– The Tower Of Power (Warner Brothers)-11
30 38 WHY / LONELY BOY –•– Donny Osmond (MGM / Kolob)-5

31 10 I’M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU –•– Al Green (Hi)-12
32 37 STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN –•– Mel and Tim (Stax)-12
33 21 YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM –•– Jim Croce (ABC)-13
34 41 TIGHT ROPE –•– Leon Russell (Shelter)-5
35 27 JOIN TOGETHER –•– The Who (Decca)-10
36 44 FREDDIE’S DEAD (Theme From “Superfly”) –•– Curtis Mayfield (Curtom)-6
37 52 LISTEN TO THE MUSIC –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-4
38 49 DON’T EVER BE LONELY (A Poor Little Fool Like Me) –•– Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose (United Artists)-4
39 40 EASY LIVIN –•– Uriah Heep (Mercury)-9
40 51 GOOD TIME CHARLIE’S GOT THE BLUES –•– Danny O’Keefe (Signpost)-4

September 1970 -- songs were shorter then

I reviewed the following week a year ago... and all I said then is true.  Songs were clearly a bit shorter then as he played at least one extra "oldie" per hour including a song that had spent 8 weeks at #2 without hitting #1, the #1 from 10 years earlier "The Twist," the first Beach record, and a Beatles #1.

By the mid-70s, any extras were very rare.  Later in the decade a 4th hour was added giving LOTS of room for oldies, recaps of the previosu week, and the iconic "Long Distance Dedications"

The Supremes were called "the New Supremes" without Diana Ross, who Casey was very excited to tell us was having her first true solo #1.  At the other end of the chart, her proteges, the Jackson 5, debuted way up on the Hot 100 -- no surprise after 3 #1's in a row!

First hits:  Carpenters, War, Anne Murray, Bread, Dawn-- quite a list!

Last hits -- none I could see

Favorites: (4-star) -- Cracklin Rose, Chicago, and (5-star) Long, Long Time

1 2 AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-7 (1 week at #1) (#2)
2 1 WAR –•– Edwin Starr (Gordy)-11 (#3)
3 5 LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-7 (#4)
4 6 PATCHES –•– Clarence Carter (Atlantic)-10 (#1)
5 7 JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-8 (#5)
6 4 25 OR 6 TO 4 –•– Chicago (Columbia)-9 (#6)
7 3 IN THE SUMMERTIME –•– Mungo Jerry (Janus)-11 (#8)
8 8 (They Long To Be) CLOSE TO YOU –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-14 (#52)
9 11 CANDIDA –•– Dawn (Bell)-9 (#7)
10 9 MAKE IT WITH YOU –•– Bread (Elektra)-15 (#32)

11 12 DON’T PLAY THAT SONG –•– Aretha Franklin with the Dixie Flyers (Atlantic)-7 (#10)
12 22 CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-5 (#9)
13 14 SNOWBIRD –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-10 (#14)
14 16 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-8 (#12)
15 15 I (Who Have Nothing) –•– Tom Jones (Parrot)-5 (#11)
16 10 SPILL THE WINE –•– Eric Burdon and War (MGM)-18 (#17)
17 20 GROOVY SITUATION –•– Gene Chandler (Mercury)-11 (#16)
18 18 RUBBER DUCKIE –•– Ernie (Columbia)-6 (#15)
19 13 SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED (I’m Yours) –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-13 (#56)
20 26 ALL RIGHT NOW –•– Free (A&M)-6 (#24)

21 17 HAND ME DOWN WORLD –•– The Guess Who (RCA)-10 (#13)
22 19 HI-DE-HO –•– Blood, Sweat, and Tears (Columbia)-8 (#21)
23 21 SOLITARY MAN –•– Neil Diamond (Bang)-21 (#20)
24 23 (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) WHY CAN’T I TOUCH YOU –•– Ronnie Dyson (Columbia)-14 (#62)
25 25 IT’S A SHAME –•– The Spinners (V.I.P.)-9 (#18)
26 39 EXPRESS YOURSELF –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-6 (#29)
27 29 NEANDERTHAL MAN –•– Hotlegs (Capitol)-5 (#23)
28 30 JOANNE –•– Michael Nesmith and the First National Band (RCA)-7 (#19)
29 27 EVERYBODY’S GOT THE RIGHT TO LOVE –•– The Supremes (Motown)-10 (#15)
30 31 LONG LONG TIME –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-6 (Not on Chart)

31 33 CLOSER TO HOME –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-6 (#34)
32 34 PEACE WILL COME (According To Plan) / STOP I DON’T WANNA’ HEAR IT ANYMORE –•– Melanie (Buddah)-5 (#22)
33 35 OUT IN THE COUNTRY –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-4 (#25)
34 52 LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG MA –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-3 (#35)
35 45 INDIANA WANTS ME –•– R. Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)-3 (#36)
36 40 LOLA –•– The Kinks (Reprise)-4 (#46)
37 43 THAT’S WHERE I WENT WRONG –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-7 (#27)
38 38 EVERYTHING’S TUESDAY –•– The Chairmen Of the Board (Invictus)-8 (#37)
39 46 GREEN-EYED LADY –•– Sugarloaf (Liberty)-6 (#47)
40 — I’LL BE THERE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-1 (#28)

September 1974 - still a little awkward

Disco and all that came with it weren't dominating the chart yet, so we still had the combination of early 80's A/C of Cat Stephens, the Osmonds, Helen Reddy, and Tony Orlando alongside some country, funk, and R&B. 

But oddest was the 3rd and final Cheech and chong hit which features a young man listening to a rather standard 70's hard rock record being interrupted by his dad who proceeds to berate him and smack him around.

Next oddest was a largely spoken-word novelty record about marijuana (Wildwood Weed), plus a Guess Who record featuring a current DJ.

Another odd record was "Rub it In," a Jimmy Buffett-style record that would fit in very well on today's country charts, I think, but at the time seemed rather racy.  These all fared better on the top 40 than... It's Only Rock and Roll by the Stones.

The next few weeks would be among the oddest in chart history and song after song would climb to #1 and then drop straight out of the top 10.  Of the top 14 records, a full 9 spent at least 1 week at #1 ultimately.

First or last hits?  None that I know

Favorite:  I Honestly Love You


1 2 I SHOT THE SHERIFF –•– Eric Clapton (RSO)-10 (1 week at #1)
2 1 (You’re) HAVING MY BABY –•– Paul Anka (with Odia Coates) (United Artists)-11
3 4 ROCK ME GENTLY –•– Andy Kim (Capitol)-13
4 5 I’M LEAVING IT (All) UP TO YOU –•– Donny and Marie Osmond (MGM / Curb)-11
5 6 CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE –•– Barry White (20th Century)-7
6 7 NOTHING FROM NOTHING –•– Billy Preston (A&M)-10
7 3 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD –•– Rufus (ABC)-14
8 10 THEN CAME YOU –•– Dionne Warwick and the Spinners (Atlantic)-8
9 9 YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-14
10 13 CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN –•– The Guess Who (RCA)-9

11 15 YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-7
12 19 I HONESTLY LOVE YOU –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-5
13 12 HANG ON IN THERE BABY –•– Johnny Bristol (MGM)-12
14 8 THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED –•– Paper Lace (Mercury)-14
15 27 ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-7
16 20 BEACH BABY –•– First Class (UK)-9
17 17 IT’S ONLY ROCK ‘N ROLL (But I Like It) –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-7
18 22 SWEET HOME ALABAMA –•– Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA)-8
19 23 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE –•– Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (ABC)-8
20 21 LET’S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER –•– The Stylistics (Avco)-8

21 11 FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-13
22 16 RUB IT IN –•– Billy “Crash” Craddock (ABC)-12
23 30 EARACHE MY EYE (Featuring Alice Bowie) –•– Cheech and Chong (Ode)-6
24 24 FREE MAN IN PARIS –•– Joni Mitchell (Asylum)-8
25 14 WILD THING –•– Fancy (Big Tree)-14
26 32 CAN’T GET ENOUGH –•– Bad Company (Swan Song)-5
27 33 NEVER MY LOVE –•– Blue Swede (EMI)-4
28 35 YOU LITTLE TRUSTMAKER –•– The Tymes (RCA)-5
29 29 I LOVE MY FRIEND –•– Charlie Rich (Epic)-7
30 18 WILDWOOD WEED –•– Jim Stafford (MGM)-11

31 39 STEPPIN’ OUT (Gonna Boogie Tonight) –•– Tony Orlando and Dawn (Bell)-4
32 40 STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES –•– Mac Davis (Columbia)-4
33 45 SKIN TIGHT –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-2
34 31 KEEP ON SMILIN’ –•– Wet Willie (Capricorn)-17
35 26 DON’T CHANGE HORSES (In the Middle Of the Stream) –•– The Tower Of Power (Warner Brothers)-9
36 25 PLEASE COME TO BOSTON –•– Dave Loggins (Epic)-16
37 28 SIDESHOW –•– Blue Magic (Atco)-18
38 36 ONE HELL OF A WOMAN –•– Mac Davis (Columbia)-25
39 57 JAZZMAN –•– Carole King (Ode)-3
40 44 DO IT BABY –•– The Miracles (Tamla)-4

September 1975 -- Rhinestones

Only a couple months ago, they played a 1975 chart when the top 2, both long time favorites of mine, were still climbing.  It's also right around my earliest memories of listening to music, and there was Glen Campbell at #1.  Very fond memories of childhood.  Casey emphasized how this was the 4th #1 country hit to top the pop charts this year, for the first time since the 50's.

The top 6 are all good, and #8 was interesting as it contains a prominent vulgarity you still can't say on TV, and there was no apparent attempt to edit it.  

Casey made the joke that Ambrosia was "holding on" at #17, and he talked about how the Pointer Sisters had already been #1 on the R&B charts.  This was only their third top 40 hit, and they had 7 top 10's to come, but never again hit #1 R&B.

Prominent first or last hits: none

Best songs -- the top 2!  Honors to Glen Campbell this week.

1 3 RHINESTONE COWBOY –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-15 (1 week at #1)
2 2 FALLIN’ IN LOVE –•– Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (Playboy)-12
3 1 GET DOWN TONIGHT –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-9
4 7 AT SEVENTEEN –•– Janis Ian (Columbia)-13
5 5 HOW SWEET IT IS (To Be Loved By You) –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-12
6 6 JIVE TALKIN’ –•– The Bee Gees (RSO)-15
7 11 FAME –•– David Bowie (RCA)-11
8 10 FIGHT THE POWER (Part 1) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-12
9 12 COULD IT BE MAGIC –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-11
10 4 ONE OF THESE NIGHTS –•– The Eagles (Asylum)-15

11 13 WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-12
12 14 FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE –•– Bad Company (Swan Song)-10
13 15 THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-10
14 16 BALLROOM BLITZ –•– Sweet (Capitol)-13
15 20 I’M SORRY / CALYPSO –•– John Denver (RCA)-4
16 18 THIRD RATE ROMANCE –•– The Amazing Rhythm Aces (ABC)-12
17 17 HOLDIN’ ON TO YESTERDAY –•– Ambrosia (20th Century)-13
18 8 SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT –•– Elton John (MCA)-10
19 23 RUN JOEY RUN –•– David Geddes (Big Tree)-6
20 21 TUSH –•– ZZ Top (London)-8

21 26 SOLITAIRE –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-6
22 24 BLACK SUPERMAN / MUHAMMAD ALI –•– Johnny Wakelin and the Kinshasa Band (Pye)-24
23 25 I BELIEVE THERE’S NOTHING STRONGER THAN OUR LOVE –•– Paul Anka with Odia Coates (United Artists)-7
24 27 DAISY JANE –•– America (Warner Brothers)-8
25 28 DANCE WITH ME –•– Orleans (Asylum)-8
26 29 FEELINGS –•– Morris Albert (RCA)-12
27 30 THE PROUD ONE –•– The Osmonds (Kolob)-7
28 34 AIN’T NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-5
29 32 HOW LONG (Betcha’ Got a Chick On the Side) –•– The Pointer Sisters (ABC / Blue Thumb)-8
30 9 WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS –•– War (United Aritsts)-19

31 35 IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE –•– Tavares (Capitol)-7
32 19 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-21
33 38 ROCKY –•– Austin Roberts (Private Shock)-8
34 39 THEY JUST CAN’T STOP IT THE (Games People Play) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-5
35 42 GONE AT LAST –•– Paul Simon and Phoebe Snow (Columbia)-4
36 22 HELP ME RHONDA –•– Johnny Rivers (Epic / Soul City)-9
37 31 PLEASE MR. PLEASE –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-14
38 45 BRAZIL –•– The Ritchie Family (20th Century)-6
39 33 TWO FINE PEOPLE –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-8
40 50 GIVE IT WHAT YOU GOT / PEACE PIPE –•– B.T. Express (Roadshow)-5

August 1981 -- from country to Billy Squier

Another repeat countdown played just last year, but still I totally enjoyed the countdown this week from late August 1981, with the amazing eclectic set of songs.  It started with rock, novelty funk, big pop, then super-slow prog rock.  Along the way, lots of country records, adult contemporary, classic rock, light R&B, jazz, plus early 80's staples of a medley and a TV theme.  The previous week had 4 bona fide country records in the top 10.

The two biggest hits of 1981 and among the top charting songs of all time are at either end, Bette Dais Eyes exiting and Endless Love at the top, both 9-week #1s.  Yet, the most iconic?  Arguably stuck at #19 for a 2nd week -- "In the Air Tonight."  Similarly the lead single from Journey's album, never heard on the radio today, is heading to #4, while it's most iconic hit would only make it to #9 in coming months, "Don't Stop Believin'"

First hit: Stevie Nicks (solo), Greg Kihn, Alabama, Billy Squier,
Last hit:  Carpenters, who ruled the charts in the early 70's
Favorites:  so many!  Fire and Ice, Endless Love, Lady, ... But #1 is "The Voice"

1 1 ENDLESS LOVE –•– Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (Motown)-7 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (Believe It Or Not) –•– Joey Scarbury (Elektra)-16 (2)
3 3 I DON’T NEED YOU –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-11 (3)
4 6 SLOW HAND –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-13 (4)
5 4 JESSIE’S GIRL –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-22 (1)
6 21 STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND –•– Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) (Modern)-5 (6)
7 7 BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY –•– The Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic)-14 (7)
8 9 QUEEN OF HEARTS –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-13 (8)
9 10 (There’s) NO GETTIN’ OVER ME –•– Ronnie Milsap (RCA)-9 (9)
10 11 LADY (You Bring Me Up) –•– The Commodores (Motown)-10 (10)

11 13 WHO’S CRYING NOW –•– Journey (Columbia)-6 (11)
12 8 HEARTS –•– Marty Balin (EMI-America)-14 (8)
13 5 ELVIRA –•– The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)-15 (5)
14 14 IT’S NOW OR NEVER –•– John Schneider (Scotti Brothers)-13 (14)
15 18 URGENT –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-8 (15)
16 16 TOUCH ME WHEN WE’RE DANCING –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-10 (16)
17 17 THE STROKE –•– Billy Squier (Capitol)-15 (17)
18 20 COOL LOVE –•– Pablo Cruise (A&M)-8 (18)
19 19 IN THE AIR TONIGHT –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-13 (19)
20 25 THE BREAKUP SONG (They Don’t Write ‘Em) –•– The Greg Kihn Band (Beserkley)-13 (20)

21 23 REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU –•– Gary Wright (Warner Brothers)-8 (21)
22 24 FIRE AND ICE –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-6 (22)
23 27 STEP BY STEP –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-5 (23)
24 26 FEELS SO RIGHT –•– Alabama (RCA)-12 (24)
25 36 THAT OLD SONG –•– Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (Arista)-7 (25)
26 28 DON’T GIVE IT UP –•– Robbie Patton (Liberty)-7 (26)
27 29 YOU’RE MY GIRL –•– Frankie and the Knockouts (Millenium)-8 (27)
28 33 HOLD ON TIGHT –•– ELO (Jet)-5 (28)
29 31 LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET –•– Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion)-10 (29)
30 37 THE BEACH BOYS MEDLEY –•– The Beach Boys (Capitol)-5 (20)

31 39 THE VOICE –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-3 (31)
32 34 EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Rex Smith/Rachel Sweet (Columbia)-9 (32)
33 12 THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-15 (1)
34 46 I COULD NEVER MISS YOU (More Than I Do) –•– Lulu (Alfa)-4 (34)
35 47 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-5 (35)
36 40 BREAKING AWAY –•– Balance (Portrait)-7 (36)
37 15 TIME –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-19 (15)
38 22 BETTE DAVIS EYES –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-22 (1)
39 30 DOUBLE DUTCH BUS –•– Frankie Smith (WMOT)-15 (30)
40 32 ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH –•– Jim Steinman (with Rory Dodd) (Cleveland International)-13 (32)