tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14368873.post114514596083940804..comments2022-11-09T09:51:21.193-05:00Comments on Meanderings and Musings: One Hit Wonders of the 70snettiemachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00835731271577804010noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14368873.post-1145335590358109412006-04-18T00:46:00.000-04:002006-04-18T00:46:00.000-04:00"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal BandI think ...<I>"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band</I><BR/>I think some motels in Santee, S.C. have this playing over and over on in-room Muzak.<BR/><BR/><I>"All Right Now" by Free</I><BR/>A B2AC classic rock song. Fortunately I have the trump card: the original 45 edit. The guitar hook is mixed differently, is mixed a bit ‘hotter’ and omits some of the middle bridge. It’s the version I came of age digging on 1970 top-40 radio, and for me it allows me to still enjoy this, sans baggage. <BR/> <BR/><I>"Beach Baby" by The First Class</I><BR/>One of those songs I didn’t go too much for in 4th grade, but over the years it grew on me. Tony Burrows strikes again!<BR/><BR/><I>"Because The Night" by Patti Smith Group</I><BR/>I’ll take the original. :-) Not all songs on top-40 radio in 1978 were cringeworthy.<BR/><BR/><I>"Black Betty" by Ram Jam<BR/>--still a classic!</I><BR/>A sadly underrated classic. <BR/><BR/><I>"Born to Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez</I><BR/>Wha–?? You mean GOOD disco in 1979 not recorded by R&B acts???? ;-)<BR/><BR/><I>"Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns</I><BR/>Memories of WTUP in Tupelo, Miss. Back then, ‘TUP was the repressive top-40 station to end all repressive top-40s. I think your grandmother programmed it. ;-) The station manager had to audition each record, beginning to end, before it was allowed into rotation. <BR/><BR/>I think he was asleep when he OK’ed this one. <BR/><BR/><I>"The City Of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie</I><BR/>We’d moved to Tupelo in late 1971. Memphis top-40s were within decent reach, and both of ‘em played this one to death. I hear it today and my mind takes a mental trip to a truly magical corner of Tennessee.<BR/><BR/>But I have a feeling Arlo didn't think about littering during his train ride. He learned his lesson, right Officer Obie?<BR/><BR/><I>"Cruel to be Kind" by Nick Lowe</I><BR/>Summer of ‘79. A great “middle ground” pop record. <BR/><BR/><I>"Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest</I><BR/>Add to my own “Super ‘70s” anthology. FROM K-"TAL"! RECORD, 8.99! TAPE OR CASSETTE, 9.99! AVAILABLE AT WOOLWORTH-WOOLCO-TG&Y-SEARS-SUPER D-AND-SKAGGS! <BR/><BR/><I>"Disco Duck (Part 1)" by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots</I><BR/>He was otherwise funny back then. The Memphis Rick Dees was a real hoot to listen to, but “Disco Duck” led to the downfall of a great Memphis top-40 radio station. Long story.<BR/><BR/><I>"Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya" by New England <BR/>-- I do not remember this one on first go-round, and was intro'd to this song by my friend Talmadge. It was very good.</I><BR/>Yeahhhhhhh .... Add to “Summer Fun ‘79” ... ALSO! FROM! K-TAL!<BR/><BR/><I>"Don't Give Up on Us" by David Soul</I><BR/>“Did you bring me my Cheez-Wiz, boy??” “It’s playing now, Elwood.”<BR/><BR/><I>"Do You Wanna Make Love?" by Peter McCann</I><BR/>This record makes me seriously consider going celibate.<BR/><BR/><I>"Dueling Banjos" by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell</I><BR/>Listen, and you can hear pigs squealing in the night. <BR/><BR/><I>"Easy Loving" by Freddie Hart</I> <BR/>I wholly concur with your “sleazy and smarmy” label.<BR/><BR/><I>"Falling" by LeBlanc and Carr <BR/>-- I remember this song, and I liked it. But I can claim youthful naivete, can't I?</I><BR/>Yeah, that’ll get you through the door. Personally I found the song a bit galling. Ahem.<BR/><BR/><I>"Feelings" by Morris Albert</I><BR/>There is no good to be said about this record. <BR/><BR/><I>"A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band</I><BR/>As a disco song I can take it or leave it. <BR/><BR/><I>"Fool (If You Think It's Over)" by Chris Rea</I><BR/>I originally thought it was depressing, and didn’t go out of my way to listen to it. Then Rea came back in the late ‘80s with songs like “Workin’ On It”, “On the Beach” (love it!), “Texas”, “Let’s Dance” and especially “The Road To Hell.” I developed a real taste for his dark style. I then retroactively embraced “Fool.” (“Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?”, on the same album as FIYTIO, is a wonderful unsung classic)<BR/><BR/><I>"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop</I><BR/>Still have the Capricorn 45 from 5th grade, too. It was years later before I learned that Elvin only played guitar .... it was Mickey “Jaaaaaaaaaaaaane!” Thomas on vocals. <BR/><BR/><I>"Get Used To It" by Roger Voudouris</I><BR/>Yet another unappreciated pop masterpiece.<BR/><BR/><I>"Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn <BR/>-- an excellent dance song (signed, Unabashed Disco Fan). And one of the three best things about the Gong Show (the other two being the Unknown Comic and Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine).</I><BR/>Agreed on “excellent dance song.” It’s even good for just sitting and listening, too (signed, More Of A “Dancin’ Fool” Then Frank Zappa). <BR/><BR/>But what about Jaye P. Morgan??!!<BR/><BR/><I>"Heaven Knows" by Brooklyn Dreams (with Donna Summer, who is not a one-hit wonder)</I><BR/>One of the only songs on this list I don’t recognize. Hmmmm....<BR/><BR/><I>"Heaven On The 7th Floor" by Paul Nicolas</I><BR/>I'll hold out for the 8th floor and sit out for a decade. I hear Aerosmith will need this elevator car. <BR/><BR/><I>"Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Sammi Smith</I> <BR/>BLEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!! (Sorry, Gran Lera – I loathed this song then, and still do. You loved it enough for both of us)<BR/><BR/><I>"Here Comes the Sun" by Richie Havens</I><BR/>One of these days I really need to make the anthology of great (IMO) Beatle covers — the working title I’ve had since college is “All This and World War III” — and if/when I do, the Havens cover of HCTS will be toward the top. A marvelous treatment.<BR/><BR/><I>"Hey There Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman</I><BR/>Memories of when I was just beginning to discover top-40 (I was ahead of the curve here – began getting into music and radio by age 4-5). <BR/><BR/>But dammit, my balls hurt when I hear it.<BR/><BR/><I>"Hocus Pocus" by Focus</I><BR/>Hey Bolivar, remember the summer of ‘98 when you, Sera, and me were driving back from Tunica ... and you had Focus’ “Moving Waves” blasting? You and I were doing the yodeling ... while Seraphim was completely befuddled, and probably thinking, “Oh gawd, just what have I gotten myself into. Wonder if I should ask to be let out at the Greyhound station when we get into Memphis???” <BR/><BR/><I>"Hold Your Head Up" by Argent --Horrid. Horrid. Horrid.</I><BR/>Awwwww man! Okay, I grant you it's far from Argent's best song (my vote there goes for "It's Only Money" -- or possibly "Dance in the Smoke"), but I have some great memories of the song (I'll 'splain in an e-mail)<BR/><BR/><I>"Hot Child in the City" by Nick Gilder</I><BR/>No guilt necessary. Even better with the little tag after the acapella ending. <BR/><BR/><I>"Hot Rod Lincoln" by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen <BR/>-- Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, pray for us!</I><BR/>Bob and The Good Old Boys are gainin’ on us!!! <BR/><BR/><I>"How Long" by Ace</I><BR/>[please pardon me while I don my armor suit ...... okay, ready!]<BR/>I’m also actually fond of Rod Stewart’s 1981 remake. Okay, bring on the garden-fresh Kroger produce........<BR/><BR/><I>"The Hustle" by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony</I><BR/>Ewwwwwww, memories of 6th grade P.E., when the jive black coach made us dance that stupid thing (he also had us dancin’ the Car Wash). Ahhhhhhh, Tupelo!<BR/><BR/><I>"I Love" by Tom T. Hall <BR/>-- Everyone say it now: awwww!!!!</I><BR/>I’ve got another word to say after “awwwwww”, but I’ll refrain because I don’t want to give your blog an R rating.<BR/><BR/><I>"I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" by Alicia Bridges</I><BR/>You can like this for both of us. At 41, I’m getting a bit too old for the night life, and especially for this so-called aaaaack-SHAWN!!<BR/><BR/><I>"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)" by Hillside Singers <BR/>-- Thank you, Double-Q, for your great parody: "I'd like to buy the world a Choke, and end its misery."</I><BR/>Johnny B thanks you for your patronage. Did you remember to fill in the Arbitron diary?<BR/><BR/><I>"I'm Easy" by Keith Carradine</I><BR/>A lost classic. Just one word to describe it: Nice. Very, very nice.<BR/><BR/><I>"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" by Barbara Mandrell <BR/>-- uh, HELLO????? Luther Ingram did it first. And did it right.</I><BR/>What’s more, the intro of the Ingram original sums up the mood to a T .... After the first few bars, I want another bar ... of Ivory. Because I suddenly feel the need for a shower, I feel so dirty and sleazy. <BR/><BR/><I>"In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry</I><BR/>One word: OVERRATED!!!!!<BR/><BR/><I>"Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor</I><BR/>Played backwards, you hear: “I am the Prince of Death Row, Lieutenant Girard. We want YOU, Kimble.” Best of all, you can manually spin the record backward even if you have only one arm. <BR/><BR/><I>"Jim Dandy" by Black Oak Arkansas <BR/>--("and I thought, 'There's a town somewhere with an official guitarist'?") ---BWAAAAH! As for the song, mehhhhh. I can leave it.</I><BR/>There IS a town called Black Oak. It’s located about 20 miles east of Jonesboro, in fact. One day I was enjoying a leisurely evening at Indian Mall with a couple of friends, and saw this biker-looking guy with long blond hair walk past us. Yeppers, that was Jim “Dandy” Mangrum. The closest I’ve ever come to meeting an icon of classic rock. <BR/><BR/><I>"Joy" by Apollo 100</I><BR/>I have the whole album, having liberated it from a local thrift store last Summer. Gotta say I can take it or leave it, if only because I think J.S. Bach is too stuffy and deserved to have some of his stuff tweaked. <BR/><BR/>I’m still waiting for the punk/ska reworking of Pachelbel’s Canon, by the way.<BR/><BR/><I>"Jungle Fever" by Chakachas</I><BR/>Stations PLAYED this record in 1972?? Talk about needing a shower after listening...<BR/><BR/><I>"Just When I Needed You Most" by Randy Vanwarmer</I><BR/>NEW! FROM K-TAL! “SELF-PITY SONGS”! 22 ORIGINAL PITS! 22 ORIGINAL PLODS! RECORD, ONLY $9.9-WHINE! <BR/><BR/>In other words: gawd, I hate that song.<BR/><BR/><I>"The King Is Gone" by Ronnie McDowell</I><BR/>The year: 1977. The place: Tupelo, Mississippi. The station: WTUP. The recently-deceased Local Boy Done Good®: Elvis Presley. The playlist rotation: Heavy. Very, very heavy. The gastric rotation: Even heavier.<BR/><BR/><I>"Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart</I><BR/>ARRRRRRRGH!!!! Memories of the Summer of ‘79 in Birmingham at my grandparents’. FM had overtaken AM. Every time I hear this, I think back to the night I heard “Studio 610” for the first time. My beloved childhood iconic radio station had gone disco in a desperate attempt at relevance. “Back to FM, my Sweet 610, I’ll check back with ya later after you sober up......”<BR/><BR/>Love it for both of us, as I’m casting my lot toward the Eddie Floyd original. <BR/><BR/><I>"Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas <BR/>-- somehow, Hong Kong Phooey comes to mind when I think of this song.</I><BR/>ROFLMAO. Now it does for me, too. Suddenly I have an urge to watch an episode of “Schoolhouse Rock.” <BR/><BR/>Damn you, now I have that stooooopid “Funshine Saturday” jingle going through my head!!! ;-)<BR/><BR/><I>"The Last Farewell" by Roger Whittaker</I><BR/>In my advancing age I’ve developed something of an appreciation for MOR (I’ll be posting my own “hitting the wall” tome before long). But this, and every other Eric Robertson production, just leaves my ears covered with that soft-water residue I had to endure back in Troy. <BR/><BR/>When I hear “Farewell,” I think of WGN-TV .... in the late ‘70s, they played the song’s opening hook as a music bed during their ID. <BR/><BR/><I>"Lay a Little Lovin' On Me" by Robin McNamara</I><BR/>Love it. Memories of early ‘70s top-40. <BR/><BR/><I>"Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion</I><BR/>File under “I love it, but WHY??!!”<BR/><BR/>I sure wish whatzisname, the "world's fastest talker" would come out of hiding and record a cover version.<BR/><BR/><I>"Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" by Bell and James <BR/>-- 70s? I seem to remember this one from the early 80s. Oh well.</I><BR/>1979. So it fits. :-)<BR/><BR/><I>"Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse</I><BR/>Agreed - take or leave. Sung by rent-a-lead-singer Tony Burrows (see “Beach Baby”, above)<BR/><BR/><I>"Love Is In the Air" by John Paul Young</I><BR/>I don’t think that’s love, my friend. From where I sit, it’s those damned paper mills.<BR/><BR/><I>"Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton</I><BR/>“South Park” forever tarnished any sweetness this record ever had. <BR/><BR/>But I’ve got to admire a woman who can hit that high a note. Phew!<BR/><BR/><I>"Magic" by Pilot</I><BR/>See title.<BR/><BR/><I>"Magnet and Steel" by Walter Egan </I><BR/>Walter Egan had another brief glimpse of national exposure in 1986: he was a lowly contestant on the game show “Scrabble.” I was watching it, and thought “Hey, is that the same Walter Egan??” No sooner had I thought it, a friend of mine (a fellow music buff) came bursting into my dorm room — “TURN ON SCRABBLE! TURN IT ON NOW!!!!” No sooner had he done so, and saw I was watching it too, Chuck Woolery was interviewing the players and was on Walter ... whom I then heard SINGING the chorus from the song. <BR/><BR/>How the mighty fell. File under “Puppet Show and Spinal Tap.”<BR/><BR/><I>"Makin' It" by David Naughton <BR/>-- wouldn't you like to be a sitcom star and make a record of your theme song, too?</I><BR/>Suddenly I crave a Dr. Pepper.<BR/><BR/><I>"Mississippi Queen" by Mountain <BR/>-- ROCK ON!!!!</I><BR/>Even better is the cut which follows it: “Theme From an Imaginary Western.” <BR/>I have a radio aircheck of a guy intro’ing the record: “This is Mountain by Mississippi Queen.”<BR/>(“After the Fire” by Der Kommissar, anyone?) <BR/><BR/><I>"Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom <BR/>-- Summer Memory Song #(last one plus one).</I><BR/>My gawd, Nettiemac, you’re gonna have one mean box set there. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and I like this song too.<BR/><BR/><I>"Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight</I><BR/>I liked it better when I could hear it “on the AM radio.....”<BR/><BR/><I>"Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills <BR/>This is one big reason AOR appealed to me in 1979.</I><BR/><BR/>More later!<BR/><BR/>-Talmadge “Time for Bed!” GleckTalmadgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398182312942014436noreply@blogger.com