Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
THE OCEAN-- Led Zeppelin
SAIL ON, SAILOR-- Beach Boys
GROWIN' UP-- Bruce Springsteen
FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY-- Chicago
THE HARDER THEY COME-- Jimmy Cliff
ELECTED-- Alice Cooper
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN-- Electric Light Orchestra
LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
PANIC IN DETROIT-- David Bowie
ALL THE GIRLS LOVE ALICE-- Elton John
DIRTY LOVE-- Frank Zappa
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "People All Over the World Join Hands." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Love Train"
The top songs in Chicago fifty years ago. Right!!
1. TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE-- Dawn
2. THE CISCO KID-- War
3. THE NIGHTS THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vickie Lawrence
4. SING-- Carpenters
5. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU-- Steeler's Wheel
6. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE-- Stevie Wonder
7. THE TWELFTH OF NEVER-- Donny Osmond
8. FRANKENSTEIN-- Edgar Winter Group
9. DRIFT AWAY-- Dobie Gray
10. LITTLE WILLIE-- Sweet
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DEBUTS
17. HOCUS POCUS-- Focus
22. IT SURE TOOK A LONG, LONG TIME-- Lobo
26. I'M GONNA LOVE YOU-- Barry White
27. I'M DOIN' FINE NOW-- New York City
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "He Drink Whiskey, Poncho Drink The Wine." Answer elow. --RoadDog
"The Cisco Kid"
That's right, fifty years ago today.
1. TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND TNHE OLD OAK TREE-- Dawn
2. THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vickie Lawrence
3. THE CISCO KID-- War
4. SING-- Carpenters
5. LITTLE WILLY-- Sweet
6. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU-- Steelers Wheel
7. THE TWELFTH OF NEVER-- Donny Osmond
8. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE-- Stevie Wonder
9. MASTERPIECE-- Temptations
10. AIN'T NO WOMAN LIKE THE ONE I GOT-- Four Tops
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DEBUTS
20. THE RIGHT THING TO DO-- Carly Simon
23. DANIEL-- Elton John
24. THINKING OF YOU-- Loggins & Messina
25. ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS-- First Choice
26. BLUE SUEDE SHOES-- Johnny Rivers
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "I Feel Like This Is The Beginning Though I've Loved You For A Million Years." Answer below. RoadDog
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
That's right, 50 years ago.
1. THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vickie Lawrence
2. TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE-- Dawn
3. THE CISCO KID-- War
4. SING-- Carpenters
5. LITTLE WILLIE-- Sweet
6. AIN'T NO WOMAN LIKE THE ONE I GOT-- Four Tops
7. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray
8. NEITHER ONE OF US WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE-- Gladys Knight & the Pips
9. THE TWELFTH OF NEVER-- Donny Osmond
10. STIR IT UP-- Johnny Nash
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DEBUTS
19. DAISY A DAY-- Jud Strunk
22. OUT OF THE QUESTION-- Gilbert O'Sullivan
23. CHERRY CHERRY-- Neil Diamond (Live from "Hot August Night".)
24. PILLOW TALK-- Sylvia
25. PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME-- New Seekers
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Make It Simple To Last Your Whole Life Long." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Sing"
Fifty years ago is a real long time. Right?
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.
10, BREAK UP TO MAKE UP-- Stylistics #5 I'd forgotten about this one, but glad I was reminded. A great belly-rubber.
9. SING-- Carpenters #3 Feeling down? Listen to this song and let a smile be your guide.
8. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays #1
7. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray #7
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I doubt that there has ever been six longer-titled songs in the Top Six at one time. I started typing these three days ago.
6. *TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE-- Dawn #1
5. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHISTRA-- Deodato #2 Only Top 40.
4. NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)-- Gladys Knight & the Pips #2
3. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack #1 for five weeks
2. *AIN'T NO WOMAN LIKE THE ONE I GOT-- Four Tops #4
1. *THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vickie Lawrence #1 Her only-ever Top 40.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Strumming My Pain With His Fingers, Singing My Life With His Words."
"Killing Me Softly With His Song"
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high it got on the Biillboard Hot 100 National Charts.
15. *LITTLE WILLIE-- Sweet #3 Just hear it and try not to move. Watch the video. Hair that girls would kill for. What was the guitarist at the end of the line wearing? From England.
14. MASTERPIECE-- Temptations #7 The instrumentals. Not one I was very familiar with.
13. STIR IT UP-- Johnny Nash #12 Essentially my introduction to reggae music though I didn't know what they called it at the time. Johnny Nash had two Top 40s in 1958 and 1959, then not on charts again until 1968 with "Hold Me Tight" #5. Had #1 with "I Can See Clearly Now" in 1972.
12. *THE CISCO KID-- War #2 What a cool beat. Latin funk-rock band from Long Beach, California.
11. CALL ME (COME BACK HOME)-- Al Green #10 Something about that voice with that music. Wow! In 1972 and 1973 had six straight Top Tens, including #1 "Let's Stay Together."
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "It's Been A Long, Long Time Since I had You On My Mind." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Stir It Up"
That's right, 50 years ago.
19. *THE TWELFTH OF NEVER-- Donnie Osmond #8 Watch the video. That's Donnie with the Afro, not Michael.
18. *YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE-- Stevie Wonder #1 Could the guy be in love? Born Steveland Morris in 1950.
17. PEACEFUL-- Helen Reddy #12 I hardly remember this song, but well worth a listen if you too don't remember it. Came between two #1 songs: "I Am Woman" and "Delta Dawn."
16. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear #3 That's Larry Evoy singing the song. The group took its name from a character in Winnie the Pooh.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "That's Why I'll Always Be Around." Answer below. --RoadDog
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
Fifty years ago today. That's half a century. I know where I was. I was living with Liz's parents in Palatine, Illinois, and doing my student teaching at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois. I was driving the ol' Ramblin' Wreck (1963 Rambler station wagon) back and forth.
As a matter of fact, one of the songs in this post especially takes me right back to those days.
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard National Hot 100 charts.
23. SPACE ODDITY-- David Bowie #15 Good ol' Ziggy Stardust personna singing about Major Tom's trip. His first Top 40.
22. *DRIFT AWAY-- Dobie Gray #5 One of my all-time favorite songs. I love the comment: "Almost sounds like he is opening his heart up and baring his soul." True.
21. *ONE MAN BAND-- Ronnie Dyson #28 Full title includes "(Plays All Alone)" I don't remember it, however. Good song. Follow up to his only other Top 40 which was "(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You" (#8-1970).
20. *STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU-- Stealers Wheel #6 That's Gerry Rafferty singing. You might know him better for "Baker Street." Scottish band. This is the song that takes me back to student teaching.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Well I Don't Know Why I Came Here Tonight. I Got The Feeling That Something Ain't Right." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Stuck In the Middle With You"
Just fifty years ago. Seems like yesterday, doesn't it?
1. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA-- Deodato
2. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack
3. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
4. NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)-- Gladys Knoght & the Pips
5. AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)-- Four Tops
6. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray
7. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear
8. BREAK UP TO MAKE UP-- Stylistics
9. SING-- Carpenters
10. CALL ME (COME BACK HOME)-- Al Green
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DEBUTS
16. LITTLE WILLIE-- Sweet
17. PEACEFUL-- Helen Reddy
20. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE-- Stevie Wonder
21. THE CISCO KID-- War
22. SPACE ODDITY-- David Bowie
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Make It Simple To Last Your Whole Life Long." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Sing"
Fifty years ago this week.
1. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
2. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack
3. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA-- Deodato
4. DUELING BANJOS-- Deliverance
5. NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)-- Gladys Knight & the Pips
6. AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)-- Four Tops
7. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear
8. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray
9. I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)-- Moody Blues
10. BREAK UP TO MAKE UP-- Stylistics
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DEBUTS
18. TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE-- Dawn
20. THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vicki Lawrence
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "People Smile And Tell Me I'm The Lucky One." Answer below.
"Danny's Song"
A mere 50 years ago.
1. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack
2. DUELING BANJOS-- Deliverance
3. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
4. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA 2001-- Deodato
5. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear
6. COULD BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE-- Spinners
7. I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)-- Moody Blues
8. DADDY'S HOME-- Jermaine Jackson
9. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray
10. AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)-- Four Tops
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DEBUTS
18. SING-- Carpenters
19. HUMMINGBORD-- Seals & Crofts
22. STIR IT UP-- Johnny Nash
23. MASTERPIECE-- Temptations
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "I'm Just A Wandering On The Face Of This Earth Meeting So Many People Who Are Trying To Be Free." Answer below. --RoadDog
"I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"
That's right, fifty years ago, half a century. These were thye songs playing on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.
* Means it was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.
10. I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)-- Moody Blues #12 Formed in Birmingham, England.
9. DADDY'S HOME-- Jermaine Jackson #9 Michael's brother.
8. CROCODILE ROCK-- Elton John #1 for 3 weeks.
7. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA-- Deodato #2 His only top 40.
6. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH-- John Denver #9 Follow up to "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
5. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays #1 Named after Cleveland DJ Eddie O'Jay.
4. COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE-- Spinners #4 Formed in Detroit, Michigan.
3. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear #3
2. DUELING BANJOS-- Deliverance #2 Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
1. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack #1 for five weeks.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "I Remember When Rock WasYound, Me And Susie Had So Much Fun." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Crocodile Rock"
15. *AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I'VE GOT)-- Four Tops #4 Their last Top Ten.
14. *DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray #7 From Nova Scotia, Canada. Her follow up to #8 "Snowbird."
13. DO IT AGAIN-- Steely Dan #6 Their first Top 40. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
12. *DO YOU WANT TO DANCE-- Bette Midler #11 Her first Top 40. Doing an old Beach Boys song.
11. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-- Lobo #8 His last of three straight Top Tens.
Name That Tune (from the abve songs): "In The Morning You Go Gunning For The Man Who Stole Your Water." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Do It Again"
That's right, half a century ago. Time sure flies by when you're having fun.
1. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack
2. DUELING BANJOS-- Delieverance
3. COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE-- Spinners
4. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear
5. CROCODILE ROCK-- Elton John
6. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
7. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH-- John Denver
8. YOU'RE SO VAIN-- Carly Simon
9. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-- Lobo
10. ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA-- Deodata
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DEBUTS
23. KISSING MY LOVE-- Bill Withers
24. AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)-- Four Tops
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "He Was Born In The Summer Of His Twenty-Seventh Year." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Rocky Mountain High"
These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago.
1. CROCODILE ROCK-- Elton John
2. DUELING BANJOS-- Deliverance
3. IT COULD BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE-- Spinners
4. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack
5. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-- Lobo
6. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear
7. DO IT AGAIN-- Steely Dan
8. YOU'RE SO VAIN-- Carly Simon
9. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH-- John Denver
10. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
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DEBUTS
21. DANNY'S SONG-- Anne Murray
23. AUBREY-- Bread
25. NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)-- Gladys Knight & the Pips
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "I Heard He Sang A Good Song. I Heard He Had A Style." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Killing Me Softly With His Song"
Fifty years ago in Chicago, these were the top songs according to WLS, 890 AM.
* Means the son was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.
10. *THE WORLD IS A GHETTO-- War
9. TROUBLE MAN-- Marvin Gaye
8. *COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE-- Spinners
7. WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER-- Timmy Thomas
6. *DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-- Lobo
5. *DO IT AGAIN-- Steely Dan
4. SUPERSTITION-- Stevie Wonder
3. *OH BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY-- Hurricane Smith
2. YOU'RE SO VAIN-- Cary Simon
1. CROCODILE ROCK-- Elton John
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "On The Morning You Go Gunning For The Man Who Stole Your Water." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Do It Again"
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.
15. JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)-- Blue Ridge Rangers #16 But you might know them better as John Fogerty. Where's Creedence? Ol' Hank would be so proud. This was a #1 country hit in1952 for Hank Williams.
14. LAST SONG-- Edward Bear #3 Little did I know this was the name of a band, not a solo performer. Pop trio from Toronto, Canada.
13. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT-- King Harvest #13 Takes me right back to 1973. At this time I was getting ready to start student teaching in my senior year at NIU. Their one and only Top 40 hit.
12. YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE-- Loggins & Messina #4 Gotta love this song. Their only Top Ten as a duo.
11. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH-- John Denver #9 We could sure use another John Denver about now. Was that David Crosby in the audience at the beginning of the video for the Wildlife Concert?
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Goodbye Joe, Me Gotta Go, Me Oh, My Oh." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"
20. SUPERFLY-- Curtis Mayfield #8 Love the intro to this song. Follow up to "Freddie's Dead."
19. DO YOU WANT TO DANCE-- Bette Midler #17 Just breathless. Just breathless. I thought that Barbara Mason had sung a suggestive song at #25. A new take on a Beach Boys classic song. Her first big hit.
18. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays #1 To better days. We could sure use that now. This song just makes you feel good.
17. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG-- Roberta Flack #1 for 5 weeks As only Roberta can sing a song Just a pure voice.
16. DADDY'S HOME-- Jermaine Jackson #9 He could sing too, not just Michael.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Hug And Kiss Me All Through The Night." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Do You Want To Dance"
These were the top songs in Chicago according to powerhouse WLS, 890 AM, fifty years ago.
* means the song was climbing the charts. The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.
25. *GIVE ME YOUR LOVE-- Barbara Mason #31 About as sensual and erotic as you can get. She had a #5 song in 1965 with "Yes, I'm Ready." Was that a precursor to this new song?
24. *I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)-- Moody Blues #12 No cerebral, just kickin'.
23. *PEACEFUL EASY FEELING-- Eagles #22 Can Glenn Frey get any more laid back?
22. DUELING BANJOS-- Delieverance #2 for 4 weeks Actually Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell. From the movie "Deliverance. Some mighty strange folk up in them thar hills.
21. ME AND MRS. JONES-- Billy Paul #1 for 3 weeks You know they have a thing going on.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "I'm Just A Wandering On The Face Of The Earth." Answer below. --RoadDog
"I'm Just A Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"
That's right, 50 years ago. Time flies when you're having fun.
1. CROCODILE ROCK-- Elton John
2. YOU'RE SO VAIN-- Carly Simon
3. SUPERSTITION-- Stevie Wonder
4. YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE-- Loggins & Messina
5. WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER-- Timmy Thomas
6. OH BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY-- Hurricane Smith
7. DO IT AGAIN-- Steely Dan
8. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-- Lobo
9. TROUBLE MAN-- Marvin Gaye
10. THE WORLD IS A GHETTO-- War
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DEBUTS
23. LOVE TRAIN-- O'Jays
24. LAST SONG-- Edward Baer
25. DO YOU WANT TO DANCE-- Bette Midler
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "13 Month-Old Baby Broke The Looking Glass." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Superstition"
