Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The 70s

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

1977/07/23

* = current or future #1
** = former #1
red = debut

The Bottom 60: this week's debuts and/or future or former #1s:
(--) 93. Boogie Nights - Heatwave
(--) 90. O-H-I-O - Ohio Players
(--) 88. Party Lights - Natalie Cole
(--) 86. See You When I Git There - Lou Rawls
(--) 84. Hard Rock Cafe - Carole King
(--) 83. Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
(--) 81. Cold As Ice - Foreigner
(--) 77. That's Rock 'N' Roll - Shaun Cassidy
(--) 76. Edge Of The Universe - Bee Gees
(65) 66. Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder **

This week's drops:
(36) 59. Devil’s Gun – C.J. & Company
(38) 58. I’m Your Boogie Man - K.C. & The Sunshine Band **
(35) 56. Lucille – Kenny Rogers
(28) 52. Love’s Grown Deep – Kenny Nolan
(24) 51. Life In The Fast Lane – The Eagles
(27) 41. Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner

The top 40:
(45) 40. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard - Cat Stevens
(44) 39. Slide - Slave
(42) 38. Black Betty - Ram Jam
(43) 37. On And On - Stephen Bishop
(40) 36. Way Down - Elvis Presley
(39) 35. Smoke From A Distant Fire - The Sanford/Towsend Band
(55) 34. How Much Love - Leo Sayer
(37) 33. Ariel - Dean Friedman
(22) 32. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac **
(60) 31. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
(32) 30. The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II) – Rod Stewart
(33) 29. Telephone Line – Electric Light Orchestra
(30) 28. Telephone Man – Meri Wilson
(31) 27. Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
(34) 26. Handy Man – James Taylor
(25) 25. Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) - Waylon Jennings
(29) 24. Just A Song Before I Go – Crosby, Stills & Nash
(26) 23. Barracuda - Heart
(17) 22. High School Dance - Sylvers
(23) 21. It’s Sad To Belong – England Dan & John Ford Coley
(19) 20. Got To Give It Up (Part 1) – Marvin Gaye **
(11) 19. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From “Rocky”) – Bill Conti **
(20) 18. You’re My World – Helen Reddy
(21) 17. Easy – The Commodores
(18) 16. You Made Me Believe In Magic – Bay City Rollers
( 8) 15. Jet Airliner – The Steve Miller Band
(16) 14. Knowing Me, Knowing You - Abba
(15) 13. You And Me – Alice Cooper
(14) 12. Whatcha Gonna Do – Pablo Cruise
(13) 11. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher – Rita Coolidge
(12) 10. Best Of My Love – The Emotions *
(10) 9. Do You Wanna Make Love – Peter McCann
( 9) 8. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
( 3) 7. Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day **
( 6) 6. Angel In Your Arms - Hot
( 7) 5. My Heart Belongs To Me – Barbra Streisand
( 5) 4. I’m In You – Peter Frampton
( 1) 3. Da Doo Ron Ron – Shaun Cassidy **
( 4) 2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb *
( 2) 1. Looks Like We Made It – Barry Manilow *

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

26 good/ok songs from 1977:

(45) 40. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard - Cat Stevens
(42) 38. Black Betty - Ram Jam
(39) 35. Smoke From A Distant Fire - The Sanford/Towsend Band
(55) 34. How Much Love - Leo Sayer
(37) 33. Ariel - Dean Friedman
(22) 32. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac **
(60) 31. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
(32) 30. The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II) – Rod Stewart
(33) 29. Telephone Line – Electric Light Orchestra
(31) 27. Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
(34) 26. Handy Man – James Taylor
(29) 24. Just A Song Before I Go – Crosby, Stills & Nash as a DJ this was my wife's signoff song. Now has a special place in my heart.
(26) 23. Barracuda - Heart
(11) 19. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From “Rocky”) – Bill Conti **
(21) 17. Easy – The Commodores
(18) 16. You Made Me Believe In Magic – Bay City Rollers
( 8) 15. Jet Airliner – The Steve Miller Band
(16) 14. Knowing Me, Knowing You - Abba
(14) 12. Whatcha Gonna Do – Pablo Cruise
(13) 11. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher – Rita Coolidge
(12) 10. Best Of My Love – The Emotions *
( 9) 8. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
( 3) 7. Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day **
( 1) 3. Da Doo Ron Ron – Shaun Cassidy **
( 4) 2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb *
( 2) 1. Looks Like We Made It – Barry Manilow *

1 channel changer from 1977:
( 7) 5. My Heart Belongs To Me – Barbra Streisand

 

[sadchild]

Great/good/ok 14

*****
(22) 32. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac **
(60) 31. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
( 8) 15. Jet Airliner – The Steve Miller Band

****
(39) 35. Smoke From A Distant Fire - The Sanford/Towsend Band
(21) 17. Easy – The Commodores
( 3) 7. Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day **

***
(45) 40. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard - Cat Stevens
(42) 38. Black Betty - Ram Jam
(43) 37. On And On - Stephen Bishop
(30) 28. Telephone Man – Meri Wilson
(31) 27. Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
(11) 19. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From “Rocky”) – Bill Conti **
(15) 13. You And Me – Alice Cooper
( 9) 8. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett

**
(33) 29. Telephone Line – Electric Light Orchestra
(34) 26. Handy Man – James Taylor
(23) 21. It’s Sad To Belong – England Dan & John Ford Coley
(13) 11. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher – Rita Coolidge
(12) 10. Best Of My Love – The Emotions *
( 4) 2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb *
( 2) 1. Looks Like We Made It – Barry Manilow *

*
(26) 23. Barracuda - Heart

? 18

 

[Channel98]

James Taylor's Handy Man was co-written by Otis Blackwell and Jimmy Jones. The song was originally a #2 hit for Jones in February 1960. Blackwell also wrote or co-wrote Fever, Breathless, Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, Great Balls Of Fire and One Broken Heart For Sale. Del Shannon (real name: Charles Westover), best known for his 1960s hits Runaway, Hats Off To Larry, Keep Searchin' and Little Town Flirt, had a #22 hit with Handy Man in August 1964. It features Max Crook playing his own invention, the Musitron, an electronic keyboard similar to a clavioline. Crook also played the Musitron on Runaway.

 

[HecticArt]

Fifteen

(42) 38. Black Betty - Ram Jam
(43) 37. On And On - Stephen Bishop - Yacht nostalgia
(39) 35. Smoke From A Distant Fire - The Sanford/Towsend Band
(22) 32. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac **
(60) 31. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
(33) 29. Telephone Line – Electric Light Orchestra
(31) 27. Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
(26) 23. Barracuda - Heart
(19) 20. Got To Give It Up (Part 1) – Marvin Gaye **
(21) 17. Easy – The Commodores
( 8) 15. Jet Airliner – The Steve Miller Band
(16) 14. Knowing Me, Knowing You - Abba - NostalgiAhHaaa
(13) 11. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher – Rita Coolidge
( 9) 8. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
( 1) 3. Da Doo Ron Ron – Shaun Cassidy **

 

[sadchild]

It features Max Crook playing his own invention, the Musitron, an electronic keyboard similar to a clavioline. Crook also played the Musitron on Runaway.

My son loves old synths, so I played the song and told him the solo is played by someone who invented their own synth three years before the Moog. He enjoyed knowing this.

 

[hwkn]

38 for 77 skipped the last 2 songs

 

[scotchandcigar]

18 for 77

(42) 38. Black Betty - Ram Jam
(43) 37. On And On - Stephen Bishop
(22) 32. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac **
(60) 31. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
(33) 29. Telephone Line – Electric Light Orchestra
(31) 27. Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
(34) 26. Handy Man – James Taylor
(29) 24. Just A Song Before I Go – Crosby, Stills & Nash
(26) 23. Barracuda - Heart
(11) 19. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From “Rocky”) – Bill Conti **
( 8) 15. Jet Airliner – The Steve Miller Band
(15) 13. You And Me – Alice Cooper
(14) 12. Whatcha Gonna Do – Pablo Cruise - Bow Bow Bow Ba Bahhhhhhh
(12) 10. Best Of My Love – The Emotions *
(10) 9. Do You Wanna Make Love – Peter McCann
( 9) 8. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
( 3) 7. Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day **
( 5) 4. I’m In You – Peter Frampton

 

[nysfboy328]

This weekend's show is August 3, 1974.

 

[sadchild]

August 3rd, 1974:

40 DE CURTIS MAYFIELD - KUNG FU
39 DE BILLY PRESTON - NOTHING FROM NOTHING
38 DE DIONNE WARWICKE AND SPINNERS - THEN CAME YOU
37 DE JAMES BROWN - MY THANG
36 26 LAMONT DOZIER - FISH AIN’T BITIN’
35 37 JIM CROCE - WORKIN’ AT THE CAR WASH BLUES
34 DE ERIC CLAPTON - I SHOT THE SHERIFF
33 24 GENE REDDING - THIS HEART
32 DE FANCY - WILD THING
31 17 THE IMPRESSIONS - FINALLY GOT MYSELF TOGETHER (I’M A CHANGED MAN)
30 38 BILLY “CRASH” CRADDOCK - RUB IT IN
29 36 JOHNNY BRISTOL - HANG ON IN THERE BABY
28 22 THE COMMODORES - MACHINE GUN
27 16 MAC DAVIS - ONE HELL OF A WOMAN
26 32 DONNY AND MARIE OSMOND - I’M LEAVING IT (ALL) UP TO YOU
25 31 HELEN REDDY - YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD
24 30 ANDY KIM - ROCK ME GENTLY
23 34 PAUL ANKA - (You’re) HAVING MY BABY
22 28 GRAND FUNK - SHININ’ ON
21 25 THREE DOG NIGHT - SURE AS I’M SITTIN’ HERE
20 12 GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS - ON AND ON
19 23 RUFUS - TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
18 13 GOLDEN EARRING - RADAR LOVE
17 21 ELVIS PRESLEY - IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP
16 20 BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE - TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS
15 19 WET WILLIE - KEEP ON SMILIN’
14 18 JIM STAFFORD - WILDWOOD WEED
13 08 THE HUES CORPORATION - ROCK THE BOAT
12 04 GEORGE McCRAE - ROCK YOUR BABY
11 15 ABBA (BJORN, BENNY, ANNA & FRIDA) - WATERLOO
10 11 BLUE MAGIC - SIDESHOW
09 10 CHICAGO - CALL ON ME
08 09 DAVE LOGGINS - PLEASE COME TO BOSTON
07 03 THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN
06 07 THE HOLLIES - THE AIR THAT I BREATHE
05 14 PAPER LACE - THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED
04 05 STEELY DAN - RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER
03 06 ROBERTA FLACK - FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE
02 02 ELTON JOHN - DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME
01 01 JOHN DENVER - ANNIE’S SONG

 

[sadchild]

Great/good/ok 7

*****
39 DE BILLY PRESTON - NOTHING FROM NOTHING
16 20 BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE - TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS

****
18 13 GOLDEN EARRING - RADAR LOVE
13 08 THE HUES CORPORATION - ROCK THE BOAT

***
34 DE ERIC CLAPTON - I SHOT THE SHERIFF
08 09 DAVE LOGGINS - PLEASE COME TO BOSTON
02 02 ELTON JOHN - DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME

**
38 DE DIONNE WARWICKE AND SPINNERS - THEN CAME YOU
04 05 STEELY DAN - RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER
01 01 JOHN DENVER - ANNIE’S SONG

*
11 15 ABBA (BJORN, BENNY, ANNA & FRIDA) - WATERLOO

? 29

 

[scotchandcigar]

15 for 1974:

40 DE CURTIS MAYFIELD - KUNG FU (Fighting?)
39 DE BILLY PRESTON - NOTHING FROM NOTHING
38 DE DIONNE WARWICKE AND SPINNERS - THEN CAME YOU - Bwaaatttt Bwaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh
34 DE ERIC CLAPTON - I SHOT THE SHERIFF
24 30 ANDY KIM - ROCK ME GENTLY - Yet another artist that I thought was Neil Diamond
19 23 RUFUS - TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
18 13 GOLDEN EARRING - RADAR LOVE
16 20 BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE - TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS
11 15 ABBA (BJORN, BENNY, ANNA & FRIDA) - WATERLOO
09 10 CHICAGO - CALL ON ME
07 03 THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN
06 07 THE HOLLIES - THE AIR THAT I BREATHE
05 14 PAPER LACE - THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED
04 05 STEELY DAN - RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER
02 02 ELTON JOHN - DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME

 

[sadchild]

40 DE CURTIS MAYFIELD - KUNG FU (Fighting?)

Had the exact same thought!

 

[Channel98]

Arguably the dumbest song Curtis Mayfield ever wrote:

"My mama borned me in a ghetto
There was no mattress for my head
But no, she couldn't call me Jesus
I wasn't white enough, she said
And then she named me Kung Fu"

"Borned"?

 

[hwkn]

40 for 74…..I like it I love it I want more of it.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

12 good/ok from 1974:

24 30 ANDY KIM - ROCK ME GENTLY
18 13 GOLDEN EARRING - RADAR LOVE
16 20 BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE - TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS
14 18 JIM STAFFORD - WILDWOOD WEED
13 08 THE HUES CORPORATION - ROCK THE BOAT
11 15 ABBA (BJORN, BENNY, ANNA & FRIDA) - WATERLOO
08 09 DAVE LOGGINS - PLEASE COME TO BOSTON
07 03 THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN
05 14 PAPER LACE - THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED
04 05 STEELY DAN - RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER
02 02 ELTON JOHN - DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME
01 01 JOHN DENVER - ANNIE’S SONG

1 channel chaangers from 1974:
34 DE ERIC CLAPTON - I SHOT THE SHERIFF

 

[HecticArt]

Elven

40 DE CURTIS MAYFIELD - KUNG FU
39 DE BILLY PRESTON - NOTHING FROM NOTHING
37 DE JAMES BROWN - MY THANG
34 DE ERIC CLAPTON - I SHOT THE SHERIFF
24 30 ANDY KIM - ROCK ME GENTLY
19 23 RUFUS - TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
18 13 GOLDEN EARRING - RADAR LOVE
16 20 BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE - TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS
13 08 THE HUES CORPORATION - ROCK THE BOAT
05 14 PAPER LACE - THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED
04 05 STEELY DAN - RIKKI DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER

 

[sadchild]

Arguably the dumbest song Curtis Mayfield ever wrote:

Those are some wild lyrics!

And regarding Jesus' skin color...

 

[hwkn]

Tonight’s wheel is 10/28/72

 

[sadchild]

August 7th, 1976:

40 DE THE SUPREMES - I’M GONNA LET MY HEART DO THE WALKING
39 DE JAMES TAYLOR - SHOWER THE PEOPLE
38 38 DONNY OSMOND - C’MON MARIANNE
37 DE SILVER - WHAM BAM SHANG-A-LANG
Extra: THE DRIFTERS - ON BROADWAY
36 DE BOZ SCAGGS - LOWDOWN
35 39 DR. HOOK - A LITTLE BIT MORE
34 20 ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION - MORE, MORE, MORE (Pt. 1)
33 35 OHIO PLAYERS - WHO’D SHE COO?
32 33 CHICAGO - ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY
31 18 JOHN TRAVOLTA - LET HER IN
30 40 WAR - SUMMER
29 29 ARETHA FRANKLIN - SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL
28 09 THE BROTHERS JOHNSON - I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU
27 31 TAVARES - HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL (Part 1)
26 37 KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND - SHAKE YOUR BOOTY
25 26 NATALIE COLE - SOPHISTICATED LADY (She’s A Different Lady)
24 28 FLEETWOOD MAC - SAY YOU LOVE ME
23 24 CANDI STATON - YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE
22 34 WILD CHERRY - PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC
21 22 AEROSMITH - LAST CHILD
20 23 WALTER MURPHY AND THE BIG APPLE BAND - A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN
19 28 ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY - I’D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT
18 21 PETER FRAMPTON - BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY
17 19 KEITH CARRADINE - I’M EASY
16 16 QUEEN - YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND
15 15 PARLIAMENT - TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER
14 17 GEORGE BENSON - THIS MASQUERADE
13 06 SEALS & CROFTS - GET CLOSER
12 14 VICKI SUE ROBINSON - TURN THE BEAT AROUND
11 12 NEIL DIAMOND - IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
10 04 STARLAND VOCAL BAND - AFTERNOON DELIGHT
09 13 LOU RAWLS - YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE
08 01 MANHATTANS - KISS AND SAY GOODBYE
07 07 THE BEATLES - GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE
06 08 THE BEACH BOYS - ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC
05 11 BEE GEES - YOU SHOULD BE DANCING
04 10 WINGS - LET ‘EM IN
03 03 STARBUCK - MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT
02 02 GARY WRIGHT - LOVE IS ALIVE
01 05 ELTON JOHN and KIKI DEE - DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART