American Top 40 - #1 in 1977

photo credit

Sticking with this week's theme of pointless stuff,  Rather than look at a single week's Top 40 (4/30/1977), today we'll look at the whole year:

The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest #1 song of 1977 (time):  Hotel California - Eagles @ 6:31
Shortest #1 song of 1977 (time): Rich Girl - Hall & Oates @ 2:19

Longest Top 10 song  of 1977: Another Star - Stevie Wonder @ 8:09(peaked #32)

Shortest Top 10 song of 1977: Just A Song Before I Go - Crosby, Stills & Nash @ 2:09 (peaked #7)

Longest Top 40 song of 1977: I Feel Love - Donna Summer @ 5:53 (peaked #6) [ed: excluding #1's]

Shortest Top 40 song of 1977: Telephone Man - Meri Wilson @ 2:01 (peaked #18)

- - - -


Longest song title to top the charts in 1977: Theme From 'Rocky' (Gonna Fly Now) - Bill Conti and His Orchestra

Shortest song title to top the charts in 1977: Dreams - Fleetwood Mac




Longest song title in the Top 10 in 1977: Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) - Chic  (peaked #6)


Shortest song title in the Top 10 in 1977: Easy - Commodores (peaked #4)  
- - - -



Longest Band/Singer to top the charts:   Bill Conti and His Orchestra - Theme From 'Rocky' (Gonna Fly Now) [ed: just edged K.C. and The Sunshine Band]
Shortest Band/Singer to top the charts:  Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band


Longest Band/Singer in the Top 10: Star Wars (Main Title) - John Williams & His Orchestra (peaked #10)

Shortest Band/Singer in the Top 10:  Hot - Angel In Your Arms (peaked #6)

American Top 40 - 4/29/1972

For todays review of the Top 40 (from this week in 1972), pointless stuff!

The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest song in the top 40 (time):  Taxi - Harry Chapin @ 6:43
Shortest Song in the top 40 (time): Crazy Mama - J.J. Cale @ 2:22 [ed:  J.J. Cale's only Top 40 hit, peaked at #22]

Longest song title in the top 40: (Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All - Fifth Dimension

Shortest song title in the top 40: Taxi - Harry Chapin  [ed: hmmm, longest song has shortest title...  what can it mean?]


Longest Band/Singer in the top 40:  Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band w/ Taurus
Shortest Band/Singer in the top 40: Yes w/ Roundabout

Ups and  Downs
#1:  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
Highest debut (in the top 40):  Little Bitty Pretty One - Jackson 5 (#32)

Biggest Mover (up):  Little Bitty Pretty One - Jackson 5 (+30)

Biggest Mover (down) : Roundabout - Yes (-12)

Fishing In The Abstract

This photo was taken in May 2004, and was one of my first finalists at BetterPhoto.com.  I haven't posted anything with them in a probably 3 years.  But I used to have a lot of fun there, and got to know several other photo-folks.

This was taken at Jacksonville Beach, FLA.  A 5 minute stop on the way to the JAX airport, heading home from a business trip.  I like this one a lot, even though it is from a period when I was over-enamoured with special effects and adding borders....

Happy Birthday, Duke!

No, not John Wayne.  Duke Ellington.

Duke Ellington was born April 29, 1899 in Washington, DC.  Ellington was "the greatest jazz composer and bandleader. One of the originators of big-band jazz."

So play some Jazz today.  If you don't have any, buy some!

Bobby's Frozen Custard

Frozen custard is the big thing out here in the midwest.  From the big player, Ted Drews, to numerous small shops.  Bobby's is hust down the street from us.  We took my son and one of his friends there recently, after his first school band concert.  First time I've been there in a rather long time....

American Top 40 - 4/28/1973

For todays review of the Top 40 (from this week in 1974), pointless stuff!

The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest song in the top 40 (time):  Hocus Pocus - Focus @ 6:41
Shortest Song in the top 40 (time): Thinking Of You - Loggins and Messina  @ 2:19

Longest song title in the top 40: Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips

Shortest song title in the top 40: Sing - Carpenters


Longest Band/Singer in the top 40:  Gladys Knight & The Pips w/ Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)
Shortest Band/Singer in the top 40: War w/ The Cisco Kid


Ups and  Downs
#1:  (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas

Highest debut (in the top 40):  Hijack - Herbie Mann (#34)

Biggest Mover (up):  My Love - Paul McCartney  (+26 spots)
Biggest Mover (down) : A Letter To Myself - Chi-Lites (-61+ spots, dropping off the charts from #40 )

Those Cats Were Fast As Lightning...

Yep, Kung Fu Fighting, by Carl Douglas.  It was #1 on the charts for 2 weeks in December 1974.  In the middle of a 12 week run in the Top 40, most of which was in the Top 10.

A sil;y song, usually classified as novelty.  Until 2011, at least. Now, performing it is a hate crime.  Geeze, politically correct, much?  I hope I can still play it on my iPod, cause it's on as I type this......   Makes me long for the 70's.

I wonder if Blondie's Kung Fu Girls is Ok?
- - - - - - - -
Post-script:  Ok, if the post above has offended anyone, I'm truely sorry.  Really.

American Top 40 - 4/27/1974

For today’s review of the Top 40 (from this week in 1974), pointless stuff!


The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest song in the top 40 (time): Piano Man - Billy Joel@ 5:35
Shortest Song in the top 40 (time): I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song - Jim Croce@ 2:32

Longest song title in the top 40: The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Shortest song title in the top 40: Jet - Paul McCartney

Longest Band/Singer in the top 40: TIE: Gladys Knight and The Pips w/ The Best Thing That Ever    Happened To Me and Bachman Turner Overdrive w/ Let It Ride
Shortest Band/Singer in the top 40: MFSB w/ TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)

Ups and Downs
#1: TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) - MFSB
Highest debut (in the top 40): The Streak – Ray Stevens (#19)

Biggest Mover (up): The Streak – Ray Stevens (+35 spots)
Biggest Mover (down) : Dark Lady - Cher (-16 spots)

April

Did you ever wonder how many hit songs have mentioned "April"?  Well, that's the kind of thing that will wander into my mind, and I just have to deal with it.  So:

Hits with April in their title (since 1960):

Pieces Of April - Three Dog Night.  Reached #19 in 1972. 
The April Fools - Dionne Warwick.  Reached #37 in 1969.

And that's it.  Kind of surprised me.

Now pre 1960?  Between 1940 and 1959 there were 11, including 3x top-10s. But you can look 'em up yourself!

The Wildey Theater

The Wildey is an old theater in Edwardsville, IL that has been shuttered fro most of the 20+ years we've lived out here.  And for most of that time locals have been talking about revitalizing it. 

Well, it has happened.  Thye had their grand reopening recently, and it looks like they'll be doing various events.  I haven't been in side yet, but hope to.....  The photo is from about 2 yrs ago.

American Top 40 - 4/26/1975

For todays review of the Top 40 (from this week in 1975), pointless stuff!

The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest song in the top 40 (time):  Love Won't Let Me Wait - Major Harris @ 5:30
Shortest Song in the top 40 (time): When Will I Be Loved? - Linda Ronstadt @ 2:11
Longest song title in the top 40: (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song  - B.J. Thomas

Shortest song title in the top 40: Emma - Hot Chocolate tied with Amie-Pure Prairie League


Longest Band/Singer in the top 40:  Ozark Mountain Daredevils w/ Jackie Blue

Shortest Band/Singer in the top 40: Ace w/ How Long


Ups and  Downs
#1:  (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas

Highest debut (in the top 40):  Hijack - Herbie Mann (#34)

Biggest Mover (up):  Cut The Cake - Average White Band (+22 spots)
Biggest Mover (down) : My Eyes Adored You Frankie Valli (-36 spots)

Musical Passings

I read today of 2 musical deaths, thought I'd pass them along:

Poly Styrene (aka Marion Elliott-Said), lead singer of X-Ray Spex

One of the bright flashes of the Punk/New Wave movement, Poly Styrene was lead singer for X-Ray Spex are best known for "Oh Bondage, Up Yours".  But the first song I heard by them was "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo".  I remember my brother playing the 45 in the next room, and wondering "what the heck?"....  Uniqe, and certainly NOT boring.  Poly Styrene was only 53.

Phoebe Snow

Best known for the 1975 Top-10 hit Poetry Man.  While she recorded more over the years, her only other Top-40 hit was singing with Paul Simon on his Gone At Last.  Phoebe Snow voice has been described as "unique and untouchable", and Poetry Man remains memorable 36+ years later.  Phoebe Snow was only 60.

Dogwood Blossoms

Another one from the film days, probably late 90's....  We had a wonderful dogwood tree in the front yard, always beautiful in the spring.  Several years ago we had to do some digging around the roots, and it didn't survive the stress.    The white dogwood in the back is about to bloom, though.  That helps!



American Top 40 - 4/25/1970

For todays review of the Top 40 on 4/25/1970, pointless stuff!

The Long and The Short Of It:
Longest song in the top 40 (time):  American Woman, Guess Who @ 5:05
Shortest Song in the top 40 (time): Long Lonesome Highway, Michael Parks @ 2:09

Longest song title in the top 40: a TIE!  @35 characters.
          Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) Edison Lighthouse
          You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You) Gladys Knight and The Pips
Shortest song title in the top 40: ABC - Jackson 5


Longest Band/Singer in the top 40:  Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan w/ Tennessee Birdwalk
Shortest Band/Singer in the top 40: a TIE!
         Jaggerz w/ The Rapper
         Moments w/ Love On A Two-Way Street

Ups and Downs
#1:  ABC - Jackson 5
Highest debut (in the top 40):  What Is Truth? - Johnny Cash (#31)
Biggest Mover (up):  Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens (+16 spots)

Biggest Mover (down) : The Rapper - Jaggerz, Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairmen Of The Board, and Call Me - Aretha Franklin (all -11 sopts)

Blighted?

When we moved to Glen Carbon, IL in 1989, the Goshen Do-It Center was the closest thing we had to a local hardware store.  Well, that and the hardware aisle at the local Wal*Mart.  Frankly, I was never much of a fan, and would generally head to Fairview Heights to the Central Hardware store, or HQ.  Both of those store are long gone, replaced by a Borders and a Weekends Only.  But supplanted by Lowes and Home Depot, of course.

Anyway, the Do-It Center slogged on. Then a Sears Hardware opened about 600 yards north (per Google Earth).  Still, Do-It hung in.    Then, A Home Depot opened 300 yards away, just across Rt. 159.  I figured that would be the death-knell...  but no.  Finally, a Lowes opened next to Home Depot, only 250 yards away.  Well, enough was enough, and Do-It finally closed.  In fact, the photo above is from the Lowes parking lot.

The site has sat empty for a couple of years.  Meanwhile, next door was a card dealership next door,  but they lost their franchise when GM dropped "underperforming" dealers in the bailout.  It's now a used-car / repair place.

Bottom line, in a few months, both places will be gone and we'll have a brand new Sam's Club.  It's hard for me to mourn a store I seldom visited, and I'm glad to see the derelict land being used, but I'm dreading the traffic.

God's Acre

A few days ago, I posted an old photo from the Moravian Graveyard in Old Salem, NC.  I was digging through my old slide scans, and found another photo from the same trip...  So here it is!  Both these pictures were taken around Easter, so I figured it is appropriate.

Music Charts - 4/21/1979

For those of you who’ve noticed, my music posting recently has centered around songs from the Hot 100 “this week in 197x”… This week looking at what songs I was listening to, as judged by what songs are on my iPod. The charts were released on 4/21 two different years in the seventies: 1973 and 1979. For today’s post, I decided to go with 1979, if only because it is a smaller list. I have well over 1/3 of the Hot 100 for this week in 1973, and “only” 19 songs for the week of 4/21/1979. So 1979 it is! The songs on my iPod from the Hot 100 this week in 1979:

 

• Big Shot - Billy Joel (#94)
• Crazy Love - Allman Brothers (# 33)
• Crazy Love – Poco (#88)
• Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa (#80 )
• Good Times Roll – Cars (#44)
• Goodnight Tonight - Paul McCartney (# 11)
• Heart Of Glass – Blondie (#3)
• Hot Stuff - Donna Summer (#79 )
• I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (# 2)
• Lady - Little River Band (#17)
• Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees (#37)
• Renegade - Styx (#29)
• Roxanne – Police (#34)
• Rubber Biscuit - Blues Brothers (#97)
• Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits (#10)
• The Logical Song - Supertramp (#48)
• Tragedy - Bee Gees (#8)
• What A Fool Believes - Doobie Brothers (#5)
• When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman - Dr. Hook (#83)

Musically, it wasn’t a bad week, but not as memorable as some from earlier this week. A few songs that I only have a part of collectionsAnd where was I in April of 1979?   I was finishing up my Freshman Year of college, "enjoying" dorm life, spring in North North Carolina...  all that 18 year-old good stuff. 

 

Catch It While You Can...

I used to drive by this old truck a couple of times a week.  And frequently I'd think "I should take a picture of that old truck".  This was back in my pre-digital days, and I hadn't taken any non-snapshot photos in a long time.  One Sunday, I decided to drive down and take the photograph....  and here it is.  And not long after, it was gone.  the truck, the "Spring" barn... all of it.  All that's left is this scan of a 4x6 print.  Location is here, but there's nothing there now....

Already Gone....

I posted this photo about 6 months ago.  I've been meaning to take some more photos at this site, an abandoned, decrepit house / garage along my commute.  But it has now been demolished.  This is an ongoing problem for me, not getting photos shot before the opportunity is lost.  At least I got something in this case, which is more than sometimes.

The title, of course, refers to the song by the Eagles (which was released in May 1974, and peaked at #32)

Music Charts, 4/20/1974

Appril 20, 1974...  A mere 15 days after Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record.  That was pretty big news back then.  As a 13 year old kid, I remember it well. 

Meanwhile, following this week’s music theme of what Hot-100 songs I have on my ipod…. Today (4/20) was the day the charts came out in 1974, so let’s look at that. Monday was 1970, I had 26 of the Hot 100 songs on my iPod. Yesterday was 1975, and I had 33 of the Hot 100. So, what do you think I have for this week in 1974?     How about 35 songs! But not quite as memorable a group. 

Anyway, what songs from 4/20/74 are on my iPod? Just these:

• (I've Been) Searchin' So Long – Chicago (#20)
• Another Park, Another Sunday - Doobie Brothers (#95)
• Band on the Run - Paul McCartney (#68)
• Bennie And The Jets - Elton John (#2)
• Come And Get Your Love - Redbone (#5)
• Dark Lady - Cher (#26)
• Daybreak - Nilsson (#72)
• Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder (#44)
• Help Me - Joni Mitchell (#33)
• Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Swede (#3)
• I Won't Last A Day Without You - Carpenters (#50)
• If You Wanna Get To Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#99)
• I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song - Jim Croce (#10)
• Jet - Paul McCartney (#27)
• Jungle Boogie- Kool & The Gang (#36)
• La Grange - ZZ Top (#84)
• Let It Ride - Bachman Turner Overdrive (#24)
• Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra (#49)
• Midnight At The Oasis - Maria Muldaur (#28)
• Mockingbird - James Taylor (#18)
• Oh My My - Ringo Starr (#6)
• Oh Very Young - Cat Stevens (#37)
• Piano Man - Billy Joel (#25)
• Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer (#55)
• Rock On- David Essex (#42)
• Silver Threads And Golden Needles - Linda Ronstadt (#86)
• Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot (#73)
• Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver (#7)
• The Air That I Breathe - Hollies (#98)
• The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk Railroad (#8)
• The Payback - James Brown (#34)
• The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night (#19)
• The Streak - Ray Stevens (#54)
• TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) - MFSB (#1)
• Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield (#16)



Waiting...

The Moravian Cemetary in Old Salem, North Carolina, where several of my mother's family now "reside".  This photo is from back in my High School days, pretty sure it was spring break 1978.  Seemed like a good repost for Easter...

Music Charts - 4/19/1975

Continuing yesterday’s music theme of what Hot-100 songs I have on my ipod…. Today (4/19) was the day the charts came out in 1975, so let’s look at that. I was kind of surprised yesterday when I had 26 of the 100 songs from this week in 1970. Well, that’s nothing compared to 1975. I’ve got a whopping 33 songs from this week, exactly 1/3 the list! And a pretty cool week it was! I made a playlist, and have been listening today. So, what songs from 4/19/75 are on my iPod? Just these:

• Autobahn – Kraftwerk (#29)
• Bad Time – Grand Funk Railroad (#35)
• Bloody Well Right – Supertramp (#74)
• Chevy Van – Sammy Johns (#58)
• Cut The Cake – Average White Band (#58)
• Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You – Sugarloaf (#42)
• Emma – Hot Chocolate (#9)
• Good Lovin’ Gone Bad – Bad Company (#89)
• Hang On Sloopy – Rick Derringer (#94)
• Harry Truman – Chicago (#38)
• How Long – Ace (#23)
• I'll Play For You - Seals and Crofts (#59)
• Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#16)
• Killer Queen – Queen (22)
• Lady Marmalade - Patti LaBelle (#11)
• Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) - Leo Sayer (#15)
• Magic – Pilot (#61)
• Only Women Bleed - Alice Cooper (#57)
• Only Yesterday – Carpenters (#28)
• Pinball - Brian Protheroe (#69)
• Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow (#25)
• Rainy Day People - Gordon Lightfoot (#49)
• Shining Star - Earth, Wind and Fire (#14)
• Sister Golden Hair – America (#46)
• Stand By Me - John Lennon (#24)
• Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan (#62)
• The Hustle - Van McCoy (#95)
• The No No Song - Ringo Starr (#4)
• Trampled Under Foot - Led Zeppelin (#77)
• When Will I Be Loved? - Linda Ronstadt (#52)
• Wildfire - Michael Murphey (#68)
• You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker (#32)
• Young Americans - David Bowie (#34)

I’ve got some great memories associated with many of these songs. Spring of my first year in High School, Spring Break with family in Winston-Salem, NC, travelling to games (with the Freshman Baseball team)….  Oh yeah, both the Pet Rock and the Mood Ring were conceived splash in April, 1975.

Music Charts - 4/18/1970

OK, I'm getting a little off in the weeks this week with the chart review.  But hey, I can only do the Top 10 so often, right??  So a simple, "What's On My iPod" list:  (alphabetical by song title)

• ABC - Jackson 5 (#2)
• American Woman - Guess Who (#9)
• Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel (#6)
• Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel (#38)
• Celebrate - 3 Dog Night (#22)
• Come And Get It - Badfinger (#7)
• Come Running - Van Morrison (#43)
• Evil Ways - Santana (#21)
• Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairmen Of The Board (#19)
• He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - Hollies (#27)
• Hey Lawdy Mama - Steppenwolf (#65)
• Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fare (#77)
• Instant Karma (We All Shine On) - John Lennon (#4)
• Let It Be - Beatles (#1)
• Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse (#5)
• Make Me Smile - Chicago (#41)
• Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton (#31)
• Shiloh - Neil Diamond (#25)
• Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (#3)
• The Letter - Joe Cocker (#72)
• The Rapper - Jaggerz (#14)
• The Seeker - The Who (#90)
• Ticket To Ride - The Carpenters (#81)
• Vehicle - Ides Of March (#32)
• Woodstock - Crosby Stills and Nash (#17)
• You Make Me Real - Doors (#75)

Wow.  Neglecting the "get-a-life" aspect of me owning 26 of the Hot 100 songs from this week in 1970....  That's one heck of a play list.

Wii Wii Wii (All The Way Home)

So, late last week I decided to watch a little streaming video from Netflix, via the Wii.  But the Wii was dead.  No power, nothing.  Grrrr.  Well, it was late yesterday before I got around to looking at it.  It was still DOA, and a quick check with the multimeter confirmed that there was no voltage coming out of the power adaptor,  At least that's cheaper to replace than the whole thing.

Off to Amazon, where a variety of adapters is available.  I usually scan the reviews, and lo and behold, the first one I read says: "DON'T BUY BEFORE YOU TRY THIS!!!, "

It just may be that your original power supply is NOT dead!

First, UNPLUG your "dead" power supply (from the wall outlet) and LEAVE IT UNPLUGGED for AT LEAST 30 minutes. Plug it back in - voila! Problem solved.

A friend told me about this trick after talking to Nintendo tech support, and sure enough - IT WORKED!

Well, that sounds too good to be true.  Next stop, the Nintendo Wii site, Where I (eventually) found essentially the same information.
 
Tried it out, and viola!  All is well. 
And y'all thought there wasn't ever any valuable information here.

Music Charts – 4/17/1971

Wow, spring of 1971… seems like a long time ago. Probably because it was. I was the same age as my youngest son is now, finishing up 5th grade. So what was playing on the pop charts?

1.  Joy To The World - Three Dog Night
2. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
3. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - Temptations
4. She's A Lady - Tom Jones
5. Another Day - Paul McCartney
6. Put Your Hand In The Hand - Ocean
7. Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
8. Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted - Partridge Family
9. For All We Know - Carpenters
10. One Toke Over The Line - Brewer & Shipley

Pretty nice set of songs, there. So what other songs were on the Hot 100 that a young rocker would like? There’s a lot, but here’s some of my favorites:

• Eighteen - Alice Cooper (#27)
• Temptation Eyes - Grass Roots (#24)
• Oye Como Va – Santana (#29)
• Love Her Madly – Doors (#45)
• Lucky Man - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (#50)
• Layla - Derek & The Dominos (59)
• Freedom - Jimi Hendrix (#71)
• C'mon – Poco (#75)
• Sit Yourself Down - Stephen Stills (#76)
• Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation) – Raiders (#90)

Music Charts – 4/16/1977

Ah, spring of 1977. I was living in Pittsburgh, finishing up my junior year of high school, on the edge of 17 (but not at all like a white winged dove)….   And the scientific community was fretting about the coming ice-age...  So what was playing on the pop charts?

1. Don't Give Up On Us - David Soul
2. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
3. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
4. Hotel California - Eagles
5. The Things We Do For Love - 10CC
6. Dancing Queen - ABBA
7. I've Got Love On My Mind - Natalie Cole
8. Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
9. So In To You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
10. Rich Girl - Hall & Oates

 Several memorable songs there, most notably Hotel California and So Into You. And lots of good R&R splattered throughout the Hot 100. Some of songs that were dominating my radio (all of which I have on my iPod today):

• Carry On My Wayward Son – Kansas (#14)
• Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band (#26)
• Heard It In A Love Song - Marshall Tucker Band (#37)
• Feels Like The First Time – Foreigner (#45)
• Cinderella – Firefall (#54)
• Back In The Saddle - Aerosmith (#70)
• Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (#77)
• Sleepwalker – Kinks (#58)
• Arrested For Driving While Blind - ZZ Top (#92)

Hot 100 Music Charts for 4/15/1978

So what was happening in the pop music world on this day back in 1978?

The #1 song in the country was “Night Fever” by Bee Gees. In it’s 5nd week at the top of the charts (of a whopping 8).

Biggest movers (up) in the Top 40: “You're The One That I Want” – Olivia Newton John (up 11 to #19) and “The Closer I Get To You “–Roberta Flack (up 6 to #7).

Biggest movers (up) outside the Top 40: “Stay” – Chaka Kahn (up 13 to #82) and “Wheel In The Sky“–Journey (up 12 to #77).

Highest debut in the Top 40: “Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)” – Billy Joel (#37)

Highest debut in the Not 100: “Ego” – Elton John (#65). Other notable Debuts: “You Got That Right” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (#85), and “Do You Wanna Dance” – Ramones (#96)

Bicentennial Barn, Ohio Style

I've been driving I-70 across Ohio with some regularity since 1989.  Since 2003, this barn has been a landmark, one in a series of Ohio Bicentennial Barns.  The paint is getting faded, but it's still there 8 years later.

This is on the north side of I-70, Around Huber Heights (here).  A little less than 1/2 from Pittsburgh area to St.Louis area...

Hot 100 Music Charts for 4/14/1973

So what was happening in the pop music world on this day back in 1973?

The #1 song in the country was “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” by Vicki Lawrence. In it’s 2nd week at the top of the charts (of 2).

Biggest movers (up) in the Top 40: “’Reeling In The Years” – Steely Dan (up 10 to #29) and “Out Of The Question “– Gilbert O’Sullivan (up 10 to #30).

Biggest movers (up) outside the Top 40: “Daniel” – Elton John (up 31 to #46) and “Pillow Talk” – Sylvia (up 25 to #54)

Highest debut in the Top 40: “Hallelujah Day” – Jackson 5 (#34)

Highest debut in the Not 100: “My Love” – Paul McCartney (#73). Notable Debuts: “Right Place Wrong Time” – Dr. John, and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” – Alice Cooper (#85)

Barn Detail - Ohio

Driving across Ohip last weekend, I took a short side trip along Rt. 40.  Rt. 40 parallels I-70 (and sometimes shares), os it doesn't cost much time to take a break from the interstate.  This around New Concord, and not long after I had seen an Amish buggy from the highway.  Anyway, I saw a barn, took a picture.  And voila:



Nothing Civil About It

(Ft. Sumter Flag)

150 years ago today (April 12, 1861) the first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, SC.  South Carolina had seceeded from the Union in December 1860 followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisianna & Texas by February 1st, 1861.  But no shots had been fired until April 12th.  Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee would join the Confederacy within 2 months of the battle of Fort Sumter.  Just under 4 years and over 600,000 casualties later, Lee surrendered at Appomattox.

I've been to quite a few Civl War sites, but not Fort Sumter.  I need to put it on my to-do list.
The attached photo is from Antietam Battlefield, site of the bloodiest 1-day battle in American History. Taken in 1996 (IIRC), approximate spot 39.4761, -77.7462.

Hot 100 Chart 1970-03-21

I haven’t posted the music charts on a Monday since 3/21…. Sorry ‘bout that. Monday means 1970, here we go, starting with the Top 10:

1. Let It Be - The Beatles
2. ABC – Jackson 5
3. Instant Karma (We All Shine On) - John Lennon
4. Spirit In The Sky – Norman Greenbaum
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
6. Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes - Edison Lighthouse
7. The House Of The Rising Sun – Frijid Pink
8. Come And Get It – Badfinger
9. Easy Come, Easy Go – Bobby Sherman
10. The Rapper – Jaggerz

That’s a pretty impressive list. I have 8 of 10 on my iPod. And IIRC, in 1970 I had the Bobby Sherman album that included Easy Come Easy Go.

Dropping out of the top 10 were: nobody! The Top 10 shifted around, but no newcomers this week. So how about the Top 40?  Newcomers to the Top 40:

Everybody’s Out Of Town – BJ Thomas (#37), Vehicle – Ides Of March (#38), For The Love Of Him – Bobbi Martin (#39) and Little Green Bag – George Baker Selection (#40). Only real notable there is Vehicle, which went all the way to #2. It jumped a whopping 37 spots, up from #75. I remember having that song on a K-Tel hits collection in 1970 (when we lived in WV).

Fun debuts to the Hot 100 this week (IHMO)

• Cecilia – Simon and Garfunkel (#68)
• Hey Lawdy Mama – Steppenwolf (#77)

There you have it! 

Amish Paradise?

Driving across Ohio yesterday, I saw this horse & buggy on a side road.  I just barely had time to grab my camera, and snap a photo.  Dramatically cropped, you can tell what it is, at least.

The title is a reference to the Weird Al song, of course....

Ancient History

So, I took a quick trip to Pittsburgh this weekend.  One of my friends was throwing a surprise 75th birthday party for his dad, who was a teacher at our high school way back when.  I figured it was a good excuse for a road trip.  Good times, and I saw a couple of folks I hadn'r seen in 30+ years. 

So, I had to dig out my old (scanned) slides when I got home and see what a couple of these folks looked like "way back when".  Not everyone in the pictures was at the party (in fact quite a few in the photos weren't).  But if you were there, you might recognize yourself...

Buckeye Trail, Ohio.  Spring '78
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C and O Canal MD, Spring '78
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Hot 100 Chart 1973-04-08

If it’s Friday, then I’m spotlighting 1978:

Bee Gees' “Night Fever” continued at #1, still early in an 8 week run atop the charts.  And their "Stayin' Alive" stayed at #2.  In fact, there were no changes in the top 4. Saturday Night Fever ruled....

Biggest movers (up) this week (in 1973):

• With A Little Luck - Paul McCartney, up a whopping 40 spots to #17
• You're The One That I Want - Olivia Newton-John, up an almost as impressive 35 spots to #30
• I'm Gonna Take Care Of Everything - Rubicon, up 11 spots to #32
• Count On Me - Jefferson Starship, up 11 spots to #19

Biggest Movers (down):

• Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill, down 38 to #64
• It's You That I Need - Enchantment, down 32 to #65
• Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) - Chic, down 29 to #60
• Hot Legs - Rod Stewart, down 26 to #54
• Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel, down 23 to #39

Notable Debuts (in the Hot 100):

• Patti Smith - Because The Night (on the way to #13)
• Heart - Heartless (on the way to #24)

Random stats of the week:

• Longest song in theTop 40 this week (in 1974): Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione at 9:39
• Longest Title: The Circle Is Small (I Can See It In Your Eyes) - Gordon Lightfoot

Hot 100 Chart 1973-04-07

If it’s Thursday, then I’m spotlighting 1973:  On the Top 40 this week in 1973?

Vicki Lawrence’s “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” was number 1. With 9 spot leap to the peak. Vicki was a true One-Hit-Wonder, as this was her only Top 40 song. Most folks my age will remember her more from the Carol Burnett Show. But this song was pretty huge.

Biggest movers (up) this week (in 1973), a pretty impressive trio:

• The Cisco Kid - War, up 11 spots to #10
• Stuck In The Middle With You – Steelers Wheel, up 10 spots to #24
• Reeling In The Years- Steely Dan, up 10 spots to #39

Biggest Movers (down):

• Big City Miss Ruth Ann - Gallery, down 21 to #48
• Do You Want To Dance? - Bette Midler, down 20 to #50
• One Less Set Of Footsteps - Jim Croce, down 16 to #53
• Kissing My Love - Bill Withers, down 11 to #46
• Aubrey- Bread, down 11 to #26

Notable Debuts:

• Daniel – Elton John (on the way to #2)

 There were 3 others that eventually made the Top 40, but none I remember…

Random stats of the week:

• Shortest song in theTop 40 this week (in 1974): Bitter Bad – Melanie at 2:32
• Shortest Title: Sing - Carpenters

It's A Beautiful Day!

Yep, a really nice one here in St.L area.  The photo is from a few years ago, Sliver Lake Park in Highland, IL.  But it could've easily been taken today.  Well, the trees aren't that green yet, but you get the point....

Hot 100 Chart 1974-04-6

I’m a few days behind on posting, sorry! Meanwhile, if it’s Wednesday, then I’m spotlighting 1974:

 

On the Top 40 this week in 1974?  Blue Swede’s remake of “Hooked on a Feeling” was number 1. While a lot of folks loath this version, I kind of like it. Perhaps because I was 13 when it came out? And while the Hooga-Chucka, Hooga-Hooga can be a bit much, it’sway better that stuff like “Seasons In The Sun” which was out at the same time (and #4 this week)……

 

Biggest movers (up) this week (in 1974):

 

• The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk Railroad, up 16 spots to #22
• (I've Been) Searchin' So Long – Chicago, up 10 spots to #39
• Dancing Machine - Jackson 5, up 9 spots to #31

 Biggest Movers (down):

 

• My Sweet Lady - Cliff DeYoung, down 12 to #36
• The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand, down 11 to #34
• Spiders And Snakes - Jim Stafford, down 10 to 35
• Sexy Mama – Moments – down 10 to 41

 Notable Debuts:

•  Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder (on the way to #16)
• Silver Threads and Golden Needles – Linda Ronstadt (which did not break Top 40, but is still a great song).

Random stats of the week:

 

Longest song in theTop 40 this week (in 1974): Piano Man – Billy Joel at 5:35

Longest Title: Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Aretha Franklin

Blue & White

Pretty day in yesterday.  I wandered downtown Edwardsville while my son was at his guitar lesson, saw this:

:

Stumped

Yesterday, I had lunch at one of the little parks not far from my office.  They've recently cut down a few trees, presumably because they we diseased or dead, or something.  I thought the patterns on these stumps was kind of interesting:

Anybody want to count the rings?  there's quite a few.

I probably should have brushed away the sawdust in the top-left.....

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Hot 100 Chart 1978-04-01

The past 2 Fridays I've talked about songs charting on this date in 1973.  But the charts also came out this day in 1978, so we'll have a change of pace taody (aside:  The Hot 100 charts are released on Saturday, 4/1/1978 was a Saturday):

SO:  Saturday, 4/1/1978 (33 years ago) the Top 10 songs in the USA were:

1. Night Fever - Bee Gees
2. Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
3. Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton
4. Can't Smile Without You - Barry Manilow
5. Emotion - Samantha Sang
6. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
7. I Go Crazy - Paul Davis
8. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
9. Thunder Island - Jay Ferguson
10. Dust in the Wind - Kansas

 Brothers Gibbs much?  Ya know, 30 years later I've never seen "Saturday Night Fever".  And I'm ok with that.  I don't hate those songs, though, they are actually quite good for what they are (pure pop dance music).  Lay Down Sally (from Eric Clapton's "JJ Cale" phase) is more my style. 

Notables making their chart debuts this (that?) week,:

• You're The One That I Want Olivia Newton-John.  Just in case you didn't have enough with Saturday Night Fever, how about some Grease?  Ugh.  opened at #64 on it's was to #1
• Deacon Blues - Steely Dan.  Opened at #86, peaked at #19

Meanwhile, April 1978 was getting close to my high school graduation.   The photo is from spring 1978, back in my backpacking days.  This is Tuscarora Trail, in Central PA, where we did a lot of hiking back then.  As I recall, we spent a rather long time at this spot, savoring the moment.

I Just Wanna Be Popular.....

Below is a graph of this blog's page views to date in 2011.  The blue line is a rolling 7 day average.  I left the Y-axis unlabeled, 'cause it is depressing.  Maybe if I did ranting political posts?  Nah, there's enough folks doing that just fine.

The blog title is a song by Pete Towshend, from the album Scoop.  It's an early version of what became the title track for "It's Hard"