Hot 100 Chart 1973-03-24

On 3/31/1973 (38 years ago) the Top 10 songs in the USA were:

1. Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack. This would be the last week at #1 for KMSWHS, as it rebounded from #2 the previous week. It spent 5 weeks total in the top spot.
2. Theme From '2001' (Also Sprach Zarathustra) – Deodato. As noted previously, this is a favorite of mine. It would peak at #2…
3. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
4. Love Train - O'Jays. Coming down from #1…
5. Ain’t No Woman Like The One I’ve Got – Four Tops. Big mover, up from 10.
6. Break Up To Make Up - Stylistics
7. Last Song - Edward Bear
8. Danny's Song - Anne Murray
9. Sing - Carpenters (debut in Top 10, up from 11)
10. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia – Vicki Lawrence (debut in Top 10, up from 16)

 Dropping out of the Top 10: Dueling Banjos, and Cover Of The Rolling Stone.
Notable debuts on the Hot 100: The Right Thing To Do – Carly Simon (#70), Thinking Of You – Loggins and; Messina (#79), Give It To Me – J. Geils (#98) and Will It Go Round In Circles – Billy Preston (#99)

The photo above is another oldie, one of the oldests.  Pretty sure this was taken in the summer of 1975.  In Beckley WV.

Travelin' Shoes

Found this over at a friend's blog:


I've visited 44 states (88%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

The title is a reference to the song by Elvin Bishop

Not so good on the World:

visited 8 states (3.55%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Roots...

Digging on the web, I found a genealogy line going back 6 generations, back to one of my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfathers. Born in 1772, J.James Darrach emigrated from Colonsay, Scotland at age 32, settling in Prince Edward Island, Canada. One of his granddaughters left P.E.I. for America (Quincy, MA) around 1847. One of her granddaughters left Quincy for West Virginia, where I was (eventually) born.


I’ve done some genealogy research over the years, but this is the most detailed (and furthest back) information on my European roots Pretty cool, huh?

So, naturally, a photo of roots……

Hot 100 Chart 1974-03-30 - and Happy Birthday Wishes!

On Saturday, 3/30/1974 (37 years ago) the Top 10 songs in the USA were:

    1 Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver (up from #3)
    2 Hooked On A Feelin' - Bkue Swede (rocketing up from #7)
    3 Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks (down from #2)
    4 Bennie And The Jets - Elton John (up from #6)
    5 Dark Lady - Cher (big drop from #1)
    6 Mockingbird - James Taylor and Carly Simon (down from #5)
    7 Jet - Paul McCartney (edging up from #8)
    8 Come And Get Your Love - Redbone (new Top 10, up from #11)
    9 Eres Tu (Touch The Wind) - Mocedades (holding steady)
   10 The Lord's Prayer - Sister Janet Mead (another newbie, up from #14)


Perhaps more inportant, today is my older daughter's birthday! 
Number one the week she was born:  Lean On Me by Club Nouveau.  A remake of the wonderful Bill Withers song that rather misses the mark. 

What songs from 3/28/1987 are on my ipod?  Only 4: Mandolin Rain - Brude Hornsby (#4), Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi (#19)...  Plus Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al (#92) and Boy In The Bubble (#100).

Today's photo is an nice spring shot, Redbud blossoms.  It's also an image of which my aforementioned daughter has a framed print.  Though she prefers it portrait orienation.

March 27 – Hits Through The Years

How has pop music progressed? Consider late March in 1970, 1990, 2010: What songs were topping the charts?  Let’s look at the first five  #1’s released in the respective years

1970:

•  Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - Sly & The Family Stone (debut 1/3/70)
• Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
• ABC – Jackson 5
• Let It Be – The Beatles
• American Woman – Guess Who (debut 3/21/70)

OK, I have all of these, and I like all of these.

1990:

•  Black Velvet – Alannah Myles (debut 12/30/1989)
•  Escapade – Janet Jackson
•  Love Will Lead You Back – Taylor Dayne
•  I’ll Be You’re Everything – Tommy Page
•  Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Conner (debut 3/17)

Wow. I thought I’d know more of these. But I only know 2, but only own 1.

2010:

•  Nothin’ On You – B.o.B. (debut 2/13)
• Rude Boy – Rihanna
• Break Your Heart – Taio Cruz
• OMG – Usher
• Not Afraid – Eminem (debut 5/22)

 Well, I didn’t expect to be an expert on these, but I got nothing. I’ve heard of 3 of the artists, but don’t have anything by any of them. Interesting that chart toppers seem to be fewer and farther between in 2010… To be fair, I pulled them up on Youtube….

What does it mean? Well, the elitist in me wants to say that music has gone down the toilette. But maybe I’m just old, out-of-touch and stuck in the past.

What say you?

Lower Potomac River, Near Great Falls, MD

 This is a real oldie, from the mid 80's.  This is just outside the DC beltway (about here), taken when we lived in Silver Spring Maryland, developed in my basement darkroom.  Scanned a while ago.  I found the backup disk today while doing some spring cleaning.  Colol, huh?
Click on the image for a larger view.

Spring is NOT sprung...

March 26th, and it's been snowing all afternoon.  Bif, fluffy snowflakes, about 4" of them in our back-yard... 

Yuck,  Last Wednesday was PERFECT: warm, sunny, lunch-in-the-park kind of nice.  And it's been gross since.  Ah well, this too shall pass.  I just hope it's Winter's last gasp.

Note blossoms on the maple tree.  This is the front yard...

Hot 100 Chart 1977-03-26

Last Saturday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/19/1977. This week (3/26/1977), there were only a few changes from the prior week. Hall & Oates' “Rich Girl” jumped from #3 to #1, bumping “Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen)” . I’ll call that going from worse to bad…. Mean while, there was only 1 new songs in the Top 10:

• The Things We Do For Love – 10cc (#8)

That’s a good one, but only made it up to #5. 10cc only had 2 big hits; this and “I’m Not In Love” which made it to #2 in 1975. Their only other Top 40 in America was “People In Love” which followed “Things We Do..” but only managed #40.

Dropping out of the Top 10 was Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” which fell to #18 after peaking at #10 last week.

Notable debuts this week?
Eleven (11) songs made their debut 3/26/77. The highest open was just #71: Whodunnit by Tavares (which would peak at #22)

Other newbies which made Top 40:

• Lucille – Kenny Rodgers (opened at #83, peaked at #5)
• Feels Like The First Time – Foreigner (opened at #89, peaked at #4)
• Cinderella – Firefall (opened at #90, peaked at #34)
• Slowdown – John Miles (opened at #96, peaked at #34)

I like Firefall, but Cinderella is one of those pretty songs with really depressing lyrics. The boy meets girl, girl gets pregnant…. boy tells girl to get lost then later he wonders if her child (his son) had all the “toys and joys that a young man should have”… What a jerk.

And a great song that didn’t make the Top 40: Arrested For Driving While Blind by ZZ Top. It opened at #94, peaked at #91. It did stay on the Hot 100 for 6 weeks, which I suppose is good for politically incorrect song that didn’t crack #90.  The other 5 debuts neither made the Top 40, nor linger in my memory (if they were ever there). And shall remain unmentioned here.

 Todays image?  Not even taken by me!!  One of the guys in my office borrowed the division camera last spring, took this photo of geese in the pond in front of our office. 

Hot 100 Chart 1972-03-25

Last Friday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/18/1972. Thirty-Nine years ago today (3/25/1972), there were a few changes from the prior week. America’s “Horse With No Name” jumped from #2 to the #1, bumping Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold. There were only 2 new songs in the Top 10. Neither of which I remember:

• Jungle Fever – Chahachas (#8)
• I Gotcha – Joe Tex (#10).

Dropping out of the Top 10: Down By The Lazy River – Osmonds (from #10 to #11) and Precious And Few – Climax (from #7 to #12).

Notable debuts this week?

Ten songs made their debut 3/26/72, 6 of which went on to make Top 40. The highest open was by Gladys Night and The Pips’ version of “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, which opened at #74 but only made it to #33. There were several other notables:

• Baby Blue – Badfinger (opened at #78, peaked at #14)
• Family Of Man – Three Dog Night (opened at #79 peaked at #12)
• You Could Have Been A Lady – April Wine (opened at #94, peaked at #32)
• Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody (opened at #98, made it all the way to #9)
• Ask Me What You Want – Millie Jackson (opened at #99, peaked at #27)
• Carly Simon’s Legend In Your Own Time opened at #90, but did not make Top 40!

 The image today Is another from last spring, from Scout Night at the Cardinals game. Opening day is next week!

Hot 100 Chart 1973-03-24

Last Thursday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/17/1973. Thirty-Eight years ago today (3/24/1973), there were a few changes from the prior week. The O’Jays Love Train jumped from #3 to #1, bumping “Killing Me Softly With His Song” . There were only 2 new songs in the Top 10:

•  Break Up to Make Up - Stylistics (#9)
• Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got) – Four Tops (#10)

 Dropping out of the Top 10: Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Spinners (#14) and Daddy's Home - Jermaine Jackson (#18).

Notable debuts this week?

Only 8 songs made their debut, and the highest open was just #83. Top debut was “Playground In My Mind” by Clint Holmes, which made it to #2. “Pillow Talk” by Sylia opened at #98, on its way to #2. My favorite debut this week (in 1973) was “Let’s Pretend” by The Raspberries (which opened at 86 and peaked at #35).

Another image today that had been languishing on my hard drive since last spring.

Hot 100 Chart 1974-03-23

Last Wednesday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/16/1974. Thirty-Seven years ago today (3/23/1974), there were a few changes from the prior week. Cher’s Dark Lady jumped from #3 to #1, bumping the irritating Seasons In The Sun . There were 3 new songs in the Top 10:

 

• Bennie And The Jets – Elton John (#6)
• Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede (#7)
• Eres Tu (Touch The Wind) – Mocedades (#9)

 I don't remember Eres Tu, but I have the other two.....

  

Dropping out of the Top 10: Rock On - David Essex (#12), The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand (#13), Spiders And Snakes - Jim Stafford (#21).

 

Notable debuts this week?

 

Ten songs made their debut, but the highest open was #81, The Payback – James Brown (which peaked at #26). The only other notable newbies (IMHO) were The Stylistics You Make Me Feel Brand New (which peaked at #2) and Marvin Hamlisch’s The Entertainer (which peaked at #3). The others failed to break the Top 40.

 

 

The image today doesn't have anything to do with the music (a real trend lately). But at least it’s not a repost. This one was taken last spring, but has been languishing on my hard drive since.

 

Hot 100 Chart, 1975-03-22

Last Tuesday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/15/1975. Thirty-Six years ago today (3/22/1975), there were a few changes from the prior week.  Black Water (Doobie Brothers) dropped from #1 to $3, while My Eyes Adored You (Frankie Valli) nudged up a spot to the top position.  There were 3 new songs in the Top 10:

• You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker (#7)
• Poerty Man - Phoebe Snow (8) 
• The No No Song - Ringo Starr (#9)

Dropping out of the Top 10:  Lady - Styx (#12), Can't Get It Out Of My Head - ELO (#18), Lonely People - America (#27).

Notable debuts this week? 

Slim pickings.  Only 8 songs debutted, the highest open was #81, Shakey Ground - Temptations.  The only one I recognize is Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver, started it's run to #1 at a humble #82.

The image today doesn't have anything to do with the music, but does relate to the time of year. This was shot early spring, 3 years ago, somewhere between Pullman, WA and Spokane.

Hot 100 Chart 1970-03-21

Last Monday, I listed the Top 10 songs in the country on 3/14/1970.  Forty-One years ago today (3/21/1970), there were a few changes from the prior week.  Most notably The chart debut of a little song called "Let It Be" by a obscure group called the Beatles. Let it be made it's chart debut at #6, which is pretty ompressive, IMHO.  The newcomers to the Top 10 that week:

• Let It Be - The Beatles #6
• Instant Karma (We All Shine On) John Lennon (#4)
• Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes - Edison Lighthouse (#8)
• Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - Delfonics (#10)

Meanwhile, Bridge Over Troubled Water stayed at #1, part of a 7 week run atop the charts.  It was eventually knocked off by Let It Be (no surprise there), but not until 4/11/1970.

Dropping out of the Top 10 this week were:  Travellin' Band - CCR, Ma Belle Amie - Tee Set, Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - Sly & The Family Stone, Hey There Lonely Girl - Eddie Holman.

There were a whopping 16 songs debutting on the Hot 100 on 3/21/1970.  Beside Let It Be, other notables were:  American Woman - Guess Who (#46), and Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fare (#93)

The image today doesn't have anything to do with the music, but does relate to the time of year.  This was shot 3/28/2004, not quite 7 years ago.  Wonder if the dogwoods will be in bloom a week from today?

Hot 100 Chart 1971-03-20

On 3/20/1971 (40 years ago!) the Top 10 songs in the USA were:

1. Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
2. She's A Lady - Tom Jones
3. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - Temptations
4. One Bad Apple - Osmonds
5. For All We Know - Carpenters
6. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner
7. Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted - Partridge Family
8. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
9. Help Me Make It Though The Night - Sammi Smith
10. If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot

An up and down week, with some of the top songs of all time (Numbers 1,3,6 and 8) intermingled with some rather forgettable ones. I mean, who remembers Partriadge Family, beyond "I Think I Love You"? And who even wants to remember Tom Jones?

Out In the Cold

So, it's a beautiful day today, but last Monday it was snowing.  That's March for you, I suppose.

I took this photo on my morning commute, in Collinsville.  They're tearing down buildings, re-routing the road, all sorts of (supposedly) good stuff.    This is the exterior wall of the drug store, after the adjoining bank was torn down.  Anyway, I liked the overall feel, with the snowflakes and all...