Monthly Archives: December 2015

1977, Artists, Music, Top 40

American Top 40 – May 28, 1977: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back as we wrap up this week’s Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11. This week has been a little different as we stretched all the way back to the ’70s. Now, let’s Return to the week ending May 28, 1977, and see what was at the top of the charts the weekend that Star Wars opened.

10. “Feels Like the First Time” by Foreigner

What an awesome way to start the Top 10! This was Foreigner’s debut single. It is a perfect Foreigner song, as it has a rockin’ guitar, soaring vocals, just about every instrument is on full display, and the harmonies are great.

9. “Lonely Boy” by Andrew Gold

This is a pretty good song that I had not heard before today. I like the piano and guitars in this song. This was Andrew Gold’s biggest U.S. hit, peaking at #7. Linda Ronstadt sings a blink-and-you-miss-it background vocal in the second verse.

8. “Lucille” by Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers picked a fine time to leave The First Edition. This was Kenny’s first solo hit of many in his incredible career.

7. “Couldn’t Get It Right” by The Climax Blues Band

This is a pretty good song by the British blues band. This song seems like it could have been a hit in any decade.

6. “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from “Rocky”)” by Bill Conti

Here is a Rocky theme we all know and love. It is a great song for a blockbuster film. After this weekend in 1977, this song was overshadowed by the soundtrack of a new little independent film called Star Wars.

5. “Got To Give It Up (Part 1)” by Marvin Gaye

indexThis was a huge, worldwide hit by Marvin Gaye. This is a pretty cool funk/disco tune. Unfortunately, this is the song that brought us the (song thieves) Robin Thicke and Pharrell 2013 hit, “Blurred Lines“.

4. “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac

This is hard to believe. This song was Fleetwood Mac’s only U.S. #1 hit. This was a Stevie Nicks penned song from the legendary Rumours album.

3. “I’m Your Boogie Man / Wrap Your Arms Around Me” by K.C. and the Sunshine Band

111050114This is a fun dance song by K.C. and the Sunshine Band. This song was a #1 hit on this chart, and a #3 hit on the R&B chart.

2. “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer

This is a really nice ballad by the British singer=songwriter Leo Sayer. It had also been a #1 hit on this chart. I have no idea why he is wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey in the video, other than he must be performing in Buffalo.

Before we see our #1 song, let’s see what was topping some of the other charts this week in 1977:

The top Country single was “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” by Waylon Jennings

The #1 Adult Contemporary song was “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett

The best Dance single was “Devil’s Gun”/”We Got Our Own Thing”/”Sure Can’t Go to the Moon” by C.J. & Company

The #1 album this week is one that you may have heard of – Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

And the topping the R&B chart is our #1 song this week:

1. “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder

What a way to close out the week! As much as I like a lot of Stevie’s songs in the ’80s, I prefer his ’70s work. This song is a tribute to Duke Ellington, who was an influence on Stevie Wonder, and had just died three years earlier. This song is instantly recognizable by it’s horn section that begins the track. Wonder also refers to other jazz legends Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Well, that wraps up this week’s Top 40. I hope you enjoyed this. Let me know what you think. Even though this is an ’80s site, do you mind venturing over to a different decade, occasionally?

I don’t think I’m going to be able to see the new Star Wars movie this weekend. I still have shopping to do, and a family Christmas party to go to. So, I am going to be offline until I see the movie. Most people are good at not spoiling movies. But, all it takes is one idiot to post something that will ruin the experience for me. The next couple of weeks will be short due to the holidays. So, the next Top 40 countdown will be in the new year. So, “if you’ll not be needing me, I’ll close down for a while.”

I hope you all have a totally awesome and peaceful holiday season! Until next time, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Movies, Quote of the Day

Quotes of the Day: Star Wars

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Well, the day has finally arrived – the new Star Wars movie is out. Now, let’s Return to where it all began.

Han Solo: Look, Your Worshipfulness, let’s get one thing straight. I take orders from just one person: me.
Princess Leia Organa: It’s a wonder you’re still alive.
[Pushing past Chewbacca]
Princess Leia Organa: Will someone get this big walking carpet out of my way?
Han Solo: No reward is worth this.

General Tagge: What of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical reading of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, they might find a weakness and exploit it.
Darth Vader: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.
Admiral Motti: Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they have obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe! I suggest we use it!
Darth Vader: Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
Admiral Motti: Don’t try to frighten us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the rebels’ hidden fort-…
[Vader makes a pinching motion and Motti starts choking]
Darth Vader: I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Governor Tarkin: Enough of this! Vader, release him!
Darth Vader: As you wish.
[He does]

Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: [with a small wave of his hand] You don’t need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don’t need to see his identification.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren’t the droids we’re looking for.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along… move along.

Luke Skywalker: You don’t believe in the Force, do you?
Han Solo: Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other, and I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen *anything* to make me believe that there’s one all-powerful Force controlling everything. ‘Cause no mystical energy field controls *my* destiny. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.

Rey: There are stories about what happened.
Han Solo: It’s true. All of it. The Dark Side, the Jedi. They’re real.

[Paul from Return to the ’80s gets chills and cries like a baby]

Artists, Deep Tracks, Guest Bloggers, Music

Deep Tracks: Survivor – Ready for the Real Thing

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Today, Robert concludes his Survivor Deep Tracks series. What a great 2 week run by this awesome band!

Ready for the Real Thing (1983)

This song from the Caught in the Game album begins with several flourishes and then settles down into a steady beat and consistent rhythm guitar. The music screams Survivor when Peterick’s keyboards pick up and lead into the chorus. This is another song about regret and a realization that things could have been different, “”This one track mind won’t leave you behind / Why punish me with memories / If only now I could turn back the pages / I played some games that I lived to regret.” I this song though, the speaker has trouble moving on because he realizes it was all his fault, “I only wish I had gone through those changes years before we met / This time I’m ready for the real thing / Last time I couldn’t be true / This time I’m ready for the real thing too.” We are left not knowing if he was successful. Does he get her back? I have not idea, but I do know that I really like this song. Whenever it comes on I take out my favorite air guitar and imagine myself on stage, playing and singing my heart out (I can only dream).

If I haven’t convinced you after ten great deep tracks by Survivor, I probably never will. If you have only listened to the hits, while they are great, do yourself a favor and keep going. Take the time to work your way through an entire album by Survivor. I promise you will not regret it.

Up next: deep tracks by Phil Collins.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 12/18/15

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Star Wars Week comes to a close today. I hope you’ve enjoyed the music from the ’70s this week. We will wrap things up with four songs – 2 each from my two favorite bands. If you’ve been following me a while, you already know who they are. These songs are going to alternate between bands:

Song 1:
Can you name the artist and song:

When the summer’s gone
She’ll be there standing by the light
Once she’s been to where she’s gone to
She should know wrong from right

Song 2:
Can you name the artist and song. I could not resist these lyrics today:

Jaws was never my scene
And I don’t like Star Wars

Song 3:
Can you name the artist and song of this deep track:

Don’t be lonely,
Oh, my friends, forget the past.
Sweet as sugar,
When you’re movin’

Song 4:
Can you name the artist and song. We’re going out with a rocker!

There’s a rumour going round, gotta clear outta town
I’m smelling like a dry fish bone
Here come the Law, gonna break down the door, gonna carry me
away once more

Last Songs:

Song 1
“I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family from The Partridge Family Album (1970)

So what am I so afraid of?
I’m afraid that I’m not sure of a love there is no cure for

Song 2
“Take a Chance On Me” by Abba from the album ABBA: The Album (1977)
Great job Karina (@WillieSun)!!!

If you change your mind, I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free

Song 3
“Y.M.C.A.” by The Village People from Cruisin’ (1978)

Great job Karina (@WillieSun)!!!

Young man, there’s a place you can go
I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough

Movies, Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Dirty Harry

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Uh uh. I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?

Artists, Deep Tracks, Guest Bloggers, Music

Deep Tracks: Survivor – As Soon as Love Finds Me

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As Soon as Love Finds Me (1980)

Let’s stay with that first album, shall we? Track four is another great rock song: guitar driven, tight instrumentation, and solid vocals from Survivor’s original lead vocalist Dave Bickler. This is one of the band’s shorter song, but I have always liked how it packs a punch. The song features more of Sullivan’s excellent rhythm guitar – a great riff that leads to a surprisingly catchy bridge: “All my life you know I pretended / You go through the motions / It’s never been love / It’s always been wrong / It’s gotta be right on time / I need deep devotion / It’s gonna be real emotion / Or I refuse to love.” What follows is a short and aggressive solo – maybe my favorite one on the album. Going through these albums, I am reminded at just how solid Survivor is. The hits are regularly played on most rock or ‘80s radio stations, internet or regularly broadcasted stations. Tracks like “As Soon As Love Finds Me” displays the true rock talents of this band. I never tire of these songs.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 12/17/15

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’70s Week continues! Today, we have some guilty pleasures.

Song 1:
Can you name the artist and song? (the band or the singer are acceptable)

So what am I so afraid of?
I’m afraid that I’m not sure of a love there is no cure for

Song 2:
Can you name the artist and song:

If you change your mind, I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free

Song 3:

Can you name the artist and song:

Young man, there’s a place you can go
I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough

Yesterday’s songs:
Great job Robert (@mishouenglish) for getting all of these!!!

Song 1:

“Tush” by ZZ Top from Fandango! (1975)

I been bad, I been good,
Dallas, Texas, Hollywood

Song 2:

“Roll With the Changes” by REO Speedwagon from You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978)

As soon as you are able
Woman I am willing
To make the break that we
Are on the brink of

Song 3:

“Come Sail Away” by Styx from The Grand Illusion (1977)

I look to the sea
Reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had

1977, Artists, Music, Top 40

American Top 40 – May 28, 1977: Songs 20-11

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Hi Everybody! Welcome back to the Countdown! If you missed the earlier songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31 and 30-21. Today, we have another mix of songs that I am very familiar with, and songs I had never heard before today. Since we are getting to the bigger hits, I’m hoping some of these unfamiliar songs are good. So, let’s Return back to the weekend that Star Wars opened (May 25, 1977), and check out more Top 40 songs from the week ending May 28, 1977.

20. “Jet Airliner” by The Steve Miller Band

I know that this may be blasphemous, but I don’t really care much for The Steve Miller Band. The reason is probably that our local rock radio station always played them at least once an hour. This song isn’t as irritating to me as some of the others. I do love the guitar in this song.

19. “Right Time of the Night” by Jennifer Warnes

File this song in the department of “Oh, I forgot about this one!” I know Jennifer Warnes from her movie soundtrack duets with Joe Cocker (“Up Where We Belong“) and Bill Medley (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life“). I remember hearing this song, but never knew that it was by her. I like this one a lot. It’s one of those nice singer/songwriter ballads.

18. “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs

Oh yeah! Lido! Whoah-oh-oh-oooh! This is my pick of the day, unless there is a new song that is better. Whenever I’m on a cruise ship, and I hear that there is an activity on the Lido deck, I sing this song. And I just learned this fact, that may explain why I like this song so much: two of the members of the band on this song includes David Paich (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums), who would later go on to form the band Toto.

17. “Heard It in a Love Song” by The Marshall Tucker Band

downloadI thought I knew about The Marshall Tucker Band, but I guess I don’t This song was the country rock band’s biggest hit, reaching up to #14. After a quick scan of their discography, none of their song titles sound familiar to me. I like this one. It’s a very good mid-tempo country-crossover song.

16. “Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)” by Joe Tex

This is definitely one of the most interesting song titles I have ever seen. In this politically correct world we live in right now, there is no way this song would get released. But, the ’70s were a different time. Not only was this song released, but it was a hit. And not only was it a hit, but it was nominated for a Grammy Award (for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance)!

15. “Hello Stranger” by Yvonne Elliman

I recognized this song as soon as it started (She-bop, she-bop, my baby). This was a cover of Barbara Lewis’ 1963 hit, that reached #3 on the mainstream chart, and #1 on the R&B chart. The song was covered many times, but this version by Yvonne Elliman was the most successful since the original, peaking right here at #15. It only charted at #57 on the R&B chart. But, it was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for four weeks.

14. “Undercover Angel” by Alan O’Day

This one was a pleasant surprise for me. This is an uptempo easy listening song. This was a #1 for Alan O’Day, even without an album to support it. This was his only hit song in the U.S. However, that was not the end of Alan O’Day. He would go on to write over 100 songs for the Muppet Babies cartoon.

13. “Angel in Your Arms” by Hot

We have another winner here! Although this was by an R&B girl group, this song has a country music vibe to it. Apparently, the country music industry also felt the same way, as there have been several country artists who covered this song. The most notable version was by Barbara Mandrell. In July 1985, it was her first recorded song following her horrible September 11, 1984 car accident. As much as I love the Hot version, I think I may even like the Barbara Mandrell version even better.

12. “Southern Nights” by Glen Campbell

Oh, duh! I had totally forgotten about this song! Man, this is classic! This was a #1 smash hit on this chart, the country chart, and the adult contemporary chart, It would be Campbell’s fifth and final #1 country hit.

11. “Hotel California” by The Eagles

This trademark Eagles tune goes into my Overplayed Songs in History Hall of Fame, along with “Margaritaville” and “Stairway to Heaven”.
I’m also a little bitter about this song because it was my high school ex-girlfriends song with her douchy rebound boyfriend. If you want to hear a far superior, long storyteller Eagles tune, check out “The Last Resort” which was also from their Hotel California album.

That wraps up today’s list of songs. This was my favorite day so far! So much so, that I can’t even pick a song of the day. I basically love every song between between “Jet Airliner” and “Hotel California”. Are you digging this songs? We will wrap this up on Friday. I’m not sure if I’m going to like it as much as today’s list, but there are some pretty good songs that I know in the Top 10. And I love the #1 song. So come back Friday and see what it is.

Movies, Quote of the Day

Quotes of the Day: Classic Comedies

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’70s Week continues with some quotes from great comedy films of the decade:

1. Animal House

Bluto: See if you can guess what I am now.

[puts a scoop of mashed potatoes in his mouth and hits his cheeks with his fists and spits it out]

Bluto: I’m a zit. Get it?

Bluto: Food fight!

2. Blazing Saddles

[to two members of the KKK, while pretending to capture Bart]

Jim: Oh, boys! Lookee what I got heyuh.

Bart: Hey, where the white women at?

And my favorite…

3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[after slicing one of the Black Knight’s arms off]

King Arthur: Now stand aside, worthy adversary.

Black Knight: ‘Tis but a scratch.

King Arthur: A scratch? Your arm’s off.

Black Knight: No it isn’t.

King Arthur: What’s that, then?

Black Knight: [after a pause] I’ve had worse.

King Arthur: You liar.

Black Knight: Come on ya pansy.

King Arthur: [after Arthur’s cut off both of the Black Knight’s arms] Look, you stupid bastard, you’ve got no arms left!

Black Knight: Yes I have.

King Arthur: Look!

Black Knight: It’s just a flesh wound.

[the Black Knight continues to threaten Arthur despite getting both his arms and one of his legs cut off]

Black Knight: Right, I’ll do you for that!

King Arthur: You’ll what?

Black Knight: Come here!

King Arthur: What are you gonna do, bleed on me?

Black Knight: I’m invincible!

King Arthur: …You’re a loony.

[King Arthur has just cut the Black Knight’s last leg off]

Black Knight: All right, we’ll call it a draw.

King Arthur: [Preparing to leave] Come, Patsy.

[King Arthur and Patsy ride off]

Black Knight: [calling after King Arthur] Oh, oh, I see! Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what’s coming to you! I’ll bite your legs off!

Artists, Deep Tracks, Guest Bloggers, Music

Deep Tracks: Survivor – Somewhere in America

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Somewhere in America (1980)

Now let’s go back to Survivor’s self titled debut album in 1980. This opening track should be considered nothing less than a classic. It’s a simple story- rock star looking for that one special girl. Looking and looking and looking and always believing that she is out there somewhere waiting for him. Good songs do not have to be complicated. The simple sentiment is clear, “Same old story, same old song and dance / What good is the glory, if you can’t find romance / I know she is waiting / Somewhere in the Heartland / And if she’s out there tonight / I wish she would raise her hand.” Musically, the song builds nicely- a calm riff and, some bass, and a steady bass drum until the catchy rhythm guitar kicks in and carries the rest of the song. A nice solo is added to give this song some more of the rock feel and a return to that killer riff send the song out on a high night- a perfect rock classic.