Re: Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s -- American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century

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Date Posted: 22:02:37 04/15/02 Mon
Author: Christopher Elliott
Subject: Re: Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s
In reply to: Tom Best 's message, "Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s" on 21:18:25 04/15/02 Mon

Nice list Tom :)

I myself am a bit obsessed with songs that peaked at #41, since that has to be rather frustrating. Although I won't list all the songs that peaked at #41, here are some that I liked and thought they deserve a mention.

1972 "My Boy"-Richard Harris. Where Elvis would take his cover into the top 40 in 1975, here is the original, sung with all the passion Richard Harris is well known for such as his hit "McArthur Park".

1973 "Superman"-Donna Fargo. Rather surprised this didn't do better considering her past pop crossover successes. It's not as pretty as "Funny Face" though, perhaps it was too country.

1974 "Heavy Fallin' Out"-The Stylistics. I'd thought I'd never say the Stylistics could sound tedious, but that's the best way to describe this song. A mindless disco number that takes forever to fade.

1975 "Changes"-David Bowie. Always was a bit mystified why the song was re-released in late 74/early 75. It's classic alright and IMO much better than his next hit which did hit the top 40 "Young Americans".

1976 "The Homecoming"-Hagood Hardy. Wins my vote for the #41 that absolutely positively *should* have hit the top 40. A timeless and beautiful instrumental.

1976 "When Love Has Gone Away"-Richard Cocciante. The story goes that this was never intended for US release but L.A. went ga-ga for it in a big way and 20th century hurriedly acquired domestic rights to it. Apparently noone outside of L.A. cared for it though. The song is rather bizarre, in my opinion and certainly may have contributed for it not becoming a bigger hit.

1976 "Framed"-Cheech and Chong. No "featuring" credits in this one. Cheech and Chong sing an old rock standard.

1976 "Take a Hand"-Rick Springfield. Not a boy, not yet a man. Typical bubblegum pop song that could have also been done by the Bay City Rollers.

1977 "Superman"-Celi Bee and the Buzzy Bunch. A good thumping disco record. Herbie Mann added a flute and took it into the top 40 in 1979.

1977 "A Real Mother For Ya"-Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Nice r&b number that has more of a "rap" than actual singing.

1978 "Bloat On Featuring the Bloaters"-Cheech and Chong. Actually is better than "Float On".

1978 "(I Will Be Your) Shadow In the Street"-Allan Clarke. Ex-Hollies lead singer sings a song that's a nice pop ditty, but nowdays the lyrics would come across like someone stalking someone.

1978 "Ease On Down the Road"-Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. I won't say this should have been in the top 40, because I don't. But I find it interesting that it did peak at #41, only one position higher than the Consumer Rapport version [a much superior cover] in 1975.

1979 "Souvenirs"-Voyage/"Keep On Dancin"-Gary's Gang/"Bridge Over Torubled Water"-Linda Clifford. These three disco numbers all peaked at #41 one right after another for three weeks in April 1979. Of the three, the Clifford song is probably the best, done with the same "whirlind" disco sound like "Never Can Say Goodby" by Gloria Gaynor.

1979 "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman"-The Kinks. The Kinks do disco and do it rather well.

1979 "Children Of the Sun"-Billy Thorpe. This anthemic rock/chant song was and still is very popular here in Oklahoma.

If anyone wants to take this list into the 80s be my guest :)

Christopher

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Re: Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s -- Doug Bowden, 06:17:32 04/16/02 Tue