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: 06:17:32 04/16/02 Tue
Author: Doug Bowden
Subject: Re: Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s
In reply to: Christopher Elliott 's message, "Re: Great songs Casey didn't count down: Part 1, stalled in the 40s" on 22:02:37 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
Don't forget the kings of notch #41, The Cars. They had three great ones peak at that spot, 'Good Times Roll', 'It's All I Can Do' and 'Since You're Gone'.

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