AT40, April 23, 1977 [Part 2 of 4]

 

I'm breaking down the AT40 show of April 23, 1977 track by track.  For a look at #40-31, click here.

#30:  "Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold.  I was a big fan of this heavily syncopated single even though it's a song about a dysfunctional man who never quite got over the fact that his parents decided to have a second child. Meh - lyrics, schmyrics. Then I came out of my seat when I heard it in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights. Casey plays the longer album version because it's the right thing to do. The first of Gold's two Top 40 hits, this would go on to spend 13 weeks on AT40, peaking at #7 on June 11. My Whitburn book says that Linda Ronstadt sings back up on this one - that must be her on the second verse.

#29:  "Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner.  Debuting this week, this single was the first of 16 Top 40 hits for the group. I liked it from the get-go even though I had no idea what they were singing about. First time for what? Anyways, there's a lot to like: great groove, synths, high-flying background vocals, a half-time break, etc. This one would spend 13 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4 on June 18.

#28:  "Lucille" by Kenny Rogers.  The highest debuting song of the week and the year to date.  My friends and I knew all the words - heck, even my parents knew the song. We'd sing along with Kenny or parodies (you picked a fine time to leave me, loose wheel, etc). This had already been atop of the country charts for two weeks in early April and was Rogers' first solo hit, it spent 13 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5 on June 18. Funny how the mind works - when I hear this song, I'm reminded of going to the Olympic size swimming pool at the local university with my friend Troy.

Just looking at this picture is giving me a sunburn.

--end of hour one--

#27:  "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" by Andrea True Connection.  Casey tells us there are six disco songs on this week's show and this is one of them. I don't care too much for this one. It peaked here at #27 in only 5 weeks in the Top 40. Over on the Disco chart, it peaked at #4.

#26:  "Disco Lucy (I Love Lucy Theme)" by Wilson Place Street Band. I love me some disco, but even I have my limits. In fact, this debacle could be the reason for the entire "Disco Sucks" movement. It had earlier peaked at #24, this week it's at 26, then it plummets to 57. It spent seven weeks in the Top 40 and for that I say shame on you, America.

#25:  "Angel in Your Arms" by Hot. This female vocal trio officially qualifies as a one-hit wonder, but what a hit. I'd sing along as a kid - again, having no idea what I was singing about. But with a melody like that, can you blame me for wanting to sing? This peaked at #6 during its 19 weeks in the Top 40. Surprisingly, it only got to #29 on the R&B chart.

Before the next track, Casey gives us a rundown of all the names Paul McCartney has used on #1 records during his career: The Beatles, Paul & Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney & Wings, and Wings. Amazingly, he's never hit number one using only his name. Speaking of amazing...

#24:  "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings. Words can't describe how much I love this one so I'm going to quit writing for a minute and just listen. BRB

Casey plays a heavily edited/shortened version, sadly. The song had debuted on the chart on February 19, peaked at #10 on April 2 and was on its way down this week.

#23:  "Calling Dr. Love" by Kiss. I've never thought much of the novelty act that is Kiss, but occasionally those derivative hacks could tear off a memorable riff. This is one of those. The verse is shite, but what a great chorus. This only spent 8 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #16 on May 14. Coincidentally, "Dr. Love" was my nickname in college.

#22:  "The First Cut is the Deepest" by Rod Stewart.  It doesn't matter who is singing this boring ballad, I don't care for it. This Cat Stevens song had peaked the previous week at #21. Moving on.

#21: "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas.  Now a ubiquitous classic rock standard, it's hard to hear this one in the context of an AT40 show. As often as I continue to hear it, I never tire of it, surprisingly. It sounds as good in '17 as it did in '77. Casey cuts it a little short with his backsell. This was the group's first of seven Top 40 hits, having peaked at #11 on April 2.

Billboard, April 23, 1977, p.  92

More to come...