Promo posters as seen on "WKRP in Cincinnati" #96

Albums: Fleetwood Mac - Live (Warner Bros., 1980), Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Chance (Warner Bros., 1980)
Episode: Season 3, Episode 16, "I Am Woman"
Original air date: Sunday, February 21, 1981


Click here for more WKRP posters!

American Top 40, November 6, 1982

Let's travel back and take a look at the American Top 40 episode for November 6, 1982 track by track.

As was the custom back then, legendary host Casey Kasem starts the show by counting down the top three songs from the preceding week:

3. "Eye in the Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project (brutally edited)  
2. "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar
1. "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work

#40: "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar. The countdown kicks off with the first of three AT40 debuts. I never much cared for this song until I heard Rachel Sweet's version. Benatar's version attempts to be a rock anthem but never really does it for me. Nonetheless, it would spend 10 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #13.

Three tunes fall - and fall hard - from the Top 40 this week:

• "Hold On" by Santana (dropping from 15 to 73)
• "Don't Fight It" by Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry (17 to 76)
• "Young Love" by Air Supply (38 to 80) - more on this group's chart drops later

"Every week, American Top 40 is heard in the 50 states and around the world on great radio stations like:"

• KSTT - Davenport, Iowa
• WTLB/WRCK - Utica & Rome, New York
• ProFM - Providence, Rhode Island

#39: "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters. This is the first of two appearances of this song in the Top 40. It will peak at #30 this go-round, but will reach #9 with a slightly different mix in 1984. And, like many people, this fun, energetic song has been absolutely ruined for me by its use in a 'very special' episode of Saved By The Bell. You know the one. Damn shame.

#38: "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick. Our second debut, up from #41. After a brief recap of how Warwick's career hit the skids in 1971 after an astrologer told here to add an 'e' to the end of her last name, we get this great duet between Dionne and an uncredited Barry Gibb, who wrote the thing. A great soft rocker that sounds strongly resembles a later Gibb tune, "Islands In The Stream," this was a #1 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart and a #10 hit here on AT40. It was her 28th of 31 Top 40 hits, but with her recent crowning as 'The Queen of Twitter,' she might have one or two more chart hits to come. 

#37: "I Need You" by Paul Carrack. Carrack left Squeeze to release a solo album Suburban Voodoo, produced by Nick Lowe. I bought the thing almost immediately upon release. At the time, I was trying to impress a girl with the fact that I was listening to music one didn't normally hear on local radio. So, in my weak efforts to woo this girl, I mentioned that I had just bought this album. She responded "Surburban what?!?" before never talking to me again. Thanks alot for the stupid album title, Paul. In any case, this week would be this single's second and final appearance in the Top 40, spending both weeks here at #37. In 1989, Linda Ronstadt would cover this tune on her Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind album. 

#36: "Maneater" by Daryl Hall and John Oates. The third and final Top 40 debut this week and the first single released from the H₂O album. I dig the echo on sax solo. Maneater remained in the #1 spot for four weeks, more than any of the duo's five other number-one hits. Oates claims the song is about NYC, not a woman, but I have my doubts.

"Three of the eight English acts in this week's survey are from the city of Sheffield. There's Paul Carrack - who we heard from at #37, there's Joe Cocker who's somewhere higher up in the countdown, and there's the group at #35..."

#35: "The Look of Love (Part One)" by ABC. Not my pick for top song on the Lexicon of Love album (that's "All of My Heart"), but with Trevor Horn on the console, this is undeniably a New Romantic classic. This single would spend 13 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #18 in early January, 1983.

Casey spends a little time talking about the singers of groups 'going solo' and lists the possible reasons for this 'current trend.' He states that of the 22 solo acts in this week's countdown, at least five were originally with big name groups: Diana Ross, Glenn Frey, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, and...

#34: "I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)" by Donald Fagen. The Nightfly is a desert island disc for me and I'll just leave it at that. Fagen's only solo Top 40 hit, it would peak at only #26.

#33: "Rock This Town" by Stray Cats. One of the band's better cuts, I really dig Setzer's guitar work on this cut. I gotta admit: this one gets me movin'. It would eventually hit #9 in mid-December.

#32: "I Get Excited" by Rick Springfield. I owned a vinyl copy of Springfield's 1982 album Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet on which this single is the second track.  I made the purchase for two reasons: 1) the girls were crazy about Rick so I thought listening to his music would help me with the ladies (it didn't), and 2) "Don't Talk to Strangers" is softrocktastic.  I gave the album another listen not long ago and I didn't remember much of it other than "Don't Talk to Strangers." That includes this reworking of "Jessie's Girl" which peaked here at #32.

--end of hour one--

#31: "Get Closer" by Linda Ronstadt. In any other hands, this tune would simply be album filler. But with Linda's golden pipes, it's a catchy single despite an odd instrumental bridge. I love the 7/4 groove. It would only climb a couple more notches to #29 in its scant five weeks in the Top 40. Man-oh-man, that woman could belt it out.

#30: "Love Me Tomorrow" by Chicago. My favorite tune on the Chicago 16 album. It's clearly a David Foster production and the only members of Chicago on the thing are singer Peter Cetera and drummer Danny Seraphine. The other musicians were members of Toto. Horn section need not apply. It was #8 on the AC chart but only reached a peak of #22 on the pop chart.

"Coming up: a long distance dedication. It's a 'boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl' story." (Spoiler alert: it's not like that at all.)

#29: "It's Raining Again" by Supertramp. The upbeat tempo and happy melody belie the lyrics. One of the few recorded melodica solos that I can think of. But, oh, that soaring, wordless bridge! So good I can forgive rhyming "fighter" with "up-tight-ah". Supertramp's 7th Top 40 hit, this one would peak at #11.

LDD: From David in Brookfield, Connecticut to Amy. They lived together near Chicago in the late '70s and David was crushing on Amy when he had to move with his family. He moved away to Connecticut, but always thought of Amy. They developed a correspondence via mail. No talk of dating or plans or commitment, but he still dedicates Dusty Springfield's "I Only Wanna Be With You" to her. Well, you can't really go wrong with Dusty so I can't blame Davey. The tune went to #12 in 1964 and was later covered by the Bay City Rollers (#12 in 1976), The Tourists (#83 in 1980), Nicolette Larson (#53 in 1982) and Samantha Fox (#31 in 1989), among others.

#28: "Athena" by The Who. Casey introduces this tune by listing all the cities in North America named Athens. It's a good song, not a great song, and it doesn't always make the cut for Who greatest hit packages, but it never sent me scrambling to change the radio station  This was the group's 16th and final Top 40 appearance, peaking here at #28. At the time of this AT40 countdown, I had this poster on my bedroom wall. The beer tie-in must have caused some concern for my parents.

#27: "Mickey" by Toni Basil. Relentlessly catchy in '82, but I could do without it these days. Surprisingly, I never heard any controversy related to the lyrics, "So come on and give it to me anyway you can. Anyway you want to do it, I'll take it like a man." Of course, it's very possible my perverted mind wants that lyric to be about sex.  Anyhoo, this would eventually top the charts on December 11.

#26: "Sweet Time" by REO Speedwagon. I have absolutely no memory of this tune, but I've never been a big fan of the group. Based on interviews I've seen, Kevin Cronin seems like a great guy and I'd buy him a beer if I ever ran into him; I just don't like his vocals. This tune is peaking this week at #26.

#25: "Pressure" by Billy Joel. Before playing this tune, Casey talks about a motorcycle accident Joel had earlier in the year and how the ordeal changed his outlook on life, leading to The Nylon Curtain, that Casey calls Joel's "most mature LP." I like the tune good enough; I prefer "Allentown" and "She's Right On Time" from that album, though. This would peak at #20 in a few weeks.

"American Top 40 is heard in the 50 states and around the world every week on great radio stations like:"

• KXXE - Miles City, Montana
• WWKX - Gallatin, Tennessee
• 7EX - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

#24: "Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson. Man, I really dig this tune and have for almost 38+ years now. I once named it as the best single of 1982 and I'll stick with that. Hell, I love the whole Night and Day album. Jackson's biggest US hit, this would peak at #6 but, more importantly, during my senior year in high school, I tried my hand at music arranging by adapting "Steppin' Out" for jazz band. The arrangement wasn't too terrible for a teenager with no formal theory training. I look at it now and cringe, but that's to be expected. To his credit, my jazz band director not only humored me, but encouraged me and had the jazz band perform that arrangement more than once. Quite an positive learning experience for this guy.

#23: "Southern Cross" by Crosby, Stills & Nash. I've never been much for this group, I think it's something about the way they arrange the vocal harmonies. This single would eventually peak at #18 and be the last appearance in the Top 40 for the group.

A listener in Alabama asks: "What song, excluding Christmas hits, was at the highest position the week before it fell out of the Top 40?" Details coming up.

#22: "Nobody" by Sylvia. Casey says this is the artist's second #1 country hit and I'm hard-pressed to find any country in it. It's catchy as heck and it's fun to sing along with the silly background vocals. Sylvia's got a problem, though, if she thinks she can get her man back from 'Nobody.' If she actually could love him "like Nobody can, even better," she probably should have done so before now and avoided this whole affair. Or maybe not. Cheaters gonna cheat, amirite? Her only Top 40 hit, this single will peak at #15 on November 20.

Answer to the above question: "Even the Nights are Better" by Air Supply, which Casey claims fell from #6 to #42 earlier in '82. However, a quick look at the charts shows a peak position of #5 before moving back down to #6 and then falling to #42. And, as mentioned above, this very week that record was shattered by Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry with "Don't Fight It" falling from its peak of #17 to #76. Now, on with the countdown.

#21: "New World Man" by Rush. Two consecutive one-hit wonders on this week's chart. The most notable difference between the two is that one wonder is in the RnR Hall of Fame. The band's only Top 40 hit, peaking here at #21. It's success might contributed to one of two reasons: 1) they sound alot like The Police on this cut, or 2) Geddy Lee keeps his vocals in his more restrained, pleasant, lower range.

--end of hour two--

#20: "American Heartbeat" by Survivor. Not much going on here - move along. Will hit #17 in only 7 weeks in the Top 40.

#19: "What's Forever For" by Michael Martin Murphey. Fifth week in a row at #19, it's peak. Another #1 country hit without much country flavor other than some slide guitar. Nonetheless, it's a wonderful ballad and I know all the lyrics and harmony vocals should you need that sort of thing. It probably would have worked wonderfully as a pick-up song if I'd ever gotten close enough to female to try it.

#18: "You Don't Want Me Anymore" by Steel Breeze. A solid rocker with just the right mix of synth and guitar along with hooks for days. The only weak link is the bridge. Casey says the band is from Sacramento but this sure sounds like Southern Rock to these ears. This single would move up to #16 as its peak.

#17: "Love Come Down" by Evelyn King. A great funk tune with an addictive bass line underneath a beautiful, smooth melody. Take the champagne out and toast this one (too easy?). I figured AT40 would edit out the breakdown section, but there it is. It hit #1 on the R&B charts for five weeks and would peak here at #17 on the pop chart.

Casey then tells a story about Ali & Mike Score and UFOs which isn't worth recapping here, but apparently the next tune was inspired by a picture of a flying saucer.

#16: "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. I always found this tune to be too repetitive and boring but bought the album on cassette anyway because trendy New Wave. This week, the single was on its way down the charts after peaking earlier at #10. 

"Until recently, the record for the most weeks a song has spent on the Billboard Hot 100 was held by Paul Davis' song, "I Go Crazy" with 40 weeks on the chart. But that record's been broken and the song that did it is a recent top ten hit by a two-man English band. It's coming up as an AT40 Extra."

"Every week, American Top 40 is heard in the 50 states and around the world on great radio stations like:"

• WXLK - Roanoke, Virginia
• KCBW - Sedalia, Missouri
• WPGC - Washington, D.C.

#15: "The One You Love" by Glenn Frey. One of those songs that, when you hear for the first time, you feel like you’ve heard it before. That smooth scalewise sax line from Ernie Watts is immediately likable and then Frey uses the same melody in the verse. The tune reminds me of an ill-advised hayride date in the fall of ‘82 (hell, it could have been this very weekend).  Long story short: that night ended up with me alone at the counter of the local Jack In the Box [insert sad trombone sound here]. The song scored better than I did, spending 11 weeks in the Top 40, peaking here at #15.

AT40 Extra: "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell was in its 43rd week in the Hot 100 on this date. It would be the final week of its run, however. Casey jinxed it! Fortunately, he plays the single version without the unnecessary cover of "Where Did Our Love Go."

#14: "Muscles" by Diana Ross. Written and produced by Michael Jackson, I'm guessing this was a song that didn't make the cut for Thriller and passed on Ross. Love the chorus. I don't think I've heard it since '82, though, even though it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It would peak at #10 in 10 weeks on the chart.

#13: "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne. This cut had peaked at #7 back in October. How can you hear this song and not think about Stacy losing her virginity to Ron in the baseball dugout?  Neither writer Cameron Crowe or director Amy Heckerling wanted this song in Fast Times At Ridgemont High but they didn’t get to make that call.  Related note: the DVD of that movie contains the best commentary I’ve heard.  Oh, what do I think about this song?  Meh. 

"There's a song in the survey that was written over 20 years ago - became a big hit. But the two songwriters split up. Now the song's a big hit again and it's brought those two songwriters back together. Details and that former Brenda Lee hit, coming up."

#12: "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac. Casey states this is the third week in a row at #12 for this tune; indeed this spot would be its peak. When this single was released, I didn’t have much time for the “old ‘70s acts” like Fleetwood Mac and Jackson Browne because I was buying the latest New Romantic technopop releases.  Mea culpa - that was a mistake on my part.  This is a great song with vocals from Stevie Nicks and brilliant guitar work from writer Lindsay Buckingham.

Casey shares the story of blues musician/actor Joe Seneca and lyricist Diane Lampert not writing together after Brenda Lee recorded "Break It to Me Gently" but they made contact after Juice Newton recorded her version. Not much of a story, but Casey needs content.

#11: "Break It to Me Gently" by Juice Newton. Juice ain't exactly breaking new ground here, but it was a hit, so good for her. It is at its peak here at #11, but hit #1 on the AC chart and #2 on the country chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

--end of hour three--

#10: "Truly" by Lionel Richie. Dadgum, Richie could write some ballads and this is one of his best. His first solo chart single, this would hit #1 by the end of the month and would also spend 4 weeks atop the AC chart.

#9: "Gloria" by Laura Branigan. A cover of an Italian smash hit, I can take it or leave it. The tune isn't bad, but Gloria screams more than sings a good bit of it. Today, I'll leave it. My buddy Blake once told me the story of drunken Branigan showing up for one his high school pep rallies as part of a radio promotion. That would have taken place around '82 or '83. To be fair, if I had to go to a high school pep rally again, I'd probably enjoy a nip or three beforehand. In any case, this tune would work its way up to #2 in a remarkable 22 weeks in the Top 40.

A listener in North Carolina wants to know who is the oldest person to ever hit the top 10 on the pop chart. Hint: it was a famous movie actor who won three Academy Awards but became even more famous for a TV series where he played Grandpa. Details coming up.

#8: "You Can Do Magic" by America. This one is peaking here at #8. I attach this one to a bad marching band arrangement I played in the fall of 1983.  Maybe I’m just bitter because I didn’t get play the trumpet solo. I can tolerate this recording now. I wonder if they ever named that horse?

Answer to the above question: A 67 year old Walter Brennan with a #5 hit in 1962, "Old Rivers." Casey plays a few bars of the piece and I don't recognize it.

#7: "Heartlight" by Neil Diamond. One of the few pop songs I remember my mother actually stating that she liked. I bought her the 45 that Christmas, the only time I ever bought her a 45. Another #1 AC single, this one peaked at #5 here in the Top 40. It's no "Cracklin' Rosie," but its tolerable.

#6: "Eye in the Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project. A very enjoyable soft rocker. Eric Woolfson has a pleasant, understated voice and there's no denying Parsons' studio skills. This song would spend 17 weeks in the Top 40 and had peaked at #3 the week prior to this countdown.

"Coming up, a long distance dedication from a young Marine in California to a friend in Illinois."

#5: "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar. This tune had spent most of October at #1. It's played out now, but I didn't know anyone that didn't love this song when it hit, including myself. I only recently heard that the drum break was patterned after "In the Air Tonight." Makes sense. Casey mentions that the album American Fool had been #1 for 9 consecutive weeks. (Spoiler alert: Casey jinxs another one - it would be replaced by Men at Work's Business As Usual the following week.)

LDD: Casey relates the tale of a Marine named Jeff and his relationship with platonic high school friend Rhonda. Never anything romantic, but Jeff dedicates "She's Got A Way" by Billy Joel. Such bland dedications are making me rethink my theory that Casey and his staff wrote the LDD letters themselves. But the song, from the album Songs in the Attic, peaked at #23 in 9 weeks in the Top 40.  The song is overwrought romantic pap, but it's also pretty easy to play. In 1982, I purchased the sheet music and quickly learned it (never had the range to sing the high G, but that didn't stop me from trying), and then used my playing/singing to seduce girls. Hey, I wasn't a jock and I didn't have a new sportscar, so I had to use the tools at my disposal. I'd like to tell you that my plan worked often, but I can't name one time that it did. Still dig the song, though.

Sheet music from the MFD archives

"American Top 40 is heard in the 50 states and around the world every week on great radio stations like:"

• KULY - Ulysses, Kansas
• WBLT - Bedford, Virginia
• Armed Forces Radio

#4: "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" by Michael McDonald. More than a cover version, McDonald makes it his own. My wife and I once had the pleasure of seeing Mr. McDonald in concert and I'll be doggoned if he doesn't have so many hits that he can start a show with whatever smash hit he damn well pleases. In our case it was this tune, which peaks here at #4.

#3: "Heart Attack" by Olivia Newton-John. Great tune from Steve Kipner and ONJ brings the seductive goods, giving me heart palpitations at the very least. This was ONJ's 24th single to make the Top 40, peaking here at #3. I can't find any credits for the single, but that sure sounds like Tom Scott on the sax solo.

#2: "Who Can It Be Now" by Men At Work. Slipping from #1 this week. This song captivated me from the get-go. The ominous lyrics flew right over me head - just give me that sax hook! I can now appreciate the lyrics about someone who just wants to be left alone. A definitive New Wave single.

Casey takes a look at what is atop the other charts:

• Soul: "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye
• Country: "You're So Good When You're Bad" by Charley Pride
• Album:  American Fool by John Cougar

#1: "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes.  I'm not usually fond of sappy ballads, but I have to confess a soft spot for this song. This chart-topping track won a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar. By 1983, I had decided to pursue a music degree once I left high school and, to that end, started taking piano lessons at age 17. My piano teacher gave me a book of pop tunes to keep me interested in daily practice. This song is the only one I remember from that book - I butchered it on a daily basis for weeks.

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."


Previously, I've looked at these AT40 episodes:

May 26, 1984

July 2, 1983 - "The Forty Top Acts of the Eighties - So Far"
September 18, 1982
October 24, 1981
July 19, 1980
July 5, 1980 - "The Book of Records"
February 16, 1980
August 4, 1979
June 9, 1979 - Guest host: Bruce Philip Miller
September 16, 1978

July 1, 1978 - "The 40 Biggest Acts of the 70's"
April 1, 1978 - "AT40 Goes to the Movies"
April 23, 1977
July 4, 1976 - "4th of July's Greatest Hits"

Top Albums of February 16, 1980

A look at the top ten albums in music industry magazines the week of February 16, 1980. Something for everyone here: prog rock, disco, R&B, soft rock, country, and plain ol' rock 'n' roll:

	Billboard	CashBox	Record World
1	The Wall Pink Floyd	The Wall Pink Floyd	The Wall Pink Floyd
2	Damn the Torpedoes Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	Damn the Torpedoes Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	Off the Wall Michael Jackson
3	Off the Wall Michael Jackson	Off the Wall Michael Jackson	The Long Run Eagles
4	The Long Run Eagles	The Long Run Eagles	On the Radio Greatest Hits Vols 1 & 2 Donna Summer
5	Phoenix Dan Fogelberg	Phoenix Dan Fogelberg	Damn the Torpedoes Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
6	Kenny Kenny Rogers	On the Radio Greatest Hits Vols 1 & 2 Donna Summer	Phoenix Dan Fogelberg
7	On the Radio Greatest Hits Vols 1 & 2 Donna Summer	Kenny Kenny Rogers	Kenny Kenny Rogers
8	Tusk Fleetwood Mac	Cornerstone Styx	Cornerstone Styx
9	Cornerstone Styx	Tusk Fleetwood Mac	In Through the Out Door Led Zeppelin
10	September Morn Neil Diamond	Freedom at Point Zero Jefferson Starship	Freedom at Point Zero Jefferson Starship

---

Exclusive MFD meta-analysis of the above charts:

1. The Wall(30 pts)
2. Off the Wall (25 pts)
3. Damn the Torpedoes (24 pts)
4. The Long Run (23 pts)
5. Phoenix (17 pts)
6. On the Radio (16 pts)
7. Kenny (13 pts)
8. Cornerstone (8 pts)
9. Tusk (5 pts)
10. (tie) Freedom at Point Zero and In Through the Out Door (2 pts)
12. September Morn (1 pt)

Top Albums of April 1978

Let's take a look at what was topping the various album charts on April 8, 1978.

	Billboard	CashBox	Record World
1	Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack	Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack	Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
2	Slowhand Eric Clapton	Even Now Barry Manilow	Even Now Barry Manilow
3	Even Now Barry Manilow	Slowhand Eric Clapton	Running on Empty Jackson Browne
4	The Stranger Billy Joel	The Stranger Billy Joel	Slowhand Eric Clapton
5	Aja Steely Dan	Running on Empty Jackson Browne	Point of Know Return Kansas
6	Weekend in L.A. George Benson	Weekend in L.A. George Benson	The Stranger Billy Joel
7	Point of Know Return Kansas	Aja Steely Dan	Aja Steely Dan
8	Running on Empty Jackson Browne	Point of Know Return Kansas	News of the World Queen
9	Earth Jefferson Starship	Earth Jefferson Starship	Rumours Fleetwood Mac
10	The Grand Illusion Styx	News of the World Queen	Weekend in L.A. George Benson

---

Exclusive MFD meta-analysis of the above charts:

1. Saturday Night Fever (30 pts)
2. Even Now (26 pts)
3. Slowhand (24 pts)
4. The Stranger (17 pts)
5. Running on Empty (17 pts)
6. Aja (14 pts)
7. Point of Know Return (13 pts)
8. Weekend in L.A. (11 pts)
9. Earth (4 pts)
10. News of the World (4 pts)

AT40, February 16, 1980 [Part 4 of 4]

I'm breaking down the AT40 show of February 16, 1980 track by track. 

So what was I doing around the time of this AT40 episode's broadcast?  My brace-faced, cowlick-headed, 95-pound-soaking-wet self was smack dab in the middle of 8th grade. I was involved in several school activities including band, speech and drama club, tennis team, plus I was more than a little girl crazy. Being a preacher's kid, I also had church activities to attend. Did I mention girls? And the Winter Olympics were going on, so I'm sure I was watching that, as well (anything to avoid homework.)

Now, on with the countdown:

#10: "Desire" by Andy Gibb. Before he was host of TV's "Solid Gold," Andy Gibb was steadily hitting the Top 40 singing songs written and produced by big brother Barry. This song must not have been played much on the radio station in the Houston market because I have very little memory of it, especially since it was a #4 hit. Go figure. Sounds more like a Bee Gees tune than an Andy Gibb single, but that's splitting hairs, isn't it?

#9:  "On the Radio" by Donna Summer. This followed a familiar formula for Donna's tunes at the time in that it starts slow then goes double time (see also: "Last Dance," "Dim All the Lights," and "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)"). A new Summer tune was always welcome in my neck of the woods. Around this time, we learned how to disco dance in PE class. I always danced with a girl named Tiffany and, I must say, we were awesome disco dancers (for 13 year olds).

#8:  "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg. I disliked this song when it was on the charts because I thought it was girly and schmaltzy. Now that I'm a lot older and slightly more mature, I think it is one of the most beautiful ballads this side of The Beatles' "Yesterday." Casey gives a mention to Jerry Hey for the flugelhorn solo (pronouncing his name "hī" when I always assumed it was pronounced "hā).

American Top 40 is heard in the 50 states and around the world every week on great radio stations like

• WGOW - Chattanooga, Tennessee
• KJOY - Stockton, California
• 3DB - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

#7:  "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac. When I reviewed a Fleetwood Mac greatest hits album back in 2011 over at The CD Project, I said I wasn't a fan of this song. Just last year, I put that same CD in my truck and listened to "Sara" on repeat for at least a week. So, I'm exercising my right to change my mind. This is top-notch Stevie Nicks. This single would peak here at #7, where it held for 3 weeks.

#6:  "Yes, I'm Ready" by Teri DeSario with K.C. I didn't know it at the time, but this is a cover of a 1965 Barbara Mason tune. Despite a fairly catchy chorus, I can't muster up more than a "meh" for this remake. It was popular at the time, peaking at #2 and spending 2 weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart.

Before playing the next tune, Casey shares the story of Quincy Jones' life-threatening brain aneurysm in 1974. Of course, Q lived on to become one of the biggest record producers of all-time, including...

#5:  "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson. After four weeks at #1, this single fell to the #5 spot. A fantastic dance cut, but then again I like the entire Off the Wall album. In 8th grade, I had a crush on a brunette that loved this song so of course I had to love it as well.

#4:  "Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson. Peaked here at #4. So smooth, so soulful, so good. As disco began to fade away, we were treated to quite a few soul ballads in the early '70s tradition.  This might be the best of them.  Maybe Smokey's strongest vocal ever?

Before we continue, Casey tells us what's atop the other charts:

• R&B: "Second Time Around" by Shalamar
• Country: "Love Me Over Again" by Don Williams (Casey announces it as "Love Me Again")
• Album: The Wall by Pink Floyd
• Disco: "Vertigo/Relight My Fire/Free Ride" by Dan Hartman

#3:  "Coward of the County" by Kenny Rogers. I'll admit knowing all the words to this story song because it was all over the radio. Now I view it as more of a novelty tune and grates on me as such.

#2:  "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen. I liked this when it was released because there was nothing else like it on the radio (which you can say about most Queen tunes now that I think about it). But when The Stray Cats brought back rockabilly full-time, I couldn't stand it. Fickle much, Mark? Dr. Brian May was usually only afforded short 2 or 4 measure solos, but he gets a full 8 on this one. After this week at #2, it would spend the following 4 weeks at #1 before being unseated by Pink Floyd.

#1:  "Do That to Me One More Time" by The Captain & Tennille. My sister was a huge C&T fan and, because she was older than me, she got to choose what LPs we listened to.  As a result, I know the words to every C&T song released between 1975-1980, including this one.  I'm not wild about this song, but man-oh-man did Toni T. have some golden pipes.

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."

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Previously, I've looked at these AT40 episodes track by track:
September 18, 1982
October 24, 1981
July 19, 1980
June 9, 1979
April 23, 1977

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AT40, February 16, 1980 [Part 3 of 4]

 

I'm breaking down the AT40 show of February 16, 1980 track by track.  For an a look at #40-31, click here, for #30-21 click here.

#20:  "Second Time Around" by Shalamar.  #1 on the Soul/R&B chart on this date, this is easily my favorite Shalamar tune. It's so dang easy to listen to. I don't recognize the names in the backing group but they sure could lay down a groove. It also hit #1 on the disco/dance chart.

Long Distance Dedication: "(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka (#1, 1974). You know where this is headed, but here we go any way:

Dear Casey, I'm a lieutenant in the United States Army Engineers currently serving in Korea. I'm here without my wife and am currently on the early side of a twelve month tour. I miss her tremendously. We were married four years ago when I first came into the service. There was no honeymoon and she traveled with me across the country to Fort Stewart, Georgia where she assumed her role as an army wife.

During that first year of marriage, we were constantly separated as I went to Panama, field exercises, and school. She quietly accepted her role of being dragging around the country, uprooted from the home she cherished, and being left alone. There was never any doubt or questioning, but, rather, support, sympathy, encouragement, and, most of all, love. I've always felt guilty about leaving her behind to maintain a home while I was elsewhere. And I haven't always been supportive of her needs or been there when she needed me most. And that's what this letter is for.

Gigi is home in San Antonio, seven months pregnant with our first child. As my job dictates, I won't be home for the birth of our child, but I need to tell my wife how I feel about her. Much the same as Paul Anka put it in "(You're) Having My Baby." I dedicate this to you, Gigi. Loving you from so far away. Signed, Kirk.

Sheesh. Moving right along...

#19: "September Morn" by Neil Diamond. I never fully appreciated Diamond at the time, but that's on me. This isn't his best ballad, but it's pleasant enough. Love the Floyd Cramer-esque piano. This single was Diamond's 30th Top 40 hit; it would eventually peak at #17.

#18: "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd. "The biggest climber of the week!" The second of Pink Floyd's two Top 40 singles ("Money" hit #13 in 1973), this smash would later spend 4 weeks at #1. School kids loved the lyrics; school administrators hated them. Some schools went to the ridiculous lengths of banning the song as if they could. To be honest, other than the truthful lyrics, this isn't that great a tune when compared to the rest of PF's canon. The best part is David Gilmour's guitar solo, which is first-rate. And remember kids, if you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding.

#17: "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" by The Spinners. A great disco cover of a 1966 Four Seasons tune. There really wasn't any need to add a second song for a medley, but they didn't consult me.  The song would spend 16 weeks on Casey's show, spending two weeks in the #2 spot. I always liked The Spinners and enjoyed seeing them hang around into the '80s.

Casey teases a story with "the co-leader of the supergroup, The Eagles, earned his first set of drums when he was 15 by blowing up his mother's washtub with cherry bombs."

#16:  "An American Dream" by The Dirt Band. I liked this one when it was released, particularly the Linda Ronstadt harmonies.  It blends country with tropical with great success and I can sing all the harmonies if ya need it.

Casey shares the story of Don Henley blowing up his mom's wash tub with a cherry bomb so his father would be forced to buy her a washing machine. And she bought Don a drum kit as a thank you. It's not a great story, but Casey milks it for all it's worth.

#15:  "The Long Run" by Eagles. Around this time, anything by Eagles was welcome to these ears. I preferred their previous single "Heartache Tonight" but I liked this So-Cal rock tune with country harmonies, too.

#14:  "Romeo's Tune" by Steve Forbert. This was Forbert's only single to crack the Top 40, but I remember singing along with this one when it was on the radio.  I don't think it has a catchy melody, but I like the way the alliterative "meet me in the middle of the day" rolls out of my mouth. The single would peak the following week at #11.

#13: "Daydream Believer" by Anne Murray. This John Stewart tune is so happy and uplifting that I can't help but love it. This single would top the adult contemporary chart, peak at #3 on the country chart (it doesn't sound much country to me but I can plead ignorance on that), and eventually reach #12 n the Top 40.

AT40 Archives: "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac.  Casey's counting down the #1 songs of the 1970's' this tune is the last of three in this show. If this isn't my favorite Fleetwood Mac tune, it's certainly in the discussion.

--end of hour three--

Casey welcomes three new stations to the American Top 40 family:

• KIOC - Vidor, Texas
• WCCY - Houghton, Michigan
• WCIT - Lima, Ohio

#12:  "Don't Do Me Like That" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Petty's second tune in this week's Top 40 ("Refugee" was back at #26).  It had peaked at #10 the previous week. I dig everything about this tune from the Hammond organ to the middle 8, to the imminently singable, catchy-as-hell chorus.

"Several months ago, a listener in Minnesota made a Long Distance Dedication that resulted in his getting a long distance phone call from a famous and beautiful woman - one of Charlie's Angels. That story is coming up."

#11:  "This is It" by Kenny Loggins. This smooth classic won the Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, and deservedly so. It takes the best parts of the previous two chart tunes (uplifting lyrics and a catchy chorus) and takes it all up a notch. It also marks Michael McDonald's second appearance on this week's chart (he also duetted with Nicolette Larson back at #39). There's some good tunes in the Top 10 this week, but in my book, none can top "This is It."

LDD dedication follow-up: A high school kid sent a LDD to Cheryl Ladd in hopes that she would go to prom with him. She didn't accept his invitation, but she did call to decline, which would have been enough to me. Heck, she could call me right now and I'd be a bumbling idiot.

Billboard, February 16, 1980, p. 94

More to come...

Albums of Late August 1977

Let's take a look at what was topping the album charts on August 27, 1977:

	Billboard	CashBox	Record World
1	Rumours Fleetwood Mac	Rumours Fleetwood Mac	Rumours Fleetwood Mac
2	CSN Crosby, Stills & Nash	CSN Crosby, Stills & Nash	Superman Barbra Streisand
3	Star Wars Soundtrack	JT James Taylor	JT James Taylor
4	JT James Taylor	Superman Barbra Streisand	Star Wars Soundtrack
5	Superman Barbra Streisand	Star Wars Soundtrack	CSN Crosby, Stills & Nash
6	Commodores Commodores	I'm in You Peter Frampton	I'm in You Peter Frampton
7	Rejoice Emotions	Rejoice Emotions	Live Barry Manilow
8	I'm in You Peter Frampton	Cat Scratch Fever Ted Nugent	Rejoice Emotions
9	Book of Dreams Steve Miller Band	Going for the One Yes	Little Queen Heart
10	Shaun Cassidy Shaun Cassidy	Love Gun Kiss	Going for the One Yes

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Exclusive MFD meta-analysis of the above charts:

1. Rumours (30 pts)
2. CSN (24 pts)
3. JT (23 pts)
4. Superman (22 pts)
5. Star Wars (21 pts)
6. I'm in You (13 pts)
7. Rejoice (11 pts)
8. Commodores (5 pts)
9. Barry Manilow Live (4 pts)
10. (tie) Cat Scratch Fever, Going for the One (3 pts)

Billboard, August 27, 1977, p. 79