MFD Random Five #18

In which I click the shuffle icon on the iTunes app and listen to the first five songs that pop up from the years 1976-85.

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1. "Everything Must Change" by George Benson (1977, Warner Bros.)
   An obvious attempt to capitalize on the success of "This Masquerade" but it really doesn't matter as this is Benson in his prime, paired with producer Tommy LiPuma. Around this time, Benson's albums starting having more vocal tracks, but this one's also got a couple of sweet guitar soli in it. Sadly, this single only "bubbled under" the pop chart at #106. However, I'm enjoying the 8 minute album version this morning.


2. "A Heart in New York" by Simon & Garfunkel (1982, Warner Bros.)
   Harmless enough. This one wasn't written by Simon and subsequently doesn't measure up to the rest of the live tracks on The Concert in Central Park album. It appeared on Garfunkel's then-latest album. The studio single hit the Adult Contemporary top ten, but I don't think I've ever heard it.


3. "I Want You Tonight" by Patti Austin (1980, CTI)
   A cover that should never have happened. 1) the original Pablo Cruise is perfect as it is, and 2) why waste Patti's talents on an over-produced rote cover?


4. "You Ought to Be Havin' Fun" by Tower of Power (1976, Columbia)
   A fun, upbeat filler tune from the Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now album. Released near the end of the group's prime, Edward McGee delivers on the vocals here among the funky bass line and trademark horn section.


5. "Love Pains" by Yvonne Elliman (1979, RSO)
   Love the chorus and the intro/part A, but it really needs a better B section. Still, its disco and I'm immediately transformed into a 13 year old kid wearing polyester and dancing in a jr. high gym. This peaked at #75 on the disco chart? There's something inherently wrong with that.

Bracketology: 1976 Adult Contemporary singles, Quarterfinals

During 2016, this blog has periodically focused its attention on the singles and albums of 1976. It's only natural for someone who's been given the nickname "Soft Rock Kid" to look at some of the soft rock of the year, so I've created this bracket of the top eight Adult Contemporary/Easy Listening singles from 1976 and we'll match them against each other, round by round, until a winner emerges. I hope you'll play along as I'm sure your bracket will turn out differently from mine. Singles and seedings taken directly from the December 25, 1976 issue of Billboard magazine:

• Quarterfinal #1: "Paloma Blanca" by George Baker Selection (#1 for 1 week) vs. "My Little Town" by Simon & Garfunkel (#1 for 2 weeks)
• Quarterfinal #2: "Let It Shine/He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother" by Olivia Newton-John (#1 for 2 weeks) vs. "I Write the Songs" by Barry Manilow  (#1 for 2 weeks)
• Quarterfinal #3: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon (#1 for 2 weeks) vs. "If You Know What I Mean" by Neil Diamond (#1 for 2 weeks)
• Quarterfinal #4: "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by England Dan and John Ford Coley (#1 for 1 week) vs. "Fly Away" by John Denver (#1 for 2 weeks)

Fill out your bracket(s) with your personal favorites and check back for the semifinal round.