All the songs are winners?

[johnbasalla]

I'm listening to "American Top 40 - The Seventies" as I type this. The countdown is from this week in 1970. I'm noticing that I really like almost every song. Even the few that I don't like big-time, well, they're still at least pretty good.

Was there ever a week or more that you liked all the songs on the charts of your local radio stations or nationally?

I don't remember exactly what week, or even year, but in 1970 or 1971 there was one CKLW AM800 weekly countdown show in which I really liked every song played.

 

[deltas69]

During that time frame..just about everything that hit the air was a winner..I'd say starting with the British Invasion..and progressing to '73 or so..after that some seemed to get played as filler between the good stuff..jmho..

 

[willdav713]

KBPA Bob 103.5 does a weekly show called the 9 @ 9, 9 songs from one year on that date.

Every now and then they will play 9 songs from the a year in the 70s and the next day from the 90s. I would say 1970, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1979 usually those songs are winners. I would also add 1991, and 1992, and sometimes 1990,1993, and 1994.

And they stream and give a list of the songs played http://www.hibob.fm

They stopped doing 1969 back in 2008, I believe. Maybe KrashKelly can help me out on that one as of the date they stopped doing the 9 @ 9 from 1969, I don't think Bob-FM went earlier than that. They have recently added 2000, and 2001.

Sometimes, it is not from a good year in music on that day, then I will flip the dial to Tom Kent's All Request show at 9, or the Clark Howard Show on KLBJ. Austin we have it good on the radio dial as it's current state.

 

[dgendvil]

No mention of Casey talking about the Muppets hit "Rubber Duckie". It was brand new to the chart at #59, & would debut on AT40 the following week, eventually peaking at #16 the very next month. Kind of a funny & unusual song of that era, don't you think?

 

[johnbasalla]

Re: Muppets "Rubber Duckie".

Unusual (yes). Funny? (no, imo). Annoying would be a better word.

 

[SolidGold16]

I'm listening to "American Top 40 - The Seventies" as I type this. The countdown is from this week in 1970. I'm noticing that I really like almost every song. Even the few that I don't like big-time, well, they're still at least pretty good.

Was there ever a week or more that you liked all the songs on the charts of your local radio stations or nationally?

I don't remember exactly what week, or even year, but in 1970 or 1971 there was one CKLW AM800 weekly countdown show in which I really liked every song played.

I've listened to some of the 70s playbacks of AT40 and thought the exact same thing myself! There was just a very few songs I didn't like from that time period from about 1970 - 1973. It would be easier if I had to make a list of the songs I didn't care for, because it would be a very short list. Overall, just so much great music was made during that time period that I don't think it can ever be replicated now or anytime in the future. Virtually everything in the top 40 (and a lot of "real" rock music & LPs) was a winner, like you said.

Simply for that reason, I have basically every group and song I have ever liked in my lifetime already downloaded and available to me on my computer. When the mood strikes me, I load up the flash drive and plug in to the car stereo all from a certain time period or theme for listening over a week or so, then I load something different. I almost never turn on the radio in the car or play a disc anymore.

Since I refuse to listen to talentless noise on the radio these days, if something good were to come up (highly doubtful) I would never hear it. In that case, I may miss out on an occasional "gem" but I avoid all the 'losers" that make up the charts today. On the rare occasion that I have seen a recent Billboard chart, I am amazed that I've never heard of 95% of the so-called "artists" on it. The few I have heard of, I've never heard but might have seen their name in passing somewhere, on a magazine cover or on the news when they're arrested for their latest indescretion.

And listening to Kasey K. just really takes me back, his voice is so distinctive and recognizable, that it just makes listening to all the old AT40 shows that much more nostalgic. Sort of like a time machine, for a little while I can pretend it's 1970 again...when cares were few and summers long and hot. Those days will never come back, but I can relive them as much as I want in my mind - and I do. To quote Tull, I might be "Living in the past", but IMO it's preferable to what I see and hear these days. I guess I really am becoming an old fart ;D

 

[oldies76]

No mention of Casey talking about the Muppets hit "Rubber Duckie". It was brand new to the chart at #59, & would debut on AT40 the following week, eventually peaking at #16 the very next month. Kind of a funny & unusual song of that era, don't you think?

Actually heard "Disco Duck" during a 1976 segment once. There was a time, that song was banned....due to conflict of interest issues. Even KRTH refused to play it in one of their specials, back in the mid 80's.

 

[johnbasalla]

I find a lot of good new music today. I personally could not stick to only music on my computer/flashdrive/iPod, precisely because I would miss something. Some great tunes of recent vintage would be Chrisina Perry's "Jar of Hearts", "Firelfies" by "Owl City"- actually it's just one guy, "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, and on the modern rock side of things, the new "singles" by Metric "Youth Without Youth" and "Blood For Poppies"- a comeback record for Garbage (They're not, by the way)- all make me keep my ear on the radio.

 

[hornet61]

April 4th 1964.....will never be matched. At least in my lifetime, then again, never say never, but a fairly good bet.

 

[RIN3GUY]

Re: All the songs are winners!

April 4, 1964 was not in my lifetime, but I can tell from what songs I do know that it was quite an exceptional week, especially with the Beatles occupying the top 5 spots. However, my best week has to be October 29, 1977. Although I dislike 7, 28, 35 & 38 & I'm not crazy about 1, 14, 19, 25 & 34, I haven't yet found a better week than this one! My four biggest favorites on this chart are: "She Did It," "We're All Alone," "Isn't It Time," & "Nobody Does It Better." Just below the Top 40 were: "Emotion," "Baby Come Back," "We Are the Champions," "Hey Deanie," Andy Gibb's first two hits, "Do Ya Wanna Get Funky With Me" by Peter Brown, and "Gettin' Ready For Love" by Diana Ross. Oddly, although Elton John is my second favorite soloist (after Eric Carmen), 1977 was his least successful year of the '70s & '80s. This is the chart from 10/29/77 as it appeared in Cash Box:

1 YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE
Debby Boone (Warner/Curb 8455) 1 1 1 10
2 NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
Carly Simon (Elektra 45413) 2 3 3 15
3 STAR WARS THEME/CANTINA BAND
Meco (Millennium 604) 3 4 4 14
4 BOOGIE NIGHTS
Heatwave (Epic 50370) 6 8 9 17
5 THAT’S ROCK ’N’ ROLL
Shaun Cassidy (Warner/Curb 8423) 4 5 8 14
6 I FEEL LOVE
Donna Summer (Casablanca 884) 7 9 12 13
7 BRICK HOUSE
Commodores (Motown 1425) 9 11 18 10
8 KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE
KC & Sunshine Band (T.K. 1023) 5 2 2 15
9 DON’T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE
Crystal Gayle (United Artists 1016) 10 12 17 13
10 SWAYIN’ TO THE MUSIC (Slow Dancin’)
Johnny Rivers (Big Tree 16094) 8 6 7 19
11 IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A SONG
Ronnie Milsap (RCA 10976) 12 14 15 19
12 HEAVEN ON THE 7TH FLOOR
Paul Nicholas (RSO 878) 14 17 20 12
13 JUST REMEMBER I LOVE YOU
Firefall (Atlantic 3420) 16 20 25 12
14 IT’S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY DOWN NEXT TO ME
Barry White (20th Century 2350) 17 22 34 9
15 SHE DID IT
Eric Carmen (Arista 0266) 15 16 19 10
16 BABY, WHAT A BIG SURPRISE
Chicago (Columbia 10620) 19 26 36 6
17 COLD AS ICE
Foreigner (Atlantic 3410) 18 10 11 15
18 WE’RE ALL ALONE
Rita Coolidge (A&M 1965) 20 24 33 8
19 HELP IS ON ITS WAY
Little River Band (Harvest 4428) 21 25 31 14
20 ON AND ON
Stephen Bishop (ABC 12260) 11 7 6 21
21 WE JUST DISAGREE
Dave Mason (Columbia 10575) 24 29 38 9
22 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
Bee Gees (RSO 882) 27 34 44 6
23 BLUE BAYOU
Linda Ronstadt (Asylum 45431) 26 32 40 8
24 SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED (I’m Yours)
Peter Frampton (A&M 1972) 13 15 16 10
25 THE KING IS GONE
Ronnie McDowell (Scorpion 135) 25 18 14 8
26 STRAWBERRY LETTER 23
Brothers Johnson (A&M 1949) 22 23 22 16
27 DON’T WORRY BABY
B.J. Thomas (MCA 40735) 23 13 13 17
28 SEND IN THE CLOWNS
Judy Collins (Elektra 45253) 32 39 50 15
29 DAYBREAK
Barry Manilow (Arista 0273) 34 42 57 5
30 ISN’T IT TIME
Babys (Chrysalis 2173) 38 51 69 5
31 I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU
Foghat (Bearsville 0319) 33 38 43 9
32 SURFIN’ USA
Leif Garrett (Atlantic 3423) 29 31 35 10
33 YOUR SMILING FACE
James Taylor (Columbia 10602) 42 49 58 5
34 CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES
Jimmy Buffett (ABC 12305) 37 43 52 7
35 MY FAIR SHARE
Seals & Crofts (Warner Bros. 8405) 40 47 55 9
36 IT’S SO EASY
Linda Ronstadt (Asylum 45438) 45 60 73 4
37 TELEPHONE LINE
Electric Light Orchestra (United Artists 1000) 30 21 10 20
38 DUSIC
Brick (Bang 734) 46 52 61 9
39 I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU
Alan Parsons (Arista 0260) 31 27 28 12
40 YOU MAKE LOVING FUN
Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros. 8483)

 

[FRR]

For me it was the week of July 9, 1966.. That was a great year for music and this was a great week

 

[michael hagerty]

Not only did I like pretty much everything on the KHJ Boss 30 Christmas week of 1970, but I bought 'em all, too. First and only time I ever did that, but at Crane's in Inglewood, singles were 53 cents, so including the three Hitbounds that week, and tax, it was only about $18:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PeP8oIw82PE/S5he2F-bgrI/AAAAAAAAKfU/u86hD99qMkc/s1600/khj_285b1.gif

The Hitbounds:

Bread: Let Your Love Go
Diana Ross: Remember Me
Bob Summers: When I'm Dead And Gone

 

[johnbasalla]

Yes. This is a good, but also interesting chart. The #30 Joey Scarbury song was not a big hit nationally... in fact in my area I never heard it. It's interesting to note that 10 years later he would have his one big hit.

I'm also loving seeing "I'm Not My Brother's Keeper" by The Flaming Ember in the Top 10. I'm a pretty big fan of their music. Although the lead singer really isn't that good of a singer per se, he's perfect for most of the records they made.

Boy, the station didn't want to get rid of "Stoned Love" did they?... allowing it to slip down to the bottom of the chart after being near the top.

What can you tell me about Bob Summers "When I'm Dead and Gone". Not a title that shares positive vibes, I'd say. What label was it on? Local? What kind of song?

 

[michael hagerty]

Yes. This is a good, but also interesting chart. The #30 Joey Scarbury song was not a big hit nationally... in fact in my area I never heard it. It's interesting to note that 10 years later he would have his one big hit.

I'm also loving seeing "I'm Not My Brother's Keeper" by The Flaming Ember in the Top 10. I'm a pretty big fan of their music. Although the lead singer really isn't that good of a singer per se, he's perfect for most of the records they made.

Boy, the station didn't want to get rid of "Stoned Love" did they?... allowing it to slip down to the bottom of the chart after being near the top.

What can you tell me about Bob Summers "When I'm Dead and Gone". Not a title that shares positive vibes, I'd say. What label was it on? Local? What kind of song?

KHJ paid zero attention to the national charts...because they were usually weeks ahead. That's what happens when the record labels are able to walk to the station with an advance copy in their hands.

As for Flaming Ember and the Supremes, R&B records were very popular in Los Angeles. KHJ's well-known competitor was KRLA, but R&B KGFJ was serious competition, too...and KHJ always protected against that.

Bob Summers was on MGM...got caught in a cover battle with McGuiness Flint (on Capitol). Summers peaked at #118 on the Bubbling Under chart on 1/23/71, McGuinness Flint (which made it to #2 in the UK) stalled at #47.

Can't find the Bob Summers, but it's not much different from the McGuinness, which is on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0DttYjN5p8

 

[davideduardo]

Not only did I like pretty much everything on the KHJ Boss 30 Christmas week of 1970, but I bought 'em all, too. First and only time I ever did that, but at Crane's in Inglewood, singles were 53 cents, so including the three Hitbounds that week, and tax, it was only about $18:

According to the different "how much is a dollar worth?" calculators, those $18 dollars are $108 today! Or about $3 per tune.

We found something that is cheaper today than in 1970... downloads ranging from $0.89 to $1.29, you'd probably only spend the 1970 equivalent of $6 today for the whole 30 and the hitbounds.

 

[michael hagerty]

Not only did I like pretty much everything on the KHJ Boss 30 Christmas week of 1970, but I bought 'em all, too. First and only time I ever did that, but at Crane's in Inglewood, singles were 53 cents, so including the three Hitbounds that week, and tax, it was only about $18:

According to the different "how much is a dollar worth?" calculators, those $18 dollars are $108 today! Or about $3 per tune.

We found something that is cheaper today than in 1970... downloads ranging from $0.89 to $1.29, you'd probably only spend the 1970 equivalent of $6 today for the whole 30 and the hitbounds.

True. I had quite the haul that particular trip to Crane's. I was 14 and took $40 of my Christmas money. Crane's (which I later found out was run by an enterprising rackjobber who bought his records wholesale from the labels, sold some to record stores, but opened a handful of storefronts in the South Bay and sold them for the smallest imaginable markups) charged $2.49 for $4.98 list LPs, $3.29 for $5.98 albums.

I don't remember all the LPs I bought that day along with the Boss 30 and Hitbounds, but one of them was George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass", which was the highest-priced album I'd ever bought, at $6.39. That still left me money for five or six more albums.

 

[hornet61]

Not only did I like pretty much everything on the KHJ Boss 30 Christmas week of 1970, but I bought 'em all, too. First and only time I ever did that, but at Crane's in Inglewood, singles were 53 cents, so including the three Hitbounds that week, and tax, it was only about $18:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PeP8oIw82PE/S5he2F-bgrI/AAAAAAAAKfU/u86hD99qMkc/s1600/khj_285b1.gif

The Hitbounds:

Bread: Let Your Love Go
Diana Ross: Remember Me
Bob Summers: When I'm Dead And Gone

they sure weren't very good prognosticators on their hitbounds...

 

[oldies76]

We found something that is cheaper today than in 1970... downloads ranging from $0.89 to $1.29, you'd probably only spend the 1970 equivalent of $6 today for the whole 30 and the hitbounds.

Except, most of the 89 centers are usually re-recorded junk versions or stereo re-records for older music!

 

[michael hagerty]

Not only did I like pretty much everything on the KHJ Boss 30 Christmas week of 1970, but I bought 'em all, too. First and only time I ever did that, but at Crane's in Inglewood, singles were 53 cents, so including the three Hitbounds that week, and tax, it was only about $18:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PeP8oIw82PE/S5he2F-bgrI/AAAAAAAAKfU/u86hD99qMkc/s1600/khj_285b1.gif

The Hitbounds:

Bread: Let Your Love Go
Diana Ross: Remember Me
Bob Summers: When I'm Dead And Gone

they sure weren't very good prognosticators on their hitbounds...

Peaking at #21, #17 and #27 respectively on the Boss 30 (which was all that counted to KHJ)...so yeah, they picked three stiffs that week. But Buzz Bennett, who'd just quit as PD at their half-sister KGB in San Diego and was about to unleash the Q format at KCBQ would have said that's what happens when you play 33 songs instead of 22.

And KHJ went early...they didn't want KRLA or KGFJ (or, in 1970, KGBS or KDAY, both of which had KHJ alums at the wheel) to be "where you hear the hits first". Bread and Diana were both following up huge records. Bob Summers? Maybe Bernie Torres could explain that one...if he were alive.

 

[michael hagerty]

We found something that is cheaper today than in 1970... downloads ranging from $0.89 to $1.29, you'd probably only spend the 1970 equivalent of $6 today for the whole 30 and the hitbounds.

Except, most of the 89 centers are usually re-recorded junk versions or stereo re-records for older music!

And, David, I was getting two songs for my 53 cents at Crane's...both sides of a single.