Casey's TOP 40 of 1973

[toonces2u]

I am listening to KMCQ's broadcast of the AT-40 year end countdown of the Top 40 records of 1973. As a kid, I remember Casey and crew using the Billboard charts for their countdowns every year. The list he used for 1973 does not match up with the Billboard year end chart. For example, they placed Why Me by Kris Kristofferson at #2 for the year but in Billboard it ended up at #6 for 1973. I missed the intro to the show this morning (late night last night). Perhaps they explained it. Does anyone know what formula the AT-40 team used to compile their separate list that year?

It is still great fun to listen to. '73 was a great year for pop music!

 

[David1960]

I heard the whole show. No description of the methodology was given but I do have Pete Battistini's book, one which gives excruciating details on each week's programs from 1970-1979.

For the year-end countdowns for both 1972 and 1973, it says they were "based on AT40's year-end list". I don't know what might have prompted them to do that for those two years; all others used the official Billboard charts. If I were to guess, it might be that they wanted to record those shows in advance for some vacation time, and the BB charts weren't ready yet. But I don't really know.

 

[searadiofreak]

I heard the whole show. No description of the methodology was given but I do have Pete Battistini's book, one which gives excruciating details on each week's programs from 1970-1979.

For the year-end countdowns for both 1972 and 1973, it says they were "based on AT40's year-end list". I don't know what might have prompted them to do that for those two years; all others used the official Billboard charts. If I were to guess, it might be that they wanted to record those shows in advance for some vacation time, and the BB charts weren't ready yet. But I don't really know.

That makes sense. With Billboard, the entire year was taken into consideration. However, if the show was recorded earlier this could skew the results. I always have wondered about hits from December, and how they might skew the year end chart.

As an aside, look at any Joel Whitburn book and you will see an asterisk in front of songs that entered the top40 before they peaked the next year. I've always believed their peak should be the year identified, not the year released.

 

[KyDXIn]

I'm a huge fan of these rebroadcasts and listen to them online throughout the weekend. I did hear Casey mention that the results ended on December 8 of that year, so this is probably the reason for the difference.

 

[toonces2u]

I'm a huge fan of these rebroadcasts and listen to them online throughout the weekend. I did hear Casey mention that the results ended on December 8 of that year, so this is probably the reason for the difference.

Thanks everyone. The early production of the show before Billboard had published their year end list makes sense. Now, one last question. Did anyone keep track of the 1973 AT-40 year end list? I would love to see the entire list in order that Casey counted them down. I missed the first 5 songs and then dozed off in the middle somewhere as well. Like I said, it was a late night.

 

[toonces2u]

I heard the whole show. No description of the methodology was given but I do have Pete Battistini's book, one which gives excruciating details on each week's programs from 1970-1979.

For the year-end countdowns for both 1972 and 1973, it says they were "based on AT40's year-end list". I don't know what might have prompted them to do that for those two years; all others used the official Billboard charts. If I were to guess, it might be that they wanted to record those shows in advance for some vacation time, and the BB charts weren't ready yet. But I don't really know.

Thanks for the tip on the Pete Battistini AT-40 book. I just ordered it from Amazon. Never knew those were out. I definitely want the 70s edition. Not sure if I need the 80s book.

 

[David1960]

Thanks for the tip on the Pete Battistini AT-40 book. I just ordered it from Amazon. Never knew those were out. I definitely want the 70s edition. Not sure if I need the 80s book.

My pleasure! Yeah it's just the 70s book that I have too. The book is great -- tons of trivia about the making of each week's show.

It doesn't have the full song lists but here's a great source for that. http://www.oldradioshows.com/at40/at40calendar.html You'll want the list for 12/29/1973. There are a few typos scattered here and there but when they do occur, I find them to be fairly amusing.

I remember listening to KJR the night this countdown originally aired, avidly writing down every song. I was floored that the Kris Kristofferson song was #2 for the entire year. I don't think it had received any airplay on KJR back then (aside from the AT40 broadcasts). I actually kinda felt the same way yesterday as I was listening to the show!

 

[radiojjh]

Thank you so much for posting the link....i can pin-point exactly where I was working on the air along with the songs. For the most part I did A/C and HOT A/C, but did my share of what was then "Top-40." Sure is a great source. I do believe from around 1975 until it's demise, Radio and Records---good ol' "R&R" had pretty much displaced Billboard as the source for what stations were really playing. I have all the R&R year enders thru 2004. They are such a joy and such a great source of information. Wonder IF those are available any longer. Gosh I miss the days of looking at R&R's back page and then of course checking out the job section---even IF I wasn't looking always to see who was hiring. Again---THANK YOU so much for sharing the link!

 

[toonces2u]

Thanks for the tip on the Pete Battistini AT-40 book. I just ordered it from Amazon. Never knew those were out. I definitely want the 70s edition. Not sure if I need the 80s book.

My pleasure! Yeah it's just the 70s book that I have too. The book is great -- tons of trivia about the making of each week's show.

It doesn't have the full song lists but here's a great source for that. http://www.oldradioshows.com/at40/at40calendar.html You'll want the list for 12/29/1973. There are a few typos scattered here and there but when they do occur, I find them to be fairly amusing.

I remember listening to KJR the night this countdown originally aired, avidly writing down every song. I was floored that the Kris Kristofferson song was #2 for the entire year. I don't think it had received any airplay on KJR back then (aside from the AT40 broadcasts). I actually kinda felt the same way yesterday as I was listening to the show!

Yes, thank you indeed for this link! I too used sit in my bedroom every Sunday night listening to Casey Kasem, writing down each weeks countdown. I wish I had saved all those pages. I am sure my spelling back then would give me a good laugh today. I remember the first week Love Will Keep Us Together debuted. When Casey announced the name of the group, I thought he said Captain Antony, and that is what I wrote down. Fun memories. It would be nice to have a rewind button to our lives.