Really bad week in Top 40 history

[OldNumber7]

I'm listening today to AT-40 from the week of 3/15/75 on SiriusXM channel 7. I was just shy of 15 years old back then and I must have been asleep or REALLY busy doing what 14 year old boys do, because I have NO recollection of some of the songs that got as high as the mid-teens on the chart:
Snookeroo - Ringo Starr -- I'd never heard this before; I would have remembered because it's a stinkeroo.
Up in a Puff of Smoke - Polly Brown -- Who? What? Who bought this record?
Al Martino (didn't catch the title, but trust me it's crap).
Believe me when I tell you I grew up on Top 40 (in Rochester NY at the time) yet I somehow missed hearing these (Thank God). It also says a lot that NONE of these had staying power even as national recurrents. I started working in radio 4 years later and these werent in ANY gold libraries I saw.

 

[oldies76]

I'm listening today to AT-40 from the week of 3/15/75 on SiriusXM channel 7. I was just shy of 15 years old back then and I must have been asleep or REALLY busy doing what 14 year old boys do, because I have NO recollection of some of the songs that got as high as the mid-teens on the chart:

It's what was popular back then.

Early to mid 1975 had some country-crossovers, slower AC and novelty tunes before disco really took off the second half of that year. Obviously many bought the 45's back then and many were ordered, to make an impact that high on the Billboard charts.

 

[allenv]

Actually I like The Polly Brown record and play it some on my show..Al Martino is not what I do on radio but I like the tune...Some consider these tunes K-Tel from Hell but it certainly showed the musical diversity of the mid 70's..

 

[OldNumber7]

Actually I like The Polly Brown record and play it some on my show..Al Martino is not what I do on radio but I like the tune...Some consider these tunes K-Tel from Hell but it certainly showed the musical diversity of the mid 70's..

I've got nothing against diversity; I grew up on it. And this chart had everything from MOR (Helen Reddy - Emotion) to Rock (BTO - Let it Ride) to I'm not sure what (Sad Sweet Dreamer) -- I knew all of them and played them myself. The particular mid-charters I mentioned iin my original post though, were absolutely unmemorable -- even though they charted higher than better stuff.

 

[CatCall]

This list had “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley and Company. I never hear that on the Classic Hits stations and it was a great hit

 

[OldNumber7]

This list had “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley and Company. I never hear that on the Classic Hits stations and it was a great hit

Yes. Good tune. WOGL in Philly plays it regularly.

 

[oldies76]

This list had “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley and Company. I never hear that on the Classic Hits stations and it was a great hit

Very good song, remember hearing it on Top 40 radio in 1975.....A song that should be played today.

 

[semoochie]

Come back, Michael!

 

[oldies76]

Come back, Michael!

We're on our own...... unless David pays us a visit. ;D

 

[johnbasalla]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

 

[OldNumber7]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

Well I read up and discovered Snickeroo, an Elton John-Bernie Taupin composition, was considered a second-A side when the No No Song was released. I can honestly say I dont recall it ever getting any airplay on the boss stations in my hometown at the time. Of course, the No No Song was played a lot.

 

[TheFonz]

I'm listening today to AT-40 from the week of 3/15/75 on SiriusXM channel 7. I was just shy of 15 years old back then and I must have been asleep or REALLY busy doing what 14 year old boys do, because I have NO recollection of some of the songs that got as high as the mid-teens on the chart:
Snookeroo - Ringo Starr -- I'd never heard this before; I would have remembered because it's a stinkeroo.
Up in a Puff of Smoke - Polly Brown -- Who? What? Who bought this record?
Al Martino (didn't catch the title, but trust me it's crap).
Believe me when I tell you I grew up on Top 40 (in Rochester NY at the time) yet I somehow missed hearing these (Thank God). It also says a lot that NONE of these had staying power even as national recurrents. I started working in radio 4 years later and these werent in ANY gold libraries I saw.

If those songs charted in the mid teens, that means SOMEBODY liked them. And if they're not played (as Classic Hits) today, those "somebodys" are tuning away from commercial radio.

 

[firepoint525]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

Well I read up and discovered Snickeroo, an Elton John-Bernie Taupin composition, was considered a second-A side when the No No Song was released. I can honestly say I dont recall it ever getting any airplay on the boss stations in my hometown at the time. Of course, the No No Song was played a lot.

My thinking was that "Snookeroo" was a b-side. "No No Song" was written by Hoyt Axton (I think).

Another Beatle b-side that got some airplay back about that time (but doesn't now) was Paul McCartney's "Sally G," b-side of "Junior's Farm." Of course, it should be noted that I now live in Nashville, and both sides of that single were written about Paul's visit to Nashville in summer 1974.

 

[CTListener]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

Well I read up and discovered Snickeroo, an Elton John-Bernie Taupin composition, was considered a second-A side when the No No Song was released. I can honestly say I dont recall it ever getting any airplay on the boss stations in my hometown at the time. Of course, the No No Song was played a lot.

My thinking was that "Snookeroo" was a b-side. "No No Song" was written by Hoyt Axton (I think).

Another Beatle b-side that got some airplay back about that time (but doesn't now) was Paul McCartney's "Sally G," b-side of "Junior's Farm." Of course, it should be noted that I now live in Nashville, and both sides of that single were written about Paul's visit to Nashville in summer 1974.

The very country-sounding "Sally G" got a lot of airplay in Boston, very strange for a city known back then for its disdain for country music.

 

[ixnay]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

Actually, per my 2003 Whitburn, Martino's "Volare" was from Christmastime 1975 (debuted 12/8/75, spent 4 weeks in "the survey", peaked at #33).

The Martino hit from the week in queston was "To the Door of the Sun (Alle Porto Del Sol)", debuting 12/8/75, peaking at #17.

I liked both (and I myself turned 14 in 1975). Haven't heard either since they were new. Would love to hear them again. And I have vague memories of hearing "Mary in the Morning" in 1967. Don't care much for "Spanish Eyes" though.

RIP, Signor Martino.

As for "Snookeroo", I've never heard it. It never made Starkey's 1975 greatest hits LP Blast From Your Past.

ixnay

 

[cd637299]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

The Martino record in the OP's post couldn't be "Volare," but rather "To the Door of the Sun." It was a big hit on MOR stations, but faded kinda quickly---not a "standard" anymore.

"Volare" was in the fall on '75 I think.

EDIT: I didn't see a Page 2---this has been mentioned already. Carry on.
.
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[firepoint525]

Actually I like The Polly Brown record and play it some on my show..Al Martino is not what I do on radio but I like the tune...Some consider these tunes K-Tel from Hell but it certainly showed the musical diversity of the mid 70's..

I've got nothing against diversity; I grew up on it. And this chart had everything from MOR (Helen Reddy - Emotion) to Rock (BTO - Let it Ride) to I'm not sure what (Sad Sweet Dreamer) -- I knew all of them and played them myself. The particular mid-charters I mentioned iin my original post though, were absolutely unmemorable -- even though they charted higher than better stuff.

If this was 1975, then the BTO hit at the time would have been "Roll On Down the Highway." "Let It Ride" was actually 1974. Hardly ever hear "Roll On Down the Highway" anymore, except for when it is used in car commercials.

 

[firepoint525]

I bought the Al Martino record at K-Mart back then. It's a mild Disco version of the late 1950s international hit "Volare". The B-side is better, a very nice version of the early 1950s Pop chestnut "You Belong To Me", which Ringo Starr covered on his "Stop and Smell The Roses" around 1980. Speaking of Mr. Starr, I like "Snookeroo" ...
A typical just-for-fun Ringo tune.

The K-Mart in the town where I grew up didn't even carry 45s back then. They didn't start stocking 45s until I had long since lost interest in 45s.

 

[firepoint525]

As for "Snookeroo", I've never heard it. It never made Starkey's 1975 greatest hits LP Blast From Your Past.

Another Ringo b-side ("Early 1970") actually IS on that collection. I don't think that the actual title is ever heard in that one; it is a tribute from him to the other three Beatles. I seem to recall that it was the b-side of "It Don't Come Easy." Don't know why this particular b-side made it onto that hits collection, but the total playing time of that compilation is less than half an hour!

 

[cd637299]

I do seem to recall in either a record store or record section of a dept. store, when professional-looking "dividers" were used by title or artist, one divider did read "No No Song/Snookeroo" ....but nobody played the b-side here on the radio.

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