Thursday, June 30, 2011

Original vs Remake #17

Our song this week is the #3 Hot 100 hit and a #1 hit in the UK in 1968,  "Mony Mony".  
The original hit the charts for Tommy James and the Shondells in the summer of '68 and topped the UK chart for 3 non consecutive weeks in August.




The most successful of the remakes came from an unlikely source in punk rocker Billy Idol.
His live version shot to the top in the fall and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November of 1987.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Year in Billboard #1 Hits - 1974

February 2nd 1974


The Way We Were - Barbara Streisand
(3 non consecutive weeks at #1)


The Year in #1 UK Hits - 1980



March 1st 1980


Atomic - Blondie
(2 weeks at #1)

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 80s - June 25th 2011

AT40 the 80s this week June 27th 1987

The Top Ten Singles

10 - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
9  -  Just To See Her - Smokey Robinson
8  -  Diamonds - Herb Alpert
7  -  Shakedown - Bob Seger
6  -  Songbird - Kenny G
5  -  Always - Atlantic Starr
4  -  Alone - Heart
3  -  In Too Deep - Genesis
2  -  Head to Toe - :Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
1  -  I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
(1st of 2 weeks at #1)



The Top Ten Albums

10 - Duotones - Kenny G
9  -  Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison
8  -  Tribute - Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoades
7  -  Spanish Fly - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
6  -  Bad Animals - Heart
5  -  Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi
4  -  Whitesnake - Whitesnake
3  -  The Joshua Tree - U2
2  -  Girls Girls Girls - Motley Crue
1  -  Whitney - Whitney Houston
(1st of 11 consecutive weeks at #1)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

#1 Song of the Week

This week's song I picked because of sad announcement that Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.   He getting ready to tour and it will now be his farewell tour, but his wife wanted people to know that if he messes up and flubs words or forgets things its due to Alzheimer's and not to his notorious bouts with alcoholism.
Here is Glen Campbell's first song to top the Billboard Hot 100, from September 1975, 2 weeks at #1


"Rhinestone Cowboy"


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Billboard Hot Country Charts 06/18/2011

Here are the Top Ten Singles and Albums on the Hot Country chart for the week ending June 18th 2011

The Top Ten Singles

10 - Bleed Red - Ronnie Dunn
9  -  Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
8  -  I  Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts
7  -  If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away - Justin Moore
6  -  Tomorrow - Chris Young
5  -  You Lie - The Band Perry
4  -  Mean - Taylor Swift
3  -  Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
2  -  Old Alabama - Brad Paisley
1  -  Without You - Keith Urban
(1st week at #1)



The Top Ten Albums

10 - American Idol Season 10 - Scotty McCreery
9  -  Stronger - Sara Evans
8  -  Paper Airplane -Alison Krause and Union Station
7  -  Need You Know - Lady Antebellum
6  -  The Band Perry - The Band Perry
5  -  Nothing Like This - Rascal Flatts
4  -  Speak Now - Taylor Swift
3  -  You Get What You Give - The Zac Brown Band
2  -  My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
1  -  This is Country Music - Brad Paisley
(2nd week at #1)



Monday, June 20, 2011

The Year in Billboard #1 Hits - 1974

January 19th 1974


Show and Tell - Al Wilson
(1 week at #1)


The UK Chart for Singles and Albums 06/18/2011

Here are the Top Ten Singles and Albums in the UK for the week ending June 18th 2011

The Top Ten Singles

10 - Bass Down Low - Dev with The Cataracs
9  -  I'm Into You - J'Lo
8  -  The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
7  -  Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
6  -  Every Teardrop is a Waterfall - Coldplay
5  -  I Need a Dollar - Aloe Blacc
4  -  Mr Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
3  -  Right There - Nicole Scherzinger
2  -  Give Me Everything - Pitbull
1  -  Changed the Way You Kiss Me - Example
(Debut)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Doo Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
9  -  Who Are You - Jessie J
8  - Wonderland - Wonderland
7  -  You Can't Teach an Old New Tricks - Seasick Steve
6  -  Glee - The Music - Volume 6
5  -  19 - Adele
4  -  Dream With Me - Jackie Evancho
3  -  Born This Way - Lady Gaga
2  -  21 - Adele
1  -  Suck it and See - Artic Monkey
(debut)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Year in #1 UK Hits - 1980

February 2nd 1980


Too Much Too Young - The Specials
(2 weeks at #1)


Billboard Hot 100 06/18/2011

Here is are the current Top Ten Singles and Albums on the Billboard charts for the week ending 06/18/2011

The Top Ten Singles

10 - The Show Goes On - Lupe Fiasco
9  -  Till the World Ends - Brittney Spears
8  -  Just Can't Get Enough - The Black Eyed Peas
7  -  The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga
6  -  Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
5  -  On the Floor - J'Lo
4  -  The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
3  -  E.T. - Katy Perry
2  -  Give Me Everything - Pitbull
1  -  Rolling in the Deep - Adele
(5th week at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Glee: The Music Season 2 Vol 6
9  -  Speed of Darkness - Flogging Molly
8  -  My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
7  -  NOW 38 - Various Artist
6  -  This is Country Music - Brad Paisley
5  -  Circuital - My Morning Jacket
4  -  Ukulele Songs - Eddie Vedder
3  -  Codes and Keys - Death Cab for Cutie
2  -  21 - Adele
1  -  Born This Way - Lady Gaga
(2nd week at #1)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Year in Billboard #1 Hits - 1974

January 12th 1974


The Joker - Steve Miller Band
(1 week at #1)


Original vs Remake #16

Today's remake looks at the 1972 hit from the Rolling Stones "Tumbling Dice"
The original Rolling Stones version would reach #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the UK Top 40 chart.  Although there is rehearsal footage of the Stones singing the song at Montreaux, as usual its hard to understand any of the lyrics and not as good as the single released from the classic LP "Exile on Main Street"



In 1977 Linda Rondstadt was still riding a wave of chart success and decided to release her cover version of "Tumbling Dice" as a B side to "I Will Never Marry".
She and her band had done the song as a sound check for her concerts but no one knew the words.  She contacted Mick Jagger and ask him to write them down and on his suggestion that she sing more rock oriented songs she started using this more in her concerts.
Her version reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 but still gets plenty of airplay on "classic hit" radio today.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 70s - June 18th 2011

This week on AT40 the 70s June 17th 1978

The Top Ten Singles

10 - Love is Like Oxygen - Sweet
9  -  You Belong To Me - Carly Simon
8  -  On Broadway - George Benson
7  -  Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
6  -  Take a Chane on Me - Abba
5  -  Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
4  -  It's A Heartache - Bonnie Tyler
3  -  Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
2  -  You're The One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
1  -  Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
(1st of 7 consecutive weeks at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Natural High - The Commodores
9  -  You Light Up My Life - Johnny Mathis
8  -  So Full of Love - The O'Jays
7  -  FM - Original Soundtrack
6  -  City to City - Gerry Rafferty
5  -  Earth - Jefferson Starship
4  -  Showdown - The Isley Brothers
3  -  London Town - Paul McCartney
2  -  Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
1  -  Saturday Night Fever - Original Soundtrack
(22nd of 24 consecutive weeks at #1)

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Year in #1 UK Hits - 1980

Lets kick off the UK version of our look at a year and its #1 songs.  This time its the UK #1's from 1980.

January 19th 1980


Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
(2 weeks at #1)


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Year in Billboard #1 Hits - 1974

Ok here we start a new year of #1 hit songs from the top of the Billboard Hot 100.  Here is 1974


January 5th 1974


Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
(2 weeks at #1)   
This was a posthumous #1 hit for the Jim Croce, he was killed 3 months earlier in a plane crash.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 70s - June 11th 2011 Sirius Edition

Every Saturday at noon Sirius Satellite radio the 70s on 7 airs American Top 40 the 70s.
This edition is different than what is heard each weekend on regular over the air radio.

This week's Sirius Edition June 9th 1973

The Top Ten Singles

10 - Playground in My Mind - Clint Holmes
9  -  Little Willie - The Sweet
8  -  Hocus Pocus - Focus
7  -  Drift Away - Dobie Gray
6  -  Pillow Talk - Sylvia
5  -  You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
4  -  Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree - Dawn
3  -  Daniel - Elton John
2  -  Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
1  -  My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings
(2nd of 4 consecutive weeks at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Made in Japan - Deep Purple
9  -  The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
8  -  Moving Waves - Focus
7  -  Diamond Girl - Seals and Crofts
6  -  The Best of Bread - Bread
5  -  1962/1966 (The Red Album) - The Beatles
4  -  Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
3  -  They Only Come Out at Night - Edgar Winter Group
2  -   1967/1970 (The Blue Album) - The Beatles
1  -  Red Rose Speedway - Paul McCartney and Wings
(2nd of 3 consecutive weeks at #1)

#1 Song of the Week

A little softer this week for our Billboard #1 Song of the Week, Top of the World by the Carpenters.

Spending 2 weeks at #1 in December 1973, this was the second #1 single for the Carpenters to top the Hot 100, the first was "Close To You" in 1970.
Originally an album cut, not to be released as a single it was covered by Lynn Anderson and went to #2 on the Hot Country chart in the summer of 1973.  Also a #5 hit in the UK for the Carpenters it was rerecorded by Karen  for their greatest hits compilation because she wasn't happy with the original single release.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Your Country Classic Video of the Week

From 1983 a #5 US Country Hit, #1 on the Canadian Country Chart and #23 on the Billboard Hot 100

"Stranger in My House" by Ronnie Milsap

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 80s - June 11th 2011

AT40 the 80s this week June 11th 1983


The Top Ten Singles

10 - Affair of the Heart - Rick Springfield
9  -  Don't Let it End - Styx
8  -  Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
7  -  She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
6  -  Beat it - Michael Jackson
5  -  My Love - Lionel Richie
4  -  Overkill - Men at Work
3  -  Time - Culture Club
2  -  Let's Dance - David Bowie
1  -  Flashdance (What a Feeling) - Irene Cara
(3rd of 6 consecutive weeks at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - 1999 - Prince
9  -  Cuts Like a Knife - Bryan Adams
8  -  H2O - Hall and Oates
7  -  Kilroy Was Here - Styx
6  -  Frontiers - Journey
5  -  Let's Dance - David Bowie
4  -  Pyromania - Def Leppard
3  -  Cargo - Men at Work
2  -  Flashdance - Original Soundtrack
1  -  Thriller - Michael Jackson
(16th of 37 non consecutive weeks at #1)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Year in #1 Hits - 1988

December 24th 1988


Every Rose Has its Thorns - Poison
(3 weeks at #1)

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 70s - June 11th 2011

AT40 the 70s this week June 11th 1977


The Top Ten Singles

10 - Couldn't Get it Right - Climax Blues Band
9  -  Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
8  -  Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day
7  -  Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold
6  -  Lucille - Kenny Rogers
5  -  Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner
4  -  Theme from "Rocky" - Bill Conti
3  -  Got to Give it Up - Marvin Gaye
2  -  Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
1  -  I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band
(1 week at #1)



The Top Ten Albums

10 - Endless Flight - Leo Sayer
9  -  Live at the London Palladium - Marvin Gaye
8  -  Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
7  -  Barry Manilow/Live - Barry Manilow
6  -  Book of Dreams - Steve Miller Band
5  -  Commodores - Commodores
4  -  Rocky - Original Soundtrack
3  -  Hotel California - The Eagles
2  -  The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl - The Beatles
1  -  Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
(6th of 31 non consecutive weeks at #1)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Biggest Selling Album of 1970

The #1 selling album in the UK for 1970 and 1971 was "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel.  They spent a total of 41 weeks at #1 on the UK Album Chart in 1970-71.

This was also the biggest selling album in the US for 1970 with 10 consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Album chart.

The title track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 6 weeks in Feb 1970 and #1 on the UK Top 40 for 3 weeks in March of 1970.  The other singles released were Cecilia, which went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 but did not chart in the UK.   The Boxer reached #7 on the Hot 100 and El Condor Pasa made it to #18.





Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Year in #1 Hits - 1988



December 10th 1988


Look Away - Chicago
(2 weeks at #1)


The Year in #1 UK Hits - 1973





December 15th 1973


Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
(5 weeks at #1)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Current UK Singles and Album Chart June 5th 2011

The top of the UK Charts for the week ending June 5th 2011


The Top Ten Singles

10 - Save The World - Swedish House Mafia
9  -  Judas - Lady Gaga
8  -  Notorious - Saturdays
7  -  Sweat - Snoop Dogg
6  -  Beautiful People - Chris Brown
5  -  Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
4  -  Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
3  -  I Need a Dollar - Aloe Blocc
2  -  The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
1  -  Give Me Everything - Pitbull
(2nd week at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Deleted Scenes From the Cutting Room - Caro Emerald
9  -  No More Idols - Chase and Status
8  -  Let Them Talk - Hugh Laurie
7  -  The Fame - Lady Gaga
6  -  Who Are You - Jessie J
5  -  World's on Fire(Live) - Prodigy
4  -  Doo-Wops and Hooligans - Bruno Mars
3  -  19 - Adele
2  -  21 - Adele
1  -  Born This Way - Lady Gaga (Debut)

Original vs Remake #15

Here is a true classic in the rock music world "Spirit in the Sky" and its original version with Norman Greenbaum.   The original hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 2 million copies while he reached #1 in the UK for 2 weeks.





The most successful remake was in 1986 by the London psychedelic band  Doc and The Medics. They also reached #1 in the UK and stayed there for 3 weeks.

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 80s - June 4th 2011

AT40 the 80s this week June 2nd 1984


The Top Ten Singles

10 - To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
9  -  Breakdance - Irene Cara
8  -  Heart of Rock N Roll - Huey Lewis and the News
7  -  Against All Odds - Phil Collins
6  -  Sister Christian - Night Ranger
5  -  The Reflex - Duran Duran
4  -  Oh Sherrie - Steve Perry
3  -  Hello - Lionel Richie
2  -  Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
1  -  Lets Hear it for the Boy - Denise Williams
(2nd of 2 weeks at #1)


The Top Ten Albums

10 - Grace Under Pressure - Rush
9  -  Love at First Sting - Scorpions
8  -  Colour By Numbers - Culture Club
7  -  1984 - Van Halen
6  -  Thriller - Michael Jackson
5  -  Heartbeat City - The Cars
4  -  Shes So Unusual - Cyndi Lauper
3  -  Sports - Huey Lewis and The News
2  -  Can't Slow Down - Lionel Richie
1  -  Footloose -Original Soundtrack
(7th of 10 Consecutive weeks at #1)

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Year in #1 UK Hits - 1973

November 17th 1973


I Love You Love Me Love - Gary Glitter
(4 weeks at #1)

The Year in #1 Hits - 1988

December 3rd 1988


Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird - Will To Power
(1 week at #1)


Casey Kasem's American Top 40 The 70s - June 4th 2011

AT40 the 70s this week June 3rd 1972


The Top Ten Singles


10 - Look What You Done for Me - Al Green
9  -  Hot Rod Lincoln - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
8  -  Nice To Be With You - Gallery
7  -  Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones
6  -  Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
5  -  Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook
4  -  The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
3  -  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
2  -  Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
1  -  I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
(1 week at #1)



The Top Ten Albums

10 - History of Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton
9  -  America - America
8  -  Eat A Peach - The Allman Brothers Band
7  -  The Lonely Man - The Chi-Lites
6  -  Joplin in Concert - Janis Joplin
5  -  Manassas - Stephen Stills
4  -  Graham Nash/David Crosby - Graham Nash & David Crosby
3  -  Harvest - Neil Young
2  -  First Take - Robert Flack
1  -  Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
(2 weeks at #1)

A concept album that consisted of one song that lasted 45mins.  According to the album the song written by "Gerald Bostock" which was Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson.

Read more about this album here.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

One Hit Wonder of the Week

From August of 1968 here are The Amboy Dukes.  Founded and led by guitar legend Ted Nugent with John Farmer on vocals,  this was their only charting single.   
Reaching #16 on August 24th 1968 on the Billboard Hot 100.


Journey to the Center of the Mind