Your Classic Country Video

Today its a #1 country hit from 1981 by Barbara Mandrell,
"I Was Country (When Country Wasn't Cool)"

#1 Song of the Week

This week we look at the 2nd #1 song for the King, Elvis Presley. His follow up to the smash "Heartbreak Hotel" was the ballad "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" which spent just one paltry week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. During a recordings session in Nashville after a plane ride that Elvis thought would be his last, he would only record one song and it would the this old ballad.
After fumbling his way through almost 2o takes the producer called an end to the session. Most of the problem was Elvis was still shaken from the turbulent plane ride from Texas to Nashville. Later the producer would splice together the 14th and 17th takes and come up with a seamless version that raced up the charts in July of 1956.

American Top 40 The 70s - July 24th 2010

This week AT40 the 70s - July 20th 1974

10 - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Olivia Newton-John
9 - The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies
8 - You Won't See Me - Anne Murray
7 - Rikki, Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan
6 - Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
5 - On and On - Gladys Knight and The Pips
4 - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
3 - Rock and Roll Heaven - The Righteous Brothers
2 - Annie's Song - John Denver
1 - Rock Your Baby - George McRae
(2nd of 2 weeks at #1)


The Top 10 Albums this week in 1974

10- On Stage - Loggins & Messina
9- Greatest Hits - John Denver
8- Bachman-Turner Overdrive II - Bachman Turner Overdrive
7- Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
6- Buddha and The Chocolate Box - Cat Stevens
5- Diamond Dogs - David Bowie
4- Band on the Run - Paul McCartney
3- Journey To The Centre Of The Earth - Rick Wakeman
2- Back Home Again - John Denver
1- Caribou - Elton John

(2nd of 4 consecutive weeks at #1)

This was Elton John's fourth chart topping album and contained 2 singles to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. This weeks #4 single "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" and "The Bitch is Back" which reached #3 in the fall of 1974.

Album Spotlight

This Sunday the 25th of July will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of one of the most popular albums of all time, Back In Black by AC/DC.

This was the follow up the AC/DC's hugely popular Highway To Hell, which was sadly the last to feature lead singer Bon Scott. He died in February of 1980 in the middle of the writing of songs for what became this album.
The group toyed with the idea of disbanding but decided to move on and found new lead singer in Brian Johnson and ask Highway to Hell producer Mutt Lang to come in and produce the new album. As a sign of tribute and dedication to Bon Scott, the album has a black cover (the western color of mourning) and named "Back In Black".
This became, to that point, their highest charting LP by reaching #4 on the US Billboard album chart and #1 in the UK.

There were 5 singles from the LP with the highest charting US single being "You Shook Me All Night Long" which reached #35. In the UK they reached #15 with "Rock n Roll Aint Noise Pollution".

They reached the top of the US Billboard album chart in 1981 with their next release, For Those About Rock (We Salute You).

Currently Back In Black is the 2nd biggest selling album worldwide with 49 million copies sold, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller which is at 50 million sold.

In the US the album sits at #4 all time with 22 million copies sold.

Today in Music History

1954 - Sun Records released the first Elvis Presley single 'That's All Right / Blue Moon Of Kentucky' which made the local Memphis chart.



1958 - The manager of The Drifters, George Treadwell, sacked the entire group and hired the unknown Ben E King and The Five Crowns as their replacements.


1967 - The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All You Need Is Love' the group's 12th UK No.1 single.


1967 - Elvis Presley was working on his latest movie Speedway co-starring Nancy Sinatra at the MGM Soundstage, Hollywood, California. (It was Presley’s twenty-seventh film).


1975 - The Bay City Rollers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Give A Little Love', the group's second and final UK No.1.


1976 - Deep Purple split up at the end of an UK tour. David Coverdale went on to form Whitesnake, Jon Lord and Ian Paice formed a band with Tony Ashton. The classic line up of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord & Paice reformed in 1984. Glenn Hughes returned to Trapeze and Tommy Bolin put together his own band, (but would die before the end of the year).


1947 - Born on this day, Brian May, guitar, Queen,
1980- Queen scored their third UK No.1 album with 'The Game', featuring the single 'Another One Bites The Dust'.


1986 - Genesis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Invisible Touch'. The bands former lead singer Peter Gabriel was at No.2 with 'Sledgehammer'.


1944 - Born on this day, Commander Cody, (George Frayne), piano, vocals, Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, country rock group.


1937 - Born on this day, George Hamilton IV, US country singer,

Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The 80s - July 17th 2010

AT40 the 80s this week is for July 19th 1980

10- Let Me Love You Tonight - Pure Prairie League
9- Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson
8- The Rose - Bette Midler
7- Magic - Olivia Newton-John
6- Steal Away - Robbie Dupree
5- Shining Star - The Manhattans
4- Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time - The Spinners
3- Little Jeannie - Elton John
2- Coming Up - Paul McCartney
1- It's Still Rock N Roll To Me - Billy Joel
(1st of 2 weeks at #1)


The Top 5 Albums this week in 1980
5- Empty Glass - Pete Townsend
4- The Empire Strikes Back - Soundtrack
3- McCartney II - Paul McCartney
2- Just One Night - Eric Clapton
1- Glass Houses - Billy Joel
(6th of 6 week at #1)

This was the 7th album for Billy Joel and contained his first single to top the Billboard Hot 100 (It's Still Rock N Roll To Me) and sold over 5 million copies making it the #4 best selling album of 1980.
He had 3 other songs from the album reach the top 40, "Sometimes A Fantasy" reaching #36, "Don't Ask Me Why" reaching #19 and "You May Be Right" going to #7.

Your Classic Country Video of the Week

This week we have the last #1 country song for the late great Jerry Reed, "She Got the Gold Mine(I Got the Shaft).
Spent 2 weeks at the top of the country charts in September 1982.