Disc 21 of 25. This disc contains singles that peaked on the charts between August 1977 - September 1978. This is a rare volume from this series in that I remember every song. I must have listened to the radio constantly in those days. Lots of my soft rock favorites on this one, plus a few stinkers.
Tracks:
- Black Betty - Ram Jam: Peaked at #18 in September 1977.
Based on a 19th century folk/work song, this thing's got a helluva wicked riff. Catchy as all get out. Reminds me of the Johnny Depp movie Blow. - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco: Peaked at #1 in October 1977.
This cheesy crap is exactly the kind of thing that appealed to me when I was 11. Loved it back then and looked forward to hearing the R2D2 sounds. Now, however, it is painful to get through. May the disco be with you. - Baby Come Back - Player: Peaked at #1 in January 1978.
Ah, that's the stuff. This Hall & Oates knock-off has a great bass line and chorus hook. Wikipedia says that Player is not a one-hit wonder because their follow-up hit, This Time I'm In It For Love, went to #10, but I choose not to believe that. - Telephone Man - Meri Wilson: Peaked at #18 in August 1977.
Hated this novelty song in '77. Nothing's changed. Some of the weakest double entendres I've ever heard. The best feature of this song is its brevity. - Thunder Island - Jay Ferguson: Peaked at #9 in April 1978.
Don't know much about Ferguson other than this song, but I always liked this song, particularly the funky half-time groove during the verses and the lyricless chorus. - Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill: Peaked at #3 in March 1978.
Yes, this song is a big sissyfest, but when it came on the radio, my 11 year old self would sing along earnestly. I took it so seriously back then that I have to laugh at myself now. Not surprisingly, this song has been rated #9 on the list of the worst 75 songs on the Pop Culture Madness website and #40 on the list of AOL Radio's 100 Worst Songs Ever. - Werewolves Of London - Warren Zevon: Peaked at #21 in May 1978.
In which Zevon has his biggest hit by howling over a piano riff shamelessly lifted from Sweet Home Alabama. - Goodbye Girl - David Gates: Peaked at #15 in April 1978.
Gates was the lead singer of Bread if that explains anything. Never saw the movie this song was attached to, but I still think this is a catchy tune. My family moved in August 1978 and I thought this song perfectly captured the spirit of the relationship between me and my girlfriend that would soon be a long-distance girlfriend. Nowadays, I can't even remember her name. Let's go with Kim. - It's A Heartache - Bonnie Tyler: Peaked at #3 in June 1978.
Ah, that voice. There's just something about it. I much prefer this country rock song to the Jim Steinman stuff she would later record. (Did you hear about the new Bonnie Tyler GPS? Don't purchase one - it keeps telling me to turn around and every now and then it falls apart.) - Bluer Than Blue - Michael Johnson: Peaked at #12 in July 1978.
Simply put, this is one of my all time favorite soft rock songs. - Kiss You All Over - Exile: Peaked at #1 in September 1978.
Not very subtle and, to be honest, not very catchy. I can take it or leave it. After this hit, the group switched to country music. - Magnet And Steel - Walter Egan: Peaked at #8 in August 1978.
That's Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham on the track, insuring that the song sounds like something from Fleetwood Mac. I don't understand the use of a toy piano under the chorus. Magnet and steel is strained metaphor, for sure. When I was young, I thought Egan was singing "man" instead of "magnet" and couldn't understand why he was singing a love song to another man. Now it all makes sense.
Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 9
Volume 18
Volume 19
Volume 22
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