Keep Reaching for the Stars: American Top 40, 50 years ago

We're up to Oct. 17, 1970!

TW LW TITLE –•– Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak To Date)

1 2 I’LL BE THERE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-5 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-9 (1)
3 8 GREEN-EYED LADY –•– Sugarloaf (Liberty)-10 (3)
4 5 ALL RIGHT NOW –•– Free (A&M)-10 (4)
5 9 WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-6 (5)
6 3 CANDIDA –•– Dawn (Bell)-13 (3)
7 4 AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-11 (1)
8 7 LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-11 (2)
9 6 JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-12 (5)
10 17 FIRE AND RAIN –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-6 (10)

11 22 INDIANA WANTS ME –•– R. Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)-7 (11)
12 13 LOLA –•– The Kinks (Reprise)-8 (12)
13 14 EXPRESS YOURSELF –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-10 (13)
14 15 IT’S A SHAME –•– The Spinners (V.I.P.)-13 (14)
15 18 OUT IN THE COUNTRY –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-8 (15)
16 11 SNOWBIRD –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-14 (8)
17 20 LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG MA –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-7 (17)
18 19 STILL WATER (Love) –•– The Four Tops (Motown)-8 (18)
19 10 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-12 (7)
20 24 IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-7 (20)

21 29 EL CONDOR PASA –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-6 (21)
22 12 WAR –•– Edwin Starr (Gordy)-15 (1)
23 27 CLOSER TO HOME –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-10 (23)
24 16 PATCHES –•– Clarence Carter (Atlantic)-14 (4)
25 25 LONG LONG TIME –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-10 (25)
26 23 GROOVY SITUATION –•– Gene Chandler (Mercury)-15 (12)
27 21 JOANNE –•– Michael Nesmith and the First National Band (RCA)-11 (21)
28 31 SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING –•– 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) (Hot Wax)-7 (28)
29 30 THAT’S WHERE I WENT WRONG –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-11 (29)
30 41 GOD, LOVE, AND ROCK AND ROLL –•– Teegarden and Van Winkle (Westbound)-5 (30)

It was way more typical to hear religious-themed records in the early 1970s, as evidenced by this gospel-fueled one-hit wonder. Skip Van Winkle and David Teegarden formed their duo in Tulsa and eventually wound up in Detroit, where they recorded this song. Along the way, they played with a fellow named Bob Seger, producing an album and Teegarden wound up as drummer for the Silver Bullet Band. They reunited 27 years later, in 1997, for a final album.

31 36 IT DON’T MATTER TO ME –•– Bread (Elektra)-4 (31)
32 35 OUR HOUSE –•– Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Atlantic)-5 (32)
33 37 LUCRETIA MAC EVIL –•– Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia)-3 (33)
34 54 SUPER BAD (Parts 1 and 2) –•– James Brown (King)-3 (34)
35 40 STAND BY YOUR MAN –•– Candi Staton (Fame)-8 (35)
36 39 DEEPER AND DEEPER –•– Freda Payne (Invictus)-6 (36)
37 38 DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO –•– Five Flights Up (T-A)-9 (37)
38 43 UGENA ZA ULIMWENGU (Unite the World) –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-3 (38)
39 51 SEE ME, FEEL ME –•– The Who (Decca)-4 (39)
40 47 MONTEGO BAY –•– Bobby Bloom (MGM / L&R)-6 (40)

THIS WEEK’S DROPS

49 34 NEANDERTHAL MAN –•– Hotlegs (Capitol)-9 (22)

POWER PLAYS

41 46 GYPSY WOMAN –•– Brian Hyland (Uni)-7 (41)
42 50 YELLOW RIVER –•– Christie (Epic)-14 (42)
43 45 AS THE YEARS GO BY –•– Mashmakhan (Epic)-9 (43)
44 42 I STAND ACCUSED –•– Isaac Hayes (Enterprise)-8 (42)
45 59 ENGINE NUMBER 9 –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-4 (45)
46 62 CRY ME A RIVER –•– Joe Cocker (A&M)-2 (46)
47 63 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF –•– Dionne Warwick (Scepter)-3 (47)
48 58 FOR THE GOOD TIMES –•– Ray Price (Columbia)-8 (48)
50 52 MONGOOSE –•– Elephant’s Memory (Metromedia)-11 (50)

This is just amazingly weird. Like the guitar track from Shaft merged with Alice Cooper.

NEW THIS WEEK

67 — HEED THE CALL –•– Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (Reprise)-1 (67)
68 — THE TEARS OF A CLOWN –•– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Tamla)-1 (68)
75 — AFTER MIDNIGHT –•– Eric Clapton (Atco)-1 (75)
77 — I AM SOMEBODY (Part 2) –•– Johnnie Taylor (Stax)-1 (77)
78 — HEAVEN HELP US ALL –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-1 (78)
84 — I’M NOT MY BROTHER’S KEEPER –•– The Flaming Ember (Hot Wax)-1 (84)
93 — EMPTY PAGES –•– Traffic (United Artists)-4 (93)
94 — THE TAKER –•– Waylon Jennings (RCA)-1 (94)
96 — GET INTO SOMETHING –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-1 (96)
97 — LOSERS WEEPERS (Part 1) –•– Etta James (Cadet)-1 (97)
98 — I DON’T WANNA CRY –•– Ronnie Dyson (Columbia)-1 (98)
99 — JERUSALEM –•– Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (A&M)-1 (99)

 

That's a pretty strong top 10 ... although a little ballad heavy.

"Fire and Rain" is a really interesting song, especially when you learn the background and what James Taylor was singing about. "Sweet dreams and Flying Machines in pieces on the ground" is a great lyric.

 

Nice nod to a band James Taylor worked with prior to going out on his own. Quite the ode to drug addiction, fame and Suzanne.

 

My high school marching band did an entire show of Blood, Sweat and Tears songs in 1997. (Nerd alert!)

The opener was Lucretia Mac Evil and I had a solo. That was followed by God Bless The Child, Spinning Wheel, And When I Die and You've Made Me So Very Happy. Really brassy arrangements. Lots of fun.

 

my life is forever changed after hearing Mongoose.

edit: did not know that they were the backing band for lennon and that Carly Simon briefly sang with them

 

This is the music of my youth; Jackson 5, Neil Diamond, Blood Sweat Tears, great memories.

 

Better late than never: Oct. 24, 1970

TW LW TITLE –•– Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak To Date)

1 1 I’LL BE THERE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-6 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-10 (1)
3 3 GREEN-EYED LADY –•– Sugarloaf (Liberty)-11 (3)
4 5 WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-7 (4)
5 4 ALL RIGHT NOW –•– Free (A&M)-11 (4)
6 10 FIRE AND RAIN –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-7 (6)
7 6 CANDIDA –•– Dawn (Bell)-14 (3)
8 11 INDIANA WANTS ME –•– R. Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)-8 (8)
9 12 LOLA –•– The Kinks (Reprise)-9 (9)
10 7 AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-12 (1)

11 18 STILL WATER (Love) –•– The Four Tops (Motown)-9 (11)
12 9 JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-13 (5)
13 13 EXPRESS YOURSELF –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-11 (13)

Mississippi-born Charles Wright moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s, working with doo-wop groups before putting together a band that included Daryl "The Captain" Dragon. This was their highest chart-topper. You may recognize it from a number of movie soundtracks, or sampled by N.W.A.

14 28 SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING –•– 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) (Hot Wax)-8 (14)
15 15 OUT IN THE COUNTRY –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-9 (15)
16 17 LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG MA –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-8 (16)
17 20 IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-8 (17)
18 16 SNOWBIRD –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-15 (8)
19 8 LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-12 (2)
20 21 EL CONDOR PASA –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-7 (20)

21 19 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-13 (7)
22 23 CLOSER TO HOME –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-11 (22)
23 31 IT DON’T MATTER TO ME –•– Bread (Elektra)-5 (23)
24 14 IT’S A SHAME –•– The Spinners (V.I.P.)-14 (14)
25 34 SUPER BAD (Parts 1 and 2) –•– James Brown (King)-4 (25)
26 30 GOD, LOVE, AND ROCK AND ROLL –•– Teegarden and Van Winkle (Westbound)-6 (26)
27 35 STAND BY YOUR MAN –•– Candi Staton (Fame)-9 (27)
28 46 CRY ME A RIVER –•– Joe Cocker (A&M)-3 (28)
29 45 ENGINE NUMBER 9 –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-5 (29)
30 25 LONG LONG TIME –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-11 (25)

31 39 SEE ME, FEEL ME –•– The Who (Decca)-5 (31)
32 32 OUR HOUSE –•– Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Atlantic)-6 (32)
33 33 LUCRETIA MAC EVIL –•– Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia)-4 (33)
34 36 DEEPER AND DEEPER –•– Freda Payne (Invictus)-7 (34)
35 38 UGENA ZA ULIMWENGU (Unite the World) –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-4 (35)
36 40 MONTEGO BAY –•– Bobby Bloom (MGM / L&R)-7 (36)
37 37 DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO –•– Five Flights Up (T-A)-10 (37)
38 29 THAT’S WHERE I WENT WRONG –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-12 (29)
39 41 GYPSY WOMAN –•– Brian Hyland (Uni)-8 (39)
40 42 YELLOW RIVER –•– Christie (Epic)-15 (40)

THIS WEEK’S DROPS

44 27 JOANNE –•– Michael Nesmith and the First National Band (RCA)-12 (21)

POWER PLAYS

41 60 I THINK I LOVE YOU –•– The Partridge Family (Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy) (Bell)-3 (41)
42 43 AS THE YEARS GO BY –•– Mashmakhan (Epic)-10 (42)
43 47 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF –•– Dionne Warwick (Scepter)-4 (43)
45 68 THE TEARS OF A CLOWN –•– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Tamla)-2 (45)
46 44 I STAND ACCUSED –•– Isaac Hayes (Enterprise)-9 (42)
47 48 FOR THE GOOD TIMES –•– Ray Price (Columbia)-9 (47)
48 51 I DO TAKE YOU –•– The Three Degrees (Roulette)-7 (48)
49 78 HEAVEN HELP US ALL –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-2 (49)
50 77 I AM SOMEBODY (Part 2) –•– Johnnie Taylor (Stax)-2 (50)

NEW THIS WEEK

73 — SHARE THE LAND –•– The Guess Who (RCA)-1 (73)
74 — YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME / PATCH IT UP –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-1 (74)
81 — ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-1 (81)
82 — EASY RIDER (Let the Wind Pay the Way) –•– Iron Butterfly (Atco)-1 (82)
83 — DON’T TRY TO LAY NO BOOGIE WOOGIE ON THE “KING OF ROCK AND ROLL” –•– Crow (Amaret)-1 (83)

Minneapolis-based blues rock!

87 — I NEED HELP (I Can’t Do It Alone) (Part 1) –•– Bobby Byrd (King)-1 (87)
89 — I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU’VE STOPPED LOVING ME –•– Charley Pride (RCA)-1 (89)
91 — GROOVE ME –•– King Floyd (Chimneyville)-1 (91)
92 — RUN, WOMAN, RUN –•– Tammy Wynette (Epic)-1 (92)
97 — FIFTEEN YEARS AGO –•– Conway Twitty (Decca)-1 (97)
98 — WHERE DID ALL THE GOOD TIMES GO –•– Dennis Yost and the Classics IV (Liberty)-1 (98)
99 — STAND BY ME –•– David and Jimmy Ruffin (Soul)-1 (99)
100 — ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART –•– Neil Young (Reprise)-1 (100)

 

And now for today's chart: Oct. 31, 1970

TW LW TITLE –•– Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak To Date)

1 1 I’LL BE THERE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-7 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 4 WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-8 (2)
3 6 FIRE AND RAIN –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-8 (3)
4 2 CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-11 (1)
5 3 GREEN-EYED LADY –•– Sugarloaf (Liberty)-12 (3)
6 5 ALL RIGHT NOW –•– Free (A&M)-12 (4)
7 8 INDIANA WANTS ME –•– R. Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)-9 (7)
8 7 CANDIDA –•– Dawn (Bell)-15 (3)
9 9 LOLA –•– The Kinks (Reprise)-10 (9)
10 17 IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-9 (10)

11 11 STILL WATER (Love) –•– The Four Tops (Motown)-10 (11)
12 13 EXPRESS YOURSELF –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-12 (12)
13 14 SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING –•– 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) (Hot Wax)-9 (13)
14 16 LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG MA –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-9 (14)
15 23 IT DON’T MATTER TO ME –•– Bread (Elektra)-6 (15)
16 10 AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-13 (1)
17 41 I THINK I LOVE YOU –•– The Partridge Family (Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy) (Bell)-4 (17)
18 20 EL CONDOR PASA –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-8 (18)
19 28 CRY ME A RIVER –•– Joe Cocker (A&M)-4 (19)
20 25 SUPER BAD (Parts 1 and 2) –•– James Brown (King)-5 (20)

21 15 OUT IN THE COUNTRY –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-10 (15)
22 26 GOD, LOVE, AND ROCK AND ROLL –•– Teegarden and Van Winkle (Westbound)-7 (22)
23 12 JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-14 (5)
24 34 DEEPER AND DEEPER –•– Freda Payne (Invictus)-8 (24)
25 29 ENGINE NUMBER 9 –•– Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)-6 (25)
26 27 STAND BY YOUR MAN –•– Candi Staton (Fame)-10 (26)
27 45 THE TEARS OF A CLOWN –•– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Tamla)-3 (27)
28 31 SEE ME, FEEL ME –•– The Who (Decca)-6 (28)
29 36 MONTEGO BAY –•– Bobby Bloom (MGM / L&R)-8 (29)
30 32 OUR HOUSE –•– Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Atlantic)-7 (30)

31 33 LUCRETIA MAC EVIL –•– Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia)-5 (31)
32 21 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-14 (7)
33 35 UGENA ZA ULIMWENGU (Unite the World) –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-5 (33)
34 18 SNOWBIRD –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-16 (8)
35 39 GYPSY WOMAN –•– Brian Hyland (Uni)-9 (35)
36 19 LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-13 (2)
37 40 YELLOW RIVER –•– Christie (Epic)-16 (37)

Jeff Christie formed a group after offering this song to the Tremeloes, who turned it down. It went to No. 1 in the UK and was the only top-40 US hit for this English-based CCR-knock off.

38 37 DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO –•– Five Flights Up (T-A)-11 (37)
39 43 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF –•– Dionne Warwick (Scepter)-5 (39)
40 49 HEAVEN HELP US ALL –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-3 (40)

THIS WEEK’S DROPS

43 38 THAT’S WHERE I WENT WRONG –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-13 (29)
44 24 IT’S A SHAME –•– The Spinners (V.I.P.)-15 (14)
45 22 CLOSER TO HOME –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-12 (22)
47 30 LONG LONG TIME –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-12 (25)

POWER PLAYS

41 47 FOR THE GOOD TIMES –•– Ray Price (Columbia)-10 (41)
42 42 AS THE YEARS GO BY –•– Mashmakhan (Epic)-11 (42)
46 50 I AM SOMEBODY (Part 2) –•– Johnnie Taylor (Stax)-3 (46)
48 48 I DO TAKE YOU –•– The Three Degrees (Roulette)-8 (48)
49 74 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME / PATCH IT UP –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-2 (49)
50 58 HEED THE CALL –•– Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (Reprise)-3 (50)

NEW THIS WEEK

79 — NO MATTER WHAT –•– Badfinger (Apple)-1 (79)
85 — I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF –•– Gary Puckett (Columbia)-1 (85)
88 — BIG LEG WOMAN (With a Short Short Mini Skirt) –•– Israel “Popper Stopper” Tolbert (Warren)-1 (88)
93 — THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND –•– Roy Clark (Dot)-1 (93)
95 — STONEY END –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-1 (95)
96 — THAT’S THE WAY I WANT OUR LOVE –•– Joe Simon (Sound Stage 7)-1 (96)
97 — AMOS MOSES –•– Jerry Reed (RCA)-1 (97)
98 — CHAINS AND THINGS –•– B.B. King (ABC)-1 (98)
99 — SPIRIT IN THE SKY –•– Dorothy Morrison (Buddah)-1 (99)

We're familiar with Norman Greenbaum's rocker, but a soul version? Who knew!

100 — ONE LIGHT TWO LIGHTS –•– The Satisfactions (Lionel)-1 (100)

 

Thanks for posting these, maumann! A great alternative to the COVID/election news. And I miss the AT40 replays they used to have on one of our local stations, which they dropped for Scott Shannon's pale imitation.

"As the numbers get smaller, the hits get bigger!"

 

I think about this sort of juxtaposition every now and again....when you look at a list of music from (in this instance) 50 years ago and you realize many of these songs still get airplay and/or appear in the zeitgeist, does it mean pop culture has actually slowed down its development, because in 1970 was any music from 1920 being played on the radio or found in pop culture? I don’t think so.

 

Three Dog Night was such a good band.

 

There's a Moses Cone Memorial Park in the mountains of my state. First time I heard of it, this song came roaring back in my head.

Now everyone blamed his old man
For making him mean as a snake
When Amos Moses was a boy
His daddy would use him for alligator bait