Don’s Top 10 for January 22. 1974

(#7 last week) Co-written by Carole King's ex-husband Gerry Goffin, this followup to "Midnight Train To Georgia" hit #1 on the soul chart & top 5 on the pop chart.

(#8 last week) I think Dan Ingram once spliced together all the "leave me alones" in a two minute loop, to comedic effect. Helen sure said it a lot. In the where-are-they-now department, Reddy is now a hypnotherapist, writer & speaker, & has been retired from performing for a decade. She lives in her native Australia, although she has dual citizenship with America.

(#5 last week) Al's 1968 "oh wow" song "The Snake" has always been one of my personal all-time favorites, but the record-buying public liked this one a whole lot more. "Show & Tell" was first recorded by Johnny Mathis, & Al recorded this intending for it to be a "B" side, figuring Mathis would have the hit. Fate intervened.

(#10 last week) This was 100% Barry White in all but vocal. This was written as an overture for the vocal album by the female trio Love Unlimited. It segued directly into the vocal track "Under The Inmjfluence Of Love". clocking in at 8:17, it was played as one song by disco DJs, one of the first instances of such, setting A trend.

(#3 last week) The oldest artist this week, 41-year old "Silver Fox" Charlie Rich had been charting since 1960 (go find his 1965 killer "Mohair Sam"), but reinvented himself as a country artist in the 70s. This was the followup to the Grammy-winning "Behind Closed Doors", & it would be his all-time biggest hit. Rich died in 1995 at 62, way too young.

(#9 last week) Title tune from the ultimate "chick flick". Confession: I loved the movie, & cried like a baby at the bittersweet ending. Song Of The Year at the Grammys; Best Song at the Oscars.

(#6 last week) An anthem for frustrated youth who felt marginalized at school, "Smokin..." was not going to be released as a single until radio play & listener demand forced the record company's hand. Contrary to popular belief, Brownsville Station were not from Brownsville, Texas, actually coming from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

(#1 last week) A track from Croce's first album, this was never considered for release as a single until it's inclusion in the ABC "Movie Of The Week" on September 12, 1973 entitled "She Lives", starring Season Hubley & Desi Arnaz Jr. Radio & retail were flooded with requests, but still no single. None was planned, because that same night, Croce completed his third album, "I Got A Name". Eight days later, he tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 30. While the title track from "I Got A Name" was moving up the chart, Croce's family relented & allowed the single release of "Time In A Bottle". It became Croce's 2nd #1 single & the third posthumous #1 of the rock era. The wonderful guitar playing on this classic is by New Jersey's own Maury Muehleisen, who also perished in that plane crash.

(#4 last week) The "kazoo" on this song? Not a kazoo. That is the VOICE of Paul McCartney, having some fun! The "Ringo" album was a Beatles reunion: all four of the "fab four" participated, just not all together on one song.

(#2 last week; 1st week at #1) When Miller was awarded a gold single for "The Joker", what did he do with it? Hung it over his washing machine. He said he'd contemplate the "star" who wrote it as he did his underwear & socks. A humble guy! Legendary record executive Ahmet Ertegun is credited as co-writer here. I wonder what part he wrote......