Don’s Top 10 From August 25, 1971

(New to singles survey) Linda was a lovely lady who left us way too young. This video really shows their love for each other, & the life they made escaping the "bubble" of Beatles fame in the early 70s. And what an inventive, unusual song. The whole "Ram " album was great!

(#16 last week) Anyone who listened to Dan Ingram on WABC in 1971 remembers how he would string together the "I know I know I know" part together about 119 times in a row, while bantering over it!

(#15 last week) Just an awesome record, so sophisticated in words & arrangement, & so memorable. Sounds as fresh today as 1971.

(#13 last week) A propulsive, exciting record with an even more exciting intro! Turn it up loud!

(#27 last week) OMG, one of my all-time favorite hits!! So excited to play it again. The followup to the #1 "Want Ads", this ALSO was a million-seller for these three "canaries" from L.A. (as Don Cornelius called them on the first "Soul Train"), but this one has been lost to time. Not this time! Dig it.

(#4 last week) An exclusive for online, this was a very controversial hit single. Cousin Brucie cried when he played it, while Dan Ingram was bitterly critical of what he considered exploitation. Clay was an L.A. DJ at the time; Motown honcho Berry Gordy Jr. was driving one night when he heard the montage, & bought the rights while using a group called The Blackberries to provide the singing.

(#2 last week) Very timely then, AND now, & a song as fresh-sounding today as in 1971. World, are you listening to Mr. Gaye?

(#5 last week) The two people assisting Denver on this, his first hit as a singer, are Bill & Taffy Danoff, then known as Fat City; later known as The Starland Vocal Band, who had the 1976 #1 hit "Afternoon Delight".

(#1 last week) The is the song that really bridges the two hit era of the brothers Gibb, with paqrts of the record sounding like their late 60s "twee pop" era with Robin, & their later sleeker "adult contemporary"
vocal sound with Barry.

(#3 last week; 1st week at #1) Talk about updating a standard, making it more contemporary, yet keeping a classic feeling at the same time. That's what the Queen Of Soul accomplished with this gem, remaking Ben E. King's 1961 smash. Both manage to evoke such nostalgic feelings in me.