Don’s Top 10 From January 12, 1972
Back...back...back into time, as the Time Machine lands on Wednesday, January 12, 1972. Here's your local top 10:
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- 10
"Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone
(#3 last week) In the where-are-they-now-department, sadly, Sly Stone is homeless, living out of his van. He apparently does so voluntarily. Not sure if this is related to his 40+ years of drug abuse. But man, he & the Family Stone made some killer music from 1968-1973!
- 9
"Sunshine" by Jonathan Edwards
(#18 last week) "Sunshine" was not originally planned for release, but when an engineer accidentally erased the master of a track called "Please Find Me" near the end of sessions for the album, "Sunshine" was used to fill the hole. Good mistake! Here's Edwards' take on its success: "It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon. It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time--especially me".
- 8
"Got To Be There" by Michael Jackson
(#5 last week) Historic, because this was the first single to bear the name "Michael Jackson". It sure SOUNDED like a full Jackson 5 recording, though. And, in fact, on this video, they are.
- 7
"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show-Part 1" by The Honey Cone
(#13 last week) Third straight hit for the L.A. trio, after "Want Ads" & "Stick-Up". Forgotten soul gem first recorded in 1950. Been done by artists such as Joe Tex & The Animals.
- 6
"You Are Everything" by The Stylistics
(#8 last week) Killer sweet soul written by the legendary Thom Bell & Linda Creed, this was certified gold just a few days ago, Jan. 3, 1972. Did not know Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye remade this & had a #5 hit with it in the U.K. in 1974.
- 5
"Clean Up Woman" by Betty Wright
(#6 last week) Hard to believe, because this is such a sensual, mature sounding song & lyric, but Betty Wright had just turned 18 when this was certified a gold million-selling single. Even before this, she had charted at 14 with the ironically titled "Girls Can't Do What The Boys Do". She's also credited with discovering fellow Miami-area artists, the husband & wife George & Gwen McCrae.
- 4
"Cherish" by David Cassidy
(#9 last week) A pointless remake. Give Cassidy some kudos for even attempting to redo a perfect pop song by The Association, but c'mon. And yet...this was a hit, just 5 years after The Association went to #1, when it was still fresh in listeners minds. 2014: Cassidy arrested for DWI, yet again. He needs help.
- 3
"Let's Stay Together" by Al Green
(#4 last week) Smooth soul king Green's all-time biggest, this has been covered by Tina Turner & President Obama. :-) Al was born in Arkansas & moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan when he was 9. Most of Al's early & mid 70s hits were co-written & produced by Willie Mitchell, who charted as an artist with "20-75" in 1964 & "Soul Serenade" in 1968.
- 2
"Brand New Key" by Melanie
(#2 last week) This folkie's biggest hit, one she probably regrets, because it killed off Ms. Safka's budding stardom in the folk field by labeling her a top 40 novelty act. Born in NYC but made her name playing Jersey clubs.
- 1
"American Pie" by Don McLean
(#1 last week; 2nd week at #1) Another folk-music-raised artist from the New York area. Probably the most-talked-about song of the 70s. Everyone spent hours trying to figure out who McLean was referring to in the lyrics.