Let's go back in time to Friday, November 24, 1972, with this edition of my top 10. This is the local survey:

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  • 10

    "You Ought To Be With Me" by Al Green

    (#10 last week) 5th straight million-selling single for Rev. Al. You couldn't get any hotter.

  • 9

    "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson

    (#9 last week) Poignant comeback hit for the former Ricky, now Rick. Got to please yourself, indeed. Words to live by.

  • 8

    "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts

    (#13 last week) How many songs about summer have been hits in late fall or winter? More than a few! Jim Seals's brother was the late England Dan Seals, BTW.

  • 7

    "Nights In White Satin" by The Moody Blues

    (#3 last week) A 1967 album cut becomes a 1972 hit single, & the biggest hit the Moodys ever had. Breathe deep the gathering gloom.....I used to know every word of the end poem.

  • 6

    "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy

    (#5 last week) Sooo controversial then, so tame now. Times change. From a little-remembered movie called "Stand Up & Be Counted" starring Stella Stevens. Airplay was tough to come by. Reddy remembers making frequent TV appearances, & ladies then calling radio to request it. TV forced radio to play it. Sounds familiar from a 21st century standpoint.

  • 5

    "I'd Love You To Want Me" by Lobo

    (#8 last week) That hair in the video. Thick, huh? Like a...wolf's? "Lobo" means "lone wolf". Hmmm......

  • 4

    "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations

    (#7 last week) About as original a sound as has ever been a hit song. There are so many different length versions of this song out there.

  • 3

    "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

    (#2 last week) Very old-fashioned yet modern-at-the-same-time ballad. Remade by Simply Red in 1989.

  • 2

    "I'll Be Around" by The Spinners

    (#4 last week) After years on Motown, the spinners move to Atlantic, where they would finally break through to non-stop hitdom with this smash.

  • 1

    "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

    (#1 last week; 2nd week at #1) Nash first hit the charts way back in 1959, first hit the top 10 in 1968, but finally comes up with an all-time classic & makes it to #1 here. What an optimistic picker-upper of a tune!

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